The Geffen Playhouse News

Ed Harris, Bill Pullman, Amy Madigan and Glenne Headly are checking into The Jacksonian, Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley's eerie world-premiere set in a seedy motel in Jackson, Mississippi circa 1964. Ed Harris, a four-time Oscar nominee and Broadway vet who recently appeared at the Geffen Playhouse in Wrecks, is Bill Perch, a dentist with ambiguous morality who goes to The Jacksonian to bury his secrets. Estranged from his wife, played by Amy Madigan (Broadway's Streetcar Named Desire and Oscar nominee for Twice in a Life Time), Perch makes his new home in the motel's unsettling world where the subversive becomes commonplace and the passage of time becomes hauntingly unpredictable. As the Perch's lives become intertwined with the inhabitants of the motel - proprietor Fred Weber played by Bill Pullman (most recently seen on Broadway in Oleanna and on-screen in HBO's Too Big to Fail) and bar tender Glenne Headly (most recognizable for her big-screen role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and recently seen at the Geffen Playhouse in Love, Loss, and What I Wore) - the audience is taken on a surreal trip that is rife with disturbingly dark humor. Helmed by Tony Award winner and Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls, The Jacksonian opens in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on February 8, 2012.

Award-winning actor Martin Sheen, set to star in a one-night only reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob, will be sharing the stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: Emmy Award nominee Ed Begley Jr. (Spinal Tap, St. Elsewhere), veteran stage and screen actress JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, Kramer vs. Kramer) and Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele, The Story Lady). Two more actors are still to be announced. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse andHazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights as well as a dessert reception. Directed by Jenny Sullivan, Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Together with their wives, who went on to develop Al-Anon Family Groups, their discoveries have touched and saved countless lives since the program's inception. The reading will take place on Monday, June 27 at 8pm.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) is heralded for sprinkling a very gritty situation with crisply funny dialogue and peppering it all with an unexpected twist or two. Prepare to be moved, entertained, exhilarated and maybe a little frightened with his West coast premiere of Superior Donuts now @ the Geffen Playhouse. Like a fine confection, the play is diligently prepared, ardently packaged, and turns out, in every way, superior.

Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Geffen Playhouse Board Member, Cynthia Stafford, will host the 1st Annual Cynthia Stafford's 'Gifted Day at the Geffen' at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15th at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Calif. Stafford is teaming up with Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, an initiative of the Mayor's Office, and the Geffen Playhouse to host 250 students for a day of theater education.

Philadelphia Theatre Company concludes its 35th Anniversary Mainstage Season with the Philadelphia premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage, running May 20 through June 12, 2011 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

Award-winning actor Martin Sheen will appear for one-night only as part of a reading of Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey's record-breaking play Bill W. and Dr. Bob. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and Hazelden- a non-profit leader in addiction treatment for more than 60 years - the evening will feature a reading of the play, a post-show discussion with the cast and playwrights and a dessert reception.

Next season the Geffen Playhouse is introducing Angelenos to acclaimed new works - including the previously announced Red Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins featuring Kathleen Turner, Pulitzer Prize nominee The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz and Tony Award nominee Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts - as well as introducing the theater community at large to three world premieres - including a stage adaptation of The Exorcist by Edgar Award winner John Pielmeier (Agnes of God), The Jacksonian, a new work by Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley, and Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie, the playwriting debut of actor Alan Alda. In addition to the acclaimed playwrights represented this season, the Geffen Playhouse is welcoming internationally lauded directors to helm these works including Tony Award winners John Doyle and Robert Falls.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the play '110 Stories' will be performed by an illustrious cast in NY this September to benefit a related charity. Participating artists include Alec Baldwin, Matt Dillon, Edie Falco, Sam Shepard, James Gandolfini, Patricia Clarkson, Kathleen Turner, Angela Bassett, John Turturro, Andre Braugher, Josh Lucas, John Hawkes, Michael Shannon, Stelio Savante, Daniel Sunjata, and Michael Stuhlbarg, all schedule permitting.

Philadelphia Theatre Company concludes its 35th Anniversary Mainstage Season with the Philadelphia premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage, running May 20 through June 12, 2011 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

Gary Cole and Edi Gathegi lead the cast of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts at the Geffen Playhouse. Cole and Gathegi are joined by a formidable ensemble cast who take on the eclectic personalities of the Chicago neighborhood in which the play is set. The full cast includes Mary Beth Fisher, whose stage credits include Extremities and Boy Gets Girl, Kathryn Joosten, best known for her characters on television's Desperate Housewives and The West Wing as well as Brian Abraham, Ron Bottitta, Paul Dillon, Damon Gupton and Matt McTighe. For complete cast biographies, please view the following pages.

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.

Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins starring two-time Tony and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner is the first production announced as part of the Geffen Playhouse's 2011/2012 season.

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 Geffen Playhouse's Backstage at the Geffen annual fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising funds for the Geffen Playhouse's education programs, will honor Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Barry Meyer. The event, which will be co-chaired by Alan & Cindy Horn and John & Marilyn Wells will be held March 22, 2010 at the Geffen Playhouse.

Gary Cole and Edi Gathegi lead the cast of the West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts at the Geffen Playhouse. Cole, a Steppenwolf ensemble member who is well-recognized from cult comedy classics such as Office Space and Pineapple Express, plays Arthur Przybyszewski, the proprietor of Superior Donuts, a sweets shop that has been a community hub for decades - and both the neglected storefront and its rundown owner are evidence to that.

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.

The Geffen Playhouse's Backstage at the Geffen annual fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising funds for the Geffen Playhouse's education programs, will honor Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Barry Meyer. The event, which will be co-chaired by Alan & Cindy Horn and John & Marilyn Wells will be held March 22, 2010 at the Geffen Playhouse.

'Not very Christlike!' responds TV talk show hostess Jenny (Tracy Chimo) in Neil LaBute's The Break of Noon now receiving its West coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse through March 6. LaBute is known for his abrasive, edgy, in-your-face material that is simultaneously irreverent and thought provoking. This West coast production under Jo Bonney's fine direction will have people facebooking and twittering