FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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JIM MORRISON:
SWIMMING TO THE MOON
September 15 to November 11, 2007

Who Killed Jim Morrison?

  * A world premiere of a new play by Gary Flaxman ponders the question: “Who killed Jim Morrison?”
  *  Takes place in a Paris hotel room June 3, 1971 the last day of Jim Morrison's life.

Begins September 15, 2007

(Los Angeles, CA) (August, 2007)... 44th St. Productions LLC proudly presents the world premiere of JIM MORRISON SWIMMING TO THE MOON, written by Gary Flaxman and directed by Judy Rose, opening September 15th, 2007 at the art/works Theatre in Hollywood.

This two act dramatic theatrical production takes on the task of delving into the life and death of Jim Morrison. Set in the hotel apartment at 17 Rue de Beautrellis where Jim’s body was found in the bathtub (as the official story goes), we see Morrison’s life unfold. 

Who really was the person behind the iconic image? What were the effects of fame, then notoriety? What events lead up to his untimely demise? And where does he go from here?

This is the revealing journey of SWIMMING TO THE MOON.

Jim Morrison

Unbelievably, it has been 40 years since a Los Angeles rock band The Doors burst on the national scene with their opening salvo of “Light My Fire”.

Arguably, The Doors are the most original band ever to come out of America. It would be difficult to attribute their sound to being derivative of any other recording group before them.

Ultimately though, it was Jim Morrison, the singer and lyricist who has become the band’s enduring icon. A magnetic performer who prowled the stage almost to the point of slithering in his black leather-skinned attire imparted an image of poet, shaman, mystic, Celtic baritone and sexual lothario.

At least, that was the visual and aural image that Jim Morrison conjured up. Combine that with the ethereal sound of The Doors and he was indeed the sorcerer.

As it would happen, Jim – after a lost year in Paris – died much too young. He joined his contemporary genius rock stars, Janis Joplin, Keith Moon, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian Jones by suddenly vanishing from the living world.  The common thread among this group was their deaths were shrouded in mystery and uncertainty.  But for Hendrix and Morrison in particular, they became more famous in death than they ever were in life. Perhaps death was a good career move.

The Era

The 1960s were turbulent times. America was at war in the Far East. Draft cards were issued and student distrust of the government was leading to a revolution of ideas. Drugs and the counter-culture roared to life as America’s youth were self-medicating themselves. Rock music took a sharp turn to the dark side as the drug induced high of the San Francisco sound intoxicated the hippies.

Rising from this groundswell of anti-authority, fear and anger was the young poet, Jim Morrison. The band he formed with another UCLA film student created the soundtrack for much of the anti-war protest movement and even the Viet Nam war itself. These were strange days indeed.

About The Show

War .... Racial Tension ..... An Unpopular President ...

The headlines remain the same thirty-six years after the bizarre Paris death of American icon, Jim Morrison, frontman of the Doors, the most popular and controversial American rock band of the 1960's.

And the questions also remain.

Who was the real Jim Morrison?
What really happened on that Miami stage in 1969?
Who (or what) was the real cause of his death?
What happened to Jim Morrison’s America?

Is history a lesson, or just mistakes we're doomed to repeat?

Damon Shalit is Jim Morrison!

After a nationwide talent search, New York actor DAMON SHALIT has been cast in the title role of Jim Morrison in the new play SWIMMING TO THE MOON.

Damon has considerable stage, film and television acting credits, as well as being a produced screenwriter.

Judy Rose, Director and Producer cast Damon Shalit after months of auditioning many talented and gifted young actors.

Judy says:

"I feel that Damon will bring a passion and authenticity to Jim's character that I rarely find in an actor. Beyond mere physicality, Damon possesses a stage presence and intensity that I was seeking to portray the legendary Jim Morrison."


Vital Stats

Written by GARY FLAXMAN
Directed by JUDY ROSE

Starring JAKE BERN, CORRYN CUMMINS, SARAH SCOTT DAVIS,
ABNER GENESE, RUSSELL RICHARDS, STEVEN SHAW and DAMON SHALIT as Jim.


Perhaps testing the wrath of the creative gods, Gary is currently putting the finishing touches on his first novel.


JIM MORRISON: SWIMMING TO THE MOON runs September 15 to November 11, 2007. All performances are at art/works Theatre at 6569 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 7 PM. Tickets are $34.99. Running time is 120 minutes with intermission and concessions. Wheelchair access and ample street parking available.

For reservations, call (323) 960-4412 or RESERVE ONLINE:
www.plays411.com/morrison


    Get more information and discounts online at: www.plays411.com/morrison

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CAST / CREW BIOS

DAMON SHALIT - (Jim Morrison)
Mr. Shalit’s theatre credits include African Gothic at the Elephant Theater, Ralph directed by Guy Waldron, After Crystal Night directed by Robert Walden, Fellow Traveler (with Harold Gould), Rebeck Revisited directed by Theresa Rebeck, Reunion, Moony’s Kid Don’t Cry, directed by Anthony Barnao, Torn, Palo Alto, Trust, Welcome to the Moon, The Lower Depths, Antigone directed by Jack Stealin, 20th Anniversary of Tracers at the Odyssey Theater directed by John DiFusco, Rebecca, Pillow Talk, Bedroom Farce, among others.
 
Mr. Shalit’s Film and TV credits include Judging Amy, Nightman, Valley of the Dolls, All My Children, Under Investigation, My Life as a Troll, Reluctant Justice and a handful of Independents. Playtime, Mr. Shalit’s short film that he wrote and directed, can be seen on I-FILM.com.
 
A-List, a feature film that Mr. Shalit wrote, produced and starred in won the Audience Award at the 2007 MILAN International Film Festival and has been seen in festivals across the country including WorldFest International Film Festival Houston, where they received a Gold Remi for best Comedy. A-List was directed by his sister Shira-Lee Shalit and star’s Sally Kirkland, Daphne Zuniga, Joanna Garcia, Renee Taylor, David Carradine, Peter Dobson, Leigh Taylor-Young, Eddie Albert and Shelley Winters (a voice cameo in what is her last acting role).

JAKE BERN - (The Army Soldier)
Jake has appeared as guest roles on such TV shows as CBS's Cold Case, WB's Gilmore Girls, and ABC's LA Dragnet, as well as numerous commercials, including: Sprint, Domino's, and MTV. His true love has always been theater and he has acted in many theatrical productions worldwide, including the Apollo Theater in New York City, Theatro Nacional in Havana, Cuba, and Campus Jussieu in Paris, France. He received his BA in Theater from UCLA and studied at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. Jake loves to work with kids and the art, and one day hopes to join the circus.

CORRYN CUMMINS - (The Fan)
Corryn Cummins, most recently appeared on stage in Los Angeles in A Hole in the Dark with The Blank Theatre. Her other theatre credits in LA include: the West Coast premieres of The Lonesome West (The Odyssey) and Killer Joe (Los Angeles-Ovation Awards best ensemble and production). Ms. Cummins Regional Theatre work includes: Race: How Blacks and Whites Think and Feel About the American Obsession (Lookingglass), Fahrenheit 451 (Steppenwolf), The Lion in Winter (Timeline), The Hot L Baltimore (Jeff Award-Best Actress), The Altruists, When the Walls Have Ears (Mary-Arrchie), The Lonesome West (Midwest premiere-Famous Door), The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III, Wild Oats (Illinois Shakespeare Festival) and The Grey Zone (Midwest premiere-A Red Orchid). Her film credits include: Pulse, The Achievers, One Night With You and Under the City. Ms. Cummins studied at the Illinois State University Theatre School. She was born and raised on Chicago's South Side and currently resides in Los Angeles.   

SARAH SCOTT DAVIS - (The Young Detroit Woman)
Sarah is a multi-talented actress that continues to captivate audiences on stage, screen and television. She has been cast in Criminal Minds, Bold and the Beautiful, The Drew Carey Show and Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) to name a few. Her portrayal of Popeye Jackson, the quirky central character in the acclaimed play, The Miss Firecracker Contest, resulted in rave reviews and further recognition as a rising star. For those who have watched Davis hone her craft, these recent accolades come as no surprise.

ABNER GENECE - (Al)
Abner Genece most recently appeared onstage in the lead role of John Simon Stockton in Theatre 40’s World Premiere of Tuskegee Man. He also recently appeared as Mr. Roote in the Unknown Theatre Company’s wildly popular production of Harold Pinter’s The Hothouse, and as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Jeff Stetson’s The Meeting. A founding member of UTC, he also starred in Pandora’s Box, and the company’s inaugural production of J.B. Priestley’s Johnson Over Jordan. Mr. Genece performed with New York’s acclaimed Jean Cocteau Repertory for several seasons before relocating to Los Angeles. While at JCR, he appeared in a number of hit productions, including the North American Premiere of Napoli Milionaria, the World Premiere of Eric Bentley’s translation of Mother Courage and her Children, The Cherry Orchard, Waiting For Godot and Othello. He is proud to be working with the talented creative team of SWIMMING TO THE MOON.

RUSSELL RICHARDSON - (Jimi Hendrix)
Russell Richardson is a native of Oakland California. He grew up in the Bay Area until he attended the University of California Davis, where he received his B.A. in Dramatic Arts. After Davis, Mr. Richardson returned to Oakland to work in theatre. He later moved to Los Angeles where he starred in such films as Tigerland and The Rookie. For television, his guest starring appearances include Boston Public, The District, and Without A Trace. Recently, Mr. Richardson finished filming his role in the upcoming Iron Man, which will be released May 2008.

STEVEN SHAW - (The Senator)
Steven was born in Brooklyn, New York. In his early twenties, after a brief stint as an actor, he took over the running of the New York Shakespeare Festival / Public Theater prop department for Joseph Papp and built it into the largest regional theater prop department of its time. He worked on the premiers of Hair, John Guare’s musical version of, Two Gents, No Place to Be Somebody, That Championship Season (the last two, Pulitzer Prize winners) among other contemporary plays, and twenty-six of Shakespeare's works. He stayed with Mr. Papp for nine years performing multiple tasks for the Festival as it grew. Mr. Shaw conceived and produced the Five o’clock Theater.  After leaving the festival he turned to stage managing on Broadway shows. Among their number were The Wiz, Deathtrap, Sly Fox, Orpheus Descending, Sunday in the Park with George (another Pulitzer winner) and Death and the Maiden. Mr. Shaw has lived in Los Angeles since 1992 with his wife, Producer Diana Kerew.




AUTHOR - GARY FLAXMAN

Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Gary is a graduate of Syracuse University. He spent a brief time immersed in corporate America until it became very clear that he was a "poet", not a "prince of industry". His stage work has been performed from coast to coast, and includes Yellow, winner of the Attic Theatre One-Act Festival, Schmaltz, recipient of the Kaufman-Hart Prize for New American Comedy; Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?, winner of the Dorothy Silver Playwriting Competition, and the award-winning, A Mother’s Work. Paper Planes was performed at the 2006 Dayton Playhouse FutureFest and he’s been invited back in 2007 for a production of his award-winning comedy, Playing God, originally produced at The Boarshead Theatre in Michigan. Two screenplays, A Man of the People, and The State of the Art were finalists for the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Nicholl Fellowship. SWIMMING TO THE MOON is his latest play but critics agree that his best work has been his two daughters, Caitlin and Renee, both still running to rave reviews.

After a nationwide talent search, New York actor DAMON SHALIT has been cast in the title role of Jim Morrison in the new play "SWIMMING TO THE MOON". Damon has considerable stage, film and television acting credits as well as being a produced screenwriter. Judy Rose, Director and Producer cast Damon Shalit after months of auditioning many talented and gifted young actors. Judy says: "I feel that Damon will bring a passion and authenticity to Jim's character that I rarely find in an actor. Beyond mere physicality, Damon possesses a stage presence and intensity that I was seeking to portray the legendary Jim Morrison."