Gatsby in Hollywood, Joshua Rebell's recounting of Fitzgerald's affaire de coeur, with the gossip columnist Sheilah Graham, will extend its world premiere run at Los Angeles' MET Theatre through Sept. 14. The drama, which began performances July 25, was to have closed Aug. 31.

As a recovering alcoholic, Fitzgerald struck out alone in Hollywood in 1937, leaving his insane wife Zelda at a hospital in North Carolina. Tinseltown, however, was no place for a sober writer and Fitzgerald soon returned to drink. He also fell in love with Graham and, while she taught him the ways of Hollywood, he helped her complete her education. Graham wrote about their relationship in "College of One" and Gregory Peck starred as Fitzgerald with Deborah Kerr as Graham in the film "Beloved Infidel." Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in Graham's apartment on December 21, 1940.

Rebell retells this history in Gatsby in Hollywood. His other plays include Blue Xmas and Preying on Puritans.

Real-life newlyweds Jeff and A.K. Benninghofen star as Fitzgerald and Graham. Also in the cast are Shirley Anderson, Linus David Cate, Russell Edge, Ben Davis, Andrew Friedman, Richard Gustafson, Beth Kirkpatrick, Kara Keeley, Linda Miller, Silas Weir Mitchell, Deena Rubinson and Quinn Sullivan.

Tickets are $20. The MET Theatre is located at 1089 North Oxford Avenue in Hollywood. For reservations, call (323) 957-1152. — By Christine Ehren