Nicholas Brendon To Replace John Fleck In Blank Theatre Company's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM

Hollywood's Blank Theatre Company has announced that Nicholas Brendon will replace the previously announced John Fleck in their production of Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang. The dates of Mr. Fleck's upcoming tour shifted, rendering him unavailable. Directed by Daniel Henning, Why Torture is Wrong will begin preview performances as previously announced on Saturday, January 30 and will open on Saturday, February 6 at 8pm. The engagement runs through Sunday, March 14.

Along with Brendon, who recently played a sold-out holiday engagement of The Santaland Diaries at The Blank, the cast includes Christine Estabrook (Spring Awakening on Broadway, Desperate Housewives), Mike Genovese (ER, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at The Blank), Catherine Hicks (7th Heaven, Child's Play), Sunil Malhotra (24, ER), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives) and Rhea Seehorn (The Starter Wife, Trust Me).

Renowned award-winning playwright Christopher Durang turns political humor upside down with this raucous and provocative satire about America's growing homeland "insecurity." A young woman is suddenly in crisis: is her new husband, whom she married when drunk, a terrorist? Or just crazy? Or both? Is her father's hobby of butterfly collecting really a cover for his involvement in a shadow government? Why does her mother enjoy going to the theatre so much? Does she seek mental escape, or is she insane? Honing in on our private terrors both at home and abroad, Durang oddly relieves our fears in this black comedy for an era of yellow, orange and red alerts. Why Torture is Wrong had its world premiere at New York's Public Theater in the spring of 2009.

Preview performances of Why Torture Is Wrong are Saturday, January 30 at 8pm, Sunday, January 31 at 2pm, and Tuesday, February 2 - Friday, February 5 at 8pm. Opening night is set for Saturday, February 6 at 8:00. THE MEDIA IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL PRESS PREVIEW NIGHT ON FRIDAY 2/5, BUT IS ALSO WELCOME AT ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE AFTER THAT. The regular performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm through March 14. Prices range from $22-$28, and tickets may be purchased by calling (323) 661-9827 or online at www.TheBlank.com.

The Stella Adler Theatre is located at 6773 Hollywood Boulevard (2nd Floor), in Hollywood. Validated parking ($2) is available at the Hollywood and Highland complex.