FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT: David Elzer
davidelzer@me.com. 818/508-1754
MEDIA ALERT FOR THEATRE EDITORS AND REVIEWERS
AND CALENDAR LISTINGS
National Lampoon is thrilled to present
the World Premiere of
SKETCHES FROM THE
NATIONAL LAMPOON
Conceived and Produced by Matty Simmons
Original Songs by Richard Levinson
Directed by Pat Towne
Limited Engagement opens Friday, February 15
at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles!
January 17, 2013…Los Angeles…National Lampoon is thrilled to present the World
Premiere of SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON, conceived and
produced by Matty Simmons, with original songs by Richard Levinson and directed
by Pat Towne. SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON will begin
previews on Thursday, February 7 at 8pm; will open on Friday, February 15 at 8pm
and run through Sunday, March 17 at the Hayworth Theatre, 2511 Wilshire Blvd.
in Los Angeles.
SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON, is National Lampoon’s first
live stage production in over 25 years. Featuring the most hilarious and classic
monologues, sketches, songs and other humor derived from the best known comedy
company in entertainment history and written by more than thirty Lampoon
magazine, radio and theatrical writers including Michael O'Donoghue, Doug
Kenney, John Hughes, and PJ O'Rourke. SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL
LAMPOON will take an irreverent look back at the best of the best in Lampoon
history and will feature 6 original songs written for this production. The show is
being produced by National Lampoon founder Matty Simmons, who created, not
only the humor magazine, but also the radio shows, albums, theatre and such films
as “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “Vacation” series. The show is also
being co-produced along with the new President of the National Lampoon Alan
Donnes, CEO Jerry Daigle and Patti Browne.
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SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL LAMPOON – A BRIEF HISTORY
First, let's get this dog thing out of the way. The National Lampoon magazine cover
featuring a dog with a gun to his head and the printed warning: "If You Don't Buy
This Magazine - We'll Kill This Dog" was selected by The Art Director's Society of
America as the "best magazine cover ever." It has certainly become the most
popular.
The sketches and monologues in the new revue, “Sketches From the National
Lampoon,” were written by many of the legendary humorists for the Lampoon
magazine and its radio, recording, stage and film productions.
Much of the material was written by teams of writers, sometimes as many as four or
five, occasionally, just one solitary funny individual.
The list of writers, actors, directors and editors who worked for the Lampoon would
take more space than available here and then we’d accidentally leave some out so we
will, with apologies to those unintentionally left out, list some.
The original editors of the Lampoon were Doug Kenny and Henry Beard. They
were soon joined by Michael O'Donahue, George Trow, Ted Mann, Tony Hendra,
Brian McConnachie, Anne Beatts, P.J. O'Rourke, John Hughes, Terry Southern,
Dave Hanson, Jerry Sussman and many others. Later, came Al Jean, Michael Reiss,
Andy Simmons, Larry Sloman, Michael Simmons, Larry David, etc., etc.
Introduced in various Lampoon entertainment projects were: John Belushi,
Christopher Guest, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Brian Doyle Murray, Gilda Radner,
Meatloaf, Richard Belzer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tom Hulce, Karen Allen, Peter Riegert,
Stephen Furst, Martha Smith, Dana Baron, Anthony Michael Hall, Harold Ramis
and many others. Diane Lane was 14 when she appeared in a National Lampoon
film. The aforementioned Michelle Pfeiffer made her first appearance as an actress
on a Lampoon TV show.
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The Lampoon was created in 1970. Its founder and CEO was Matty Simmons, who
has produced “Sketches.” He ran the company for more than 20 years, selling
control in 1990. In the two decades that followed, the magazine closed but a number
of films were produced under the Lampoon banner, including van Wilder.
Now, new management, under the supervision of Jerry Daigle, CEO and Alan
Donnes, President, there has been a Renaissance. A full-length documentary on the
Lampoon will be in theaters sometime this year and films and other projects are in
the works.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM
MATTY SIMMONS (Producer) born in Brooklyn, was a high school and college
basketball player, who, at the age of seventeen, became a newspaper reporter for the
New York World Telegram and Sun. After a brief stint in the army he became a New
York press agent, opening his own firm and representing show business clients as
well as commercial accounts such as Heineken Beer. He then became one of the
three men who started The Diners’ Club, the first all- purpose credit card company
and served as Executive Vice President of that company directing its marketing and
publishing operations including Signature Magazine, which he founded shortly after
the company’s inception.
He resigned in the late 1960’s to form 21st Century Communications, which was later
to become National Lampoon Inc. The company went public in 1972 with Mr.
Simmons as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Its’ first magazine
was Weight Watchers Magazine, founded in 1968. In 1970, the company introduced
National Lampoon, which was to become the most popular humor magazine in
publishing history. In 1972, Mr. Simmons produced the musical comedy
“Lemmings” in which he introduced a number of new faces including John Belushi,
Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest. Over the next five years, Mr. Simmons
produced three other Lampoon shows introducing among others Gilda Radner,
Harold Ramis, Bill Murray and Meatloaf. During that period, he also produced the
National Lampoon Radio Hour, which was the most listened to radio show in
America in 1973 and 1974 and 12 comedy albums.
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In 1978 he produced “National Lampoon’s Animal House” considered the most
popular film comedy of all time. He has also produced, among other films, the
National Lampoon “Vacation” series.
In 1979, he was named “Producer of the Year” and in 1980, “Publisher of the Year”
by industry organizations. His film and television discoveries include Michele
Pfeiffer, Tom Hulce and Kevin Bacon. Among the writers he discovered were John
Hughes, PJ O’Rourke, Michael O’Donaghue and dozens of others, who today
dominate the film and television scenes.
Over the years, Mr. Simmons has written seven books including several bestsellers
and in the 1960’s was the principal owner of the San Francisco Warriors, now the
Golden State Warriors.
His latest book, “Fat, Drunk amd Stupid,” was published by St. Martin’s Press in
mid-April of 2012. In the same month, it was announced that Mr. Simmons was one
of the producers who are developing a musical comedy version of Animal House for
Broadway.
PAT TOWNE (Director) is an award winning director and actor and veteran of the
Los Angeles Theatre scene for nearly 20 years.
Pat directed and performed in his own production of Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage.
Pat directed, co-adapted, and co-produced this world premiere production which
went on to win two LAWeekly Awards. For Sacred Fools Theater Company he
directed and starred in Gorey Stories which won the Franklin R. Levy Award: the
Ovation Award for Best Musical in 2005. He has also performed and directed shows
for Zoo District, Independent Shakespeare Co., The Open Fist, and The Second City
Los Angeles.
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As an actor, Pat most recently appeared in Sacred Fools production of Stoneface:
The Rise & Fall of Buster Keaton starring French Stewart, and in Hoboken to
Hollywood, winner of the 2011 LAWeekly Award for Musical of the Year.
Mr. Towne has also been a mainstay of the late-night comedy scene in L.A.
performing in the long-running late-night hits Serial Killers and Crime Scene both at
Sacred Fools. And Pat was a member of the LAWeekly Award winning sketch
comedy group Margot's Bush - the single greatest sketch comedy group in the
history of the universe.
Originally from Chicago, Pat was a founding member, Managing Director, and
Training Center Coordinator of Chicago's famed Annoyance Theatre which just
celebrated its 25th anniversary. He performed, directed and taught there, and
played the Clown in their production of Coed Prison Sluts - the longest running
musical in Chicago history. Pat also originated the role of Greg in the Annoyance’s
production of The Real Live Brady Bunch, and eventually went on to direct the show
Off-Broadway.
Television credits include: Mad Men, Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives, Las
Vegas, Gilmore Girls among others. He has performed on stages across the United
States and internationally, on film & television, and he has taught at The Second
City Los Angeles, The Annoyance Theatre, and Tulane University in New Orleans.
ALAN DONNES (Producer/President National Lampoon) is a former stand up
comedian and sportscaster. He managed professional athletes including former
heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes before relaunching the National
Lampoon radio hour in 2002. He has written and produced National Lampoon's
Dirty Movie, National Lampoon's Snatched and National Lampoon's Another Dirty
Movie and has recently been named President of the company.
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JERRY DAIGLE (Producer/CEO National Lampoon) began making movies in and
around his native New Orleans in 2002, when he produced The Scoundrel’s Wife
with acclaimed Cajun filmmaker, Glen Pitre. Since that time, he has produced a
number of motion pictures for the National Lampoon label, including National
Lampoon’s Dirty Movie, which he directed. He recently became CEO of National
Lampoon, Inc.
RICHARD LEVINSON (Original Songs) After penning Burt Reynolds’s novelty hit
“Let’s Do Something Cheap and Superficial” many, many years ago, Richard
Levinson entered the dark world of jingles,heaping praise on beers, wines, banks,
brokers, shopping malls, car dealers, supermarkets, California Eggs and the LSU
women’s basketball team... winning all major awards along the way.
To atone for this, he writes comedy music and satiric songs, some of which have
appeared in productions by MTV, National Lampoon, Fox/HBO and Disney
Television, and on the Dr. Demento show. He also has contributed intentionally
unfunny songs to many films and TV shows, including True Blood and Raising
Hope. As a musical director, actor and/or piano player, Richard has performed
in numerous local LA productions, recently including the multi-award winning
musical Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara! (Sacred Fools, Matrix and Geffen
Theaters) and the equally honored Peace in Our Time (Antaeus Theater).
He is a member of the Sacred Fools Theater Company, and often writes for and/or
performs in their popular late-night Serial Killers show.
His “Honky-Tonk” musical, Savin’ Up for Saturday Night, earned him an Ovation
nomination for best music and lyrics, and is now published by Samuel French and
Company. He also can be seen and heard occasionally with Fred Willard's sketch
group, “The MOHOs.” He has just released his 2nd live collection of comedy songs,
"Unchartables Vol.2," on iTunes and everywhere else in the digital universe.
"Unchartables Vol. 1," (heard regularly on XM/Sirius satellite radio and also
available on iTunes).
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PATTI BROWNE (Co-Producer) started her career in film in 1975, serving as the
Managing Director of Helicopter Aerials, a company that did aerial film
photography for many major films and commercials. In 1988, she joined the
National Lampoon to work on the company’s creative team. Over the years, she has
served as associate producer and co-producer on many film and TV projects. She
was a key member of the production team on such projects as “Christmas
Vacation,” “Christmas Vacation 2,” “Vegas Vacation,” “Pucked” and others.
Currently, she is President of Matty Simmons Productions.
The cast of SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON will include: Henry
Ditman, Jesse Merlin, David Haverty Erin Matthews, CJ Merriman, Darrin Revitz
and Pat Towne,
The Set, Costume and Prop Design is by Tifanie McQueen (Endgame -Ovation
Nomination, Forbidden Zone). The Lighting Design is by Cricket Sloat. The Sound
Design is by Jaime Robledo (Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara, Stoneface). The
Stage Manager is Brenda Goldstein.
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING
SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON will preview on Thursday,
February 7 at 8pm; Friday, February 8 at 8pm; Saturday, February 9 at 8pm;
Sunday February 10 at 3pm; Thursday February 14 at 8pm and will open on
Friday, February 15 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 17 at the Hayworth
Theatre, 2511 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.
Performances for SKETCHES FROM THE NATIONAL LAMPOON are
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 3:00pm & 7:00pm at the
Hayworth Theatre, 2511 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Tickets are $30. Previews
are $25. Pay parking lot - $6, right next door to the theatre. Free parking on
Wilshire Blvd., Coronado St., and Carondelet St.
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For tickets, please visit www.brownpapertickets.com or call 323-337-1546 . For
additional information, please visit www.nationallampoon.com.
For additional information, press photos, interviews or press comps, please contact
David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or at davidelzer@me.com.
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