LAFPI

The Athena Cats presents the world premiere of Blueprint for Paradise, opening July 30 at the Hudson Theatres in Hollywood.

“GO!… Most any play that sheds light on racism and the oppression of women gets my vote, and Blueprint for Paradise does both.” — Deborah Klugman, LA Weekly

“ELECTRIFYING… evoke[s] an eerie sense of familiarity to the news we see in our world today… a thrilling denouement” — Ryan Luévano, Tin Pan L.A

“Ring[s] true today… should be required viewing for all” —Erin Fair, Discover Hollywood

Previews:
July 28
July 29
Performances:
JULY 30th to SEPTEMBER 4th
Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm
Sundays at 3:00 pm

The ruins of an abandoned WWII Nazi compound in Pacific Palisades, known today as the ‘Murphy Ranch,’ are the inspiration for Laurel M. Wetzork’s new play: BLUEPRINT FOR PARADISE. Set in 1941 during the weeks leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and inspired by true events, Wetzork imagines the relationship between African-American architect Paul Revere Williams (designer of landmark L.A. buildings including Saks Fifth Ave and the Los Angeles County Courthouse, as well as private residences for Bert Lahr, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and Frank Sinatra) and a wealthy American couple who employed him to design a compound and training ground for Nazi sympathizers.

“I wanted to explore how something like this could have happened in L.A., and why Nazi sympathizers would have hired a black architect,” explains Wetzork.

Laura Steinroeder directs a cast that includes Alex Best, Regi Davis, Ann Hu, David Jahn, Steve Marvel, Peter McGlynn and Meredith Thomas.

Set design for Blueprint for Paradise is by Gary Lee Reed; lighting design is by Matthew Gorka; sound design is by Cricket S. Myers; costume design is by Michael Mullen; technical direction is by Jean-Paul ‘JP’ Rosenveldt; graphic design is by Kiff Scholl; and casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA. The stage manager is Letitia Chang, producer is Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners; and executive producer is Debbie Bolsky, The Athena Cats.