Betsy Brandt Joins West Coast Premiere of NEXT FALL

Geoffrey Nauffts' new play Next Fall makes its West Coast debut at the Geffen Playhouse with original director Sheryl Kaller and a completely new cast featuring the playwright himself in a leading role. Next Fall chronicles the relationship of Adam - portrayed by playwright Nauffts whose acting credits include Broadway productions of A Few Good Men and Caine Mutiny Court Martial, and Luke - played by James Wolk, who is most recognizable for his starring role in television's Lonestar and the film You Again.

The couple seems like a case of opposites attract - Adam is older, neurotic and an atheist; Luke is impulsive, a struggling actor and a devout Christian. After Luke is involved in a critical accident, family and friends descend upon the couple and these longtime differences collide, forcing opposing views on faith into a stand-off. Luke's parents, Arlene and Butch, are played by Academy Award nominee Lesley Ann Warren (Victor/Victoria) and actor/activist Jeff Fahey (Lost), respectively. Broadway actor and Geffen alum Ken Barnett portrays Brandon, Luke's childhood friend; and stage/screen actress Betsy Brandt, most recognized for her role on AMC's Breaking Bad portrays the role of Holly, the woman who introduced the couple. As timely as it is touching, this must-see play exposes the fundamental truth that we love people both because of - and in spite of - who they are. Next Fall begins in previews at the Geffen Playhouse on October 25, 2011 with an official opening date of November 2.

Next Fall had its world premiere at Naked Angels Theater in New York in 2009 before transferring to the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway in 2010. This West Coast premiere will allow both playwright and director to delve deeper into this still new work, which was awarded the Outer Critics Circle's "John Gassner Award" in 2010 for Best New American Play and has been honored with nominations for the 2010 Tony Award for Best Play, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play.

Special events during the run of Next Fall include the theater's special Signature Series options for no additional cost. These evenings include an intellectual, thought-provoking post show Q&A at Talk Back Tuesdays; a scintillating, one-of-a kind after-party at Girls Night Out; a cultural happy hour with Lounge Fridays and complimentary wine tastings during Wine Down Sundays. For more information, please view www.geffenplayhouse.com/fallevents.

Betsy Brandt is well known to television audiences and currently stars in AMC's Emmy award-winning series Breaking Bad. Brandt has appeared in regional theatre companies across the country. Most recently at South Coast Repertory where she originated the role of ‘Mary' in the World Premiere of Julia Cho's "The Language Archive" and also appeared there in "Ridiculous Fraud" by playwright Beth Henley. She has starred in "Royal Family" and "The Little Foxes" at Intiman Theatre, "Much Ado About Nothing" for the Arizona Theatre Company, "Control + Alt + Delete" for the San Jose Repertory, as well as "Thirst" at A Contemporary Theater.

Brandt's film credits include Jeremy Fink and The Meaning of Life and will be seen in the upcoming film Magic Mike, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Additional television credits include Private Practice, No Ordinary Family, ER, Boston Legal, and a recurring guest-star on Without A Trace.

Brandt studied theatre at Harvard University's Moscow Art School and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In addition, she earned her BFA in Acting at Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

A native of Bay City, Michigan, Brandt now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

 

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