Blankets and Bedtime Begins 6/15 at Planet Connections

Playwright Erik Champney looks at the extremes people will go to in the name of self-preservation with Blankets and Bedtime: 3 Restless Plays, three one-act works where the truth can be the most unwelcome element of all. Presented by Pixie Theory Productions, and directed by Janet Bentley, the show will be performed beginning June 15 at the Downstairs Theater at The Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street, as part of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The press is invited to all performances.

Sparkler takes place in Hollywood, 1964 where movie idol Clayton Boyd seemingly has it all: a beautiful wife in actress Carol Hayes, a new baby, and millions of adoring fans. But it's a sham marriage set up by the studio to hide the fact Clayton is gay. With Carol seeing her career in a stall and wanting to stretch her wings beyond Clayton's desperate need to control everything and everyone in his life, it becomes a question of whose will is stronger and whether facing the truth will finally set either of them free. Featuring Ellie Gossage, Chad Ryan and Max Meyers.

In The Screens, Allen is a patient at a mental hospital who has taken refuge in a tightly constructed fantasy world. With nothing to do but wait for his imaginary plants to start growing, at least until it's time for cocktails, he strikes up a conversation with an unfamiliar visitor, someone who may be able to help break down the barriers he's put up around himself. Featuring Dylan Goodwin and Erik Ransom.*

In Saitama, set in 1941 Shanghai, two Chinese "comfort women", age 14 and 16 are summoned to entertain a Japanese officer who offers them a better life with him, far away from their squalid existence. But are his words real or is it all some extended roleplay sequence set up for the night's entertainment? Shining a light on one of the most shameful secrets of World War II, one the Japanese government has still not fully acknowledged, Saitama shows just how dangerous the truth can be. Featuring Adelyne Liu, Meggy Hai Trang, Cherng-Mao Sun.

Blankets and Bedtime: 3 Restless Plays will be performed on the following dates:

Wednesday, June 15th at 9pm

Sunday, June 19th at 7pm

Thursday, June 23rd at 9pm

Sunday, June 26th at 9pm

Monday, June 27th at 9:30pm

Blankets and Bedtime: 3 Restless Plays contains strong language and moments of intense sexuality and violence. The plays are presented together with no intermission and a running time of 80 minutes. The production is an Equity Approved Showcase.

Blankets and Bedtime: 3 Restless Plays will be performed at the Downstairs Theater at The Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street, between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery. The theatre is wheelchair accessible. The closest subway stops are the L train at 3rd Avenue or the 6 Train at Astor Place. The closest bus lines are the M103 at 4th Street or the M15 at 6th Street. All tickets are $18.00. Reservations: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/27385 or call 866-811-411 For more information about the production, go to http://planetconnections.org/2016-full-productions/blankets-and-bedtime-3-restless-plays/

Blankets and Bedtime: 3 Restless Plays is being produced in part to raise awareness for RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).

Commissioned to write his first full-length play at the age of 15, Erik Champney is an award-winning playwright with works developed, commissioned, and produced in several cities, including New York, Seattle, San Francisco, and Singapore. Selected plays: Dead Brains (Winner, The National AIDS Fund/CFDA-Vogue Initiative Award for Playwriting, The Kennedy Center), Saitama (Winner, 8th Biennial Playwriting Contest, Theatre In the Raw, BC), Pangaea (Commendation for Excellence, The Kennedy Center), Crab On Its Back (Semi-finalist, Sundance Theatre Lab; Finalist, Playwrights' Week, The Lark; Top Ten, Stanley Drama Award, Wagner College), and Omen Road to Starrville (O'Neill semi-finalist; Top Ten, The Stanley Drama Award, Wagner College). He received a B.A. in both Theatre and English from Centenary College of Louisiana followed by an M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch.

Janet Bentley holds an MFA in dramaturgy from the University of Iowa and a BA in theatre from the University of South Florida. Some recent New York credits include the world premiere of John Patrick Shanley's Our Fantasia (Nylon Fusion Theatre Company), After Tartuffe by Judy Klass (Fresh Fruit Festival 2015), Queers for Fears by Ed Malin (The Brick), The Addicts by Ed Malin (Theatre for the New City), Selling Off Secrets by Joseph Mosso (Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2014 - nominated for outstanding direction), 13 short plays in This Round's On Us (Nylon Fusion), and Coventry Carol by James McLindon (Emerging Artists Theatre). Janet is a proud member of Nylon Fusion Theatre Company. janeturgy.wordpress.com/about

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of "America's 100 Best Charities" by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. For more information on RAINN, go to www.rainn.org.

Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is designed to invoke the power of art in motivating philanthropy, community outreach and social change. Within the Festivity are multiple theater, film and music festivals. The Festivity is also the country's first eco-friendly arts festivity as their participating artists work to create eco-conscious art by revising their marketing, design and rehearsal techniques. Planet Connections artists are introduced to a community of like-minded theater makers, film makers and music makers as they raise awareness for an organization or cause of their own selection. The relationships formed during the Festivity allow artists to find new audiences and forge new partnerships. www.planetconnections.org.

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