MASKS To Open at J.E.T. Studios 1/20

MASKS is a buddy dramedy about two men growing up in the juvenile justice system, struggling to make it to manhood, battling with their past to shed their masks as they deal with crucial life issues that young people face. The piece is written and performed by award-winning playwrights, Terryl Daluz and Mann Alfonso.

The play will run January 20 – February 21, and continues to run the last Tuesday of the month beginning March 2012. MASKS finds a home at J.ET. Studios in the NoHo Arts District of North Hollywood, CA. MASKS' creators, Terryl Daluz and Mann Alfonso, are partnering with Judith E., owner of J.ET. Studios, to present the play.

MASKS won an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Playwright – Local at a star-studded event at the Kodak Theatre in the summer of 2008. MASKS was also a participant in the 2010 NYC International Fringe Festival where Broadway producer, Kevin Davenport named it, “One of the top 10 shows that stand out”. The play was adapted into a short film, "The Fighter and the Clown", starring Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint, Contagion) and was an official selection of The Hollywood Film Festival in 2010.

MASKS, addresses many issues that young people deal with every day. Mann Alfsonso and Terryl Daluz know a lot about these issues because they have been working as counselors with group home kids for over a decade. They are both the playwrights and the actors in this two-man show. Alfonso has been performing on stage since he was a toddler. He studied theatre at UMass and Cal State LA. Daluz got his start in theatre also, honing his craft performing with the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company. They both moved to Los Angeles to pursue their acting careers and have appeared in various films and on TV.

Writers/Performers/Producers

TERRYL DALUZ (Jason) is a native of New Haven, CT. He moved to New York to pursue his acting career. While in New York, Terryl became as ensemble member of the critically acclaimed black theater company, the Negro Ensemble Company whose alumni include Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Samuel L. Jackson, etc. He performed in several Off -Broadway plays with the Negro Ensemble Company. Terryl also became a member of CityKids Repertory which is home to several Hollywood actors, Malik Yoba, Donald Faison, Lisa Nicole Carson and Isaiah Washington. While at CityKids he was offered a job as Artistic Director. He was Artistic Director for several major projects at CityKids. He directed the CityKids Repertory along with Tony Award-winning performer, Savion Glover in the Disney Young Musicians special on Disney Channel. He was also Artistic Director for CityKids Annual Gala at Manhattan Center. Terryl along with recording artist Michael Bolton was instrumental in spearheading a new chapter of CityKids to New Haven, CT. He put his acting career aside to help give hundreds of young talented people a safe space to explore the art of self expression. Eventually, he did have the opportunity to co-star in several feature films. Some of Terryl’s film & television credits include, Dark Blue, Lincoln Heights, Star Trek 2009, Eagle Eye, Drive By, A Love Story and 30 Days, starring Taye Diggs, Hill Harper and Ellen Burstyn. Terryl now resides in LA working at a group home and is pursuing his acting career. Along with his writing partner Mann Alfonso, Terryl Daluz won an 18th NAACP Theatre Award for Best Playwright – Local at the Kodak Theater for their play MASKS.

MANN ALFONSO (T.G.) has been performing on stages since he was a toddler. He studied theatre from U-Mass, Boston to Cal State-L.A. Stage productions include: Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Film Credits include: The Dukes, co-starring Robert Davi and Chazz Palminteri. Undiscovered, starring Ashlee Simpson, and Baseketball, directed by David Zucker. T.V. credits include: The Shield, Mad TV, Unsolved Mysteries, and was a serried regular on Martin Short’s Primetime Glick. Mann has also appeared on several national commercials such as: Miller Lite, Domino’s, and currently running, Statefarm. Mann starred in the first ever webisode on the internet “Brawny Academy”. He has also performed voiceover work on various films such as: Ant Bully, Jennifer Lopez’s El Cantante, and soon to be released Pride and Glory, starring Collin Farrel. He studied and performed at Improv Olympic for 9 years. Along with pursuing his acting career, Mann has been consistently working in the social services field since 1992. He broke into the field working at a homeless shelter and went on to work in a battered women’s shelter and homes for children with autism. For the past 10 years, Mann has been working at group homes for at risk youth in Southern California.

JUDITH E. (Producer) Judith E. trained at Lee Strasberg Institute and HB Studios with Herburt Berghof and Anne Jackson. She has twenty-seven years experience as a New York stage actress and has produced more than thirty shows in both New York City and Los Angeles since 1991. Judith E. has also trained at Beverly Hills Playhouse, The Groundlings, and the Stella Adler Institute in Los Angeles. For more information on Judith E. please visit: http://www.thejetstudios.com/jetproductionswest/producer.html.

Opens: Friday, January 20 at 8pm
Runs: January 20 – February 21, 2012
Shows: Friday, January 20 at 8pm, Saturday, January 21 at 7pm, Sunday, January 22 at 3pm
Friday, January 27 at 8pm, Saturday, January 28 at 7pm
Tuesday, February 7 at 7:30pm, & Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30pm
Beginning March 2012 show will continue to run the last Tuesday of the month
General Admission: $20; Seniors/Students: $15; Groups 10or more+: $12
Buy Tickets: www.masksplay.eventbrite.com or (818) 358-3453
Show Schedule: www.masksplay.eventbrite.com
Information: www.masksproductions.com

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