Kebbel, Sweeney, Brendon & More Star In Nationwide Young Playwrights Fest 6/4-28

Arielle Kebbel ("The Uninvited", "The Grudge 2"), DB Sweeney ("Jericho", "Crash"), Nicholas Brendon ("Criminal Minds", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Jack Lauffer ("Huff"), Michael Welch ("Twilight", "Joan of Arcadia"), Elaine Hendrix ("Privileged", "The Parent Trap"), Jim Beaver ("Harper's Island", "Supernatural"), Todd Grinnell ("Desperate Housewives"), Eric Nenninger ("Generation Kill". "Malcolm in the Middle"), Dale Dickey ("My Name is Earl"), Spencer Daniels ("Star Trek", "The Office"), Hallie Hirsch ("E.R.", "90210"), Greg Ellis ("Star Trek, "Pirates of the Caribbean", "24"), and Emmy Award-winner Gordon Clapp ("NYPD Blue", Tony nom. for Broadway's "Glengarry GLen Ross") are all starring in The Blank Theatre Company's 17th Annual Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival; a month-long Festival of 12 plays by teenaged playwrights, aged 15 -19 from across the United States. The Young Playwrights Festival will be presented from June 4 through June 28, 2009 at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood , CA.

The stars are joined by 60 other professional actors all lending their acting talents to these talented teens' plays. "Week One" (June 4 -7) will feature Gordon Clapp, Jack Lauffer, Elaine Hendrix, Adam Wylie ("Wicked", Broadway's "Into the Woods") and Spencer Daniels. "Week Two" (June 11-14) will feature Nicholas Brendon, Hallee Hirsch, Dale Dickey and Meredith Monroe ("Dawson's Creek"). Arielle Kebbel, Michael Welch and Gregg Ellis star in "Week Three" of the Fest from June 18-21. And the Festival will conclude with "Week Four" from June 25-28 with D.B. Sweeney, Todd Grinnell, Jim Beaver, Eric Nenninger, Rhea Seehorn ("The Starter Wife") and Tom Lenk ("Transformers", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer").

This year's Festival will also feature the work of 2009 ATCA New Play Award winner E.M. Lewis ("Heads", "Song of Extinction"), David Holstein ("Weeds"), Barbara Bain (3-time Emmy Award winner), Jonathan Tolins (Broadway playwright), Austin Winsberg (creator ABC's "Jake in Progress"), Adam Belanoff (co-Exec Prod "The Closer"), 7-Time Emmy Award Winning writer Mark Saltzman ( The Blank's "Setup & Punch"), Daniel Henning (The Blank's Artistic Director) and April Webster (Casting Director "Star Trek", "Lost") in directing and mentoring roles.

Winning plays were chosen by a panel of theatre professionals from plays submitted by teenagers from across the nation. Playwrights are next assigned a writing mentor (professional writer) and then a professional director who will help them hone their scripts for 5 public performances by professional actors. In the past 16 years, The Blank has produced 184 plays by teenaged playwrights. The Blank Theatre Company's 17th AnnuAl Young Playwrights Festival is made possible by the support of James Irvine Foundation, Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Plum Foundation, Rosenthal Charitable Trust, County of Los Angeles Arts Commission & City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Blank Theatre Company's 17th Annual Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm & 7pm, June 4 through June 28, 2009 at the Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA, 90038. Program includes 3 new plays each week. Tickets are $15 for all performances (Festival Passes are available for $50) and may be purchased in advance by calling (323) 661-9827or at TheBlank.com. Info at: TheBlank.com.

June 4, 2009 through June, 28, 2009

Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm & 7pm

Stella Adler Theatre, 6773 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood CA 90028

ADMISSION: $15 for all performances - Festival Pass (one seat each week) $50

TICKET INFO: Tickets available at TheBlank.com or by calling (323) 661-9827.

TheBlank.com