There are Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in San Pedro

April 27, 2010 - PRLog -- The Tony-Award winning show, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"  harks back to the era of suave 1950s and '60s caper films -- specifically, the 1963 David Niven/Marlon Brando vehicle “Bedtime Story,” on which “Scoundrels” is based. Michael Caine played the slicker member of the anti-hero duo with perfect English ease, and Steve Martin was inspired as his gauche American counterpart in the 1988 Frank Oz film by the same name.

Lawrence Jameson (Ray Buffer), a veteran con artist in the French Riviera takes on a rough-edged young hustler Freddy Benson (Kenneth Taylor) as a protégé.  Things soon become competitive between Lawrence and Freddy when Christine Colgate (Michelle Zelina) comes to town, and they make a wager regarding who can first extract $50,000 from her. The gut-busting Broadway musical comedy was written by Jeffery Lane (book) and David Yazbek (music and lyrics).  Directed by Richard Taylor with musical direction by Dr. Jeanette-Louise Yaryan, Choreography by Lindsey Taylor, Costume Design by Kara McLeod and Set Design by Phil Buono.

PHOTO: (L to R) Kenneth Taylor, Kristin Towers-Rowles, Ray Buffer and Melissa Villasenor from TRS' recent production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change".  Taylor, Towers-Rowles and Buffer return to the Warner stage in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" opening June 11.

ABOUT DOWTOWN SAN PEDRO & WARNER GRAND THEATRE

San Pedro is on the rise. It is one of the last frontiers of the City of Los Angeles. Everyday this area of the South Bay is surprising people who have never visited before.  Where the 110 South Freeway meets the ocean, we find the Port Town of Los Angeles - San Pedro.  With its cornucopia of culture and eclectic cuisine, it boasts a burgeoning, artistic and eclectic downtown area that is reminiscent of early Pasadena, mixed with a little bit of Venice Beach.    

Dine at Whale & Ale, 7th Street Chop House, Niko’s Pizzeria, San Pedro Brewing Company or dozens of other fine restaurants.  Shop for Pinot at Off The Vine, or take in an exhibit at Parkhurst Gallery. Visit the oldest bookstore in LA, Williams Book Store – open for over 100 years; learn to Samba or Zumba at People’s Yoga Health & Dance, get a refreshing iced latte at Sacred Grounds Café or homemade gelato at Garth Trani’s Healthy Bistro to enjoy while perusing the bargains at the new, McThrift Store – and don’t forget to check out the area’s entertainment.  

Culturally, San Pedro also is home to professional theatre companies, a pops orchestra, a ballet company, film festivals and intimate bands – all of whom occasionally perform at one magical venue:  WARNER GRAND THEATRE.  
The Warner Grand Theatre is an historic movie palace, which was opened on January 20, 1931. It is located in San Pedro, California, at 478 West 6th Street .  

The design of the Warner Grand Theatre was a joint effort by architect B. Marcus Priteca and interior designer Anthony Heinsbergen. It was one of three similarly lavish Los Angeles area art-deco movie palaces on which Priteca and Heinsbergen collaborated for the Warner Bros. Company in the early 1930s. The others were located in Beverly Hills, and Huntington Park. Priteca later designed Hollywood's famous Pantages Theatre.
The Warner Beverly Hills Theatre has been demolished, and the Huntington Park Warner, closed for many years, has been extensively altered, leaving the Grand as the last of the three original theaters remaining intact. By the mid 1990's it had suffered a lengthy period of neglect, despite having been declared a historical and cultural monument of the city in 1982.  

Facing possible demolition or re-development, in 1995, the theater was purchased by the Cultural Affairs Department (later renamed the Department of Cultural affairs) of the City of Los Angeles in 1996. In 1999, the Warner was added to the National Register of Historic Places as building #98001633.  

Restored and beautiful in 2007,  Warner Grand Theatre became the home of The Relevant Stage (TRS) – San Pedro’s Musical Theatre Company, founded by current Artistic Producing Director, Ray Buffer.

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The Relevant Stage Theatre Company performs in residence at The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, CA. TRS' mission is to challenge hearts, engage minds and expose truths. TRS tells relevant stories about the contemporary world we share.