LA ALERT: Armin's back in 'Discord' through Dec. 21

If you missed our own Armin "Quark" Shimerman in the new play last spring about three historical bigwigs who edited their own Bibles finding themselves trapped in a limbo together across time and space in a battle of wits and whys… here's your chance to see the show on a bigger stage, even more refined.

Yes, the same cast—which also include onetime Trek guest star Larry Cedar as Thomas Jefferson, to Armin's Count Tolstoy and David Melville's Charles Dickens—gets an up-tweak now at the Geffen Theatre in a run that's already won rave reviews around town and a one-month extension to boot. It plays weeknights at 8 p.m. through Dec. 21 except for Mondays, with double showtimes on weekends: 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Check out the play website and remaining tickets for Geffen’s Audrey Skirball Theatre at 10886 Le Conte, or call 310-208-5454.

For more on "Discord" itself, written by Real Time With Bill Maher exec producer Scott Carter, there's always our prior Trekland post here ... as well as our backstage, post-play chat with Armin about the play's themes and playing Tolstoy within it.  Ignore the detail s of that small-theatre run; stick with the play's core and Armin's basic thoughts about it—and Tolstoy.  You'll notice that this upgraded production has given Armin's Tolstoy a much more sophisticated makeup and costume (seen in photo at left):

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!?)