Val Kilmer's CITIZEN TWAIN Comes to Culver City, 6/28-7/14

Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of yet another legendary figure: Mark Twain. Kilmer continues to develop Citizen Twain, a solo show about the man considered to be the world's greatest storyteller, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, June 28 to July 14 for a limited three-week engagement, followed by this fall by performances in London's West End.

For tickets and information for Citizen Twain please visit www.valkilmer.com. Tickets are also on sale by phone at 213-972-4488 and in person at the Center Theatre Group box office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles) or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office two hours prior to performances.

This theatrical presentation uniquely explores Clemens' journey to acceptance, forgiveness, and enlightenment through the scope of his writings, and the self-reflection and engagement inspired by his relationship with Mary Baker Eddy. Eddy's writings, late in Clemens' life, served as a catalyst to his aspirations and seeking of his best self.

This play, as written by Kilmer, illuminates the depth of Mark Twain's fiction and regards it as a striving for divine truth, an entirely overlooked dimension of his yearning. Kilmer's hilarious, raucous portrayal of Twain, positions the character as a reluctant, recalcitrant, and downright defiant prophet whose undeniable skills as a story-teller and wordsmith compels the Almighty to call upon Twain to deliver a Sermon on Love, to help us through our daily challenges.

Kilmer's Twain aggressively attempts to escape the responsibility of the Almighty's calling, only to find himself thwarted at every turn by divine interventions that range from slapstick to sublime. Not even Mark Twain, it seems, can avoid his eternal fate.

Kilmer already workshopped the piece at various venues last spring including the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge, CA and the Wyly Theatre in Dallas, among others.

"It's a unique experiment," explains Kilmer. "We're developing Citizen Twain without the benefit of a home theater, which is a challenge, so we're going to where the audiences are. Mark Twain traveled the world sharing his love of America and humanity, and part of discovering Twain is to do that with this show."

Exploring the famed author's wry humor - from politics to death, love, money, watermelons, God, racism and cats - Kilmer channels the wit and wisdom of the man considered to be the world's greatest storyteller and the first stand-up comedian. Twain was a raconteur, and Kilmer presents his show in the style of a conversation.

"Mark Twain was the first person who talked the way we do," Kilmer says. "Citizen Twain is a lively exchange with the audience, so my performance is fluid and somewhat free-form. That's part of the fun. It's a comedy and a character study."

Kilmer's fascination with Mark Twain began while doing research for a possible film project. Famous for his fierce commitment to fully explore and inhabit every character he plays, Kilmer soon realized that "the only way to understand Twain is when he's on his feet and talking." He began experimenting last year, offering workshop performances around the L.A. area including at the Actors' Gang, Disney Concert Hall, United States Veterans Artists' Alliance Hall, the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and Shakespeare Center LA.

Every performance of Citizen Twain concludes with an audience talk-back while the actor has his extensive make-up removed in full view, and select tickets also include a backstage meet and greet with the actor.

"It's an exciting performance with many layers," says filmmaker Leo Scott, who is creating a documentary about the evolution of Citizen Twain. "I'm fascinated by Val's process. The film is about how an actor goes about creating a role, completely transforming himself, and the extreme dedication that requires."

Val Kilmer graduated from Julliard, where, when he was 17, he was the youngest actor ever accepted to the Drama Division. Ranked as one of the "Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time," Val burst onto the Hollywood scene at age 24 as rock star Nick Rivers in the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker spy spoof, Top Secret. He starred in the cult classic Real Genius, then rocketed to international stardom playing the "Iceman" in Top Gun opposite Tom Cruise; rock legend Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors; and Doc Holliday in Tombstone.

Other memorable roles include the title role in Batman Forever and Simon Templar in The Saint.He headlined Michael Mann's classic crime drama Heat with legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, transformed into Elvis Presley for Tony Scott's True Romance and costarred with Marlon Brando in The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Recent work includes David Mamet's Spartan as a career military officer; Ric Roman Waugh'sFelon, with Stephen Dorff; the action thriller Déjà vu; Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang, written and directed by Shane Black and co-starring Robert Downey, Jr.; Millennium's Bad Lieutenant, directed by Werner Herzog; Streets of Blood, with Sharon Stone and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson; and Francis Ford Coppola's Twixt.

An accomplished stage actor, he made his Broadway debut in the 1983 production of Slab Boyswith Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon. He appeared in Joseph Papp's Delacorte Theatre productions ofHenry IV: Part One; As You Like It; Hamlet (in the title role); and 'Tis Pity She's A Whore. He starred in the Max Azria produced musical The Ten Commandments as Moses at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles. In 2005, he starred on London's West End in Andrew Rattenbury's stage adaptation of The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Concludes the actor, "Twain represented Americans in our entirety. He was friends with presidents, and with former slaves. All of us are celebrated in his life and his work."

For updates on Citizen Twain, including additional venues, performance schedules and how to purchase tickets, visit www.valkilmer.com and click on "Citizen Twain."

The Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City is the newest and most intimate of Center Theatre Group's family of theatres. The 317-seat venue, located in a newly renovated historic theatre at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City opened in October 2004. Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has selected a wide range of productions, including co-productions with other Los Angeles theatre companies, special events, world premieres of new plays and musicals.