- By Deborah Behrens
- Photo Courtesy of Geffen Playhouse
The Geffen Playhouse marks the centenary of legendary performer Nat King Cole by presenting the west coast premiere of musical Light’s Out: Nat “King” Cole starring Dulé Hill (Psych, The West Wing, Suits) and featuring Hamilton star Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. Written by Tony Award nominee Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, who directed prior Geffen hits Barbeque and Skeleton Crew respectively, and helmed by McGregor, the piece focuses on preparations for the final 1957 Christmas broadcast of Cole’s groundbreaking TV variety show.
Light’s Out features such beloved classics as “Unforgettable,” “Nature Boy,” “It’s a Good Day” and “Smile” among others as well as guest star appearances by Eartha Kitt, Peggy Lee and Betty Hutton. Cole was the first internationally acclaimed black performer to host his own show. The round iconic Capitol Records building in Hollywood was known at “The House That Nat Built” due to the success of his recordings. But despite the musical excellence of the host and his guests, national sponsors never solidified fearing backlash from white Southern audiences. A pioneer ahead of his time, Cole quit after 13 months rather than accept a lesser time slot.
“An all-star affair, by turns profound, ambitious, wide-ranging, and dreamlike.” – Philadelphia Inquirer
Plays February 5 – March 17. For more information, click here.
