Frank Mancuso News

Award-winning actor Martin Sheen, set to star in a one-night only reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob, will be sharing the stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: Emmy Award nominee Ed Begley Jr. (Spinal Tap, St. Elsewhere), veteran stage and screen actress JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, Kramer vs. Kramer) and Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele, The Story Lady). Two more actors are still to be announced. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse andHazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights as well as a dessert reception. Directed by Jenny Sullivan, Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Together with their wives, who went on to develop Al-Anon Family Groups, their discoveries have touched and saved countless lives since the program's inception. The reading will take place on Monday, June 27 at 8pm.

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Geffen Playhouse Board Member, Cynthia Stafford, will host the 1st Annual Cynthia Stafford's 'Gifted Day at the Geffen' at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15th at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Calif. Stafford is teaming up with Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, an initiative of the Mayor's Office, and the Geffen Playhouse to host 250 students for a day of theater education.

Award-winning actor Martin Sheen will appear for one-night only as part of a reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and Hazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights and a dessert reception.

Next season the Geffen Playhouse is introducing Angelenos to acclaimed new works - including the previously announced Red Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins featuring Kathleen Turner, Pulitzer Prize nominee The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz and Tony Award nominee Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts - as well as introducing the theater community at large to three world premieres - including a stage adaptation of The Exorcist by Edgar Award winner John Pielmeier (Agnes of God), The Jacksonian, a new work by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley, and Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie, the playwriting debut of actor Alan Alda. In addition to the acclaimed playwrights represented this season, the Geffen Playhouse is welcoming internationally lauded directors to helm these works including Tony Award winners John Doyle and Robert Falls.

Gary Cole and Edi Gathegi lead the cast of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts at the Geffen Playhouse. Cole and Gathegi are joined by a formidable ensemble cast who take on the eclectic personalities of the Chicago neighborhood in which the play is set. The full cast includes Mary Beth Fisher, whose stage credits include Extremities and Boy Gets Girl, Kathryn Joosten, best known for her characters on television's Desperate Housewives and The West Wing as well as Brian Abraham, Ron Bottitta, Paul Dillon, Damon Gupton and Matt McTighe. For complete cast biographies, please view the following pages.

Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins starring two-time Tony and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner is the first production announced as part of the Geffen Playhouse's 2011/2012 season.

Broadway veteran Kevin Anderson leads the cast in the Los Angeles run of world premiere production of Neil LaBute's The Break of Noon. The Break of Noon, which is a co-production with MCC in New York, will feature Catherine Dent as well as Tracee Chimo and John Earl Jelks, who performed their roles in the New York portion of the run. Helmed by director Jo Bonney, The Break of Noon begins in previews on January 25, 2011 and officially opens February 2, 2011.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that their world premiere production of The Break of Noon, by Neil LaBute, has been extended through December 22, 2010 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet, under the direction of Jo Bonney. An official opening night is set for this Monday, November 22, 2010. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director).

This winter, the Geffen Playhouse is doing its part to spread contagious holiday cheer by presenting Neil Berg's critically acclaimed musical revue Broadway Holiday.

Broadway veteran Kevin Anderson leads the cast in the Los Angeles run of world premiere production of Neil LaBute's The Break of Noon. The Break of Noon, which is a co-production with MCC in New York, will feature Catherine Dent as well as Tracee Chimo and John Earl Jelks, who performed their roles in the New York portion of the run. Helmed by director Jo Bonney, The Break of Noon begins in previews on January 25, 2011 and officially opens February 2, 2011.

Following a successful extended run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore and the upcoming performances of Dick Van Dyke - Step in Time! - A Musical Memoir, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes two more productions this season into its intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater: In Mother Words, a moving collection of stories on the universal subject of motherhood by award-winning contemporary playwrights, and Extraordinary Chambers, a world premiere by David Wiener about the consequences of a couple's trip to Cambodia.

The NEW YEAR'S SWING TIME concert features South Florida entertainer, Missy McArdle, backed by Glen Rovinelli's ten-piece orchestra, performing standard classics from the American Songbook. The concert includes music that spans the generations from World War II on, including favorites from Rosemary Clooney, and a selection of songs that will set the tone for a festive New Year's celebration.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that their world premiere production of The Break of Noon, by Neil LaBute, has been extended through December 22, 2010 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet, under the direction of Jo Bonney. An official opening night is set for this Monday, November 22, 2010. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director).

The Geffen Playhouse will open its new Kinross Annex on Saturday, November 6 at 2pm. The performance space will be the new home of the Story Pirates, Geffen's partner in arts and literacy organization. For additional information, visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Tracee Chimo (Circle Mirror Transformation) and Tony Award-Nominee John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf) have joined the cast of the world premiere of The Break of Noon by Neil LaBute.

This winter, the Geffen Playhouse is doing its part to spread contagious holiday cheer by presenting Neil Berg's critically acclaimed musical revue Broadway Holiday.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Tracee Chimo (Circle Mirror Transformation) and Tony Award-Nominee John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf) have joined the cast of the world premiere of The Break of Noon by Neil LaBute.

Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore attracts a whole new cast of actresses as it continues its Los Angeles run in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse through the month of September.