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Michael O’Keefe, Roger Bart join Whitford for Pasadena’s ‘Art’

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It wasn’t long ago that the Pasadena Playhouse was struggling to survive, and Friday it’s announcing a solid team for its revival of Yasmina Reza’s 1998 Tony-winning play, ‘Art.’ Michael O’Keefe and Roger Bart are joining the previously announced Bradley Whitford.

‘With Bradley, Michael, and Roger I have what can simply be referred to as a director’s dream,’ director David Lee said in the announcement.

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O’Keefe is best known from his TV and movie performances, including in ‘Caddyshack,’ ‘Michael Clayton’ and ‘The Great Santini.’ His television credits include a long stint on ‘Roseanne.’ On stage O’Keefe has appeared in the national tour of the Aaron Sorkin play A Few Good Men’ and in the Broadway productions of ‘Reckless,’ ‘Side Man’ and ‘The Fifth of July.’

Perhaps Bart’s most indelible role was as Carmen Ghia in the original Broadway cast of ‘The Producers.’ On screen he has appeared on TV’s “The Event” and “Desperate Housewives,” among many film and television roles.

Whitford is best known for his role as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on TV’s “The West Wing” and recently may have been Red John in the series “The Mentalist.” In 2008, he also starred in the Broadway production of ‘Boeing Boeing.’

Reza’s play won the Tony and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle award for best play. It also received Britain’s 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for best play and the Molière Award for best commercial production in Reza’s home country of France. ‘Art,’ which was performed in Los Angeles with its original Broadway cast in 1999, is the story of three friends and what happens when one of them buys an all-white painting.

It will play at the Pasadena Playhouse Jan. 24-Feb. 19. Not long ago the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reopening in October 2010 on a one-show-at-a-time basis. By spring, the playhouse was stable enough to announce the current five-play season.

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-- Sherry Stern

twitter.com/sherrystern

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