Celebration Theatre Presents TAKE ME OUT, Previews 9/22

Celebration Theatre is thrilled to present the second show in its 2010-2011 Season of Shows, the Tony Award-winning play, TAKE ME OUT, written by Richard Greenberg and directed by Michael Matthews and produced for Celebration Theatre by Nicholas Caprio, Michael C. Kricfalusi, Todd Milliner and Christopher Sepulveda. TAKE ME OUT will preview on Wednesday, September 22, and Thursday, September 23 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 24 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 31 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

Darren Lemming is the star center fielder for the champion New York Empires. An extraordinary athlete, he fills both his fans and his teammates with awe at his abilities and his presence on the field and off. When he makes the matter-of-fact announcement that he's gay, he throws his team into turmoil and confusion, while he also emboldens his closeted accountant, Mason Marzac, to come to terms with his own sexuality-and to fully experience the pure joy of watching great athletes play a sport as well as it can be played. But Darren's announcement brings to the fore the confused and twisted hostilities of the Empires' brilliantly talented but deeply racist and homophobic pitcher, Shane Mungitt-from whose rage tragic consequences ensue.

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Richard Greenberg (Playwright) is the author of Take Me Out (Tony, New York Drama Critics, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lortel and Drama League Awards), The Violet Hour, The Dazzle (Outer Critics Circle Award), Hurrah at Last, Three Days of Rain (L.A. Drama Critics Award; Olivier, Drama Desk, Hull-Warriner nominations) and many other plays. He won the Oppenheimer Award for a debuting playwright, the first Pen/Laura Pels Award for a mid-career playwright and has twice been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. A Naked Girl on the Appian Way marks the first of a series of Greenberg plays to see the New York stage this season. The playwright was last represented on Broadway with his Tony Award-winning Take Me Out and The Violet Hour. His play Three Days of Rain was revived on Broadway starring Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd in March, 2006. Other new works being unveiled include The House in Town at Lincoln Center Theater and Bal Masque at Washington D.C.'s Theater J. He is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and an associate artist of South Coast Repertory.

Michael Matthews (Director) Broadway: Butley (Assistant Director). Los Angeles: The Women of Brewster Place, the Musical (West Coast Premiere), Haram! Iran! (West Coast Premiere), Three Tall Women, The Santa Land Diaries, The Jazz Age (West Coast Premiere), The Prodigal Father (World Premiere), Porcelain, Stupid Kids (LA Premiere), Beautiful Thing (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Play), The Bacchae (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Play), Four (West Coast Premiere); Dead End (Assistant Director) Ahmanson Theatre and The Cherry Orchard (Assistant Director) Mark Taper Forum. Chicago: What's Wrong With Angry? (Jeff Nominations, Best Director and Best Production), In The Blood (Jeff Nominations, Best Director and Best Production), Porcelain (Jeff Nomination, Best Director), The Judas Kiss (Chicago Premiere), Being 11 (World Premiere), and...for colored girls who have considered suicide.... Michael served as the Artistic Director of Celebration Theatre from 2005-2008 and is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, National Shakespeare Conservatory, NY, and an alumnus of Director's Lab West 2008. Member SDC.

The CAST of TAKE ME OUT features: Rick Cosnett, Tom Costello, Delarosa, Duke Dlouhy, Michael Edwin, Eiji Inoue, Ari Katz, Garrett Matheson, Thomas James O'Leary and Jacques C. Smith

TAKE ME OUT has assembled an award-winning design team. The scenic design is by Kurt Boetcher. The lighting design is by Tim Swiss. The sound design is by Veronica Lancaster. The costume design is by E.B. Brooks and the prop design is by Michael O'Hara. The show is Stage Managed by Marcedes Clanton. Celebration Theatre's Artistic Director is Michael A. Shepperd, Managing Director is Michael C. Kricfalusi.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

TAKE ME OUT will preview on Wednesday, September 22 and Thursday, September 23 at 8pm and open on Friday, September 24 and will run through Sunday, October 31. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Ticket prices are $15.00 for previews, $35.00 for opening night, and $30.00 for all other performances.

TAKE ME OUT 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.

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