The Park at Lee Strasberg Theatre - Marilyn Monroe Theater

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hollywood’s Back — But Thousands Are Still in the Dark
Staged Reading of "THE PARK"
to Benefit the Entertainment Community Fund
With Special Guest Host Finola Hughes

Saturday, June 21

Marilyn Monroe Theatre, West Hollywood

The lights may be back on in Hollywood, but for thousands of industry professionals—stagehands, writers, cinematographers, editors, designers, actors, assistants, caterers, freelancers—the struggle continues.

On Friday, June 21, the creative community will come together for a one-night-only staged reading of THE PARK by playwright, Eric Conger at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in West Hollywood, raising critical funds for the Entertainment Community Fund.

Since 2020, the Fund has distributed more than $6 million in emergency assistance to over 3,000 entertainment workers in crisis—those impacted by the pandemic, industry strikes, and even wildfires. This event is both a call to action and a moment of solidarity. It is not just about raising money—it’s about raising awareness and standing together with those still recovering from the long tail of shutdowns, strikes, and natural disasters.

Directed by three-time Emmy Award winner Cady McClain and hosted by Emmy nominee Finola Hughes (General Hospital), the staged reading is executive produced by Amanda Quinn Olivar in partnership with Axial Theatre and Zetland Media, in collaboration with The Lee Strasberg Creative Center and the Marilyn Monroe Theatre.

THE PARK explores the unraveling of a small American town and the community fighting to hold on.

“Eric’s play takes us into the heart of America,” says McClain. “It’s a wake-up call—a reminder that community is what holds us together. It’s never been more relevant.”

Cast Includes:

Will Dixon (The Residence), Jack Cain (Ransom Canyon), Presciliana Esparolini (Mayans M.C.), Clay Hollander (Ray Donovan), Katharine Lee McEwan (Solitary), Sigute Miller (Tragic Magic), Georgina Elizabeth Okon (Black Panther), Erik Passoja (The Flight Attendant), Larry Poindexter (S.W.A.T.), James Patrick Stuart (General Hospital), Kholan Studi (Tulsa King, Native Voices at the Autry), Sophia Vassilieva (The Little Things)

Stage Directions: Mak Shealy
Original Music: Corinna Repp
Photography: Alan Shaffer

This is Los Angeles taking care of its own.

Emergency housing. Groceries. Health care. Mental health support. Rent relief.

When everything else fails, the Fund steps in.

Show up. Stand with them. Make it count.

Event Schedule:

 Marilyn Monroe Theatre at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute
7936 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046

• 7:00 PM – Red Carpet + Reception
• Hors d’oeuvres by Sur l’Adour, Executive Chef Danielle Reed
• Wine by Battle Mountain Winery
• 8:00 PM – Staged Reading

Tickets:

• Light Up the Stage! – $500

• Fuel the Night – $45

• Every Drop Helps – $30

• We Love Seniors – $20

• Students Are the Future – $15.

Purchase tickets at: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/the-park-by-eric-conger

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

100% of net proceeds will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund.

All donations made via Zeffy go to The Lee Strasberg Creative Center, which will distribute 100% of the proceeds directly to the Fund

ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND
The Entertainment Community Fund fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals throughout their lives. The Fund delivers national human services for people working in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance—on stage, on camera, and behind the scenes. Founded in 1882, the organization offers a deep understanding of the unique challenges of pursuing a life in the arts and provides critical resources to help individuals thrive in an often unpredictable industry.

ABOUT AXIAL THEATRE
Now in its 24th season, Axial Theatre is an ensemble-based, not-for-profit theater company dedicated to the professional development of playwrights and actors. Axial supports new work through staged workshops, developmental readings, and full productions. Axial Theatre is a 501(c)(3) organization. More at axialtheatre.org.

ABOUT ZETLAND MEDIA
Founded by British actress Katharine Lee McEwan, Zetland Media is committed to producing high-quality, issue-driven, and socially conscious content. The company takes its name from The Zetland, the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat, which resides in McEwan’s hometown of Redcar in North East England. More at zetlandmedia.com

ABOUT THE LEE STRASBERG CREATIVE CENTER
The Lee Strasberg Creative Center® supports the artistic vision of The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute®, preserving and promoting the legacy of Lee Strasberg and his renowned acting methodology, Lee Strasberg Method Acting™.

ABOUT ERIC CONGER (Playwright) 
Eric Conger’s plays have been produced at regional theaters including the Walnut St. Theatre in Philadelphia and the York Theater in NYC, and his one-act works have been presented in Happy Hour at the Ensemble Studio Theater, where he is a member of the Playwrights Unit. He has co-written short films with his daughter Sophia Conger, which have been accepted into major festivals, including Holly Shorts, Garden State, and Cincinnati. He is an Ohio native and a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Paris. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and Dramatists Guild.

ABOUT CADY McCLAIN (Director)
Cady McClain is a three-time Emmy Award-winning actor and the Artistic Director of Axial Theatre. Her directorial credits include Never the Sinner and Paint Made Flesh (supported by Sotheby’s). Her documentary Seeing is Believing: Women Direct received jury and audience awards at both the Newport Beach and SOHO Film Festivals. McClain’s short films have earned multiple accolades, including Best Film at Paramount Studios’ KITS Awards (Burnt Feathers, Broken Wings) and Best Comedy Drama Short at the Indie Gathering (The World of Albert Fuh). She has also directed the Emmy-nominated series Venice the Series and Switch, starring Olympia Dukakis (Best Pilot, Santa Fe Film Festival).

ABOUT AMANDA QUINN OLIVAR (Executive Producer)
Amanda Quinn Olivar is a Los Angeles-born curator and producer working across film, theater, and the arts. From 2016 to 2025, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Curator. Her producing credits include the award-winning documentary Seeing Is Believing: Women Direct, the play Paint Made Flesh (supported by Sotheby’s), and the New York revival of Austin Pendleton’s Orson’s Shadow. Amanda has also collaborated on exhibitions at the Cornell Art Museum and the Skirball Cultural Center. She received the HeArt Award for her work with A Window Between Worlds, a nonprofit that uses art to help survivors of domestic violence and trauma.

Amanda serves on the boards of the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art, Axial Theatre, and London’s Fashion and Textile Museum: Friends of Zandra Rhodes. She is a founding board member of The Chimaera Project and an advisory board member of The Residency, a Tuscany-based retreat program for underrepresented artists. 

Press + Communications contact:
Jennifer Gross
Evolutionary Media Group
323-646-8412
Jennifer@emgpr.com