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Geffen Playhouse presents the U.S. premiere of Ava: The Secret Conversations, written by and featuring Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated Elizabeth McGovern (Once Upon a Time in America, Downton Abbey) as Ava Gardner, and directed by Tony Award-nominated Moritz von Stuelpnagel(Bernhardt/Hamlet, Present Laughter).
The cast includes Aaron Costa Ganis as Peter Evans (The Noel Diary, Jessica Jones), Ryan W. Garcia as Ed Victor (Ravenswood Manor, Community) and Elizabeth McGovern as Ava Gardner.
“I either write the book or sell the jewels. I’m kinda sentimental about the jewels.” So says legendary Hollywood icon Ava Gardner to her ghost writer Peter Evans as they begin work on her tell-all biography that will shock Tinseltown. But as Peter attempts to glean the juicy details about her life story, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her turbulent relationship to Howard Hughes, an altogether different and unexpected journey unfolds in this theatrical glimpse into the private life of Hollywood’s original femme fatale.
Elizabeth McGovern’s career spans theatre, film, television, and music. She recently starred as Lady Cora in the feature film adaptation of Downton Abbey, a role for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy, and won a SAG Award. Elizabeth recently played Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Theatre Royal Bath, and produced her first feature, The Chaperone, in which she starred. Previous film credits include Ragtime, for which she received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations; Sergio Leone’s classic Once Upon a Time in America with Robert De Niro; Curtis Hanson’s The Bedroom Window; and John Hughes’ She’s Having a Baby. Elizabeth has performed in the theatre in America and the UK, winning the 2013 Will Award for her work in Shakespeare. Other theatre credits include The Misanthrope at the Young Vic, Three Days of Rain at Donmar Warehouse, Time and the Conways at Roundabout Theatre Company, and the West End premiere of Kenneth Lonergan’s Starry Messenger with Matthew Broderick. With her band Sadie and the Hotheads, she has released five albums (including one as a solo release), and is at work on a sixth. Elizabeth would like to thank Karl Sydow.
AVA: THE SECRET CONVERSATIONS runs April 13 through May 14 at Geffen Playhouse on the Gil Cates Theater stage located at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Los Angeles across from UCLA.
Tickets currently priced at $30.00 – $129.00. Available by phone at 310.208.2028 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org. Fees may apply.
Currently, children under six years of age will not be admitted. Masks are no longer required–but are encouraged–for audiences in our theaters and lobby/courtyard areas for all future productions.
Rush tickets for each day’s performance are made available to the general public one hour before showtime at the box office. $35.00 General/$15.00 Student.
COLLEGE AUDIENCES
Through a variety of events and other opportunities, 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.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Monday No performance
Tuesday – Friday 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 and 6:00 p.m.
