Natural Shocks is a darkly hilarious tour-de-force written by Lauren Gunderson, the most-produced playwright in America. A woman is forced into her basement when she finds herself in the path of a tornado. Trapped there, she spills over into confession, regret, long-held secrets, and giddy new love. But as the storm approaches, she becomes less and less sure where safety lies — and how best to defy the danger that awaits.
Saturday night’s exhilarating reading of All the President’s Men at Los Angeles City Hall was an historic event. Not only was it a powerful statement advocating Freedom of the Press and honoring American journalism, it demonstrated a watershed moment in our city’s engagement with local arts organizations. Never has the City of Los Angeles handed over its Council Chamber to a theatre company and partnered with it in this way. We applaud Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and his staff for making it possible.
The Fountain Theatre believes that events like All the President’s Men, where art and politics intersect to enhance our civic discourse, are essential to an informed society. We believe a small theatre can do big things. As Charles McNulty stated in his feature story on our event in the Los Angeles Times, “it is heartening to see an intimate theater like the Fountain advocating for what is in our collective interest as a nation.”
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Jeff Perry and Joe Morton, co-stars on ABC-TV’s hit series Scandal, took on the roles of Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and anonymous source “Deep Throat,” joining alumni of The West WingBradley Whitford as Bob Woodward and Joshua Malina as Carl Bernstein; Richard Schiff as Post local news editor Harry Rosenfeld; and Ed Begley, Jr. as managing editor Howard Simons. The cast also featured Sam Anderson, Leith Burke, Seamus Dever, James Dumont, Arianna Ortiz, Spencer Garrett, Deidrie Henry, Morlan Higgins, Anna Khaja, Karen Kondazian, Rob Nagle, Virginia Newcomb, Larry Poindexter and Andrew Robinson. The reading was directed by Stephen Sachs, with sound design by Peter Bayne.
The reading supported, in part, the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s oldest organization representing American journalists, founded to protect journalism and dedicated to the continuation of a free press. We were honored to be joined by the Los Angeles Press Club, which supports, promotes, and defends quality journalism in Southern California with the belief that a free press is crucial to a free society. And The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, defending the fundamental rights of each citizen as outlined in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
“We have a commander-in-chief who does not respect or even understand the freedoms embedded in our Constitution or its First Amendment,” said Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who hosted the reading in the John Ferraro Council Camber. “The Trump administration’s war on the First Amendment includes repeated degradations of the role of media in our society and repeated invocations of ‘fake news’ when the absolute truth does not suit him, blacklisting press on occasion, including, and not ironically, The Washington Post, [and] open discrimination and intolerance under the guise of religious freedom.”
“In Los Angeles, we hold these values dear,” O’Farrell continued. “Donald Trump and his administration do not represent our values. The state of California and the city of Los Angeles, we are leading the resistance. All of us gathered here tonight, we are part and parcel of that resistance.”
“I am so proud of our city,” stated Stephen Sachs in his remarks before the reading. “What other major city in the country would hand over City Hall to its artists? Would have its Councilmembers allowing artists to literally sit in their seats for one night to express an urgent fundamental truth about our country through their art?”
“To every news man and news woman in this room,” Sachs continued. “To every reporter, every elected official, every artist, every citizen – we offer this reminder of hope. The truth will set us free.”
Final casting has been announced for the all-star reading of William Goldman’s screenplay for All The President’s Men scheduled to take place this Saturday, Jan. 27 in the John Ferraro Council Chamber of Los Angeles City Hall.
Based on the book by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the 1976 film All The President’s Men tells the story of their Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of the Watergate scandal, which brought down the presidency of Richard M. Nixon.
Jeff Perry and Joe Morton, co-stars on ABC-TV’s hit series Scandal, will take on the roles of Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and anonymous source “Deep Throat,” joining previously announced alumni of The West WingBradley Whitford as Woodward and Joshua Malina as Bernstein; Richard Schiff as Post local news editor Harry Rosenfeld; and Ed Begley, Jr. as managing editor Howard Simons. The cast will also feature Sam Anderson, Leith Burke, Seamus Dever, James Dumont, Arianna Ortiz, Spencer Garrett, Deidrie Henry, Morlan Higgins, Anna Khaja, Karen Kondazian, Rob Nagle, Virginia Newcomb, Larry Poindexter and Andrew Robinson.
The reading is being presented by the award-winning Fountain Theatre and co-sponsored by the City of L.A., the Los Angeles Press Club, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP and the American Civil Liberties Union as a statement asserting the First Amendment, advocating freedom of the press and honoring the tenacity of American journalism in a free society. Although admission to the reading is free of charge, any voluntary donations will support, in part, the Society of Professional Journalists, the nation’s oldest organization representing American journalists, founded to improve and protect journalism and dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press.
To date, over 5,000 reservation inquiries have been received. With only 240 seats available in the council chamber at City Hall, the producers have instituted a lottery system. No further requests are being accepted.
“We knew this would be a must-see event but this goes beyond our wildest expectations,” says Fountain Theatre co-artistic director StephenSachs. “It shows how passionate the public feels about these urgent issues of Freedom of the Press and the sanctity of the First Amendment.”
‘Gilbert Glenn Brown and Matthew Hancock in ‘The Brothers Size’
Stage Rawtoday announced its first Stage Raw Los Angeles Theater Awards, honoring professional excellence in theaters of up to 99 seats for the 2014 calendar year. The Fountain Theatre has been honored with 13 nominations:
Production of the Year – The Brothers Size Size Size
Direction – Stephen Sachs, My Name is Asher Lev
Direction – Shirley Jo Finney, The Brothers Size Brothers Size
Ensemble – The Brothers Size
Supporting Actress – Anna Khaja, My Name is Asher Lev
Supporting Actor – Joel Polis, My Name Is Asher Lev
Supporting Actor – Theodore Perkins, The Brothers Size
Solo Performance – Jenny O’Hara, Broomstick
Original Music – Peter Bayne, The Brothers Size
Choreography – Ameenah Kaplan, The Brothers Size
Adaptation – Aaron Posner, My Name Is Asher Lev
Lighting Design – Pablo Santiago, The Brothers Size
Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis in ‘My Name Is Asher Lev’.
Jenny O’Hara in ‘Broomstick’
Stage Raw Award Night is April 13th at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street, downtown Los Angeles. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs waves from the stage at the Ovation Awards.
It was a memorable evening for the Fountain Theatre Sunday night, November 2nd, at the 2014 Ovation Awards hosted by LA Stage Alliance and held at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel. The Fountain was honored with the prestigious Best Season Award (“The Normal Heart”, “My Name is Asher Lev”, and “The Brothers Size”) for overall excellence and received the 2014 BEST Award from the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation recognizing exceptional theatre organizations that contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Los Angeles.
Often hailed as LA’s version of the Tony Awards, the peer-judged Ovation Awards recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design in the Greater Los Angeles area. The LA Times has referred to the Ovation Awards as the “highest-profile contest for local theatre.”
Stephen Sachs
The Best Season Award is the preeminent Ovation honor. It recognizes a theatre company’s overall excellence throughout an entire season. Over the years, The Fountain has received more nominations for the Best Season category than any other theatre in Los Angeles. This year marks the 5th time that The Fountain Theatre has been nominated for Best Season since the category was created 6 years ago. The Fountain has now won the award twice.
“Being honored with the Best Season Award is particularly meaningful to us because it doesn’t go to one person,” said Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs. “It celebrates the achievement of an entire season of artists. Therefore, the award goes to — and is shared by — all of the many actors, designers and production team members in our Fountain Family who made our 2013-14 Ovation Season such a success. ”
Acclaimed productions in the Fountain 2014 Ovation Season included the exclusive revival of The Normal Heart, the Los Angeles Premiere of My Name is Asher Lev, and the Los Angeles Premiere of The Brothers Size.
Shirley Jo Finney, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Theo Perkins, Stephen Sachs, Matthew Hancock.
2014 BEST Award winners, with Biller Foundation Executive Director Sarah Lyding
The Fountain was also honored Sunday night with the BEST Award presented and funded by The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation. The BEST (Building Excellence in Small Theatre) Award recognizes exceptional theatre organizations that contribute to the cultural vitality of Los Angeles with long-term viability. The Fountain was honored for its ability to think creatively, the quality of its ideas and aspirations, and the organization’s ability to differentiate itself from other Los Angeles theatre companies.
Our sincere thanks to LA Stage Alliance and The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation for their ongoing dedicated support of intimate theatre in Los Angeles.
The cast of ‘My Name is Asher Lev’: Joel Polis, Anna Khaja and Jason Karasev.
Fountain actors enjoyed a lively evening of camaraderie and celebration at the Ovation Award Nominee Reception Monday night hosted by LA Stage Alliance and held at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The reception toasts all theatre artists nominated for Ovation Awards this year, honoring excellence in the LA theatre community. Award Night is Nov 2nd.
The Fountain Theatre has received six 2014 Ovation Award nominations this year:
Best Season – The Normal Heart, My Name is Asher Lev, The Brothers Size
Best Production of a Play – My Name is Asher Lev
Best Lead Actress in a Play – Anna Khaja, My Name is Asher Lev
Best Acting Ensemble for a Play – Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja, Joel Polis, My Name is Asher Lev
Best Acting Ensemble for a Play – Gilbert Glenn Brown, Matthew Hancock, Theodore Perkins, The Brothers Size
Best Choreography – Ameenah Kaplan, The Brothers Size
Two Fountain productions have earned nominations for Best Acting Ensemble in a Play, and the casts from both My Name is Asher Lev and The Brothers Size were at the Nominee Reception enjoying themselves. An exuberant evening to celebrate LA theatre and experience the joy and goodwill of artistic community.
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This year’s Ovation Awards ceremony will be held at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse on November 2 at 7:00 PM. Full list of all Ovation Award nominees
Anna Khaja, Joel Polis and Jason Karasev in “My Name is Asher Lev”
The Fountain Theatre is pleased to announce that it has received six 2014 Ovation Award nominations, including in the prestigious categories of Best Season and Best Production of a Play. Fountain productions eligible for the 2013-14 Ovation voting season were our riveting revival of The Normal Heart, and our acclaimed Los Angeles premieres of My Name is Asher Lev and The Brothers Size. The Ovation Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 2 at 7pm at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel.
Often hailed as LA’s version of the Tony Awards, the peer-judged Ovation Awards recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design in the Greater Los Angeles area. For the 2013-2014 voting season, there are a grand total of 195 nominations for 78 productions, presented by 49 companies. There were 318 total productions registered from 137 companies.
Gilbert Glenn Brown, Matthew Hancock, Theodore Perkins in ‘The Brothers Size’.
The LA Times has referred to the Ovation Awards as the “highest-profile contest for local theatre.”
The Fountain Theatre has been honored with the following 2014 Ovation Award nominations:
Best Season – The Normal Heart, My Name is Asher Lev, The Brothers Size
Best Production of a Play – My Name is Asher Lev
Best Lead Actress in a Play – Anna Khaja, My Name is Asher Lev
Best Acting Ensemble for a Play – Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja, Joel Polis, My Name is Asher Lev
Best Acting Ensemble for a Play – Gilbert Glenn Brown, Matthew Hancock, Theodore Perkins, The Brothers Size
Best Choreography – Ameenah Kaplan, The Brothers Size
The preeminent Best Season category honors a company’s overall excellence throughout an entire season. Over the years, The Fountain has dominated the Best Season nominations category. This year now marks the 5th time that The Fountain Theatre has been nominated for Best Season since the category was created 6 years ago, winning the award in 2011. The Fountain has also won the Ovation Award for Best Production of a Play 5 times.
Stephen O’Mahoney, Tim Cummings in ‘The Normal Heart’.
The Fountain Theatre has gobbled up 26 Theater Awards from Stage SceneLA for our acclaimed 2013-14 productions of The Normal Heart, My Name is Asher Lev and The Brothers Size. StageSceneLA editor Steven Stanley announced the winners this week after seeing and reviewing 268 productions from September 1, 2013 through August 31, 2014. The overall awards list is long and there are multiple winners in many categories. All of it demonstrating, as Steven Stanley affirms, that “theater in Los Angeles and its surrounding communities is alive and thriving and quite often simply as good as it gets. “
These 2013-14 Fountain productions received the following awards:
The Normal Heart
Tim Cummings and Bill Brochtrup in ‘The Normal Heart’.
Production of the Year – The Normal Heart
Best Director, Drama – Simon Levy
Best Performance, Lead Actor – Tim Cummings
Best Performance, Lead Actor – Bill Brochtrup
Best Performance, Featured Actress – Lisa Pelikan
Best Performance by an Understudy – Ray Paolantonio
Best Performance, Featured Actor – Matt Gottlieb
Best Performance, Featured Actor – Fred Koehler
Best Performance, Featured Actor – Stephen O’Mahoney
Memorable Performance, Featured Actor – Dan Shaked & Jeff Witzke
My Name Is Asher Lev
Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis in ‘My Name Is Asher Lev’.
Best Production, Drama – My Name is Asher Lev
Best Director, Drama – Stephen Sachs
Best Performance, Lead Actor – Jason Karasev
Best Performance, Featured Actor – Joel Polis
Best Performance, Featured Actress – Anna Khaja
Best Costume Design – Shon LeBlanc
Best Lighting Design – Ric Zimmerman
Best Scenic Design – Jeff McLaughlin
The Brothers Size
Gilbert Glenn Brown and Matthew Hancock in ‘The Brothers Size
Best Director – Shirley Jo Finney
Best Ensemble Cast, Drama
Best Choreography, Play – Ameenah Kaplan
Memorable Lighting Design – Pablo Santiago
Best Scenic Designer – Hana S. Kim
Multiple Productions:
Sound Design/Composer of the Year – Peter Bayne, The Brothers Size, The Normal Heart
Best Props Design – Misty Carlisle – Asher Lev, Brothers Size, Normal Heart
Our thanks to Steven Stanley and StageSceneLa for this acknowledgement. We appreciate and applaud his enthusiasm and support for theatre in Los Angeles.
For the complete list of StageSceneLA Award winnersclick here.
Author’s Son Enjoys The Play And Celebrates His Birthday
We were so pleased and honored to welcome a special guest to a recent performance of our critically acclaimed production of My Name Is Asher Lev at the Fountain. Akiva Potok, son of the novel’s author Chaim Potok, attended the play, engaged the audience in a post-show discussion following the performance, and celebrated his birthday with the Asher Lev company upstairs in the cafe. It was another unforgettable night at the Fountain.
Akiva Potok is a filmmaker living in Beverly Hills. After seeing the Fountain production of the stage adaptation of his father’s novel, Akiva commented to director Stephen Sachs: “Indeed it was a wonderful night. Your production of the play cuts deeply into the emotions of that family; I was very moved. The Q&A after was very rewarding and great fun for me. And thank you for letting me celebrate my birthday with your cast and crew.”
The Fountain’s LA premiere of My Name Is Asher Lev, starring Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis, has earned wide critical acclaim including being highlighted as Critic’s Choice in the Los Angeles Times. The run has been extended to May 18th.
Enjoy These Snapshots with Akiva Potok & Company
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My Name Is Asher LevNow – May 18th (323) 663-1525MORE
Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis in ‘My Name Is Asher Lev’.
The Fountain Theatre will extend its critically acclaimed Los Angeles premiere of My Name is Asher Lev through May 18.
Designated a “Critic’s Choice” by the Los Angeles Timesand “a moving and rich experience” by the Hollywood Reporter, the Fountain’s production of Aaron Posner’s award-winning stage adaptation of Chaim Potok’s novel continues to receive rave reviews in the press and enjoy sold out houses.
“Eloquent … The play resonates with double-edged truths … striking visual and emotional strokes … it unfolds in achingly personal terms,” writes the Times, while the Hollywood Reporter commends “a peerless realization by a splendid cast.” The Santa Monica Daily Press raves, “Just-about-perfect… [a] stellar presentation bound to resonate with everyone,” and BroadwayWorld calls the Fountain production “extraordinary.”
Directed by Stephen Sachs and starring Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis, My Name Is Asher Lev is the powerful story of a young Jewish painter and his struggle to become an artist at any cost – even against the will of his parents and the traditions of his ultra-orthodox Hasidic community. Exploring questions of art, family, religion and loyalty, this extraordinary adaptation is a compelling look at the cost of individuality.
My Name Is Asher Lev Extended to May 18 (323) 663-1525MORE
