The Geffen Playhouse has announced the cast lineup for their first produced play in the theater's new commission program, The Quality of Life, which will star Laurie Metcalf, Scott Bakula, Dennis Boutsikaris and JoBeth Williams and begins previews October 2, 2007 and opens October 10. The production is written and directed by Emmy Award-winning writer Jane Anderson and is described as a four-character drama revolving around two couples exploring morality, religion, politics and what determines the value of a life.
The first production to appear in the playhouse's intimate Audrey Kenis Skirball theater this season, The Quality of Life was written for a space in which the audience would feel immersed in the action on stage. Without a traditional proscenium, the Audrey enables the audience to be enveloped into the play's literally burnt-out world, which is set in the aftermath of an all-consuming residential wildfire. Anderson, who is also directing the production, plans to use the space to reinforce not only the inter-character relationships, but also the relationship between characters and the audience, both of which are integral to this work. "There's a terrible rift in this country between the far right and the far left," said writer/director Anderson. "One of the things I hope to achieve with The Quality of Life is to help the audience recognize that in the face of this dichotomy of ideals, there's the possibility of finding a common human connection."Top Photo of Laurie Metcalf by Michael Lamont. Bottom Photo of Scott Bakula.
Videos