Fresh off his lauded New York production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.
Set against the backdrop of a close presidential race, Farragut North is a timely tale of hubris, loyalty and the lust for power. Chris Pine takes on the role of Stephen, a young press secretary working for a fast-rising candidate. With confidence and power beyond his years, Stephen is convinced he and seasoned campaign manager, Paul, played by Chris Noth, can steer this team into the west wing without breaking a sweat. But that doesn't mean it won't take some spin. Working to snag positive coverage for his candidate, Stephen works with Ida Horowicz, a savvy New York Times reporter, played by Mia Barron (The House of Blue Leaves, The Coast of Utopia). Watching Stephen in awe as he works the system, is deputy press secretary Ben played by Dan Bittner, who recently appeared in The Vertical Hour on Broadway and can be currently seen on the big screen in Adventureland. Enter Olivia Thirlby as Molly, the bright-eyed flirtatious intern, and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as the conniving campaign manager for the rival candidate, and Stephen's invincibility gets a run of its own.
With quick-witted banter and an inside look into the world of politics, Farragut North makes its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. The play, which originally opened at New York's Atlantic Theater Company in fall of 2008, is a 2007 recipient of an Edgerton Foundation grant for New American Plays.
The Geffen Playhouse isn't the only LA entity interested in this script; according to Variety, Warner Bros is developing a feature adaptation with George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio attached to produce.
Tickets ($45 to $74) are on sale now at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at GeffenPlayhouse.com, via credit card phone order at (310) 208-5454, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain for $15.
Mia Barron (Ida Horowicz)
Recent work includes the revival of House of Blue Leaves (Mark Taper) and the off-Broadway premiere of Hillary (New Georges) New York credits include Tom Stoppard's Tony award winning trilogy The Coast of Utopia at Lincoln Center, The Pain and the Itch, The World Over, She Stoops to Comedy (all at Playwrights Horizons), 1001(Page 73 productions); Hardball, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty (Summer Play Festival); The Grille Room, Sixteen Wounded (Cherry Lane); QED (Lincoln Center). In New York, she also co-wrote and performed in the Off-Broadway production of Big Times (directed by Leigh Silverman). Work at theatres around the country include New York Stage and Film, The Guthrie,The Long Wharf, The Acting Company, The Huntington, Westport Playhouse,The Actor's Theatre of Louisville, The Old Globe among others. Television and film include Guiding Light, Blue Blood, The F Word, 27 Dresses, Righteous Kill, as well as a long running role as the voice of Molotov on The Venture Brothers (Cartoon Network). She is an MFA from the Graduate Acting Program at NYU.
