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Charles Busch stars when L.A. Theatre Works records campy,
outrageous ‘DIE MOMMIE DIE’ for radio, podcast, online streaming
LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2019) — In DIE MOMMIE DIE, written by and starring female impersonator Charles Busch, tongues aren’t the only thing dipped in acid. Busch stars as Angela Arden, a role he created on both stage and screen, when L.A. Theatre Works records his camp send-up of ‘60s melodramas for broadcast on public radio, podcast and online streaming. Four performances take place May 17 through May 19 at UCLA’s James Bridges Theater.
In Busch’s over-the-top Greek tragedy on gay Hollywood steroids, ex-pop singer Angela wants to be free of her suffocating marriage to sleazy film producer Sol Sussman. What better way than poison? Distraught by their father’s death and convinced of Angela’s guilt, her kids plot to get the truth out of their mother using any means necessary.
Joining Busch on the LATW stage are Mark Capri, recreating his role as Tony Parker from the original cast; Willie Garson (White Collar, Sex and the City) as Sol Sussman; Ellis Greer (Native Son at the Kirk Douglas Theatre) as Edith Sussman; Jeffery Self (Search Party, Jeffery & Cole Casserole) as Lance Sussman; and Ruth Williamson (White Christmas and La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway) as Bootsie — a role that Busch originally wrote for her, but which she has never previously had the chance to play. Original music and songs are by Lewis Flinn, and Carl Andress directs.
DIE MOMMIE DIE premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles in 1999, where the cast included Busch, Capri and Andress. Busch also wrote and starred in the film version, which earned him a “best performance” award at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. The play made its off-Broadway debut at NYC’s New World Stages in 2007, again starring Busch and Capri — but this time, with Andress in the director’s chair. A 2017 revival by L.A.s Celebration Theatre was chosen for inclusion in Center Theatre Group’s annual Block Party with Celebration Theatre’s ensemble cast.
Charles Busch is the author and star of such plays as The Divine Sister (recorded by L.A. Theatre Works in 2013), The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, which ran five years and is one of the longest running plays in Off-Broadway history. His play The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (also recorded by LATW) ran for 777 performances on Broadway, garnering an the Outer Circle Critics John Gassner Award and a Tony nomination for best play. In addition to DIE MOMMIE DIE, Busch wrote and starred in the film version of his Psycho Beach Party. Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. He made his directorial debut with the film A Very Serious Person, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won an honorable mention. He is also the subject of the documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch. His many plays are published by Samuel French.
Each of the four performances of DIE MOMMIE DIE at UCLA’s state-of-the-art James Bridges Theater will be recorded live in front of an audience for future radio broadcast, distribution on CD, digital download and online streaming. L.A. Theatre Works’ syndicated radio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S. (locally, in Southern California, on KPFK 90.7 FM); can be heard daily in China and around the world on the Radio Beijing Network; can be downloaded as a podcast via iTunes and NPR One; and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org.
Performances of DIE MOMMIE DIE take place on Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, May 19 at 4 p.m. The James Bridges Theater is located at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, 235 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Tickets range from $15-$65. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 827-0889 or go to www.latw.org.
Details for Calendar Listings
‘DIE MOMMIE DIE’
WHAT:
DIE MOMMIE DIE — Charles Busch stars as Angela Arden, a role he created on both stage and screen, when L.A. Theatre Works records his camp send-up of ‘60s melodramas. Ex-pop singer Angela wants to be free of her suffocating marriage to sleazy film producer Sol Sussman. What better way than poison? Distraught by their father’s death and convinced of Angela’s guilt, her kids plot to get the truth out of their mother using any means necessary.
WHO:
• Written by and Starring Charles Busch
• Original music and songs by Lewis Flinn
• Starring Charles Busch as Angela Arden), Mark Capri as Tony Parker, Willie Garson as Sol Sussman, Ellis Greer as Edith Sussman, Jeffery Self as Lance Sussman and Ruth Williamson as Bootsie
• Directed by Carl Andress
• Produced by Susan Albert Loewenberg
• Presented by L.A. Theatre Works
WHEN:
• Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m.
• Saturday, May 18 at 8 p.m.
• Sunday, May 19 at 4 p.m.
WHERE:
James Bridges Theater
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
235 Charles E. Young Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(enter UCLA from Hilgard just south of Sunset Blvd.; park in Lot 3 on the lower level)
HOW:
310-827-0889 or www.latw.org
• Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LATheatreWorks
• Follow us on Twitter @latheatreworks
TICKETS:
$15-$65
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