—–Original Message—–
From: Liz Owen
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 7:06 AM
Subject: Hurricane Katrina Volunteer’s Play Nominated For Prestigious 2007 Ovation Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Press Contact:
Liz Owen
liz [at] owenville.net
Phone: 323-404-3185

“BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WORDS” FINDS STRONG VOICE AT LA OVATION AWARDS; Hurricane Katrina Volunteer’s Play Nominated For Prestigious 2007 Ovation Awards

HOLLYWOOD, October 15, 2007 - Weirdsmobile Productions’ (Lotti Louise Pharriss, Producer) production of Tim Maddock and Lotti Louise Pharriss’ “Because They Have No Words,” has been nominated for two LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards. Maddock and Pharriss as writers, and Pharriss as producer on behalf of Weirdsmobile received nominations for Best World-Premiere Play. The ensemble of actors - including playwright Maddock, Rufus Bonds, Jr. (”The Color Purple,” “The Lion King”), Lanai Chapman (”Grey’s Anatomy,” “Judging Amy”), LeShay Tomlinson (R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet,” “A Mighty Wind”), Tisha Terrasini Banker (”Criminal Minds”), Colin Walker, and Samantha Bennett - was collectively nominated for Best Ensemble.

The LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles. Called the “…highest-profile contest for local theatre…” by the Los Angeles Times, the Ovation Awards draws national attention to the quality and quantity of professional theatre in Los Angeles. The award ceremony will be held on November 12, 2007 at Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre, and will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

“Because They Have No Words” focuses on openly gay Maddock’s personal experiences as a volunteer rescuing animals in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people and animals homeless, a mere one year after his mother passed away. Leaving his long-time partner temporarily behind, Los Angeles-based Maddock headed to New Orleans and there witnessed the plight of the animals that survived the storm, the desperation of people searching for the animals they had been forced to leave behind, and the toxic conditions that both animals and people were forced to endure. In addition to the obvious destruction Katrina caused, he also encountered the bureaucratic problems borne out of an excess of red tape, an overloaded infrastructure, and people taking the system into their own hands. Nearly a year after the hurricane, this new play chronicled Maddock’s experiences as an animal rescue volunteer, the stories of those he encountered and the emotional journey that extended well beyond the time he spent in New Orleans.

“Because They Have No Words” had its world premiere on September 2, 2006 at The Lounge Theatre in Los Angeles. The play garnered rave reviews over its five-week run, with LA Weekly calling it a “superior production - raw, moving and darkly humorous,” and Backstage West claiming, “this production reminds us of what good theatre is capable of achieving.” Both LA Weekly and Backstage West named “Because They Have No Words” a weekly Critics’ Pick, and the show was nominated for an LA Weekly Theater Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

The Midwest Premiere of “Because They Have No Words” will have its run beginning May 15, 2008 at the prestigious Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, IL, just outside of Chicago. This run will again be directed by Emilie Beck, and will feature co-writer and original cast member Tim Maddock.

To schedule press interviews with the nominees, receive photos or production notes, or for additional information, please contact Liz Owen at (323) 404-3185 or at liz [at] owenville.net. Photos and press information also available at www.weirdsmobile.net.

For information on performance rights to “Because They Have No Words,” please contact the Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency at (212) 840-5760.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare play hurricane katrina hurricane katrina natural disaster animal rescue gulf coast nola new orleans louisiana Liz Owen because they have no words Weirdsmobile Productions LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards 2007 Ovation Awards