Photo Flash: About Productions' BLEEDING THROUGH

About Productions presents the World Premiere of Bleeding Through, co-written and co-directed by Theresa Chavez and Rose Portillo. The production, inspired by and adapted from Klein's highly praised inventive novella of the same name, opens Saturday, October 31 at Shakespeare Festival/LA in Downtown Los Angeles and runs through November 22 and the first production photos have been released. 

A theatrical layering of live music, video, and interactive setting, Bleeding Through uncovers the narrative ghosts of L.A.'s Historic Angelino Heights District and the adjacent Downtown area-a neighborhood where more cinematic "murders" have occurred than anywhere else in the world. This noir-influenced theaterwork explores the shaping of a city's memory by commonplace experiences, chronicled history and cinematic influences.

Klein's novella was part of the landmark interactive production, Bleeding Through: Layers of Los Angeles, 1920-1986, an interactive database documentary, which also included a DVD-ROM. It also was presented as a traveling museum installation, and was a co-production of The Labyrinth Project (a research initiative and art collective at the University of Southern California) and ZKM/Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe.

About Productions' stage adaptation was commissioned by The Edge of the World Theatre Festival's 2008 Los Angeles History Project, and was presented in workshop, along with the work of five other innovative L.A. theater companies at the Autry National Center, July 2008. In June 2009 Bleeding Through was presented in a concert reading at Shakespeare Festival/LA, and then as a site-specific performance at a home in Historic Angelino Heights.

Bleeding Through entwines elements of live performance, installation, video and live music. The production highlights the creative talents of Vinny Golia (original music), Scott Collins (featured musician) Alkeime Mitterlehner (set design), Francois-Pierre Couture (light design), Pamela Shaw (costume design) and Claudio Rocha (videography). The acting ensemble includes: David Fruechting, Brian Joseph, Lynn Milgrim, Pete Pano, Elizabeth Rainey, Ed Ramolete, James Terry and Kikey Castillo.

About Productions creates original interdisciplinary theaterworks and educational programs that provoke new perspectives on history, humanity and culture. It is dedicated to generating new work through collaboration in order to create artistic and community dialogue.

Now celebrating its 21st year, this independent, itinerant theater company's critically acclaimed productions have been seen extensively in Greater Los Angeles, toured nationally and in Canada, and have been featured on national television. About Productions has created and produced multiple theaterworks which focus on Los Angeles history including their 2011 premiere, Evangeline, Queen of Make-Believe, co-written by Los Lobos, musician/composer Louie Perez, and About Productions' Rose Portillo and Theresa Chavez. It will feature the music of Los Lobos, and be presented as a workshop production in June, 2010 in Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Bleeding Through premieres Saturday, October 31 at 8PM. The production previews Oct. 23, 24, 25, 29 & 30. The production continues Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm, until November 22, 2009. Shakespeare Festival/LA is located at 1238 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Opening Night tickets are $40 (includes post-play Noir Costume Party). General admission tickets are: $25 (Fri., Sat. Sun); $20 (Thurs.); $20 (students/seniors). Groups(6+): $10 BEST VALUE. For tickets and information visit www.aboutpd.org. Call 800-595-4TIX (4849).

The production is generously supported in part by The Irvine Foundation and The California Community Foundation; with additional support from the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Photo Credit: Theresa Chavez

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