EXIT Theatre Replaces 'Lynde' with 'Capote' for DIVAfest 2009

EXIT Theatre announced today that it has replaced the staged reading of Sean Owens' Center Square, a one-person show about the late comedian and "Hollywood Squares" star Paul Lynde, after receiving a "cease and desist" letter February 25 from the current licensee of the Lynde rights, Matzoball Entertainment LLC. EXIT's 2009 DIVAfest runs April 2-25, 2009.

Added to this year's DIVAfest to fill the Lynde-less slot in the schedule is a staged reading of Lee Kiszonas' latest play, Capote's Last Frontier, about the later life of writer Truman Capote. Capote's Last Frontier will be presented on April 11 and 25, with both readings at 5:30 p.m. at EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy Street in San Francisco.

According to playwright Kiszonas, Capote's Last Frontier is based on a well known fact, a lesser known rumor, and Kiszonas' own supposition. Fact: Truman Capote earned fame and fortune with the publication of the true story of Hickock and Perry's midnight murder spree that became the true crime story In Cold Blood. Rumor: Truman promised Hickock a large sum of money for the story. That money was never paid. Supposition: What if Robert, Hickock's son, tracks Capote down and demands the money? It's 1984, Capote is broke and washed up. He doesn't have the money...or so he says. Robert has brought along a shotgun, rope and duct tape and will make Capote relive the nightmare he wrote about so effectively unless Truman can out wit him or come up with $10,000.

Kiszonas is also the featured playwright at EXIT's 2009 DIVAfest. A fully staged production of her An Affair of Honor, directed by Kathryn Wood previews Thursday and Friday, April 2 & 3. Affair opens Saturday, April 4 and runs Thurs-Fri-Sat, April 9-11, 16-18, 23-25. All performances are at 8:00 p.m., with a 3:00 matinee on April 25. All performances are at the EXIT mainstage, 156 Eddy Street, San Francisco.

An Affair of Honor is the story of Julie D'Aubigny, a cross dressing sword fighting opera diva forced to fight in Parisian taverns for francs until she is discovered by Philippe Duc D'Orleans who takes her to Marseilles to sing in the opera.

EXIT Theatre's 2009 DIVAfest, features the work of established and emerging women writers, directors, and performers. The 8th Annual DIVAfest runs at the EXIT Theatreplex, 156 Eddy Street, in downtown San Francisco, Thursdays through Saturdays, April 2nd through 25th.

Other DIVAfest events include the reading of Samsara, a new play by Lauren Yee, author of Ching Chong Chinaman and readings by beat poet Diane di Prima. Di Prima reads April 4 at 3:00 pm. The Samsara reading is on April 25 at 2:00 p.m..

EXIT Theatre's playwright-in-residence Sean Owens still maintains a presence at DIVAfest. He oversees the return of DIVAfest Cabaret, with songs by Owens and Don Seaver, and featuring songstress Shannon Day. DIVAfest Cabaret plays Fridays and Saturdays, April 4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25. All shows 10:00 p.m. EXIT Theatre,

EXIT Theatre, 156 Eddy Street, San Francisco. (415) 673-3847, www.theexit.org.

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