Celebration Theatre Presents American Premiere Of Joe DePietro's F*CKING MEN 9/9-10/25

Celebration Theatre in association with Calvin Remsberg presents the second show of their 2009-2010 season, the American premiere of f-ing MEN. f-ing MEN is written by Joe DiPietro and will be directed by Calvin Remsberg. f-ing MEN will preview on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10 at 8pm and open on Friday, September 11 and run through Sunday, October 25 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

f-ing MEN is a new play by celebrated playwright Joe DiPietro, that observes the sex lives of modern urban gay America. Conceived as a riff on Arthur Schnitzler's 19th century play, La Ronde.

f-ing MEN looks at ten men from all walks of life; a soldier, a grad student, a stock broker, a high school teacher, even a movie star. Everyone, gay, straight, male or female will find many of the situations in DiPietro's play recognizable, as the ten men strive to connect in some meaningful way. Funny, poignant, sometimes dramatic, always provocative and sexy, f-ing MEN has been a runaway success in London where it has been playing consistently for two years, recently opening in the West End. This production is the American premiere, the second ever of this controversial and edgy new play.

Calvin Remsberg (Director/Producer) has worked extensively both as a performer and as a director. He is perhaps best remembered by Los Angeles audiences for his portrayal of Firmin, the crotchety opera house manager in the record breaking production of The Phantom Of The Opera at the Ahmanson Theater, having played the role with three different Phantoms over the entire four and a half year run. Other stage roles include the Beadle in both national tours, and the acclaimed television production of Sweeney Todd, and for four years he crawled around as Old Deuteronomy in the first national tour of Cats. He appeared as the Padre in both the Long Beach and South Bay Civic Light Opera productions of Man Of La Mancha, and as Mr. Bumble in Oliver for the Theatre League and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, where he also appeared in The Pirates Of Penzance. In addition, he created the role of the Mayor in Mary Rodgers musical The Griffin And The Minor Canon, as well as numerous readings and backer's auditions of new works on both coasts. He appeared in three S.T.A.G.E. benefits, and their subsequent recordings, and recently recorded Jerry Herman's latest musical score, Miss Spectacular.

On television, Mr. Remsberg has appeared on "The Young And The Restless," "Nurses," "Sunday Dinner," "Unhappily Ever After," "General Hospital," "Tracey Takes On...," "Cheers," "Frasier," and "The X-Files" and the made for television film of "The Water Engine." He has appeared in the motion pictures "A River Made To Drown In," "Pretty Woman," and "Twilight Of The Golds," and recently lent his voice to the Oscar winning "Shrek".

He began his professional career in the classical world, having sung concerts in Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park, and over thirty operas with Washington, Boston and New York City operas, including three filmed for television with opera diva Beverly Sills at Wolf Trap.

On the other side of his career he has directed many works for the stage, including The Adding Machine, The Way Of The World, Invitation To A March, A Clearing In The Woods, The Medium (With Glenn Close), The Crucible, A Member Of The Wedding, And The Musicals Gypsy, Brigadoon, Once Upon A Mattress, and The Mikado.

He directed the acclaimed 20th Anniversary production of Sweeney Todd at the Ahmanson Theater, starring Kelsey Grammer, Christine Baranski, and Neil Patrick Harris, and recently directed the equally well received production of Sweeney at Performance Riverside. He directed Educating Rita, Chapter Two, and Dracula for the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, Triumph Of Love at the Falcon Theater, and The Sound Of Music for Cabrillo Music Theater. Recently, he has directed the Los Angeles premieres of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Parade, Street Scene, Drood, Aspects Of Love, and The Most Happy Fella for the Musical Theatre Guild, as well as the Best Musical Ovation Award nominated productions of Urinetown for Interact, and Sunday In The Park With George for West Coast Ensemble. He made his Lincoln Center debut directing "Night And Day: The Words And Music Of Cole Porter" starring Victoria Clark and David Hyde Pierce, part of the acclaimed American Songbook series, in January of 2009.

Upcoming projects include directing Sweeney Todd for a remarkable fourth time for Musical Theatre West in Long Beach in January of 2010, the fabulous Palm Springs benefit ONE NIGHT ONLY in April, and a Sondheim review he will craft with musical director Christopher Marlowe in the second part of the year.

In addition to all of this he maintains and active studio in private voice in Van Nuys, California, having Tony, Emmy, and Oscar winners among his students, including American Idol finalist Adam Lambert.

Joe DiPietro (Playwright) Broadway: Memphis (Fall, 2009), All Shook Up. Off-Broadway: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (longest running musical revue in Off-Broadway history), The Toxic Avenger. Also the long-running comedy, Over The River and Through the Woods. Other works include: The Thing About Men (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Off-Broadway Musical) and Art of Murder (Edgar Award, Best Mystery Play). f-ing Men is now playing in London.

The cast of F*CKING MEN includes: Chad Borden, Mike Ciriaco, Brian Dare, Gregory Franklin, Sean Galuszka, Johnny Kostrey, Jeffrey Patrick Olson, David Pevsner, Michael Rachlis and A.J. Tannen.

f-ing MEN is produced by Michael A. Shepperd and Calvin Remsberg. Associate Producers are Parnell Damone and David Joseph. The scenic design is by Tom Buderwitz, the lighting design is by Jeremy Pivnick, costume design is by Daavid Hawkins and the sound design is by Lindsay Jones. The show is Stage Managed by Tracey McAvoy. Celebration Theatre's Artistic Director is Michael A. Shepperd, Managing Director is Michael Kricfalusi.

f-ing MEN will preview on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10 and will open on Friday, September 11 and run through Sunday, October 25. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Ticket prices are $25.00 for all performances.

F*CKING MEN is performed at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. For Tickets, please call 323-957-1884 or visit the Celebration Theatre website at www.celebrationtheatre.com. For more information or for press comps, please contact David Elzer at 818-508-1754 or at ElzerD@aol.com

Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experience. We endeavor to challenge society's perception of this community and give a vibrant voice to its evolving identity.

The theatre is located at 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. (1/2 block east of LaBrea) in Hollywood.

For more information, please visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.

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