Crimes of The Heart By Beth Henley

Crimes of The Heart By Beth Henley

CRIMES OF THE HEART

A Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Beth Henley
At The Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center
11006 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
(Located between Lankershim Blvd. and Vineland Ave. in the NoHo Arts District)
  
Opens August 13 and runs through August 29 
Performances: Fri & Sat nights at 8PM / Sun matinees at 2PM 
Call: (310) 367-6603 for more info, including industry comp information

Directed by: Veronica DiPippo
Produced by: Sonia Curtis Acerra and Alicia Benavides Greenfield
Cast (in order of appearance)
Sonia Curtis, Brenda Lasker, Nate Orr, Victoria Profeta, Kincaid Walker and Alec Beard

HOW TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET

On the drop-down menu to the right, please select one of the following ticket options (VIP or Regular-Admission) or the option to make a Charitable-Donation: Please indiciate which date/show you would like to make your reservation for in the description box.
  • VIP tickets secure you PRIME seating and advanced entrance into the theatre
  • Regular-admission tickets are first come-first serve after VIPs
  • A Charitable Donation is not a ticket, however, your donation to the production is greatly appreciated :)  
Please also indicate the date of the performance which you will be attending in the bottom drop down menu.
    Thank you!

    DIRECTOR Veronica DiPippo


    An award-winning filmmaker, director and writer, Veronica has directed numerous original works for theatre including Sins of the Father at The Met Theatre, Los Angeles, Off-the-Wall at the Writers Theatre, New York, and Roaring Girls at Musical Theatre Works, New York, as well as classics such as August Wilson’s Fences. As a playwright, over thirty productions of her plays and one-acts have been produced at theatres across the country.  Her newest play Lulu’s Last Stand is set to premiere at Theatre 40 in Los Angeles in October, 2010.  

    Veronica’s “karmic komedy” short film Dandelion Dharma won the coveted Audience Award for Best Live Action Short at the 2009 Palm Springs International ShortFest, considered to be one of the top five festivals for short films in the world.  Veronica also won a Best Director award for the film at San Francisco Women’s Film Festival.  After screening at festivals across the country, Dharma was recently acquired for international distribution by Shorts International. 

    As a screenwriter, she has worked with studios and independents including Disney Feature, DisneyToons, Four Moons, Basic Films U.K., Bullet Heart, Exile Productions and her own production company, Crunch Entertainment.  Projects currently in packaging include her screenplay Sonnet and her horror film Crimson Lake.  

    Veronica began her career as an actor with John Strasberg’s Mirror Repertory Company in New York City where she also studied acting with fellow company member Geraldine Page.  She is a graduate of The Drama Studio, London at Berkeley and SUNY where she holds a degree in writing for film and television.  She is a member of the Writers Guild, Women In Film, the Alliance of Women Directors and The Dramatists Guild.

    CAST (in order of appearance)

    Sonia Curtis as Lenny Magrath
    Training with renowned teachers such as Roy London, Cameron Thor, and Sandra Seacat, Sonia began booking roles in film and television on shows such as "Days of Our Lives," “Family Ties,” “Roseanne” and “So Little Time.” Her movie credits include “The Monster Squad,” “Terminal Bliss,” “Nowhere To Run,” “The Boston Strangler” and recently the short film "Deception."  Sonia coached actors for several years and has been writing and producing various projects for film, television and theater.  Sonia is currently finishing her degree at UCLA and continues to study with Larry Moss, whom she would like to thank for encouraging her to play "Lenny". 
     Brenda Lasker as Chick Boyle
    Last seen in Theatre East’s One Act Festival in The Weight, Brenda was part of Ron Sossi’s Koan Ensemble at The Odyssey and The Faust Projekt, as well as Durang Durang at the Hollywood Court and The Tamarind. A founding member of Roadworks Productions in Chicago, her work included the Midwest premiere of Eric Bogosian’s Suburbia, The Lights, Lion in the Streets (Jeff Citation for Outstanding Ensemble, Production), End of the Road, and Road. Film work includes: Charlotte, Gone But Not Forgotten, and Caught. With a B.S. in Speech from Northwestern University, she continues to work with Larry Moss.

      Nate Orr as Doc Porter
     Nate has appeared in numerous short films in NYC and LA and over 40 plays around the U.S. As a writer he has a comedy feature optioned, and is pitching a one-hour dramatic pilot around LA. With his wife, Paula Sword-Orr, he is the writer/producer of the web-series, Sally Loves Billy, which can be seen at www.sallylovesbilly.com/. He is also in talks with Disney Media Interactive Group to produce original content. Training: Improv with Upright Citizen’s Brigade, a BFA in Acting/Directing and BA in Telecommunications from U of Kentucky, and a MFA in Acting from U of Texas.
           Victoria Profeta as Meg Magrath
    Most recently, Victoria starred in Ca$h opposite Sean Bean and Chris Hemsworth and Push opposite Chazz Palminteri.  A graduate of Vanderbilt University, Victoria's other credits include the films Mr. Woodcock, Auteur, and Carrie's Choice, as well as guest spots on The Drew Carey Show and Miss Match.
                

    Kincaid Walker as Babe (Magrath) Botrelle
    Originally from Iowa, Kincaid Walker graduated magna cum laude from Northwestern University in theatre. In Los Angeles, she has guest starred on television shows such as Cold Case, CSI: New York, Life, Gilmore Girls, George Lopez, Monk and in a recurring role on My Name is Earl, in addition to the play Questa at The Court Theatre opposite Dan Lauria and Wendie Malick. Commercially, Kincaid was recently seen in Bud Light's "Boutonniere" as a nail gun-wielding girlfriend, as well as 2010 national spots for Target, Toyota and State Farm Insurance.


      Alec Beard as Barnette Lloyd
    Off-Broadway: A Feminine Ending (Playwrights Horizons), Sand (Women's Project), As You Like It (The Public Theater). Regional: The Voysey Inheritance (Theatre 40), Lulu (Yale Repertory Theater), Once in a Lifetime (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Training: Yale School of Drama.

    PRODUCERS


    Sonia Curtis Acerra
    Sonia Curtis Acerra was introduced to Hollywood through her father, a famous Hollywood stuntman. She grew up visiting film and television sets regularly and after playing the lead role in her high school musical "Bye Bye Birdie" she was hooked on acting. Sonia was accepted to the USC BFA Program for acting but was unable to attend because she began working right after high school. While working on various TV shows she continuously trained with great teachers such as Bill Traylor at The Loft, Roy London, Cameron Thor and Sandra Seacat. She went on to book recurring roles on "Family Ties", "Days of Our Lives", and  "Roseanne" and her film credits include "The Monster Squad" and "Terminal Bliss." After many years of acting Sonia also began to coach actors privately and in groups and began writing and developing scripts for film and television. Last year Sonia produced and starred in a short film "Deception" directed by award- winning director Pamela Dresser. Currently she has several projects in various stages of development. 

    Alicia Benavides Greenfield
    In 2000 Alicia founded the non-profit company, NewMan Theatre Company, in NYC. She produced original pieces, such as "Dinner at the Manse" by Ara Anasa, as well as "'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea" by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer/directer John Patrick Shanley, in which she played the lead role of "Roberta."  Alicia Majored in Film/Media at NYU and has trained and worked as an actress for the past 15 years.  Currently she studies with Joanne Barron/DW Brown in Los Angeles.  Alicia is honored to be debuting as a producer here in LA/ NoHo with "Crimes of the Heart". 

    Crimes of the Heart CREW

    Stage Manager: Cameron Lacy

    Cameron Lacy is a senior Theatre Performance major at Chapman University. Aside from the acting and technical work that Cameron does at school, he has started enveloping himself in the professional theatre world. He served on the production team as well as the lighting designer for the Blank Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival, he was the lighting designer for Dean Donofio's "Shut Your Stupid Face and Other Suggestions", and he continues to work in theatres around Hollywood and Santa Monica. Cameron is a young, eager actor who is trying to learn all aspects about the theatre to better help him achieve his ultimate goal of running his own theatre company someday."

    Assistant Stage Manager: Guillermo M Jorge
    Guillermo is a first generation American of Cuban/Spanish descent, originally from Coconut Grove, Florida. From the age of 14 he spent two years working the fishing barges in Barcelona, Spain with his uncle. Before moving to Los Angeles, Guillermo attended medical school in the Dominican Republic. He is also a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

    Set Designer & Light Design: Zac Polhamus

    Sound Design: Marc Aramian



    Light and Sound Tech: Matt Liberti
    Matt Liberti attended the School Of Visual Arts in New York City, where he studied Cinematography and Lighting Design, after college, he left New York in hopes of launching his career in film. He left home and started his across country journey to Hollywood California. Landing his first gig working on Crimes of the Heart play at the Whitmore Theater. He is very excited to work with an amazing cast and crew of professionals. He has also participated in student projects as well as working on the Montel Williams show.

    Assistant Light Tech: Joseph Montiel
    Joseph Michael Montiel (Lighting Assistant) has spent the last decade working in theater and developing his skills as an audio engineer. Recent credits include The Boys in the Band at the Coast Playhouse (ASM and audio engineer), Baby It's You (audio engineer), also at the Coast and back to Bacharach and David ( Audio Engineer) Jose studied recording at Long Beach City College and the Musicians Institute, as well as television and radio production at Los Angeles City College. Jose is delighted to be a part of this production!

    Props Master : Mariah McGuinness
    Mariah McGinnis a true "jack of many trades" and So Cal native can be considered a small fish in the industry but is chalk full of potential. Currently working as a freelance makeup artist has given her the time and opportunity to explore many areas of show biz field. On any given set you can find her putting in work as an actress, prop master, in the wardrobe department, or of course hair and makeup.

    Grace Kim
    Grace Kim is from Los Angeles and studied film and television at USC and hopes to pursue a career in the art department. Grace worked with props on shows like Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and for The LXD. Grace is currently exploring all aspects of art direction in the realm of photography, film, television, and theater.


    Mallory V Lopez

    Mallory's recent projects include casting assistant for the SAG short, Courage and 6.8. She has also worked as stage manager for The Gift Horse, the Chrysalis Stage production of Twelfth Night, or What You Will and Smash. Mallory was born to entertain people and will continue to do so in the future as she aspires to become a casting director. She can be contacted at malloryvlopez@gmail.com

    Poster Art/Website Graphic Artist: Joel Garza

    Rehearsal Photos: Todd Monks
     

    Publicity: Esteban Steven Escobar of Diversity News PR
    Esteban Escobar has been working as ("Publicist") Public/Media Relations Specialist. He has been networking with other media/press professionals including public relations agents. He gets invited to cover events to publish them on DiversityNewsPublications.Com & Examiner.com and other web sites.
    Esteban's past projects includes Hand In Hand Benefit Concert, Tish Tha Dish Birthday Bash Benefiting The Salvation
    Army, Local Celebrity LA (a singing competition), Pool Time The Movie Premiere, Shine On 1 and 2 a music showcase. He has been in the USA since 1989 and has 2 sisters and mother. Esteban Escobar is known as “Steven” and he resides in Los Angeles County in the city of Hollywood. For more information visit http://diversitynewspublications.com/about/

    (More Photos, Bios and Links to come soon)
    Note: Some of the headshots courtesy of Daniela Hubbard Photography

    About Crimes of the Heart

    Synopsis
    At the core of this tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The trio was raised in a dysfunctional family with a penchant for ugly predicaments and each has endured her share of hardship and misery. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they're forced to deal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives. Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the "crimes of the heart" she has committed.


    Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_of_the_Heart