Obie Award winner Gold (Uncle Vanya, The Aliens, Circle Mirror Transformation) directed the Broadway staging (recreated here with a new cast, save for Goldblum) of the sex-and-literature-kissed comedy by prolific Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebeck (Omnium Gatherum, Poor Behavior, Mauritius, Dead Accounts, The Scene, Our House, TV's "Smash"). Performances play to Nov. 18.
In Seminar, CTG notes remind us, "four aspiring young writers sign up for private writing classes with Leonard (played by Goldblum), an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this provocative new comedy."
Seminar had its world premiere on Broadway in November 2011 starring Alan Rickman. Goldblum joined the cast in April 2012, replacing Rickman.
The West Coast premiere features the complete Broadway design team: set and costume design by Tony Award nominee and two-time Obie Award winner David Zinn, lighting design by Drama Desk Award nominee Ben Stanton and original music and sound design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner John Gromada.
Seminar is produced by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Roy Furman, David Ian, David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry. Cash's theatre credits include The Other Place, Killers and Other Family, Offices, Happy Hour, The Pain and the Itch and more.
Ikeda's New York credits include Top Girls at Manhattan Theatre Club, Edward Albee's Seascape at Lincoln Center, The Bacchae and As You Like It both at the Delacorte and more.
Keller was last seen at the Ahmanson Theatre in 33 Variations with Jane Fonda. He made his Broadway debut earlier this year in Margaret Edson's Wit.
Near-Verbrugghe appeared on Broadway in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also at The Public Theater) and The Ritz. Off-Broadway, he performed in The Common Pursuit, Assistance, Macbeth, Oorah!, boom and more.
For tickets and information, go to CenterTheatreGroup.org or call (213) 972-4400.
