"Simpsons" Homer Stars in Steve Martin's Underpants in L.A., March 9-April 25

By Ernio Hernandez
March 9, 2004

Dan Castellaneta ("The Simpsons") goes from Homer to hosiery as he stars in the Geffen Playhouse staging of Steve Martin's The Underpants, starting March 9, under the direction of Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown).

The west coast premiere of Martin's adaptation of Carl Sternheim's Die Hose also starring Meredith Patterson (42nd Street) and Anthony Crivello (Kiss of the Spider Woman) is set to open March 17 for a run through April 25 — extended one week from its previously announced closing of April 18.

In the classic 1910 German comedy, a woman's underpants fall down in public while attending a parade for the king and a newfound fame comes to the woman.

The cast of The Underpants includes Amy Aquino ("Frasier," The Heidi Chronicles), Jack Betts (Harvey), Castellaneta (The Alchemist), Crivello (Marie Christine), Patrick Kerr ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Patterson (The Green Bird, The Boy Friend) and Steve Vinovich (Lost in Yonkers).

Martin's comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile was the first play to appear on the Geffen Playhouse stage almost 10 years ago. Now, his Underpants will also be the final play to be performed at the Geffen as the company prepares for its temporary relocation to the Brentwood Theatre before its May 2004 groundbreaking.

The design team for The Underpants includes Alexander Dodge (scenic), Christina Haatainen Jones (costume), Jeff Croiter (lighting) and Karl Fredrik Lundeberg (sound) — who also provides original music.

For tickets to The Underpants at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue in the Westwood area of Los Angeles, CA, call (310) 208-5454, or go online to www.geffenplayhouse.com.