'Scandal' actor Scott Foley takes the LA stage for summer

Scott Foley is leaving "Scandal" behind for the summer for a role on the Los Angeles stage. The 41-year-old actor is appearing with Blythe Danner in the world premiere of "The Country House" at the Geffen Playhouse.

The play's inspired by all the works of Anton Chekov.

"It's got some great comedy in it, but there are a lot of, I guess you could say, scandalous moments that run through the play," he said.

"The Country House" is about a family of actors who return to their summer house during the Williamstown theater festival to honor the memory of a family member who passed away.

Coincidentally, Foley plays a successful actor who has just finished up his third season on a hit television show. He comes to Williamstown to not only visit his family, but also to participate in a play "to sort of absolve himself of the atrocities that are in a lot of people's mind -- the money you make for doing television."

Danner plays the matriarch of the family and a Tony Award-winning actress who is having a hard time landing a role on Broadway or getting other work as she gets older.

Foley says there are some heavy themes, but there's comedy, too.

"I think a lot of the best comedy comes out of pain and loss," he said.

Foley loves getting a chance to do theater work, and has performed on Broadway and Off-Broadway a number of times. Since having children, he's had a hard time getting to NYC to do plays, so when he saw this opportunity, he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"I fought for this part. I had to read for it a couple of times, and audition for it, and put myself on tape and meet with everybody," said Foley. "It was something I really wanted to do. I'd never worked at the Geffen Playhouse before and I figured it's my hometown, I can stay home this summer and be with my kids and do a play."

"The Country House" also stars Eric Lange, David Rasche, Sarah Steele and Emily Swallow. It runs through July 13 at the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse.