'Joan Rivers Theatre Project' Premieres at Geffen Playhouse

This February, Joan Rivers brings the world-premiere of her four-character autobiographical play, The Joan Rivers Theater Project, to the Geffen Playhouse.  The comedy, which Rivers not only wrote, but also stars in, is a fitting peak to the Geffen's season highlighting women in theater.  Set immediately before a big awards preshow, Rivers uses her dressing room (B, not A), her cheese plate (puny, not plentiful) and her producer (the bigwig's nephew, not the bigwig), as impetus for an introspective look at aging, going through life's ups and downs and being a woman in  Hollywood.

The Joan Rivers Theater Project was workshopped at San Francisco's Magic Theater (directed by Mark Rucker) in August of this year to help develop the piece, and the upcoming Geffen Playhouse's production will mark the world premiere of Rivers' third full-length play.  Rivers was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress for her last appearance on Broadway in Sally Marr and Her Escorts and gained international acclaim for her one-woman show Broke and Alone, both of which she coauthored as well.  In addition, Rivers is a best-selling author, screenwriter, film director, columnist, syndicated radio host and Emmy Award-winning television talk show host.

The Joan Rivers Theater Project is being presented as part of the Geffen Playhouse's 07/08 season during the dates in which The Female of the Species was originally announced.  While there is still a possibility of rescheduling Joanne Murray-Smith's production next season, the Geffen has decided to move forward and replace the show while the play's Broadway producer is exploring casting options.

Performances are Tuesday, February 5 through Sunday, March 30, 2008.  Previews are February 5 – 12; opening February 13.

Tickets ($35 to $74) 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 213-365-3500. Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain for $15.

Show times are Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30PM; Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 4PM & 8:30PM; and Sunday at 2PM & 7PM.

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