April 24, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Rita Wilson Returns to the Geffen Playhouse for her Third “Liner Notes” Concert September 7 – 17, 2017

Rita Wilson is bringing her vocal and songwriting talents to the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse this September for the third time. This limited engagement Spotlight Entertainment Series performance features Wilson and guest songwriters performing and telling the stories behind their songs in a cabaret setting. Guests songwriters include Jeff Barry, Kristian Bush, Desmond Child and Billy Steinberg, among others.

 

Wilson has a long history with the Geffen. In addition to her Liner Notes performances in 2015 and 2016, she starred in the theater’s production of Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play Dinner with Friends and Nora and Delia Ephron’s critically acclaimed Love, Loss and What I Wore. In 2009, she was presented with the Distinction in Theater Award at the annual Backstage at the Geffen event.

 

Well-known as an actress (It’s ComplicatedSleepless in Seattle, a recurring role in CBS’sThe Good Wife, HBO’s award-winning series Girls and, most recently on Broadway in Larry David’s smash hit, Fish in the Dark), and as a film producer (Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and its sequel, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, for which she co-wrote and performed Even More Mine), Wilson’s first love is music.

 

In May 2012, she realized a lifelong dream with the debut of her solo album AM/FM. The album, released by Decca/Verve Records, is an intimate, elegant and beautifully sung collection of covers of her favorite songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Since the release ofAM/FM, Wilson has been focusing on a new component of her musical career as a songwriter. In March 2016, she released her self-titled second album, showcasing her skill for creating insightful, eloquent singer-songwriter pop music that is etched with stunning honesty. For two years prior to the release, she worked with a host of the finest award-winning and best-selling songwriters and producers in both Los Angeles and Nashville. This new material was prominently featured in her sold-out two-week residency at the famed Café Carlyle in New York City. “Ms. Wilson has a catch in her voice that conveys yearning and potential heartbreak behind a façade of cheer. As a stage performer, she is gregarious and forthright; a natural entertainer,” said The New York Times. Connie Britton performed Wilson’s song “Strong Tonight” on an episode of ABC’s Nashville in spring 2016. In June 2016, Wilson toured with Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers Chicago, one of the bestselling bands of all time with more than 100 million albums sold.

 

Jeff Barry is a pop music songwriter, singer and record producer who started his career in New York, making famous The Dixie Cups, The Crystals, Ronnie Spector, Andy Kim, Ray Peterson and Ron Dante of the Archies. He partnered with Ellie Greenwich in the 1960s to form one of the decade’s most prolific songwriting and producing teams. Together with Phil Spector, they helped define the “Girl Group” sound with the hits “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me” by The Crystals and “Be My Baby” and “Baby, I love You” by The Ronettes. They also penned the classic “River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike and Tina Turner and “I Can Hear Music” by The Ronettes and The Beach Boys. In 1964, Barry and Greenwich joined the new label, Red Bird Records, to write and produce 15 hits out of its first 20 releases, including “Chapel of Love,” “People Say,” and “Iko Iko” by The Dixie Cups and “Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand)” and “Leader of the Pack” by The Shangri-Las. The duo went on to discover singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, producing his first hits “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Kentucky Woman” and “Girl You’ll Be a Woman Soon.” Barry wrote the television theme songs for One Day at A Time, The Jeffersons, Where’s Waldo? and Family Ties. He continued to write chart-topping hits, including the No. 1 hit single “I Honestly Love You” for Olivia Newton-John; Jeffrey Osborne and Joyce Kennedy’s “The Last Time I Made Love” and Gary Stewart’s “Out of Hand,” among many others. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

 

Grammy-winning recording artist Kristian Bush has been leaving his mark on music for more than two decades. The singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist started his career with folk-rock duo Billy Pilgrim in the early 1990s. In 2004, he exploded onto the country music scene with Sugarland, surpassing sales of more than 22 million albums worldwide, achieving five No. 1 singles and winning numerous Grammys, American Music, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Television and Country Music Association awards. In 2014, Bush made his solo debut with Top 20 hit “Trailer Hitch,” featured on his critically-acclaimed album Southern Gravity, which Country Weekly named the “feel-good album of the year” and Rolling Stone named one of the Top 10 country albums of 2015. He wrote and performs “Forever Now,” the theme song to TLC’s reality series Say Yes to The Dress; his songs anchored the world premiere of Troubadour, a musical set in 1950s Nashville, which debuted at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Center in January 2017; and most recently, he won raves for producing Lindsay Ell’s debut album, The Project. Currently signed to Wheelhouse Records/BBR Music Group, his single, “Sing Along,” is out now.

 

Desmond Child has written more than eighty Top 40 hits, including “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady,” “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “Waking Up in Vegas.” From Aerosmith to ZEDD, his collaborations also include Bon Jovi, KISS, Joan Jett, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Meat Loaf, Sia and Katy Perry, selling more than 500 million records worldwide, as well as downloads, YouTube views and streaming plays already in the billions. His autobiography Livin’ On A Prayer: Big Songs Big Life with David Ritz is scheduled for release in the spring of 2018. Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors, as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2012, he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and serves as its Chairman/CEO.

 

Billy Steinberg has been among the most successful songwriters of the past 30 years, co-writing with Tom Kelly five No. 1 singles on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart: “Like A Virgin” (Madonna), “True Colors” (Cyndi Lauper), “So Emotional” (Whitney Houston), “Eternal Flame” (The Bangles) and “Alone” (Heart). Additionally, he wrote the Top 10 hits “I’ll Stand by You” (Pretenders), “I Touch Myself” (Divinyls), “How Do I Make You” (Linda Ronstadt), and “I Drove All Night” (Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper, Celine Dion). Steinberg and Kelly were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011. In the mid-1990s, Steinberg teamed up with Rick Nowels. They won Grammy Awards for producing the song “Falling into You” for Celine Dion. Steinberg currently works with Josh Alexander and they have written and produced the hits “Too Little Too Late” (JoJo) and “Give Your Heart a Break” (Demi Lovato).

Geffen Playhouse

 

 

 

 

PERFORMANCE AND ARTIST SCHEDULE

September 7 – 9 at 8:00 p.m. – Rita Wilson, Jeff Barry, Kristian Bush and Desmond Child

September 10 at 7:00 p.m. – Rita Wilson, Jeff Barry, Kristian Bush and Desmond Child

 

September 14 – 16 at 8:00 p.m. – Rita Wilson, Billy Steinberg and others to be announced

September 17 at 7:00 p.m. – Rita Wilson, Billy Steinberg and others to be announced

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets currently priced at $59.00 – $149.00. Available in person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, by phone at 310.208.5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org

 

VIP cabaret-style seating includes two complimentary drinks served table-side.

 

LOCATION

Audrey Skirball Theater at the Geffen Playhouse

10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Related Posts

The Brian Jonestown Massacre Drops New Double A-Side Ahead of U.S. Tour

April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025

Legendary Psych-Rockers Set April 25 Release and Fall North American Tour The Brian Jonestown Massacre is set to release a...

(Video) Matú Kai Brentwood: The full experience

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills, located at 11777 San Vicente Blvd. Sister restaurant to Matú in Beverly Hills,...

Uncle Stevey’s Bagels Wins Westside Hearts with Next-Level Bagels, Premium Sandwiches, and Local Coffee

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Family-Run Shop Serves Delicious and Thoughtfully Curated Bagels With Love By Dolores Quintana A little more than a year since...

Santa Monica’s Socalo Toasts Pali Wine Co. with a Five-Course Culinary Celebration

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Enjoy Celebrated Central Coast Wines, Including a 100-Point Red Blend Socalo, the acclaimed Mexican restaurant from celebrity chefs Mary Sue...

Go Go Bird Teams Up with Chef Chris Oh for Korean-Inspired Fried Chicken Sandwich

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Crispy, Saucy, Spicy: Chris Oh’s Fried Chicken Sandwich Lands in Culver City Go Go Bird, located in Culver City’s Citizen...

Fogo de Chão Hosts Wine Lover’s Dream Night with Chilean Winery VIK

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

Diners Will Enjoy a Chef-Curated South American Menu, Highly Rated Wines Wine lovers and culinary connoisseurs are invited to gather...

(Video) A Myriad of Ways to Unlock Your Beauty Offered at Mirror Mirror Med Spa

April 23, 2025

April 23, 2025

For More Info, Go To Mirrormedspa.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/5uE3LO9Lz9 pic.twitter.com/tz8YgJaB4j — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) April 23, 2025

New York Film Academy in Los Angeles Offers Summer Camps, Programs

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

New York Film Academy in Los Angeles is hosting several summer camps for teenagers and kids, providing practical training in...

Cinespia Returns to Hollywood Forever With Cult Classics and a David Lynch Tribute

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Becomes a Moviegoer’s Paradise Once Again Cinespia, Los Angeles’ beloved outdoor cinema series, will return to Hollywood...

Major I-405 Rehab Project Unveiled: Caltrans to Host Virtual Info Meeting

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Sepulveda Pass Overhaul: New Pavement, Safer Roads, Better Commutes The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will hold a virtual informational...

Culver City Government Hosts Second Annual Mental Health Fair at City Hall

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Free Tools, Resources, and Relaxing Activities at Wellness Celebration Culver City will host its second annual Mental Health Resource Fair...

Skip Traffic, Relax, Catch a Vibe: Midweek Sunset Party Lands on the Westside

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

DJ Jason Bentley, Mocktails, Games, Food Trucks, Light Up Fox Hills Commuters looking to escape rush hour gridlock on Thursday,...

San Fernando Valley Man Gets 5 Years for Beverly Hills Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Federal Prison for ID Thief Who Raided Beverly Hills Mailboxes for Millions A North Hills man was sentenced Monday to...

Santa Monica Police to Target Impaired Drivers at DUI Checkpoint 

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Officers Will Be On Alert for Alcohol and Drug Impairment The Santa Monica Police Department announced plans to conduct a...

Academy Announces Major Changes for 98th Oscars, Including AI Rules and New Casting Award

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Academy Now Requires Viewing All Nominees to Cast Final Ballots The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled...