Oh, Kaczmarek, Glover, Field & More To Perform McNally Works to Benefit Ojai Playwrights Conference

Award-winning stars are aligning for the annual Gala Benefit supporting the Ojai Playwrights Conference on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Ojai, California. Two-time Oscar and three-time Emmy winner Sally Field (Places in the Heart, Norma Rae, Brothers & Sisters); Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy), Emmy and Golden Globe winner Ted Danson (Cheers, Something About Amelia); and Oscar and Golden Globe Winner Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard) have just joined the cast for a one-night only performance entitled "Hearts on Fire" created and directed by Robert Egan with Michael Morris. Also performing at the Benefit are Emmy-winning actress Dana Delany (China Beach, Desperate Housewives); Emmy nominated and Tony winner John Glover (Smallville, Love! Valour! Compassion!); Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle); Golden Globe winning songwriter Amanda McBroom (The Rose); Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek 2009); Steven Weber (Wings) and Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Noah Wyle (ER). Order tickets at www.ojaiplays.org or call (805) 640-0400.

"Hearts on Fire" celebrates the passion and power of the human heart through an eclectic mix of scenes by some of America's greatest playwrights, including four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally. McNally will be attending the event, and will be honored with the 2010 OPC Award at the dinner following the show. This original evening of theatre is the inspiration of OPC Artistic Director/Producer Robert Egan, who promises a heart-breaking, heart-lifting and heart-throbbing theatre experience."These amazing actors are coming together for just one night to support the Ojai Playwrights Conference" said Egan. "It will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this collection of talent on stage together."

The Benefit begins at 5:30 pm with "Hearts on Fire" at Matilija Auditorium in Ojai. At 7:30 pm, the festivities continue at St. Thomas Aquinas Hall for a gourmet dinner, dancing, the OPC awards and a live auction. The stars will be at the dinner, and many will participate as celebrityauctioneers. The dinner is being organized by award-winning chef Michael Hollingsworth, creator of culinary magic for Bill Clinton, Barbara Streisand, Russell Crowe, and ElizaBeth Taylor among others. The auction will feature trips abroad, a set visit to Desperate Housewives, theatre packages, and romantic getaways for Valentine's Day. A major focus of the dinner will be the presentation of the 2010 OPC Award to Terrence McNally.

"Terrence is one of America's greatest living playwrights. So many awards, so much output, and so many extraordinary characters brought to life in his poignant plays," notes Egan. "McNally participated in the Ojai Playwrights Conference several years ago, and developed one of his plays here," he added. "He said it was one of the best developmental experiences of his life. As a way of thanking him for his many brilliant plays and musicals and his contribution to the Ojai Playwrights Conference - we are honoring him with the 2010 OPC Award."

McNally has won Tony Awards for his plays Master Class and Love! Valour! Compassion! and his books for the musicals Ragtime and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

He has also written a number of TV scripts, including Andre's Mother, for which he won an Emmy. Born in 1939, McNally produced his first play in 1964 at the age of 25. Although several early comedies such as Next (1969) and The Ritz (1975) won McNally significant praise, it was not until later in his career that he would become internationally renowned with works such as Frankie and Johnny at the Claire de Lune (1987) for which he wrote the screen adaptation which starred Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. In addition to his four Tony Awards, McNally has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Hull-Warriner Award, and a citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. (source: www.imagi-nation.com)

The Ojai Playwrights Conference, founded in 1997, is now in its thirteenth season. Under the direction of Artistic Director/Producer Robert Egan, theatre professionals and enthusiastic audiences from Southern California converge in the beautiful Ojai Valley to participate in the development of previously un-produced new plays for the American Theatre. The secluded and beautiful countryside of Ojai provides an environment conducive for creative freedom, process, and experimentation. Playwrights are brought to Ojai for a two-week, intensive, in-residence workshop of their plays that culminates in public readings.

Public symposiums featuring prominent artists in the theatre community are presented to discuss topics that enrich the cultural and artistic life of the citizens of Ojai and the Southern California area. OPC is also committed to nurturing the writing talents of Ojai's youth. Under the direction of Kim Maxwell, local junior high and high school students get to participate in a mentorship program with visiting theatre professionals. Their work culminates with original material performed publicly by the students during the second week of the Conference.

The Conference is committed to the following mission:

*To develop and advance un-produced plays of artistic excellence by both established and emerging playwrights.

*To support diverse voices who focus on compelling social, political, and cultural issues.

*To promote creative freedom and experimentation, and support the development process in a retreat environment

*To nurture a new generation of playwrights by providing a comprehensive Youth Playwriting Workshop.

*To present a series of public symposia with prominent guest artists on topics that will enrich the political, cultural, and artistic life of Southern Californians.

Playwrights from around the world have participated in the Conference. Most of the OPC plays have been produced at theatres throughout the United States, including the Mark Taper Forum, the Goodman Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and Broadway. OPC plays have also been produced in London's West End, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Here are the writers that have been developed at the Ojai Playwrights Conference:

Luis Alfaro, Jon Robin Baitz, Doris Baizley, Neena Beber, Stephen Belber, Lee Blessing, Keith Bunin, Bill Cain, Julia Cho, Rick Cleveland, Steve Connell, Heather Dundas, Christopher Durang, Jessica Goldberg, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Danai Gurira, Cody Henderson, Danny Hoch, Linda Hunt, David Ives, Elroyce Jones, Julia Jordan, Arthur L. Kopit, Sherry Kramer, Mary Lathrop, Deborah Zoe Laufer, John Rafter Lee, David Lindsay-Abaire, John Quincy Long, Lisa Loomer, Joe Loya, Lynn Manning, Rogelio Martinez, Susan Miller, T.D. Mitchell, Peter Morris, Kira Obolensky, Peter Parnell, Adam Rapp, Ben Rosenthal, Ari Roth, Nikkole Salter, Sekuo (tha Misfit), Bernardo Solano, Kelly Stuart, Lloyd Suh, Annie Weisman, Charlayne Woodard

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