The Blank Theatre Company's 15th Anniversary Gala will feature Michael John LaChiusa playing piano for The Girly Show, a cabaret that will feature his songs. The gala, which will be held at Cinespace (6356 Hollywood Blvd., 2nd Level) in Hollywood on Monday, August 15th from 6 to 9:30 PM, will benefit the Blank Theatre Company, who are producing LaChiusa's The Wild Party in the fall.
The gala, which will be presented by Venice Magazine as well as the Blank, will be directed by Daniel Henning. The Girly Show's all-female cast will include Eydie Alyson, Bronwen Booth, Nora Dunn, Mary-Pat Green, Evelyn Halus, Julie Dixon Jackson, Marcia Mitzman-Gaven, Paula Newsome, Marcia Strassman and Bellamy Young, as well as Tony-nominees Jane Lanier and Valarie Pettiford, both of whom will star in The Blank's production of The Wild Party, which will begin its run on October 11th with Oscar-nominee Sally Kellerman also in its cast.As with a version of TheGirly Show presented at Lincoln Center last year, the show will feature the above ladies singing selections from LaChiusa musicals as well as new songs. In addition to The Wild Party, several of the composer/lyricist/bookwriter's shows have been produced on and off-Broadway; they include Hello Again, Little Fish, The Petrified Prince (at the Public Theatre) and First Lady Suite. Other shows such as The Highest Yellow (loosely based on the life of Vincent Van Gogh) and the opera Lovers and Friends have been produced regionally. His latest musical, See What I Wanna See is a very loose adaptation of the film Rashomon; it will star Idina Menzel, Marc Kudisch and Mary Testa when it opens at the Public Theatre on October 11th.
The gala will begin with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before The Girly Show begins at 7:30 PM. The cabaret will be followed by coffee and desserts; cocktail attire is requested for the event.General admission for the Blank's gala is $75, $125 for reserved seating, table for 4 with special amenities is $500 and table for 8 with special amenities is $900. To reserve a place at the event, call 323-661-9827 or visit www.theblank.com/gala.htm to download the Gala Ticket Order Form. To learn more about the Blank Theatre Company and to order tickets for The Wild Party, visit www.theblank.com.
