LA Weekly Gives John DiFusco’s Play TRACERS at the L.A. Fringe Theatre a GO and LA Talk Radio Says the “Cast Is Uniformly Excellent”

Loft Ensemble Production of TRACERS Is Extended Due to Popular Demand with Performances on Saturdays from July 10 through August 7, 2010

The LOFT Ensemble in the Little Tokyo Arts District presents a new production of TRACERS. TRACERS tracks the surreal journey of six enlisted men through the Vietnam experience and it’s after effects. These six “maggots” fight to maintain their humanity amid the body bags, drugs, rats, prostitutes, death, and all the horrors they have encountered.  

LA Weekly gave it a “GO” saying, “the imaginative production is compelling”, “directed by Christina Howard with insight and skill”, and that the “talents of Howard’s adept ensemble collectively emerge”.  LA Talk Radio, State of the Arts LA says, “the cast is uniformly excellent…it’s incredible ensemble work.” They also went on to say “it’s an incredible frenetic, manic production…you lose about 5 lbs. just watching this show”; it is “highly recommended.”

TRACERS was conceived by writer/director John DiFusco who created the play through workshops with a group of Vietnam Vets/actors: Vincent Caristi, Richard Chaves, Eric E. Emerson, Rick Gallavan, Merlin Marston, Harry Stephens, and writer Sheldon Lettich. John DiFusco has received several awards, including the New York Drama Desk Award and The Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award. His most recent play WALK’N THRU THE FIRE premiered at the Hayworth Theatre (Los Angeles) with rave reviews and is now on LA Weekly Steven Mikulan’s 2007 New Plays Ten Best list.  DiFusco will be appearing as Sergeant Williams in TRACERS on Saturday, August 7, 2010.

Artistic Director Christina Howard directs using Viewpoints Techniques to dig deeply into each actor’s soul, finding the truth and spirit of each character. Howard uses tribal and ritualistic elements to dramatize the spirit of the soldier that lies within us and the spirits of the soldiers who have passed. 

Tucker Smallwood, a Vietnam Vet and accomplished actor, joins the LOFT Ensemble as Sergeant Williams, bringing his own personal experience and wisdom to the production. Tucker Smallwood has an extensive acting resume, with roles on shows such as Star Trek: Enterprise, and The Sarah Silverman Program, and has performed in several productions for the Mark Taper, Cast Theater, and Odyssey Theater. Two LOFT Ensemble members who have become viral celebrities, Adam Chambers (I <3 Vampires) and Sean Durrie (Easy to Assemble) join the cast as Dinky Dau and Scooter respectively.

To see the EOE interview with John DiFusco, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_H5_YdeESU

When:   Saturdays July 10^th, 17^th, 24^th, & 31^st, and August 7^th, & 14^th at 8PM

Where:  L.A. Fringe Theatre, 929 E. 2^nd St. Studio 105, Los Angeles, CA 90012 

About the Loft Ensemble

LOFT ensemble's mission is to achieve creative unity by providing a place for artists to explore their individual talents freely, within a strong and supportive ensemble. By bringing the ceremony and ritual of non-traditional methods back to theatre, and exploring the spiritual connection members have to one another and to the subject matter, LOFT Ensemble members achieve (and inspire) internal and external transformation.  Call (213) 680-0392 or visit:  www.LOFTensemble.com

About Eye on Entertainment
"Eye on Entertainment", a division of Eye on Excellence™ Productions, is aired twice weekly on Time Warner Cable in Southern California. The EOE team covers entertainment and music events, film festivals, red carpets and award shows, and features interviews with successful people in all walks of life, exploring the traits they have in common. Dawna Lee Heising, EOE executive producer and host, is a member of SAG & AFTRA, has an MBA and PhD and is Ms. Universe 2010. The EOE team includes Linda Maxwell of Time Warner Cable, producer/photographer David J. McNeil, former United Artists executive who was one of the developers of Pay-per-View, director/editor John Cox, director/editor Larry Cota, editor Gordon Michael, editor/photographer Todd Stearns, music director Dino Maddalone, Todd Stearns, Steve Van Wormer, Paul Heising and photographer Kevin Le.  For more information, please visit www.eyeonentertainment.tv, http://www.dawnaleeheising.tv/ and www.youtube.com/eyeonentertainment