Jake Silbermann to Star in New Production of Steve Martin’s 'Picasso at the Lapin Agile'

Former As the World Turns star Jake Silbermann will make his next stage appearance in Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile." Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein and in association with Jonathan Reinis Productions and Stephen Eich, presents "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," directed by Edelstein, running November 26 through December 21, 2014 on the Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck Mainstage Theatre.

Tickets are $25-75. The press opening is Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30 pm.

The cast includes Penny Balfour (Germaine), Grayson DeJesus (Picasso), Tom Riis Farrell (Freddy), Ronald Guttman (Sagot), David Margulies (Gaston), Dina Shihabi (Suzanne/Countess/Female Admirer), Jake Silbermann (A Visitor), Jonathan Spivey (Schmendiman), and Robbie Tann (Einstein.)

Jake Silbermann guest stars in Person of Interest
on November 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Silbermann is a writer, actor and producer born and raised in Manhattan. Growing up as the son of a South African musician and a Brooklyn photographer, he was always immersed in the arts and studied acting and writing at Syracuse University. He began his professional career in commercials, daytime television and eventually theater, his recent work includes the co-production of A.R.T. And Yale Repertory Theatre's award winning "Marie Antoinette" (starring Marin Ireland), David Admji's "3C" (alongside Emmy nominee Anna Chlumsky), the world premieres of "Phaedra Backwards" (McCarter Theatre) and recently finishing his Broadway debut of the critically acclaimed production of the Tony nominated "The Assembled Parties" by Richard Greenberg (starring two-time Tony Award winner Judith Light, Jeremy Shamos and Jessica Hecht). He is the writer of the award winning short film Stuffer and has had several articles published in the Huffington Post. He is also the producer of the acclaimed off-off Broadway production of "Derby Day" by Samuel Brett Williams. His television work includes Gossip Girl, The Good Wife and originating the groundbreaking role of Noah Mayer on As the World Turns. Silbermann is currently producing his first feature film based on the play "The Revival" by Samuel Brett Williams.

The creative team includes Michael Yeargan (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes), Don Holder (lights), and David Budries (sound). Rebecca Monroe is the stage manager.

What happens when Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar? Intellectual fireworks, verbal gymnastics, amorous intentions, and the arrival of a mysterious man in blue suede shoes. On an October evening in 1904, Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso end up at the same small bar in Paris ­- the Lapin Agile. The two young geniuses, joined by an eccentric cast of characters, spar over art and science, their respective libidos, where inspiration comes from, and the promise and dreams of the 20th century. Steve Martin brings his zany and profoundly intelligent brand of humor back to Long Wharf Theatre. ­––­ No joke is too low brow and no idea too high brow to be considered in this crowd pleasing comedy.

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" follows Long Wharf Theatre's successful run of Steve Martin's "The Underpants" during the 2013-14 Season.

"The play is a comic celebration of genius and ingenuity at the dawn of the 20th century. With brilliant comic arias and surprises at every turn, it is Steve Martin’s homage to the genius and amazing thought that will be born in the 20th century," Edelstein said.

In the midst of the all of the fun, the play invites its audience to consider serious questions about the intersection of art and science, the very nature of genius and innovation, and human beings who often seem to be conduits for changing the world. "Focusing on Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity and Picasso's master painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, the play attempts to explain, in a light-hearted way, the similarity of the creative process involved in great leaps of imagination in art and science," Martin said in a published letter.

The play debuted in 1993 at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, featuring Long Wharf Theatre veterans Mark Nelson as Einstein and Tim Hopper as Picasso. Martinwas inspired by a 1904 Pablo Picasso painting, titled “At the Lapin Agile.” Martin saw a photo of the painting hanging unstretched and unframed on a wall – a simple bit of wall decoration. “And that year, whenever it was, 1992, the painting was hanging at the Metropolitan Museum, all stretched out, with a $40,000 frame on it. And I knew it had recently sold for $1 million, and it just sent me back to those days when nothing had any (monetary) value and everything was just about ideas,” Martin said in an interview.

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre, visit www.longwharf.org or call 203-787-4282.

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