LOS ANGELES -- The line between politics and show business was blurred recently when two prominent local politicians took on acting assignments.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich appeared in the recent Music Theatre of Southern California production of The Will Rogers Follies at San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. In a cameo role, Antonovich played Wiley Post, who urges Rogers to accompany him on a flight to Alaska.
A different benefactor of the company appears in the role each night -- and Antonovich recently gave $10,000 to the group.
In addition, Mayor Richard Riordan will play a rich American in Thank You, Jeeves, part of the spring-summer season of L.A. Theatre Works' "The Play's The Thing" radio series, June 17-20 at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Santa Monica.
The Skirball Cultural Center has joined Doubletree as a sponsor of the series and will host three of the seven plays in the series in its 350-seat theatre in Brentwood. The Skirball events begin with David Ives' Time Flies, featuring Ed Begley Jr. and Christopher McDonald, Mar. 18, 19, 21 and 22. All performances are taped for later broadcast on KCRW-FM.
-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent