The following is the press release that was sent to me prior to the show opening (thanks to Philip for both the release and the photo):

ROBERT BELTRAN STARS IN ODETS' "THE BIG KNIFE" AT THE LILLIAN STARTING
NOVEMBER 8

Robert Beltran is a classically trained actor who has become internationally famous from his work in films and TV, especially as leading male Chakotay for seven seasons on "Star Trek: Voyager." The material rewards offered by steady work in Hollywood have enabled him to repeatedly return to his roots in theatre, and he will begin a run as Charlie Castle, the hero of a classic 20th Century play by Clifford Odets, "The Big Knife" on November 1 when the play opens at the Lillian Theatre in Hollywood.

Beltran, a native of Bakersfield, graduated Fresno State College with a degree in Theater Arts. He worked with Luis Valdez's El Teatro Campesino, the Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse, Los Angeles Theatre Center, the California Shakespeare Festival, and co-founded and served as co-artistic director of East L.A. Classic Theater Group. His stage credits have included roles in "Macbeth," "The Price," "A Touch Of The Poet," and especially an acclaimed turn as "Hamlet" at the Actors' Gang Theatre a few seasons back.

His non-Trek TV work includes the ABC mini-series "The Mystic Warrior" (title role), "El Diablo" (title role), other films, and series ("Models, Inc.," "Veronica Clare"). His feature film credits include "Zoot Suit" (for Luis Valdez), "Eating Raoul" and "Scenes From the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills" (both for Paul Bartel), "Luminarias," "Nixon," "Bugsy," "Gaby: A True Story" "Kiss Me A Killer," "Latino," "Night Of The Comet," and more.

Clifford Odets (1906-1963) has emerged over the last few years as one of the most popular playwrights in L.A. (after Shakespeare, Neil Simon, Sam Shepard and Tennessee Williams). Much of his work deals with the examination of social issues from a leftist perspective ("Waiting For Lefty," "Awake And Sing!," "Golden Boy"). He escaped the Hollywood Blacklist though interrogated by the House Unamerican Activities Committee, continuing to write a film for Elvis Presley ("Wild In The Country"), serving as executive story editor for television's first and only repertory company ("The Richard Boone Show") and contributing to the script of the Broadway musical version of "Golden Boy" at the time of his death. Time and again, he wrote about show business in moral tales that showed people paying a price for the fame, material success, drugs and easy sex proffered by the capitalist system. These works include the film "The Sweet Smell Of Success" and the plays "The Country Girl" and the less-often-produced "The Big Knife."

In "The Big Knife," Charlie Castle is an actor who has emerged from the theater to become a movie star. Acclaimed as an artist early in his career, he's been reduced to doing schlock that makes a lot of money for the studio. His career and his marital indiscretions have taken a toll on
his family life. His long-suffering wife Marion will forgive him everything if he only declines to sign a 14-year contract that will make him significantly wealthy. He's inclined to refuse for the sake of his wife and child, but the studio boss plans to force him to sign by blackmailing him with a terrible secret. Complicating things further for both Charlie and Marion are prospective lovers elsewhere. Charlie is called upon to be the man of honor that he once was....to be honorable to his wife and son, to his friends and associates, and to his craft. Can he succeed?

Tonyo Melendez directs. The recipient of an MFA degree from Catholic University of America, he has worked as a director and choreographer at the Kennedy Center and Ford Theater in Washington, D.C., and in L.A. at the John Anson Ford Theater where he directed East L.A. Classic Theatre in "Cyrano de Bergerac. Also an actor, he has appeared in leading roles in 28
plays in Southern California ranging from Shakespearean tragedies to Restoration farces, in addition to over 60 TV shows and several films.

Farrell Hirsch , Dan Harper and Beltran produce for Mustardseed Productions. Hirsch is a prolific producer and playwright who is executive producer for Playboy Radio. Harper has been seen frequently on local stages (most recently in "Red Noses" for Theatre Banshee) and served for 10 years as marketing director of Theatre L.A.

The cast includes several people who acted with Beltran in "Hamlet": Rhonda Aldrich (also a Star Trek personality from her recurring role as Picard's secretary Madeline on "Next Generation"), John Berczeller, Christopher Paul Hart, and Randy Kovitz Also in the cast are John Apicella,
Martin Clark, Josie Gundy, Locky Lambert, Dan Pierson, Rita Rehn (of the Broadway cast of "Nine"), Scott Richards, Miguel Sandoval (of the new TV series "10-8"), J.R. Starr and Rickey Williams.

Costume designer: Elizabeth Huffman. Set design: Scott Siedman. Lighting design: Jose Perez. Sound design: Al Sgro.

This production of "The Big Knife" presents classically trained actors in a great classic play about Hollywood at a classic Hollywood location. The Lillian Theatre is located where Buster Keaton shot some of his early films.

* * * * * *

WHAT: "The Big Knife," a classic play about Hollywood.
WHO: Robert Beltran stars. Written by Clifford Odets. Directed by Tonyo Melendez. Produced for Mustardseed Productions by Beltran, Dan Harper and Farrell Hirsch.
WHERE: Lillian Theatre, 1076 N. Lillian Way, Hollywood.

 You can hear Robert talking about this play (on the LaRouche website)