Jillian Leigh's HOOKED Set for Inaugural LA Theater Festival, 9/16-25

Indie film darling Jillian Leigh's daring new play, Hooked, will have its World Premiere at this year's inauguralLos Angeles Theater Festival in Hollywood at The Ruby Theatre, opening on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 for eight performances through Friday, September 25, 2015. Set in a turbulent New York City (1988 & now), against a backdrop of police misconduct and political corruption, the complex play is about the patterns that we cannot break. It explores issues related to power, child abuse, and modern day prostitution. Evening performances start at 7:30pm (with one Sunday matinee on 9/20 at 2:30pm). For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/ThePlayHooked and http://hookedplay.brownpapertickets.com. (See bottom of press release for more details regarding experiencing the play.)

Hooked stars highly regarded actor Rodney Eastman and is directed by veteran Broadway actress, television writer, and director Terri Treas. Young newcomer Seth Lee stars in the first act of the play as Eastman's younger self. Playwright Leigh and award-winning actress and writer Sasha Higgins also star in the production. Actor, director, and film and television writer/producer Michael Zand is producing. Set design is by Paul Howle and lighting design is by Christie Conochalla. Post Haste Sound is also on board, as is Marvel Comics costumer Wendy Craig.

"Leigh's story and characters have depth and are coming from an authentic place," says Producer Michael Zand. "The script and language drew me to the project - Jillian Leigh has a unique voice and point of view."

Hooked by Actress/Playwright Jillian Leigh -
New York, Lower Manhattan 1988. A war zone populated by homeless, drunks, and addicts. Drug dealers own the streets. As the Tompkins Square Riots rage outside, inside a shabby tenement, 14-year-old Joe declares his love to Kim, a young hooker, barely out of her teens herself. He's about to learn a hard lesson. Kim is Joe's junkie mother's girlfriend. Flash-forward to present day New York City. Joe is grown up, married, and about to start a family. Yet, he's in a troubled relationship with a young prostitute claiming to be in law school. Coming full circle, the abused has become the abuser. Who's the real hooker now?

Jillian Leigh, Playwright & "Alex" -

Jillian Leigh, an award-winning actress and writer, cut her teeth at theaters all over the world including in Cambridge, England; Florence, Italy; and at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Leigh has established her name in both the New York and Los Angeles indie film circuits. She is known for her celebrated performances in the award-winning indie films A Big Love Story, City Baby, and The Badger Game. She also stars in the upcoming Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends.

Indiewire writes, "Leigh seems to acknowledge her patterns and flaws and knows how to use them to her advantage. Leigh does terrific work that suggests a major shift in her perspective." Former director Tom Zambeck says of Leigh, "Jillian possesses a rare blend of physical courage and emotional frailty that allows her to slip seamlessly into any role. Whether she's playing the girl next door, the comic foil, or the fierce seductress, Jillian will wield her charms and quickly pull sympathy from even the most cynical audience." Leigh's breakout as playwright and director was with her first play, PIE, which aimed to open a dialogue about unhealthy relationships, abuse of power, and lack of self esteem amongst young women. It had a sold out run at The Robert Moss Theater in New York City.

Terri Treas, Director -
Terri Treas is an actress, writer, and director who has starred in numerous films and on television. She is best perhaps known for her role as Newcomer "Cathy Frankel" on the science fiction series Alien Nation, as well as in the subsequent films that continued the storyline. Additional television roles includedSeven Brides for Seven Brothers, DEA, and Santa Barbara. Film roles included All That Jazz, The Fabulous Baker Boys, So Fine, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and House IV. She appeared in her first Broadway show at eighteen years of age. Broadway roles included parts in Pippin, Working, and My Fair Lady. Treas directed her first movie in 1992, Play Nice. She has also written episodes for television series and made guest appearances on many shows including Knight Rider, Crazy Like a Fox, The A-Team, Murphy Brown, and Roseanne. She also wrote and produced episodes for the television series Felicity, Pacific Blue, and Silk Stalkings.

Michael Zand, Producer -
Michael Zand is a writer, actor, producer and director, perhaps best known as a writer for Play Nice, Silk Stalkings, Felicity, Pacific Blue, Nash Bridges,Dangerous Curves, and The Pretender. He has also been featured in acting roles in Alien Nation (television series as well as movie), Play Nice, B.L. Stryker,Falcon Crest, To Live and Die in LA, The Fall Guy, Cagney & Lacey, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone. Zand also served as co-producer on the popular television series Felicity. He has directed a number of short films and has his own YouTube comedy channel. He is married to Terri Treas and they have one child.

Rodney Eastman, "Joe" -
Rodney Eastman is a Canadian American actor who has starred in several films and his best-known role was in the 1987 hit horror flick A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors as "Joey." In 1988, he reprised his role in the sequel, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. His numerous other films include I Spit on Your Grave, Rule of 3, Mobsters, and The Opposite of Sex. Eastman has also made many guest appearances on television shows, including Melrose Place, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NCIS, Longmire, Bones, Millennium, The Protector, ER, and The Mentalist.

Sasha Higgins, "Kim" -
Sasha Higgins' Los Angeles theatre work includes The Night Alive and Yes, Prime Minister at the Geffen Playhouse, The White Marriage (The Odyssey),Cages (The Matrix), The Christmas Present (Sacred Fools), and Kowalski (Two Roads Theater). Her New York Off-Broadway credits include Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros' Mean Time (workshopped at the Vineyard Theatre and New York Theatre Workshop) and London Cries (Old Vic/Irondale Ensemble Project). In London, on the West End, she appeared as "Miranda" in The Tempest (at the Barbican), and off West End in The Dresser (Watford Palace). Film and TV credits include Dark Fields (Showtime), The Badger Game, and an upcoming feature she has co-written called Blood Wolf. For radio, she voiced the role of "Miranda" in The Tempest for the BBC.

Seth Lee, "Young Joe" -
Born in Austin Texas, Seth Lee moved to Los Angeles at age 11 to pursue his acting career. He recently finished shooting The Accountant, which stars Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. Lee plays the role of young "Chris." He is also known for roles in A Few Tales of Hard Times: Chapter 4 - The Name, Incident at Public School 23, and Underdog Kids. The young actor has also played roles on series television including More Than Human and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.