STV—L.A. ALERT! Catch Armin by Feb. 16 in witty, thoughtful DISCORD on stage at NoHo Arts Center

Our vidchat is below the fold....

But if you are in SoCal over the next week, HURRY and catch Armin Shimerman as Leo Tolstoy (yes, Mr. War and Peace himself) in this witty, thoughtful and world-premiere meetup of the Count, Thomas Jefferson and Charles Dickens staged at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia at Lankershim, 91601.

Real Time with Bill Maher exec producer Scott Carter realized that this historical trio each rewrote their own version of the Christian gospel at one point in their life, and he's thrown them together in an unlikely and friction-filled limbo while they and we sort out the reason why—and enjoy the era and worldview each evokes. The show runs Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 23, although Armin leaves the cast after Feb. 16.

We had the chance to catch the last preview and, as Armin says in our chat below, the bare stage is betrayed by a few simple yet clever visual tricks and projections that keep you guessing until the main thrust of their mutual bedevilment kicks in. You also learn surprises about all three men, and Armin shares those he was most intrigued to find out: the same was true with three-time Trek vet Larry Cedar as Jefferson, and the animated David Melville as an equally animated Dickens. In the script, all three famous but unrelated men of different eras are thrown into debate while holding to their value and view of theology or morality—and. in turn, offer up a deep dark secret of their own, as well.

The show's had great reviews from the LA Times, among others around town, and you can read much more about Carter's journey with the script here and at JDTProject.com. But hurry: get tickets for the last shows at nohoace.com or call 818-508-7101 (ext 6). Tell'em Larry's Trekland sentya!

And get a head start here with Armin, fresh from that last preview and full of Tolstoy surprises.... (Gandhi? Who KNEW!?)