Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

'Good Grief' Calendar Release

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 16:09:00 -0800

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February – March 2017

EVENT:

“Good Grief”

by Ngozi Anyanwu

Directed by Patricia McGregor

World Premiere

DESCRIPTION:

“Good Grief” follows Nkechi (played by Anyanwu), a good Nigerian-American girl frozen in her own coming-of-age story. When tragedy strikes on an unplanned break from college, she retreats into her childhood home and reexamines the many steps she’s taken on the way to adulthood, from first crush, to missed connections to the struggles of a first-generation girl blending in to her suburban Pennsylvania reality.

DATES/TIMES:

Previews Begin February 26, 2017. Opens March 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Through March 26.

Previews: Sunday through Saturday at 8 p.m. No Monday performance.

Regular Performances (March 7 through 26):

Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. No Monday performances.

Exceptions: No public performance on March 14.

TICKET INFO:

Ticket Prices: $25 – $70 (Ticket prices are subject to change.)

Tickets are available online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, by calling Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 or in person at the Center Theatre Group box office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles) or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office two hours prior to performances. Groups: (213) 972-7231. Deaf community: Information and charge, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/ACCESS.

LOCATION:

Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre

9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

Ample free parking and restaurants adjacent.

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December 21, 2016

Center Theatre Group Welcomes Eleven New Board Members

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP WELCOMES ELEVEN NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Center Theatre Group announced the appointment of 11 new board members to its Board of Directors in 2016: Thom Beers, Mara Carieri, Susanne Daniels, Bradford W. Edgerton, M.D., Manuela Cerri Goren, Louise Moriarty, Michael Rogers, Monica Horan Rosenthal, Sandra Stern, Quentin D. Strode and Marshall Trenkmann.

“We are thrilled to welcome 11 new members from a multitude of backgrounds to the Center Theatre Group Board of Directors,” said Kiki Ramos Gindler, President of the Board. “The recent expansion is part of our ongoing effort to grow the size of the board, broaden its expertise and elevate the reach of Center Theatre Group as it launches its 50th anniversary campaign and looks forward to the next 50 years.”

“I’ve had a great time getting to know our newest board members,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “I am extremely happy to have so many creative leaders who have a passion for theatre join us in strengthening our entertainment industry relationships, as well as our connection to the greater Hollywood community.”

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit theatre company, programming seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2000-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Thom Beers, Original Productions CEO and Executive Producer

Thom Beers is a three-time Emmy award-winning television producer, industry veteran and creative visionary. Beers has an impressive resume of hit television series and was the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Producer of Original Productions. Original Productions has cataloged more than 40 television series across cable dynamos such as, HISTORY, Discovery, Spike TV, The National Geographic Channel, truTV and A&E. Beers is the driving force behind the Primetime Emmy and Producer’s Guild of America Award-winning television show, “Deadliest Catch.” His top rated signature series included “Ice Road Truckers,” “Ax Men,” “Monster Garage,”” Black Gold,” “Storage Wars” and “Coal.” DIGILAND is the newest development in Beer’s channel of successful business ventures. DIGILAND's main attraction is its flawless milieu where content-driven professionals can work together in a unique environment. As a result of DIGILAND's entourage, it will be known as the first collaborative workspace in Burbank, CA. Next on the docket for Beers will be a new Reality TV company on the DIGILAND property, BobCat Studios.

Mara Carieri, Educator and Executive Board Member of the Parent Leadership Circle at USC

A second generation Angelino, Mara Carieri worked as Director of Training and Assistant Human Resources Manager at Bullocks Wilshire, Woodland Hills after receiving her B.A. in History from UCLA. She returned to school and earned a Masters of Education with a specialization in training teachers from UCLA in 1990. Mara worked as a first grade teacher with the Oak Park Unified School District until 1996, then as a language arts facilitators for Macmillan-McGraw Hill from 1996-1997, helping the company align curriculum to California state language arts standards. Mara served on the Viewpoint School Service Association for 12 years, five of those on the Executive Board as Chairman of Hospitality and Secretary. She served for 12 years as the Theater Representative, acting as a liaison between the performing arts department and the Parent Teacher Association. Prior to that, she served on the Carden Conejo school Parent Faculty Association (PFA) for five years, two of those as Secretary. She was a vice chairman of the Parent Leadership Council for Columbia College at Columbia University from 2012 to 2015, reaching out to new families and prospective leadership council members. Currently, Mara serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Parent Leadership Circle at USC where she acts as an ambassador to new families and a representative between the board and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content for YouTube

Susanne Daniels is an award-winning entertainment executive who has developed and produced some of the most iconic and groundbreaking series in entertainment. As Global Head of Original Content for YouTube, Susanne is responsible for leading the company’s overall efforts and investments in original content, including programming strategy, development and production of series and feature films. Susanne brings an extraordinary level of programming experience to YouTube, spanning her most recent work as President of Programming at MTV (“Scream,” “Finding Carter,” “Faking It,” “Are You The One?”) as well as top posts as the President of Lifetime Television (“Army Wives,” Drop Dead Diva,” “Project Runway”) and The WB (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Dawson’s Creek,” Gilmore Girls,” “Charmed,” “7th Heaven,” “Smallville”) and Vice President of Comedy for Fox Television (“Martin,” “Living Single”) and Director of Specials at ABC (Academy Award, American Comedy Awards, American Music Awards). Susanne has served as consultant to several major entertainment companies including Viacom’s Teen Nick, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN and Media Rights Capital. Susanne also serves on the board of The Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Common Sense Media.

Bradford W. Edgerton, M.D., President of the Edgerton Foundation

Dr. Edgerton has been a practicing physician and reconstructive plastic surgeon since 1973 and moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to join Kaiser Permanente, where he specialized in the reconstructive surgery of nerves, hand surgery, breast cancer and facial problems for congenital deformities, tumors and injuries. Dr. Edgerton was a Chemistry major at Vanderbilt University where he also received his M.D. He has been an Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Southern California and has published a number of scientific articles and textbook chapters. Dr. Edgerton serves as President of the Edgerton Foundation, which supports a number of Los Angeles educational and artistic organizations. The Edgerton Foundation has established The Edgerton Foundation New Play Award national program for new play development and has awarded over 300 grants over the last 10 years to nonprofit theatres around the country to support extra rehearsal time for world premieres. This program was initiated in 2006 in collaboration with Center Theatre Group with grants to support “Curtains” and “13.” Other Center Theatre Group productions that received Edgerton Foundation New Plays Awards include "33 Variations,” “Of Equal Measure,” “Next to Normal,” “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” “Eclipsed,” “Water By the Spoonful,” “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” “Luna Gale” and “Archduke.” Dr. Edgerton also serves on the board of directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Geffen Playhouse, Pacific Council for International Policy and Harvard-Westlake School. He also sits on the National Council for the American Theatre.

Manuela Cerri Goren, International Journalist for Condé Nast

Manuela Cerri Goren is an international journalist who specializes in entertainment. For over 20 years she has worked for Condé Nast writing for Italian Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue and Glamour. She spent three years as a producer and on-air correspondent for the daily two-hour radio program “Live from New York” for Radio 105 Italia. She is currently the U.S. correspondent for D, the weekly magazine of La Repubblica, the bestselling Italian newspaper. Manuela also sits on the Board of Directors of American Friends of Jamaica, The Tryall Fund, Dress for Success, Jamaica and on the Dean’s Council of the Gallatin School at New York University where she is also part of NYU’s Women’s Initiative. Manuela is also a former Advisory Member at MCC Theatre in New York and a former board member at The New Group.

Louise Moriarty, Senior Vice President of Capital Fixed Income Investors

Louise Moriarty is the Senior Vice President responsible for managing the global fixed income trading business at Capital Fixed Income Investors, part of the Capital Group. She has 30 years of investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for 25 years. From 1994 to 2004, Louise was a portfolio manager at Capital Guardian Trust Company’s Private Client Services division. Prior to joining Capital, Louise worked in institutional money market sales at Calyon (formerly Crédit Lyonnais). She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Los Angeles Society of Financial Analysts. Louise was born and raised in New York and has been in the Los Angeles area since 1985. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Boston College. Louise is a long-time supporter of Chrysalis and the Catholic Education Foundation.

Michael Rogers, Southern California Regional Managing Director of the Private Banking and Investment Group

Michael Rodgers is the Regional Director responsible for the Southern California Region of the Private Banking and Investment Group. Before joining Private Banking Investment Group in 2007, he managed the Southern California region for Morgan Stanley. For 12 years, Michael served as a private banker domestically with JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York and Los Angeles and internationally covering Latin America with Bank of America. Michael holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. A native of California, Michael is involved in a variety of activities centered on promoting education in his community. He serves on the Board of Governors for Palisades Charter High School, the board of the Friends of USC Libraries at the University of Southern California and is active with the USC School of Music.

Monica Horan Rosenthal, Founder of the Rosenthal Family Foundation, The Flourish Foundation and Actor

Monica Horan Rosenthal along with her husband Philip Rosenthal, founded the Rosenthal Family Foundation and The Flourish Foundation (who's executive team is entirely staffed by former student's that had participated in and benefitting from Flourish programming) with a primary focus of supporting the arts education opportunities for elementary, middle and high School students in Los Angeles, with the goal of restoring the Arts as core curriculum in every public school in every zip code in LA. As an actor, Monica is best known for her role on the long-running sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” She appeared in the CTG production of “different words for the same thing” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. After graduating from Hofstra University with a degree in Theater Performance, Monica moved to New York where she performed in theatre and sketch comedy. She also performed in the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom.” Monica and her husband Phil Rosenthal, executive producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” are longtime supporters of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, establishing the Phil and Monica Rosenthal Endow Education and Program Fund in 2007. Monica has served on the boards of Temple Israel of Hollywood, and Inner-City Arts. The Rosenthal Family Foundation supports the Center Theatre Group’s August Wilson Program.

Sandra Stern, President of Lionsgate Television Group

Sandra Stern, a 14-year veteran of Lionsgate, was named President of the Lionsgate Television Group in 2015. She has helped triple the size of Lionsgate’s television slate, which now encompasses nearly 90 series on more than 40 different U.S. networks, in the past three years alone. The Lionsgate Television Group has achieved record-breaking revenue growth during nearly every year of her tenure. A consummate and innovative deal-maker, Stern has pioneered ground-breaking television network and streaming platform deals for Lionsgate’s most iconic series, including the multiple Emmy Award winner “Mad Men” (AMC), “Weeds” (Showtime), the ground-breaking “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix), “Nashville” (CMT/Hulu), “The Royals” (E!), “Casual” (Hulu) and the recent breakout success “Greenleaf” (OWN). A graduate of UCLA Law School, Stern began her career in the Columbia Pictures Television legal department, followed by a stint as a television attorney with the law firm that is now Bloom, Hergott, Cook, Diemer & Klein LLP. Stern then headed business affairs and international development at New World Entertainment where she put together the first-ever international co-production for a U.S. broadcast network. She had a seven-year tenure spearheading business affairs for the Columbia TriStar Television Group before leaving to become founding COO of the Artists Television Group. She joined Lionsgate in 2003.

Quentin D. Strode, Managing Director and Principal at Atrifex Capital & Advisory

Quentin D. Strode is Managing Director and Principal at Atrifex Capital & Advisory. In this capacity, Quentin uses his skills as a 25-year retail, small business and community development banker to create innovative business and operational solutions. Prior to his entrepreneurial endeavor, Quentin served in senior leadership at both Bank of America and US Bank, running multi-state retail and small business operations. Quentin also guided some of the decisions on local charitable giving, sponsorships, and marketing, including the coordination of all community relations activities. Quentin is active in a number of business and civic organizations and formerly graduated from Leadership Los Angeles in 2003. In 2002, Quentin received an appointment from Governor Grey Davis to the Governing Board of Management at the California African American Museum. Quentin also serves on the board of directors of Educating Young Minds in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Parks Foundation and STEAM Coders.

Marshall Trenkmann, J.P. Morgan Credit Risk Director

Marshall Trenkmann manages the CCB West Diversified Portfolio as a Credit Risk Director based in Los Angeles and has been with J.P. Morgan for over 12 years. Prior to joining the CCB in Los Angeles, Marshall spent 2.5 years leading the CIB LATAM credit team in Mexico City where he focused on Mexican corporations. He joined J.P. Morgan in 2004 and spent the first 8 years of his career on the CIB Oil and Gas credit team in Houston. Marshall holds undergraduate and masters degrees from Texas A&M University, has a strong passion for Spanish/Latin American studies, and enjoys traveling wherever he can fish. Marshall is married to Karla Souza who has a re-occurring role on “How To Get Away With Murder” and is a founding member of the Los Angeles based Ammunition Theatre Company (Ammo). J.P. Morgan has been a member of the Corporate Circle since 2008 and made contributions totaling $918,000 to date.

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December 21, 2016

Center Theatre Group Selects Three Productions For Block Party

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 16:56:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP SELECTS THREE LOCAL PRODUCTIONS FOR INAUGURAL BLOCK PARTY AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

Center Theatre Group Will Remount Productions from Coeurage Theatre Company, Echo Theater Company and Fountain Theatre for Block Party Celebration April 14–May 21

Center Theatre Group has selected three local productions for the inaugural Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Block Party will remount Coeurage Theatre Company’s production of “Failure: A Love Story” by Philip Dawkins, Echo Theater Company’s production of “Dry Land” by Ruby Rae Spiegel and Fountain Theatre’s production of “Citizen: An American Lyric” by Claudia Rankine and adapted for the stage by Stephen Sachs. Each production will have a two-week run presented April 14 through May 21, 2017.

The selected shows will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production. Full casting for “Failure: A Love Story,” “Dry Land” and “Citizen: An American Lyric” will be announced at a later date.

“Failure: A Love Story” from Coeurage Theatre Company will take the first slot and will begin previews April 14, open April 16 and close April 23. Written by Philip Dawkins and directed by Michael Matthews, the show chronicles the lives, loves and deaths of the three Fail sisters and the one man who fell in love with each of them. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Chicago, this touching, whimsical tale explores the impermanence of life and the permanence of love.

“We're completely thrilled to be a part of this program,” said Coeurage Artistic Director Jeremy Lelliott of being selected. “Center Theatre Group is a standard-bearer in the L.A. arts scene, and to benefit from their support and input on our growth and this upcoming production marks an exciting new chapter for Coeurage and the 99-seat community as a whole.”

Fountain Theatre’s “Citizen: An American Lyric,” a meditation on race that fuses poetry, prose, movement, music and the video image, will begin previews on April 28, open April 30 and close May 7. Adapted by playwright and Fountain Theatre Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, it is a provocative stage adaptation of Claudia Rankine’s internationally acclaimed book of poetry about everyday acts of racism in America. Of Rankine’s “Citizen,” The New Yorker wrote that it was “brilliant… [and] explores the kinds of injustice that thrive when the illusion of justice is perfected.” The New York Times wrote that “Rankine brilliantly pushes poetry’s forms to disarm readers and circumvent our carefully constructed defense mechanisms against the hint of possibly being racist ourselves.”

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Center Theatre Group on its first-ever Block Party at the Kirk Douglas Theatre,” said Sachs. “It's particularly meaningful to us that ‘Citizen’ was chosen because racism and white dominance in America is as timely now, since the election, as it ever was. The project also reflects the diversity of our work at the Fountain Theatre.”

Written by Ruby Rae Spiegel and directed by Alana Dietze, Echo Theater Company’s “Dry Land” will take the final slot of Block Party and will begin previews May 12, open on May 14 and close on May 21. It is a haunting play about female friendship and an abortion that takes place in the locker room of a central Florida high school. Written when Spiegel was just 21 years old and still an undergraduate at Yale, the play is a deeply truthful portrait of the fears, hopes and bonds of teenage girls — as gut-wrenching as it is funny. In his New York Times “critic’s pick” review, Ben Brantley called “Dry Land” “tender, caustic, funny and harrowing, often all at the same time.”

“The Echo is delighted and honored to be selected for Block Party,” said Echo Theater Artistic Director Chris Fields. “The fulfillment of being recognized and the deep gratification of being part of a special affirmation of our entire Los Angeles theatre community is just wonderful.”

“As we celebrate Center Theatre Group’s 50 years of creating theatre in Los Angeles, we want to turn the spotlight on some of the remarkable work being done on other stages,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie in discussing Block Party. “Coeurage Theatre, Echo Theater and Fountain Theatre, as well as others throughout L.A., regularly produce excellent, boundary-pushing work and we’re so glad they are sharing some of that work with us.”

Tickets for Block Party will go on sale to the general public in February.

Center Theatre Group received 76 submissions for Block Party from intimate theatre companies from North Hollywood to San Pedro, Topanga to Sierra Madre. Each company was able to submit one production that opened between January 1, 2015, and August 12, 2016.

With Block Party, Center Theatre Group hopes to strengthen relationships within the Los Angeles community, create additional avenues for the organization to become familiar with local playwrights, actors, directors and designers, and foster relationships between Center Theatre Group staff and the staff at theatre companies throughout Los Angeles.

Block Party receives major support from Aliza Karney Guren and Marc Guren with generous funding also provided by Joni and Miles Benickes.

Center Theatre Group has a long history of pairing with local theatre companies including the Deaf West production of “Big River” which was produced at the Mark Taper Forum in 2002 and went on to Broadway before returning to the Ahmanson Theatre in 2005 as part of a national tour. More recently, Center Theatre Group partnered with Ebony Repertory Theatre for the remounting of “A Raisin in the Sun” (which played at the Douglas), 24th Street Theatre’s “Walking the Tightrope” (also at the Douglas) and with other companies around the city for “The Behavior of Broadus” (Burglars of Hamm and Sacred Fools Theater Company) and “Birder” (The Road Theatre Company).

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Ample free parking and restaurants are adjacent.

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December 20, 2016

'Amélie, A New Musical' Opens at the Ahmanson

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S PRODUCTION OF “AMÉLIE, A NEW MUSICAL” OPENS DECEMBER 16 AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE

Performances Continue Through January 15

Currently in previews, Center Theatre Group’s production of “Amélie, A New Musical” opens December 16 at the Ahmanson Theatre and continues through January 15, 2017.

Based on the motion picture written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Guillaume Laurant, “Amélie, A New Musical” will have its Broadway premiere at the Walter Kerr Theatre, beginning performances on March 9, 2017 and opening April 3, 2017.

Amélie captured our hearts in the 2001 French film. Now Amélie (played by Tony Award nominee Phillipa Soo) comes to the stage in an inventive and captivating new musical directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” “Clybourne Park”), with a book by three-time Tony Award nominee Craig Lucas (“An American in Paris”), music by Daniel Messé (of the band Hem), lyrics by Nathan Tysen (“Tuck Everlasting”) and Daniel Messé, musical staging and choreography by Sam Pinkleton, musical direction by Kimberly Grigsby, vocal arrangements by Kimberly Grigsby and Daniel Messé, and orchestrations by Tony Award winner Bruce Coughlin.

In addition to Phillipa Soo in the title role, the cast will feature, in alphabetical order, Emily Afton, David Andino, Randy Blair, Heath Calvert, Adam Chanler-Berat, Alison Cimmet, Savvy Crawford, Manoel Felciano, Harriett D. Foy, Alyse Alan Louis, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Lily Sanfelippo, Tony Sheldon, Jacob Keith Watson and Paul Whitty.

“Amélie, A New Musical” features scenic and costume design by Tony Award winner David Zinn, co-lighting design by Tony Award nominee Jane Cox and Mark Barton, sound design by Tony Award nominee Kai Harada and projection design by Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini.

The musical follows the mesmerizing journey of the inquisitive and charmingly shy Amélie who turns the streets of Montmartre into a world of her own imagining, while secretly orchestrating moments of joy for those around her. After discovering a mysterious photo album and meeting a handsome stranger, Amélie realizes that helping others is easier than participating in a romantic story of her own.

Tickets for “Amélie, A New Musical” are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, or by visiting the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre. The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

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December 15, 2016

Cast Announced for 'Adler & Gibb' at the Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:33:00 -0800

TIM CROUCH JOINS CAST OF HIS EXPERIMENTAL SATIRE “ADLER & GIBB” AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

The DouglasPlus Production Will Have Its American Premiere January 17 Through 29

Playwright, actor and director Tim Crouch will join the cast of the American premiere of “Adler & Gibb,” a co-commission by Center Theatre Group with the Royal Court Theatre in London. Written and directed with Crouch and co-directed by Andy Smith and Karl James, the DouglasPlus presentation of “Adler & Gibb” will run January 17 to 29 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The opening will be on January 18.

The cast features Crouch as Sam, Gina Moxley as Gibb, Jillian Pullara as Student and Cath Whitefield as Louise. Furthermore, Olivia Abedor, Kylie Cox-Toyota and Ayla Moses alternate the role of Child.

The production features design by Charlotte Espiner, original music and sound design by Max and Ben Ringham and video design by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor. The production stage manager is Brooke Baldwin.

“Adler & Gibb” tells the fictional story of Janet Adler and Margaret Gibb, legendary boundary-pushing conceptual artists working in New York late last century. When they abruptly step away from the limelight at the height of their careers, the mysterious move only adds fuel to their fame. From the real to unreal, from fake to true and from theatre to film, the play takes Crouch’s fascination with form and marries it to a compelling story of misappropriation.

When “Adler & Gibb” opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Paul Taylor of The Independent said, “… an evening that starts off with the air of a studied prank becomes emotionally piercing …” calling the production “memorable and rewarding. …” Andrzej Lukowski of Time Out London raved, “At its best, this hilarious, harrowing and maddening interrogation of the value of art explodes with fearless intent and piercing intelligence … Tim Crouch has earned his place in the contemporary theatre pantheon.”

Tim Crouch returns to the Kirk Douglas Theatre where his searing and immersive play “The Author” was presented as part of DouglasPlus in 2011. His other plays include the Obie Award-winning “An Oak Tree” (Odyssey Theatre), “My Arm,” “ENGLAND” (a play for galleries), “what happens to the hope at the end of the evening” and “I, Malvolio.” Crouch works with a number of associates and collaborators to produce his writing. Organizations that have been involved more deeply in the work – through commission or co-production – include the Royal Court Theatre, the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, the British Council, Brighton Festival, Singapore Arts Festival, Culturgest in Lisbon, Warwick Arts Centre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

DouglasPlus provides the flexibility to explore new work and push boundaries through fully and minimally staged events, workshops and readings and traditional and non-traditional performance configurations.

Tickets for “Adler & Gibb” are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. Tickets range from $25 – $70 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Ample free parking and restaurants are adjacent.

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December 14, 2016

Daniel Valdez and Rose Portillo Return to 'Zoot Suit'

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0800

DANIEL VALDEZ AND ROSE PORTILLO RETURN TO “ZOOT SUIT” JOINING JEREMY RAY VALDEZ, JEANINE MASON AND THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED DEMIAN BICHIR

Center Theatre Group’s “Zoot Suit” Plays Jan. 31 – March 12, 2017, At The Taper

Jeanine Mason, Rose Portillo, Daniel Valdez and Jeremy Ray Valdez will join the previously announced Demian Bichir in the cast of Center Theatre Group’s production of “Zoot Suit” at the Mark Taper Forum, which begins previews January 31, opens February 12 and continues through March 12, 2017. Written and directed by Luis Valdez, “Zoot Suit” is presented in association with El Teatro Campesino.

Actors Daniel Valdez and Rose Portillo are returning to “Zoot Suit” after appearing in the world premiere production at the Taper in 1978, as well as at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood, on Broadway and in the film. Valdez played the leading role of Henry Reyna, while Portillo played Della, his barrio girlfriend. The two will be reunited for this new production, with Valdez now playing Enrique Reyna (Henry’s father) and Portillo playing Dolores Reyna (Henry’s mother). Daniel Valdez will also music direct once again.

“It’s great to come back to where it all started 38 years ago. I’m looking forward to inhabiting the world of ‘Zoot Suit’ once again,” said Daniel Valdez.

“I’m over the moon. It was a dream come true the first time. It’s a dream come true the second time, to come full circle and to work with Luis at the Taper, where Gordon Davidson and Luis were so influential on my artistic career. I’m looking forward to sharing ‘Zoot Suit’ with a whole new crop of artists and audiences,” said Portillo.

Jeremy Ray Valdez, who will play Henry in the new production, is an Imagen Award-winner for “La Mission,” was featured in the Sundance film “All She Can” and has guest-starred in such series as “The Mentalist” and “Castle,” among many others.

Jeanine Mason, who will play Della, won season five of “So You Think You Can Dance” and recently appeared in ABC’s “Of Kings and Prophets.” She also played a recurring role on ABC Family’s “Bunheads.”

International stage and screen star Demian Bichir (Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight,” FX’s “The Bridge,” Showtime’s “Weeds” and Soderbergh’s “Che”) was previously announced to play the indelible role of El Pachuco.

“Theatre has always created an extraordinary connection between artists and audiences,” said CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “Nowhere is that more clear than in the uniquely intimate space of the Mark Taper Forum. And that connection continues well beyond the curtain call in plays like Luis Valdez’s ‘Zoot Suit,’ which changed the cultural landscape when it premiered at the Taper almost four decades ago and will continue to offer a vital insight when it opens our 50th season at the Taper in 2017.”

“Zoot Suit” was originally commissioned and developed by Center Theatre Group, playing for nearly a year in Los Angeles first at the Taper from August 6 to October 1, 1978, then from October 10, 1978, through July 1, 1979, at the Aquarius in Hollywood. It went on to become Broadway’s first Chicano play, was made into a major motion picture and became a cultural phenomenon.

Nearly 40 years after its world premiere, original creator Luis Valdez will once again fill the Taper’s stage with a company of 25 actors, singers and dancers weaving fact and fiction together as they portray the events surrounding the infamous 1942 Sleepy Lagoon murder in Los Angeles. Filled with heart, sly wit and the infectious songs of Lalo Guerrero, “Zoot Suit” remains an urgent portrayal of the clash between generations in a Chicano family, the rifts between cultures in America and how racism and injustice can haunt a city and a society.

Tickets to “Zoot Suit” are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. Tickets range from $25 – $95 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

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December 9, 2016/Updated January 9, 2017

Center Theatre Group Hosts Community Conversations for "The Beauty Queen of Leenane"

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 15:35:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP HOSTS COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR DRUID’S “THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE” ON DECEMBER 2, 2016, AT MUSIC CENTER ANNEX

Pre-Show Panel Features Experts on Irish Culture Alongside CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie

Directed by Garry Hynes, “Beauty Queen” Runs Through December 18 at the Taper

Center Theatre Group will host a Community Conversations event for the Druid production of Martin McDonagh’s “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” currently playing at the Mark Taper Forum, with a pre-show panel discussion to be held on Friday, December 2. Titled “Martin McDonagh and What Makes Irish Theatre Irish,” the event will feature a discussion about McDonagh’s Irish style, the legacy of his work and why it’s so appealing to audiences. The discussion will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Music Center Annex building, 601 W. Temple Street, in Rehearsal Room A, and will feature experts on Irish literature and culture as well as Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

Joining Ritchie for the discussion are scholars Rónán McDonald and Amy Woodson-Boulton. McDonald is a professor of Modern Literature at the University of New South Wales, Sydney and is currently the president of the Irish Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand. His research interests span modern Irish literature and culture, modernism, theories of cultural value and the role of the humanities in the modern university.

Woodson-Boulton is an associate professor and chair of the history department at Loyola Marymount University. She earned a doctorate from UCLA in 2003, and her work concentrates on cultural reactions to industrialization – particularly the history of art museums, the social role of art and the changing status and meaning of art and nature in modern society.

The moderator for the discussion panel will be prize-winning poet and playwright John Menaghan who teaches courses in Irish literature and culture, 20th-century literature, the dramatic monologue and creative writing. He has a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and also serves as the director of both the Irish Studies and Summer in Ireland programs at Loyola Marymount University.

Directed by Garry Hynes, who won a Tony for her direction of the play on Broadway in 1998, Center Theatre Group’s presentation of “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” plays at the Mark Taper Forum through December 18.

“Beauty Queen,” set in the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, is the tale of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early 40s, and Mag, her manipulative, aging mother, whose interference in Maureen's first and potentially last romantic relationship sets in motion a chain of events that are as tragically funny as they are horrific.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Aaron Monaghan, Marie Mullen, Aisling O’Sullivan and Marty Rea. Mullen, who played the daughter Maureen in the original 1996 production and earned a Tony Award for her performance, now plays the role of Maureen’s mother Mag; O’Sullivan plays Maureen; Rea plays Pato; and Monaghan plays Ray.

Hynes also directed McDonagh’s “The Cripple of Inishmaan” at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in 2011, as well as Arthur Miller’s “The Price” at the Taper in 2015. Center Theatre Group presented McDonagh’s “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” at the Taper in 2010.

McDonagh is an award-winning writer and director. His work with Druid includes “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” “A Skull in Connemara,” “The Lonesome West” (Druid/Royal Court/Broadway) and “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (Druid/Atlantic Theater Company/U.S. Tour). Other theatre includes “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (National Theatre, London/West End/Broadway), “The Pillowman” (National Theatre, London/Broadway), “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” (RSC/Garrick/Broadway), “A Behanding in Spokane” (Broadway) and “Hangmen” (Royal Court). His film work (as a writer/director) includes “Six Shooter” (a short), “In Bruges” and “Seven Psychopaths.” His awards include the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy (“The Lieutenant of Inishmore”), Olivier Award for Best New Play (“The Pillowman”), Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (“Six Shooter”), BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay (“In Bruges”).

RSVPs for the Community Conversations are encouraged; please contact CommunityConversations@CTGLA.org.

Tickets for “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. Tickets range from $25 – $85 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

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November 29, 2016

'The Wholehearted' World Premiere Production Opens December 3

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 09:58:00 -0800

“…a boldly arresting work, elevated by its pervasive and skillful use of video
and by Holum’s alternately brooding and explosive portrayal of Dee,”
—Don Aucoin, Boston Globe

Stein | Holum Projects’ engrossing one-woman show “The Wholehearted” previews this Friday, December 2 and opens Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m. at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of DouglasPlus. Written and co-directed by Deborah Stein and performed and co-directed by Suli Holum, the world premiere production is produced in association with La Jolla Playhouse. “The Wholehearted” plays through December 11, 2016.

Set in a boxing gym where female boxing phenom Dee Crosby (Suli Holum) is preparing for a whole new fight, “The Wholehearted” looks past the neatly-packaged Cinderella stories of sports coverage into the real world of a woman grappling with lost love and an abusive husband. A tale of revenge and redemption, the violence of love, the sexuality of sports and the high cost of fame, this new play utilizes live projections, film and a thumping rockabilly score to explore the line between personal fantasy and hard reality—and what it takes to be a champion.

Scenic design for “The Wholehearted” is by Amy Rubin, costume design by Angela Harner, lighting design by Stephen Arnold, sound design by Matt Hubbs and James Sugg, video design by Katherine Freer and Dave Tennent, original music by Sugg and Heather Christian, and onstage camera work by Stivo Arnoczy. The dramaturg is P. Carl and the stage manager is Lisa McGinn.

Stein | Holum Projects (SHP) is the creative partnership of playwright/director Deborah Stein and performer/director Suli Holum. Drawing on over a decade of experience in both experimental and regional theatre, SHP works with a core group ofaccomplished designers to create a unique hybrid of the highly visual and dexterously verbal; interdisciplinary physical theatre with complex and nuanced characters. Their first play, “Chimera,” premiered at HERE as part of Under the Radar and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Suli Holum is a founder and former Co-Artistic Director of Pig Iron Theatre Company where she established herself as a collaborative playmaker. With diverse training that includes Lecoq, Viewpoints, puppetry and various dance forms, Holum creates work that is highly physical and transformative. Her off-Broadway acting credits include “Hot ‘n’ Throbbing,” “Courting Vampires,” “Live Girls,” “Lebensraum” (Drama Desk Award) and regionally she appeared in “Born Yesterday” (Helen Hayes nomination) at Arena Stage. She is a recipient of a 2010 TCG Fox Resident Actor Fellowship.

Deborah Stein has created collaborative original work with artists such as Joseph Chaikin, Dominique Serrand and Lear deBessonet. Since 2000 she has collaborated on six original works with Pig Iron Theatre Company, for which she received three Barrymore Award nominations. Stein’s other plays include “Heist!” (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival commission), “God Save Gertrude” (Workhaus Collective, Theatre @ Boston Court), “Wallflower” (Stages Repertory Theatre) and “Bone Portraits” (Stillpoint Productions).

Tickets for “The Wholehearted” are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office two hours prior to performance. Tickets are $25 for the preview and $45 for regular performances (ticket prices are subject to change). The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Ample free parking and restaurants are adjacent.

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November 29, 2016

'Adler & Gibb' Calendar Release

Center Theatre Group — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 12:28:00 -0800

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 2017

EVENT:

“Adler & Gibb”

By Tim Crouch

Directed by Tim Crouch, Andy Smith and Karl James

A Center Theatre Group co-commission with the Royal Court Theatre

American Premiere

A DouglasPlus Production

DESCRIPTION:

“Adler & Gibb” tells the fictional story of Janet Adler and Margaret Gibb, legendary boundary-pushing conceptual artists working in New York late last century. When they abruptly step away from the limelight at the height of their careers, the mysterious move only adds fuel to their fame. From the real to the unreal, from fake to true and from theatre to film, the play takes Tim Crouch’s fascination with form and marries it to a compelling story of misappropriation.

DATES/TIMES:

Previews January 17 at 8 p.m. Opens January 18 at 8 p.m.

Through January 29.

Regular Performances: (January 19 – 29)

Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. No Monday performances.

TICKET INFO:

Ticket Prices: $25 – $70 (Ticket prices are subject to change.)

Tickets are available online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, by calling Audience Services at (213) 628-2772 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles) or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office two hours prior to performances. Groups: (213) 972-7231. Deaf community: Information and charge, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/ACCESS.

LOCATION:

Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Ample free parking and restaurants adjacent.

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November 21, 2016

Center Theatre Group Holds Memorial For Gordon Davidson

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:40:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP TO HOLD MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF GORDON DAVIDSON

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017, AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE

Center Theatre Group will hold a memorial in honor of its Founding Artistic Director, Gordon Davidson, on Monday, January 9, 2017, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Ahmanson Theatre. The theatre will open at 7 p.m. The memorial will not be a ticketed event and will be open to the public. Additional details will be released at a later date.

“Gordon Davidson was one of the most renowned and respected artistic directors in regional theatre, in part because he was one of the original founders of the entire concept,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “He led Center Theatre Group for 38 years and produced one of the broadest arrays of plays, particularly new plays, of any theatre in the country. Without his prolific vision for Center Theatre Group 50 years ago, the theatrical landscape in Los Angeles, and the country, would be very different. He remains one of theatre’s great leaders and I am proud to call him a mentor, friend and colleague.”

From 1967 to 2005 Gordon Davidson was the Artistic Director of the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum at The Music Center. Davidson was also the Producing Director of the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre for 15 years, and the Artistic Director of the inaugural season (2004-2005) at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. In addition to redefining theatre in Southern California, he was one of the founders of the regional theatre movement and had a permanent impact on theatre throughout the country and the world.

Gordon guided hundreds of productions to the Taper stage while overseeing numerous special projects sponsored by the Taper. This work, and his direction of many plays staged at the Taper, were acclaimed both in Los Angeles and New York, garnering the Taper a Tony Award for theatrical excellence in 1977.

Gordon was born on May 7, 1933, and passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Judi; their children, Adam and Rachel; and five granddaughters.

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November 18, 2016