Busch Directs Williams & Kind in 'Allergist's Wife' for LATW

L.A. Theatre Works records five performances of Charles Busch's deliciously devious social satire, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, to air on LATW's nationally-syndicated weekly radio theater series, The Play's The Thing.  The playwright directs JoBeth Williams and Richard Kind in five performances, May 16 through 20, at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Busch's stylish and clever comedy tells the story of New York dilettante Marjorie Taub, a middle-aged doctor's wife who's hooked on culture: mornings at the Whitney, afternoons at MOMA, evenings at BAM.  Plunged into a mid-life crisis of Medea-like proportions, she's shaken out of her lethargy by the reappearance of a fascinating childhood friend. 

Originally produced at Manhattan Theatre Club, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife moved to Broadway where it ran for 777 performances, received three Tony nominations including Best Play, and earned Busch the Outer Circle Critics John Gassner Award.

Charles Busch is the author and star of such plays as The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, which ran five years and is one of the longest running plays in Off-Broadway history.  He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright.  Mr. Busch made his directorial debut with the film A Very Serious Person, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won an honorable mention.  He is also the subject of the documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch.  His newest play, Our Leading Lady, is currently on stage at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

Five performances of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife take place Wednesday, May 16 at 8 pm; Thursday, May 17 at 8 pm; Friday, May 18 at 8 pm; Saturday, May 19 at 3 pm; and Sunday, May 20 at 4 pm.  The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, in the Santa Monica Mountains just off the San Diego (405) Freeway (exit Skirball Center Drive).  Tickets range from $20.00 to $46.00.  For reservations and information, call the L.A. Theatre Works Box Office at (310) 827-0889 or go to www.latw.org .