bareNaked LA featuring F**KING VIGWAN by Kristoffer Diaz

It's been a blast and even more successful than last year - culminating this afternoon with a screenplay adaptation of Stephen Gracia's FAST FOOD STRATEGIES and F**KING VIGWAN (OR SWAG) by Kristoffer Diaz!!!

Kristoffer Diaz is a playwright and educator living in Brooklyn, NY. His plays (including 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Welcome to Arroyo’s, and Fucking Vigwan, among others) have been produced and developed at The Old Globe, Second Stage, Victory Gardens, InterAct, Mixed Blood, American Theatre Company, The Orchard Project, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Atlantic Theater Company, the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, Cutting Ball Theater, The Gallery Players, The Lark, the Summer Play Festival, The Donmar Warehouse and South Coast Repertory. Diaz was one of the creators ofBrink!, the apprentice anthology show at the 2009 Humana Festival of New American Plays. He is a playwright-in-residence at Teatro Vista; a co-founder of The Unit Collective (Minneapolis); a recipient of the Jerome Fellowship, the Future Aesthetics Artist Regrant and the Van Lier Fellowship (New Dramatists); and a member of the Ars Nova Play Group.

As an educator, conference presenter, and dramaturg, Kristoffer has worked with El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, the International Thespian Festival, Florida Thespians, Cleveland Play House, Theatre Communications Group, No Passport, Austin Scriptworks/Latino Playwright Initiative, Rising Circle Productions, Future Aesthetics Artist Dialogue, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and the Playwrights Center. He holds a BA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, an MFA from NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing and an MFA from Brooklyn College’s Performing Arts Management program.

bareNaked LA featuring ADORATION OF THE OLD WOMAN by JOSE RIVERA

We are thrilled to be continuing our working relationship with Academy Award Nominated screenwriter and playwright, JOSE RIVERA. Our 3rd entry of the bareNaked LA Reading Series will featured Rivera's ADORATION OF THE OLD WOMAN (last seen in our 2nd Annual bareNaked Reading Series at the Cherry Lane Theatre in NYC). Tonight, Thursday, Feb 23rd we present a short play by resident playwright, Tyler Fascett along with the new play by Jose Rivera. Here's a closer look at Jose and his work:

JOSE RIVERA

José Rivera is the two-time Obie Award winning author of Marisol, Cloud Tectonics, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Boleros for the Disenchanted, and many other plays. Currently in the works are Human Emotional Process, The Hours are Feminine, Lessons for an Unaccustomed Bride, The Book of Fishes, a new translation of Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and a musical for The Civilians called La Corona. Rivera was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Writers Guild Award for his screenplay “The Motorcycle Diaries,” directed by Walter Salles. His screenplay of Kerouac’s “On the Road,” also directed by Salles, will premiere internationally in 2012. For HBO he’s written a pilot for a one-hour series based on Massacre (Sing to Your Children) called “Mayhem.” Also in the works is “The 33” – a film about the 2010 rescue of 33 trapped miners in Chile. “Celestina,” based on his play Cloud Tectonics, will mark his debut as a feature film director. Rivera, who is playwright in residence at the Lark Theatre and a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and LAByrinth, lives in New York.

bareNaked LA featuring new play by TYLER FASCETT

We're really excited about presenting resident playwright, Tyler Fascett's new short play, POUND FOR POUND on the same bill as Jose Rivera's play tonight: Thursday, Feb 23rd; 8pm at The Art Of Acting Studio.

Some of you may recognize our resident playwright from the hit band - THE PUBLIC TRUST which we are looking forward to hearing them play AGAIN following this evening's readings.

Here's a peek at Tyler and The Public Trust:

TYLER FASCETT is a writer for the stage and screen based out of Los Angeles. He's thrilled to have his work in the hands of such an esteemed group of artists as The Barefoot Theater Co.

THE PUBLIC TRUST

Formed in Los Angeles in 2010, The Public Trust is a raw and raucous dose of swagger, soul, rock and roll. Laden with infectious hooks and driving rhythms, this runaway rocket is crewed by Mike Rossi (vox), Tyler Fascett (guitar), Ben Bostick (guitar/harmonica), Jordan Goldenberg (bass/keys), and The Wizard--Dallas Ybarra (drums). 2011 marked the release of the band's dual EP's, which are available now on Itunes. The Public Trust brings together rock and funk to create a sound that's undeniably fresh.

bareNaked LA ....

We're on day 3 of our bareNaked Reading Series at the Art Of Acting Studio and here's a peek at who will be directing our reading of ADORATION OF THE OLD WOMAN by Jose Rivera:

SCOTT ILLINGWORTH (Director) is a freelance director and teacher of movement and acting in the NYU Grad Acting Program. He is also a regular teacher of Masterclasses for LAByrinth Theater Co. Recent directing credits include the Off-Broadway world premiere of Beyond Words (Urban Stages), the premiere of Across the Water by Mona Mansour (NYU), Termination of Species by Ken Urban (Collaboraction), Israel Horovitz’s New Shorts (LAByrinth and Gloucester Stage), Deep Trees (LAByrinth), Lake Effect (Geva Theatre Center), and Chicago Summer (Collaboraction at Steppenwolf). He served as Associate Director to Mark Wing-Davey on the Off-Broadway productions Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl (EPIC), UNCONDITIONAL (LAByrinth), and The Singing Forest (The Public). Regionally Scott worked with Mr. Wing-Davey on Passion Play (Goodman and Yale Rep), and served as Assistant Director to Philip Seymour Hoffman on The Long Red Road (Goodman). www.directorsnote.com

JASON FURLANI (resident playwright)...

tonight's bareNaked LA Reading Series continues with A LONG HARD RAIN by Barefoot Theatre Company resident playwright, Jason Furlani and directed by Co-Artistic Director, Nicole Haran.

JASON FURLANI

A native of Schenectady, NY, Jason Furlani has asserted himself as a ten-year veteran in the New York theatre world, having had successful productions of his work with various companies and on numerous stages in NYC.

Most recently, the Blue Collar Theater Company presented Jason’s full-length comedy The Big Vig at the Bank Street Theatre for a month-long run. Prior to that, the Blue Collar Theater Company presented his full-length play LEADED at the West End Theatre, as well as his ten minute play Susan is a Pinhead, which had its debut as part of the Blue Collar “Shorts” Festival.

Other companies that have produced Jason’s work include: Zena Group, Real to Reel Productions and The 42^nd Street Workshop, and at present, his full length drama A Long Hard Rain is under consideration by various companies in NYC. Additionally, the film rights to A Long Hard Rain have been optioned by Propeller Productions in L.A. It is currently being adapted for the screen by the playwright. Jason’s newest work, Family Trees, is under consideration for the 2007 O’Neil Playwrights Conference.

Along with his work in the theatre, the thirty-six year old writer has penned the script for both of the Families of Freedom fundraising events (a 9/11 charity) hosted in successive order by Chevy Chase and Carol Kane.

A proud father and loving husband, Jason splits time between Los Angeles and his home base in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Emily and daughter Eva.

LIVE MUSIC by SATU MAKEDA

our bareNaked LA Reading Series continues tonight with a new play by resident playwright, Jason Furlani. Join us for free drinks sponsored by CROWN BAR and NEW BELGIUM BREWING and live music by Satu Makeda. Here's a little bit about our musician for tonights presentation!!!

SATU MAKEDA
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Satu started out as a TV host in New York City for Fashion Week and Fangoria TV. She studied broadcast journalism at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Satu is a graduate of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York. Past theater credits: Julia, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Oxford Shakespeare Company), and Helen of Troy, Trojan Women. TV credits: Dawson's Creek, Flight of the Conchords. Upcoming feature films: The Coalition, ’94, Slumberland. She can be seen performing with her rock band, Modern Time Machines.

LIVE MUSIC by THE PUBLIC TRUST

Join us next week in Los Angeles, California as we present some of the freshest new plays by both emerging and established playwrights in the business!!! During our bareNaked LA Reading Series you'll also enjoy free drinks and LIVE MUSIC! Check out one of our bands returning this year at the Art Of Acting Studio. Guitarist, Tyler Fascett will also have a new play featured on Thursday, Feb 23rd on the same bill as Jose Rivera's new play. The Public Trust will be seen/heard during the bareNaked LA Reading Series on Tuesday, Feb 21st and Thursday, Feb 23rd.

THE PUBLIC TRUST

Formed in Los Angeles in 2010, The Public Trust is a raw and raucous dose of swagger, soul, rock and roll. Laden with infectious hooks and driving rhythms, this runaway rocket is crewed by Mike Rossi (vox), Tyler Fascett(guitar), Ben Bostick (guitar/harmonica), Jordan Goldenberg (bass/keys), and The Wizard--Dallas Ybarra (drums). 2011 marked the release of the band's dual EP's, which are available now on Itunes. The Public Trust brings together rock and funk to create a sound that's undeniably fresh.