15 Snapshots of 15 Years

Cornerstone Theater Company - September 18, 2000

On Monday, October 16, 2000, Cornerstone Theater Company will present the 1st Annual Bridge Awards and a benefit reading, 15 Snapshots of 15 Years, celebrating the company's widely acclaimed body of work nationwide since 1986. The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the El Portal Center for the Arts, 5269 Lankershim Boulevard, in North Hollywood.

The event will be hosted by Amy Brenneman, Emmy-nominated star of Judging Amy. "As a founding-member of the company," Brenneman says, "I'm proud to be able to share stories from our history of building bridges between and within diverse communities in our home city of Los Angeles and across the nation. Our work is unique, often including professionals and first-time participants together in collaborations which create great theater. The process transforms lives."

Also scheduled to perform at the benefit are Bill Pullman (Independence Day, While You Were Sleeping), Annie Potts (Any Day Now, Designing Women), Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness), Kathy Baker (Picket Fences), Amy Hill (All American Girl), Jillian Armenante (Judging Amy), Paris Barclay (producer, City of Angels), Father Greg Boyle (Community Activist), Donal Logue (Tao of Steve), Jessica Tuck (Judging Amy, One Life to Live), and Herbert Siguenza of Culture Clash. "15th Snapshots of 15 Years" will include scenes and songs from the company's community and ensemble productions. The cast will read works originally performed in venues from a Kansas schoolhouse, to a warehouse in Watts, to the Mall in Washington, DC and a scene of the upcoming For Here or To Go? at the Mark Taper Forum.

Artistic Director, Bill Rauch announced, "We are honored to present the 1st Annual Bridge Awards to Ron Temple and The Escobar Family, who are some of our most dedicated and inspiring collaborators."

Ron Temple played Orgon in Cornerstone's 1987 production of Tartoof, or An Imposter in Norcatur – and at Christmas! in the farming town of Norcatur, Kansas; population 220. He later toured the country with Cornerstone in The Winter's Tale: An Interstate Adventure. He went on to found the Norcatur Arts & Humanities, which later inspired four neighboring towns to found their own community-based theaters. The Escobar Family, all five members, were first involved with Cornerstone during the Watts residency, and have continued to work with the company throughout the past six years.

For information and reservations, Todd Bartoo, Event Coordinator, at (213) 613-1700, Ext. 33.

Press contact: Tamar Fortgang: 213-613 –1700 ext 15 tfortgang@cornerstonetheater.org


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