In her second commission for the Geffen Playhouse, Jane Anderson combines the two oldest professions: theater and prostitution. The Escort follows the relationship between Charlotte, a high-class call girl played by Maggie Siff (Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy) and Rhona, her upper West side female gynecologist, played by Polly Draper (thirtysomething, Broadway's Closer). James Eckhouse (CTG's The Goat, Beverly Hills 90210) doubles as Rhona's self-righteous liberal ex-husband and one of Charlotte's johns, and LAtheater newcomer Gabriel Sunday (My Suicide, Taking Woodstock) doubles as Rhona's manipulative teenage son and a seductive male escort. Helmed by Lisa Peterson, The Escort opens at the Geffen Playhouse on April 6 and runs through May 8.
The New York Times reports today that following his stint in DRIVING MISS DAISY, James Earl Jones will be hanging around Broadway a bit longer, assuming the role of Arthur Hockstader in the revival of Gore Vidal's 'The Best Man.' The production is scheduled to open in the spring of 2012. Orphan's Home Cycle director Michael Wilson will helm the revival. The plot centers around chief executive Hockstader trying to decide which presidental nominees to support: William Russell and Joe Cantwell.
In her second commission for the Geffen Playhouse, Jane Anderson combines the two oldest professions: theater and prostitution. The Escort follows the relationship between Charlotte, a high-class call girl played by Maggie Siff (Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy) and Rhona, her upper West side female gynecologist, played by Polly Draper (thirtysomething, Broadway's Closer). James Eckhouse (CTG's The Goat,
Beverly Hills 90210) doubles as Rhona's self-righteous liberal ex-husband and one of Charlotte's johns, and LAtheater
newcomer Gabriel Sunday (My Suicide, Taking Woodstock) doubles as Rhona's manipulative teenage son
and a seductive male escort. Helmed by Lisa Peterson, The Escort opens at the Geffen Playhouse on April 6 and
runs through May 8.
"The last play I wrote for the Geffen was about cancer, fire, suicide and death; so I thought I'd give us all a break this
time and write about sex," said playwright Jane Anderson. "Audiences shouldn't expect from me some bawdy farce
filled with a lot of slamming of bedroom doors, but what I hope to do is to give them a great roller coaster ride where
they swing between asking 'why not?' to saying 'enough is enough is enough.'
The Escort is the Geffen Playhouse's second commission from Emmy Award winning playwright Jane Anderson. Her
first, The Quality of Life, premiered in the Audrey Skirball Theater at the Geffen Playhouse in 2007 and was honored
with numerous awards including both an LADCC and Ovation Award for Best New Play before moving on to
subsequent productions around the country.
Opening night festivities for The Escort, which are sponsored by Los Angeles magazine, will be celebrated at Napa
Valley Grille with Chef Joseph Gillard's seasonal specialties, complete with wine by Malibu Family Wines and a
specialty drink courtesy of Krol Vodka. Other festivities during the run of The Escort include the theater's special
Signature Series options for no additional cost. Special 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/signatureseries.
Michael Wilson will direct the Vineyard Theatre's world-premiere of Christopher Shinn's play PICKED, set to begin previews April 5 prior to an official opening night April 20 at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, the company's artistic director.
The Falcon Theatre presents the hit one-woman show TEA AT FIVE, written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Jenny Sullivan, the second production in its 2010-2011 Subscription Season. This gracefully funny and heartwarming tale stars Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele) as legendary actress Katharine Hepburn.
It Had To Be You, the classic Broadway comedy by Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna, will be at the New End Theatre from Tuesday 23 November for a five-week season to Friday 24 December 2010.
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the full company of The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, by Tennessee Williams, directed by Michael Wilson. The cast will include Curtis Billings (Giulio), Elisa Bocanegra (Simonetta), Olympia Dukakis (Flora Goforth), Edward Hibbert (Witch of Capri), Maggie Lacey (Frances Black), Darren Pettie (Christopher Flanders).
The Geffen Playhouse will open its new Kinross Annex on Saturday, November 6 at 2pm. The performance space will be the new home of the Story Pirates, Geffen's partner in arts and literacy organization. For additional information, visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.
The Falcon Theatre presents the hit one-woman show TEA AT FIVE, written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Jenny Sullivan, the second production in its 2010-2011 Subscription Season. This gracefully funny and heartwarming tale stars Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele) as legendary actress Katharine Hepburn.
Producer Daryl Roth announces that following a sold out developmental run last spring, THE DIVINE SISTER, the new comedy written by and starring Charles Busch, directed by Carl Andress, will transfer to the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) featuring the entire original company: Alison Fraser, Amy Rutberg, Jennifer Van Dyck, Jonathan Walker, and Julie Halston.
The Falcon Theatre presents the hit one-woman show TEA AT FIVE, written by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Jenny Sullivan, the second production in its 2010-2011 Subscription Season. This gracefully funny and heartwarming tale stars Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele) as legendary actress Katharine Hepburn.
Producer Daryl Roth announces that following a sold out developmental run last spring, THE DIVINE SISTER, the new comedy written by and starring Charles Busch, directed by Carl Andress, will transfer to the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) featuring the entire original company: Alison Fraser, Amy Rutberg, Jennifer Van Dyck, Jonathan Walker, and Julie Halston.
GLEE's Jane Lynch has been announced as the recipient of the 14th Annual Achievement Award from from Outfest. The award, Outfest's most prestigious honor, is given each year to an individual who has contributed significantly to LGBT film and media. Lynch will receive the honor on July 8 at a screening at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. She will be among the company of previous winners Don Roos, Jane Anderson, Gregg Araki and Rob Epstein.
The New York Times reports today that Hartford Stage Artistic Director Michale Wilson will be stepping down from his poast after 12 years in the position. Wilson is departing in the hopes, he tells the New York Times, of being 'more fully in the rehearsal hall.'
Wendy C. Goldberg, Artistic Director of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference, today announced the seven directors for plays previously selected for its 46th season.
Join Maurice Hines and cast members of Arena Stage's Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies for the 18th Annual Arena Stage Benefit for Community Engagement: Swingin' with Sophisticated Ladies, Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Lincoln Theatre.
