HOLLYWOOD—“They say a man is old when regrets take the place of dreams,” said famous actor John Barrymore. Jack Betts is a man trying to make sure he has no regrets by doing it all with a career that spans stage, film and television, for more than five decades. Jack was first seen on Broadway in Tennessee Williams’s “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.” He has appeared in productions on and off Broadway (too many to mention), including “Dracula”. He was last seen in Los Angeles in Steve Martin’s production of “Underpants,” at the Geffen Playhouse. Just prior to that, he was directed by Doris Roberts at the Skylight Theater in a stage play he penned “Screen Test: Take One.”
Jack was also seen at the Marilyn Monroe theatre starring in another play he wrote, “1-800-Save-Me.” To further make sure there are no regrets he also wrote and directed, “Friendly Acquaintances” at the Met Theater. In Television his credits include: “Monk,” “The Unit,” “The Mentalist,” “Cold Case,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” “All My Children” and an eight-year contract on “One Life to Live” as Ivan Kipling.
On the Big Screen his credits include, “Fun With Dick and Jane,” “Spiderman,” “The Next Best Thing,” costarring Madonna, “Office Space,” “Eight Millimeter,” “Batman and Robin,” “Batman Forever,” “Falling Down” and a tour-de-Force role as Boris Karlof in “Gods and Monsters.” He is currently preparing a film production of his stage play “It Goes Like This.”
WHAT: Jack Betts, under the direction of Carlyle King, offers an unforgettable portrayal of legendary actor, John Barrymore, a man of colossal talent and contradictions. Considered by many to be one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of all time, the production is set in 1942, the final year of John Barrymore’s life and takes place on the stage of a Broadway theatre, where the actor is struggling to recreate his performance in the title role of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Playwright William Luce (“The Belle of Amherst”) shows us the many facets of this complicated man and dazzling actor: the wives and the women, the drink and the profanity, the notoriety and the glory, in a portrait that Jack Betts brings brilliantly to life.
WHEN: NOVEMBER 4-14 (with a possible extension) Gala Opening, Saturday, November 6. Show times are Friday, Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
WHERE: The Marilyn Monroe Theatre at The Lee Strasberg Creative Center 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., in West Hollywood. Public parking on Orange Grove, N. of Santa Monica Blvd. $5 Valet Parking also available at Lola’s restaurant on Fairfax just south of Santa Monica
TICKETS: $25 – Previews $18, To purchase visit plays411.com/barrymore or call 323-960-7863.
