Tim Kniffin, Dodds Delzell and Tim Setzer in 'Art'

“Art,” a French farce about modern art, opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, in the Studio Theatre at Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse.

Written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, the play is about three friends who quarrel when one of them pays a fortune for an almost blank white painting.

The premise is basically the question, “What is art?” but there’s nothing academic about the show. “It’s French farce meets ‘Seinfeld,'”said director Jennifer King.

King, an associate director at Sonoma County Rep and artistic director of Napa Valley College Repertory Theater, originally staged her production of “Art” with the same cast in Napa in November.

“Over there, it was very successful, so I know the audiences here will absolutely love it,” King said.

The show will run through Jan. 23 in the Studio Theatre, 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. Sixth St., Santa Rosa. $10-$25. 6thstreetplayhouse.com, 523-4185.