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West Coast Premiere of WAITING FOR JOHNNY DEPP Begins 3/25 at Whitefire Theatre
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 03, 2016
Inspired by true events in the lives of the creators, WAITING FOR JOHNNY DEPP takes us on a wild ride with New York actress Rita Donatella, in her quest to land a starring role in a Johnny Depp film. She constantly re-invents herself to be more perfect for the role, as she navigates the rough waters of surviving in the big apple with her dream intact. It is both hilarious and heartwarming, to see how Rita comes to terms with the big questions: how to survive financially, how to recognize true love, how to balance the demands of career and family, and ultimately, what is really important in life?
After a successful 2014 North Hollywood Workshop, the World Premiere of WAITING FOR JOHNNY DEPP opened in 2015 at the prestigious 500-seat TUTS Underground in Houston, where it played to rave critic reviews and standing ovations. Based on this enthusiastic response, the musical is being brought to the Whitefire Theatre for its West Coast Premiere.
RITA SOPHIA ADELINA DONATELLA ZEITZ (better known as Rita Donatella) was born in Brooklyn, coincidentally on the same day that "Like a Virgin" hit #1. >From a very young age, Rita displayed an active imagination, which (according to her Italian/Jewish mother) was the most unfortunate of qualities in a sensible girl. Convinced that her dreams of stardom could never possibly materialize, Rita did what anyone would do in that situation: she ate chocolate. Oh, and she also obtained a degree in biology, followed by a nice safe job with an insurance plan. And that is precisely how most of world viewed Rita. Only a small handful ever saw the secret side of Rita - the one who took sick days to sneak out to auditions. And the one who, as our story opens, has just been told that she has landed a starring role opposite Johnny Depp.
DEEDEE O'MALLEY "Rita Donatella" (Actress, book, lyrics, music) The East coast knows her as an award-winning actor. The West coast knows her as an award winning singer/songwriter. This show ties all of her talents together. Upon graduating with a BFA from Hofstra (where she won Best Actress three years in a row), O'Malley landed a starring role in Sneakers (Off-Broadway). She also added 2 songs to the soundtrack. She sang in commercials for Heinz Ketchup, Avis Rent-a-Car, Toshiba, IBM, and Frisbee. Winner of Los Angeles Music Awards Singer/Songwriter of the Year, 3-time winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and Lilith Fair winner Star 98.7 Lilith Fair Contest hosted by Ryan Seacrest. O'Malley has won such awards as Los Angeles Music Awards' Singer-Songwriter of the Year, Music Connection's Magazine's #1 Indie CD of the Year, has starred in movies where she also wrote the music. Deedee has licensed over 50 songs to film and TV. She has had numerous acting roles in stage, film and TV. She has shared with stage with Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rhimes, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Patti LaBelle, Santana and the Bus Boys. Deedee has composed music for three successful theatrical musicals. Her last musical No Time to Weep ran at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood for 8 weeks in 2012. Deedee is a co-writer of the theme song for weekly TV series Live Life & Win! She is overjoyed to finally bring together her acting, singing, dancing and writing together in Waiting for Johnny Depp.
JANET COLE VALDEZ (book, lyrics, music) is a gold record, former Motown songwriter and scriptwriter. Movie credits include Gladiator, The Last Dragon, The Boost, South Beach Academy, Guarded Secrets, Chateau Meroux and Boston Girls. TV credits include theme song to Emmy-nominated series Made In Hollywood - Teen Edition, The Young and the Restless, Fame, CBS Late Night, Chicago Story, Michael Jordan: An American Hero. Janet's rock musical Emerald Man debuted Off-Broadway in the New York Musical Theatre Festival to rave reviews, and was chosen for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop. Her musical Cole and Porter was optioned by Jersey Boys co-producer John Osher. She was commissioned by The Lion King producer Peter Schneider to create songs for a musical in development. Janet had her directing debut in the well-received Life, Love & Other 4-Letter Words, a collection of edgy one-act plays, which she also authored.
HOLLY FRIEDMAN (Director) Holly's love of theatre began at a very young age. Born in Northfield, Minnesota, she travelled to New York every summer with her father to attend the latest Broadway productions. Spending her college years abroad at East 15 Acting School, Holly earned a BA in the Acting (International) Course. There she discovered that she had a gift in the area of directing. After graduation, she remained in London, directing several local productions. She received accolades for her innovative direction of "Round Peg, Square Soul" as well as new musical "Room with a Clue". Holly returned to the U.S. in late 2013. She fell in love with the quirky and heartfelt "Waiting for Johnny Depp" when a friend invited her to the 2014 NoHo workshop. She reached out to Janet Cole Valdez, with insights about Rita and ideas for the show. Janet felt an immediate kinship with Holly, and introduced her to Deedee. The three together got on, as Holly's British mates would say,"like a house on fire".
BETTIE ROSS (music) is an award-winning composer and keyboardist. She has 2 gold records for pipe organ performances on albums by Meat Loaf and Faith Hill. Her solo piano CD, won Best Solo Piano Album and Best Solo Piano Song at the 2009 Just Plain Folks Awards. Bettie composed the music for Nancy Cartwright's Dramalogue award-winning one-woman show In Search of Fellini, as well as Neon: a Vaudeville of Obsessions. For Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Bettie worked as part of the music prep team and assisted arranger/composer David Campbell.
SANDRA KUKER PR (Publicist) Sandra Kuker is an entertainment industry expert. Her 3-decade background in Music, Film & Television and Theatre has created a client list of diversity and successful campaigns. Sandra's experience also includes chartering ships for theme cruises, casting for Film and Television, as well as the Reality Television and Scripted Television & Documentary's. She is unstoppable and her personal commitment to each client provides the energy to excel in media. Her highlights include My Child Mothers Of War, Voice Lessons, Adam Baum & The Jew Movie starring Richard Kind, Sacred Fools Theatre Company and Past Time, Prairie-Oke!, Drop Dead by Billy Van Zandt, Serial Killer Barbie The Musical, Almost, Maine directed by Marty Papazian, the critically acclaimed musical - Adam & Eve And Steve by Chandler Warren and Wayne Moore, Happy Face Sad Face produced by Russell Boast, Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, author Bill Ratner of Parenting For The Digital Age, and she is working with Retronuvo Media on Reality TV and scripted television & Documentaries. Sandra works with theatrical clients, authors, and entertainment professionals. Utilizing the strength of personal relationships, alongside social media and traditional PR, promoting events, news releases and individually tailored media positioning for clients centered in Entertainment and helps build a branding presence with innovation, integrity and style. Website: www.SandraKukerPR.com
WAITING FOR JOHNNY DEPP will open on Friday, March 25, 2016, and continue on Friday nights through June 10, 2016 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.
General Admission tickets are $25.00 for all performances (except March 25th)
Opening night March 25th performance with Champagne & Chocolate Reception - all tickets $50.00
Performances April 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, May 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, June 3rd & 10th - 8:00PM
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