Catherine Hicks, Alec Mapa, John Fleck and Christine Estabrook Complete Cast for Blank Theatre Company’s WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for The Blank Theatre Company's second production of its 19th season, Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang.  Directed by The Blank's Artistic Director Daniel Henning, Why Torture is Wrong will begin preview performances on Saturday, January 30, 2010 and is set to open on Saturday, February 6 at 8pm. The engagement will run through Sunday, March 14.

The cast, in alphabetical order, includes Christine Estabrook (Spring Awakening on Broadway, Desperate Housewives), John Fleck (PEACE with Culture Clash at the Getty Villa, Tobacco Road at La Jolla Playhouse), Mike Genovese (ER, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at The Blank), Catherine Hicks (7th Heaven, Child's Play), Sunil Malhotra (24, ER), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) and Rhea Seehorn (The Starter Wife, Trust Me).

Renowned award-winning playwright Christopher Durang turns political humor upside down with this raucous and provocative satire about America's growing homeland "insecurity." A young woman is suddenly in crisis:  is her new husband, whom she married when drunk, a terrorist? Or just crazy?  Or both?  Is her father's hobby of butterfly collecting really a cover for his involvement in a shadow government?  Why does her mother enjoy going to the theatre so much?  Does she seek mental escape, or is she insane?  Honing in on our private terrors both at home and abroad, Durang oddly relieves our fears in this black comedy for an era of yellow, orange and red alerts.  Why Torture is Wrong had its world premiere at New York's Public Theater in the spring of 2009.

The set design for Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them is by Jeff G. Rack, costume design is by Michael Mullen, lighting design is by R. Christopher Stokes, and sound design is by Warren Davis.  The producers are Stacy Reed, Noah Wyle and Jon Van Middlesworth.

The Blank's productions have garnered rave reviews, audience acclaim, and numerous theatrical honors.  Over the years, The Blank has been nominated for 23 Ovation Awards (winning five), 14 L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards (winning 12), 21 L.A. Weekly Awards (winning seven), 12 NAACP Theatre Awards (winning four), and has won 17 Back Stage Garland Awards.

Preview performances of Why Torture Is Wrong are Saturday, January 30 at 8pm, Sunday, January 31 at 2pm, and Tuesday, February 2 – Friday, February 5 at 8pm.  Opening night is set for Saturday, February 6 at 8:00. The media is encouraged to attend the special press preview night on Friday, February 5, but is also welcome at any performance after that.  The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through March 14. Prices range from $22-$28, and tickets may be purchased by calling (323) 661-9827 or online at www.TheBlank.com.

The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (2nd Floor), in Hollywood. Validated parking ($2) is available at the Hollywood and Highland complex. 

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