Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Cast Is Set for "Water by the Spoonful" at the Taper

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:36:00 -0800

CAST IS SET FOR CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S PRODUCTION OF PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING “WATER BY THE SPOONFUL” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM JANUARY 31 MARCH 11, 2018

Center Theatre Group has announced the cast for “Water by the Spoonful” by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum January 31 through March 11, 2018. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the opening of “Water by the Spoonful” is set for February 11.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Bernard K. Addison, Josh Braaten, Sean Carvajal, Sylvia Kwan, Keren Lugo, Nick Massouh and Luna Lauren Vélez.

The creative team includes set design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Raquel Barreto, lighting design by Yi Zhao, sound design by Jane Shaw, projection design by Hannah Wasileski, and production stage management by David S. Franklin.

A janitor, a software mogul, a college grad and an IRS paper-pusher have one thing in common. Although they live thousands of miles apart, these four people share a secret: they’re recovering addicts who have found a safe haven in an online chat room. There, with liberal doses of jokes and bullying, they help each other navigate the broken terrain of their lives. But when an Iraq War veteran’s tragedy spills over into their cyberhome, everything changes. In this fearless play by Quiara Alegría Hudes (“In the Heights”), worlds virtual and real unfold onstage, challenging our notions of family, forgiveness, community and courage.

When it played off-Broadway, Charles Isherwood of The New York Times said, “‘Water by the Spoonful’ gives off a shimmering, sustaining warmth. Ms. Hudes writes with such empathy and vibrant humor that regeneration and renewal always seem to be just around the corner.”

“Water by the Spoonful,” the second in a trilogy of plays, will be produced at the Taper at the same time as Center Theatre Group is presenting the first play in the trilogy, Hudes’ Pulitzer finalist “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue,” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The Latino Theater Company will present the final installment of the trilogy with their production of “The Happiest Song Plays Last” at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC). Presented all together, the full trilogy gives Los Angeles theatre audiences a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in this exciting playwright’s work.

Quiara Alegría Hudes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Her play “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” premiered off-off Broadway by Page 73 Productions and was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “Water by the Spoonful” premiered at Hartford Stage Company and won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “The Happiest Song Plays Last” premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2013. Hudes wrote the book for the Broadway musical “In the Heights,” which received the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical, and was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Other works include the plays “26 Miles” and “Yemaya’s Belly” and the children’s musical “Barrio Grrrl!” Hudes grew up in West Philadelphia where she studied music with Don Rappaport, Dolly Kranzapolski and Linda Hudes. She was later mentored by playwright Paula Vogel at Brown University. Hudes is an alumna of New Dramatists and sits on the board of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, which produced her first play in the tenth grade.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, programs 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.

Tickets to “Water by the Spoonful” are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or at the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. 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 21, 2017

Cast Announced for 'Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:36:00 -0800

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR “ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE” AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Pulitzer Finalist Will Run January 27 Through February 25, 2018

Center Theatre Group has announced the casting for “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” by Pulitzer-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes. Directed by Shishir Kurup, the production will begin previews January 27, open February 3 and continue through February 25, 2018, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

The cast for “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” includes, in alphabetical order, Rubén Garfias, Peter Mendoza, Jason Manuel Olazábal and Caro Zeller. The creative team includes set design by Sibyl Wickersheimer, costume design by Raquel Barreto, lighting design by Geoff Korf and sound design by John Nobori. The production stage manager is Maggie Swing.

A soldier, like his father and his father’s father, 19-year-old Elliot is back from Iraq with a Purple Heart. As he recovers from his injuries and decides whether to return to Iraq, he yearns for a truer connection with his father and considers his own limited options outside the military.

Phoebe Hoban of The New York Times said “‘Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue’ is that rare and rewarding thing: a theater work that succeeds on every level, while creating something new. The playwright, Quiara Alegría Hudes, who has degrees in music (a bachelor's from Yale) and playwriting (a master’s from Brown), combines a lyrical ear with a sophisticated sense of structure to trace the legacy of war through three generations of a Puerto Rican family.”

“Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue,” the first in a trilogy of plays, will be produced at the Douglas at the same time as Center Theatre Group is presenting the second play in that trilogy, Hudes’ Pulitzer-winning “Water by the Spoonful” at the Mark Taper Forum. The Latino Theater Company will present the final installment of the trilogy with their production of “The Happiest Song Plays Last” at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC). Presented all together, the full trilogy gives Los Angeles theatre audiences a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in this exciting playwright’s work.

Quiara Alegría Hudes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Her play “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” premiered Off-Off-Broadway by Page 73 Productions and was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “Water by the Spoonful” premiered at Hartford Stage Company and won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “The Happiest Song Plays Last” premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2013. Hudes wrote the book for the Broadway musical “In the Heights,” which received the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical and was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Other works include the plays “26 Miles” and “Yemaya’s Belly” and the children’s musical “Barrio Grrrl!” Hudes grew up in West Philadelphia where she studied music with Don Rappaport, Dolly Kranzapolski and Linda Hudes. She was later mentored by playwright Paula Vogel at Brown University. Hudes is an alumna of New Dramatists and sits on the board of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, which produced her first play in the 10th grade.

Tickets for “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.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 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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Elliot Trilogy to Play Los Angeles Theatres

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 10:44:00 -0800

ELLIOT TRILOGY TO PLAY CONCURRENTLY IN LOS ANGELES THEATRES JANUARY 27 THROUGH MARCH 19, 2018

Center Theatre Group’s Previously Announced Productions of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” at the Douglas and “Water by the Spoonful” at the Taper Will Be Joined By Latino Theater Company’s Production of “The Happiest Song Plays Last”

Los Angeles audiences will have the rare opportunity to follow Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Elliot Trilogy playing concurrently at theatres across the city in early 2018. Center Theatre Group’s production of Pulitzer finalist “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” (at the Kirk Douglas Theatre January 27 through February 25, 2018) and Pulitzer winner “Water by the Spoonful” (at the Mark Taper Forum January 31 through March 11) will be joined by Latino Theater Company’s production of the final installment of the trilogy “The Happiest Song Plays Last” (at the Los Angeles Theatre Center February 17 through March 19). It is the first time all three plays will run at the same time in one city.

“It’s really thrilling to get a chance to see the plays produced back to back for the first time in a single city,” said Hudes. “You see one play, and you get that beginning, middle, end—you get that story. But you see two, three of the plays, you get that sense of family all of a sudden. You’ve gone through it over time with this family. So I think the ending of the entire trilogy lands in a deeper way. The laughs get deeper, the pain gets more pronounced. Hopefully the plays are resonating off of each other in ways that will yield rewards.”

“This is a special moment for our patrons and for us—and really for anyone in Los Angeles who loves theatre,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “We’re taking advantage of the breadth and depth of our programming and of the rich theatre ecosystem of our city by joining forces with the Latino Theater Company to tell an epic story from start to finish. These three remarkable plays definitely stand on their own, but the opportunity to see the completed trilogy together and to follow Quiara’s characters through their entire arc is truly impactful.”

”We’re thrilled to offer L.A. audiences the chance to see the final installment of the trilogy, which isn’t as well-known as the others,” said Latino Theater Company Artistic Director José Luis Valenzuela. “I think it’s especially beautiful because of the poetry of the language, and because of the music which brings us closer to who Elliot is.”

Quiara Alegría Hudes is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Her play “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” premiered off-off Broadway by Page 73 Productions and was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “Water by the Spoonful” premiered at Hartford Stage Company and won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “The Happiest Song Plays Last” premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2013. Hudes wrote the book for the Broadway musical “In the Heights,” which received the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical and was a 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Other works include the plays “26 Miles” and “Yemaya’s Belly” and the children’s musical “Barrio Grrrl!” Hudes grew up in West Philadelphia where she studied music with Don Rappaport, Dolly Kranzapolski and Linda Hudes. She was later mentored by playwright Paula Vogel at Brown University. Hudes is an alumna of New Dramatists and sits on the board of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, which produced her first play in the tenth grade.

The Latino Theater Company is dedicated to providing a world-class arts center for those pursuing artistic excellence; a laboratory where both tradition and innovation are honored and honed; and a place where the convergence of people, cultures and ideas contribute to the future. Now entering its 32nd year, the Latino Theater Company has operated The Los Angeles Theatre Center (LATC), a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and a landmark building in Downtown’s Historic Core, since 2006.

Tickets to “Elliot, A Solder’s Fugue” and “Water by the Spoonful” are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or at the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. The Mark Taper Forum is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

Tickets to “The Happiest Song Plays Last” are available by calling (866) 811-4111, online at www.thelatc.org or at The LATC box office, located at 514. S Spring Street in Downtown L.A. 90013.

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Center Theatre Group Selects Schools for Disney Musicals in Schools

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 15:04:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP ANNOUNCES THE FIVE SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Los Angeles Area Public Elementary Schools to Produce a Disney Musical

Center Theatre Group is pleased to announce the five elementary schools that have been selected to participate in the inaugural 2017-2018 Disney Musicals in Schools (DMIS) program. The program is an initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Productions to create sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced elementary schools. The five schools are in Los Angeles County and include the following: Harrison Elementary (LAUSD), Hope Street Elementary (LAUSD), Humphreys Avenue Elementary (LAUSD), La Ballona Elementary (Culver City Unified School District) and Ritter Elementary (LAUSD).

The selected schools will begin a 17-week musical theatre residency in January of 2018. Each school will receive performance rights, education support materials and guidance from two teaching artists. The program features a professional development focus, through which participating school teachers partner with Center Theatre Group teaching artists to learn how to produce, direct, choreograph and music direct, culminating in their first 30- to 45-minute Disney KIDS musical at their school. As a capstone to the experience, Center Theatre Group will host a Student Share Celebration in which each school performs one number from their show for an audience of students, teachers, family and community members. The Student Share Celebration will now take place at the Ahmanson Theatre on May 21, 2018. Please note that a previous announcement stated that it would take place at the Mark Taper Forum.

Harrison Elementary Principal Carlos Madrigal said, “Being accepted into the DMIS Program means so many things. It means joy, self-expression, creativity, community and collaboration – not only for our students, but for our team teachers as well.” On being selected, Hope Street Elementary Principal Pamella LeMuiex said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Center Theatre Group and DMIS to give Hope Street Elementary School students the valuable experience of participating in a live musical theatre performance. We are so excited to watch them shine!” Alejandro Almaguer, the principal of Humphreys Avenue Elementary, said that the program will “not only give our students the unique opportunity to participate in a top-notch musical program, but it will also expose them to a career in theatre arts and dance…[it] will be a transcendental experience…” La Ballona Principal Jennifer Slabbinck said that “DMIS gives us an opportunity to train our teachers to take the lead and to more regularly bring arts instruction into their own classrooms.” “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage in the theatre arts and learn to express themselves in a variety of ways,” said Ritter Elementary Principal Dr. Michelle Rappino. “This opportunity will also increase our students’ level of confidence and help them build self awareness as they learn the art of stage performance.”

“Each school selected demonstrated not only a strong commitment to their students but also to creating and sustaining a musical theatre program in their school for years to come. We are delighted to launch our inaugural DMIS season with such passionate educators,” said Center Theatre Group Director of Education and Engagement Tyrone Davis. “The DMIS program is about building educators’ capacity, which aligns with our commitment to support educators as art leaders in their own communities.”

Using the unique world of musical theatre, Disney Musicals in Schools helps to foster positive relationships between students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community. Students and teachers work in teams, developing the wide spectrum of skills needed when producing a piece of musical theatre, including: critical thinking, problem solving, ensemble building, communication, self-confidence and interpersonal skills.

Disney Musicals in Schools was launched in 2010 in response to Disney Theatrical Production’s concern that under-resourced public elementary schools were not afforded equitable access to the arts. After successfully offering the program in New York City schools, Disney Theatrical Productions began partnering with organizations in other communities across the United States.

Disney KIDS musicals, created in partnership with Music Theatre International (MTI), are 30- to 45-minute musicals designed for elementary school performers and have been adapted from the classic Disney films “101 Dalmatians,” “Aladdin,” “The Aristocats,” “Cinderella,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Lion King” and “Winnie the Pooh.”

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises, bringing live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries. Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway productions around the world, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” Elton John & Tim Rice’s “Aida,” “TARZAN®,” “Mary Poppins,” a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh, “The Little Mermaid,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Newsies” and “Aladdin.” “Frozen,” based on the Academy Award®-winning film, will open on Broadway in 2018. Other successful stage musical ventures have included the Olivier-nominated London hit “Shakespeare in Love,” stage productions of Disney’s “High School Musical,” “Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame” in Berlin, and “King David” in concert. DTP has collaborated with the country’s leading regional theatres to develop new stage titles including “The Jungle Book,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Freaky Friday.”

Disney Theatrical Productions also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of “Disney on Ice” and “Disney Live!” For over 30 years, “Disney on Ice” and “Disney Live!” have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide, through productions such as “Marvel Universe Live!” and “Frozen,” the most well attended and highest grossing “Disney on Ice” production to date. In addition, DTP licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International, including “The Lion King Experience,” a unique holistic arts education program wherein accredited elementary and middle schools produce condensed, age-appropriate JR. and KIDS adaptations of “The Lion King.”

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.

MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

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