L.A. Theatre Works Sets All-Star Cast for Docudrama THE TUG OF WAR

An all-star cast is set for world premiere docudrama THE TUG OF WAR by David Rambo, an L.A. Theatre Works-commissioned work that explores decision-making by a president in crisis. The production will run for five performances only, May 25-28, at UCLA's James Bridges Theater.

With the world on the brink of war, the judgment of an untested president is called into question. What kind of intellectual and emotional stamina does it take to make the right decision? As Soviet nuclear missiles move ever closer to Cuba, President John F. Kennedy must parse his inner circle's conflicting counsel to prevent nuclear annihilation.

This original L.A. Theatre Works commission by David Rambo (Empire, CSI) stars Matthew Arkin (Spaceman) as ambassador to the Soviet Union Llewellyn Thompson, Hugo Armstrong (Stitchers) as Lyndon B. Johnson, Seamus Dever (Castle) as Robert McNamara, James Morrison (24) as CIA director John McCone, David Selby (Falcon Crest, Dark Shadows) as Dean Rusk and John Vickery (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Babylon 5) as Nikita Khruschev.

L.A. Theatre Works' syndicated radio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S. (locally, in Southern California, on KPFK 90.7 FM); can be heard daily in China and around the world on the Radio Beijing Network; can be downloaded as a podcast via iTunes and Wondery.com; and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org.

IF YOU GO:

THE TUG OF WAR
• Written by David Rambo
• Directed by Brian Kite
• Starring Matthew Arkin, Hugo Armstrong, Seamus Dever, James Morrison, David Selby and John Vickery
• Produced by Susan A. Loewenberg
• Presented by L.A. Theatre works

WHEN:
• Thursday, May 25 at 8 p.m.
• Friday, May 26 at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, May 27 at 3 p.m.
• Saturday, May 27 at 8 p.m.
• Sunday, May 28 at 4 p.m.

WHERE:
James Bridges Theater
UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
235 Charles E. Young Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(enter UCLA from Hilgard just south of Sunset Blvd.; park in Lot 3 on the lower level)

TICKETS:
$15-$60

HOW:
310-827-0889 or www.latw.org

Pictured: Hugo Armstrong. Photo by Joshua Arvizo.