Shows & Tickets
HERSHEY FELDER PRESENTS TAYLOR HACKFORD’SLOUIS & KEELY: ‘LIVE’ AT THE SAHARAWRITTEN BY VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART, TAYLOR HACKFORD AND JAKE BRODERDIRECTED BY TAYLOR HACKFORDFEATURING TONY AWARD WINNER ANTHONY CRIVELLO AS LOUIS PRIMAAND VANESSA CLAIRE STEWART AS KEELY SMITH23 PERFORMANCES ONLY DECEMBER 30, 2015 TO JANUARY 17, 2016IN THE GIL CATES THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSELOS ANGELES (July 22, 2015) – Hershey Felder presents Taylor Hackford’s Louis & Keely: ‘Live’ at the Sahara, written by Vanessa Claire Stewart, Taylor Hackford and Jake Broder, directed by Taylor Hackford. Featuring Anthony Crivello (Tony Award Kiss of the Spider Woman) and Vanessa Claire Stewart who originally created the part of Keely Smith, performances are scheduled December 30 through January 17 (press opening Wednesday, January 6) at the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse. The show returns in a new production, part of a new national tour, based on the recent hit Chicago production featuring Crivello and Stewart. Louis Prima and Keely Smith shared a larger-than-life marriage and a groundbreaking Las Vegas act featuring unforgettable songs like “That Ol’ Black Magic,” “Pennies from Heaven,” and “Embraceable You.” Louis & Keely: ‘Live’ at the Sahara has grown from a local Los Angeles hit to a national musical phenomenon. After earlier award-winning and extended productions in Los Angeles and more recent acclaim in Chicago, Louis & Keely: ‘Live’ at the Sahara returns these outsized personalities and talents to the Geffen Playhouse at the Gil Cates Theater.The choreography is by Vernel Bagneris, scenic design by Mr. Felder, video design by Mariya Tatarintseva, sound design by Erik Carstensen, lighting design by Richard Norwood and costume design by Melissa Bruning and Christianna Rogers.Hedy Weiss said in the Chicago Sun-Times that Crivello and Stewart, “Have crawled so far inside their roles that the temptation is to proclaim: What happened in Vegas not only didn’t stay there, but has come roaring back to life, decades later. Crivello, a wiry fellow with a fabulously craggy and expressive face, takes total possession of Prima, capturing the man’s manic, almost clownish energy, his loose-legged dance moves, his playful singing, and his palpable compulsion to win over an audience. You can’t take your eyes off him and you really have to wonder how the actor will make it through an eight-show week.“Stewart, a petite stunner with a voice that beautifully captures the distinctive richness and power of Smith’s, is terrific in the way she grows up in plain sight — from a shy teenager in a cardigan and saddle shoes, to a twenty-something who asserts her independence, to a woman who commits herself to marriage, motherhood and show biz, but finally cannot deal with Prima’s professional jealousy.”Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune said that these performers, “Do justice to the real artist. There's no question that Stewart and Crivello fall into that category. A classy new show recalling an age when you could forget your quotidian troubles, old school.”Hershey Felder Presents Taylor Hackford’sLOUIS & KEELY: ‘LIVE’ AT THE SAHARAWritten by Vanessa Claire Stewart, Taylor Hackford and Jake BroderDirected by Taylor HackfordCASTAnthony Crivello as Louis Prima Vanessa Claire Stewart as Keely SmithPRODUCTION TEAMChoreography by Vernel BagnerisScenic Design by Hershey FelderVideo design by Mariya TatarintsevaSound by Erik CarstensenLighting by Richard NorwoodCostumes by Melissa Bruning and Christianna RogersDATESDecember 30, 2015 through January 17, 2016Press opening Wednesday, January 6, 2016PERFORMANCE SCHEDULEMonday No performanceTuesday – Friday 8:00pmSaturday 3:00pm and 8:00pmSunday 2:00pm and 7:00pmTICKET INFORMATIONTickets currently range from $43 – $129 (including two special New Year’s Eve performances) and can be purchased in-person, online at www.geffenplayhouse.org or by phone at 310.208.5454. Fees may apply.LOCATIONGil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024ABOUT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and second productions, the not-for-profit organization continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates, and is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Executive Director Gil Cates Jr., and Co-Chairs of the Board Martha Henderson and Pamela Robinson Hollander. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts.
