NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Lucy Pollak
[email protected] (818) 887-1499 (for media only)
Dark comedy ‘A Death-Defying Escape!’ combines Jewish humor,
lesbian romance, disability awareness — and real on-stage magic
Disappearing weekends through May 15, in-person at
the Hudson Guild Theatre and streaming online
LOS ANGELES (REVISED April 16, 2022) — Who wouldn’t like to add a little magic to their life? Comedy Workshop Productions presents a darkly funny, inspiring new comedy about one woman’s miraculous escape from the secrets of her past. Written by author, stand-up comedian and magician Judy Carter, who also heads the three-person cast, A Death-Defying Escape! “disappears weekly” every Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through May 15 at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Hollywood, and can also be streamed online. Lee Costello directs Carter alongside actors Kevin Scott Allen and Lyndsi LaRose. Tickets to both the in-person performances and the streaming version are available at www.deathdefyingescape.com.
Prepare to be uplifted (no surgery required): regardless of your age, escape is possible from the restraints of your past. Love, liberation and real magic await you. The play’s unique storyline features something for everyone: Jewish humor, a lesbian romance, a clarion call for disability awareness — and jaw-dropping, audience-interactive on-stage magic.
“Growing up with a sister with cerebral palsy, a narcissistic mother and an abusive father, I dreamed of becoming a magician,” says Carter. “I didn’t want to saw women in half; I wanted the power to put them back together. The power to make my father disappear and levitate my sister Marsha out of her wheelchair.”
Carter, who broke gender barriers to become one of America’s first female magicians, controls more than the playing cards. She’s found the secret to controlling her own reality. A Death-Defying Escape combines extraordinary feats of magic with an inspiring story about escaping life’s emotional shackles to find love.
Discovering at age 10 that the messes in her life were great fodder for comedy, Carter overcame a speech impediment and began doing magic shows for birthday parties — leading to a full-page story in the Los Angeles Times. She was the first woman to perform at the Magic Castle Close-Up Gallery in Hollywood — where she was literally picked up and thrown out because “Cards are for men.” Undaunted, she continued developing her own style of magic, creating a death-defying escape from her grandmother’s girdle and sawing a man in half. At one engagement, when the airlines lost her luggage, she went on without her tricks — and instantly became a standup comic. Since then, she has appeared on over 100 TV shows and four comedy cable specials, as well as opening for Prince and playing Vegas. Finding herself single at 60, she discovered new love with a woman 40 years younger than herself.
In addition to her career as a magician and stand-up comedian, Carter is an author, international keynote speaker and TED Talker. She doesn’t like to brag… but she wrote the Bible. No joke: she’s the author of “The Comedy Bible” (Simon & Schuster), which was rejected by 59 book agents before going on to become the definitive book on turning problems into punchlines, leading to an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Her other books include “The Message of You: Turn Your Life Story into a Money-Making Speaking Career” (St. Martin’s Press) “The Homo Handbook” (Fireside Books), “Stand-up Comedy: The Book” (Random House) and, most recently, “The New Comedy Bible,” which has been published in seven countries. Currently, Judy is an in-demand speaker on the power of personal stories and humor to inspire others. Judy’s message of using humor as a transformational tool led to her being featured in the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times and on CNN, as well as being a frequent contributor to NPR’s All Things Considered.
The creative team for A Death-Defying Escape! includes scenic designer and magic illusion creator Craig Dickens, who has created illusions for David Copperfield; lighting designer Matt Richter; and sound and projections designer Nick Foran. The production stage manager is Lauren McCuen. Gabrieal Griego produces for Comedy Workshop Productions.
A Death-Defying Escape! is appropriate for ages 15 and up; it includes mature content and is not intended for young audiences.
Performances of A Death-Defying Escape! continue every Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through May 15, and the production is also available for online streaming. All tickets are $30. The Hudson Guild Theatre is located at 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038. Proof of vaccination (including booster if eligible) is required for admission. Temperature checks will be performed on all patrons before entering the theater Masks (no cloth or scarves) must be worn at all times while inside the theater. The theater is wheelchair accessible.
To purchase tickets for the in-person show or the virtual stream, visit www.deathdefyingescape.com.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘A Death-Defying Escape!’
WHAT:
Who wouldn’t like to add a little magic to their life? Comedy Workshop Productions presents a darkly funny, inspiring new comedy about one woman’s miraculous escape from the secrets of her past. Written by author, stand-up comedian and magician Judy Carter, who also heads the three-person cast, A Death-Defying Escape! combines extraordinary feats of magic with an inspiring story about escaping life’s emotional shackles to find love.
WHO:
• Written by and Starring Judy Carter
• Directed by Lee Costello
• Featuring Kevin Scott Allen and Lyndsi LaRose
• Magic illusions created by Craig Dickens
• Produced by Gabrieal Griego
• Presented by Comedy Workshop Productions
WHEN:
Continues through May 15:
In Person:
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: April 23. April 30, May 7, April 14
• Sundays at 3 p.m.: April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15
Currently Streaming:
• On Demand
WHERE:
Hudson Guild Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
TICKETS:
$30
OTHER:
A Death-Defying Escape! is appropriate for ages 15 and up; it includes mature content and is not intended for young audiences.
HOW:
Tickets to both in-person performances and the streaming version available at www.deathdefyingescape.com
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