The recent death of acting legend Jack Lemmon has put the Geffen Theatre of Los Angeles in a reflective mood. In honor of the star of "The Odd Couple" and "Some Like It Hot," the company will host a benefit performance of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks July 10.
The hit, starring another acting legend, Uta Hagen, and television star David Hyde Pierce, recently extended through July 8. The final performance will now be the gala benefit two days later, which will feature a post-show reception with the stars.
Richard Alfieri's comedy-drama opened June 7 with Hagen playing a feisty minister's wife who takes dance lessons from a heartbroken dance teacher who has relocated to Florida from New York City. The characters foxtrot, tango and tangle their way through an assortment of lessons in the play, about love, loss and friendship.
Previews began May 29. Arthur Allan Seidelman directs.
Hagen's career is highlighted with classical and contemporary roles, including Shakespeare, Chekhov, Broadway's The Country Girl and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and Off-Broadway's Collected Stories, among many other works. Pierce is widely know as Niles on TV's "Frasier" but has years of theatre credits behind him. Designers are Roy Christopher (set), Helen Butler (costume), Tom Ruzika (lighting) and Philip G. Allen (sound).
Tickets to the benefit are $100-$250. The Geffen Playhouse is at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, CA. For tickets or information, call (323) 933-9266 ext. 54, or visit www.actorsfund.org.
