Geffen Playhouse season to include ‘Constellations,’ ‘Barbecue’

“Constellations,” the drama by Nick Payne that’s had successful runs in London and New York, and “Barbecue,” a two-family comedy from Robert O’Hara, will be part of the Geffen Playhouse’s upcoming season, which begins in September.

The 2016-17 slate, which will be announced this week, will also include a revival of Donald Margulies’ “The Model Apartment” as well as the world premiere of a play by Alena Smith titled “Icebergs.”

The season will begin with “Barbecue” (Sept. 6 to Oct. 16), which was seen last year at the Public Theater in New York. O’Hara’s comedy follows two families -- one white, one black -- as they bicker and brawl amongst themselves at separate gatherings in a public park.

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Margulies’ “The Model Apartment” (Oct. 11 to Nov. 20) debuted in 1995 and tells the story of a retired couple living in a condo. The revival will be directed by Evan Cabnet, who directed the play in an acclaimed Primary Stages production in New York in 2013.

The playwright has been a frequent presence at the Geffen over the years, with plays including “The Country House” in 2014 and “Time Stands Still” in 2009.

“Icebergs” (Nov. 8 to Dec. 18) takes place in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, following four friends negotiating professional and personal challenges. Smith has served as a writer for HBO’s “The Newsroom” and Showtime’s “The Affair.”

Payne’s “Constellations” (June 6, 2017 to July 16, 2017) will close out the season. The elusive story involves a man and a woman, bound together by advanced physics. A 2012 London production starred Sally Hawkins and Rafe Spall, while last year’s Broadway run featured Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson.

No casting has been announced for the Geffen’s production.

The season will also include Benjamin Scheuer’s solo show “The Lion” (Jan. 4 to Feb. 19) and Matthew Lopez’s “The Legend of Georgia McBride” (April 4, 2017, to May 14, 2017). Two additional productions will be announced later, the Geffen said.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT