STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

In 1958 Jack Paar hosted pianist and comedian Oscar Levant on The Tonight Show.

Levant was an expert performer of George Gershwin, an actor in the runaway hit movie “An American in Paris” and he pushed the line when it came to his witty quips. He also suffered with depression, anxiety and addiction to pills.

Playwright Doug Wright used Levant as the inspiration for his 2023 Tony Award-winning play “Good Night, Oscar.”  And The Spot is exploring Levant’s self-purported erasure of the fine line between genius and insanity Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 21-31.

Thursday’s performance is a discounted preview.

The play features Brett Moellenberg as Oscar. He will be joined on stage by Travis Flynt, Rachel Aanestad, Jelani Pitcher, Kagen Albright, Matt Musgrove and Andrew Alburger. The play is directed by Yanna Lantz with Samuel Mollner providing the technical direction.

For tickets, visit https://www.spotsunvalley.com/spotseason/goodnightoscar.