The Geffen Playhouse News

In Mother Words, an audacious collection of stories by some of theater's most talented contemporary playwrights, makes its West Coast debut with award-winning actors Jane Kaczmarek, Saidah Arrika Ekulona and James Lecesne. Conceived Susan Rose and Joan Stein and helmed by acclaimed director Lisa Peterson, this hilarious night of theater includes works by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley, Pulitzer Prize nominee Lisa Loomer, two-time Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award finalist Michele Lowe, Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck, best-selling author Luanne Rice, as well as Leslie Ayvazian, David Cale, Jessica, Lameece Isaaq, Marco Pennette, Lisa Ramirez, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West. These Goldberg playwrights' combined stories give voice to mothers and children of all ages, races and even sexes - resulting in an eye-opening, poignant and irresistible evening, which opens in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on February 23, 2011.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that their world premiere production of The Break of Noon, by Neil LaBute, has been extended through December 22, 2010 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet, under the direction of Jo Bonney. An official opening night is set for this Monday, November 22, 2010. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director).

This winter, the Geffen Playhouse is doing its part to spread contagious holiday cheer by presenting Neil Berg's critically acclaimed musical revue Broadway Holiday.

Due to an achilles injury, Dick Van Dyke will be unable to perform in his upcoming show Dick Van Dyke - Step in Time! - A Musical Memoir at the Geffen Playhouse. Van Dyke shared, 'I very much wish that circumstances allowed me to share my stories at the Geffen this winter. Unfortunately, this injury is forcing me to be off my feet for a while. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to revisit this sometime in the future, but in the meantime, I thank everyone for their understanding and support.'

Following a successful extended run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore and the upcoming performances of Dick Van Dyke - Step in Time! - A Musical Memoir, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes two more productions this season into its intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater: In Mother Words, a moving collection of stories on the universal subject of motherhood by award-winning contemporary playwrights, and Extraordinary Chambers, a world premiere by David Wiener about the consequences of a couple's trip to Cambodia.

Legendary stage, film and television star Dick Van Dyke brings Step In Time! A Musical Memoir to the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theatre @ the Geffen Playhouse opening December 16. He has much to say in our interview about his career and the people he's worked with.

The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet, under the direction of Jo Bonney. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director). The official opening night was Monday, November 22, 2010 and BroadwayWorld.com was there!

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that their world premiere production of The Break of Noon, by Neil LaBute, has been extended through December 22, 2010 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The production features actors Tracee Chimo, David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks and Amanda Peet, under the direction of Jo Bonney. An official opening night is set for this Monday, November 22, 2010. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director).

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.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) present the world premiere of The Break of Noon by Neil LaBute starring David Duchovny, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo (Circle Mirror Transformation) and Tony Award-Nominee John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf). Performances began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on October 28, 2010 and continue through December 12, 2010. An official opening night is set for Monday, November 22, 2010. The Break of Noon is a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles (Gil Cates, Producing Director; Randall Arney, Artistic Director; Ken Novice, Managing Director).

Stage and screen icon Dick Van Dyke will appear onstage at the Geffen Playhouse in Dick Van Dyke - Step in Time! - A Musical Memoir, a world premiere production that highlights the artist's truly scrumptious six-decades in the entertainment industry. The play, which is co-written by Van Dyke and the play's director Joshua Ravetch, is a living autobiography pulling stories and songs from Van Dyke's celebrated career. To help bring the show to life with music, Van Dyke will be joined on stage by Eric Bradley, Bryan Chadima and Mike Mendyke - three young singers who together with Van Dyke form the singing quartet 'The Vantastix.' Step in Time, named for Richard and Robert Sherman's song and Van Dyke's signature dance number in Mary Poppins, will begin in the intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse with previews on December 8, 2010. The official opening is on December 16, 2010 and it will run through January 16, 2011.

This winter, the Geffen Playhouse is doing its part to spread contagious holiday cheer by presenting Neil Berg's critically acclaimed musical revue Broadway Holiday.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce full casting for the Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere production of Beau Willimon's SPIRIT CONTROL, directed by Henry Wishcamper (Graceland, Port Authority).

Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined, a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, opens at the Geffen Playhouse on September 15. Ruined, a co-production with Seattle's Intiman Theatre, is the most acclaimed play of 2009 garnering best play honors with a Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the inaugural Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play, in addition to the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Directed by Intiman Theatre Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey, who helmed the acclaimed original production, the company includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima), Cherise Boothe (Josephine), Russell G. Jones (Christian) and Condola Rashad (Sophie), all of whom originated their roles in the Goodman Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club world-premiere production, and Portia, who took over the leading role of Mama Nadi during the extended run in New York.

Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined, a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, opens at the Geffen Playhouse on September 15. Ruined, a co-production with Seattle's Intiman Theatre, is the most acclaimed play of 2009 garnering best play honors with a Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the inaugural Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play, in addition to the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Directed by Intiman Theatre Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey, who helmed the acclaimed original production, the company includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima), Cherise Boothe (Josephine), Russell G. Jones (Christian) and Condola Rashad (Sophie), all of whom originated their roles in the Goodman Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club world-premiere production, and Portia, who took over the leading role of Mama Nadi during the extended run in New York.

Amgen Oncology presents 'A Conversation with Mel Brooks,' a one-night special event benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, on Monday, September 27.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce full casting for the Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere production of Beau Willimon's SPIRIT CONTROL, directed by Henry Wishcamper (Graceland, Port Authority).

Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore attracts a whole new cast of actresses as it continues its Los Angeles run in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse through the month of September.

Entertainment legend Dick Van Dyke will bring his twinkling eyes and contagious energy to the Geffen Playhouse for a one-night only concert to benefit the theater's education programs and the non-profit Determined to Succeed.

Tony Award Winner, Emmy Award Winner and Oscar Nominee Laurence Fishburne transforms into Thurgood Marshall to tell the triumphant story of how a boy from the backstreets of Baltimore changed history. Written by George Stevens Jr and helmed by Leonard Foglia, Thurgood plays at the Geffen Playhouse from June 27 to August 8, 2010, with an opening night of July 7.