Falcon Theatre Company Presents LAUREL & HARDY, 9/9-10/2

Falcon Theatre is proud to present the west coast premiere of Laurel and Hardy, written by Tom McGrath and directed by Dimitri Toscas, the first production of its 2011-2012 Subscription Season. This sweet and sensationally funny bio-play stars Kevin Blake (iCarly, Jag) and Paul C. Vogt (MADtv and Broadway's Hairspray!), with Robert Petrarca at the piano.

Stan Laurel (Kevin Blake) and Oliver Hardy (Paul C. Vogt) reminisce about their lives, loves and careers in Vaudeville, Silent Movies, and the Talkies. Flashing back to some of their world-famous comedy sketches, slapstick, music and dance routines, as well as poignant glimpses behind the scenes, the charm and wit of Laurel and Hardy are reborn in this affectionate homage to the men behind the laughter and success of one of the most prolific comedy duos in Hollywood.

PREVIEWS: August 31, September 1-3 at 8pm; September 4 at 4pm; September 7 & 8 at 8pm
OPENING NIGHT: Friday, September 9, 2011 at 8pm
SHOW CLOSES: Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 4pm
PERFORMANCES Wed. - Sat. at 8pm, Sun. at 4pm

PRICES Previews $29.50 - $32.00
Opening Night $52.00 - $57.00
Weekdays (Wed/Thurs) $34.50 - $37.00
Weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) $39.50 - $42.00
Student Rate(valid student ID) $27.00

Tickets on sale August 3, 2011
Season Subscriptions on sale through October 2, 2011

Tickets can now be purchased online at www.FalconTheatre.com or call the FALCON THEATRE BOX OFFICE at (818) 955-8101

Tom McGrath (Playwright) Born in Rutherglen, Scotland in 1940, Tom McGrath was a poet, a journalist and jazz pianist. In the 1960s, he was associated with the emerging UK underground culture, becoming a founding editor of the International Times. He was musical director on Billy Connolly and Tom Buchan's The Great Northern Welly Boot Show (1972). Two years later, having already brought Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to Glasgow, he set up the Third Eye Centre, a shrine to the avant garde, which is still in operation as the Centre for Contemporary Arts. Beginning with his plays Laurel and Hardy (1976) and The Hardman (1977), his popularity and reputation as a playwright became international. His play The Dream Train (written for Magnetic North Theatre Company) was read in French translation at the Avignon Theatre Festival (2001) and produced in Finland and in Germany. Other plays include Animal, The Android Circuit, 1-2-3, Buchanan, The Innocent and My Old Man.

Dimitri Toscas (Director) Dimitri Toscas is thrilled to be returning to the Falcon Theatre, where he wrote and directed original musical adaptations of Cinderella! (based on the opera Cenerentola), The Magic Flute (based on Mozart's comedic opera) and an original musical version of The Little Mermaid (set in Ancient Greece). Toscas garnered recognition for writing and directing new librettos of Verdi's La Traviata and Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte, both of which were commissioned
and produced by Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee (where he also assistant directed -- and performed the role of the "Padre" in Man of La Mancha with his mentor and friend Dottie Danner). Toscas' recent directing credits include: Plaid Tidings, Seussical, The King and I, two productions of Sweeney Todd (one in a musical theatre and one in an opera house); a critically-acclaimed La Boheme at Piedmont Opera; Lucia di Lammermoor at Virginia Opera (again with Ms. Danner), two productions of H.M.S. Pinafore, as well as several other opera, musical theatre and cabaret productions across the country. Toscas also served on a special Entertainment Task Force that developed new show concepts for Walt Disney World's EPCOT. Currently, Toscas is a freelance writer for the Development Department of Aardman Feature Animation in London, and is a founding member and "show director" of the new LA-based performance group Ácousa. (Hear them @
www.acousalive.com.)