FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Ryan Jimenez

310.208.6500 x126

323.204.8800 mobile (DO NOT PUBLISH)

323.662.5050 after hours (DO NOT PUBLISH)

ryan@geffenplayhouse.com

 

 

GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWCASES NEWLY RENOVATED THEATER WITH SUBSCRIBER AND PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE ON OCTOBER 23

 

Free Community Event Provides Sneak Peek Into Historic Theater

After 18 Month, $17 Million Renovation

 

Opening Night is November 16, Featuring Jeremy Davidson,

Academy Award Winning Actress Brenda Fricker and Emmy-Nominated John Goodman

in Tennessee WilliamsÕ Pulitzer Prize Winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

 

Geffen Playhouse Open House

Sunday, October 23, 2005

1:00  to 5:00 p.m.

 

Print Media Sponsor: LA Confidential Magazine

Radio Media Sponsor: KCRW and K-MOZART

Event sponsors: GelsonÕs and Glaceau Water

 

 

LOS ANGELES—The newly renovated Geffen Playhouse gets its close-up as Angelenos receive their first sneak peek into the renovated theater on October 23, 2005 at the GeffenÕs Subscriber and Public Open House. The free community event comes after the theaterÕs  extensive 18 month, $17 million renovation, revitalizing one of LAÕs most intimate and favorite performance venues for live theater.

 

The open house offers subscribers and the general public the opportunity to see the renovated stage and main house, tour the GeffenÕs new second stage—the 117 seat Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse—purchase subscriptions and single tickets while seeing seat locations, and stroll leisurely through the historic theaterÕs landscaped grounds.

 

 

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Light refreshments are provided at the event courtesy of GelsonÕs and Glaceau Water. Media sponsors include LA Confidential Magazine, KCRW and K-MOZART.

 

The 2005/2006 season marks the 10th anniversary of the Geffen Playhouse, and continues the second year of the GeffenÕs Festival of American Originals, a decade-long celebration of works that examine and define the American experience. The Geffen PlayhouseÕs 18 month, $17 million renovation and expansion began in May 2004. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 10, 2004, with the project being completed in October, 2005.

 

The Geffen PlayhouseÕs 10th Anniversary Season

 

The season began September 14, 2005 with the West Coast Premiere of NINE PARTS OF DESIRE, written and performed by Heather Raffo, the final production at the Brentwood Theatre before the GeffenÕs return to its permanent home at the newly renovated Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. The production runs through October 16, 2005.

 

The second play of the season, Tennessee WilliamsÕ Pulitzer Prize-winning CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (November 8December 18, 2005; Opening Night November 16, 2005) , inaugurates the new Geffen Playhouse and features Jeremy Davidson, Academy Award-winning actress Brenda Fricker, and Emmy-nominated John Goodman, all in their Geffen Playhouse debuts. The inaugural production at the reinvented playhouse opens with a red carpet Gala opening night performance on November 16, 2005.

 

The West Coast Premiere of David MametÕs BOSTON MARRIAGE (January 31—March 12, 2006; Opening Night February 8, 2006) directed by Mamet, and Arthur MillerÕs ALL MY SONS (April 11—May 21, 2006; Opening Night April 19, 2006), directed by Geffen Artistic Director Randall Arney, continue the 10th Anniversary Season. The season concludes with the West Coast Premiere of THE God of Hell (June 20—July 30, 2006; Opening Night June 28, 2006) written by the Pulitzer Prize and Obie Award-winning Sam Shepard.

 

The Geffen also stages the world premiere of MY BUDDY BILL (November 12—December 18, 2005; Opening Night November 18, 2005) written and performed by Emmy Award-winner Rick Cleveland, which unveils the Geffen PlayhouseÕs new second stage, The Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, on

November 18, 2005.

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CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

 

Geffen Playhouse Subscriber and Public Open House

Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood

Sunday, October 23, 2005

1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Admission is free

For more information, log on to GeffenPlayhouse.com or call (310) 208-6500.

 

 

 

About The Geffen Playhouse

 

Launched in 1994 at the Westwood Playhouse, the Geffen Playhouse was named in 1995 in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who donated $5 million to the organization, one of the largest gifts ever made to an already-constructed theater. Headed by Producing Director Gilbert (Gil) Cates, Artistic Director Randall Arney and Managing Director Stephen Eich, the Geffen has produced eight world premieres and four Tony, four Pulitzer, and seven Obie-award winning shows in the companyÕs celebrated 10 seasons and maintains an extensive educational outreach program, designed to engage young people in the arts. Enjoying its stature as a vital performing arts institution in Los Angeles with an annual attendance of more than 130,000 patrons, the Geffen Playhouse prepares for the grand opening of its newly-renovated playhouse, making its debut in November, 2005, celebrating the companyÕs 10th anniversary season. For more information, please visit GeffenPlayhouse.com.

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Contact:

 

Ryan Jimenez

310.208.6500 x126

323.204.8800 mobile (DO NOT PUBLISH)

323.662.5050 after hours (DO NOT PUBLISH)

ryan@geffenplayhouse.com