In response to overwhelming demand, INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES, the interactive theatrical experience where audiences go behind the headlines into the private lives of very public personas, has extended its run again at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena through June 28, 2009.
A current "Critics Choice" by the Los Angeles Times, INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES was Los Angeles Magazine "Pick of the Month" (Sept. 2008) LA Weekly "Pick of the Week" in 2007 and "Pick of the Fringe" at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The production returned to Los Angeles this past September 7, and celebrated its 100th performance May 3. The celebration continues throughout May with every performance featuring a post show dessert reception and a portion of the box office going to worthy local charities including Para Los Ninos, a family services organization that helps children and their families in some of the most challenging Los Angeles communities, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services, an organization that provides culturally sensitive, comprehensive treatment, specialized education and support services to abused, neglected or at-risk children and their families, Hollywood Media + Arts, an organization that offers arts-based instruction to homeless and foster care young people, and Dusty's Riders, an organization that gives at-risk youngsters a chance to recess in nature with horses.
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES has also been invited as one of 10 national companies to the 2009 San Francisco Fringe this September and is scheduled to run the entire length of the festival (September 9-20).
In honor of the 100th performance, a commemorative book will be gifted to audience members with a $40 donation to the show. " A Look Inside: Inside Private Lives - 100 Performances" features all new photography by David Beall with intriguing portraits of the actors and their characters, quotes from the actors about playing these controversial characters, as well as a detailed production history.
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES plays Sunday evenings at 7:00pm at Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Avenue in South Pasadena. Tickets are $25.00 with a $5.00 discount for students and senior citizens and can be purchased by calling Theatermania at 866-811-4111 or online at InsidePrivateLives.com. There is a free parking lot and ample street parking. For more information visit www.InsidePrivateLives.com <http://www.InsidePrivateLives.com> .
On Sunday May 10, in addition to our 100th month-long celebration, we're honoring all moms at the show with a half price ticket $12.50 ticket (regular ticket price $25.00). Use the promotional code "mom" when purchasing ticket.
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES makes audience members part of the action, as they are encouraged to confront and challenge the likes of cult leaders, celebrities, political operatives, sports figures and other notorious newsmakers of the 20th century. Scandals and secrets are revealed. Six controversial figures are featured at every performance, and with a gallery of over sixteen notorious newsmakers to choose from, every show is different.
Creator/producer Kristin Stone says, "The response from our Los Angeles audiences continues to be absolutely thrilling, as we extend our run for the fourth time."
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES is created by Kristin Stone ("The Boob Tube" at Second City Theatre, L.A.) and directed by Lee Michael Cohn (co-author of the bestseller "Personal Handbook For The Actor.") INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES is presented by Kristin Stone Entertainment, in association with Lissa and
James Reynolds, Fremont Centre Theatre and the California Performing Arts Centre.
The figures portrayed in INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES include: Christine Jorgensen, first transgender personality; David Koresh, leader of the Davidian Cult who led his followers to a fiery death in Waco; Marge Schott, outspoken owner of the Cincinnati Reds;
Billy Carter, America's beer drinking "First Brother"; Brownie Wise, innovator of Tupperware Home Sales Parties; John Dillinger, the notorious Depression-era bank robber considered by some to be a modern day Robin Hood;
Elia Kazan, celebrated stage and film director damned for his cooperation with the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy Era; Julia Phillips, acerbic motion picture producer of "The Sting" and "Close Encounter of The Third Kind;" King Edward VIII who abdicated the throne for his love of an American divorcee; Wallis Simpson, the woman King Edward VIII loved;
Jane Roberts, trance channeler of the spirit entity "Seth"; Bobby Sands, the first of the ten IRA members to die in 1980's hunger strike; Aimee Semple McPherson, one of the first widely popular evangelists; Ann Landers, advice-dispensing columnist; Timothy Leary, the proponent of LSD; Leona Helmsley, notorious hotel magnate; and Glenn Gould, eccentric piano genius.
The Ensemble cast, which also features Kristin Stone as Christine Jorgensen includes: Freddy Douglas as King Edward VIII, Leonora Gershman as Julia Phillips,
Diana Morrison as Ann Landers, Molly Hagan as Aimee Semple McPherson, Jade Carter as John Dillinger, Maddisen Krown as
Jane Roberts, Adam LeBow as
Elia Kazan,
Mary MacDonald as Marge Schott, Eileen O'Connell as Brownie Wise,
Paul Thomas Ryan as Bobby Sands, Bryan Safi as
Billy Carter, David Shofner as David Koresh, Drew Droege as Jack Valenti, Shelia Wolf as Wallis Simpson, Fred Cross as Timothy Leary, Silvie Zamora as Leona Helmsley, and Rick Steadman as Glenn Gould.
In addition, Eileen O'Connell is returning to the show in May and June as legendary Tupperware saleswoman Brownie Wise.
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES was first seen at the 2005 North Hollywood Theater & Arts Festival, an annual Los Angeles event. The workshop performance included just three characters and played to a capacity house and rave response. The NoHo Festival organizers invited the show back for the 2006 festival where it again played to capacity houses. This workshop production consisted of two performances and four characters per show. Another workshop production followed in June 2006 at Hollywood's Actor's Playpen. This four-performance production consisted of six characters and an intermission. Continued audience enthusiasm for this experimental show compelled the producer to mount a six week, Sunday evening run, premiering at the Lex Theatre in Hollywood in October of 2006.
Audience and critics agreed INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES was unlike anything they had experienced before. The show extended several times, finally closing in June 2007 for its summer tour to New York City and Edinburgh, Scotland.
INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES premiered its festival length show in New York City at the "East to Edinburgh" series
hosted by the 59E59 Theaters in July 2007, and made its international debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2007. The show was acknowledged as a "Pick of the Fringe" - a coveted distinction and was also recognized as one of the "Best of the Fest" with Hairline Magazine's (UK) "Hairline Highlights of the Fringe 2007" award. Only five shows out of more than 1000 received this honor. INSIDE PRIVATE LIVES relaunched it's current full-length show at the Fremont Centre Theatre September 7, 2008.
