An acclaimed play about the 1980s Japanese tainted blood scandal has returned to the Los Angeles stage.
Glenne Headly (“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Dick Tracy,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus”), James Kyson (NBC’s “Heroes,” voted one of “Hollywood’s 25 Hottest” by TV Guide), Michael Yama (“Betty White’s Off Their Rockers”) and Rob Yang (“The Americans,” “Twisted”) join the cast as The Garage reopens its world premiere production of “Blood.”
Written and directed by Robert Allan Ackerman — Obie, New York Outer Critics Circle Award and DGA Award winner and two-time Golden Globe and five-time Emmy Award nominee — “Blood” returns to The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Performances take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through Dec. 18.
Inspired by true events, “Blood” is a political thriller with music a scandal in which 2,000 people died of AIDS after the U.S. knowingly sold contaminated blood to Japan. Over a dozen rave reviews for the production when it premiered last spring include The Los Angeles Times(“dazzling… a formidable display of small-theater invention”), Stage Raw(“lively, haunting, provocative and funny”), Broadway World(“smart, involving, totally wrenching”) and ArtsMeme(“heady stuff… a witty treatment of a subject that matters so much”).
For this return engagement, Headly will take on the role of the American reporter who uncovers a conspiracy to cover up the Japanese government-sanctioned sale of HIV-contaminated blood products, while Kyson and Yang will alternate as the Korean-Japanese lawyer who heads up the investigation. Yama plays Dr. Kazama, a character based on real-life Dr. Takeshi Ab,e who served as president of Japan’s Aids Research Committee and the Hemophilia Society.
Also in the cast are Kazumi Aihara, Miho Ando, Takuma Anzai, Peter Chung, Andrew Dits, Anthony Gros, Takaaki Hirakawa, Tomoko Karina, Andrew Nakajima, Daryl L. Padilla and Shin Shimizu.
“Blood” features original music and songs by The Virgins bassist Nick Ackerman and Jet drummer/vocalist Chris Cester. The creative team includes set and costume designer Dona Granata, projections designer Hana S. Kim, lighting designer Donny Jackson and sound designer Joseph “Sloe” Slawinski.
General admission is $35; students with valid ID are $25. To purchase tickets, call (323) 960-7745 or go to www.plays411.com/blood.