Acclaimed original Friends Like These goes to Fringe!
Rising playwright Gregory Crafts’ powerful exploration of teen violence rides its popularity and critical praise to both the Hollywood and New York Fringe Festivals.
LOS ANGELES – After playing to sell out crowds in both 2009 and early 2010, endorsements from local press and critics (including a “GO!” from LA Weekly) and a nomination for Best Ensemble Cast at the Artistic Director Achievement Awards, the original piece Friends Like These is excited to announce that it has been accepted to both the acclaimed New York International Fringe Festival and the first-ever Hollywood Fringe Festival.
A new work that first debuted last fall with Theatre Unleashed, Friends Like These takes a candid and poignant look at the staggering issue of violence in our high schools. Garrett is an outsider who spends most of his troubled existence in a fantasy world called Haven…that is until he meets Nicole, the popular cheerleader with a curious mind. As quickly as things begin looking up for Garrett, they come crashing down, forcing him to face both his past mistakes and his harsh present reality while he struggles for redemption. This gut-wrenching piece unswervingly explores the emotional trauma brought on by social mores during high school, forcing a confrontation with the causes and tragic consequences that left us staggered as a nation during Columbine and other high school shootings.
“Although Columbine occurred 10 years ago, violence amongst teenagers and young adults is still an ongoing issue,” said co-director Sean Fitzgerald. “After Columbine, those who dressed similar to the shooters were further ostracized. This production seeks to explore this cycle and to humanize those who are regarded merely as outcasts.”
The show, which features most of the original cast, will be performed Thursday-Saturday, June 24-26 at 9 p.m. as well as a special 1 p.m. matinee on the 26th at The Ruby Theatre @ The Complex in Hollywood on famed Theatre Row. It will be one of 176 different productions playing at 40 various locations around the city over 10 days that will make up the inaugural Hollywood Fringe Festival, ranging from classic works to original plays, sketch comedy, improv and more. The dates and the location for its appearance at FringeNYC is TBD.
“I’m thrilled to be able to take Friends Like These to the Fringe this summer as its an exciting opportunity to get my work out there,” said playwright Gregory Crafts. “I wanted to introduce it to a wider audience. These festivals provide an excellent opportunity for a producing artist like me to get my work out there to the masses. It’s also a great chance to meet fellow artists and what others are doing. Both L.A. and New York are going to be exciting festivals.”
Crafts entry was also made possible thanks to various donors and a clever grass roots fundraising campaign that featured a karaoke party, a partnership with Menchies Frozen Yogurt, a magic show with some of the city’s best illusionists, an online donation drive and more. Crafts and his crew are still looking to raise more funding for the New York festival. More information can be found on the show’s website www.friendsliketheseplay.com or on www.hollywoodfringe.org and www.fringenyc.org.
“It’s an important piece for me…I was an outcast in high school and certainly felt like a ‘trenchcoat kid,’ so I had a lot of personal experience to pull from,” Crafts said. “I don’t think the story is very self-reflective anymore and I certainly don’t think it’s just about a school shooting. It’s a story about five kids and how complex their lives are.” Download the full press release and calendar listing here.
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Matthew has been thoroughly enjoying the last year and a half in LA. Acting since he was a little kid, he is very excited to be living here actually doing it! Several of his favorite Theatre credits include: The Rainmaker, She Stoops to Conquer, A Murder Is Announced and several Murder Mystery Dinner Shows. He recently shot his second Independent Feature Film, a TV Pilot and various commercial and print jobs. Up next, he will be playing the role of Warren in This Is Our Youth at “The Acting Center” in Hollywood. He is thrilled to be part of this great cast and show!
Originally from Victoria, BC, graduated magna cum laude in both theatre and dance at Loyola Marymount University. Favorite theatre credits include Helen Keller in Miracle Worker; Ilse in Spring’s Awakening; Bleed Rail with The Theatre @ Boston Court; Monkey Girl in Monkey Madness (nominated for LA Weekly best comedy ensemble); and Dina in Survived. She is a corps member of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble. Favorite feature credits include lead roles in I’m Just Saying (winner at the 2010 Honolulu International Film Festival) and The Devil Within. Jen is so so so excited and honored to be jumping into such an amazing production!
Theatre Unleashed debut. Theater: La Traviata with the LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion; Matter of Honor at The Pasadena Playhouse; The Caucus Race, A Son at the Front, and Shame the Devil with Veritas Ensemble. Film/Television: Love Drunk (dir. Travis Kopach), Left Behind (dir. Steven Hallum) and Paperboy (dir. Daphne Wu) for which he won Best Actor at the Southern California Business Film Festival. Ryan is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, minor in Communications, as well as a California Arts Scholar. He can be seen in various commercial spots, as a series regular on the webseries Streets of Steve, and as a series regular on the webseries Free Rent.
Sarah Smick originated the role of Nicole in the Theatre Unleashed world premiere of Friends Like These. Television: The Bold and The Beautiful, House Arrest (dir. Danny Schrader, Independent Television Festival 2009). Film: Here’s The Kicker with Dan Lauria and Daniella Monet (dir. Chris Harris), Apocalypse, CA (dir. Chad Peter), This Is Life (dir. Wai Choy, Filmstock International Film Festival 2009). Theatre: Small Things and Water by Greta Gerwig (world premiere). Most recently Sarah shot a commercial for CISCO and a guest-starring role on the new web series Tyrone Goldberg. Sarah graduated cum laude from Columbia University with a B.A. in History. She has trained at the British American Drama Academy, Margie Haber Studios, Stella Adler Studios, and Larry Singer Studios, among other places. In addition, Sarah is a screenwriter with a comedy feature currently in pre-production. She is repped across the board by Diverse Talent Group and May Management. Check her out online at www.SarahSmick.com. Thanks to the cast and crew for all their hard work!
Alex Yee was raised in Medway, MA and has loved acting since he saw a poster on the middle school bathroom seeking young actors for the high school musical, The King and I. He then participated in every high school and community play available before attending Emerson College in Boston, where he discovered kindred spirits in the acting world. His favorite stage appearances include: Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Gregory is a multi-hyphenate artist residing in the Arts District of North Hollywood, CA. Writing Credits: Short Film - Afterthe Adventure: Logan's Heroes for the Dungeons & Dragons Fan Film Festival; Stage - Super Sidekick, Super Sidekick: The Musical (with Michael Gordon Shapiro), multiple episodes of Dungeon Master: The Ultimate Improv Adventure. Look for the re-launch of Gregory's blog in early 2010. www.gregorycrafts.com. Gregory would like to thank his family and his wonderful wife, Jenn for their unwavering support in all of his artistic endeavors. Special thanks to Phil Kelly, Wil Manus, Paul Casey and John Lant for encouraging and guiding him through the difficult writing process.
Sean has been with Theatre Unleashed pretty much since the beginning. This is his first time assuming the role of director with the group. He has directed pieces with the Young Artists Ensemble and at the Theatricum Botanicum.
Vance is a graduate of the University of Uta's Actor Training Program. he has performed and directed on stages all across the U.S. Credits include work for the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, East West Players, Theatre Unleashed and most recently, the New York International Fringe Festival.
Over the past few years, Erin has become quite adept at finding lost pants, bandaging and disinfecting cuts, picking up lost items and taping things back together. In a former life she taught kindergartners how to cut with scissors, now she encourages actors not to cut each other with scissors. She has been known to climb into attics to re-wire lights during performances, she has also been known to injure herself while doing mundane tasks such as walking and putting on pants. A founding member Theatre Unleashed, Erin is happy to be stage managing again after taking a brief summer hiatus. She hopes you enjoy the show and if you find you are missing your shoes, socks or any other items she will happily help you find them later!
Andrew has the dubious honor of being called out by Ming Cho Lee at an American College Theatre Festival design showcase. Moore has been shoving platforms and uncomfortable rakes into black boxes ever since. This is his first (credited) set design for the company he helped co-found back in aught-eight.
Corwin is finishing his MFA in Sound Design at UCLA. Most Recently, he has worked on Portrait of the Architect in Ruins at the LATC (sound design), Jekyll and Hyde for Cabrillo Music Theatre (assistant sound design), and House Full of Letters by Kit Steinkellner at the Kennedy Center for the American College Theatre Festival (original music), amongst numerous other projects at UCLA and around LA. Most recently with Theatre Unleashed, Corwin designed sound for The Tempest. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support.
Katie is originally from Boston,where she received a BFA in Costume Design Technology from Emerson College. She designed costumes for Emerson's production of Top hats and Old Standards and designed makeup for productions of The Duchess of Malfi and Picnic. Her other work includes costume designs for The Longwood Players' production of Cloud 9 and Once Upon A Mattress for The Animus Ensemble, and makeup and wig designs for OperaBoston's Alceste. Katie also designed costumes and makeup for the popular YouTube Video The Legend of Zelda: Lost and it's sequel, Zii. Katie recently had the pleasure of helping the costume designer for the Troubadours with their production of Alice in One-Hit Wonderland 2: Through the Looking Glass. Most recently, she worked with Theatre Unleashed as the costume designer for their production of The Tempest and The Way of the World. Katie would like to thank her family an wonderful roommates for their love and support.
STAFF House Manager - Gregory Crafts Graphic Design - Jenn Scuderi Press Manager - Jim Martyka
"...a smart, brooding possum of a show." - Josh Morrison, FineArtsLA.com
"Wonderfully written, Friends Like These is a must see play and
will put a knot in your stomach by the end." - Rachel Stoll, Los Angeles Theatre Review
"[Playwright Gregory Crafts] builds
tension throughout his tightly-paced plot, and caps it with a satisfying
end that nails his theme to the floorboards. His characters are finely
drawn and the dialog is for the most part seamless... The acting
is strong and the direction brisk. Both relevant and entertaining, this
unflinching look at young tribalism is a must-see for anyone who has
escaped the hell that is high school, and for those still attempting to." - David Wiseheart, HFF Panelist
"Very
good performances from everyone onstage, a tightly written story, and
smooth direction made this a thoroughly enjoyable theatre experience! So
glad I finally got to see this!!!" - Jaimyon Parker, HFF Panelist
"...well written,
funny, very well acted manner accompanied by an AWESOME
soundtrack... it
does what we as children do not, accepts & revels in difference and
in response plays to all types. Growing to love all the characters
(except perhaps Jesse the unwavering cruel jock) the revealed pain &
tragic end can only leave you devastated. Put it on your ‘to see’ list!" - Rachel Jenkins, HFF Panelist
The cast and crew of the 2010 Hollywood and New York Fringe productions of Friends Like These
would like to offer special thanks to the individuals and organizations
listed below for helping make our vision a reality. You are all true
patrons of the arts.
The cast and crew of the 2010 Hollywood and New York Fringe productions of Friends Like These
would like to offer special thanks to the individuals and organizations
listed below for helping make our vision a reality. You are all true
patrons of the arts.
When: June 24th - June 26th, 2010. Thursday-Saturday @ 9pm, Saturday @ 1pm
Born and raised in New Hampshire, Matthew has been thoroughly enjoying the last year and a half in LA. Acting since he was a little kid, he is very excited to be living here actually doing it! Several of his favorite Theatre credits include: The Rainmaker, She Stoops to Conquer, A Murder Is Announced and several Murder Mystery Dinner Shows. He recently shot his second Independent Feature Film, a TV Pilot and various commercial and print jobs. Up next, he will be playing the role of Warren in This Is Our Youth at “The Acting Center” in Hollywood. He is thrilled to be part of this great cast and show!
Originally from Victoria, BC, graduated magna cum laude in both theatre and dance at Loyola Marymount University. Favorite theatre credits include Helen Keller in Miracle Worker; Ilse in Spring’s Awakening; Bleed Rail with The Theatre @ Boston Court; Monkey Girl in Monkey Madness (nominated for LA Weekly best comedy ensemble); and Dina in Survived. She is a corps member of the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble. Favorite feature credits include lead roles in I’m Just Saying (winner at the 2010 Honolulu International Film Festival) and The Devil Within. Jen is so so so excited and honored to be jumping into such an amazing production!
Theatre Unleashed debut. Theater: La Traviata with the LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion; Matter of Honor at The Pasadena Playhouse; The Caucus Race, A Son at the Front, and Shame the Devil with Veritas Ensemble. Film/Television: Love Drunk (dir. Travis Kopach), Left Behind (dir. Steven Hallum) and Paperboy (dir. Daphne Wu) for which he won Best Actor at the Southern California Business Film Festival. Ryan is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, minor in Communications, as well as a California Arts Scholar. He can be seen in various commercial spots, as a series regular on the webseries 
Sarah Smick originated the role of Nicole in the Theatre Unleashed world premiere of Friends Like These. Television: The Bold and The Beautiful, House Arrest (dir. Danny Schrader, Independent Television Festival 2009). Film: Here’s The Kicker with Dan Lauria and Daniella Monet (dir. Chris Harris), Apocalypse, CA (dir. Chad Peter), This Is Life (dir. Wai Choy, Filmstock International Film Festival 2009). Theatre: Small Things and Water by Greta Gerwig (world premiere). Most recently Sarah shot a commercial for CISCO and a guest-starring role on the new web series Tyrone Goldberg. Sarah graduated cum laude from Columbia University with a B.A. in History. She has trained at the British American Drama Academy, Margie Haber Studios, Stella Adler Studios, and Larry Singer Studios, among other places. In addition, Sarah is a screenwriter with a comedy feature currently in pre-production. She is repped across the board by Diverse Talent Group and May Management. Check her out online at 
Alex Yee was raised in Medway, MA and has loved acting since he saw a poster on the middle school bathroom seeking young actors for the high school musical, The King and I. He then participated in every high school and community play available before attending Emerson College in Boston, where he discovered kindred spirits in the acting world. His favorite stage appearances include: Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Reverend Hale in The Crucible, and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 
