GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

RANDALL ARNEY DIRECTS

DAVID RAMBO’S "GOD’S MAN IN TEXAS"

IAN BARFORD, GEORGE COE AND FRANCIS GUINAN

STAR IN THE GEFFEN’S THIRD PRODUCTION

OF THE 2001-2002 SEASON

FEBRUARY 5, 2002 THROUGH MARCH 17, 2002

LOS ANGELES, CA – February 11, 2002 – The Geffen Playhouse’s third production of the 2001-2002 season is David Rambo’s God’s Man In Texas starring Ian Barford, George Coe and Francis Guinan. Randall Arney (Conor McPherson’s The Weir) directs this fiercely passionate play about two preachers’ battle for leadership. God’s Man In Texas begins performances Tuesday, February 5, 2002 with an official press opening on Wednesday, February 13, 2002.

“God’s Man In Texas is a powerful piece with a great balance of drama and comedy," said Producing Director Gilbert Cates. "David Rambo is an incredibly talented writer and we are happy to be presenting this piece. We are also pleased to have Randy back in the director’s seat.”

God’s Man In Texas is the story of the vigorous, eighty-one year old Dr. Philip Gottschall who has created a mega church, which offers everything for the needs of its members, from kindergarten to college, from bowling alleys to swimming pools. Forced to consider retirement and not about to hand his creation over to just anyone, he summons charismatic Reverend Jerry Mears to 'audition' as his successor. Soon, a political struggle ensues as the two battle for the leadership of the church and its people.

The remaining 2001-2002 season at the Geffen Playhouse will feature He Hunts, a new translation by Philip Littell of Georges Feydeau’s wicked farce Monsieur Chasse! The production will be directed by David Schweizer (Lisa Loomer’s The Waiting Room). He Hunts runs from April 9, 2002 – May 19, 2002 with an official press opening on April 17, 2002. The fifth production of the season will be announced at a later date. Gilbert Cates will direct this play, which will run from June 11, 2002 – July 21, 2002 with an official press opening on June 19, 2002.

The Geffen Playhouse is headed by Producing Director Gilbert Cates, Artistic Director Randall Arney and Managing Director Stephen Eich.

Free symposiums are presented by the Playhouse throughout the year on subjects relating to issues that come to light in Geffen productions. Panels of experts will be on hand, and audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and informally discuss these issues. God’s Man In Texas symposium will be held on Monday, March 4, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at the Geffen Playhouse. Admission to the event is open to the public. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call the Geffen Playhouse Education Department at 310-208-6500, extension 198.

God’s Man In Texas plays at The Geffen Playhouse, located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood. Tickets can be purchased directly at the Geffen box office or by calling 310-208-5454 or Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500. Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $46.00. The performance schedule is Tuesdays - Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Visit the Geffen Playhouse website at www.geffenplayhouse.com.

GOD’S MAN IN TEXAS BIOGRAPHIES

DAVID RAMBO (Playwright) is a member of the Dramatists Guild and lives in Los Angeles. His other works include Speaky-Spikey-Spokey - presented at the Ashland New Plays Festival where he has been Host Playwright annually since1998; There's No Place Like House, a real estate farce which enjoyed a long Los Angeles run at the Zephyr Theatre; Maid Of Athens, included in the Humana Festival anthology play Back Story; and The Spin Cycle, a recent commission from Actors Theatre of Louisville.

RANDALL ARNEY (Director) is an ensemble member and former artistic director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, where he directed The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Bang, A Walk in the Woods, Killers, and The Geography of Luck. In addition, he directed the world premiere of Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Steppenwolf, as well as the subsequent Los Angeles (Westwood Playhouse, Drama-Logue Critics' Award), Off-Broadway, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and Tokyo productions. Under Mr. Arney's artistic leadership (1987-1995), Steppenwolf grew from a grass roots theater into an internationally recognized ensemble.

He oversaw the design, creation and completion of a new, state-of-the-art theater facility (including two theaters), and created a New Plays Program. Broadway transfers under his leadership include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; The Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony Award nominations); and The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award, Best Play). Mr. Arney's acting credits with Steppenwolf include Born Yesterday (opposite Glenne Headly); Ghost in the Machine; The Homecoming; Frank's Wild Years (with Tom Waits, directed by Gary Sinise); You Can't Take it With You; Fool for Love; True West (directed by Gary Sinise); and Balm in Gilead and Coyote Ugly (both directed by John Malkovich).

On film he has appeared in Weapons of Mass Distraction (HBO); Mystery, Alaska; The Out-of-Towners; Chain Reaction; The Color of Money; and Miles From Home. Other honors include four Joseph Jefferson Award nominations for directing, two for acting, the Eastern Illinois University Distinguished Alumnus Award, and serving as a jurist for the National Endowment for the Arts. Prior to being artistic director and associate artistic director (1985-87) at Steppenwolf, he was an associate professor at Columbia College in

Chicago, where he taught acting and directing, and Associate Professor at Illinois Stage University.

He has held master classes and workshops at Steppenwolf, around the U.S., and in Tokyo. He has an MFA in acting from Illinois State University and a B.A. with an Illinois Teacher Certification in Theatre Arts from Easter Illinois University.

IAN BARFORD (Hugo Taney) Broadway: The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination). Steppenwolf Theatre: Three Days of Rain; Berlin Circle; The Libertine; As I Lay Dying; Time of My Life; The Rise and Fall of Little Voice; Stepping Out; A Midsummer Night's Dream. Goodman Theatre: All the Rage; Design for Living. National Tour and Briar St. Theatre: Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Remains Theatre: Mad Forest. Shakespeare Rep.: Othello. Wild Life Theatre: Master Class as Dmitri Shostakovich. Recipient of the Steppenwolf Acting Fellowship as well as the National Theatre Conference/Steppenwolf Theatre - Most Promising Artist award 1996. Films: Inferno; Tick-Tock; Hole in the Wall. Television: Strong Medicine; Turks.

GEORGE COE (Dr. Philip Gottschall) appeared in the original Broadway companies of What Makes Sammy Run?; Mame; Company and On the Twentieth Century. He has acted in numerous off Broadway and regional theater presentations, most recently at the Long Wharf Theatre in The Model Apartment. He has been in 25 movies of the week and appears frequently as a guest star on episodic television. He has been prominently cast in 27 feature films, including the Academy Award-winning Kramer vs. Kramer and the classic short film The Dove. Recent releases include Big Eden; Diamond Men and A Rumor of Angels. After all these years, he still studies acting with Susan Massaron.

FRANCIS GUINAN (Dr. Jeremiah Mears) is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble. In his 22 years with Steppenwolf, he has appeared in numerous productions including Mizalnsky/Zilinsky; Skylight; The Libertine; The Grapes of Wrath (Broadway); A Lesson From Aloes; and A Nightengale Sang (Broadway); Balm in Gilead; and Coyote Ugly. In Los Angeles, he has recently appeared in 1776 for Encore Productions, True West for LA Theatre Works, Good Thing at Taper Too, Space at the Mark Taper Forum and The Weir at the Geffen Playhouse. Off Broadway credits include As Is; Balm in Gilead; True West; and Landscape of the Body. Television credits include 3rd Rock From the Sun; 7 Days; Frasier; The Drew Carey Show; Law& Order; Lansky (HBO); Wallace (TNT); Eerie, Indiana (series regular); The Might Jungle (series lead). Film credits include Miles From Home; The Serpent and the Rainbow; Shining Through; Speed II; Guinevere; Hannibal and Path to War.

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