AN INTERNATIONAL CAST GET INTIMATE IN “CLOSER”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dinah Brein
dinah@quinnbrein.com
(206) 842-8922
(Hollywood, CA. February 26, 2008) Closer, British playwright Patrick Marber’s award- winning, provocative drama opens this week at Hollywood’s El Centro Theatre. Set in contemporary London, Closer explores the entanglement of sex and the geometry of the complicated relationships of its four characters.
“The play takes on a whole new level of intimacy when interpreted by an international cast,” says Closers co-producer, Jessy Emm. Featuring; Stefan Hajek (Dawson’s Creek and the upcoming feature film, Dresden Sun), Jacqueline Jandrell (Gemma in the hugely popular internet phenomena, Lonelygirl15 series), the cast is rounded out by Kirsty Hinchcliffe who has appeared in numerous off-Broadway and European productions as well as the upcoming feature film Real With Me with Charles Dutton and Mark Kay who makes his LA debut in Closer.
Aware that Closer had a couple prior runs in Los Angeles, The Alpha Company’s Vince Duque, the play director, set out to differentiate the El Centro open. His use of music and video installation weaves a brilliant tapestry of enhanced character depth, development and emotion not previously utilized in the play’s prior showings.
“Music plays a big part in this play on multiple levels,” says Duque. “There is a potential for the audience to be confused by the play’s time span which covers a four year period. Lyrics from the songs help to bridge that gap as well as to illustrate the characters’ inter-turmoil within the ever-changing landscape of their lives”.
Closer features music from such local based artists as Kawehi and Laura Martin (Hotel Café favorites) as well as Seattle-based Reed. Music from UK Indy artists such as Simon Mason and The Endorphins gives the audience a rare insight into the characters’ struggle to be truthful while coping. “The songs we chose express the intimacy of truth the characters are reluctant to reveal to their partners and themselves,” says Duque.
“The music in Closer is like a mix tape or CD. It’s a sophisticated notion to ask the audience to pay close attention to the music we chose but we are demanding a little more investment from the audience. The play after all is called Closer. I’m hoping they listen that way,” he smiles.
Many of the plays scenes are staged within a variety of environments; hospital, gallery, photography studio, home dwellings, etc., creating an artistic dilemma posed by the spatial limitations of the El Centro Theatre. Emm along with Producer Gary Stella, believes the use of video screen projection greatly enhances the artistic statement of the play as well as transforms the black box of the theatre. “The multi-media projections allowed us to create great settings for each scene without making the set overly complicated,” says Emm.
The play previews Thursday, February 28th and opens Friday, February 29th for its 6-week run. All shows are at 8pm. The El Centro Theatre is located at 804 N. El Centro Avenue, Hollywood, CA. 90038.
Preview tickets are $10.00. Full run ticket prices are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for students and seniors. For reservations and information go to www.plays411.com/closer or call 323-960-7770.
For additional information on the production, the cast & the crew and to view the trailers go to www.myspace.com/closerla.
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
# # #
EDITOR’S NOTE: Media requesting interviews with Vince Duque, Jessy Emm or cast should contact Dinah Brein (dinah@quinnbrein.com) at (206) 842-8922.
