I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom at UCLA James Bridges Theater

The hilarious true story behind America's most beloved TV comedy by Gregg Oppenheimer, son of I Love Lucy creator-producer-head writer Jess Oppenheimer and one of the world’s foremost experts on the show. The onscreen pairing of Lucille Ball (Sarah Drew of Grey’s Anatomy) and Desi Arnaz (Oscar Nuñez of The Office) is at the heart of one of the most popular TV shows in history. Who would have thought that to get on the air they had to battle both a network and a sponsor who thought the show couldn't possibly succeed? Each of the five performances at UCLA’s state-of-the-art James Bridges Theater will be recorded live in front of an audience for future radio broadcast, distribution on CD, digital download and online streaming. L.A. Theatre Works' syndicated radio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S. (locally, in Southern California, on KPFK 90.7 FM); can be heard daily in China and around the world on the Radio Beijing Network; can be downloaded as a podcast via iTunes and Wondery.com; and can be streamed on demand at www.latw.org. July 12 – July 15; L.A. Theatre Works @ the James Bridges Theater, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, 235 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095; $15-$60; (310) 827-0889; www.latw.org