The Farnsworth Invention, which debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse in February, concerns the invention of television and will co-star Tony Award nominee Hank Azaria as David Sarnoff and Jimmi Simpson as Philo T. Farnsworth. Simpson also played Farnsworth at La Jolla. Additional casting will be announced shortly. The Farnsworth Invention, according to press notes, "centers around the bitter conflict that pitted Philo T. Farnsworth (Simpson), a boy genius who invented television as a high school student in 1927, against David Sarnoff (Azaria), the head of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The legal battle between Farnsworth and RCA would later become known as one of the great, tragic examples of legal and industrial force combining to crush a rightful patent owner. In a race that would change humanity forever, two men battle one another for honor, glory and a place in the history books."

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At left (from top): Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson; playwright Aaron Sorkin and director Des McAnuff; composer Andrew Lippa and Aaron Sorkin; Des McAnuff and choreographer Lisa Shriver.

Below: The cast and creative team of The Farnsworth Invention.

photos by Aubrey Reuben