NoHo ACE Premieres The Musical INSANITY 6/26-8/9

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) in association with Larry Russo present a world premiere musical, INSANITY, from the creative team that brought you Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs Muir and Lizard, with music and lyrics by Scott DeTurk, book and additional lyrics by James J. Mellon, choreography by Suzanne Carlton, musical direction by Bobby Naffarete and direction by James J. Mellon. INSANITY will preview on Thursday, June 18 at 8:00pm; Friday, June 19 at 8pm; Saturday, June 20 at 8pm; Sunday, June 21 at 3pm and Thursday, June 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 26 at 8:00pm and will run for eight weeks through Sunday, August 9 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Zarek Saxton is one of Hollywood's biggest directors and he thinks he is making a movie that will "change the world." Problem is, he was supposed to be making a "slasher" film. In steps the Studio Producer, who, thanks to an Insanity Clause in Zarek's contract, has the eccentric director confined to a psych ward for observation. It is then up to an uptight, emotionally unavailable doctor, Megan Goodman, to decide whether or not he is fit to return to his movie. What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming journey from the comical side of the craziness that is Tinseltown - to the craziness which might just turn out to be "Normal."

James J. Mellon (Director/Book & Additional Lyrics) is the Artistic Director of The NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHoAce), the resident theatre company of the Center. His extensive background in the entertainment industry covers theatre, television, film, recording and dance. As a Director/Choreographer, Mr. Mellon recently staged Pest Control; The Musical and the workshop production of The Thief, for Canum Entertainment. He directed the World Premiere of his musicals, Yo Ho Ho, A Pirates Christmas and Lizard, based on the novel by Dennis Covington, Dorian, a contemporary adaptation of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" at the prestigious Buell Theatre, the crown jewel of The Denver Theatre Center and the West Coast Premiere at The NoHo Arts Center. He adapted and directed the World Premiere of the award-winning musical, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and last season he directed the critically-acclaimed world premiere production of Feed, a play workshopped and developed by Open at the Top at The NoHo Arts Center for which he received an LA Weekly nomination for direction. He created for the Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. the highly acclaimed ‘expanded' version of The Fantastiks, starring "Greater Tuna" stars Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. Mr. Mellon staged the New York workshop of his original musical, An Unfinished Song, as well as the subsequent Boston production at the Charles Playhouse and the West Coast Premiere at the Tiffany Theatre, which received a nomination for Musical of the Year. Mr. Mellon has been nominated for numerous Ovation Awards, an LA Weekly Award, a Garland Award and is the recipient of 4 ADA Awards for writing, directing and choreography.

Scott DeTurk (Composer/Lyricist) has co-written music and lyrics to the musicals: Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, A Boy Called Lizard, Yo Ho Ho! A Pirate's Christmas, The Right Step, Piano Player and Western Star. He has written music and lyrics to six musicals published by Pioneer Drams Services. He has written scripts for Time-Warner's "RBI Baseball" and "VirtuaRacing" along with scores for dozens of industrial, educational, sports and promotional films. Scott has received the Bay Area's Elly Award for musical direction. He has a degree in music composition from the University of Northern Colorado. Scott has been nominated for two Ovation Awards for his score to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and A Boy Called Lizard, an LA Weekly Award for Musical of the Year for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and he received the ADA Award and the Garland Award for his score to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
The cast of INSANITY features (in alphabetical order) Kevin Bailey, Brad Blaisdell, Curtis C., Johnny Cannizzaro, Cat Davis, Janet Fontaine, Alex Robert Holmes, Dana Meller. Sabrina Miller, Joshua Moore, Bob Morrisey, Tara Lynn Orr, Richard Patire, Clarissa Park, Kathryn Percival, Arthur Ross, Kenn Schmidt, Ron Slanina, Victor Warren and Jonathan Zenz.

The production has assembled an award-winning design team. The Set Design is by Ovation Award-winner Laura Fine Hawkes (Snake in the Grass, Poor Beast in the Rain). The Lighting Design is by Ovation Award-winner Luke Moyer (Dracula, Elizabeth Rex). The Sound Design is by Ovation Award nominee Jonathan Zenz (Elizabeth Rex). The Costume Design is by Curtis Jackson (Ain't Misbehavin, Zastrozzi).

INSANITY will preview on Thursday, June 18 at 8:00pm; Friday, June 19 at 8pm; Saturday, June 20 at 8pm; Sunday, June 21 at 3pm and Thursday, June 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, June 26 at 8:00pm and will run for eight weeks through Sunday, August 9 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm.

Ticket prices are $35.00 for adults for all performances; Student/Senior Tickets are $30. For tickets, please call 818-508-7101 x7 or visit www.thenohoartscenter.com.

THE NOHO ARTS CENTER and THE NOHO ARTS CENTER ENSEMBLE (formerly Open At The Top Productions) were created in 2004, when theatre veterans James J. Mellon and Kevin Bailey partnered with Doug Hutchinson and purchased the American Renegade Theatre. Following extensive renovations, the newly christened The NoHo Arts Center opened its doors in September of 2004. The Center's resident company - the multiple award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) - is comprised of actors, directors and writers, galvanized into a passionate ensemble that creates new plays and musicals, adopting as their vision statement "Theatre for Its Own Sake."
In its first season, producing as OPEN AT THE TOP, the company mounted two World Premiere musicals: THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR, and the West Coast Premiere of the musical DORIAN. The season also boasted both parts of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, the Los Angeles Premiere of Seth Greenland's JERUSALEM and four evenings of 24 HOURS OF MADNESS-where six 15-minute original plays are written, fully produced and performed off-book within a 24-hour period. Their second season brought the hit, re-imagined production of the musical BARNUM, the critically acclaimed ELIZABETH REX and the World Premiere musical A BOY CALLED LIZARD.

Seasons three and four brought the company even greater acclaim as it presented the world premiere play, FEED, written by company member Jim Lunsford; the West Coast Premiere of the hit New York musical revue, BUSH IS BAD; and the award winning play, PALACE OF THE END. The just completed fourth season brought three world premieres, the musicals YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, and PEST CONTROL - THE MUSICAL, and the play DEPARTURES. The fifth season has already seen the updated BUSH IS BAD- Alaskan Beauty Queen Edition and the just concluded long-running hit revival of DRACULA. Next is the American premiere of EAST OF BERLIN and the world premiere musical from the team of James Mellon and Scott DeTurk, INSANITY. THE NOHO ARTS CENTER has garnered three Ovation Awards and 19 nominations; two Garland Awards, along with 10 nominations; eight ADA Awards (including Best Director and Choreography for LIZARD) and 24 nominations; three LA Weekly Awards and five LA WEEKLY nominations; and three LADCC Award nominations.

 

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