Acting Couple's Long-Delayed Play Arrives in West L.A.

Toluca Lake couple Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman team up for their first theatrical collaboration, Assisted Living, which finally came to fruition after nearly 30 years of on-and-off writing.

The Los Angeles Times profiled the husband and wife acting duo, which met in a New York improv class. Having their first child put their joint writing efforts on hold.

But now, their finished work is playing at the Odyssey Theatre through May 12.

The stars are the only two performers in the three-part comedy and play dual roles. Dooley (Breaking Away, Curb Your Enthusiasm) plays Frank, an aging soap opera leading man who faces a life crisis with his longtime girlfriend Emily (Holzman). When the actors switch hats, Dooley takes on the role of Edgar, a fellow soap actor and cranky senior who's biggest fan is his daughter.

Both plots intersect and Holzman tells the Times that the story is about "people who help each other in unexpected ways and who are connected in unexpected ways."

Holzman's prior work includes a writing gig on My So-Called Life and adapting the Broadway smash hit Wicked from a book.

Click here to read the full story on the couple's play.

Click here to read a review of Assisted Living.

Assisted Living plays at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles on 8 p.m. Fridays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays on Sundays. Tickets are $25-$30. Call 310-477-2055 Ext.2 or visit www.odysseytheatre.com.