Pest Control ... The Musical, a World Premiere: The Infestation Begins April 25 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood
North Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) April 6, 2008 -- The multi-award-winning Open At The Top Productions in association with Canum Entertainment present Pest Control ... The Musical, opening at the NoHo Arts Center April 25 with previews beginning April 17. Inspired by the best-selling novel by Bill Fitzhugh (The Organ Grinders, Cross Dressing), Pest Control is the story of a New York City exterminator, Bob Dillon, who is misidentified by not only the underworld but also by the CIA as being a notorious and elusive professional assassin. Mistaken for a "hit man," he is hired to kill the most dangerous man in the world. If Bob fails in this mission, he stands not only to lose the girl he loves but his own life may even be exterminated as he encounters some of the deadliest and most outrageously eccentric contract killers along the way. Pest Control will lead you on a wild chase, set to a rock musical score inspired by the styles of late '70s and early '80s rock with a dash of early hip hop.
Pest Control ... The Musical, directed/choreographed by James J. Mellon, written by John Moores, music by Vladimir Shainskiy, additional music and lyrics by Scott DeTurk and tea & tonik and musical direction by David Manning. Pest Control is an Equity production and features a number of Broadway stage veterans, including Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award Winner for Broadway's Dreamgirls and Big Deal for which he received a Tony and Drama Desk Award Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical), Darren Ritchie (Broadway's Les Miserables, Bells Are Ringing), Beth Malone (Broadway's Ring of Fire, Bingo), Joanna Glushak (Broadway's Hairspray, Urinetown, Sweet Smell of Success), and Dana Meller (Broadway's Les Miserables, The Full Monty). In addition, the cast also includes: John Allsopp, Suzanne Carlton, Paul Denniston, Megan S. Densmore, Janet Fontaine, Alex Robert Holmes, J.R. Mangels, Karesa McElheny, Sabrina Miller, Billie Puyear, Jay Willick, Jonathan Zenz, and Erik Sorensen.
ABOUT PEST CONTROL'S CREATIVE & DESIGN TEAMS:
James J. Mellon (Director/Choreographer) is the Artistic Director of The NoHo Arts Center and Open at the Top, the resident theatre company of the Center. His extensive background in the entertainment industry covers theatre, television, film, recording and dance. As a Director/Choreographer, Mr. Mellon recently staged the Broadway bound workshop production of The Thief, for Canum Entertainment. He directed the World Premiere of his musicals, Yo Ho Ho, A Pirates Christmas and Lizard, based on the novel by Dennis Covington, Dorian, a contemporary adaptation of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" at the prestigious Buell Theatre, the crown jewel of The Denver Theatre Center and the West Coast Premiere at The NoHo Arts Center. He adapted and directed the World Premiere of the award-winning musical, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and last season he directed the critically-acclaimed world premiere production of Feed, a play workshopped and developed by Open at the Top at The NoHo Arts Center for which he received an LA Weekly nomination for direction. He created for the Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. the highly acclaimed 'expanded' version of The Fantastiks, starring "Greater Tuna" stars Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. Mr. Mellon staged the New York workshop of his original musical, An Unfinished Song, as well as the subsequent Boston production at the Charles Playhouse and the West Coast Premiere at the Tiffany Theatre, which received a nomination for Musical of the Year. Mr. Mellon has been nominated for numerous Ovation Awards, an LA Weekly Award, a Garland Award and is the recipient of 4 ADA Awards for writing, directing and choreography.
John Jay Moores, Jr. (Book) current projects include Canum Entertainment's A Face in the Crowd - a forthcoming musical adaptation of the Kazan and Shulberg film, The Thief - a musical adaptation of the Oscar nominated 1997 foreign film and City on the Edge of Forever based on the teleplay by Harlan Ellison.
Scott DeTurk (Composer/Lyricist) has co-written music and lyrics to the musicals: Dorian, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Lizard, Insanity, The Right Step, Piano Player and Western Star. He has written music and lyrics to six musicals published by Pioneer Drams Services. He has written scripts for Time-Warner's "RBI Baseball" and "VirtuaRacing" along with scores for dozens of industrial, educational, sports and promotional films. Scott has received the Bay Area's Elly Award for musical direction. Scott has been nominated for two Ovation Awards for his score to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and A Boy Called Lizard, an LA Weekly Award for Musical of the Year for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and he received the ADA Award and the Garland Award for his score to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
Vladimir Shainskiy (Music) The Russian composer has written for virtually every music form from classical, to adult pop to children's songs. He has gathered numerous awards, including the USSR State Prize, People's Artist of the Russian SFSR title, Order of Friendship, as well as multiple laureate of the Russian (formally Soviet) "Song of the Year" festival. Mr. Shainskiy's music and orchestrations will also be featured later this year in the musical production of The Thief.
tea & tonik (Lyrics) is L.A.'s premiere Underground Hip Hop production team. tea & tonik is Tom Lea, Todd Spitzer, Reason, and S.I.Double. The members of tea & tonik have worked with such artists as The Black Eyed Peas, Common, Bethany Joy Lenz, Mos Def, Terrence Howard, and Yo-Yo Ma amongst many others. In addition to their work with Canum Entertainment, tea & tonik is set to release their self titled debut album in the summer of 2008.
Eugene Caine-Epstein (Set Designer) Belarus-born Eugene Caine-Epstein won MTV's International Design Award at the age of 22. After receiving a grant from the Artists Association of the Soviet Union, he worked as a theatrical set designer in Minsk, St. Petersburg, and Moscow before branching out into illustration. His artwork for children's books has won the Golden Duck, Parents' Choice and Librarians' Choice awards. He returned to set design last season with The Thief, and also drew upon his experience in the graphic arts to create the signature Pest Control design and sets. Mr. Caine-Epstein received his master's degree from the Academy of Art in Minsk.
Scott Lane (Costume Designer) Scott Lane's costume designs were recently featured in the Falcon Theater's production of Sleuth and the Theater at Boston Court's Summertime. He designed the mermaids, monsters, and mice, among other things, for Feld Entertainment's shows Disney on Ice and Disney Live, and his work also graced the stage of the Denver Center when the musical Dorian had its world premiere.
Amy Oh (Executive Producer) As President of Canum Entertainment, Ms. Oh oversees their main theatrical projects including recent productions of The Thief, the forthcoming A Face in the Crowd as well as City on the Edge of Forever based on the teleplay by Harlan Ellison. Ms. Oh is a recognized entertainment industry leader, establishing herself early on at Sony Pictures Entertainment in branding and marketing, then moving to Warner Bros. Studios. After managing creative and promotional duties for Warner Bros. Scandinavia for a number of years, Ms. Oh returned to the United States to serve as Creative Concept Director for Alcone Marketing prior to being recruited to lead the team at Canum Entertainment.
The Pest Control creative team also includes: Lighting Design by Ovation Award-winner Luke Moyer (Elizabeth Rex), Sound Design by Jonathan Burke and Hair and Make-Up Design by Diane Martinous.
Pest Control will preview at the NoHo Arts Center (11136 Magnolia Blvd. at Lankershim in North Hollywood): Thursday, April 17 - Saturday, April 19 at 8 p.m., Sunday, April 20 at 3 p.m. and Thursday, April 24 at 8 p.m. Opening Performance on Friday, April 25 and show will run through Sunday, June 8 (Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.)
Ticket prices are $25.00 for Thursday evenings and $35.00 for all Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees. Student & Senior Tickets are $30. Preview performances are $25. For tickets, please call 818-508-7101 or visit The NoHo Arts Center online (http://www.thenohoartscenter.com)
The NoHo Arts Center and Open At The Top Productions was formed in 2004 by theatre veterans James J. Mellon and Kevin Bailey. Open At The Top is the Center's resident company and now numbers over 60 actors, directors and writers who passionately fulfill their vision statement, "Theatre for its own sake." In its first season, Open At The Top produced 2 World Premiere Musicals, THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR as well as the West Coast Premiere of the musical DORIAN, both parts of ANGELS IN AMERICA, the Los Angeles Premiere of Seth Greenland's JERUSALEM, and 4 evenings of 24 HOURS OF MADNESS, whereby it produces six fifteen minute plays in 24 hours. Their second season brought the hit musical production of BARNUM, the critically acclaimed ELIZABETH REX and the World Premiere musical LIZARD. This past season OATT presented the World Premiere of FEED, a play written by OATT Founding Member Jim Lunsford and directed by Artistic Director James J. Mellon as well as presenting the West Coast Premiere of the New York hit musical revue, BUSH IS BAD, THE MUSICAL. In their first three years, Open At The Top has received 3 Ovation Awards; 17 Ovation Award nominations; 3 LADCC Award nominations; 2 Garland Awards and 12 Garland nominations; 12 LA WEEKLY Award nominations; 6 ADA Awards and 12 ADA Award nominations.
Canum Entertainment is one of the Southland's most comprehensive media companies, with three major divisions: theater, music and children's publishing lead by President Amy Oh. As Canum Entertainment continues to grow, it remains focused on its mission of quality without compromise.
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