LAByrinth Theater Company Announces Return of Celebrity Charades Benefit

LAByrinth Theater Company (John Ortiz, Artistic Director; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director; John Gould Rubin, Co-Artistic & Executive Director) enters the arena of power chords and monster riffs on October 20th, to present the sixth annual benefit featuring Celebrity Charades: this year's event will be a battle of the bands, invoking the theme "We Will Rock You" at concert venue Terminal 5 (610 West 56th Street, at 11th Avenue).

The annual fund-raiser is sponsored by GQ, IWC and Diet Coke, with Event Co-Hosts Jackie Judd, Susan Kahn, Debbie Ohanian, and Starkey Hearing Foundation.

The entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. with a VIP Reception and Dinner, during which LAByrinth Artistic Directors will present The Dave Hoghe Award to producer Carole Shorenstein Hays, in recognition of her artistic courage and outstanding dedication to LAByrinth Theater Company. Past recipients of this annual award have included Madonna, George C. Wolfe, Ira Pittelman, Daryl Roth and Bennington College.

At 8:00 p.m., the charades fun begins.  It's The Battle of the Bands, as four teams of celebrities thrash it out for 90 minutes in three fearless sets of speed-charades. Referee Eric Bogosian will preside over the Charades while, between games, John Patrick Shanley will host a live auction, featuring LAByrinth's unique money-can't-buy experiences – including a chance to play Charades with the celebrities.

This year's confirmed star-studded roster of players includes LAB's Artistic Directors John Ortiz and Philip Seymour Hoffman alongside LAB Members Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Judy Reyes (Scrubs), Daphne Rubin Vega (Rent), Yul Vázquez (American Gangster), and David Zayas (Dexter), and celebrity guests Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Richard Kind (Spin City), Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), and Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU).   Over the next six weeks, an updated list of guest players will be available at LABtheater.org; all appearances are subject to availability, and cannot be guaranteed.  In previous years, players have included Woody Harrelson, Kristen Johnston, Andie MacDowell, Julianna Margulies, Edward Norton, Cynthia Rowley, Robin Williams, and Elijah Wood.

Ticket prices for The Battle of the Bands at 8:00 p.m. start with the Candy Harlot ($250), and the Harem Scarem ($750: Table for 4). Tickets to attend the VIP Reception & Dinner at 6:30 p.m. include the Twisted Sister ($1,100), the Whitesnake ($3,500: Pedestal Table for 4), the Steel Dragon ($10,000: Priority Table for 10) and the King Kobra ($15,000: Premium Table for 10).

To purchase tickets, e-mail charades@LABtheater.org or call (212) 513 1014. More information is available at LABtheater.org. All proceeds will benefit LAByrinth Theater Company’s 17th season in 2008/09 season, hosted by The Public Theater.

LAByrinth Theater Company was founded in 1992 by a group of actors who wanted to push their artistic limits, hone their craft, and create new plays that truly reflected their heritage and experience.  Today, LAByrinth is comprised of more than 110 established and emerging theater artists from a wide array of cultural perspectives.  The inclusive, multicultural ensemble encourages all members to write, act, direct, and design, and supports multidisciplinary growth and exploration in the creation of daring new work that celebrates the diversity of its New York City home.

Now in its seventeenth season, LAByrinth has developed more than 300 new plays and staged 51 productions, including The Little Flower of East Orange and UNCONDITIONAL (2008), A View from 151st Street and Jack Goes Boating (2007), A Small, Melodramatic Story and School of The Americas (2006), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (2005), Sailor’s Song and Guinea Pig Solo (2004), Dutch Heart of Man and Dirty Story (2003), Our Lady of 121st Street (2002), Where’s My Money (2001), Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (2000), and In Arabia, We’d All Be Kings (1999).

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