Interact Theatre Presents DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

Interact Theatre Company announces the first production of its 20th Anniversary season and its return to its "home" in North Hollywood with the hilarious musical comedy and the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek

based on the film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning; featuring musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by Tracy Powell and directed by Richard Israel. DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS will preview on Tuesday, February 9 at 8pm; Wednesday, February 10 at 8pm & Thursday, February 11 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 12 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, March 21 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Based on the popular 1988 film, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS centers on two con men living on the French Riviera. The first is the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. The other, a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health. After meeting on a train, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress Christine Colgate, wins and the other must leave town. A hilarious battle of cons ensues, that will keep audiences laughing, humming and guessing to the end.

RICHARD ISRAEL (Director) Richard most recently directed A Christmas Carol and A Grand Night For Singing, both for the Norris Theatre. Prior to these projects, Richard directed Meet Me In St. Louis for Musical Theatre West and Big River for Hollywood's Actor's Co-op. Other directing credits include the critically acclaimed west coast premiere of Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins, the Los Angeles premiere of Big - The Musical, Stephen Sondheim's Assassins (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical, LADCC Award for Musical Ensemble) and Adam Guettel's Floyd Collins (Backstage Garland Award for Direction) - all for Hollywood's West Coast Ensemble Theatre. For the Musical Theatre Guild, Richard directed Jeanine Tesori's Violet, and for the Actor's Co-op, he directed 1776 (L.A. Weekly Award Nomination for Direction and Outstanding Musical) and Leading Ladies. Richard is pleased to serve as the Co-Artistic Director for West Coast Ensemble Theatre.

Tracy Powell (Choreographer) Though she considers herself an actress first, she has been extremely lucky to have been able to earn a living doing musical theatre, which is her first love. After being hired as the "swing" for The First National Tour of The Will Rogers Follies, she ended up at one time or another playing every single female role in the show except for Betty Blake. This experience under the guidance of Tommy Tune and Jeff Calhoun began to make her brain think like a choreographer. She went on to help remount the entire production for another tour alongside John Engstrom, and to assist Kay Cole in many productions at The Hollywood Bowl such as Mame, The Sound of Music, Camelot, and Symphonic Broadway for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She was assistant director/choreographer for Bark! The Musical which ran for an unprecedented two years at the Coast Playhouse. Since then she has choreographed Interact Theatre Company's production of Urinetown...The Musical (L.A. Weekly Award, Ovation nomination), Song of Singapore for International City Theatre, Fractured Broadway at The El Portal, the film My Summer Friend directed by Antwone Fischer, and Urinetown... The Musical and The Wiz for Cathedral High School. She is currently head of the dance department at her alma mater, Louisville High School in Woodland Hills.

JOHANNA KENT (Musical Direction) Ms. Kent has been singing and music directing in LA for over 12 years. Performing credits include: Big (Mrs. Kopecki/Miss Watson/et al), Assassins (Sara Jane Moore), Into the Woods (Jack's Mother), Cinderella (Cinderella), Those Meddling Kids Improv. Music Direction credits include: Assassins (Garland Award), 1776 (LA Weekly award nom), Floyd Collins (Garland Award), A New Brain, A Little Night Music, Something's Afoot. Ms. Kent recently performed her solo cabaret at The Gardenia, and serves as the soprano soloist at the First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia, as well as a member of both ARC at ANMT and West Coast Ensemble.

The production has assembled an award-winning design team. The Set Design is by Rob Corn & Dove Huntley. The Lighting Design is by Carol Doehring. The Costume Design is by Meagan Evers. The Sound Design is by Matt Richter

Chip Phillips (Lawrence) just moved to Los Angeles from New York City where he appeared Off-Broadway in Machiavelli, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and Perfect Crime. Regional credits include John Adams in 1776 (Arrow Rock Lyceum), Milo in Sleuth and Marvin in Falsettos (Foothills Theatre), Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (Northern Stage), Jack in Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound (St. Michael's Playhouse), Hildy in The Front Page (Merrimack Rep), Lend Me a Tenor (American Stage Festival), Das Barbecu (New Repertory Theatre), A Tuna Christmas (StageWest), and Jackie: An American Life (Wilbur Theatre).

MATT WOLPE (Freddy) is a Los Angeles native who has been seen regionally at The Ensemble Theatre Co. (Striking 12) Boston Theatre Works (Gorilla Man), Foothills Theatre Co. (Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story) The Pasadena Playhouse (The Grass Harp with MTG) and most recently at The Sacramento Music Circus where he played Jack in Into The Woods. Matt attended both The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, for Theatre and Songwriting. He is a regular on the Web Series "Every Other Wednesday" in which he also penned the theme song and all of the original music. Matt is an accomplished songwriter, writing songs for numerous up and coming artists as well as for himself. He has played all around the country with various bands over the years, playing everywhere from The Hard Rock and The Paradise in Boston to The Underground lounge in NYC and The Mint and Whisky in Los Angeles. He has also played the drums in the pit of many shows Including JC Superstar and Edges. Matt's Film Credits Include 7 strokes and Trout Creek and is currently the Face and Voice of Bumble Bee Tuna.

KELLY LOHMAN (Christine) has been a member of Interact Theatre Company since 2001. She has served on the Artistic Committee as Secretary since June 2009. InterAct Productions include The Rivals, A Little Night Music, Three Sisters, Our Town, Crimes of the Heart, Escape from Happiness, The Dastardly Ficus and Other Comedic Tales of Misery and Woe, The Laramie Project, Urinetown, and The Boarding House. Ms. Lohman co-produced both The Dastardly Ficus and Interact's 2007 benefit, Club Interact. She directed The Funeral Wedding for Interactivity 2007. Film and television credits include Bones, Days of Our Lives, Gilmore Girls, and The Hillside Strangler.

Also featured in the cast are: Steven Connor, James Cooper, Ellen Dostal,
Jessica Evans, Robert Briscoe Evans, Marc Fellner-Erez, Susan Hull, Michael Manuel, Tracy Powell, Melanie Rockwell and Sara J. Stuckey.

ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS will preview on Tuesday, February 9 at 8pm; Wednesday, February 10 at 8pm & Thursday, February 11 at 8pm and will open on Friday, February 12 at 8pm and will run for six weeks through Sunday, March 21 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Ticket prices are $30.00 for general admission tickets; $20.00 for Seniors; $15.00 for Students. Preview prices are

$20.00. Opening Night Gala $50.00. For tickets, please call 818-765-8732 or visit www.interactla.org.