The Elephant Man Leads Mechanicals Theatre Group's 2012 Season 4/14-5/15

The Mechanicals Theatre Group, a professional Acting Company (Los Angeles), has announced its tenth anniversary 2012 season to include an ambitious trio of classic plays. The season opens with The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance April 14th – May 15th, produced by company member Monica Raymund (Lie To Me, The Good Wife), directed by Neil Patrick Stewart, co-director of the Tony-winning smash hit In The Heights for its first four years of development, and assistant directed by Jordan Belfi (Entourage).

The season continues with Rosencrantz and Guildernstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard presented July 14th – August 19th, and The Grapes of Wrath by Frank Galati, based on the book by John Steinback, closes the main stage season October 6th – November 11th. The Mechanicals Theatre Group is the resident theatre company at the Pico Playhouse in West Los Angeles, located at 10508 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064. All performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m.

Tickets and further information are available through the website at www.mechanicalstheatregroup.com.

Fundraiser
The Mechanicals will sponsor a raucous night of entertainment through a Ladies’ Arm Wrestling Tournament as the first fundraiser event for the 2012 season on March 28, 2012. More information is available through the website above.

About The Mechanicals
Describing the goal behind the Inside the Classics: Outside The Box season, founding Artistic Director Eric Bilitch explains, “The incredible audience response to the sold out performances of last season’s multi-gender, multi-ethnic casting of 12 Angry Men, and the bare bones adaptation of Twelfth Night demonstrated that one of our greatest strengths is ensemble-driven work that takes advantage of the depth of talent in the actors of our company.” Co-Artistic Director Jacob Harvey adds, “One of the tenants of the Mechanicals philosophy is to approach well-known works as if they are brand new in order to discover a fresh point-of-view that will excite audiences that are familiar with the works and be a great first experience for those who are not. We want to continue to create a stimulating conversation with our patrons.”

Outreach Program
The Mechanicals Theatre Group was founded in 2003 by graduates of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and 2011 marked the end of the first full year of the Mechanicals Outreach Program. With many company members who benefitted from high school arts programs, Bilitch says, “We have always expressed that The Mechanicals are not just a company of actors, but a company of theatre artists. We endeavor, through the Outreach Program, to provide students with writing, directing, producing, design, and theatre history knowledge in an effort to open their eyes to opportunities and passions that lie in this medium beyond and including being an actor or actress.” The Mechanicals Outreach Program works with administrators and teachers to bring free arts education opportunities into LAUSD schools with costs absorbed by a combination of grants, ticket sales and the donated time of company members who teach classes. The 2012 season is designed to facilitate bringing students to the theatre to expose them directly to three very different classic plays to support their in-school arts experiences.

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For Tickets: www.mechanicalstheatregroup.com

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