Art Shulman's "$4 Million Giveaway" Blazes into North Hollywood

If you're a playwright in Los Angeles, people may wonder about your ulterior motives. Perhaps you are just being contrary to be contrary, perhaps you are branching out from your film exposure; for many people though, being a playwright is just a last ditch effort for sufferers from the Writers Guild Strike; but not for everyone.

Local playwright Art Shulman is as prolific and competent a playwright as any. With his numerous works at various stages in development and his rather long resume, Mr. Shulman has some new works showing in the Los Angeles area coming about after the turn of the new year that all theatre buffs should check out.

"The $4 Million Giveaway," opens January 18, 2008 and plays Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons until February 24. "The $4 Million Giveaway," is billed from the shows press release as "a seven character mystery," and should be a lot of fun. This show is directed by Kristina Lloyd and will be playing at The Lonny Chapman Group Repertory Theatre (10900 Burbank Blvd; North Hollywood CA)

Further info released from the production synopsizes the play as being about a man who returns to New York City 18 years after taking money from his employer. Having made some smart moves, this former thief is now very rich. In a duplicitous move he calls together some old friends including his ex-wife, ex-best friend, the former employer who he presumably took the money from as well as a homeless person. He offers 2 million to two of them; so long as they are able to decide amongst themselves who is to get the funds! This presents obvious problems coupled with the further facts that they all have grown a severe distaste for each other through the years.

Mr. Shulman has been called "the Neil Simon of the San Fernando Valley" by some of his most exasperated fans and has even earned a soft spot in the heart of this critic after I'd seen his short show "The Hole" at the ACToberfest earlier at the Secret Rose Theatre.