ELEVATOR
Press Contact:
Michelle Kaufer
[email protected]
323-377-7360
AN 11:11 EXPERIMENT presents the West Coast Premier of ELEVATOR
Written and Directed
by Michael Leoni.
Hudson Guild Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd Hollywood, 90038
Thursday June 17, 8pm
Saturday June 19, 3pm
Sunday June 20, 3pm
Friday June 25, 10:30pm
Saturday June 26, 3pm
Sunday June 27, 3pm
Sunday June 27, 8pm
Duration: 70 min
Based on the original short film, Someplace In Between – {an Official Selection of the 2009 LA Shorts Film Festival} – Elevator is a comedic examination into the human psyche. When seven strangers get stuck in an elevator, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
A CEO Woman, Business Man, Assistant, Hot Girl, Musician, Maintenance Man and Goth Girl; from the outside, we think we know who they are. Yet, when forced together, given nothing but four walls and each other, our characters prove to be anything but “typical”. Their preconceived notions, stereotypes and judgments are challenged at every turn, as one by one they shed their masks and reveal their truths.
Laced with musical sequences, Elevator is an unexpected coming-of-age story that asks the fundamental question: Who are you behind closed doors?
Directed by: Michael Leoni
Produced by: Michelle Kaufer
Produced by: Schoen Smith
Co-Produced by: R & R Films
Music by: Mario Marchetti
Set Design: Bailey Scott
Lighting Design: Matthew Richter
Poster Design: JakeLloyd.net
MICHAEL LEONI (Writer/Director), founder of An 11:11 Experiment, has always committed himself to creating exciting material that reaches beyond the scope of traditional entertainment, challenges an audience’s beliefs, and motivates movement for positive change in our society. Starting his career in Boston, Michael directed Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Falsettos, and wrote and directed, Wanted, City of Dreams, and Omerta. He was accepted to The Hartt Conservatory on a talent scholarship, left at 19 and relocated to New York City, where he wrote, directed, and produced Enigma and Deviants. Michael also directed This is Our Youth and the Off-Broadway run of LOUD, an original rock musical, which received local acclaim and gained several nominations at the NYC Fringe Festival.
In 2004 Michael made the move to Los Angeles and produced The Playground, a Rock Music-infused piece inspired by the lives of homeless kids and teenage runaways. Written and directed by Leoni, The Playground debuted on stage in Los Angeles and continued to run at least once a year for the next five consecutive years. It is now a feature film currently in development. To learn more about The Playground visit: www.theplaygroundmovie.com
Michael has also wrote and directed the short films; Radford Rd., Deliver Us, Spare Some Change and Someplace In Between, an Official Selection in the 2009 LA Shorts Film Festival. He is currently in post-production on America Street Kid, a powerful, feature-length documentary that takes us onto the streets and into the real lives of America’s homeless youth. Currently in development, Michael has two feature films, a television series and two stage musicals.
Founder of the organization Spare Some Change, Michael created and launched an Artistic Mentoring Program which exposes street youth to the arts and motivates them to create change in their lives www.sparesomechangethemovement.com.
MICHELLE KAUFER (Producer) Originally from New York, Michelle’s producing career began in the theatre. She co-founded The Wynner’s Circle Theatre Company with business partner Hallie Wynn and together they produced a multitude of shows in New York City and the surrounding tri-state area. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2004, Michelle co-founded An 11:11 Experiment with business partner Michael Leoni and has found success in both theatre and film. At its foundation, An 11:11 Experiment is dedicated to producing media in all forms to create and promote positive social change. Michelle produced three short films in the last year; Deliver Us, Radford Rd and Spare Some Change. Michelle is currently working on American Street Kid, a feature length documentary and two television programs for National Geographic.
Michelle is co-founder of Spare Some Change, an on-going campaign and social movement to raise awareness and provide life empowering and enrichment programs in the lives of homeless youth. To learn more about Spare Some Change visit www.sparesomechangethemovement.com
SCHOEN SMITH (Producer) began producing in New York City with the production of This is Our Youth at the Abingdon Theatre on Theatre Row. She also starred as the lead character, Jessica. She is the co-writer and producer of the musical, Fahrenheit, based on the songs and lyrics of Toto, in its early stages of development and producer for the musical The Neighborhood. Schoen is also a screenwriter and continues to promote her projects through An 11:11 Experiment. She currently works as the Director of Finance for LA CAUSA YouthBuild, a non-profit organization engaging disenfranchised youth in East Los Angeles.
Schoen is an active member of Spare Some Change, dedicated to inspiring positive life transformation for homeless youth in the Los Angeles area and is a co-producer for American Street Kid. Schoen graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Finance and Business Economics.