Contact: Sabrina Skacan

(310) 208-6500 x126 (DO NOT PUBLISH)

Sabrinas@geffenplayhouse.com

LOS ANGELES MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA AND TV HOST JON STEWART

IN CONVERSATION AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006 AT 8 PM

One-Night Only Benefit Event Supports the Geffen Playhouse’s Capital Campaign which Ensures the Artistic Future of the Theater Company

LOS ANGELES, October 2, 2006 — Producing Director Gilbert Cates announced today the addition of a one-night only special event at the Geffen Playhouse on Friday, November 17, 2006 at 8 p.m. The special evening – which benefits the Geffen Playhouse’s Capital Campaign – features a conversation between Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and comedian Jon Stewart plus an “open mic” opportunity for guests to direct their questions straight to these notable personalities.

“We’re always exploring exciting ways to entertain and engage our audiences and our community. It’s a special evening all around with the added bonus of aiding the Geffen Playhouse in our Capital Campaign,” exclaims Gil Cates. “This Campaign provides us with a state of the art facility providing the highest level of creative possibilities for both our artists and audience.”

Tax-deductible single tickets ($250-500) for A Conversation with Jon Stewart and Mayor Villaraigosa are now on sale at the Geffen Playhouse box office and via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454. Tickets to a VIP pre-show cocktail reception (additional $500 per guest) with the Mayor and Mr. Stewart as well as other special donor packages are available by calling 310-208-6500 x 136.

Proceeds benefit the Geffen Playhouse $19 million Capital Campaign created for the acclaimed renovation and expansion project to the historic building, which was completed last year; $3.2 million of the Campaign remains to be raised. The originally scheduled performance of Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking for November 17, 2006 has been cancelled due to this special event.

Antonio R. Villaraigosa is the 41st mayor of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa is known for his exceptional skill at building broad bi-partisan coalitions and is considered one of the leading progressive voices in the country. His mayoral platform emphasizes finding solutions to the major issues facing Los Angeles including education, transportation, public safety, economic development and ethics. In 1994, Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly; four years later, his colleagues elected him the first Assembly Speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years. While Speaker, Villaraigosa oversaw passage of landmark state legislation including the modernization of public schools, the toughest assault weapons ban in the country, the largest urban neighborhoods parks initiative in America, and the “Healthy Families” program that provides healthcare for over a half a million California children. He ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 and narrowly lost the election. He then was appointed a distinguished fellow at UCLA and USC, where he helped write “After Sprawl” a policy blueprint for addressing the issues facing many urban centers. In 2003, he won the 14th District Los Angeles City Council Seat. During his tenure on the City Council, he championed many of the issues he is addressing today as Mayor and is widely credited with resolving the MTA transit strike, creating the largest passive park on the Eastside and Los Angeles, and protecting funding for the Arts.

A New Jersey native, Jon Stewart is considered one of America's top social and comedic voices. From his anchor chair of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," he "has breathed new life into a show that hadn't even seemed to need it," said The New York Times. Since taking over as the anchorman of "The Daily Show" in January 1999, Stewart's presence has seen higher ratings and awareness for himself and Comedy Central. With an election year, Stewart and "The Daily Show" were poised to lead the way to the White House as the torchbearers of Comedy Central's "Indecision 2000" election coverage. "Indecision 2000" covered all the events from the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primary straight through the National Conventions and culminated on Election Night with a one-hour special. Prior to "The Daily Show," Stewart appeared on HBO's critically acclaimed series, "The Larry Sanders Show," playing a character he should know very well: himself. The final season saw Stewart seemingly being groomed to take over the fictitious late-night throne from the perpetually paranoid Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling). Stewart also served as a creative consultant on the series. Stewart’s film credits include "Big Daddy," "Playing by Heart," and "The Faculty.” Stewart took the path less traveled in developing his debut book, "Naked Pictures of Famous People." A collection of fictitious and humorous what-if essays, "Naked Pictures" has appeared on The New York Times Best-Seller List and others. Stewart returned to "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" following the September 11th attacks and shared his touching and eloquent insight regarding the recent tragedies with his viewers.

ABOUT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

Awarded the Preservation Award by the Los Angeles Conservancy, the Award of Excellence from the Society of American Registered Architects, and the Architectural Award of Excellence by the Los Angeles Business Council for its acclaimed 2005, $17 million renovation, the Geffen Playhouse begins its 11^th season in 2006/2007, enjoying its stature as a leading West Coast theater company and the crown jewel of Los Angeles theater. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its eclectic mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and musicals, the Geffen continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who donated one of the largest gifts ever made to an already-constructed theater, the company is headed by Producing Director and President of the Board Gilbert (Gil) Cates, Artistic Director Randall Arney and Managing Director Stephen Eich, and has produced eight world premieres, four Tony, four Pulitzer, and seven Obie-award winning shows in its storied 11 seasons. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes more than 130,000 patrons each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts. For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.com.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Geffen Playhouse

10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024

A CONVERSATION WITH

JON STEWART AND MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA

Friday, November 17, 2006

8:00 – 9:30 p.m. Event and Audience Q&A

Tickets ($250-500) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office and via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454. For general information or to request a brochure, call 310.208.5454, or visit GeffenPlayhouse.com.

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