Two CalArts acting students–Amandla Jahava (Theater BFA 16) and Donna Hosseinzadeh (Theater BFA 16)—are currently assistant directing playwright Neil Simon‘s autobiographical comedy, Broadway Bound, at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in LA. Directed by award-winning actor Jason Alexander, who is best known for his role George Costanza on the television sitcom, Seinfeld, the play runs through Sept. 28.
Alexander starred in the original 1986 production of Broadway Bound, and was recently inspired to re-explore it from the director’s perspective with the help of the Odyssey Theatre. The play was a finalist for the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a recipient of several Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations.
The play’s synopsis from the Odyssey Theatre:
Returning from World War II, Eugene teams up with his brother Stanley to break into the world of comedy writing, but a family crisis threatens to destroy their dreams. All the traditional Simon comic genius coupled with his deeply personal recollections of youth.
Both CalArts third-year students are working with a cast that includes Ian Alda, Gina Hecht, Noah James, Michael Mantell, Allan Miller and Betsy Zajko.
Below, Alexander discussed directing the production on KTLA:
Event Details
'Broadway Bound'
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles
Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5 pm through Sept. 28
Tickets: General $30, Pay What You Can ($10 minimum) on Sept. 10 and Sept. 19 (free wine)
Post Show Discussion on Sept. 13