Glendales Alex Theatre Presents Classic and Contemporary American Plays Eastern Standard," October 18-20

Classic and Contemporary American Plays (CCAP), in association with Glendales Legendary Alex Theatre, presents the staged reading of Eastern Standard" by Tony Award winning and Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright Richard Greenberg. This uniquely perceptive and devastatingly witty play has a running time of two-hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Eastern Standard" stars Hill Harper, Matt Letscher, Tracy Leigh, Zilah Mendoza and Jordan Belfi, and is staged in an intimate 208-seat configuration of the Alex Theatre, Monday-Wednesday, October 18-20 at 7:30 p.m.

(PRWEB) September 24, 2004 -- With a truly original voice, a deft hand with character and a gift for juxtaposing unexpected elements with amusing and dramatically purposeful results, Greenbergs EASTERN STANDARD is a romantic comedy for our times." --Dramalogue

Classic and Contemporary American Plays (CCAP), in association with Glendales Legendary Alex Theatre, presents the staged reading of Eastern Standard" by Tony Award winning and Pulitzer Prize nominated playwright Richard Greenberg. This uniquely perceptive and devastatingly witty play has a running time of two-hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Eastern Standard" stars Hill Harper, Matt Letscher, Tracy Leigh, Zilah Mendoza and Jordan Belfi, and is staged in an intimate 208-seat configuration of the Alex Theatre, Monday-Wednesday, October 18-20 at 7:30 p.m.

Set in 1980s Manhattan, Eastern Standard" deals with yuppies, AIDS, the stock market, trendy restaurants, homelessness and urban malaise. The play traces the experiences of four young, self-involved New Yorkers (three men and one woman) after an altercation with a bag lady. Ultimately, they move from disenchantment to hopeful anticipation of what modern life has to offer. Greenbergs characters, in this witty, incisive work, were created delicately and with grace.

Set in 1980s Manhattan, Eastern Standard" deals with yuppies, AIDS, the stock market, trendy restaurants, homelessness and urban malaise. The play traces the experiences of four young, self-involved New Yorkers (three men and one woman) after an altercation with a bag lady. Ultimately, they move from disenchantment to hopeful anticipation of what modern life has to offer. Greenbergs characters, in this witty, incisive work, were created delicately and with grace.

Richard Greenberg, one of Americas most prominent playwrights currently writing for the stage, is known for his use of witty dialogue and eloquent characterizations. Born in Long Island, New York, Greenberg attended Yale University. His Eastern Standard" debuted on Broadway in 1989 at the John Golden Theatre. Best known for his plays The Three Days of Rain" (1998 Pulitzer Prize nominee) and Take Me Out" (2003 Tony Award for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize nominee for Drama Finalist), Greenberg found success with runs in London, Off-Broadway and the Great White Way. He is a longtime member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre and an associate artist at South Coast Repertory.

Harper currently portrays Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in the CBS drama series CSI: New York." His credits include a 2004 Golden Satellite Award nomination for his co-starring role in the CBS series The Handler," a Best Actor nomination by the Independent Spirit Awards for his role of an HIV positive man in The Visit," and he was recognized by the NAACP Image Awards with a nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the CBS series City of Angels."

Letscher appeared in the films Gods and Generals," The Mask of Zorro" and Gettysburg." His television appearances include NYPD Blue," The Larry Sanders Show," Ellen" and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Letscher was a series regular on Almost Perfect" and Living in Captivity." He has performed a range of Shakesperean roles as well as Absolution" at the Los Angeles Court Theatre and Tonight at Eight Thirty" at the Pacific Resident Theatre.

Leigh recently appeared in the world premiere of Safe in Hell" at the South Coast Repertory. Some of her other credits include the national tour of The Vagina Monologues," as well as the New York premieres of A Lesson Before Dying," Up Against the Wind," Krisit," Le Menage" and Attempt on Her Life." She has been seen on Strong Medicine," Charmed," Law and Order," Under Suspicion" and Under One Roof," as well as numerous commercials, voice-overs, PBS radio plays and audio books for Books on Tape and BBC North America.

Mendoza is the recent recipient of the 2003-04 Obie Award for her leading role in the New York premiere of Living Out" at Off-Broadways Second Stage Theatre. Prior to that, she appeared in the same role in the world premiere of Living Out" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Often seen on network television, Mendoza will soon be seen in a guest lead role on Nip/Tuck" and on Wanted," a new CBS episodic. She recently appeared in guest lead roles on Law and Order," ER" and The Division," and had a recurring role on Reba."

Belfi, a Southern California native, is a film graduate from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. Some of Belfis film credits include Custodial Code," Sex and the Teenage Mind," MTVs Undressed," Remote" and Elephant in the Living Room." His notable television guest appearances include Entourage," American Dreams," Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Power Rangers Time Force" and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch."

General tickets to see the staged readings of Richard Greenbergs Eastern Standard" at the Alex Theatre are available for $25 and $15 (senior citizens and students with valid I.D.) at the box office night-of-show. To charge by phone or for more information, please call (818) 243-2539 or visit the Alex Theatre website at www.alextheatre.org.

Validated parking is available for theatre patrons at three Glendale locations: the Orange Street Parking Garage (parallel to Brand Blvd.); the Marketplace Garage (located at the intersection of Harvard and Maryland Aves.) and the Exchange Parking Garage (on Maryland Ave., south of Wilson Ave.). The House Manager at the theatre will validate parking tickets.

Media Contacts:    

Elissa Glickman (eglickman@alextheatre.org)    

(818) 243-2611 x14

Renee Johnson (rjj530@earthlink.net)

(310) 571-9212