Geffen Playhouse Opens ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, 9/7

Original cast members Usman Ally (VP), Terence Archie (Chad Deity) and Desmin Borges (Mace) get back in the ring to reprise their roles in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at the
Geffen Playhouse where they're joined by character actor Steve Valentine in the role of EKO (one more actor remains to be announced). Written by Kristoffer Diaz, this Pulitzer Prize finalist slams together thrilling spectacle, incredible characters and geopolitical allegory into an invigorating theatrical experience you can't find on pay-perview.

A smack-down of a play, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity tackles racism, drop-kicks globalization and brings this championship tale onto center stage when it opens in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse today, September 7, 2011.

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity had its world premiere in 2009 at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago before moving to Second Stage in New York. Both productions were directed by Edward Torres, who will also be helming the Geffen Playhouse production. This West Coast premiere will allow both playwright and director to delve deeper into this still new work, which has already been lauded with the 2011 New York Times Play Prize, the Obie Award for Best New American Play and the Lucille Lortel Award for Best New Play.

Special events during the run of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity 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/meetchad.

Ticket prices currently range from $37 - $57 for preview performances and from $47 - $77 for the regular run. Contact the Geffen Playhouse box office in-person, via phone at 310-208-5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com for updated pricing and seating availability.

The Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and musicals, the Geffen Playhouse continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition.

Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the company is helmed by Producing Director and President of the Board Gilbert Cates, Artistic Director Randall Arney, Managing Director Ken Novice and Chairman of the Board Frank Mancuso. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts. For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.com.

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