Press Release

CONVERSATIONS IN CARS

Vancouver, BC… Upcoming at the Beaumont Studio Theatre is the play Autobahn is a collection of short plays full of edgy humour and shocking revelations set in the front seat of automobiles. Written by critically acclaimed playwright and filmmaker Neil LaBute (The Shape of Things, In The Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbours) Autobahn offers a brutally honest and voyeuristic peek at the things said – and the things left unsaid – from behind the steering wheel. Autobahn runs at the Beaumont Studio Theatre May 23 to June 2.

Creating an opportunity to showcase their talent under the umbrella of a new company called Fighting Change Productions, Ryan Mooney will direct Jessica McBride, Stephan Bohemier, Rebecca Steele, David Benedict Brown, Ashley Rutherford, Sarah Arnold, Robyn Katrenicz, Scott McGrath, Calvin Lee, Dana Salmon, Nicole Fairbairn, Matthew Clarke, and Mark Ferns in Autobaun.

Neil LaBute is an acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and film director. In 1993, he premiered his play In The Company of Men which was then adapted to film, launching his career as a film director. His next film, Your Friends and Neighbors, was based on his earlier play, Lepers. In 2000, Mr. LaBute refocused his attentions to the stage with Bash: Latter-Day Plays, followed by The Shape of Things in 2001 (which he also made into a film), and The Distance from Here in 2002. His 2002 play, The Mercy Seat, was one of the first major theatrical responses to the September 11 terrorist attack. Other plays include Fat Pig (2004) which won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, Some Girls (2005), and This Is How It Goes (2005).

A CTC and OVATION Award nominated director Ryan Mooney is thrilled to bring Neil Labute's Autobahn to Vancouver. Previous directing experiences have included The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Flower Drum Song, The Mikado, Little Shop of Horrors and David and Lisa. He has directed around town for Metro Theatre, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, APPLAUSE! Musicals Society, the G&S Society of UBC and the Fraser Valley G&S Society. On stage he has appeared with Uncle Randy Productions, Footlight Theatre, Metro Theatre and North Shore Light Opera Society. Ryan is also a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Autobahn runs at the Beaumont Studios (316 W. 5th Avenue @ Alberta) May 23-June 2. Tickets are $12 for students/seniors and $15 for adults. To reserve tickets: fightingchanceproductions@hotmail.com or call 778-329-1956. Special performances: PWYC May 23rd. Opening Night May 24th. Cast post show talk back May 30th & 31st.

Dates & Such

Autobahn
May 23rd - Pay What You Can Preview
May 24th - Opening Night Show - 8pm
May 25th - Show - 8pm
May 26th - Show - 8pm
May 30th - Show - 8pm, followed by Cast Talk Back
May 31st - Show - 8pm, followed by Cast Talk Back

June 1st - Show - 8pm
June 2nd - Closing Show - 8pm

Tickets

$15 - Adults // $12 - Students/Seniors

Tickets on Sale - May 1st, 2007

The Audition Process

Well auditions are now relatively complete. It shocks and amazes me how much talent there is out there. I suppose there's not really ever enough "work" to go around, but believe me if you are looking to get a great cast for a play - come to Vancouver. It was really great to see over 50 people for this show. Not all the decisions are made, which is rare for me. Generally I know my cast as soon as the auditions are over. This one might take some pondering. Thank God Jenn was there today for part of it so I can at least bounce some ideas off of her.
It's a "happy problem," I guess though - having too many people to choose from versus not enough.
Ryan, Director

Audition Notice

Fighting Chance Productions
Presents
Neil Labute’s Autobahn
Director: Ryan Mooney

We are seeking out 7 men and 7 women aged 18-45. Auditions will be held in January over a series of four nights.

Run will be two weeks in May at the Beaumont Studios.

If you are interested please e-mail fightingchanceproductions@hotmail.com and include your resume and a photo, if possible.

Auditions will be a prepared reading from the script.

We've got lots of seats to fill! Maybe not that many, but part of the reason for this blog is to get people talking about theatre in general -- as well of course as to get you excited about our show! So, every so often, we're going to do little contests, quizzes, etc. We'll have prizes too! This first question we'd love your response for, it's pretty simple - what makes a good show for you? What makes you want to go check out a show? Or what makes you tell your friends to "go see a show?" It's a pretty simple question, but we're looking forward to hearing your responses!!! So post a comment, and we'll post some of the best up here - who knows? Maybe you'll even garner a prize! Make sure to bookmark here and check back often.

Also - if you'd like to get on our "Links" list to the right - it's simple! Just blog about us and then tell us about it and we'll be happy to add you on! Just let your friends know about us.

Just Who Is Neil Labute?

You may not have heard of this playwright, but he is definitely a force to be reckoned with - this is lovingly borrowed from wikipedia.com

Neil LaBute (born March 19, 1963) is an American film director, screenwriter and playwright.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, LaBute was raised in Spokane, Washington. He studied theatre at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church). At BYU he also met actor Aaron Eckhart, who would later play leading roles in several of his films. He produced a number of plays that pushed the envelope of what was acceptable at the conservative religious university, some of which were shut down after their premieres. LaBute also did graduate work at the University of Kansas, New York University, an the Royal Academy of London.




In 1993 he returned to Brigham Young University to premier his play In the Company of Men, for which he received an award from the Association for Mormon Letters. He taught drama and film at IPFW in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 1990s where he adapted and filmed the play, shot over two weeks and costing $25,000, beginning his career as a film director. The film won the Filmmakers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival, and major awards and nominations at the Deauville Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Awards, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Society of Texas Film Critics Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle.

LaBute has received high praise from critics for his edgy and unsettling portrayals of human relationships. In the Company of Men portrays two misogynist businessmen (one played by Eckhart) cruelly plotting to romance and emotionally destroy a deaf woman. His next film Your Friends & Neighbors (1998), with an ensemble cast including Eckhart and Ben Stiller, was a shockingly honest portrayal of the sex lives of three suburban couples. In 2000 he wrote and directed an off-Broadway play entitled Bash: Latter-Day Plays, a set of three short plays depicting essentially good Latter-day Saints doing disturbing and violent things. One of the plays was a much-talked-about one-person performance by Calista Flockhart. This play resulted in his disfellowship (a softer form of discipline that does not remove the member from the membership rolls, unlike excommunication) from the LDS Church. He has since formally left the church [1].
LaBute's 2002 play The Mercy Seat was one of the first major theatrical responses to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Set on September 12, it concerns a man who worked at the World Trade Center but was away from the office during the attack — with his mistress. (The play was reportedly inspired by an urban legend.) Expecting that his family believes that he was killed in the towers' collapse, he contemplates using the tragedy to run away and start a new life with his lover. Starring Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver, the play was a commercial and critical success, due in large part to its willingness to confront the myths that many New Yorkers had constructed to console themselves in the aftermath of the attacks.

LaBute's latest film is The Wicker Man, an American version of a British cult classic. His first horror film, it starred Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn and was released on September 1, 2006 by Warner Bros. Pictures to scathing critical reviews and mediocre box office.
His latest play to open in the US, Wrecks, starring Ed Harris, opened to excellent reviews, and an extended, sold out run at the Public Theater in New York City, in October, 2006.
He is working with producer Gail Mutrux on the screen adaptation of The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff.

Filmography
The Wicker Man (2006)
The Shape of Things (2003)
Possession (2002)
Bash: Latter-Day Plays (2001) (TV)
Nurse Betty (2000)
Tumble (short) (2000)
Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)
In the Company of Men (1997)
NB: LaBute also provides a guest audio commentary for the DVD release of Sex, lies, and videotape, alongside Steven Soderbergh.

Theater productions
Some Girl(s) (2005 - MCC Theater)
This Is How It Goes (2005)
Fat Pig (2004 - MCC Theater)
Autobahn (MCC Theater)
Merge (2003)
The Mercy Seat (2002 - MCC Theater)
The Distance From Here (2002 - MCC Theater)
The Shape of Things (2001)
Bash: Latter-Day Plays (1999)
In the Company of Men (1992)
Filthy Talk For Troubled Times
Lepers
Rounder
Ravages
Sangguinarians & Sycophants
Dracula
Woyzeck
Wrecks

Welcome to the Fighting Chance Productions blog. This blog will double with our My Space page as part of our on-line publicity for our upcoming shows.

For our first production we have chosen the Neil Labute play Autobahn. We are currently in the process of securing the rights & confirming the Beaumont Theatre. Following that in January we will begin a new style of auditioning before finalising a cast at the beginning of February. From there a unique style of rehearsal will take place leading up to the production in Mid-May.

Through this blog and several other ideas we have you will have the opportunity to see the production from start to finish. Our cast will hopefully blog here about their experiences and we will continue to keep you informed about the upcoming show. So add us to your favourites and check back often, comment and enjoy watching this group grow and flourish. You can also check out our My Space page. If you have any comments or suggestions - don't hesitate to comment here or to e-mail us at fightingchanceproductions@hotmail.com.