Programming Updates Finalize 2006/2007 Season of The Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at The Geffen Playhouse

PROGRAMMING UPDATES FINALIZE 2006/2007 SEASON OF THE AUDREY SKIRBALL KENIS THEATER AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE

Scheduling Changes Occur in the Geffen’s Intimate Second Stage Including New Production Dates for A Picasso and Fat Pig; Plus Extended Closing Dates for Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants

LOS ANGELES, November 10, 2006 – While productions on the main stage of the Geffen Playhouse remain unchanged as previously announced, three production updates affect the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater schedule. Producing Director Gilbert Cates announced today new presentation dates for the West Coast premieres of A Picasso and Fat Pig as well as extended dates for Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants:

The Ricky Jay & his 52 Assistants presentation has been extended through January 27, 2007. The Geffen’s secluded second stage creates the most intimate setting ever for Jay’s performances - only 96 audience members are permitted per show. Offering a fascinating blend of card artistry and verbal chicanery, Ricky Jay & his 52 Assistants plays to the Southland for the first time in a decade. Tickets ($75 to $85) are on sale now. In consideration of the intimate space, latecomers will not be seated and no one under 17 admitted.
A Picasso, originally planned for a December run, has been postponed to February 2007. The two-person play written by Jeffrey Hatcher is directed by the Geffen’s own Gil Cates with performances from February 4 through March 25, 2007; opening night is February 11, 2007. Six performances are scheduled per week: Tuesday through Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. A Picasso envelops audiences to bear witness to an intriguing game of cat-and-mouse, meeting the Picasso they never knew.
With the scheduling change of A Picasso, Neil Labute’s Fat Pig has now been moved to begin May 5, 2007 and close on June 10, 2007. Six performances are scheduled per week: Tuesday through Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. The play explores the dilemma when love and affection go against the grain of conventional society, forcing a man to choose between the woman he loves and how others perceive her.

5-Play Season on the Main Stage

Play 1 September 5—October 22, 2006 Opening Night September 13, 2006	RABBIT HOLE (West Coast premiere) By David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by Carolyn Cantor
Play 2 November 7—December 24, 2006 Opening Night November 15, 2006	WISHFUL DRINKING (World Premiere) Written and performed by Carrie Fisher Directed by Joshua Ravetch
Play 3 January 30—March 18, 2007 Opening Night February 7, 2007	SPEED-THE-PLOW By David Mamet Directed by Randall Arney
Play 4 April 10—May 27, 2007 Opening Night April 18, 2007	HEROES (American premiere) By Gérald Sibleyras; Adapted and translated by Tom Stoppard Directed by Thea Sharrock
Play 5 June 5—July 22, 2007 Opening Night June 13, 2007	GEORGE GERSHWIN ALONE Created and performed by Hershey Felder Directed by Joel Zwick

Non-subscription productions at
The Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater At The Geffen Playhouse

PLAY 1-ASK November 21-January 27, 2007 Opening Night November 22, 2006	RICKY JAY & 52 ASSISTANTS Featuring Ricky Jay Directed by David Mamet
PLAY 2-ASK February 4 through March 25, 2007 Opening night is February 11, 2007	A PICASSO (West Coast premiere) By Jeffrey Hatcher Directed by Gilbert Cates
PLAY 3-ASK May 5, 2007 through June 10, 2007 Opening Night May 11, 2007	FAT PIG (West Coast premiere) Written by Neil LaBute Director TBD

ABOUT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Awarded 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 begins its 11th season in 2006/2007, 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 Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
across from the UCLA Campus

Tickets ($35 to $85) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at 310.208.5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records, and Ritmo Latino locations), or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500. 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 p.m. 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. Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain for $15. For general information or to request a brochure, call 310.208.5454, or visit GeffenPlayhouse.com.