By Ernio Hernandez
03 Mar 2003

Actors Adam Arkin, Jeff Goldblum, and Missy Yager will star in the Los Angeles Theatre Works' theatre series season opener Speed-The-Plow. The performances of the David Mamet work will play the California venue, March 12-16.

The Los Angeles company, which records live performances of plays usually featuring big-name celebrities for future broadcasts, is now entering its 16th year. The series, titled "The Play's the Thing," will also include Lee Blessing's Going to St. Ives (March 26-30), Stephen Belber's Tape (April 9-13), Moss Hart and George Kaufman's Once in a Lifetime (April 30-May 4); William Finn and James Lapine's Falsettos (May 28-June 1), Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms (June 18-22) and Hugh Whitemore's Breaking the Code (July 9 13).

Arkin has played on Broadway in the comedy I Hate Hamlet and Off-Broadway in Four Dogs and A Bone and The Extra Man. Most known for his television work, the actor has appeared in such shows as "China Beach," "The West Wing," "Northern Exposure," "Chicago Hope" and "Monk" — the latter three he has also directed.

Goldblum is perhaps best known for his work in such films as "The Fly," "The Big Chill" and "Jurassic Park" (I and II). He has appeared on the Broadway stage in Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Moony Shapiro Songbook. He most recently appeared in New York in The Exonerated.

Yager stepped in for the injured Rachel Miner to originate the role of Margot Frank in the Broadway production The Diary of Anne Frank. Other credits include Laura Dennis and the original The New Group production of This is Our Youth directed by Mark Brokaw.

Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, Oleanna, American Buffalo) penned the play which follows a Hollywood film producer who must decide between two films. Speed-The-Plow premiered on Broadway May 3, 1988 at the Royale Theatre starring Joe Mantegna, Ron Silver, and Madonna. The Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Gregory Mosher played 279 performances.

L.A.T.W.’s "The Play's The Thing" series is performed live at the Skirball Cultural Center. All performances are recorded for future broadcast on KPCC 89.3 FM, Southern California Public Radio.  The two-hour radio broadcasts include special backstage features and interviews with actors, playwrights, and directors.  "The Play’s The Thing" also airs on Seattle's KUOW 94.9 FM, Berkeley's KPFA 94.7 FM and nationally over NPR stations and XM Satellite radio.

For tickets to Speed-The-Plow at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Boulevard, in L.A., CA, call L.A. Theatre Works' Box Office at (310) 827 0889. For more information, visit www.latw.org.