Carolyn Cantor (Orange Flower Water) directs the work which played last season on Broadway, where it earned five Tony Award nominations. The California run will play Sept. 5-Oct. 22.
Amy Ryan — Tony Award nominee for A Streetcar Named Desire and Broadway veteran of Uncle Vanya, The Women, Three Sisters and Off-Broadway's On The Mountain — stars as Becca, the mother at the center of the story of a couple dealing with the loss of their son. (Her co-star in The Women, Cynthia Nixon, originated the role on Broadway.)
Tate Donovan (Amy's View, Picnic, Lobby Hero) stars opposite Ryan as her husband, Joyce Van Patten (Brighton Beach Memoirs, Rumors, Jake's Women) as her mother and Missy Yager (Diary of Anne Frank, This Is Our Youth) as her sister. Trever O'Brien, making his professional theatre debut, also appears.
In other Geffen news, the previously announced world premiere solo of Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking will take to the Geffen mainstage while A Picasso moves to the Geffen's second stage — the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. The latter stage will also now see playwright Neil LaBute directing the west coast premiere of his own Fat Pig for Geffen.
The 2006-2007 season (subject to change) is as follows:
In the work "Fisher finally comes clean about Star Relations, 'Star Wars' and other Celestial Bodies" in her own "raucous non-stop theme-park ride through Hollywood" offering her insights and experiences that she has accumulated in her life and career.
Geffen artistic director Arney stages a revival of the drama that "delves into the world of studio executive Bobby Gould who must choose between producing a formulaic prison-breakout drama with a big star attached and an obscure mystical novel by an 'Eastern sissy writer.'"
Penned by Gérald Sibleyras and translated by Tom Stoppard, this 2006 Olivier Award winner for Comedy makes its American premiere at the Geffen. Set in a the home of a French veteran in 1960, the play "is the story of Henri, Gustave and Philippe, who have lived through two World Wars, and now spend their days waxing poetic on subjects including the masochistic nun who runs the hospital, and their 200-pound stone dog with a staring problem."
Performed by creator Felder, the season comes to a close with the story of the title composer's life interpolated with his music. At the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater:
Set in 1941 German-occupied Paris, the drama follows the title artist who "is secreted to a dusty underground vault beneath a Paris street where he encounters a beautiful young Gestapo art critic-turned interrogator," as a summary describes. Gilbert Cates directs the west coast premiere.
LaBute directs the west coast premiere of his tale of a man who is in love with a witty, intellectual and interesting woman despite his trepidations about her weight. But can he deal with his friends and co-workers' reactions? Subscriptions and singles tickets to the 2006-2007 season at the Geffen Playhouse, at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, CA are available by calling (310) 209-1328 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.
