Geffen Playhouse producing director Gilbert Cates will stage the production which will begin Nov. 8 and open Nov. 16 for a run though Dec. 18 in the newly renovated Geffen Playhouse.
"This great American story dealing with honesty and mendacity is evocative and powerful," said Cates in a release. "I am looking forward to working with Jeremy Davidson, Brenda Fricker, and John Goodman, as they bring their respective roles to life for L.A. audiences later this year."
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play concerns a former football hero (Brick) drowning in his grief after losing his best friend, while his desirous wife (Maggie) longs to produce an heir to the family fortune in danger of going to his older, fruitful brother as their ailing father's condition worsens.
Irish and London stage vet Brenda Fricker will play Big Mama to John Goodman's Big Daddy in the Williams classic while television and stage star Jeremy Davidson plays Brick.
Fricker earned acclaim for her role in the 1989 film "My Left Foot." Other film credits include "Home Alone 2," "So I Married an Axe Murderer," "Moll Flanders," "A Time to Kill" and "Veronica Guerin." Davidson previously played Brick in the Kennedy Center's production opposite Mary Stuart Masterson. The actor is known for guest turns on TV shows such as "Boston Legal," "The Practice," "Jag," "Ally McBeal" and "Strangers With Candy."
Goodman, known to television audiences for his role on "Roseanne," starred on Broadway in Loose Ends and Big River. His film credits include "The Big Easy," "Born Yesterday," "The Flinstones," "The Big Lebowski" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and voicework on "Monsters, Inc." and "Father of the Pride."
The company has held residence at the Brentwood Theatre during an 18 month, $17 million renovation to their historic home. The new Geffen will also include the addition of a new 117-seat space, the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater — which will launch with the world premiere of Rick Cleveland's My Buddy Bill. There will be an opening celebration event for the new playhouse on Oct. 17.
The current run of Heather Raffo's Nine Parts of Desire opened the Geffen season which will continue with Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, followed by My Buddy Bill (Nov. 12-Dec. 18), David Mamet's Boston Marriage (Jan. 31-March 12, 2006), Arthur Miller's All My Sons (April 11-May 21, 2006) and Sam Shepard's The God of Hell (June 20-July 30, 2006).
Subscriptions to the 2005-2006 season at the Geffen Playhouse, at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, CA are available by calling (310) 208-5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com.
