Ed Asner, Adam Brody, et al. Kick Off THE PIECE PROJECT Reading Series

A new theater initiative entitled THE PIECE PROJECT will kick off with an exclusive Los Angeles reading of Neil LaBute's REASONS TO BE PRETTY on Monday October 10, 2011 at 8pm. Founded by Devon Gummersall and Andrew Carlberg, THE PIECE PROJECT is a reading series created to give working actors a consistent stage outlet. Every two months, The Piece Project and Vs. Theatre Company will host a play reading at [Inside] the Ford in Hollywood, as Vs. begins their quest to acquire a permanent theater space. Ron Klier, of Vs. Theatre Company, will direct the inaugural reading, which will feature Wes Bentley, Devon Gummersall, Elaine Hendrix and Tessa Thompson.

The founding ensemble consists of the following artists: Ed Asner (THE Mary Tyler Moore SHOW, UP), Wes Bentley (AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE HUNGER GAMES), Adam Brody (THE O.C., JENNIFER'S BODY), Billy Burke (THE TWILIGHT SAGA), Andrew Carlberg (Producer), Johnny Clark (Vs. Theatre Company), Michelle Clunie (QUEER AS FOLK, MAKE IT OR BREAK IT), David Denman (THE OFFICE, BIG FISH), Devon Gummersall (STATE OF MIND, MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Elaine Hendrix (JOAN OF ARCADIA, ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION), Jon Huertas (CASTLE, GENERATION KILL), Tom Irwin (SAVING GRACE, MY SO-CALLED LIFE), Ron Klier (Vs. Theatre Company), Neil LaBute (THE SHAPE OF THINGS, NURSE BETTY), Sharon Lawrence (NYPD BLUE, GREY'S ANATOMY), Jenn Liu (PEDRO, TWO AND A HALF MEN), Larisa Oleynik (HAWAII FIVE-0, 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU), Erik Palladino (ER, ANSWERS TO NOTHING), Jeremy Sisto (LAW & ORDER, SIX FEET UNDER), Amy Smart (ROAD TRIP, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT), Lauren Stamile (GREY'S ANATOMY, BURN NOTICE), Rider Strong (BOY MEETS WORLD, CABIN FEVER), Tessa Thompson (FOR COLORED GIRLS, VERONICA MARS) and Vincent Ventresca (THE INVISIBLE MAN, FRIENDS).

Vs. Theatre Company, a Not-For-Profit 501c-(3) Public Benefit Corporation, is a small, dedicated group of passionate artists devoted to producing original works and Los Angeles Premieres by the best contemporary playwrights in America. Vs. was founded in 2004 based on a passion for riveting stories and live performance in an intimate setting. Recently named "one of the top theatre companies of the last decade" by the LA Weekly, Vs. has produced or co-produced major contemporary playwrights including John Patrick Shanley, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Adam Rapp, Itamar Moses, and Neil LaBute. To date, Vs. had produced or co-produced fourteen plays. Standouts include: the West Coast Premere of Keith Bunin's The Credeaux Canvas, which ran for nearly six months and played to sold out houses every night; In Arabia We'd All Be Kings (a co-production with The Elephant Theatre Company), named Best Production by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle in 2008; On An Average Day, produced in Los Angeles and Chicago, garnering Critic's Choice in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Backstage, and slated for an off-Broadway run in 2012; Blackbird by Adam Rapp which was nominated for three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards including two for Best Lead Actor and three LA Weekly Awards including Best Production; and most recently, The Los Angeles Premiere of Neil LaBute's The Mercy Seat, a co-production with the Ford Theatre as part of the Ford's prestigious 2011 [Inside] The Ford Winter Partnership Program. The Mercy Seat recently won two Backstage Reader's Choice Awards-Best Production and Best Lead Performance. For more info, please visit www.vstheatre.org

What: REASONS TO BE PRETTY

Playwright: Neil LaBute 
Directed by: Ron Klier
Produced by: The Piece Project and Vs. Theatre Company
With: Wes Bentley, Devon Gummersall, Elaine Hendrix and Tessa Thompson

Where:
[Inside] the Ford
2580 Cahuenga Blvd.
East Hollywood, California 90068

When:
Exclusive one-night engagement on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 8pm.

How:
For reservations email: pretty@vstheatre.org

How Much:
Admission is pay-what-you-can with a suggested donation of at least $10. All proceeds benefit Vs. Theatre Company's search for a permanent theater space.

Description: A new theater initiative entitled THE PIECE PROJECT will kick off with an exclusive Los Angeles reading of Neil LaBute's REASONS TO BE PRETTY on Monday October 10, 2011 at 8pm. Founded by Devon Gummersall and Andrew Carlberg, THE PIECE PROJECT is a reading series created to give working actors a consistent stage outlet. Every two months, The Piece Project and Vs. Theatre Company will host a play reading at [Inside] the Ford in Hollywood. Ron Klier, of Vs. Theatre Company, will direct the inaugural reading. Amy Smart, Adam Brody, Wes Bentley, Neil LaBute, Ed Asner, Jeremy Sisto and Sharon Lawrence are among the 25 artists that make up the founding ensemble.