Geffen Playhouse Presents the World Premiere of “Mindplay”

GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “MINDPLAY”

CREATED AND PERFORMED BY VINNY DEPONTO

WRITTEN BY VINNY DEPONTO & JOSH KOENIGSBERG AND DIRECTED BY ANDREW NEISLER

PREVIEWS BEGIN NOVEMBER 8 - OPENING NIGHT IS NOVEMBER 17

LOS ANGELES (October 11, 2022) – Geffen Playhouse will present the world premiere of Mindplay, written by Vinny DePonto (Charlatan, Angels in America) & Josh Koenigsberg (Orange is the New Black, High Fidelity) and directed by Andrew Neisler (Folk Wandering, Clown Bar), produced with three-time Tony Award-winning producer Eva Price (Jagged Little Pill, Oklahoma!).

Previews for Mindplay begin Tuesday, November 8 in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse. Opening night is Thursday, November 17.

Mindplay is a love letter to the imperfect mind. Drama Desk Award–nominated theater-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto leads us on a raucous romp through the back channels of our innermost thoughts, exploring the fragmented and flawed nature of our memories, and asks us to question whether we can trust the voice inside our heads. In the spirit of the Geffen’s long tradition of magic comes an entirely new theatrical event in which your thoughts play a leading role.

Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund.

MINDPLAY

Created & Performed by Vinny DePonto

Written by Vinny DePonto & Josh Koenigsberg
Directed by Andrew Neisler
Produced with Eva Price

Previews: November 8, 2022 – November 16, 2022
Opening Night: November 17, 2022
Closing Night: December 18, 2022

PRODUCTION TEAM
Scenic Designer Sibyl Wickersheimer
Lighting Designer Pablo Santiago
Sound Designer Everett Elton Bradman
Costume Design Consultants Audrey Lastar & Sarah Lindsley
Creative Consultant Enrico de la Vega
Dramaturg Amy Levinson
Production Stage Manager Julie Ann Renfro

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Monday No performance
Tuesday – Friday 7:30 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 1:00 and 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

TICKET INFORMATION
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 required – additional policy details can be found at www.geffenplayhouse.org/plan/reopening/.

Rush tickets for each day’s performance are made available to the general public two hours 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.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Vinny DePonto (Creator, Playwright & Performer)
The work of theatre-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto uses a combination of psychological tricks, visual art, and immersive storytelling. His off-Broadway show Charlatan was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience.” He is also a member of the Bessie Award–winning theatre group Third Rail Projects. His solo work has been presented by Ars Nova, American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theater at Harvard, and The Orchard Project. In addition to his live performances, DePonto’s consulting work was featured in the most recent production of Angels in America on Broadway, in Lincoln Center’s Ghostlight, and in hit television shows on the Discovery Channel, NBC, and Netflix. He enjoys burrata, colorful socks, and your deep, dark secrets. He currently lives in upstate New York. @VinnyDePonto

Josh Koenigsberg (Playwright)
Josh Koenigsberg is a Drama Desk–nominated playwright and screenwriter. His work has been produced at Ars Nova, Atlantic Theater Company, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Naked Angels, The Old Vic, Primary Stages, The Public Theater, Second Stage Theater, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Theatre Row, Williamstown Theater Festival, The 24 Hour Plays/Musicals, and more. Josh’s plays include Al’s Business Cards, Dance Lessons, The Mnemonist of Dutchess County—all published by Samuel French—as well as Herman Kline’s Midlife Crisis, The Rise and Fall of Marcus Monroe, Charlatan starring award-winning mentalist Vinny DePonto, and VROOM VROOM, which he adapted and directed as an Audible Original series. Josh has written screenplays for Disney, Hulu, Lionsgate, Netflix, and Paramount, among others. TV/Film credits include the Emmy–winning series Orange Is The New Black (Netflix/Lionsgate), High Fidelity (Hulu/ABC Signature), and Secret Headquarters (Paramount/Jerry Bruckheimer Films). Josh is currently writing the film adaptation of the popular videogame Mega Man for Netflix and Chernin Entertainment. His burrito recipe “Josh’s Famous Burritos” is published by The New York Times.

Andrew Neisler (Director)
Andrew Neisler is a Georgia-raised, New York-based theatre maker, director, and producer with a passion for joy-forward, laughter-filled, queer-affirming art, as well as a deepening interest in ecological theatre that works to restore our connection with the Earth. Select directing credits include the immersive nightclub show Another Rose for Virgin Voyages, the critically acclaimed musical Folk Wandering which he also co-authored with playwright Jaclyn Backhaus (Pipeline Theatre Company), the world premiere of César Alvarez’s The Elementary Spacetime Show (Philadelphia’s FringeArts Curated Series), New York Times Critic’s Pick Clown Bar (The Box), and Drama Desk–nominated Charlatan (Ars Nova). He has developed new projects with The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova, Playwrights Horizons, HERE Arts Center, Primary Stages, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, NYU, University of the Arts, Colgate University, Williams College, and more. He is a co-Founder and Creative Director of the arts incubation company Fresh Ground Pepper (www.fgpnyc.com), where he has cultivated over 750 artists in a series of development opportunities, residencies, and retreats over the past 12 years. He is currently serving as the Interim Associate Artistic Director at Ars Nova. He holds a B.F.A. from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.andrew-neisler.com

Eva Price (Producer)
Eva Price is an Olivier, Emmy, and Tony award-winner and ACLU Honoree. Broadway: & Juliet; Jagged Little Pill (2 Tony Awards); Oklahoma! (Best Musical Revival); Mr. Saturday Night; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; What the Constitution Means to Me; Angels in America (Best Play Revival); Dear Evan Hansen (Best Musical); On Your Feet!; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards); Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld); Annie; The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino; Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking; The Addams Family; as well as several solo shows and concerts starring The Temptations & the Four Tops; Kathy Griffin; Lewis Black; and Hershey Felder. Off-Broadway and touring: Titanique (off-Broadway world premiere); Mindplay (Geffen Playhouse); Sanctuary City; Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical; Found; The Lion; Small Mouth Sounds; The Hip Hop Nutcracker (Emmy Award for PBS Special); The Magic School Bus Live!; and Ella.

OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
UCLA Health
Skylight Gardens

ABOUT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
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 not-for-profit organization 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 Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr., Artistic Director Matt Shakman and Board Chair Adi Greenberg. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes an audience of more than 130,000 each year, and maintains extensive education and community engagement programs, designed to involve underserved young people and the community at large in the arts. www.geffenplayhouse.org

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Zenon Dmytryk
Geffen Playhouse

Isaak Berliner
Geffen Playhouse