Cast Announced For FOR THE LOVE OF (OR, THE ROLLER DERBY PLAY) Part Of Block Party 2019 At The Douglas

Casting is set for Theatre of NOTE's production of "For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)," which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Gina Femia and directed and choreographed by Rhonda Kohl, "For The Love Of" will begin previews March 7, open March 9 and continue through March 17.

The cast includes Crystal Diaz, Elinor Gunn, Liesel Hanson, Faith Imafidon, Cindy Lin, Nadia Marina, Lynn Odell, Alina Phelan, Briana Price, Nicole Gabriella Scipione, Yolanda Snowball, Jenny Soo, Nancy Stone and Tania Verafield.

The design team includes scenic design by Eli Smith, lighting design by Rose Malone, costumes by Vicki Conrad and sound design by Gillian Moon. The production stage manager is Brooke Baldwin.

"For The Love Of" follows Joy and Michelle, long-term partners who find their lives turned upside down when Joy joins a roller derby team called the Brooklyn Scallywags. Joy becomes close with the star of the team, Lizzie Lightning, and must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to follow her heart.

Block Party 2019 will also remount Skylight Theatre Company's production of Jon Brittain's "Rotterdam" (from March 28 through April 7) and Antaeus Theatre Company's production of Nambi E. Kelley's "Native Son" (from April 18 through 28). The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

"Now in its third year, Block Party continues to be a real treat for our entire organization," said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. "We all look forward to working with Theatre of NOTE, Skylight and Antaeus and sharing their exciting work with our audiences."

Center Theatre Group received submissions for Block Party from intimate theatre companies throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The selected productions come from Hollywood (Theatre of NOTE), Los Feliz (Skylight Theatre Company) and Glendale (Antaeus Theatre Company).

With Block Party, Center Theatre Group will continue to strengthen its relationships within the Los Angeles theatre community by creating additional avenues for the organization to work with local playwrights, actors, directors and designers. Block Party also helps to foster relationships between Center Theatre Group staff and the staff of theatre companies throughout Los Angeles.

Block Party receives major support from Aliza Karney Guren and Marc Guren with generous funding also provided by Joni and Miles Benickes. This programming is also made possible in part by a Culver City Performing Arts Grant with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Previous Block Party productions have included "Ameryka" (Critical Mass Performance Group), "Bloodletting" (Playwrights' Arena), "Citizen: An American Lyric" (The Fountain Theatre), "Die, Mommie, Die!" (Celebration Theatre), "Dry Land" (The Echo Theater Company) and "Failure: A Love Story" (Coeurage Theatre Company).

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation's preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles' leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation's leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Tickets for Block Party are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, at the Center Theatre Group Box Office at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office two hours prior to performance. Tickets for each individual production range from $25 - $72 (ticket prices are subject to change). A Block Party Party Pass is available for $75, which includes a ticket to all three productions as well as a complimentary cocktail (or non-alcoholic beverage) at each performance. The Party Pass is available by phone or in-person now through March 17.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).

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