Geffen Playhouse's LOUIS & KEELY Eyes Tour, Future Broadway Run

LA's hit musical Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara playing an unprecedented fifth extension at the Geffen Playhouse's Audrey Skriball Kenis Theater through September 27, 2009, is aiming to match that success on Broadway.

The Los Angeles Times Culture Monster column is revealing today that the team behind the hit musical biography is preparing for a short national tour next year and then "ideally moving to Broadway in late 2010," according to a statement from Sarabeth Schedeen, one of the producers.

Jake Broder, who plays Louis Prima in the musical, confirmed the news in an e-mail to the Times. "Yes, we are putting together a tour ending up on Broadway for 2010," he wrote.

This current version is helmed by acclaimed Hollywood director/biographer Taylor Hackford, the current production is a revamped version of Broder and Smith's 2008 show. it was also announced he would not be connected to any future productions as of now. To read the article, click here.

The show that first opened at the Geffen Playhouse in March extended following a series of sold-out runs and the success of the recently released audio CD featuring the music of Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara.

With lauded reviews from the local media and a near sweep of the highest honor at every major Los Angeles theater awards ceremony - Best Musical at the Ovation Awards, Best Production at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Best Production at the Garland Awards and Musical of the Year at the LA Weekly Theater Awards - Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara continues to play to packed houses.

Created by Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith, who also star as Louis and Keely, respectively, Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara follows the life and love of Las Vegas' infamous onstage couple.

Originally developed by Broder and Smith at the Sacred Fools Theatre Company in June 2008, Louis & Keely has been substantially reworked for its current production at the Geffen. 

Broder and Smith mine new emotional depths in the characters of Louis and Keely, and new cast members Nick Cagle and Erin Matthews play various other characters in the couple's story, including Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. In addition to the four actors, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara features a seven-piece live jazz band that brings down the house as the orchestra for the play and as well as Louis Prima's Vegas band ‘The Witnesses.'

Tickets ($55 - $65) 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, or by calling Ticketmaster at (213) 480-3232.

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.