Jonathan Groff to star in L.A. premiere of ‘Red’

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Jonathan Groff, the star of Broadway’s ‘Spring Awakening’ and more recently a recurring cast member on Fox’s ‘Glee,’ will appear opposite Alfred Molina in the L.A. premiere of John Logan’s two-person play ‘Red’ at the Mark Taper Forum beginning in August.

Groff will play the role of Ken, a young assistant to modernist painter Mark Rothko. The role of Ken was originated in Britain and on Broadway by Eddie Redmayne, who won a Tony Award. Molina played Rothko in the previous productions.

‘Red,’ which is set to open at the Taper on Aug. 12, will be staged by Michael Grandage, who originally directed the play for the Donmar Warehouse. The drama deals with the sometimes contentious relationship between Rothko and his assistant as they work on a commission for the Four Seasons.

Logan won a best-play Tony for ‘Red’ when it debuted in New York in 2010. The stage and screenwriter received an Oscar nomination this year for his screenplay for ‘Hugo,’ adapted from the Brian Selznick book. His other recent screenplays include ‘Rango’ and ‘Coriolanus.’

Groff appeared in the Public Theater’s revival of the musical ‘Hair’ in Central Park in 2008. He also starred in a 2010 London revival of Ira Levin’s play ‘Deathtrap.’ The 27-year-old actor has been working in film and television recently, with appearances on the CBS series ‘The Good Wife’ and the movie ‘Taking Woodstock.’

‘Red’ is scheduled to begin previews Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 9.

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-- David Ng