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Mel Brooks to star in one-man show at Geffen Playhouse

Mel Brooks is shown at the Hollywood Bowl in 2012.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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Mel Brooks will appear in a one-man autobiographical show at the Geffen Playhouse on Monday, “Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen.” The show will have only one performance.

It will be the 87-year-old Brooks’ first solo stage production. The Tony and Academy Award winner created the show, which will be seen at the Geffen’s Gil Cates Theatre.

When asked about the late announcement of the production, Ken Novice, the Geffen’s managing director, said in an email statement that the production “came together really quickly.”

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Most the of details of the show remain under wraps. Brooks is expected to tell stories from his life, including personal anecdotes and reminiscences about his career in TV, movies and musicals, according to the Geffen.

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“What Mel wanted to do was to have a platform to tell some of these great stories that he has in an intimate fashion,” said Kevin Salter, a producer of the show, by phone.

Brooks saw Bette Midler in the solo play “I’ll Eat You Last” that recently played at the Geffen and met the actress backstage, according to Salter.

“She said that he should do something here. It got him thinking and he came to us in February or March and said let’s try to make this happen,” Salter said. “Mel works in that live TV way where everything happens quickly.”

The Geffen said that the show will be presented as part of its Spotlight Entertainment Series that has included “I’ll Eat You Last,” and “Nothing to Hide,” directed by Neil Patrick Harris.

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Brooks adapted his movies “The Producers” and “Young Frankenstein” for the Broadway stage. For the former show, he won three Tonys in 2001, including the award for new musical.

Tickets for “Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen” will be $67 to $92. geffenplayhouse.com.

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