Actors' Fund Benefit - All-Star reading of CASABLANCA - tomorrow!!

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Actors' Fund Benefit - All-Star reading of CASABLANCA - tomorrow!!

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:40pm

Hi, guys -

Well, I'm involved in this fabulous staged reading the Actors' Fund is doing (I'll be playing a "bar patron" - a French one, mais bien sûr- at Rick's Café Américain), and it's for a wonderful cause, so if you're in the SoCal area, I hope you'll come out and see us at the Pantages in Hollywood!

Discounted ticktets are available right now at Goldstarevents.com http://www.goldstarevents.com/events/browse/90004/event/5514.html

Hope to see you at Rick's! =)

xoxo
Erika

THE ACTORS' FUND OF AMERICA
proudly presents the 3rd Annual "Screenplays on Stage"

CASABLANCA

A one-night-only reading of the legendary and beloved Warner Brothers screenplay.

Starring

Ian Abercrombie as CARL

Thora Birch as ANINA BRANDEL

Dan Castellaneta as UGARTE

Bruce Davison as EMIL

Andre De Shields as SAM

Henry Gibson as BERGER

Suzanna Guzman as YVONNE

Anne Heche as ILSA

Edward Herrmann as LOUIS RENAULT

Ken Howard as FERRARI

Tom McGowan as HEINZE

John Rubinstein as VICTOR

Christian Slater as RICK

Hal Sparks as JAN BRANDEL

Michael York as STRASSER

and many more! (I'm one of the "many more!" hehehe)

Pantages Theatre
Sunday, October 2nd - 4pm
6233 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA

Original Warner Brothers Screenplay by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch

Adapted for the staged reading by David Rambo

Directed by Peter Hunt

SPONSORSHIP/VIP TICKET OPPORTUNITIES

$25,000 ~ THE “HERE’S LOOKIN’ AT YOU, KID” CIRCLE
12 seats in one of the first 5 rows of your choice, full-page ad in the souvenir program, logo/name inclusion on all promotional materials including full page Variety ad, acknowledgment from the stage, invitations to VIP pre-performance reception and VIP post-performance cast party, signed posters, gift bag and complimentary parking.

$2,500 ~ THE “PLAY IT, SAM” CIRCLE (very limited)
1 seat in the first 5 rows center, Diamond Listing in the souvenir program, VIP pre-performance reception and post-performance cast party. Gift bag, signed poster and complimentary parking.

$1,000 ~ THE “AS TIME GOES BY” CIRCLE
1 prime orchestra seat, Platinum Listing in the souvenir program, VIP pre-performance reception, VIP post-performance cast party and complimentary parking.

$500 ~ THE “RICK’S CAFÉ” CIRCLE
1 priority orchestra seat, Gold Listing in the souvenir program, VIP pre-performance reception and VIP post-performance cast party.

$250 ~ THE “USUAL SUSPECTS” CIRCLE
1 good orchestra seat or 1 front mezzanine seat, Bronze Listing in the souvenir program and VIP post-performance cast party.

Non VIP tickets also available at $153, $103, $78, $53, $28 (includes Pantages Restoration Surcharge) through The Actors’ Fund.

For all Sponsorship/VIP ticket sales or regular admission tickets and information , please call The Actors’ Fund 323.933.9244, x54 or x35.

CASABLANCA on Goldstar

Updated On: 10/1/05 at 11:40 PM

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:44pm

I would love to see this....ill be in LA right afterwards though...well november... anyways, just curious-- anyone else a little turned off by the casting of Rick and Ilsa? i mean big shoes to fill and all that aside...

break a leg, erika!.

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:52pm

Yeah...I don't really want to say anything, since I'm involved, but suffice it to say it was an entirely different cast when I first agreed to do this, back in the Spring. (It got postponed from May 1st.)

But, I'm sure it'll still be fascinating! =)

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/24/05 at 11:57pm

understandable... i thought i had heard soomething about anjelica huston being involved a while ago. i remember hearing about it a good while ago... im sure it will be quite interesting.. a blast definitely..edward herrmann is fantastic, andre deshields too. i was worried after i posted that you would think i was criticizing your production..glad thats not the case!. either way, you'll always have paris!.

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/25/05 at 1:28am

Yes, and Sir Ben Kingsley was going to be in it, too... I would have LOVED to met him! Ah, well.

Thanks so much for the good wishes! We have our first rehearsal this Tuesday...should be fun. =)

~Erika

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/25/05 at 4:05am

Im going! Im going to the after party as well!

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/25/05 at 2:04pm

emo_geek: You are?? Great! I'll be at the party, too (obviously), so it'll be great to meet you. =) Is that you in your avatar?

So, I got another e-mail from the stage manager, and it turns out at least 5 of my cast-mates from Paint Your Wagon (that I did at the Geffen Playhouse) are also going to be various bar patrons, soldiers, etc., so it'll be like a little reunion! Fun! =)

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:21am

Yep thats me on in the picture. I amg going to be working on somthing but I can't say what it is...but im an assistant. What ever it gets me to the party!

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/26/05 at 6:40am

WOW!! Waht a line up! Merde Kiddo! Shure it will be faboo!

#10

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/26/05 at 11:07am

emo_geek: Cool! Well, I look forward to seeing you there!

sabrelady: Thanks so much! I just received the music in the mail yesterday (for the "Marseillaise" and "Knock On Wood"). Should be a hoot! =)

P.S. If anyone's interested, check out my thread about my upcoming movie premiere. I've got two fun, exciting things happening in October!

Movie Premiere Thread =)

Updated On: 9/26/05 at 11:07 AM

#11

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/28/05 at 11:32am

Hey, guys!

Just updating my post to say we just had our rehearsal last night, and it was so much fun, and Michael York is just charming! =)

I think this thing is going to be really cool...Peter Hunt's directing it, and Brad Ellis is the musical director, and the ensemble is full of really talented actors, and of course the celebs should all be really great at their roles, so I'm really excited!

Here's the complete cast list, as it will appear in the program:

RICK BLAINE - Christian Slater
ILSA LUND - Anne Heche
CAPT. LOUIS RENAULT - Edward Herrmann
VICTOR LASZLO - John Rubinstein
SAM - Andre De Shields
MAJOR STRASSER - Michael York
CARL - Ian Abercrombie
UGARTE - Dan Castellaneta
FERRARI - Ken Howard
YVONNE - Suzanna Guzman
EMIL - Bruce Davison
BERGER - Henry Gibson
COL. HEINZE - Tom McGowan
ANNINA BRANDEL - Thora Birch
JAN BRANDEL - Hal Sparks
FRENCH OFFICER - Rob Kahn

CAFE PATRONS
Erika Amato
Eydie Alyson
Chris Carroll
Daniel Lujan
Harry Murphy
Annie O'Donnell
Mishi Schueller
Ashleigh Sumner
Michael Grant Terry

FRENCH SOLDIER
Jasper Wood

WAITER
Tom Costello

GERMAN SOLDIERS
Steven Hack
Gregory Polcyn

Yay! Looking forward to rehearsal on Friday!

~Erika

#12

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/29/05 at 12:13pm

*bump* for a good cause! =)

#13

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/30/05 at 12:52am

A real star studded event, including a number of people I've really enjoyed on stage before. Though I can't be there (I've had a reservation for the Full Monty in Pasadena for months now), I wish you all great success.
Also...wonderful new color headshot, Erika. Stunning!

#14

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/30/05 at 12:54am

oh geez...I just made a new post about this and I look down and find this....grrr can you delete posts?

Edit: I changed it to a Eden Espinosa board...go figure.

Erika...I'll be at the Pantages at around 1:45 on sunday.

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

Updated On: 9/30/05 at 12:54 AM

#15

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/30/05 at 6:18am

Wish I was in LA now. This production sounds GREAT. Those of us who cannot make it expect a full report from those of you who are going!

#16

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 9/30/05 at 11:28am

Steven: Well I hope you have a wonderful time at The Full Monty! And thanks for the compliment about my new headshot.

emo_geek: Hehehe...well that's cool, too. You now, Eden and I did a show together about 3 1/2 years ago...when we were both still non-Equity. She's a great girl (apart from her being talented, which goes without saying). =) See you on Sunday!
melissa errico fan: Will do! We have rehearsal tonight, which should be fun. =)

#17

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 12:12pm

OK, so we had rehearsal last night, and I think this is going to be a really fun afternoon/evening at the theater!

Everyone is the cast is very nice, and suit the roles really well. I particularly loved Dan Castellaneta as Urgarte (the Peter Lorre role). =) And the Pantages is just so gorgeous...which I already knew, but it had been a while since I'd been inside. The art-deco work on the walls and ceiling is just breathtaking.

We have a very long tech ahead of us today, then it's dress rehearsal tomorrow morning, and the show at 4pm.

I realy hope you'll come support the Actors' Fund. The do such good work, and are not just there for actors, but for anyone in entertainment. (From stagehands to ushers to radio personalities to opera singers...)

And don't forget, there are $28 seats available. =)

Hope to see you there!

~E

#18

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 12:19pm

I am so excited! Maybe I'll come even earlier hmmmm

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

#19

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 1:08pm

are they reading the original stage play, or the movie script?

what does this have to do with broadway anyway?

#20

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 8:37pm

Sir Percival We will be reading from a new adaptation of CASABLANCA written by David Rambo. (Adapting the screenplay back to a stage version.) FYI, as it will say in the program notes, "First it was a play." (Everybody Comes to Rick's)

As for what this has to do with Broadway, well, Anne Heche has done two shows on B'way (20th Century and Proof), Christian Slater has done 6 shows on B'way (starting with The Music Man as a young boy, and most recently The Glass Menagerie with Jessica Lange), John Rubinstein is John Rubinstein, for gosh's sake (originated the roles of Pippin in Pippin, James Leeds in Children of a Lesser God, and played Tateh in Ragtime - replacement), along those same lines, Andre De Shields is freakin' Andre De Shields (Writer, Composer, Lyricist, Choreographer, Director, Performer...originated the Wiz in The Wiz, original cast member of Ain't Misbehavin' - both the original and the revival, created the role of Noah "Horse" T. Simmons in The Full Monty, etc. etc...), Ken Howard's been in 10 shows on B'way, (including originating the role of Thomas Jefferson in 1776), Edward Herrmann's done 6 shows on B'way, Michael York's done 5 B'way shows (and he's Michael York), Bruce Davison's done 4 B'way shows, Tom McGowan's been in 3 B'way shows, Henry Gibson's done 3 B'way shows... So, the Broadway connection's pretty much set. (And most of the Ensemble's been on Broadway, too.)

More than that, it is a benefit for the Actors' Fund, which helps Broadway (and other) performers. BBW has done articles and photo coverage of this event for the past 3 years.

So, there ya go. =)

Updated On: 10/1/05 at 08:37 PM

#21

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 9:01pm

John Rubinstein is John Rubinstein, for gosh's sake (originated the roles of Pippin in Pippin and Tateh in Ragtime)

Don't mean to be snippy, but didn't Peter Friedman originate Tateh?

#22

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 9:05pm

You're totally right. I was going by memory with him, and I messed up. :-P And that wasn't snippy. =)

I'm going to edit the post now, so it's correct. :-P

#23

re: Actors' Fund Benefit - CASABLANCA (LA - 10/02/05)

Posted: 10/1/05 at 9:18pm

Its going to be the cool pace to be!

"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

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