Shows & Tickets
AWARD WINNING ACTRESS CHRISTINE LAHTI SET TO STAR IN WENDY WASSERSTEIN’S FINAL PLAY AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE THIS FALL
The West Coast Premiere of Third Comes In First to Kick-Off The 2007/2008 Geffen Playhouse Season As Previously Announced
THIRD Begins September 11, 2007 and runs through October 28, 2007
LOS ANGELES, February 20, 2007 – As plans fall into place for the 2007/2008 season, the Geffen Playhouse has cast a jewel in next season’s crown with award-winning actress Christine Lahti in the West Coast premiere of Wendy Wasserstein’s final play, Third. The production’s director is not yet confirmed. Lahti portrays Laurie Jameson, a professor at a prestigious New England university who is convinced she has her 3rd generation, jock student pegged. When he turns in a brilliant paper she pursues a case of plagiarism, bringing to light her own prejudices. Set in the uncertain months surrounding America’s launch of the second Gulf War in Iraq, Third discovers hypocrisy where you least expect it – in the heart and mind of a modern, female, politically correct educator.
Christine Lahti has a long history with Wendy Wasserstein, as this is her “third” portrayal of the playwright’s female protagonists. Lahti first played the role of Heidi Holland on Broadway for nearly four months in the Pulitzer Prize winning play The Heidi Chronicles, and also starred in Lifetime Channel’s An American Daughter, based on Wasserstein’s critically acclaimed play.
“Christine’s familiarity with Wendy’s work and her affinity for political activism provide the best possible scenario for an insightful look into a character caught at a moral and ethical crossroad,” says Gil Cates, producing director. ”We’re delighted to have someone of Christine’s enormous artistry kick off our season.”
For the past 20 years, Wendy Wasserstein’s plays have helped define feminism for the American Theater, creating strong intellectual heroines in the modern world. Dying of cancer at the age of 55, Wasserstein left an indelible catalog including The Sisters Rosenweig, Isn’t It Romantic, An American Daughter, Old Money, and The Heidi Chronicles, which was honored with the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
“Wendy Wasserstein is one of the most important voices for women of our generation. The last time we spoke I told her how powerful I felt Third was,” says Lahti. “I’m honored to have another opportunity to portray one of Wendy’s complex heroines.”
In addition to Third, the Geffen Playhouse also previously announced the World premiere production of The Best is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman as part of its 2007/2008 season. In the vein of celebrating songwriter as storyteller, Cy Coleman’s music speak for itself in this elegant revue devised by Larry Gelbart and David Zippel. The Best is Yet to Come features hits from the composer’s ballads to his bop, from his showstarters to his showstoppers.
Subscriptions to the 2007-2008 season are now available for purchase online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, in person at the Geffen Playhouse Box Office, or by calling Subscriber Services at (310) 209-1328. Single tickets go on sale July 1, 2007, and may be purchased at the Geffen Playhouse Box Office or by phone at (310) 208-5454, by calling Ticketmaster at (213) 365-3500, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at GeffenPlayhouse.com. For general information or to request a brochure, please call (310) 208-5454.
CHRISTINE LAHTI (Laurie Jameson)BROADWAY: "The Heidi Chronicles" (Plymouth Theater), "Present Laughter" (Circle in the Square), “Scenes and Revelations” (Circle in the Square), "Division Street" (Ambassador Theater), and "Loose Ends" (Circle in the Square). OFF-BROADWAY: “Three Hotels” (Circle Rep. Theater; Drama Desk Nomination), "Little Murders" (Second Stage; Obie Award winner), "Landscape of the Body," "The Country Girl," "The Woods" (Public Theater; Theater World Award), "Hooters" (Playwrights Horizons). REGIONAL: “Three Hotels” (Mark Taper Forum), "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (Long Wharf Theater), "Summer and Smoke" (Ahmanson Theater), "Love Letters” (NY and LA Stages), “Moon for the Misbegotten” (Williamstown Theater Festival) and “The Lucky Spot” (Williamstown Theater Festival). FILM: "Leaving Normal," "The Doctor,” "Funny About Love,” "Gross Anatomy," "Running on Empty" (Los Angeles Film Critic’s Award; Golden Globe Nomination), "Housekeeping," "Just Between Friends," "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" "...And Justice For All,” and "Swing Shift" (New York Film Critics’ Circle Award; Academy Award and Golden Globe Nominations). TELEVISION FILMS: “"No Place Like Home" (Golden Globe winner and Emmy Nomination), An American Daughter” (Lifetime; Golden Globe Nomination), “The Ellie Nessler Story” (USA Network), “Women Vs. Men” (Showtime), “Out Of The Ashes” (Showtime), “Revenge of the Middle Age Woman” (CBS), “The Pilots Wife” (CBS), “Open House” (CBS), “The Book of Ruth” (CBS), "Amerika" (Emmy and Golden Globe Nominations), "The Executioner’s Song," "The Last Tenant,” "Crazy From the Heart" (TNT), "The Fear Inside" (Showtime), and "The Good Fight" (Lifetime). TELEVISION: “Chicago Hope” (Emmy and Golden Globe Awards winner) “Jack & Bobby” (SAG and Golden Globe Nomination; Prism Award winner), and a recent appearance on NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” AS DIRECTOR: “My First Mister” and “Lieberman in Love” (Academy Award winner for Live Action Short Film).
ABOUT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSEAwarded 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, $19 million renovation, the Geffen Playhouse is currently (2006/2007) in production of its 11th season, 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 Playhouse10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
THIRD (West Coast premiere)By Wendy WassersteinDirector TBDSeptember 11—October 28, 2007Opening Night: September 19, 2007
CastCHRISTINE LAHTI Laurie Jameson
Performances are Tuesdays through 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. Performance times for productions at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse vary; please visit GeffenPlayhouse.com or call the box office for specific performance times.
