Sheen Talks Return to THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES to Los Angeles Times

In a story in the Los Angeles Times, veteran actor Martin Sheen is profiled for his current work in the Center Theatre Group production of 'The Subject Was Roses' helmed by Neil Pepe and currently in previews at the Mark Taper Theatre in Los Angeles. The play is familiar territory for Sheen who, 46 years ago, acted in the production during its run on Broadway when at the time Sheen played the role of the son; he is now playing the father. 

For his role in the 1964 production of 'The Subject was Roses' Sheen garnered a Tony Award nomination. "That play changed my life so thoroughly," Sheen tells the L.A. Times. "It was the first success I had, and the only Broadway success I ever had. It gave me such confidence. An actor needs some measure of success. It was the first confirmation of my talent and my possibilities. I was 24." 

Looking back on the origins of his artistic career, Sheen speaks of the limited opportunities that existed. "When we did this play in '64 in New York, there were a limited number of venues -- the three networks, soap operas, commercials, off Broadway, summer stock, Broadway," Sheen says. "And then Hollywood, which was a completely different animal. Maybe people didn't want to admit it who were pursuing careers in the theater but we all wanted to be movie stars, you know," he laughs, "where you could have your cake and eat it too -- become known and then come back and do Broadway.

To read the rest of the story in the Los Angeles Times, click here.

Martin Sheen is returning to the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that brought him a Tony Award nomination in 1964, and join with Frances Conroy and Brian Geraghty in "The Subject Was Roses" by Frank D. Gilroy. Previews begin today.

"The Subject Was Roses" replaces the previously announced "Speed-the-Plow" by David Mamet as the first production in the Taper's 2010 season at the Los Angeles Music Center, February 10 through March 21, 2010. Opening is set for February 21.

Neil Pepe is directing "The Subject Was Roses," the heartfelt and honest depiction of a father, mother and son whose complex and strained family dynamic becomes sadly clear after the son returns from a three-year stint in the army.

Martin Sheen portrayed the son in the original Broadway production and he also appeared in the 1968 film version; he will play the father in the Taper production, with Frances Conroy playing the mother and Brian Geraghty playing the son.

"The Subject Was Roses" is presented at the Taper in association with Estevez Sheen Productions.

In 1965, "The Subject Was Roses" received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play, as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

"Martin and I had been talking for some time about doing ‘The Subject Was Roses,' and when it appeared that the timing for the production was perfect for the opening slot in the new Taper season, I was pleased that we could move quickly," said Ritchie. "Set in 1946 during World War II, this is a timeless, important play with characters so rich and believable that your heart goes out to them, wishing they could break out of old family patterns. These are people we can all identify with. It makes for compelling theatre."

"The Subject Was Roses" has sets designed by Walt Spangler, costumes by Laura Bauer and lighting by Rui Rita. The composer is Obadiah Eaves and Cricket S. Myers is the sound designer. David S. Franklin is the production stage manager.

Martin Sheen is perhaps best known for his performance as President Josiah Bartlett in the acclaimed NBC-TV series "The West Wing," a role for which he won six Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor, and for the role of Captain Willard in the legendary film "Apocalypse Now." He has worked for some of the most prominent directors including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Oliver Stone, Richard Attenborough, Terrence Malick and Mike Nichols. His films include "Catch-22," "That Certain Summer," "Badlands," "The Execution of Private Slovik," "Gandhi," "Wall Street," "JFK," "The American President," "The Departed," "Bobby" and "Catch Me If You Can," among many others.

Frances Conroy, whose role as the undertaker's widow in the cult HBO series "Six Feet Under" brought her three Emmy Award nominations, is a veteran stage actress whose Broadway credits include Arthur Miller's "The Ride Down Mr. Morgan" (Tony Award nomination and an Outer Critics Circle Award), Miller's "The Last Yankee" (Obie Award), Edward Albee's "The Lady From Dubuque" and "Three Tall Women," and David Hare's "The Secret Rapture" (Drama Desk nomination). For CTG, she has appeared in "The Dinner Party" at the Taper and "Pyrenees" at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Her numerous films include "Manhattan," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "The Aviator," "Scent of a Woman," and the upcoming John Curran's "Stone" playing Robert DeNiro's wife and Shane Dax Taylor's "Provinces of Night" playing Kris Kristofferson's wife.

Brian Geraghty starred in the critically-acclaimed film "The Hurt Locker" and also has had roles in "Love Lies Bleeding," "We Are Marshall," "The Guardian," "Bobby" and "When a Stranger Calls," among others. A graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse of Theatre in New York, Geraghty has also appeared on television in HBO's "The Last of the Ninth" and "The Sopranos," and on "Ed" and "Law & Order."

Playwright Frank D. Gilroy, after serving in World War II and receiving his education at Dartmouth and the Yale School of Drama, began writing for television for such programs as "Playhouse 90," "Studio One" and "The U.S. Steel Hour," among others. His first stage play, "Who'll Save the Plowboy?" at New York's Phoenix Theatre, received the Obie Award for the Best American Play off-Broadway. "The Subject Was Roses" was next, followed by his other Broadway plays - "That Summer - That Fall," "The Only Game in Town," "Last Licks" and "Any Given Day." His films include "Desperate Characters," "From Noon Till Three" and "Once in Paris," among others.

Neil Pepe, known to CTG audiences for his direction of David Mamet's "Romance" (Taper) and "Keep Your Pantheon" and "The Duck Variations" (Kirk Douglas Theatre), is the Artistic Director of the Atlantic Theater Company, where he directed Ethan Coen's "Almost an Evening," David Mamet's "American Buffalo" starring William H. Macy (also Donmar Warehouse, London), Harold Pinter's "Celebration and The Room," "Milos" by John Guare," Tom Donaghy's "The Beginning of August" (also South Coast Repertory) and Howard Korder's "Sea of Tranquility," among many others. He made his Broadway debut last season with the hit revival of Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow."

Tickets for "The Subject Was Roses" can be purchased by calling CTG Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or in person at the CTG box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center.