Celebration's TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS Opening Pushed Back Until 6/14

Due to circumstances beyond production's control, the May 8 opening of Celebration Theatre's TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS has been pushed back a week and will now open on Friday, May 15 and will close on Sunday June 14.

Celebration Theatre presents the fifth show in their 2008-2009 season, TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS, written by Edwin Sanchez, produced by Larry Reitzer and directed by Efrain Schunior. TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS will preview on Wednesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 14 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 15 and run through Sunday, June 14 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

When Papo (Ramon Camacho), a tough talking Puerto Rican hustler from the Bronx, meets Brian (Stephen Twardokus), a frightened young lawyer from the Midwest, Papo begins to glimpse the possibility of a romantic escape from his life on the streets.

At the same time, Bobby (Elijah Trichon), a 17-year-old runaway who has been repeatedly raped by his older brother, offers to take care of Papo and moves in with him in his fleabag hotel room. It is then when Papo suddenly finds his defenses melting and his heart torn in two directions. TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS is a gritty, urban love story that contains adult situations, strong language and nudity.

EFRAIN SCHUNIOR (Director) Directing credits include A Mouthful of Birds, Marisol, Priate Eyes, The Skriker, Hotel, America's Next Top Bottom, On The Verge, The House of Yes, Mosquito Bites (World Premiere), Keeping Track (World Premiere), Heroes (asst. director to Thea Sharrock). He received his MFA from UCLA (Directing for the Stage). Currently, he is serving as Literary Manager at Celebration Theatre where he produced The Next Fairytale (World Premiere Reading) and CT's 2009 Black History Month reading series.
EDWIN SANCHEZ (Playwright) is overjoyed that the Celebration Theatre is doing the 20th anniversary production of TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS. This play has traveled quite a path and he feels blessed that it is in such dedicated hands. Upcoming for him is the world premiere of his romantic comedy I'LL TAKE ROMANCE at the Evolution Theatre in Ohio. Additionally his play LA BELLA FAMILIA will be produced by Teatro Vista in Chicago in 2010. Other productions include, DIOSA, produced by Hartford Stage after a successful workshop by New York Stage and Film, TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS at the Bank Street Theater in New York, UNMERCIFUL GOOD FORTUNE at the Intar Theater in New York, for which he received my Princess Grace Playwriting Award in 1994 and BAREFOOT BOY WITH SHOES ON at Primary Stages in New York. This play was selected by the EuGene O'Neill Playwrights Conference to represent the National Playwrights Conference at the Schelykovo Playwrights Seminar in Russia; ICARUS produced by Fourth Unity, Actors Theater of Louisville as part of their Humana Festival, San Jose Rep and regionally throughout the U.S.; and TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS, Atlantic Theater in New York, and productions in Brazil and Switzerland. Edwin was also among the playwrights involved with Brave New World, an organization commemorating the events surrounding September 11th.

LARRY REITZER (Producer) served as Arthur Laurents' Production Assistant on the Broadway, Los Angeles and San Francisco companies of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. He later then went on assist Herb Ross on THE BOYS OF WINTER (which starred Matt Dillon, Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames), Michael Blakemore on BENEFACTORS which starred Glen Close and Sam Waterston and Tommy Tune on STEPPING OUT which was Cherry Jones' Broadway debut.

His most exciting Broadway experience was working with Bob Fosse on his last musical BIG DEAL. Larry later went on to work for Alan Wasser/Cameron Mackintosh serving as the Associate Company Manager on the Broadway/Los Angeles/First National Companies of LES MISERABLES and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. As a television writer Larry has written for BIG FAT GREEK LIFE (CBS), TWINS (CW), and wrote the telenovela scenes for the second season of UGLY BETTY. He has developed three pilots: BROTHER'S KEEPER for Warner Brothers/ABC, JEWRICAN for Lisa Kudrow's Is or Isn't Entertainment/NBC/Universal and LOADED for Brillstein Entertainment. Larry is currently writing on the David and Patrick Cassidy series RUBY AND ROCKITS for Shaun Cassidy/Marsh McCall and ABC Family.
TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS stars Ramon Camacho, Elijah Trichon and Stephen Twardokus.
The TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS design team includes: Set design by Marika Stephens. Lighting design by Sohail e. Najafi. Sound design by Michael Cooper. Graphic design by Amanda Hawkins.

TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS will preview on Wednesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 14 at 8pm and will open on Friday, May 15, and runs through Sunday, June 14th. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Ticket prices are $20.00 for all performances. Opening Night is $25 and includes post-show reception.
TRAFFICKING IN BROKEN HEARTS will perform at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. For Tickets, please call 323-957-1884 or visit www.tix.com.
For more information or for press comps, please contact David Elzer/DEMAND PR at 818/508-1754 or at ELZERD@aol.com.

Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experience. We endeavor to challenge society's perception of this community and give a vibrant voice to its evolving identity.

The theatre is located at 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. (1/2 block east of LaBrea) in Hollywood. For more information, please visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.