The Hayworth Theatre, in association with Roz Bernstein Productions, will present the world debut of “Lovelace: A Rock Opera,” on October 18, 2008. The new show, recounting the life and times of legendary adult film superstar Linda Lovelace of “Deep Throat” fame, is based on the Book, Music and Lyrics of Charlotte Caffey (founding member of “The Go-Go’s,) and Anna Waronker (singer, founding member of “That Dog.,”) with the Original Concept and Additional Lyrics from Jeffery Leonard Bowman.
Acclaimed Director
Ken Sawyer (“One Red Flower,” “Crime and Punishment”) directs “Lovelace,” which stars newcomer Katrina Lenk in the lead role. “Lovelace” will play at the Hayworth Oct. 18 until November 23rd. (Please visit: www.thehayworth.com ) (Note: The show premieres just 3-months shy of what would have been Linda Lovelace’s 60th birthday.)
“Lovelace: A Rock Opera” runs October 18h through November 23, 2008, with previews October 11th, 12th, 16th & 17th. Tickets for preview shows are $15. Performances are at The Hayworth Theatre at 2509 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7 PM. Tickets are $25-$30. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Allow time for street parking. For reservations, call (323) 960-4442 or to RESERVE TICKETS ONLINE:
www.plays411.com
On June 12, 1972, “Deep Throat” made its debut in the United States, instantly becoming the first mainstream pornographic movie, and still considered today the quintessential adult film of all time. The country’s elite, from
Truman Capote to Jackie Kennedy to Johnny Carson, flocked to “respectable” theaters to see this history making film. Its star, the previously unknown actress Linda Lovelace (real name- Linda Susan Boreman,) became an overnight sensation, counting
Warren Beatty and
Jack Nicholson as her fans.
By all accounts at the time, Lovelace was on top of the world –a sexually liberated woman taking full advantage of the sexual revolution, serving as it’s poster child. But just a few years later, Lovelace began telling a different story, one of abuse and imprisonment at the hands of her husband, Chuck Traynor. Finally escaping Traynor’s clutches, she was embraced by the feminist movement and its anti-porn crusade, becoming one of their premier spokeswomen, and even going on to speak numerous times in front of the U.S Senate.
In the style of previous smash hit rock operas “Tommy” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Lovelace: A Rock Opera” recounts Linda’s story. From pregnant teenager in Yonkers, New York, to her turbulent relationship with Traynor and the making of “Deep Throat,” through to her triumphant rebirth as activist and suburban wife and mother.
In the late 1970’s, Charlotte Caffey found herself in the middle of the infamous L.A. punk rock scene, where she started an all-girl band called The Go-Go’s. Caffey and her band signed to a small record label, and quickly went on to become of the most successful bands of its time, selling millions of records, earning a Grammy nomination, and landing a smash hit debut album which was # 1 for six consecutive weeks on The Billboard charts. During their initial round of fame, The Go-Go’s performed on tours with such superstars as The Rolling Stones, The Police,
David Bowie and Queen, as well as headlining their own world tours. They have even been dubbed “rock royalty” by no less than Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
Charlotte is a die-hard songwriter who wrote the classic “Go-Go’s” songs “We Got The Beat,” “Vacation” and “Head Over Heels.” She has also written songs with such diverse artists as Courtney Love, Lindsey Buckingham,
Keith Urban, Andy Summers, Heart, Jewel, Anna Waronker and
Jon Bon Jovi, to name just a few.
She has also penned the theme songs for several TV shows, including “Clueless,” and her melodic, riff-laden songs have also been used in countless movies, including “Fast Times At Ridgemont High,” Romy and Michelle” and “13 Going On 30,” as well as within various commercials. In 2002, she started Five Foot Two Records along with sister-in-law, Anna Waronker.
In that same year, Charlotte also began working on “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.” She says, "I was first attracted to the human interest side of Linda's story and then fell in love with the idea of it being a musical. Most people know Linda as just being 'the Deep Throat' girl, but through songs ranging from delicate ballads to big production numbers, we are telling a bigger story of this woman's life. I have been able to utilize all of my musical experience in writing ‘Lovelace.’ I loved the challenge of weaving the story through the songs and watching the songs come to life with the acting. This has been a highlight of my professional life, and I believe ‘Lovelace” features my best song writing to date! ”
Anna Waronker, the daughter of legendary music industry executive Lenny Waronker, is recognized as a noted singer and songwriter around the world. Shortly after graduating from high school, she formed the band “That Dog,” and was signed to
Geffen Records. With Anna as the band’s front woman, songwriter and co-producer, “That Dog” released three critically acclaimed albums. She then went on to form her own record label, Five Foot Two Records, along with sister-in-law Charlotte Caffey (member of “The Go-Go’s) in 2002. Anna released the highly esteemed CD “Anna By Anna Waronker,” and plans to release her long awaited, elegantly haunting CD “California Fade,” by the end of 2008.
In addition to her above accomplishments, Anna has also become a film and television composer, with credits that include “What We Do Is Secret”,” Help Me Help You,”) a music supervisor, record producer, songwriter for many artists and various projects (with songs appearing in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Failure To Launch” and “Clueless,” to name a few.) She has also collaborated with such major recording artists as Edie Brickell, Beck,
Parker Posey, Heart, Lisa Loeb, and The Go-Go’s.
The Los Angeles Times has said that Anna “expands on [her] punkish aesthetic with decidedly grown-up song craft.” The Floydian Device has likened Waronker’s sound to “
John Lennon, if he had grown up in L.A. as a girl.” Rolling Stone has hailed that “[Anna’s] specialty is sun-kissed California power pop, long on winsome vocals, acoustic-tinged guitar hooks, and lyrical love stories that discover fourteen new shades of bittersweet melancholy.”
Regarding “Lovelace,” Anna says, "This musical is being performed as a 'rock opera,' with soaring ballads, driving rhythms, blues, disco and rock --reminiscent of the 70's, but also very contemporary."
“Lovelace” actress Katrina Lenk has appeared in a number of hit TV series, including “According to Jim,” “Will & Grace” and “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” along with numerous indie films, TV commercials, and local Los Angeles theatre productions. A multi-talented musician, singer, dancer and composer, she has played viola and sung back up for Reyna Larson in Chicago and Los Angeles during the past 10 years, and has also played with Friends of the Jitney, and Justin Cotta and the Tenderhooks. Additionally, she also performs her own brand of indie/electronica/classical music as a singer and violinist, under the stage name Moxy Phinx. (www.myspace.com/moxyphinx)
Regarding her new role, Katrina says, “I had heard of ‘Deep Throat’ and ‘Linda Lovelace’ before my audition, but I really didn’t know what that film or the woman were all about. After my audition, I rented ‘Deep Throat.’ Wow! What an odd, unsexy movie that is!” The child of “sexually repressed, Mid-Western German parents,” Katrina took on the role of Lovelace, “not because she was a famous porn star, but because she was a tragically heroic figure—always a fun role for any actress. Linda was in a highly abusive relationship with her husband for many years, but managed to get out it, and later reached out to other abused women, helping to inspire them to do likewise. Linda helped break new ground in the women’s liberation movement, and I truly admire the way she turned her life around, after surviving such a tormented past.”
Jeffery Bowman provided the original concept and many of the lyrics to the music featured within “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.” He is the author of nine produced stage plays, including 1995’s “Innacurate Information” which was presented at The Hudson Theater in Los Angeles. He is also the author of “Diva: The Unauthorized Biography of
Whitney Houston” published by HarperCollins and released worldwide. In addition to his work on “Lovelace,” Jeffery is currently writing and performing his own original songs with shows throughout the Los Angeles area.
Ken Sawyer is the director of “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.” His previous production of the Los Angeles premiere of “The Woman in Black” set box office records, receiving a “Critics’ Choice” from the LA Times, winning five prestigious “LA Ovation Awards,” including “Best Production (Play)” and “Best Director,” and four “LA Drama Critics Circle Awards,” including “Best Director.”
Ken also directed “One Red Flower: Letters from ‘Nam,” a new musical by Emmy Award winning
Paris Barclay, which played at
Carnegie Mellon University. Ken’s staging of “A Mislaid Heaven,” an Irish drama set during the peace treaty conflict of the 1920’s, received glowing reviews and garnered several Los Angeles Theatre awards, including four “LA Ovation” award nominations. He also directed the long-running production of “The Angels of Lemnos,” for which he received an “LA Ovation” and “Robby Award” nominations for Best Director.
Ken is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab West (2002.) As an award winning sound designer, Ken has also collaborated extensively with numerous musicians to create original scores for most of the plays he has directed, including “The Woman in Black.”
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