The Next Big Thing

Release Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008

(Los Angeles) Brandon Ruckdashel stars as Chip in the world premiere musical The Next Big Thing, which opens on Saturday, July 19th, and continues through August 16th at Art Works Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Set in 1983 The Next Big Thing is about Chip and his budding garage band, who are desperately looking for a new sound to take them to the next level. The songs performed by Chip and his band are straight 80s retro pop dominated by the ubiquitous DX7, the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. As Chip, Brandon plays guitar and keyboards and is a singer in the group.

Brandon recently moved to Los Angeles and immediately landed a lead role in the network series The Lair and last month was the lead in the Jerry Zucker pilot National Debt. He played Virgil, a naïve young man caught in the decadent 1920's Parisian demimonde, in the independent feature Virgil and will play Rick, a young struggling actor, in the upcoming feature One Degree.

In addition to film and television Brandon has continued his stage work. He played Twist in the Los Angeles production of Twist, nominated for a Drama Desk Award. He most recently returned to New York for George Carr's A Body Without A Head, based on the work of former Calvin Klein Creative Director Zack Carr and designed by its current Creative Director Kevin Carrigan.

Brandon made his professional stage debut as the lead in the hit play Ascension. Anita Gates in the New York Times wrote "the 23-year-old Mr. Ruckdashel is making his Off Broadway debut and it is a stunning one. This is partly because he has the intense blond good looks of a young Brad Pitt with a soupcon of James Dean." Elyse Sommer called him “a young Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Brandon is available for interviews in New York and in Los Angeles. For Press Passes and Press Kits and for more information about him, contact his management company at 212-410-9404 or 213-840-6224 or barney@barneyoldfield.com

A Body Without A Head

Press Release 05/02/08

The Reviews are in and Body Without A Head is a major creative success. Playing to sold out houses, Body Without A Head tells the story of renown gladiator Saint Torpes, who gave his name to St. Tropez. He is played brilliantly by Brandon Ruckdashel.

Director George Carr wrote the play about unconditional love as a tribute to his late brother. Carr previously wrote and directed Jamie ... Another Side Of James Dean. Kevin Carrigan, Creative Director of Calvin Klein, designed the classic costumes.

The limited performance show finishes its run with added performances today at New York's Manhattan Theater Source.

The unique look and feel of Body Without A Head was based on the sketches of the late Zack Carr. who joined Calvin Klein in 1970 and, as his Creative Director, played an integral role in creating the spare, streamlined aesthetic associated with the fashion house.

Zack Carr oversaw the design teams who produce Mr. Klein's men's, women's, CK, and home collections. and was also instrumental in conceiving the company's well-known advertising campaigns and in attracting celebrity clients.

The Zack Carr Foundation in his memory is dedicated to the inspiration of the human spirit.