Ron Eldard, Freddy Rodriguez and Bill Smitrovich Star in Geffen Playhouse's AMERICAN BUFFALO, Beg. Tonight

Ron Eldard (Justified, ER), Freddy Rodriguez (Rico in Six Feet Under) and Bill Smitrovich (Drew Thatcher in Life Goes On) are set to appear in American Buffalo, a revival of David Mamet's American classic.

The production is directed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, whose previous work at the theater includes Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts, Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet, All My Sons by Arthur Miller, Take Me Out by Richard Greenberg, Boy Gets Girl by Rebecca Gilman, and David Rambo's God's Man in Texas by David Rambo.

American Buffalo begins previews in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse tonight, April 2, with the official opening on Wednesday, April 10. Tickets are available in-person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, via phone at 310-208-5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.

One of Pulitzer Prize winner, and Tony and Oscar nominee David Mamet's defining works, American Buffalo was instantly hailed as a new American classic when it opened on Broadway in 1977. The New York Times reviewer Frank Rich said it was "one of the best America plays of the last decade."

Now, Randall Arney takes a fresh look at these misguided misfits who are a little out of luck and way out of their league as they plot the theft of a rare coin collection. As the time of the heist approaches, tension and anticipation build revealing loyalties and testing friendships. Negotiating explosive humor, frenetic energy and surprising tenderness, this play promises a mesmerizing night whether seeing it for the first time or rediscovering this groundbreaking work.

Ron Eldard is making his Geffen Playhouse debut. Other theater credits include the Broadway productions of On the Waterfront, Doubt and Death of A Salesman. The latter of which, along with Neil LaBute's Bash: Latter Day Plays, was filmed by Showtime.

This is Freddy Rodriguez' Los Angeles stage debut. He earned an Emmy nomination, two SAG Awards, and numerous Alma, Nosotros and Imagen Awards, for the critically acclaimed HBO series, Six Feet Under. He is also known for playing El Wray in Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror segment from Grindhouse. Recently, he was a recurring cast member on the series Ugly Betty as Giovanni "Gio" Rossi.

Bill Smitrovich began his professional stage career in the world premiere of Arthur Miller's The American Clock, directed by Dan Sullivan, which went from the Spoleto Festival to Broadway. Smitrovich's other theater credits include A.R. Gurney's Far East at Lincoln Center directed by Sullivan, and Williamstown Theatre Festival productions of A Winter's Tale and The Skin of our Teeth, both directed by Darko Tresnjak.

AMERICAN BUFFALO, written by David Mamet and directed by Randall Arney, will play preview performances tonight, April 2 to Tuesday, April 9, 2013. Opening night is set for Wednesday, April 10, 2013. The production runs through Sunday, May 12, 2013. Performance Schedule: Monday No performances; Tuesday - Friday 8:00pm; Saturday 3:00pm; 8:00pm; Sunday 2:00pm; 7:00pm.

The cast features Ron Eldard as Walter Cole, Freddy Rodriguez as Bob and Bill Smitrovich as Don Dubrow.

Ticket prices currently range from $37 to 57 for preview performances and from $47 to $77 for the regular run. Tickets are available in-person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, via phone at 310-208-5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.

Ron Eldard is making his Geffen Playhouse debut. Other theater credits include the Broadway productions of On the Waterfront, Doubt and Death of A Salesman. The latter of which, along with Neil LaBute's Bash: Latterday Plays, was filmed by Showtime; Eldard was also seen off-Broadway in Aven'U Boys. His film credits include, most recently, Michael Cuesta's Roadie, Super 8, Black Hawk Down, House of Sand and Fog, Sleepers, Deep Impact and True Love. He also appears in the upcoming film jOBS, co-produced by Gil Cates, Jr. Television credits include the current season of Justified, ER, Bakersfield P.D., Men Behaving Badly and two feature length pieces: When Trumpets Fade and Bastard out of Carolina.

Chicago born and raised, Freddy Rodriguez earned an Emmy nomination, two SAG Awards, and numerous Alma, Nosotros and Imagen Awards, for the critically acclaimed HBO series, Six Feet Under. Soon to be seen opposite Michelle Monaghan in Fort Bliss and CBGB opposite Alan Rickman and Malin Akerman. Other films include: Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden, Grindhouse, Nothing Like The Holidays, which he also served as Executive Producer, Bottle Shock, Harsh Times, Bobby, Lady In The Water, Poseidon, Payback, A Walk In The Clouds and Dead Presidents. Other Television credits, the soon to be seen NBC series After Hours, Chaos, Ugly Betty, Scrubs and the HBO film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story with Andy Garcia. He is the voice of Chavez on Hub's animated series Kaijudo, Caesar on Cartoon Network's Generator Rex, as well as roles on American Dad!, Teen Titans and Young Justice. Rodriguez lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

Bill Smitrovich began his professional stage career in the world premiere of Arthur Miller's The American Clock, directed by Dan Sullivan, which went from the Spoleto Festival to Broadway. Smitrovich's other theater credits include A.R. Gurney's Far East at Lincoln Center directed by Sullivan, and Williamstown Theatre Festival productions of A Winter's Tale and The Skin of our Teeth, both directed by Darko Tresnjak. His films include Independence Day, Thirteen Days, Ghosts of Mississippi and The Trigger Effect; he was most recently seen in Seth McFarlane's Ted and in The Rum Diary with Johnny Depp. He has appeared in the television films While I Was Gone, The Reagans as Alexander Haig, The 60s and Failsafe, and regular and recurring roles on The Event, Life Goes On, Millennium, Nero Wolfe Mysteries, Without a Trace, The Practice and Crime Story.

David Mamet is a director as well as the author of numerous acclaimed plays, books, and screenplays. His play Glengarry Glen Ross won a Pulitzer Prize, and his screenplays for The Verdict and Wag the Dog were nominated for Academy Awards.

Randall Arney has been a theater professional for over 30 years, and has served as Artistic Director of the Geffen Playhouse since 1999. In addition to his artistic programming and oversight at the Geffen, Arney has helmed more than ten productions for the theater, most recently Superior Donuts,The Female of the Species, The Seafarer, Speed-the-Plow and All My Sons. Arney is an ensemble member and former Artistic Director of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre where his directing credits include: The Seafarer, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Death and the Maiden, Curse of the Starving Class, Killers and The Geography of Luck, among others. Arney also directed Steppenwolf's world premiere of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, as well as the subsequent national and international acclaimed productions. Mr. Arney's acting credits with Steppenwolf include Born Yesterday, Ghost in the Machine, The Homecoming, Frank's Wild Years, You Can't Take it with You, Fool for Love, True West, Balm in Gilead and Coyote Ugly. As the Artistic Director for Steppenwolf from 1987 to 1995, he oversaw the, creation of a new state-of-the-art theater which is Steppenwolf's current home. Broadway transfers under his leadership include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Song of Jacob Zulu (six Tony Award nominations) and The Grapes of Wrath (1990 Tony Award, Best Play). Mr. Arney has an MFA degree in Acting from Illinois State University and has taught master classes and workshops at UCLA, Steppenwolf, around the U.S. and in Tokyo.

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 second productions, 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 was founded by Gilbert Cates, and is currently helmed by 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.

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