L.I.P. Service Theatre Company to Stage THE ELEPHANT MAN This Fall

L.I.P. Service presents Bernard Pomerance's THE ELEPHANT MAN (with original cello composition by Josh Bradford), directed by Shawn Gann and starring Jason Leyva, Pat Watson, and Sara Lovett, with *Bert Pigg and Chris Messersmith.

The performance will premiere at The Firehouse Theatre on September 29 at 8:00pm. It will run through October 15 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

THE ELEPHANT MAN is a 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance (also, adapted to film by David Lynch). The production's Broadway debut in 1979 was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss. The play closed in 1981 after eight previews and 916 regular performances. Prior to its Broadway production, the play was introduced at The Hampstead Theatre in London, later playing in repertory at the Royal National Theatre in London. It ran Off-Broadway from January 14-March 18, 1979, at the York Theatre at St. Peter's. The story is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, referred to in the script as John Merrick, who lived in the Victorian era and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. The lead role of Merrick was originated by David Schofield in a definitive performance. Subsequent productions starred actors such as David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bruce Davison, Billy Crudup and Bradley Cooper.

The play is notable in that it calls for no prosthetic makeup on the actor portraying Merrick; the actor portrays Merrick's deformity through physicality, letting the audience imagine Merrick's appearance.

Dallas Actor/Director Shawn Gann was chosen to take on directing THE ELEPHANT MAN as he has garnered the respect and confidence of L.I.P. Service over several years. "I'm delighted and honored that Jason Leyva [Artistic Director of L.I.P. Service] would trust me with such a sensitive and challenging piece. The life and plight of Mr. Merrick highlights, both, the lows and great possibilities we have as a species." Mr. Gann is a resident member of L.I.P. Service and, recently, directed their critically-lauded production of THE GOAT or, WHO IS SYLVIA? by Edward Albee. As a performer, he has been seen across D/FW in productions for Shakespeare Dallas, Shakespeare in the Bar, MBS Productions, Theatre Arlington, Hip Pocket, Artes de la Rosa, Dallas Children's Theatre, Cara Mia, and several others.

Josh Bradford, musician/composer/performance artist is thrilled to be making his debut with L.I.P. Service. This year, he his organizing the BlowTorch Music festival in Deep Ellum; the first music fest in Dallas featuring solely queer musicians. He is a Column award nominee as music director for Evita. And, is currently organizing another music fest in Denton for the music of Erik Satie.

The talented local cast features Jason Leyva as John Merrick (The Elephant Man). He is the current Technical Director/Resident Stage Manager at The Firehouse Theatre and also owns and operates L.I.P. Service. He has performed, directed, and designed in over 100 stage shows from Washington D.C. to Dallas, is a multi-award winning performer for The Column, Theater Jones, and various Dallas outlets. He is also an award-winning film actor and, most recently, has been in the independent films DIRTY RED, THE GUNSLINGERS, THE POSTHUMAN PROJECT, and SKID as well as the short films MURDER BY MISTAKE and YES, WE'RE OPEN.

The role of Frederick Treves will be portrayed by Pat Watson. A native Californian, Pat was last seen with L.I.P. Service as Sgt. Cokes in Streamers by David Rabe. Pat has been seen throughout D/FW in such roles as the Artful Dodger, The Mute, Claudio, Rick Steadman, Abe Lincoln, Mysterious Man, Jesus Christ, Val Soltsky, Ken De La Maize, Christopher Sly, Seymour Krelborn, Will Parker, Macduff, Motel, Josh Baskins (adult), Puck/Robin Goodfellow, Bella Zangler, Frank Burns, Mordred, Vassily Vassilyevich Solyony, Niguel Grouse, Boston Bart Black, Mr. Bradshaw, Ebenezer Scrooge, Brian, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Jim Haller, Hank/The Scarecrow, Pappy Yokum, Andrew Rally, Sir Bedevere, Argan, Moonface Martin, Mr. Shanks, and The Player.

Sara Lovett will be portraying Mrs."Madge" Kendal. She has appeared locally as an actor at Theatre Three, Garland Civic Theatre, Richardson Theatre, Trinity Arts, Circle Theatre, and Jackson's Dance & Theatre Co. Past credits include, Miriam - The Seventh Monarch, Helena - A Midsummer Night's Dream, Maggie - Jake's Women, Marion - The Big Knife, Anne - Good, Arlene - Murder at the Howard Johnson's and as The Traveler with Coda21 in the ballet Romeo & Juliet. She has also worked as a dialect coach on the Dallas Theater Center's A Christmas Carol, The Dallas Children's Theatre's production of Madeleine and at WaterTower with the cast of Creep, Lord of the Flies, and One Man, Two Guvnors. She is currently writing a work of Non-Fiction entitled, The Invisible Bones.

Featured will be veteran performers *Bert Pigg in the role of Carr Gomm and Chris Messersmith in the roles of Ross & Bishop How. Berttrained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has appeared in more than 150 productions in London, New York, Los Angeles and in regional theatre throughout the United States. Recent credits include Jack - The Weir, Fasch - Bach at Leipzig, Charlie - Stones in his Pockets, Claudius - Hamlet, Cyrano - Cyrano de Bergerac, Dysart - Equus, Serge - Art, Michael - Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Buks/Author - Valley Song, and Clive/Edward - Cloud 9. Chris has appeared at WaterTower, Pegasus, AART, DCT, and others; as well as, touring nationally for 3 years. He has portrayed Mark Twain - Dreams of our Youth, Mayor of Hooverville - The Grapes of Wrath, Judge Bastardson - Sly Fox, Sinclair - A Trifle Dead, Rutherford Selig - Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and Ike Gammon - Wild Oats. Other credits range from films, the Emmy Award winning series In Search Of Heroes, to the voice of a robotic parrot.

L.I.P. Service (LEYVA'S INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION), headed by Jason Leyva, was created as an avenue for creative artistic expression outside the norm and has continuously offered alternatives from the mainstream. In the past 3 years L.I.P. Service has grown to become a highly acclaimed theatrical performance group as well as being a multi-faceted Production Company creating sets, teaching classes, and working to push the boundaries of the theatrical experience both on and off the stage.

The play will be performed at The Firehouse Theatre, 2535 Valley View Ln., Dallas, TX 75234. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.lipserviceproductions.info or call 817-689-6461.

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