Shows & Tickets
REHEARSALS BEGIN FOR “THE HOPE THEORY”
WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY HELDER GUIMARÃES AND DIRECTED BY FRANK MARSHALL IN THEIR FOURTH COLLABORATION AT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE
FIVE SELECT PERFORMANCES WILL BE PERFORMED IN SPANISH
PREVIEWS BEGIN APRIL 25 - OPENING NIGHT IS MAY 2
LOS ANGELES (March 26, 2024) – Rehearsals begin today for Geffen Playhouse’s world premiere production of The Hope Theory written and performed by master illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimarães (Invisible Tango, The Present, The Future) and directed by EGOT award-winning director/producer Frank Marshall (Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, Jurassic World).
The Hope Theory marks the fourth collaboration between Guimarães and Marshall for Geffen Playhouse, following Invisible Tango (2019), The Present (2020) and The Future (2020/21).
Five performances of The Hope Theory will be performed in Spanish as La Teoría de la Esperanza.
Previews for The Hope Theory begin Wednesday, April 25, 2024, in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse. Opening night is Thursday, May 2, 2024.
From the creators of Invisible Tango, The Present, and The Future comes an entirely new theatrical event. As a Portuguese immigrant, storyteller, and sleight-of-hand magician, Helder Guimarães arrived in America at age 29. Wide-eyed and full of ideas, he discovers a fascinating puzzle of cultural and professional challenges to solve while he tries to build a home. The Hope Theory offers a unique perspective on America through the eyes of an optimistic outsider.
Major support for this world premiere production provided by the Edgerton Foundation New Play Production Fund.
THE HOPE THEORYWritten & Performed by Helder GuimarãesDirected by Frank Marshall
Previews: April 25, 2024–May 1, 2024Opening Night: May 2, 2024Closing Night: June 9, 2024
CASTHelder Guimarães
PRODUCTION TEAMScenic Designer François-Pierre CoutureCostume Design Consultant Audrey LastarLighting Designer Martha CarterSound Designer James GrabowskiComposer Jeff BealDramaturg Amy LevinsonSpanish Translator Jose NaterasProduction Stage Manager Gabrielle J. Bruno
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULEMonday – Tuesday No performanceWednesday – Friday 8:00 p.m.Saturday 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.Sunday 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
SPANISH LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULEWednesday, May 8 8:00 p.m.Thursday, May 16 8:00 p.m.Sunday, May 19 2:00 p.m.Sunday, May 26 7:00 p.m.Friday, June 7 8:00 p.m.
LOCATIONAudrey Skirball Kenis Theater at Geffen Playhouse10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
TICKET INFORMATIONTickets currently priced at $30.00 - $129.00. Available by phone at 310.208.2028 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org. Fees may apply.
Age Recommendation: 16+. All Geffen Playhouse productions are intended for an adult audience; children under 12 years of age will not be admitted.
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 AUDIENCESThrough 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
Helder Guimarães (Playwright & Performer)A Portuguese-born performer recognized by The New York Times as “a master of illusions,” Helder Guimarães is a World-Champion of Magic, Parlor Magician of the Year, Allan Slaight’s Sharing Wonder recipient, and Ascanio Prize winner. His unique approach to sleight-of-hand magic and storytelling was featured in his previous creations Nothing to Hide, Borrowed Time, and Verso. Using his knowledge of deception, Guimarães regularly consults for entities like NBC, Disney, and Warner. As an example, he personally trained Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett for Ocean’s 8. In 2019, Guimarães debuted Invisible Tango, directed by Frank Marshall, at the Geffen Playhouse. In their review of the production, the Los Angeles Times said, “As a rule, Guimarães is in no rush to clear up mysteries. He cultivates them the way a horticulturalist cultivates flowering vines. But he isn’t out to deceive. Or rather deception is put in the service of enlightenment.” In 2020, during the pandemic, Guimarães sold out a 250+ performance run of The Present over six months as part of the Geffen Stayhouse banner. About it, The Washington Post said: “I’m committed now to the belief that Guimarães is an extraterrestrial landed among us to share his superpower to boggle the human mind. And because in an era of rampant transparency, a bit of theatrical mystery restores one’s faith in the essential art of exuberant deception.” In 2022, he created Back to Wonder, an immersive experience that ran for five sold-out months. Guimarães resides in Los Angeles.
Frank Marshall (Director)Frank Marshall is a director/producer and one of the few people to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). With a film producing career marked by five Academy Award nominations and classic series like Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, and Jurassic World, Marshall is also an accomplished director, having helmed Arachnophobia, Alive, Eight Below, and several documentaries, including the award-winning HBO documentary, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart. An amateur magician since he was ten, The Hope Theory is his fourth collaboration with Helder Guimarães. His current projects include directing The Beach Boys, a documentary for Disney+, and producing the new Broadway musical, Water for Elephants, and the upcoming summer movie, Twisters.
PRODUCTION SPONSORCity National Bank
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORWolfsglen
ABOUT GEFFEN PLAYHOUSEGeffen 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/CEO Gil Cates, Jr., Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney 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 CONTACTSZenon DmytrykGeffen PlayhouseIsaak BerlinerGeffen Playhouse
