Thea Sharrock (Equus, After the Dance) stages the comedy that began previews Sept. 24 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Performances run through Nov. 3.
DeVito starred in a 2012 London engagement of The Sunshine Boys opposite late actor Richard Griffiths; Sharrock also directed. Griffiths, who died in March at the age of 65, had been announced to repeat his work for the CTG engagement.
DeVito returns to the role of Willie Clark, with Hirsch as Al Lewis. DeVito and Hirsch famously co-starred together on the hit television series "Taxi."
"That was a tough one," DeVito said of the decision to revisit the play without Griffiths. "We also felt that if we were sitting there looking at Richard, he'd be the first to say, ‘Get it up there and bring it in front of other audiences.' He was a spirited and wonderful man. So he's with us, and we're going to make him proud." Read the full interview with Sharrock and DeVito here.
The cast also features Justin Bartha, Annie Abrams, Matthew Bohrer, Benjamin Burdick, Gibby Brand, Johnnie Fiori, Frank Kopyc and PaSean Wilson.
According to CTG, "In Neil Simon’s play Willie Clark (DeVito) and Al Lewis (Hirsch) are former vaudevillian stars who, after a partnership of over 40 years, are no longer speaking to each other. When a lucrative television offer for one last show lures them into a grudging reunion, sparks fly in this classic comedy of showbiz and friendship."
Hirsch made his Broadway debut in Barefoot in the Park and performed in Lanford Wilson's The Hot l Baltimore and Talley's Folly. He won Tony Awards for I'm Not Rappoport and Conversations with My Father. He won two Emmy Awards for "Taxi."
DeVito won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Louie De Palma in the hit comedy "Taxi." He starred in the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," in a role he also played on stage, as well as "Terms of Endearment," "Matilda," "The War of the Roses" and his current series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
The production has set and costume design by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting design by Neil Austin, music by Adrian Johnston and sound design by Cricket S. Myers. Casting is by Jim Carnahan with Los Angeles casting by Mark B. Simon.
The Sunshine Boys is produced by Center Theatre Group by special arrangement with Richard Willis, Sonia Friedman Productions, Roger Berlind, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Rupert Gavin and Darren Bagert/Martin Massman.
Tickets are available at CenterTheatreGroup.org, the CTG box office located at the Ahmanson Theatre, or by calling (213) 628-2772.
