'Fat Pig' Extends at Geffen with New Cast

Neil LaBute's West Coast premiere of Fat Pig has been extended for an additional two weeks at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse, with a new cast taking the stage, including original New York cast member Ashlie Atkinson.

Directed by Jo Bonney, Fat Pig will star Atkinson as Helen, "a physically substantial woman who randomly and willingly accepts the unexpected advances of Tom" who will be portrayed by Joe Sikora.  Other new additions to the cast include Jon Bernthal as Carter, Tom's boisterous co-worker, and Jamie Ray Newman as Jeannie, Tom's jilted lover.

"Looking for Ms. Right, Tom meets Helen and is bowled over by her wit, her intellect and her interests, with one problem:  Helen is fat," state press notes.  "Overcoming his own bias for her love, Tom doesn't account for the reaction of friends and co-workers, forcing a man to choose between the woman he loves and how others perceive her."

The play first opened at the Geffen with actors Scott Wolf, Kirsten Vangsness, Chris Pine and Andrea Anders heading up the cast.

Fat Pig plays on the Geffen's Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, near UCLA's campus.  Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at the box office, online at www.GeffenPlayhouse.com or by calling 310.208.5454.

Photo of Ashlie Atkinson by Walter McBride.

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