Hayworth Theatre to Present World Premiere of 'Lovelace' 10/18

The Hayworth Theatre, in association with Roz Bernstein Productions, will present the world debut of “Lovelace: A Rock Opera,” on October 18, 2008. The new show, recounting the life and times of legendary adult film superstar Linda Lovelace of “Deep Throat” fame, is based on the Book, Music and Lyrics of Charlotte Caffey (founding member of “The Go-Go’s,) and Anna Waronker (singer/songwriter, founding member of “That Dog.,”) with the Original Concept and Lyrics from Jeffery Leonard Bowman. Please see: www.lovelacearockopera.com

Acclaimed Director Ken Sawyer (“One Red Flower,” “Crime and Punishment”) directs “Lovelace,” which stars newcomer Katrina Lenk in the lead role. “Lovelace” debuts at the Hayworth Oct. 18, and will continue with an initial six-week run until November 23. (Please visit: www.thehayworth.com )  (Note: The show premieres just 3-months shy of what would have been Linda Lovelace’s 60th birthday.)

 
ABOUT THE SHOW:

 “Lovelace: A Rock Opera” runs October 18h through November 23, 2008, with previews  October 11th, 12th, 16th & 17th. Tickets for preview shows are $15.   Performances are at The Hayworth Theatre at 2509 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7 PM.

Tickets are $25-$30. Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Allow time for street parking. For reservations, call (323) 960-4442 or to RESERVE TICKETS ONLINE:  www.plays411.com

ABOUT LINDA LOVELACE AND “DEEP THROAT:”

On June 12, 1972, “Deep Throat” made its debut in the United States, instantly becoming the first mainstream pornographic movie, and still considered today the quintessential adult film of all time. The country’s elite, from Truman Capote to Jackie Kennedy to Johnny Carson, flocked to “respectable” theaters to see this history making film. Its star, the previously unknown actress Linda Lovelace (real name- Linda Susan Boreman,) became an overnight sensation, counting Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson as her fans.

By all accounts at the time, Lovelace was on top of the world –a sexually liberated woman taking full advantage of the sexual revolution, serving as it’s poster child. But just a few years later, Lovelace began telling a different story,  one of abuse and imprisonment at the hands of her husband, Chuck Traynor.  Finally escaping Traynor’s clutches, she was embraced by the feminist movement  and its anti-porn crusade, becoming one of their premier spokeswomen, and even going on to speak numerous times in front of the U.S Senate. The actress died from internal injuries following a car crash in Colorado in 2002.

 In the style of previous smash hit rock operas “Tommy” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Lovelace: A Rock Opera” recounts Linda’s story. From pregnant teenager in Yonkers, New York, to her turbulent relationship with Traynor and the making of “Deep Throat,” through to her triumphant rebirth as activist and suburban wife and mother.

 ABOUT THE CREATORS OF THE BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS BEHIND: “LOVELACE: A ROCK OPERA:”

Anna Waronker (“That Dog,”) and Charlotte Caffey (“The Go-Go’s,”) are highly esteemed songwriters and performers, worldwide. Los Angeles natives and sisters-in-law, they started collaborating for film, television, and other artists upon meeting in 1995. “Lovelace” has been a work in progress since 2002, where Waronker and Caffey’s initial involvement began solely as music writers.

In 2006, the duo embarked on their first venture as playwrights, writing the book for “Lovelace,” in the form of a sung-through rock opera. After months of extensive research, Waronker and Caffey developed a highly emotional, dramatic, and sometimes hilarious piece about the life of Linda Boreman (aka “Linda Lovelace.”) “Lovelace” is their first theatrical endeavor.

 Individually, Waronker has released several albums in “That Dog” and as a solo artist, and composes for film and television. Caffey has penned such hits as “We Got The Beat,” “Vacation,” and “Head Over Heels” in her Grammy nominated band “The Go-Go’s,” and also co-wrote Keith Urban’s first #1 hit.  Infusing Waronker’s signature vocal style and Caffey’s classical education with their collective rock and pop backgrounds, Waronker and Caffey have since written the book, music, and co-written the lyrics for “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.”

Regarding “Lovelace,” Waronker and Caffey said, “After a tremendous amount of research, we realized that the life of Linda Lovelace is a complicated story to tell. This isn’t about a porn star or a feminist. What compelled us were all the details that lurked under the surface of this woman’s life.”

The duo adds, “Musically, what we found through the years was that this story had a particular intensity that didn’t lend itself to a traditional setting of a musical with dialogue. Luckily, the music we had written did indeed lend itself to that intensity, and after four years of countless books, several workshops and the guidance of our creative producers Gary Blumsack and Danna Hyams, and our director Ken Sawyer, we were ‘Rock Opera’ bound. And here we are.”

 
About Jeffery Leonard Bowman, Original Concept and Lyrics:

Jeffery Bowman provided the original concept and lyrics to the music featured within “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.” He is the author of nine produced stage plays, including 1995’s “Innacurate Information” which was presented at The Hudson Theater in Los Angeles. He is also the author of “Diva: The Unauthorized Biography of Whitney Houston” published by HarperCollins and released worldwide. In addition to his work on “Lovelace,” Jeffery is currently writing and performing his own original songs with shows throughout the Los Angeles area.

 
About “Lovelace” Newcomer Katrina Lenk:

 “Lovelace” actress Katrina Lenk, recently nominated for a 2008 “Ovation Award/Lead Actress in a Musical” for her role as “Velma Kelly” in “Chicago,” has appeared in a number of hit TV series, including “According to Jim,” “Will & Grace” and “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,” along with numerous indie films, TV commercials, and local Los Angeles theatre productions. A multi-talented musician, singer, dancer and composer, she has played viola and sung back up for Reyna Larson in Chicago and Los Angeles during the past 10 years, and has also played with Friends of the Jitney, and Justin Cotta and the Tenderhooks. Additionally, she also performs her own brand of indie/electronica/classical music as a singer and a viola player, under the stage name Moxy Phinx. (www.myspace.com/moxyphinx)

Regarding her new role, Katrina says, “I had heard of ‘Deep Throat’ and ‘Linda Lovelace’ before my audition, but I really didn’t know what that film or the woman were all about. After my audition, I rented ‘Deep Throat.’ What an odd, unsexy movie that is!” Katrina took on the role of Lovelace, “not because she was a famous porn star, but because she was a tragically heroic figure. Linda was in a highly abusive relationship with her husband/manager for many years, but managed to get out it, and later reached out to other abused women, helping to inspire them to do likewise. Linda helped break new ground in the women’s liberation movement, and I admire the way she turned her life around, after surviving such a tormented past.”

 About the Director:

Ken Sawyer is the director of “Lovelace: A Rock Opera.” Earlier this summer, Ken directed an all-star cast in Paris Barclay’s new musical "One Red Flower" at the Brentwood Theatre. The production starred Hunter Parrish (“Weeds”) and Maureen McGovern (“Little Women,”) and was part of the Rubicon Theatre's New Works Festival. Ken’s other credits this year include the LA premiere of the off-Broadway hit "Crime & Punishment" at The Actors Co-Op, which recently received three 2008 “Ovation Award" nominations, including one for Ken in the “Sound Design” category.

Ken is perhaps best known for his extremely successful production of “The Woman in Black.” This ghostly thriller set box office records at The Road Theatre, receiving  a “Critics’ Choice” from the LA Times, winning five prestigious “LA Ovation Awards,” including “Best Production (Play)” and “Best Director,” and four “LA Drama Critics Circle Awards,” including “Best Director.” The show played at The Road Theatre Company for nine sold out months, before transferring to The Coronet Theatre for an additional three month run.

Ken is a founding member of North Hollywood's The Road Theatre Company, serving on its artistic board for five years. Dedicated to developing new works, he helped build this company into one of Los Angeles' most celebrated venues. While at The Road Theatre, he directed the world premieres of: "Backwards in High Heels,” "A Mislaid Heaven" (four LA Ovation Award nominations,) "David & Goliath in America," and "The Angels of Lemnos" (LA Ovation Award nomination Best Director.)

Ken’s concert work includes: "In Good Company" (at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, with Lee Lessack, Stephan Schwartz, and Ann Hampton Callaway,) "Three Men and a Baby Grand Salute the Rat Pack" (Orange County Performing Arts Center,) and the 2007 workshops of "Lovelace: A Rock Opera" (Hayworth Theatre.)  As an award winning sound designer, Ken’s credits include "Crime & Punishment" (Ovation Award Nomination,) among others, and having co-designed, with Dave Marling, "The Angels of Lemnos" (Ovation Award Nomination,) "A Mislaid Heaven" (Ovation Award Nomination,) and "The Woman in Black" (Ovation Award, Drama Critics Circle Award.)

Ken is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab West 2002, and La MaMa Italy 2007 (working with Andre Serban and Ellen Stewart,) and has toured with John Houseman's "The Acting Company.” He is a BFA graduate of the Juilliard School.

ABOUT THE HAYWORTH THEATRE:

The Hayworth Theatre officially opened its doors on February 25, 2006, with the critically acclaimed one-man show, “Not A Genuine Black Man”.  Over the last two and a half years, The Hayworth has presented a slate of thought provoking and insightful productions, such as Carlos Lacamara’s “Nowhere On The Border”, “The Good Steno Steno”, written, directed and starring Paul Ben-Victor and Lacamara’s “Havana Bourgeois”.   Earlier this year, Artistic Director, Gary Blumsack directed Frances Fisher and Paul Ben-Victor in “Sexy Laundry”.  Renowned film director, Paul Mazursky returned to theatre to direct “The Catskill Sonata” in 2007 and again this year for “Adam Baum And The Jew Movie”, starring Richard Kind and Hamish Linklater.

In June of 2007, The Hayworth premiered The Bruno Kirby Celebrity Reading Series, a monthly presentation of new plays, featuring an exciting array of film, television and stage stars.  The series opened with Lou Diamond Phillips’ “Burning Desire”, starring Phillips, Michael Urie and Amy Smart and directed by Wendy Mallick.  Over the last year, casts have included Paul Mazursky, Chandra Wilson, Charles Durning, Jerry O’Connell, Carol Kane, Dan Lauria, Dayton Callie, Paul Ben-Victor, Michael Rappaport, Wendie Mallick. Gary Cole, Bruce Davison, and many more.  For more info: www.thehayworth.com