Rantoul And Die Opens With A Bang!

Rantoul and Die opened on Saturday to a packed house of the hip and happening Hollywood elite. As with any Hollywood event, the red carpet was rolled out for the press and celebrity invited guests as paparazzi lurked in the shadows hoping to catch a quick snapshot. Among the special invited guests were Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men), Jenny O'Hara (Big Love), and Dana Delaney (Desperate Housewives), just to name a few.

But don't get it twisted. This was not your typical Hollywood affair. And Rantoul and Die is not your typical play. LA has not seen theatre the likes of this before. Rantoul and Die destroys all previously conceived notions of what civilized theatre should be. It is raw, gritty, in your face theatre that is uncensored, unapologetic, and relentless.

And Producers Don Foster and Stephen Eich wouldn't have it any other way.

Stephen Eich, former Managing Director of Chicago's famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company, recalls a time when theatre was edgy and honest. "When Don and Mark asked me to be involved with their new production of Rantoul and Die, I never imagined that it would be so reminiscent of the early days in Chicago. This is the kind of play that Steppenwolf, at an early age, ripped into like a tornado."

Rantoul and Die not only pays homage to the early work produced by Steppenwolf, but it also boasts riveting performances by the founding members of the Actor's Gang and Defiant Theatre Company. Imagine bringing the rat pack back together for one last performance to show the young cats how it's done. Well, Paul Dillon, Cynthia Ettinger, Rich Hutchman, and Lisa Rothschiller are the rat pack of theatre. And they are here to show LA how theatre is done.

Paul Dillon is electrifying in the role of the hard walking, tough talking, man's man Gary. He gives it to you straight, no chaser. No sugar to make the medicine sweet. His performance is gritty and raw. One that stays with you long after the curtains close. Paul is the Co-Founder of Bang Bang Spontaneous Theatre and is well known for his numerous roles on stage and screen.

Cynthia Ettinger is phenomenal as Debbie, the Dairy Queen Assistant Manager who's unhappy with her lackluster life. Her performance is hilarious yet poignant with an abrasive realness that sheds light on some of the harsh realities of life. Cynthia is a founding member of the Actor's Gang and has performed in many of the company's biggest productions throughout its twenty-five year history. She has also been a series regular on HBO's Carnivale and Deadwood. Most recently, Cynthia wrote and directed I'm not a racist, but... at the Actor's Gang.

Rich Hutchman is delightful as the lovestruck, tender hearted Rallis. He is an everyman, walking the fine line between love and hate, sanity and insanity, and he plays the role with an inherent sensibility that is both touching and humorous. Rich has worked with Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, and Red Orchid Theatre Companies and is the Artistic Director for Buzzworks Theatre Company.

Lisa Rothschiller is compelling as Callie, the quirky, yet good natured Dairy Queen Manager with an affinity for ice cream and cats. She is fun and gripping to watch and draws the audience in with her offbeat wit. Lisa was a long time member and one-time Artistic Director of the award-winning Defiant Theatre Company. Lisa makes her LA stage debut in Rantoul and Die.

Rantoul and Die takes you on a wild roller coaster ride, plunging you deep into the dark crevices of the human experience. Be forewarned. This play is not for the weak, the squeamish, or (sorry Rallis) the tender hearted. For everyone else, fasten your seatbelts. It's gonna be one hell of a ride.