Unorganized Crime, LLC presents a world premiere play, UNORGANIZED CRIME, written by Kenny D'Aquila, directed by David Fofi and starring Chazz Palminteri ("A Bronx Tale," "Bullets Over Broadway"). UNORGANIZED CRIME will preview tonight, April 26 at 8pm; Monday, April 28, Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30 at 8pm and will open on Thursday, May 1 at 7pm and run through Sunday, May 25 at the Elephant Theatre, 1076 N. Lillian Way. (at Santa Monica Blvd., one block west of Vine) in Hollywood.
Comments Mr. Palminteri, "Twenty-five years ago a gentleman named Robert De Niro gave me my first break. He saw me in a play in a little theatre in Hollywood and that's how the movie "A Bronx Tale" got made. Since then I've always tried to make it a point to help young people who are really talented because I know what it's like trying to get noticed in this business because I was that guy. This play was written by an unknown playwright and actor, Kenny D'Aquila, whose work deserves to be seen and heard. So I wanted to see if I could help Kenny in the same manner Robert De Niro helped me."
ABOUT THE CAST:CHAZZ PALMINTERI (Sal) Bronx-born and raised Chazz Palminteri was a natural choice to continue the long line of prominent Italian actors in the film industry. In the tradition set forth in the 1970s by such icons as director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, Palminteri has brought grit, muscle and an evocative realism to the sidewalks of his New York neighborhood, violent as they are and were. Born in 1952, Palmintieri grew up in a tough area of the Bronx and it gave young Calogero (Palminteri's given first name) the life lessons that would later prove very useful to his career. He started out pursuing his craft in studying at the Actor's Studio with Lee Straussberg. He appeared off-Broadway in the early 1980s while paying his dues as a singer in his own band. Well known for "A Bronx Tale," Palminteri originally wrote the script for the stage and performed it as a one-man show in Los Angeles. It became the hottest property in Hollywood since "Rocky". Mr. Palminteri was offered over a million dollars to walk away from the project and with $200.00 left in the bank he refused. He wanted to play Sonny and write the screenplay. One night Robert De Niro walked in to see the show and as they say "the rest is history." He then moved the production to New York, where it played for four sold-out months and earned him nominations for the New York Outer Critics Circle for both acting and writing. While in New York he completed the screenplay of A BRONX TALE and soon found himself starring opposite Robert De Niro, who chose the script for his directorial debut.
DAVID FOFI (Director, Artistic Director - The Elephant Theatre Company) After serving with the US Navy, David Fofi went on to study theatre at California State University Long Beach, where he met a core group of artists who would become the Elephant Theatre Company, founded in 1995 in downtown Los Angeles. In 1998, along with Don Cesario, he created Elephant Stages and the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood, where The Elephant Theatre Company now makes its home, where he serves as Artistic Director.
Dave has enjoyed working in many aspects of the theatre as a Director, Producer, and Designer. His directing credits include: The World Premiere of The Twilight of Schlomo by Timothy McNeil (Los Angeles Times' Critic's Choice); The North Plan by Jason Wells (Huffington Post's top ten productions of 2013); The World Premiere ofCollision by Lyle Kessler at the Rattlestick Theater in New York (Critic's Pick Time Out NY); the world premiere of Farm Boy by Michael Morpugo stage adaptation by Daniel Buckroyd (Los Angeles Times' Critics Choice, Backstage Critic's Pick) at The Matrix Theatre, the west coast premiere of The Late Henry Moss by Sam Shepard (Backstage Critic's Pick ," GO" LA Weekly), the West Coast Premiere of The Little Flower of East Orange by Stephen Adly Guirgis (Ovation Recommended); and In Arabia We'd All Be Kings by Stephen Adly Guirgis (4 LADCC Awards including Best Production, Critic's Pick, LA Times and Backstage); the World Premiere of Parasite Drag by Mark Roberts (Ovation Recommended, Critic's Pick Backstage and LA Weekly); the World Premiere of The Idea Man by Kevin King (Ovation Award for Best New Play, Ovation nominee Best direction); the World Premiere of Asleep on a Bicycle by Tony Foster (Critic's Pick, LA Times and Backstage); the World Premiere of Anything by Tim McNeil (3 LADCC Awards, Best Direction included, Critic's Pick LA Times, Backstage; Carlos Lacamara's play Exiles, produced by The Hayworth Theatre (Critic's Pick, Backstage); the world-premiere Los Muertos by Timothy McNeil (Critic's Pick, LA Times; Pick of the Week ReviewPlays.com); The Sand Storm (Critic's Pick, Backstage, featured in the LA Times Calendar and LA Weekly); the World Premiere Sensitive Skin by Shem Bitterman; (Feature in LA Weekly); Hellcab by Will Kern (Critic's Pick, Backstage); the World Premiere of Robert J. Litz's One World (recommended, LA Times and LA Weekly; Critic's Pick, two NAACP award nominations. UNORGANIZED CRIME features an award-winning design team. The set design is by Ovation Award-winner Joel Daavid. The lighting design is by Nicholas Davidson. Original music and sound design are by Peter Bayne. The casting direction is by Amy Lieberman. The General Manager is Nicki Genovese. The show is being produced by Chazz Palminteri and Josh Silver. The Executive Producer is Dave Finkelstein. UNORGANIZED CRIME will preview on Saturday, April 26 at 8pm; Monday, April 28; Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30 at 8pm and will open on Thursday, May 1 at 7:00pm and run through Sunday, May 25 at the Elephant Theatre, 1076 N. Lillian Way (at Santa Monica Blvd., one block west of Vine) in Hollywood. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00pm; Sundays at 7:00pm. Ticket prices are $34.99 for all Performances; $30 for the Previews. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.tix.com or by calling (800) 595-4849. For further information on the play, visit www.unorganizedcrimetheplay.com.Videos