NO HOMO Press Kit by Ariel Estrada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Ariel Estrada 347.581.3047 arielestrada@mac.com Be Flat Productions and Subject2Change Productions Present The New York Premiere of

NO HOMO

Written by Brandon Baruch and Directed by Jessica Hanna at The Players Theatre as part of The New York International Fringe Festival – FringeNYC, A Production of The Present Company, August 8 – 24, 2014 JULY 15, 2014, NEW YORK, NY – Be Flat Productions and Subject2Change Productions will present the New York premiere of NO HOMO in the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival. NO HOMO is written by FringeNYC Veteran Brandon Baruch, and directed by Los Angeles’ Bootleg Theater’s Managing and Producing Director Jessica Hanna. NO HOMO will play five performances at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village, during The New York International Fringe Festival, August 8 – 24, 2014. NO HOMO’s run in LA’s 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival was designated as an Encore! Producers’ Award Winner on June th 30 , and was granted an three-show extension of its sold out run supported by LA production company Combined Artform, and the venue Theatre Asylum in Hollywood’s Theatre Row on July 25, 30, and 31. Encore! Producers’ Awards represent the best of the Hollywood Fringe as selected by venue producers, based on artistic merit and commercial potential. The LA run of NO HOMO in the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival was also the winner of four awards, including the two Hollywood Fringe Festival Fringe Freak Awards (Best Ensemble, Best World Premiere); the Thirty90ne Golden Elephant Award (Golden Playwright); and the Ezra Buzzington Spirit of the Fringe Award (Best Director). The production was also the recipient of four award nominations, including the Hollywood Fringe Festival Fringe Freak Award (Top of the Fringe; the Thirty90ne Golden Elephant Award (Golden Production); the Orgasmico Theatre Company O Face Award (Most Orgasmic Writing); and the Ezra Buzzington Spirit of the Fringe Award (Best Writing). NO HOMO tells the tale of Luke and Ash, two Los Angeles urbanites who identify as heterosexual, even though their friendship is totally gay. Their friends and family refuse to acknowledge the platonic nature of their relationship, and eventually the men themselves start to question their own sexual identities, leading to a drunken evening that their friendship might not survive. Playwright Brandon Baruch explains his inspiration for writing the play: “Growing up in and around West Hollywood, my sexual orientation has never been a big part of my identity. I feel like most LGBT theater, film, and literature concentrates on the characters’ struggles to create an identity and find acceptance. But that’s simply not my experience. NO HOMO is less about the struggle to accept one’s sexual identity than it is about the quest to understand one’s sexual identity. It also validates my theory that a person doesn’t have to be homosexual to be really, really gay.” NO HOMO features Karen Baughn, Benjamin Durham, Elizabeth Ellson, AJ Jones, Henry McMillan, and Jonny Rodgers. Production staff for NO HOMO includes Jessica Hanna, director; David Offner, scenic design; Brandon Baruch, lighting design; Corwin Evans, sound design; Laura Wong, costume design; Brittany Blouch, properties design; Mara De La Rosa, assistant director; Max Oken, producer; Ariel Estrada, NYC company manager. NO HOMO will be Brandon Baruch’s second original work featured in the New York International Fringe Festival. His last FringeNYC play, Me Love Me, was also selected as an official participant in the 2013 Hollywood Fringe Festival, where and was lauded by critics as "a smart, satirical look at the moments of human crisis that erupt in the haze of LA drug culture" and "funny and disturbing, as it steers us down paths that make the viewers shift in their seats." Director Jessica Hanna is a Los Angeles based theater artist. She is Co-Founder and Producing & Managing Director of Bootleg Theater. She has directed for several Los Angeles theatre companies, including Abundant Sugar at the Brewery, and for Occidental College, where she first met playwright, Brandon Baruch. She has produced over 100 productions and events at Bootleg since 2006. Her work is influenced by over 10 years of training and working with Anne Bogart and SITI Co. She holds a BFA in Acting from DePaul University. She produced Michael Franco’s THE INTERVIEW at last year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Ariel Estrada 347.581.3047 arielestrada@mac.com FOR CALENDAR EDITORS PERFORMANCE DATES: Saturday, August 9 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Tuesday, August 12 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Thursday, August 14 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Saturday, August 16 Sunday, August 17 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM RUN-TIME: VENUE:

ADMISSION:

90 minutes, with no intermission The Players Theatre 115 MacDougal Street Greenwich Village, New York 10012 212.475.1449 www.theplayerstheater.com $18.00 At Door $15.00 Online Tickets available for purchase at FringeOnTheFly.com by entering NO HOMO in the search field. There are no phone sales.

INFORMATION:

347.581.3047 or nohomoplay.com

PULL QUOTES:

“…as funny and crowd-pleasingly satisfying a gay play as I’ve seen in a good long while. NO HOMO’s funny, clever, snappy writing is made even funnier, cleverer, and snappier by Jessica Hanna’s inventive direction.” – stagescenela.com “An incredible ensemble effort ... (with) more twists and turns than an Alfred Hitchcock thriller. The entire audience was on the edge of their seats...” – examiner.com “4.5 out of 5 stars...an amusing and well-directed observation of the fluid nature of sexuality among Los Angeles 20-somethings.” – blogcritics.org “NO HOMO is deft, nuanced, personal, complex, funny and moving…a true romantic comedy with heart, wit, and something to say. The crystal clear gem-like precision of director Jessica Hanna…is simply superb.” – losangeles.bitter-lemons.com

SHOW QUOTES:

“I love parrots. So loud and colorful. They’re like homos of the sky. “Virginity is like making pancakes. It doesn’t matter how perfectly you measure your ingredients or prime the skillet, because the first pancake you make is going to be just awful. That second pancake always comes out perfectly. It’s round and fluffy and golden brown. And if you know what you’re doing, so is the third, the fourth, the rest of the batch. But you can’t get there without sacrificing the first pancake.” “There was a moment, I think sometime around when we moved into the apartment, where I realized that I might spend the rest of my life with you. I mean, maybe we wouldn’t always live together, and maybe you’d get married, or I’d get married, but I knew you’d always be a part of my life. Just wanted to throw that out there.”

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Brandon Baruch, Playwright is a playwright, producer, and lighting designer. His original plays include The Defamation of Helen Keller; Penguin Pan; Deicide: a Sorta Musical (for which he also provided music and lyrics); Top That!; and Me Love Me. His last play, Me Love Me was performed in both the Hollywood Fringe Festival and the New York International Fringe Festival and was lauded by critics as “a smart, satirical look at the moments of human crisis that erupt in the haze of LA drug culture” and “both funny and disturbing as it steers us down paths that make the viewers shift in their seats.” Brandon is also company lighting designer for Lost Moon Radio and staff lighting designer for the Hollywood Fringe Festival. His designs have been seen in Southern California, New York, and Chicago. Jessica Hanna, Director is a Los Angeles based theater artist. She is CoFounder, Producing and Managing Director of Bootleg Theater. She has directed at various spots around town including Abundant Sugar at the Brewery and at Occidental College, where she first met playwright, Brandon Baruch. She has produced over 100 productions and events at Bootleg since 2006. And she was last seen on stage in Jami Brandli’s SOE in March 2013. Her work is influenced by over 10 years of training and working with Anne Bogart and the SITI Co. She holds a BFA in Acting from DePaul University. She produced Michael Franco’s The Interview at last year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival. AJ Jones (Serge) is thrilled to be a part of the No Homo team, and is excited for his first FringeNYC appearance. His recent theatre credits include: Ben Gant in Look Homeward, Angel at the Production Company; Butch/Aaron in the World Premiere of Revolver at the Celebration Theatre; and Tommy in Trainspotting at the Elephant. A native of Houston, TX, AJ bounced around the South, settling in Orlando, FL, where he played baseball at Lake-Sumter Community College before becoming an actor. To this day, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt hold a special place in his heart. Special thanks to Brandon for writing a great play and giving him the opportunity to join this wonderful family. Henry McMillan (Kris) began working with Brandon Baruch when they were students at Occidental College. The first production Henry and Brandon worked on together was Brandon’s directorial debut of the Charles Busch play, You Should Be So Lucky. No Homo is Henry’s first FringeNYC collaboration with Baruch. He previously performed in Brandon’s Hollywood Fringe plays, Deicide: A Sorta Musical and Top That! His film credits include Ken Roht’s The Bloody Indulgent, and the 2013 sketch comedy Inappropriate Comedy. He is also a yoga teacher and co-founder of Hollywood Power Yoga.

Jonny Rodgers (Ash) is an actor living in Los Angeles. His recent roles include Lucifer in L.A. Pastorela; Pinocchio in Pinocchio; Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Giovanni in ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore; Julien in Ken Roht’s Miss Julien; Josh in A Funeral Party; and as a member of a 3 person ensemble cast in Daddy, What If? (a dramatic presentation of a collection of the works of Shel Silverstein.) Before that, he was a four year member of Fantastiprov improv comedy troupe at Occidental College. Karen Baughn (Chrissy) is an LA based actress and comedian. She started her theatrical career at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, before she took off to Occidental College and the London Dramatic Academy. She now performs regularly with her main stage improv and sketch groups at Improv Olympic West. You can also look for her in the upcoming independent film Guys and Girls Can’t Be Friends in festivals this fall! Thanks to Mom, Dad, and Ben. Benjamin Durham (Luke) had his acting debut in his 5th grade play Dr. Seuss on the Loose as the comedic character Sam-I-Am, and he has lived in the film/ theaterworld ever since. Ben studied theater at CSULB where he performed in such plays as Pericles; 4:48 Psychosis; and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare,(Abridged). Outside of the protected walls of the university, he has starred in Into the Woods; You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown; and last year’s critically acclaimed Me Love Me by Brandon Baruch. When not on the stage you can find Ben on Youtube doing sketches with the group “Burning Sensation,” backstage at 24th Street Theatre, or on Twitter @theBenDurham. Elizabeth Ellson (Babette) is a new resident of California and is excited to make her FringeNYC debut in No Homo. Previous stage roles include Lorraine in Plumfield, Iraq; Virginie in An Italian Strawhat; Turtle/Lady Bird in A Year With Frog and Toad, and Lucinda in Into the Woods. Her film work includes Integrity, Pristine & Abraded, Fragments, and A Blank Canvas. A proud graduate of Ithaca College, Elizabeth has also taken on the role of Producer and Assistant Director on several projects.

WEBSITE http://www.nohomoplay.com SIZZLE REEL http://youtu.be/8k1fCzI66Uk PRESS www.examiner.com/article/hollywood-fringe-2014-experience-day-seven-part-two www.stagescenela.com/no-homo-a-bromantic-tragedy/ www.blogcritics.org/theater-review-la-no-homo-a-bromantic-tragedy-at-the-hollywood-fringe/ www.losangeles.bitter-lemons.com/2014/06/25/no-homo-is-almost-a-homo-run/ http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/NO-HOMO-Wins-Hollywood-Fringe-EncoreProducers-Award-Gets-Three-More-Performances-725-30-31-20140703 www.dirtydurty.com/post/91170156303 www.laobserved.com/intell/2014/07/the_fringe_binge_continues.php http://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=793565 http://www.backstage.com/news/hollywood-fringe-rakes-nearly-400k/ http://www.theaterinthenow.com/2014/07/spotlight-onbrandon-baruch.html?spref=fb http://www.theaterinthenow.com/2014/07/spotlight-onben-durham.html?spref=fb

http://www.examiner.com/article/hollywood-fringe-2014-experience-day-seven-part-two

www.stagescenela.com/no-homo-a-bromantic-tragedy/

blogcritics.org/theater-review-la-no-homo-a-bromantic-tragedy-at-the-hollywood-fringe/

losangeles.bitter-lemons.com/2014/06/25/no-homo-is-almost-a-homo-run/

www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/NO-HOMO-Wins-Hollywood-Fringe-EncoreProducers-Award-Gets-Three-More-Performances-725-30-31-20140703

www.laobserved.com/intell/2014/07/the_fringe_binge_continues.php

http://www.backstage.com/news/hollywood-fringe-rakes-nearly-400k/

http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Reviews-NO-HOMO-ExaminesWhether-You-Have-to-Be-Homosexual-to-be-Really-Really-Gay-20140731

http://www.nextmagazine.com/content/fringe-benefits

dirtydurty.com/post/91170156303

http://www.theaterinthenow.com/2014/07/spotlight-onbrandon-baruch.html?spref=fb

http://www.theaterinthenow.com/2014/07/spotlight-onben-durham.html?spref=fb