A World Premiere Play by Michael McFall, “Dirty White Tuxedo Pants and a Brown Plastic Bag” at the Globe Playhouse Benefits Homeless Veterans and New Directions Inc.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 25, 2006 -–
Playwright and actor Michael McFall will stage a world premiere of his original play, “Dirty White Tuxedo Pants and a brown plastic bag,” July 13 to August 12, 2006, at the Globe Playhouse in West Hollywood, California. A percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to New Directions, Inc., a nonprofit organization which helps homeless veterans get off the streets, out of emergency shelters and in contact with much needed services including medical and psychiatric care, veterans’ benefits, vocational training and job placement, and long-term housing.
“Dirty White Tuxedo Pants” chronicles a wacky homeless veteran living on the streets of Los Angeles. The story is peppered with sarcasm and unconventional humor, and takes an intriguing look at life through the eyes of the main character. Energy, dimension and musical flair are added by the accomplished New Directions Choir, whose members are all formerly homeless veterans.
The story was inspired by McFall’s personal history and pays homage to his uncle Chris McFall, a Vietnam-era veteran who fell victim to homelessness – a tragic circumstance not uncommon to many of America’s servicemen and women who offer their lives and talents to protect our country.
“Attention and aid for the disproportionate numbers of homeless veterans is long overdue,” said McFall, who portrays the main character and is using his art to raise consciousness about this chronic problem. “I wanted to pen an entertaining show and do something cool to honor the memory of my uncle, Chris.”
McFall brings his message at a significant time — the country is on the cusp of bringing home thousands more veterans in the coming years. “Unlike Vietnam veterans who were ‘spit on,’ Iraq war veterans are worshiped as heroes, but are mostly forgotten when they return home,” said McFall.
The play is the third in McFall’s “Driftnet Urban Opera” series tackling urban themes, and was initially staged during a workshop at the 2003 EdgeFest in Los Angeles. His current play includes hard-hitting, political and socially relevant work which focuses on the plight of the homeless in Los Angeles and the astounding fact that veterans are about twice as likely as all adults to be homeless.
According to a 2005 study by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, it is estimated there are more than 48,000 homeless people in the City of Los Angeles and over 82,000 homeless in Los Angeles County each night. Veterans represent approximately 14 to 20 percent of the homeless population, compared with 9 percent of the overall Los Angeles County population, according to the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty.
Programs like those provided by New Directions, Inc. are a huge step in the right direction, but more are needed. “The structural causes of homelessness must be addressed,” said Murray Wood, development director for New Directions, Inc., “such as lack of job skills and work experience, problems with addiction and substance abuse, difficulties in maintaining life stability and social connections.”
Along with McFall, “Dirty White Tuxedo Pants” features Tohoru Masamune as news reporter Chad Garcia Washington Suzuki and Patricia A. Lewis as the Social Worker. The play is directed by Vinnie K. DeRamus and Josiah Polhemus. The New Directions Choir members, who will perform original a cappella music for this show, are all graduates or residents of the New Directions treatment program.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.plays411.com or by calling (323) 960-4429. Opening Night Gala July 15: Tickets $ 30.00 advance purchase at Plays411.com, $ 35.00 at the box office. All other show dates: Tickets $ 20.00 advance purchase at Plays411.com, $ 25.00 at the box office.
About Michael McFall
Michael McFall, michaelmcfall.org, is a recipient the Paul E. Rivers Veterans of Foreign Wars scholarship from, VFW Post 7906. He is a graduate of the American Conservatory Theatre and a two-time recipient of the Drama-Logue Award for best supporting actor in “Cobb” by Lee Blessing and “The Things You Don’t Know” by Dave Hollander at the South Coast Repertory Theatre. Sponsored by the French Ministry of Culture, McFall performed in “Suspended Life” at the Theatre Des Amiendiers des Paris. He assisted in the development of three productions in the playwright’s workshop at the Sundance Institute: “The Sanctuary,” “Legendary Christmas” and “Crow and Weasel.” His writing/acting credits include “Hollywood Cliché” and “Driftnet Urban Opera” performed at the Los Angeles Theatre Center and Mark Taper Forum Amphitheatre at the Tree People. McFall is featured with Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film “Forrest Gump.”
About New Directions, Inc.
New Directions, Inc. is a long-term drug and alcohol treatment program providing housing, food, clothing, counseling, job training and psychiatric services for more than 800 homeless veterans a year. The agency operates four residential rehabilitation facilities, including the 156-bed Regional Opportunity Center, the 43-bed New Directions North for homeless veterans with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, and two homes in Mar Vista (Calif.) for homeless women who are either veterans or dependants of veterans.
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