Geffen Playhouse (Westwood) – “Key Largo” with Andy Garcia Opens this Weekend!

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Review: Friday, November 15th performance

You don’t have to know anything about or have seen the film, “Key Largo” to enjoy this wonderfully produced adaptation. Audiences thought so — with a standing ovation of this world premiere. Not having a reference to the film makes you appreciate this production which stands on its own merit.

A trumpet plays and we are transported to 1946. The lobby of the Key Largo Hotel, Key Largo, Florida. A meticulously thought-out set design by two-time Tony Award winner, John Lee Beatty is breathtaking — so much, that it actually is a living breathing intricacy of the evening. But, it’s not until the moment the star of the evening, Andy Garcia, makes his entrance that everything comes to life. Within a nano-second of his presence, the evening takes off like a shot. He is terrific as the gangster Johnny Rocco. Charismatic and a highly polished actor who has mastered his craft, he certainly makes the rest of the cast shine. Garcia and playwright Jeffrey Hatcher create an exciting version, which was originally based on the play by Maxwell Anderson.

Joely Fisher (Gaye Dawn) performance stands out as the has-been singer, sometimes lover of Rocco and all the time lush. Well-known character actor Tony Plana evokes a heart-felt performance as the blind and helpless owner of the hotel, Mr. D’Alcala. Louis Mustillo mustered a laugh here and there, in the role of Curly which was very well portrayed.

Other members of the ensemble include Stephen Borrello (Toots), Rose Mciver (Nora D’Alcalla), Danny Pino (Frank Mccloud), Richard Riehle (Sherriff Gash) and Bradley Snedeker (Ziggy).

Gangsters can be fun and this evening of gangsters holding the hotel owner and his lovely daughter-in-law hostage during a historic hurricane is entertaining. Director Doug Hughes did a great job of staging this ensemble piece, especially bringing the dangers of the hurricane to those sitting in the first few rows who jolted suddenly from the realistic roar and awe of impending doom. Great storm effects made this theatre experience especially amusing.

Take the whole family and go see it through December 10th at the Geffen Playhouse.

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Welcome to the eye of the storm! Key Largo is a bold reimagining of Maxwell Anderson’s Broadway hit that became the iconic noir film starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Returning from World War II, disillusioned Frank McCloud travels to a hotel in Key Largo to pay his respects to the widow of a fallen friend. What McCloud doesn’t count on is an entirely different battle with mobsters who have overtaken the hotel, led by the ruthless Johnny Rocco. As a hurricane barrels toward the Keys, McCloud must face his demons in order to take down a monster.

ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY 10-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER AND EMMY AWARD WINNING COMPOSER ARTURO SANDOVAL
PREVIEWS BEGIN NOVEMBER 6 – OPENING NIGHT IS NOVEMBER 14.

Geffen Playhouse announces the full cast for its world premiere adaptation of Key Largo, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt, Farragut North) and featuring Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia (Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, The Godfather: Part III) as Johnny Rocco. The Geffen Playhouse production is adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and Andy Garcia, based on the play by Maxwell Anderson and the screenplay by Richard Brooks & John Huston. Original music is composed by 10-time GRAMMY Award winner and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Arturo Sandoval.

In addition to Garcia, the cast features Stephen Borrello (Seminar, Desire Under the Elms) as Toots, Joely Fisher (Cabaret, Grease) as Gaye Dawn, Rose McIver (iZombie, Masters of Sex) as Nora D’Alcala, Louis Mustillo (Sticks and Stones, Bartenders) as Curly, Danny Pino (Mayans M.C., Measure for Measure) as Frank McCloud, Tony Plana (The Boys of Winter, Zoot Suit) as Mr. D’Alcala, Richard Riehle (Straight White Men, The Iceman Cometh) as Sherriff Gash and Bradley Snedeker (Red Ryder, The Last Supper) as Ziggy.

Previews for Key Largo begin Wednesday, November 6 in the Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse. Opening night is Thursday, November 14.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Monday     No performance

Tuesday – Friday       8:00 p.m.

Saturday      3:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Sunday         2:00 and 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION

Gil Cates Theater at Geffen Playhouse10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets currently priced at $30.00 – $145.00. Available in person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, by phone at 310.208.5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org. Fees may apply.

Rush tickets for each day’s performance are made available to the general public 30 minutes before showtime at the box office. $35.00 General/$15.00 Student
COLLEGE AUDIENCESThrough a variety of events and other opportunities, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes college students to experience the live storytelling presented on our stages. We are proud of our association with UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television, and open our doors to all college students throughout Los Angeles. More information is available at www.geffenplayhouse.org/college.

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