GANGBUSTERS THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE PILL-POP CULTURE HISTORY PLAY “KING DICK” AT THEATRE ASYLUM

King Dick

WHAT: “King Dick.” World Premiere workshop presentation of a new play.

WHO: Written by Christian Levatino, Directed and Produced by Leon Shanglebee, Co-Produced by Daniel Coronel, Mary Kelsey, and Margo Rowder. Presented by Gangbusters Theatre Company.

WHERE: Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038.

WHEN: Friday 6/12, 8:30pm; Monday 6/15, 7pm; Thursday 6/18, 10pm; Sunday 6/21, 4pm; Wednesday 6/24, 10pm; Saturday 6/27, 11:30pm.

ADMISSION: $20. Purchase a Fringe button for discounts.
http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/2160?tab=tickets

Named a Top 10 Must-See Hollywood Fringe Show by Bitter Lemons
http://socal.bitter-lemons.com/learn/article/2114

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The Manson case is in full swing, and we’re 15 years in at Vietnam. Mercury is in retrograde.

It’s Christmastime, 1970: The King just spent 100 G’s on gifts, and he’s on the run from Graceland. His kata form cannot be topped. He pops pills like peanut butter and potato chip sandwiches but leaves needles and drugs to the doctors. Underneath it all, his momma’s lesson stays with him – to give to those in need. After a horrifying vision, The King concocts a scheme to offer the leader of the free world his influential voice in exchange for a new symbol of power.

King Dick examines the true events that led Elvis Presley to seek out President Richard Nixon, the only man with more pull than E himself, for a Federal Agent-at-Large badge. He wants to do his part to save the youth from the perils of drugs. The future of our great country depends on The King – Elvis – a man who will buy 30 handguns and 10 Mercedes Benzes without blinking. Will Dick Nixon say yes?

This would be the last time the White House allowed anyone to cold call the President.

In 90 minutes, “King Dick” takes you inside the Oval Office to present the most provocative piece of pop culture history you’ve never seen. It’s about our heroes, their true identities, and the only ones who can hurt them at their very core.

At 2013’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, Gangbusters mounted a workshop presentation of “Sunny Afternoon” and received ‘Best of Fringe’ as well as nominations for Playwriting and Ensemble. Now the company is back with a new original, “King Dick” – sequence two in the same pentalogy – at Theatre Asylum.

The Gangbusters Theatre Company is dedicated to “staging the imaginative truth with speed & violence,” and “King Dick” is no exception.

Christian Levatino (Playwright) is founder and artistic director of Gangbusters Theatre Company. He has directed and/or appeared in twenty-six Gangbusters productions in Los Angeles and New York over the course of the company’s twelve-year history. Favorite Gangbusters projects include: SUNNY AFTERNOON (Named “Best of Hollywood Fringe,” Nominated for Best Writer, Best Ensemble; Named “Best of Los Angeles Theatre,” Bitter Lemons; Named Best Lead Performance, Best Lighting Designer, Best Scenic Designer, Sound Designer of the Year by Stage Scene LA), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO’S NEST, STREAMERS (NAACP Award-Nominated Best Director), BALM IN GILEAD (LA Weekly Award-Nominated Best Supporting Actor & Revival-Production), TALK RADIO (LA Weekly Award-Nominated Best One-Act Ensemble), TRACERS (Ovation Award-Nominated Best Ensemble, Backstage Garland Award-Nominated Best Ensemble/Best Director). King Dick is Levatino’s third play, following 2013’s Sunny Afternoon and a stage adaptation of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. He is a graduate of University of Connecticut.

Leon Shanglebee (Producer/Director) is fucking psyched to be helming his twelfth Gangbusters production. Some of his past favorites with them include: DRINKING IN AMERICA, STREAMERS, BALM IN GILEAD, TALK RADIO, TRACERS and Orson Welles’ adaptation of JULIUS CAESAR. His work in Los Angeles theatre has been nominated for the NAACP, LA Weekly, Ovation, Backstage Garland, StageScene LA and TicketHolder Awards.

The cast includes (in alphabetical order) John Combs, Corryn Cummins, Andrew Dits, Patrick Flanagan, Andy Hirsch, Matthew Hudacs, Christian Levatino, Sean McSweeney, Darrett Sanders, and Ian Verdun.

Sound Design: Mohane Sebastion. Wigs: Kim Ferry. Stage Manager: Mary Kelsey. Co-Producer: Daniel Coronel. Executive Producer: Mary Kelsey. Associate Producer: Margo Rowder. Art: Darrett Sanders.

Press/media contact: Dez Roberts, [email protected]