USVAA & Rogue Machine to Present TRACERS & THE LONG WAY HOME with All Veteran Cast, 9/28-11/9

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, Garland, and BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), and lauded as "Best Theatre Company of 2012" by the LA Weekly, Rogue Machinewill partner with the United States Veterans' Artists Alliance for two historic productions. With a stellar cast, all of whom are Veterans, these highly respected institutions pay homage to those who have served in the United States Military. Leading up to Veterans Day 2013, the shows will run in rep. The USVAA acknowledges veterans of all eras, while supporting and artistic talents and healing for a new generation of Veterans.

TRACERS follows a group of young American soldiers through the rigors of boot camp, the horrors of combat, the craziness of war, and the PTSD challenges of coming home. Because it is a group piece, it is not just one story. It is a series of events intertwined with music, movement, and ritual.

THE LONG WAY HOME is a personal look back at the conception, creation, and theatrical journey of the landmark Vietnam play "Tracers." Utilizing poetry, projections, story telling, and live music. A theatre story, and a Veteran's story.

United States Veterans' Artists Alliance (Producer) is a multi-disciplinary arts organization founded by military veterans and artists. USVAA provides opportunities for veterans in the arts by networking within the arts and veterans' communities to find funding for individual projects in theater, film, television, visual/fine arts, and a wide variety of crafts. USVAA strives to highlight issues such as the transition from military to civilian life, education, employment, PTSD, TBI, Military Sexual Trauma, and homelessness. We honor veterans of all eras who have distinguished themselves in the arts and humanities, including Edgar Allan Poe, Julia Child, Lou Rawls, Irving Berlin, Abraham Lincoln, Kurt Vonnegut, James Earl Jonesand many others.

"Once in a great while 'theatre' changes the world. I think Angels in America did. The only play I have ever been involved with that changed the world was Tracers. The synergy between the play and the veteran's rights movement was so complete that it is impossible to separate the play from the movement. Tracers and that movement eventually encouraged us all to look at the Vietnam War and its outcome with wisdom and compassion. This is that story." - John Perrin Flynn; Director (The Long Way Home)

John DiFusco (Writer/Actor-The Long Way Home) is the recipient of a New York Drama Desk Award as well as a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, NAACP Theatre, Drama-Logue, Robby, and VAlley Theatre League Award. He began his professional career at the Odyssey Theatre with credits such as Peer Gynt, The Kid, The Caucasion Chalk Circle,The Balcony, and Mother Courage. John created and directed the landmark Vietnam play Tracers, which premiered at OTE. He directed the New York Premiere at The Public Theater, where it was published as one of "The Ten Best of 85/86." John has toured extensively and internationally with Tracers, which continues to be produced around the world. Locally, he has directed numerous plays including Hair, White People, Avenue X, Joan and the Zulus, Just A Song at Twilight, Will Strip for Food, Ali, and Rounds. In addition, he appeared in all three plays of Jovanka Bach's Balkan Trilogy, and Murray Mednick's Charles Story, continuing with many solo performances including his autobiographical piece, Walk'n thru the Fire, which made LA Weekly's Ten Best of the Year list. John received the USAF Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in Vietnam.

Al. Keith (Musician/The Long Way Home) has performed on MTV's Motel California with Bill Bellamy, National Geographic's 30th Anniversary Special and the Oxygen Channel's Trackers with Wozani, chosen to represent Los Angeles in welcoming and performing for Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Nomalizo Leah. He has performed with The Angry Bubbles, an all-woman acting troupe and developed the role of Maestro in the "musical commedia," Virgin Love at the Ricardo Montalban Theater in Hollywood. Seen as the possessed drummer on season two of HBO's True Blood he was also a musical director for the 1st La Lupa Festival, at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Al. Keith can be seen filling in on the percussions for Blue Nile Express (BNX), Sugar Ray, Rian Basilio & the Roosters.

Dianna LeAnne Wilson (Assistant Director) served in the US Army where she spent most of her time stationed in Anchorage, AK. In 2004, she began working in Los Angeles and has been working with the same TV production team for the last 9 years. Credits include Desperate Housewives, and now their new show Rake. As an actor, Dianna's stage credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Diary of Anne Frank, Taking Steps, Night of January 16th (Odyssey), and a Best Actress Award as Martha in Lepers. TV Acting Credits: Desperate Housewives.

TRACERS will open at 8pm on Saturday, Sept. 28th and runs through Sat. Nov. 9th with shows at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays (added performance at 3pm on Sunday, Oct. 13th for audience talk back with the cast and director). THE LONG WAY HOME opens at 8 pm on Thursday, Oct. 3rd and runs through Thursday, November 7th with shows at 8 pm Thursdays and 3pm on Sundays (added performance at 8 pm on Wed. Oct 9th). The Sunday, Oct. 20th performance at 3 pm will be followed by a talk back with John DiFusco and his co-performer Al. Keith. Tickets $30 (see site for discounts). For reservations call: 855-585-5185 or www.RogueMachineTheatre.com

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