Louis & Keely Extended Again at Geffen Playhouse

By Kenneth Jones
21 Sep 2009

Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara, which recently played its 200th performance in the Audrey Skirball Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, announced a sixth extension, to Nov. 1 in Los Angeles.

The biographical musical about Vegas entertainers Keely Smith and Louis Prima will go on hiatus so the Geffen can welcome the one-week run of Alan Cumming: I Bought a Blue Car Today, which will be in the Audrey Sept. 29-Oct 4. Louis & Keely will resume on Oct. 6 and run through Nov. 1 (though, at this rate, it's easy to be cynical and guess that enthusiastic audiences will push the revue into the holidays).

Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, created by Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith, is directed by acclaimed Hollywood director Taylor Hackford. The current production is a revamped version of Broder and Smith's 2008 show. While the creative team is tweaking the show for a future tour, the extension performances will be the same production that has been playing at the Geffen Playhouse since March 2009. 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.

Nick Cagle and Erin Matthews play various other characters in the couple's story. In addition to the four actors, Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara features a seven-piece live jazz band, subbing as Louis Prima's Vegas band The Witnesses.

The creative team includes choreographer Vernel Bagneris, set and projection designer Joel Daavid, lighting design Anne Militello, sound design Lindsay Jones, costume designer Melissa Bruning, production stage manager Young Ji.

For more information, visit geffenplayhouse.com or call (310) 208-5454 or (213) 480-3232.