The Geffen Playhouse News

Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith created and star in the multi-award-winning Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara! onstage through Labor Day Weekend in the Skirball Theatre of the Geffen Playhouse. It all began in 2008 at the Sacred Fools Theatre, then moved to the Matrix last fall and now it is going into its 6th month at the Geffen.The two phenomenal - and very humble, I may add - talents took time out of their busy schedules to talk about the show.

On the cusp of their 100th toe-tapping performance in the Geffen Playhouse's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, the team behind the hit musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sarhara announce another five-week extension. The 100th performance, which occurs Saturday evening June 13, is a landmark show in a unanimously acclaimed run, which will now continue through Sunday, August 2, 2009.

Rounding out the final directorial slot for the Geffen Playhouse's 09/10 season, renowned director David Esbjornson (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?) comes on board to helm Bill Cain's Equivocation, which is set to open November 18, 2009. Equivocation, a witty historical fiction with Shakespeare asits protagonist, is the second production in the Geffen's season, directly following the world premiere of Blair Singer's uproarious satire Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas, which opens on September 16, 2009.

Now the cast of the award-winning show Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara has even more to sing about. The toe-tapping musical is announcing an unprecedented fourth extension and will run in the Geffen Playhouse's Audrey Skriball Kenis Theater through August 30, 2009. The extension comes on the heels of the news of the upcoming July 22 release of an audio CD featuring the music of Louis & Keely: Live at the Sarhara.

Farragut North written by Beau Willimon directed by Doug Hughes plays the Geffen Playhouse through July 26

In a repeated case of life imitating art (imitating life), the hit musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara announces a second extension due to audience demand. The play, which was first extended through the last week of May, will now be extended for an additional five weeks. With lauded reviews from the local media and a near sweep of the highest honor at every major Los Angeles theater awards ceremony - Best Musical at the Ovation Awards, Best Production at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Best Production at the Garland Awards and Musical of the Year at the LA Weekly Theater Awards - Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara is playing in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse until June 28, 2009.

The Geffen Playhouse rolls out the red (white and blue) carpet for the opening of Beau Willimon's political powerhouse play Farragut North at the Geffen Playhouse, running through July 26.

Beau Willimon's acclaimed new political play Farragut North officially opens tonight, June 24th at the Geffen Playhouse.

The Geffen Playhouse is postponing the previously announced production of Nightmare Alley, set to occupy the final slot in the theater's 08/09 season, and replacing it with Beau Willimon's acclaimed new political play Farragut North.

On the cusp of their 100th toe-tapping performance in the Geffen Playhouse's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, the team behind the hit musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sarhara announce another five-week extension. The 100th performance, which occurs Saturday evening June 13, is a landmark show in a unanimously acclaimed run, which will now continue through Sunday, August 2, 2009.

On the cusp of their 100th toe-tapping performance in the Geffen Playhouse's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, the team behind the hit musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sarhara announce another five-week extension. The 100th performance, which occurs Saturday evening June 13, is a landmark show in a unanimously acclaimed run, which will now continue through Sunday, August 2, 2009.

Ken Novice, the current managing director of the Pasadena Playhouse, will take on the role of Geffen Playhouse managing director effective June 1. Susan Barton, who assumed the interim role last June while the Geffen Playhouse conducted a search to fill the position, will work with Novice to ensure a smooth transition until Novice official takes on the title.

Similar to their namesake act that swept the strip in Vegas decades ago, Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in town. As such, the play, which was originally set to close on the last week of April, will now be extended for an additional four weeks. After lauded reviews from local media and a near sweep at the 2009 Garland Awards (production, playwriting, direction/musical direction, best actor/actress in a musical), Louis and Keely Live at the Sahara has added 24 performances after nearly selling out its previously announced run. The musical, which follows the life and love of Las Vegas? infamous onstage couple Louis Prima and Keely Smith, will run at the Audrey Skriball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse through May 24.

Producers Stephen Eich and Don Foster announced casting today for the world premiere of Mark Roberts? Rantoul and Die, A Romantic Comedy Wrapped in Razor Wire at The Lillian Theater (1076 Lillian Way) in Hollywood. The new play stars Paul Dillon (originated the title role in Tracy Letts? Killer Joe) as Gary, Cynthia Ettinger (Actors? Gang?s I am not a racist, but . . .) as Debbie, Rich Hutchman (Buzzworks Theatre Company?s Invasion of the Minnesota Normals) as Rallis and Lisa Rothschiller (Chicago?s Defiant Theatre Company?s Action Movie: The Play) as Callie. Two-time Tony award-nominee Erin Quigley (costume designs for The Grapes of Wrath and The Songs of Jacob Zulu) is set to direct. Preview performances begin May 14, 2009.

Fresh off his lauded New York production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

South Coast Repertory's 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will shine the spotlight on seven new plays written by America's finest writers. Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year's Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory's Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

In a repeated case of life imitating art (imitating life), the hit musical Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara announces a second extension due to audience demand. The play, which was first extended through the last week of May, will now be extended for an additional five weeks. With lauded reviews from the local media and a near sweep of the highest honor at every major Los Angeles theater awards ceremony - Best Musical at the Ovation Awards, Best Production at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Best Production at the Garland Awards and Musical of the Year at the LA Weekly Theater Awards - Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara is playing in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse until June 28, 2009.

Acclaimed television, stage and movie actor Neil Patrick Harris ('How I Met Your Mother,' Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and Assassins) has been named the host of the 7th Annual 'TV Land Awards,' it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. 'The TV Land Awards' will be taped on Sunday, April 19th at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and air in TV Land PRIME on Sunday, April 26th at 9pm ET/PT.

Kandis Chappell and Melanie Lora take on the celebrated roles of Professor Ruth Steiner and Lisa Morrison in Donald Margulies? Collected Stories at South Coast Repertory. Margulies? Pulitzer Prize-nominated play about two women writers at opposite stages of their careers is one of SCR?s best-known commissions and has achieved worldwide success. Directed by Artistic Director Martin Benson, Collected Stories will run from May 15 through June 14, 2009 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from May 15 through May 21. Opening night is May 22. Press night is Saturday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to Collected Stories may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

The Cleveland Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom announces the world premiere production of Thornton Wilder's novel Heaven's My Destination, adapted by award-winning playwright Lee Blessing. The play is the centerpiece of the fourth annual FusionFest, a multidisciplinary performing arts festival.