Shows & Tickets
THESPIANS PETER MICHAEL GOETZ AND ROMA DOWNEY MIX INTRIGUE AND ROMANCE IN A PICASSO AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
Producing Director Gilbert Cates Takes the Helm of Jeffrey’s Hatcher’s Two-Person Play Presented in the Intimate Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse
February 4 through March 25, 2007; Opening night is Sunday, February 11, 2007
LOS ANGELES, December 18, 2006 — Producing Director Gilbert Cates announced today he has found “a Picasso” for the play he plans to direct at the Geffen Playhouse in February. Veteran actor Peter Michael Goetz portrays the Spanish painter while Roma Downey is the sexy enchantress in the West Coast debut of Jeffrey Hatcher’s A Picasso. This production is presented in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater – the Geffen’s intimate second stage - built during the theater’s 2005 $19 million renovation project.
Perfectly situated in the 117-seat theatre, audiences meet A Picasso in an underground “vault” where the cubist artist encounters a beautiful art critic-turned Gestapo interrogator in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris. Miss Fischer, a woman whose career as an art historian detoured into service as an adjunct to the German Ministry of Culture, attempts to have Picasso authenticate three of his paintings amidst the vault full of artwork confiscated by the Nazis. Easier said than done. The witty, clever and fast-paced dialogue pits artist against critic in a war of words and ideals about art, sex and politics.
“I’ve wanted to bring A Picasso to the Geffen Playhouse since it’s World Premiere in 2003 and The Audrey couldn’t be more perfect for the unusual setting of the play,” says Producing Director Gil Cates. “Peter and Roma complement each other superbly, and embody the characters they’re portraying. The audience will have a tough time choosing who to root for in their cat-and-mouse game.”
With A Picasso, playwright Jeffrey Hatcher captures the wit of the artist, the power of the persona, and his unflinching passion for his work. What is art? Who silences art? Can art survive fascism?
Presented without intermission, the dates of the production have changed since originally announced. Previews performances for A Picasso are now February 4 through February 10, 2007, with Opening Night occurring on Sunday, February 11. The play runs through March 25, 2007.
JEFFREY HATCHER (PLAYWRIGHT)Fast becoming one of the most prolific and frequently produced playwrights in the U.S., Jeffrey Hatcher's many award-winning original plays have been performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally across the US and abroad. They include Three Viewings, Scotland Road, Neddy, Korczak's Children, Mercy of a Storm, Work Song and Lucky Duck. Hatcher wrote the book for the Broadway musical Never Gonna Dance, based on the Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers film Swingtime. Other works include a film adaptation of his acclaimed stage play Complete Female Stage Beauty, Casanova for director Lasse Hallstrom, as well as screenplays for directors Steven Shainberg (Secretary) and Kim Pierce (Boys Don't Cry). He has also written for the Peter Falk TV series Columbo and E! Entertainment Television. Hatcher is also the author of “The Art and Craft of Playwriting.” He has won grants and awards from the NEA, TCG, Lila-Wallace Fund, Rosenthal New Play Prize, Frankel Award, Barrymore Award and others. A four-time participant at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, he is a member of the Dramatists Guild, New Dramatists, The Playwrights' Center, and the WGA.
GILBERT CATES (DIRECTOR)Gilbert Cates is recognized as a leader in television, film and theater. Currently presiding as the Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse, he is dedicated to enriching the Los Angeles theatrical spectrum by presenting the finest in contemporary and classical theater. In November 1996, Cates was the recipient of the Jimmy Doolittle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Los Angeles Theater. He received the 1999 Ovation Award for best play for Collected Stories, which he directed at the Geffen. The accolades for Cates expand into other areas of the entertainment industry. He produced and directed the 1970 film version of the Broadway hit I Never Sang for My Father, starring Melvyn Douglas, Gene Hackman and Estelle Parsons. The movie earned three Academy Award nominations. Cates also directed Joanne Woodward and Sylvia Sidney in the 1973 film Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams, which received two Oscar nominations. He further distinguished himself as director and/or producer of a number of television dramatic specials, including NBC’s 1972 Emmy Award-winning To all My Friends on Shore, starring Bill Cosby; ABC’s 1974 The Affair starring Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner; NBC’s 1975 After the Fall starring Faye Dunaway and Christopher Plummer. Cates directed James Agee’s A Death in the Family for Masterpiece Theatre’s American Collection of PBS and Donald Margulies’ Collected Stories for PBS Hollywood Presents. In November 2005, he directed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the inaugural production in the newly renovated Geffen Playhouse. He served two terms as President of the Directors Guild of America from 1983 to 1987. In 1989, he received the Guild’s Robert B. Aldrich Award for extraordinary service and, in 1991, he received the DGA’s Honorary Life Membership. He also served as Dean of the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television (which he founded) from 1990-1998. Last year, Cates produced the 78th Annual Academy Awards show for ABC, his 13th such occasion, for which he has received 84 nominations and 17 Emmy Awards.
PETER MICHAEL GOETZ (Pablo Picasso)Broadway: "Macbeth," "Sex and Longing,” “The Queen And the Rebels,” "Beyond Therapy," "Ned and Jack," "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "The Government Inspector," and "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" (also performed in Los Angeles). International: "Death of a Salesman” (Gaiety Theater in Dublin, Ireland) and “All My Sons” (Abby Theater in Dublin, Ireland). Regional: The American Place Theater, The Hudson Guild Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, two seasons at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, three seasons at the Berkshire Theater Festival, The White Barn, Sundance, Westport Theatre, Actor's Theater of Louisville, The Coconut Grove Theater in Miami, Seattle Repertory, The Colonial in Boston, The Curren in San Francisco and 15 years and 66 productions at the Tyrone Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Los Angeles: South Coast Repertory and the Ahmanson Theater. Film: “Father of the Bride,” “Father of the Bride II,” “Empty Mirror,” “Jumpin' Jack Flash,” “The World According to Garp,” “Prince of the City,” “Best Defense,” “Wolfen,” “King Kong Lives,” “My Girl,” “Another You,” “Above Suspicion,” “Glory,” “Infinity,” “Where There’s a Will,” ”Valerie Flake,” “Beer,” and “Dad” among others. Television movies: “The Buccaneers” (BBC Masterpiece Theater four-part miniseries), “Promise,” “Act of Love,” “Right To Die,” “The Karen Carpenter Story,” “My Brother's Keeper” among others. Series regular: “The Cavanaughs,” “Aftermash,” “Room For Two,” and “The Faculty.” Guest appearances: “Touched by an Angel”, “413 Hope Street”, “Family Law,” “Home Improvement,” “Twilight Zone,” “St Elsewhere,” “Gabriel's Fire,” “Facts of Life,” “Picket Fences,” “Ellen,” “The Practice,” “Gilmore Girls,” “The West Wing,” “Arrested Development,” “Psych” among others.
ROMA DOWNEY (MISS FISCHER)Broadway: ”The Circle” opposite Rex Harrison. Off Broadway: “Ghosts,” “Love’s Labours Lost,” “Tamara” and Arms and Man.” National tours: “The Playboy of the Western World” (Abbey Theater/Helen Hayes Best Actress Award nomination). Film: “The Last Word” and “Devlin.” Television movies: “A Woman Named Jackie,” “The Survivor’s Club,” “The Sons of Mistletoe,” “Second Honeymoon,” The Test of Love,” “Monday After the Miracle,” “Borrowed Hearts,” “A Child is Missing,” (Lifetime) and “Getting Up and Going Home.” Series regular: “Touched By An Angel” (Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations). Personal: International spokesperson for volunteer organization "Operation Smile;" author of children’s book "Love is a Family" and recorded inspirational CD "Healing Angel;" originally from Ireland, Downey resides in Malibu with her family.
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 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 Playhouse10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles (Westwood), CA 90024
A PICASSO (West Coast premiere)By Jeffrey Hatcher; Directed by Gilbert CatesShow runs February 4 through March 25, 2007Previews: February 4 through February 10, 2007Opening Night: February 11, 2007* No performances on February 7 and 22, 2007
CastPETER MICHAEL GOETZ Pablo PicassoROMA DOWNEY Miss Fischer
Production CreditsScenic Designer: Francois-Pierre CoutureCostume Designer: Christina Haatainen JonesSound Designer: Jon GottliebProduction Stage Manager: Amy E. Bristol
Tickets ($55) 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 and Ritmo Latino locations), or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.365.3500. Seven performances are scheduled per week: Tuesday through Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Fridays at 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There are no scheduled performances on February 7 and 22, 2007. Adult rush tickets ($35) and student rush tickets ($15) are available 10 minutes prior to curtain. For general information or to request a brochure, call 310.208.5454, or visit GeffenPlayhouse.com.
