Benefit Performance Of RANTOUL AND DIE Supports Music Menagerie 6/20

Stephen Eich and Don Foster, the producers of Mark Roberts' RANTOUL AND DIE, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire, will host a benefit performance for Music Menagerie on Saturday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m., at The Lillian Theater (1076 North Lillian Way) in Hollywood. All ticket proceeds for that evening's performance will help to support Music Menagerie's medical assistance program for Los Angeles musicians.

"Music Menagerie, launched by musician Dave Alvin, is a great hands-on local charity - in fact they held an amazing three day music fest/art auction/barbecue called the Dog & Pony Show, just blocks from The Lillian Theater last Labor Day. I was blown away by it," said Rantoul and Die Producer Don Foster. "The passion, the generosity, the sense of community made Hollywood feel like a small town. A small town oddly populated by a bunch of the best musicians and artists in the world. We just want to throw a few bucks in the guitar case on behalf of us local theatre folk."

RANTOUL AND DIE, which had its world premiere in May, has been receiving rave reviews from both the media and the industry. "An original and devastatingly funny new play...blunt, raw and reckless," proclaimed The Hollywood Reporter. Recording artist Tom Waits said, "a rant of the highest magnitude" and the Los Angeles Times gave the new play a CRITIC'S CHOICE pick.

Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Erin Quigley, the cast features Paul Dillon (originated the title role in Tracy Letts' Killer Joe) as Gary, Cynthia Ettinger (Actors' Gang's I am not a racist, but . . .) as Debbie, Rich Hutchman (Buzzworks Theatre Company's Invasion of the Minnesota Normals) as Rallis and Lisa Rothschiller (Chicago's Defiant Theatre Company's Action Movie: The Play) as Callie.

In RANTOUL AND DIE, Rallis (Rich Hutchman) and Debbie's (Cynthia Ettinger) marriage has reached its expiration date. In fact, it's soured and stuck to the bottom of the carton. She wants him to pack his stuff and hit the bricks, but he's clingin' to the past like a cat on a screen door. How far will a man go to hang on to his lady fair? It's a thin line between love and hate. A kiss and a punch. An ice cream cone and a beer bottle to the back of the head.

All benefit tickets to Music Menagerie are $34.99 and include a just-released, all-star music CD "Chris Gaffney Tribute: The Man of Somebody's Dreams" featuring songs by Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Los Lobos, Calexico and more. Tickets are available by calling (323) 960-4424 or online at www.RantoulAndDie.com. For additional information go to www.RantoulAndDie.com or www.MusicMenagerie.net. RANTOUL AND DIE plays at The Lillian Theater, 1076 Lillian Way in Hollywood.