Billie Joe Armstrong Shakespeare-Themed Musical to Make West Coast Premiere

Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse has announced the lineup of productions set for its 2015-16 season.

The season will open with the West Coast premiere of These Paper Bullets! A Modish Ripoff of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Jackson Gay, in the Gil Cates Theater. Commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre, where it premiered in 2014, and coproduced with Atlantic Theater Company, the new musical is written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award-nominated writer Rolin Jones with songs by Grammy Award winner Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong. Performances will run from September 8-October 18.

The West Coast premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph's Guards at the Taj will follow in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, running from October 6-November 15. Giovanna Sardelli will direct.

John Patrick Shanley's Tony-nominated romantic comedy Outside Mullingar will then enter the Gil Cates Theater for a run from November 10-December 20. The production will be directed by Randall Arney.

Next in the Gil Cates Theater will be the West Coast premiere of Bess Wohl's Barcelona, directed by Trip Cullman. Performances will run from February 2-March 13, 2016.

Laura Eason's two-person play Sex With Strangers will follow in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. Directed by Kimberly Senior, the production will run from March 1-April 10, 2016.

Stage Kiss, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl and directed by Bart DeLorenzo, will be the next play in the Gil Cates Theater. Performances are set to run from April 5-May 15, 2016.

Pulitzer nominee Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros's Big Sky will round out the season, running from June 7-July 17, 2016, in the Gil Cates Theater. Tony Award winner John Rando will direct the family comedy.

For more information about the 2015-16 season at the Geffen Playhouse, click here.