LOS ANGELES, CA – Director and playwright Stan Zimmerman has found his quartet of actors for his new comedy Knife to the Heart, co-written with Christian McLaughlin. The show will play a limited run of 3 WEEKS ONLY for 9 performances (May 4-20) at the Dorie Theatre, part of The Complex on LA’s famed Theatre Row (6476 Santa Monica Blvd, LA CA 90038). Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. The cast includes Chelsea Kane (“Baby Daddy”), Todd Sherry (“Parks & Recreation”), Josh Zuckerman (A Delicate Ship) and four-time Emmy-nominee Patricia Richardson (“Home Improvement”). Tickets are $35 for Reserved Seating /$25 General Admission/$30 at the door, if available, and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com. A special preview performance is Friday May 4 with an Opening Night of Saturday May 5.
Knife to the Heart is being produced by Pop-Up Playhouse in conjunction with Steve Abrams, Tony D’Angelo and Stefani Nicole Von Huben, of TADA Theatricals & Kicky Productions, both Chicago-based theatrical producing entities. Previously, Knife to the Heart had three successful developmental staged readings, two in Los Angeles, and one at Chicago’s legendary Second City in October ’17, directed by Gary Griffin. This is a tryout/showcase production before heading to Chicago in the Spring of 2019.
The comedy is set in the suburban Dallas apartment of Marshall and Julie Ann Katz (Zuckerman, Kane), a young interfaith couple. When they discover that they have twin boys on the way, no one is kvelling more than Marshall’s mother Rhonda (Richardson), – queen of Texas organic foods, and the 21st century Jewish mother we’ve been waiting for. But, suddenly the whole family is pulled into a tug-of-war, with a little help from YouTube, a meddling gay school teacher (Sherry), and more than a few centuries of tradition. By the time it’s over, there’s no telling who (or what) will be left intact.
THE CAST:
CHELSEA KANE (JULIE ANN) has been acting professionally since the age of nine when she landed the role of Young Kim in the National Broadway tour of Showboat. Kane most recently starred as Riley on Freeform’s long-running hit show, “Baby Daddy,” which won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Comedy in 2017 and for which she received two additional Teen Choice Award nominations for her role. Chelsea also starred in the original TV movies, “Minutemen,” “Lovestruck,” and #Popfan” and as Meredith in the theatrical release of “Bratz.” She enjoyed a recurring role on the final season of the CW’s “One Tree Hill” and was a fan favorite on Season Twelve of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing as one of the three finalists. Kane was a series lead on Disney’s “J.O.N.A.S.” and the voice of Bea Goldfishberg in their animated series, “Fish Hooks.” In addition to voicing roles in Adult Swim’s “Hot Streets” and “Rick and Morty,” Chelsea loves bringing life to “Loy” in Dreamworks’ “Archibald’s Next Big Thing” and to “Pow in the new Netflix series, “Trolls.”
PATRICIA RICHARDSON *(RHONDA) was given her Actor’s Equity card on her first audition in New York from Arthur Laurents to understudy Louise/Gypsy in Angela Lansbury’s Broadway production and tour of Gypsy. From the small parts she played in Gypsy she got an agent and commercials, which subsidized several years of doing New York theater. She created parts in two Beth Henley plays in NY: The Miss Firecracker Contest (MTC), and The Wake of Jamie Foster (Broadway). Other roles she created include Janice in Michael Weller’s Loose Ends (Broadway), and several shows at the WPA Theater (including Cruise Control by Kevin Wade) and a few at Playwright’s Horizons (a revival of Company w/Peter Evans, Walter Bobbie, Christine Baranski). In more recent years: I Forgive You Ronald Reagan (Samuel Becket Theater), the world premiere of Alfred Uhry’s Apples and Oranges directed by Lynne Meadow at the Alliance Theater, and two plays at Buck’s County Playhouse, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias w/ Jessica Walters and Susan Sullivan, and last summer, Other Desert Cities, directed by Sheryl Kaller. TV and Film: “Home Improvement” (Four Emmy Nominations, two Golden Globe Nominations), “Strong Medicine,” (two Prism Award Nominations), “The West Wing” (recurring the last two seasons), “Ulee’s Gold” (Independent Spirit Award Nomination). Most recently, IFP 2017 recipient Cubby, and County Line. She also just did the pilot for “Dayworld”, an animated series w/Tim Heidecker for Adult Swim. Patricia is the National Spokesperson for CurePSP, is on the National Board and was recently elected First VP of the LA Local Board of SAG-AFTRA. Patricia just finished a critically acclaimed off Broadway run in Cruel Intentions, the musical.
TODD SHERRY *(DEACON) played Seymour in 3 separate productions of Little Shop of Horrors, including the US and Canadian tours. He has been seen as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Lancelot in Camelot, Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and in many other roles in stock and regional theatres all over the country. In the LA and San Francisco productions of the play Doing Judy! , Todd created the lead role of Kenny Carlisle, which led to a successful career in television and film acting over the past 15 years. To date, Todd has recurred on 9 television series including “Life in Pieces”, “Parks & Recreation”, “Grace and Frankie”, “Suburgatory”, “The O.C.”, and “Rita Rocks”. He has Guest Starred in dozens more including “Supergirl”, “The Mindy Project” and “Nobodies”. Todd has also been seen in films opposite Sandra Bullock, Adam Sandler, Marion Cottilard, and Steve Carrell.
JOSH ZUCKERMAN (MARSHALL) has been acting professionally in the TV and film world since his late teens. He has played major roles in film genres ranging from comedy (“Sex Drive”, “Austin Powers III”, “Killing Diaz”), to horror (“Feast”), to drama (“The Hottest State”, “CBGB”) and appeared in TV series such as: “Desperate Housewives”, “CSI Miami”, “Boston Legal”, “House”, “NYPD Blue” and “90210”. He most recently starred in the CW comedy series “Significant Mother” and he just wrote and directed his first short film, “A Real Adventure”. Theater credits including: Juno and The Paycock (Odyssey Theatre), Cock (Creative Works Theatre), Autumn Garden (Antaeus Theatre), A Delicate Ship (The Road Theatre) and the 2016 Rogue Machine production of Dutch Masters, for which he won a Stage Raw Award for Best Two Person Performance. He is a proud member of both Rogue Machine and the The Road Theater companies.
THE CREATIVE TEAM:
CHRISITAN MCLAUGHLIN (PLAYWRIGHT) Along with Valerie Ahern, Christian worked on the infamous “Married with Children”. They’ve also written for “Desperate Housewives”, “Hannah Montana”, “Hot Properties”, “Clueless”, “Rita Rocks” and the Disney Channel hit “Jessie”. The team had stints on the daytime soaps – “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”. They created and executive produced MTV’s Emmy nominated steamy soap opera “Spyder Games”. Christian produced and directed a live stage production of The Phacts of Life in Los Angeles. He gained notoriety in his early twenties with the publication of his novels, Glamourpuss and Sex Toys of the Gods. Christian and Valerie are currently working on the Disney Channel hit series, “Jessie”. With Stan, he wrote It’s On!, their TV theme show musical and the 2012 and 2013 Divas Simply Singing! benefits.
STAN ZIMMERMAN (DIRECTOR/PLAYWRIGHT) Director/Writer/EP/Creator: “secs & EXECS”, “Skirtchasers” – (both telloFilms web series). Consultant: “Katya” aka Russian “Roseanne” (Sony/CTC). Writer/EP/Creator: “Rita Rocks”. Writer/Producer: “Gilmore Girls”, “Roseanne” (WGA nomination) – “Kiss Episode”. Writer: “The Brady Bunch Movie”, “A Very Brady Sequel”, “Annie” (ABC-TV movie), “The Golden Girls” (WGA Nomination), “Fame”, “Brothers”. Writer: Right Before I Go – all star benefit directed by Michael Wilson (Town Hall). Director: Pledge – World Premiere, Pinata, Synthesis – World Premiere, Warm Cheese, Daughter Of…, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me (Best Director winner- Broadwayworld), Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas, Gemini. Music video “All I Want” – Whore’s Mascara. Writer/Director: Yes Virginia, Suicide Notes: In Their Own Words, Meet & Greet, It’s On! (workshop-NYMF/Signature Theatre, Falcon Theatre). Dancer/Broadway: Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet (Mark Hellinger Theatre). TV Host/Showrunner: “Situation: Comedy” (Bravo/Producer Sean Hayes). Teacher: Chapman University, Beverly Hills Playhouse, American Comedy Institute (NYC), Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy (TX). Education: Cranbrook Theatre School, Hampton Playhouse, BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.
POP-UP PLAYHOUSE (PRODUCER) presents their third production at the Dorie after the highly successful and critically acclaimed runs of Paul Shoulberg’s Pledge and the all-star revival of Justin Tanner’s Heartbreak Help with Melissa Peterman, Teresa Ganzel, Sarah Gilman and Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur. This December, Pop-Up Playhouse mounts Zimmerman & McLaughlin’s autobiographical comedy, Yes, Virginia starring Ellia English and Mindy Sterling at the Dorie.
STEVE ABRAMS (PRODUCER) has been a driving force in Chicago’s diverse cultural landscape for almost the last three decades. Having had a celebrated career that took him from the exciting nightclub and restaurant scene of the 90s through senior and executive leadership positions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park and Chicago Children’s Theatre, he served as the first Resident Artistic Director of Navy Pier, pioneering its newly formed arts & discovery programming to solidify its role and prominence as the town square of Chicago’s cultural district. He is the principal at Kicky Productions, an innovative arts management and production company and partner at TADA Theatricals, a commercial theatrical producing entity. Abrams has created, produced and collaborated on a wide array of projects with Laurie Anderson, Alan Cumming, Stephen Sondheim, Kathleen Battle, John Waters, Sweet Honey and the Rock, Gary Griffin, Fran Lebowitz and many of Chicago’s top artistic organizations. Most recently, Steve produced Chicago’s biggest hit, Lettin’ the Good Times Roll, starring E. Faye Butler & Tony-nominated Felicia P. Fields and is currently launching an international tour of this show. Steve is also the recipient of the Actors’ Fund’s 2016 Encore Award for extraordinary dedication and commitment to the performing arts by supporting those who bring spectacular performances to our stages and screens. Follow Steve on Facebook & Instagram @KickyProductions and at KickyProductions.com.
TONY D’ANGELO (PRODUCER) A producer and managing director of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and Forum Theatre for over 35 years. At these theaters D’Angelo produced over 400 shows, including five world premieres, five mid-west premieres and over 30 Chicago premieres. His productions have received over 18 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Awards. Tony has produced numerous Chicago hits including Lyle, an original musical by Charles Strouse and Little Shop of Horrors at the Royal-George Theatre. At the Mercury Theatre, Over the Tavern ran a very successful 13 months followed by King o’ the Moon. He also presented John Powers’s new play Life’s Not Fair, So What! In Chicago, he produced the hit musical revue The Water Coolers. In the fall of 2007, at the Apollo Theater he produced the acclaimed show The Sparrow, followed in the spring by the world premiere musical Knute Rockne All-American at Theatre at the Center, which was voted one of the best shows for 2008. In the spring of 2009 he produced The Quiet Man Tales at the Chicago Theater and Hi-Fidelity the musical at Piper’s Alley. He was a producer of Trying off-Broadway in 2010. Recently he was the General Manager for Working a musical which played at the Broadway Theater in 2011 and recently presented the musical Signs of Life at Victory Gardens Theatre. In 2015, he presented Unspeakable at the Broadway Playhouse.
STEFANI NICOLE VON HUBEN (PRODUCER) is the founder of 4th Street Park Productions; a Southern-California based company that has produced short and full-length films, television programming and live stage theatrical productions. Stefani has partnered with Broadway San Diego Civic Theatre to bring theatrical experiences and opportunities surrounding the arts to elementary students, including the Broadway productions of Cinderella (2015); Beauty and the Beast (2015); Newsies (2016); Lion King (2016); Matilda (2017); Finding Neverland (2017); Stomp; and School of Rock (2018). She currently is involved with on-going collaborations with Disney-ABC Studios; DC Entertainment; and DreamWorks Animation. Ms. Von Huben’s producing highlights include: launching Unspeakable at the legendary Apollo Theater, New York (2013); winning the Indie Merit Award for her short film, “Blue Butterflies” (2014); premiering Unspeakable: a Dramatic Fantasia in Chicago at The Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place (2015); developmental readings of Knife to the Heart at The Lex Theatre, Los Angeles (2016), and The Second City, Chicago (2017).
For further information/press tickets: info@knifetotheheart.com (773)458-3388, and for more information visit www.knifetotheheart.com Facebook.com/kickyproductions, IG @kickyproductions
GET IN TOUCH
Steve Abrams
WWW.KICKYPRODUCTIONS.COM
773-458-3388
http://WWW.KNIFETOTHEHEART.COM
Release ID: 261528
