HAMSTER GRAVEYARD to Play United Solo

Colorado's Hamster Graveyard by Texas-native Joshua Blanchard performs at the 2014 United Solo Theatre Fest at New York's Theatre Row this month.

Hamster Graveyard premiered at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company in Dillon, CO on September 26, 2014 and marks Blanchard's New York debut as a playwright and performer.

Hamster Graveyard tells the story one 14-year-old boy as he navigates life in a suburban ghetto of Dallas during the summer of 1994. His mother's refusal to accept a recent diagnosis of Lupus disease, his younger brother's quick-thinking antics, and their houseful of hamsters merge into a summer of laughter and chaos. Featuring ten other characters including a Korean DMV worker, an African American police officer, and a teenage pizza parlor clerk, this one-person play is a coming of age journey that explores the themes of self-discovery, hard times, and negotiating life with an ill parent.

"Lupus continues to be a relatively unknown illness despite being part of a punch line in last weekend's SNL's Weekend Update," said Blanchard, who serves as Lake Dillon Theatre Company Executive Director. "But it is gaining awareness. On October 8 of this year, the Empire State Building glowed purple to call attention to the need for increased awareness and investment in Lupus research as part of the American Lupus Foundation's annual gala. I hope Hamster Graveyard offers a more human look at how the disease affects individuals and their families."

A sold out performance of Hamster Graveyard plays on October 18 at 9 PM. Tickets are available for a second performance on October 25 at 4 PM. The one-act runs approximately 75 minutes. Lake Dillon Theatre Company Artistic Director Christopher Alleman directs the production, with sound design by Colorado-based artist and Lake Dillon Theatre Company Production Manager Benjamin Whitmore. A portion of ticket sales supports the American Lupus Foundation of America.

2014 United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, celebrates its 5th anniversary season and its dynamic expansion in scope and popularity. Over 130 shows from six continents are staged at Theatre Row: 410 West 42nd Street, New York City. TICKETS, with a price of $19.25 (including a $1.25 theatre restoration charge) are available at Theatre Row box office, 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, as well as over the phone at 212.239.6200 and online at telecharge.com. More details can be found at www.unitedsolo.org.