The Blank Theatre Company in Hollywood announces 2009-10 season

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Works by David Sedaris (left), Christopher Durang and Michael John LaChiusa will topline the Blank Theatre Company’s 2009-10 season.

The Hollywood-based company, led by Daniel Henning and actor Noah Wyle, will start its season later than usual in November but will feature the usual slate of three full productions. This season’s performances will take place at two venues: the 2nd Stage Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard and the Stella Adler Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Starting the season will be Sedaris’ ‘The Santaland Diaries,’ the 1996 stage adaptation of the humorist’s NPR broadcasts recounting his time working as an elf at Macy’s. The production, directed by Michael Matthews, will run Nov. 20 to Dec. 20.

The West Coast premiere of Christopher Durang’s ‘Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them’ will begin Jan. 30 and run through March 14. The comedic play, which had its world premiere in April at the Public Theater in New York, tells of a young woman who begins to suspect that her family members may not be who they say they are. Henning will direct the production.

Closing the season will be the West Coast premiere of LaChiusa’s musical ‘See What I Wanna See,’ which originally opened at the Public in 2005. The dark musical, adapted from the short stories of Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa, unfolds in three chapters, each taking place in different eras including medieval Japan, 1950s New York and the present day. Directed by Henning, the production runs April 10 to May 23.

The Blank will also hold its annual Young Playwright’s Festival, which will take place in June.

-- David Ng