The Hayworth, in association with Roz Bernstein Productions, presents the new work, which has book, music and lyrics by Charlotte Caffey, founding member of The Go-Go's, and Anna Waronker, a singer-songwriter and founding member of That Dog. The original concept and lyrics were by Jeffery Leonard Bowman.
Ken Sawyer (One Red Flower, Crime and Punishment) directs Lovelace: A Rock Opera, which features newcomer Katrina Lenk in the title role.
Performances continue to Nov. 23. The cast also includes Jimmy Swan as Chuck Traynor, Josh Greene as Harry Reems, Alan Palmer as Gerard Damiano, Whitney Allen as Mrs. Boreman, plus an ensemble of seven.
The authors serve as the production's musical directors. Musical staging is by David Wayne, production designer is Joel Daavid, production stage manager is Sara Gunther and costume designer is Traci McWain.
According to production notes, "In the style of previous smash hit rock operas Tommy and Jesus Christ Superstar, Lovelace: A Rock Opera recounts Linda's story. From pregnant teenager in Yonkers, New York, to her turbulent relationship with [husband Chuck] Traynor and the making of 'Deep Throat,' through to her triumphant rebirth as activist and suburban wife and mother." On June 12, 1972, "Deep Throat" made its debut in the United States, becoming one of the first major mainstream adult film titles. Linda Lovelace (whose real name was Linda Susan Boreman) became a symbol of the sexual revolution, and the picture was a sensation. A few years later, Lovelace told of abuse and imprisonment at the hands of her husband, Chuck Traynor, and she later became an anti-porn spokeswoman. She died from internal injuries following a car crash in Colorado in 2002.
Writers Waronker and Caffey are Los Angeles natives and sisters-in-law who started collaborating for film, television and other artists when they met in 1995. Lovelace has been a work in progress since 2002, when Waronker and Caffey's initial involvement began solely as music writers. In 2006 the duo took on the task of writing the book for Lovelace, in the form of a sung-through rock opera.
Lovelace is their first theatrical endeavor.
(Caffey penned such hits as "We Got The Beat," "Vacation" and "Head Over Heels" in her Grammy-nominated band The Go-Go's.)
Waronker and Caffey said in a statement, "After a tremendous amount of research, we realized that the life of Linda Lovelace is a complicated story to tell. This isn't about a porn star or a feminist. What compelled us were all the details that lurked under the surface of this woman's life."
They added, "Musically, what we found through the years was that this story had a particular intensity that didn't lend itself to a traditional setting of a musical with dialogue. Luckily, the music we had written did indeed lend itself to that intensity, and after four years of countless books, several workshops and the guidance of our creative producers Gary Blumsack and Danna Hyams, and our director Ken Sawyer, we were 'Rock Opera'-bound. And here we are."
Jeffery Bowman provided the original concept and lyrics to the music featured in Lovelace: A Rock Opera. He is the author of nine produced stage plays, including 1995's Innacurate Information, which was presented at The Hudson Theater in Los Angeles. He is also the author of "Diva: The Unauthorized Biography of Whitney Houston" published by HarperCollins and released worldwide. In addition to his work on Lovelace, Bowman is currently writing and performing his own original songs with shows throughout the Los Angeles area.
Actress Lenk was recently nominated for a 2008 Ovation Award as Lead Actress in a Musical for her role as Velma Kelly in Chicago.
The Hayworth Theatre is located at 2509 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Performances of the 90-minute musical play Thursdays-Sundays. For reservations call (323) 960-4442 or visit www.plays411.com.
For more information visit www.thehayworth.com or www.lovelacearockopera.com.
