Baxter, Torres, and Winokur Join LOVE LOSS Cast Thru 8/29

After weeks of playing to packed houses, Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore is continuing its Los Angeles run in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse with a new cast through August 29. The new actresses include Meredith Baxter, most recognized for her longtime stint on TV's Family Ties, Gina Torres, best known for her recurring roles on Firefly and Angel, and Marissa Jaret Winokur who won the Tony Award for her leading role in Broadway's Hairspray. The two remaining actresses will be announced shortly.

Love, Loss and What I Wore, an intimate collection of stories covering some of life's most poignant moments and their corresponding wardrobe, is directed by Jenny Sullivan. The evening of vignettes, which is based on the best-selling book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman as well as personal reminiscences from the Ephrons and their friends, features a rotating cast of five actresses. The newest cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore begins in previews on August 4 with an official opening on August 5, 2010 and will run through August 29, 2010.

The opening night festivities this time around will have a little more focus on the "what I wore" portion of the show - the Geffen Playhouse is partnering with Dress for Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing tools to help women thrive in work and in life. One dollar of every ticket sold for the entire run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore is donated to Dress for Success, but patrons attending this particular performance will also be encouraged to bring a gently-used handbag to donate to the organization. Members of the Love, Loss cast will present the purses and celebrate the partnership at the post-show party hosted by Napa Valley Grille and Chef Joseph Gillard.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore is simultaneously running off-Broadway and in Toronto where it is produced by Daryl Roth. Originally directed by Karen Carpenter, the show opened in October 2009 and is still playing to sold-out houses. Cast members have included Samantha Bee, Kristin Chenoweth, Janeane Garofalo, Michele Lee, Natasha Lyonne, Jane Lynch, Rosie O'Donnell and Rita Wilson. Staged with a focus on storytelling, the actresses sit side-by-side with script in-hand, deftly guiding the audience through an evening of humor, nostalgia and, of course, fashion.

LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE
Written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron
Directed by Jenny Sullivan
Original New York production directed by Karen Carpenter
Based on the book by Ilene Beckerman
Previews: Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 2pm and 8pm
Opening: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 8pm
Closing: Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 7pm

Ticket Info
Ticket prices range from $70 to $75. Tickets are on sale now online at www.geffenplayhouse.com, at the Geffen Playhouse box office or by calling (310) 208-5454.

MEREDITH BAXTER
In film, television and on stage, Meredith Baxter is noted for her accessible portrayals of intelligent, independent women who struggle with the challenges before them. Baxter achieved success early in her career with a string of hit television series including Bridget Loves Bernie, the critically acclaimed drama Family, and most notably, the long-running and extremely popular Family Ties. On the stage, Baxter's credits include Spine, Butterflies Are Free, Guys and Dolls, Talley's Folly, and many different productions of Love Letters in theaters across the country. She starred in The Country Wife, and appeared and co-produced the stage presentation of The Diaries of Adam and Eve. This production was later taped from a Dallas stage for broadcast on PBS. The production of Vanities in which Meredith starred was taped from the stage and broadcast on HBO.

Gina Torres
Gina Torres currently stars in the new ABC Family series Huge, a television show which follows the lives of seven teens at a weight-loss camp. She plays "Dr. Dorothy Rand," a camp counselor. Her past most notable television credits include "Anna Espinose" on Alias and "Zoe Washburn" on Angel. Additional television credits include roles on The Shield, 24, Pushing Daisies, Flash Forward, Gossip Girl, Boondocks, Law & Order, One Life to Live, Any Day Now, La Femme Nikita, MANTIS, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, The Vampire Diaries, and Cleopatra 2525 (which earned her an ALMA Award). Her film credits include The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Jam, South of Pico, I Think I Love My Wife, Dream Girls, Hair Show, Five Fingers and Don't Let Me Drown (critic's choice at the Sundance Film Festival 2009). Torres and her husband, Laurence Fishburne, reside in Los Angeles with their daughter.

Marissa Jaret Winokur
Marissa Jaret Winokur is best known for creating the role of "Tracy Turnblad" in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray, a performance for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress. Winokur danced her way into the hearts of America on "Dancing With the Stars," her stellar performance placed her 4th in the competition. She has been seen co-starring with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon in the Farrelly Brothers film Fever Pitch, and on the hit comedy "Stacked" with Pamela Anderson on FOX. Winokur also starred in the Lifetime movie It Was One of Us. A native of New York, Marissa started her career on the stage, appearing as "Jan" in the Broadway production of Grease. These were followed by her memorable roles in Scary Movie and American Beauty. Marissa has recurred on Dharma and Greg and Moesha, and her guest starring roles include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jack and Bobby, Just Shoot Me, Felicity, and Get Real.

ABOUT THE Geffen Playhouse
The 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 musicals, the Geffen Playhouse 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 is helmed by Producing Director and President of the Board Gilbert (Gil) Cates, Artistic Director Randall Arney, Managing Director Ken Novice and Chairman of the Board Frank Mancuso. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen Playhouse 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. For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.com.

ABOUT DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 100 cities in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the UK and the West Indies. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 550,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.

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