Louis Prima's Widow Objects to LOUIS & KEELY: LIVE AT THE SAHARA; Show Expected to Tour

Gia Maione Prima, the widow of legendary Las Vegas performer Louis Prima talked to the LA Times this weekend about her many objections to 'Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara' which ended its run today at the Geffen Playhouse.

She says that the show, which she hasn't seen, but has heard the CD of has numerous inaccuracies, including how the pair met, the nature of his death and other items which the show's producers say were 'dramatized' for the stage.

Click here to read the full LA Times story, which also notes that the show is expected to tour and eventually to play New York as well.

 

After being honored with five Ovation Award nominations last week - including Best Musical for the second year in a row, Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara is closing out its run on Sunday, November 8. The production has been playing in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse since March. While these finAl Weeks mark Angeleno's final chance to see th production, the team behind the musical is in the process of planning the show's future.
 
"The development of this show has been a beautiful work in progress, and the eight-month Geffen Playhouse run was a crucial step in the process," said Louis & Keely Producer Sarabeth Schedeen. "Jake and Vanessa are currently rewriting the script while also exploring possible directors to help us continue our journey.  We're all excited about the future of this production.  We look forward to growing the Louis & Keely family beyond Los Angeles, and we're grateful to the Geffen for providing us the home to develop the work."
 
Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, created by Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith, extends following a series of sold-out runs as well as the success of their recently released audio CD.  Helmed by acclaimed Hollywood director/biographer Taylor Hackford, the current production is a revamped version of Broder and Smith's 2008 show.  Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara follows the life and love of Las Vegas' infamous onstage couple, also played by the show's creators Broder and Smith, respectively.
 
In addition to the 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.'
 
The show has recieved numerous awards, including 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.

The Performance Schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Friday,8:00p; Saturday 3:00pm & 8:00pm; Sunday, 2:00pm & 7:00pm. Tickets are $55 - $65 and are available through the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at geffenplayhouse.com, or by phone at (310) 208-5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster at (213) 480-3232.  Student rush tickets are available a half-hour prior to curtain for $15. 
 
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.

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