Conan OÂ'Brien, Nick Offerman, et al., to Take Part in STORY PIRATES Benefit Today

Late-night comedy superstar Conan O'Brien is joining forces with the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates for a special evening presented by JP Morgan that benefits the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates Play/Write program. Story Pirates and Friends, a star-studded version of the Pirates' trademark show traditionally performed Saturdays in the Geffen Playhouse Kinross Annex, will feature family-friendly musical comedy sketches based on stories written by elementary school kids.

O'Brien, the Emmy Award winning comedian and current host of Conan on TBS, will headline this family event. Special guests include actor/comedians Nick Offerman (Sin City, The Men Who Stare at Goats), best known for his role as Ron Swanson on NBC's critically acclaimed Parks & Recreation, and Patton Oswalt (Young Adult, Big Fan) who provided the voice of Remy, the rat, in Pixar's Oscar-winning Ratatouille. Story Pirates and Friends runs in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse tonight, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. The evening will include a pre-show reception (complete with a kid-friendly dinner) at 5:00 p.m., and post-show take home desserts will cap the evening off.

While many children's theater troupes tell stories to kids, the Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates believe that every child has a story to tell. The process begins by collecting stories from local kids – and whether it's a world where cats can fly or a rock opera about fuzzy alien tickle monsters, the Pirates will turn any short story into a hilarious musical event! Described as "Monty Python meets Schoolhouse Rock," and pitched perfectly to grownups and kids alike, Story Pirates shows set sail with your whole family on board.

The Geffen Playhouse began its Story Pirates partnership in 2009 as a way to expand the resources of the theater's current in-school initiatives. Story Pirates, originally founded in New York in 2003, works to engage students in under-resourced public schools by showing them that their ideas, their words and their stories are important. As such, the cornerstone of the company is the in-school Play/Write Program, a series of creative writing and drama workshops that lead to a musical sketch comedy show acted by professional actors and comedians and comprised entirely of stories written by kids. As a partner of the Geffen Playhouse, Story Pirates recently opened a West Coast branch and now visits over 20 Title I Los Angeles public schools each year in addition to performing for the general public as part of the Geffen Playhouse's Saturday Scene program.

Ticket prices range from $25 - $50. Contact the Geffen Playhouse box office in-person, via phone at 310-208 5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com for updated pricing and seating availability.

The Geffen Playhouse has been a hub of the Los Angeles theater scene since opening its doors in 1995. Noted for its intimacy and celebrated for its world-renowned mix of classic and contemporary plays, provocative new works and second productions, the Geffen Playhouse continues to present a body of work that has garnered national recognition. Named in honor of entertainment mogul and philanthropist David Geffen, who made the initial donation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates, and is currently helmed by Artistic Director Randall Arney, Managing Director Ken Novice and Chairman of the Board Frank Mancuso. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen Playhouse welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains an extensive education and outreach program, designed to engage young people and the community at large in the arts. For more information, please visit geffenplayhouse.com.

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