Blake Hammond to Lead Friends Always Creating Theatre's LOST BOY Reading, 10/14

Friends Always Creating Theatre lives-up to its name as they open their 5th season. They are one of the most prolific companies in New York City and will start this season by presenting a One-Night Only Staged Reading of "The Lost Boy" by the late Ron Paolillo (aka Ron Pallilo) starring Broadway's Blake Hammond and Guiseppe Bausilio.

Better known as FACT, Friends Always Creating Theatre began in 2009 with a production of "Gutter Star" an original musical in the NY International Fringe Festival when friends, Jack Dyville and David Gillam Fuller invited several friends who were working actors, directors and playwrights to join them in this endeavor.

Five years later, the company kicks-off the 2013-2014 season with the brilliant "The Lost Boy" written by Paolillo, who was a friend of Artistic Director, Dyville for more than 40 years, long before Paolillo became a household name as 'Arnold Horshack' in the popular 1970s TV sitcom, "Welcome Back Kotter". As Dyville states, "It only makes sense that I would very much want to honor Ron since he was a friend for so many years."

Paolillo passed away August 14, 2012 unexpectedly from a heart attack while teaching TV, film and theatre at a professional arts school in Florida. "Ron had such a love-affair with the work he was writing while at the same time performing for me in my autobiographical play, 'Daddy Was the Biggest Stage Mother in Texas' - playing Daddy in a 2004 Fringe Festival production", Dyville said, "but it wasn't until this past August 14, 2013 when Playscripts Inc published his play on the first anniversary of his death that I read it and was totally mesmerized by the story, the dialogue, and the over-all flavor and theme. It is beautiful and I knew FACT had to produce it."

With the rights secured, Dyville began to think of his cast and another old friend, his very first male dance student when he taught in Texas in the early 1980s, Blake Hammond, came to mind as the perfect actor for the dual roles, Captain Hook and The Old Crow. "Blake was more than happy to help an old friend and former instructor in presenting this outstanding work." Dyville commented. Hammond is currently featured in Broadway's "First Date" at the Longacre Theatre and has appeared in 9 Broadway musicals starring as Edna in "Hairspray", and performing in "Sister Act" (Ernie), "Elf "(Chadwick), "Billy Elliot" (Braithwaite), "The Lion King" (Pumba), "The Music Man" (Quartet), "Kiss Me Kate" (Gangster US), and "On the Town" (Uperman/MC). Off Broadway, he was seen in 6 shows, most notably the Drama Desk and Obie winning "When Pigs Fly". He has been featured in six national tours. His many Film/TV credits include the recent films "Handsome Harry" and "An Englishman in New York" and a current web series about four couples in group therapy at ThenWeGotHelp.com. Blake has received the LA Critics, Carbonell Award, Chicago After Dark Awards, and the Indie Soap Award.

It was Hammond that then suggested Giuseppe Bausilio for the roles of Peter Pan and Davey Barrie as Blake had become friends with Giuseppe during the Chicago production of "Billy Elliot" and their friendship continued when Bausilio joined the final three years on Broadway rotating in the title role of Billy.Currently the performer is 16 years old. He is from Bern, Switzerland, where his parents own two ballet schools and a Theater. Bausilio was spotted at the 2009 YAGP Ballet Finals in NYC and was immediately signed to play the role of Billy Elliott in two National tours of the production before making his Broadway debut. He and his Parents now live in NYC and they have opened a third Ballet School here. He has won competitions in not only dance but voice and cello in Switzerland, France, Italy and the U.S. and placed 2nd at the World Ballet Competition YAGP, 2012. Bausilio just made his first major film "Dead Man Down" and got to show his acting skills as a "Young man" and is thrilled to be acting with FACT.

"The Lost Boy" tells the story of writer James M. Barrie. Despite finding success and fame as a writer, Barrie is dissatisfied with his work and his life. He returns to his hometown in Scotland to visit his mother, who still blames him for the long-ago death of his older brother in a skating pond. Haunted by the tragic accident and his mother's harsh words, James slowly begins to confront his family's tragic past with the help of an unexpected friendship and his own gift for storytelling. This fictionalized account of the birth of Peter Pan warms the hearts of audiences everywhere who remember the magic and mystery of The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. David S. Skipper, President of Anon: The J.M. Barrie Society says, "Paolillo's play is a magical, exhilarating flight of endearing wonder into the heart of defiant youth through the core of ageless innocence and is destined to become a classic."

In the all-important role of J. M. Barrie will be Arthur Atkinson who has been seen in the National Tour, "Fiddler on the Roof" starring Topol, Harvey Fierstein & Theodore Bikel He returns to FACT Theatre having performed in "Make-a-Match-Today.com". Other NYC credits: "New Girl in Town" and "Man & Superman"- Irish Rep; "1776" at Fraunces Tavern, Ray Bradbury's "Kaleidoscope", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Tonya Harding: A Rock Opera".

Also appearing is Lucy Sorlucco in the important role of Margaret Ogilvy Barrie, James and Davey's mother. She has performed in international tours; (Fraulein Schneider in "Cabaret" and Madame Giry in "The Phantom of the Opera"); in New York City at Primary Stages, La Mama E.T.C., Encompass Music Theatre, BMI, American Place Theatre, and Soho Rep); stock and regional theater (Foothills Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Westchester Broadway Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, and Arcadia Theatre), as many television appearance and commercials. She is a Charter Member of FACT. Danielle Erin Rhodes, is currently starring in an up-dated version of "Pal Joey" as Gladys at the Arkansas Rep. She appears annually in "Broadway Bares" and "Broadway Easter Bonnet". She will be seen as Mary Ansell Barrie, James' wife as well as Ursla and Tinker Bell. Portraying Maureen, Merlinda, & Wendy Darling is Megan Thomas who appeared OFF-BROADWAY in"Memopause-the musical" (Iowa Housewife), & "Juno" - NY City Center Encores. Her National Tours: "Beauty and the Beast" (Mrs. Potts), & "Hello Dolly!" w/ Carol Channing. Regional: Odd Couple female version w/ Joanne Worley & Cindy Williams (Renee), "Sound of Music" (Mother Abbess), "Cabaret" (Fraulein Schneider), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Golde). and she starred in the FACT production, "Eeek! A MOUSICAL" and recently played the role of "Mrs. Boston" in the revival of Al Carmines' "Bonus Army" at Judson Arts in NYC. Rounding out the cast as Sean O'Rourke, a bartender and friend & foe of a younger J.M. Barrie is played by Gus Ferrari. He is a graduate of the Moscow Theatre's "Stanislawsky Method Seminar", Gus, also attended HB Studios and has numerous stage and film credits. He has traveled the country performing with "Murder to Go" Interactive Mystery Theatre. He is a founding member of the I.N.T.A.R 53 Latino Actors Workshop and a past board member of F.A.C.T.

Producing Artistic Director, Dyville has been called a Jack-of-All-Theatrical-Trades having worked professionally as a dancer, singer, actor, director, choreographer, stage manager, producer, playwright, PR Director, Box Office Manager as well as an usher (like his idol George M. Cohan he can sell 'em the tickets, show 'em to their seats, then get on stage. He has danced on Broadway ("Light Lively & Yiddish), off-Broadway (Yoshe Kolb", "DuBarry Was A Lady", "Movie Buff") and twice with the Ballet Corp at the famed Radio City Music Hall. He toured with "West Side Story" starring Chita Rivera, "Hello Dolly" with Yvonne DeCarlo and "Cabaret" with Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn. He has directed and choreographed at Regional, Summer stock and Dinner Theatres across America during his 45 year career. He is an 8 time published playwright with I.E. Clark, Jac Publications, & Dramatic Publishing. His family musical "A Mermaids' Tale" created with John Stutte played Off Broadway last season for 9 months at Stage 72 and his new family play, "A Hansel & Gretel Christmas" runs 10 weeks at Roy Arias Stage II beginning Nov 2 produced by FACT.

Board of Directors member and actor, Lynn Manuell will read stage directions for the event. David Gillam Fuller serves as Associate producer.

The BENEFIT Reading by FRIENDS ALWAYS CREATING THEATRE's will raise funds to donate a Scholarship in Paolillo's name for a student at the G Performing Arts School in Florida
where he was a teacher/instructor at the time of his death, as well as to raise funds for a future full-scale NYC production.

The Staged Reading will be Monday October 14 at 7:30pm at Actors Temple Theatre, 339 West 47th Street, (Bet. 8th-9th Avenues) at 7:30pm.

To purchase reserved seats at $25 and $35 call 212-239-6200 or 1-800-447-7400 or online at www.telecharge.com.