Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Cast Announced for Playwrights' Arena's 'Bloodletting' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 13:39:00 -0800

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR PLAYWRIGHTS’ ARENA PRODUCTION OF “BLOODLETTING” PART OF CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S BLOCK PARTY 2018

Written by Boni B. Alvarez and Directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, “Bloodletting” Will Play March 29 Through April 8, 2018 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

Casting is set for the Playwrights’ Arena production of “Bloodletting,” which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Boni B. Alvarez and directed by Playwrights’ Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, “Bloodletting” will begin previews March 29, open March 31 and close April 8.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Boni B. Alvarez, Alberto Isaac, Myra Cris Ocenar and Anne Yatco. The design team includes scenic designer Christopher Scott Murillo, costume designer Mylette Nora, lighting designer Lily Bartenstein and sound designer Howard Ho. Brooke Baldwin is the production stage manager.

“Bloodletting” takes place on an island called Palawan. Farrah (Ocenar) and Bosley (Alvarez), two Filipino American siblings who recently lost their father, arrive on the island to scatter his ashes when a typhoon hits and they are forced to seek shelter at a tiny café. The peculiar café owner (Isaac) and his granddaughter (Yatco) share tales of aswangs (witches) with the siblings—that is until Farrah discovers she has a few peculiarities of her own.

Block Party 2018 will also remount Critical Mass Performance Group’s production of “Ameryka” from April 19 through 29 and Celebration Theatre’s production of “Die, Mommie, Die!” from May 10 through 20. The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

“Just in its second year, Block Party is already a favorite tradition for the organization,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “We cherish the opportunity to work alongside others in the Los Angeles theatre community and look forward to continuing to learn, share and experience with our colleagues by presenting these three vastly different productions of exceptional caliber.”

Center Theatre Group received 53 submissions for Block Party 2018 from intimate theatre companies in the greater Los Angeles area. Each company was able to submit one production that opened between January 1, 2016, and May 30, 2017.

With Block Party, Center Theatre Group will continue to strengthen its relationships within the Los Angeles theatre community by creating additional avenues for the organization to work with local playwrights, actors, directors and designers. Block Party also helps to foster relationships between Center Theatre Group staff and the staff of 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. This programming is also made possible in part by a Culver City Performing Arts Grant with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Center Theatre Group’s inaugural Block Party in 2017 featured the Coeurage Theatre Company production of “Failure: A Love Story,” followed by The Fountain Theatre production of “Citizen: An American Lyric” and finished with The Echo Theater Company production of “Dry Land.”

Center Theatre Group has a long history of pairing with local theatre companies of all sizes in a multitude of ways. Center Theatre Group presented Deaf West’s production of “Big River” at the Mark Taper Forum in 2002, which went on to Broadway before returning to the Ahmanson Theatre in 2005 as part of a national tour. Center Theatre Group also partnered with 24th STreet Theatre on “Walking the Tightrope,” which played at the Douglas, and with other companies on productions around the city such as “The Behavior of Broadus” (with Burglars of Hamm and Sacred Fools Theater Company), “Birder” (with The Road Theatre Company) and, most recently, “The Hotel Play” (with Playwrights’ Arena).

Tickets for Block Party 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 for each individual production range from $25 – $70 (ticket prices are subject to change). A Block Party Party Pass is available for $75, which includes a ticket to all three productions as well as a complimentary cocktail (or non-alcoholic beverage) at each performance. The Party Pass is available by phone or in-person now through April 8. The first performance of each play (March 29, April 19 and May 10) will be a pay-what-you-want performance, giving patrons the opportunity to decide what their theatre experience was worth before, during or after the performance.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).

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February 28, 2018

2018-2019 Ahmanson Full Season Announcement

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:27:00 -0800

MATTHEW BOURNE’S “CINDERELLA” AND PAULA VOGEL’S “INDECENT” COMPLETE CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S 52nd SEASON AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE

ACCLAIMED WORKS JOIN THE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED “AIN’T TOO PROUD—THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS,” “COME FROM AWAY,” “DEAR EVAN HANSEN,” “FALSETTOS” AND “THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG” IN CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S 2018-2019 SEASON AT THE AHMANSON

The Season Runs August 21, 2018 Through August 11, 2019

Center Theatre Group announced two more productions for the 2018 – 2019 season at the Ahmanson Theatre. Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel’s deeply moving play with music, “Indecent,” and the return of Matthew Bourne’s highly evocative production of “Cinderella” complete the 52nd season at the Ahmanson Theatre joining the previously announced “Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations,” “Come From Away,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” the Lincoln Center Theater production of “Falsettos” and “The Play That Goes Wrong.”

“I am pleased to announce that Paula Vogel’s ‘Indecent’ and Matthew Bourne’s ‘Cinderella’ will round out Center Theatre Group’s 2018 – 2019 season at the Ahmanson,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

“Paula Vogel’s ‘Indecent’ weaves together Paula’s original writing with a century-old work that shaped the theatre and tells personal stories during an explosive moment in history.”

“Matthew Bourne has an amazing ability to surprise us with classic tales as he does with ‘Cinderella,’ which he sets during World War II when Prokofiev originally composed the music for the work.”

“These two shows join an already full season including ‘Ain’t Too Proud,’ which comes to Ahmanson audiences before it makes its way to Broadway, and two of the hottest new shows coming from New York in six-time Tony Award-winning ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and the show that stole Broadway’s heart last season, ‘Come From Away.’

“Add in Lincoln Center Theater’s terrific revival of William Finn and James Lapine’s groundbreaking musical ‘Falsettos’ and the wonderful new madcap murder mystery, ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’ and you have a season of comedy and drama, music and dance that reminds us of the power of theatre to make us laugh, cry, think, feel and maybe even groove a bit.”

“Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations”

August 21 through September 30, 2018

Launching the 2018 – 2019 season at the Ahmanson “Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations” runs at the Ahmanson Theatre from August 21 through September 30, 2018 with the opening set for August 24.

With a book by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau (“The Detroit Project,” “Shameless”), “Ain't Too Proud” features an iconic score made up of The Temptations’ legendary songs including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was A Rolling Stone.” Directed by twotime Tony Award winner Des McAnuff and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo, “Ain’t Too Proud” is a new musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. A tale of friendship and betrayal amid the civil unrest that tore America apart, their moving and personal story still resonates five decades later.

The creative team includes Robert Brill (scenic design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Peter Nigrini (projection design), Edgar Godineaux (associate choreographer), Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design) and Steve Rankin (fight direction). Orchestrations are by Harold Wheeler with music direction and arrangements by Kenny Seymour.

“Ain't Too Proud” is the highest-grossing production in the 50-year history of Berkeley Repertory Theatre where the musical received its world-premiere – an engagement that had to be extended multiple times due to overwhelming popular demand.

Quotes from the world premiere of “Ain’t Too Proud” at Berkeley Repertory Theatre include:

“Throbs with grit and groove. Now more than ever, the magnitude of what the band accomplished, crossing over into the mainstream, and what they sacrificed to get there resonates. There’s nothing like the irresistible beat of The Temptations.” -San Jose Mercury News

“Not Just Your Imagination: Temptations Musical Rocks! Richly textured, perfectly blended harmonies back lead vocals that somehow combine swaggering showmanship, meticulously honed technique, and emotion of almost unbearable intensity.” -San Francisco Chronicle

“Dear Evan Hansen”

October 17 – November 25, 2018

The winner of six 2017 Tony Awards including Best Musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” begins previews on October 17 and runs through November 25, 2018. Opening is set for October 19.

A deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live, “Dear Evan Hansen” features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Academy Award and Tony-winning composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.

Casting will be announced at a later date.

Declared “one of the more remarkable shows in recent musical theater history” by the Washington Post’s Peter Marks, “Dear Evan Hansen” opened at the Music Box Theatre to rave reviews on December 4, 2016, where it’s broken all box office records and has struck a chord with critics and audiences alike.

In addition to winning six Tony awards, “Dear Evan Hansen” has won numerous other awards, including the 2017 Drama League Award for Outstanding Musical Production and, for the Off-Broadway production, two Obie Awards, a Drama Desk Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Helen Hayes Awards.

The original Broadway cast recording of “Dear Evan Hansen,” produced by Atlantic Records, was released in February 2017, making an extraordinary debut on the Billboard 200 and entering the chart at number eight – the highest charting debut position for an original cast album since 1961.

“Come From Away”

November 28, 2018 – January 6, 2019

“Come From Away” opens November 28, 2018, and continues through January 6, 2019. There are no previews of “Come From Away.”

“Come From Away,” which has been playing to standing room only audiences on Broadway, features a book, music and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominees and Outer Critics Circle Award winners Irene Sankoff and David Hein, direction by Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle winner Christopher Ashley, musical staging by two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (“Rocky”) and music supervision by Ian Eisendrath (“A Christmas Story”).

The critically acclaimed “Come From Away” was nominated for seven Tony Awards winning Best Direction of a Musical and also won five Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical, four Helen Hayes Awards including Outstanding Musical Production, three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

“Come From Away” features scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt (“Act One”), costume design by Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James (“Jelly’s Last Jam”), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (“Hamilton”), sound design by Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Gareth Owen (“End of the Rainbow”), orchestrations by Tony Award nominee August Eriksmoen (“Bright Star”) and music arrangements by Ian Eisendrath.

The New York Times Critics’ Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.

On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all.

Following sold-out, record-breaking, critically acclaimed engagements at La Jolla Playhouse, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. and Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, “Come From Away” landed on the “Best Theater of the Year” lists in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Seattle Times, San Diego Union Tribune and Toronto Star, and was featured in The New York Times’ “Memorable Theatre of 2016.”

Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella”

February 5 – March 10, 2019

Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” begins performances at the Ahmanson on February 5 and continues through March 10, 2019. Opening is set for February 6. One of New Adventures’ most loved works, Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” returns to the Ahmanson in a newly reimagined production.

“Cinderella” is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War. Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz.

With Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous costumes and sets, which won an Olivier Award for his original designs, and lighting by Olivier Award-winning Neil Austin, “Cinderella” will be performed in surround sound, designed by Paul Groothuis. Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling has never been more heart-stopping and touching and will take the audience into the heart of Prokofiev’s magnificent score and the sights and sounds of war-torn London.

In reviewing this production in 2017, Judith Mackrell said Matthew Bourne, “sprinkles his stage with the stardust of fairytale romance, but he gives his story a proper tear-jerking heft by reminding us that darkness always surrounds the stars.” In reviewing the 1999 American premiere at the Ahmanson, the Los Angeles Times’ Lewis Segal said “if anything is predictable about Bourne’s ‘Cinderella’ after his ‘Swan Lake,’ it's the brilliant mix of humor and hallucination that make both works so unnervingly contemporary.”

Bourne has enjoyed a special relationship with Los Angeles audiences, and Center Theatre Group, in particular. In addition to “Cinderella” and “Swan Lake,” which had its American premiere at the Ahmanson in 1997, a total of eight other Bourne productions have been presented: “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Car Man,” “Play Without Words,” “Nutcracker!,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “My Fair Lady,” “Mary Poppins” and “The Red Shoes.”

Mixing popular appeal with a ground-breaking, unique theatrical language, world class dancers and high-quality production values, New Adventures is one of the great success stories of British theatre. Under the leadership of Matthew Bourne, New Adventures has collected numerous international awards and a dozen Olivier Award nominations.

“Falsettos”

April 16 – May 19, 2019

“Falsettos” begins previews April 16 and continues at the Ahamanson through May 19, 2019. The opening is set for April 17.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of William Finn and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical “Falsettos,” which received five Tony nominations including Best Musical Revival, marks a reunion for composer/lyricist Finn and playwright/director Lapine.

In 1981, Finn and Lapine’s new one-act musical “March of the Falsettos” premiered at Playwrights Horizons’ second floor, 75-seat space. The story of a gay man named Marvin, his lover Whizzer, Marvin’s wife Trina, son Jason and their psychiatrist Mendel, “March of the Falsettos” was a critical success, described by The New York Times as “a musical find.”

“March of the Falsettos” eventually moved to Playwrights Horizons’ larger downstairs theatre for an extended engagement before enjoying a long run Off-Broadway at what was then known as the Westside Arts Theatre. Fast forward to 1990, when a second new musical by Finn and Lapine, “Falsettoland,” opened at Playwrights Horizons. A continuation of the story of Marvin and his extended family in the early days of the AIDS crisis, “Falsettoland” repeated the success of its predecessor with rave reviews and a move to the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

In 1992, the two one-act musicals were combined into one and opened on Broadway as “Falsettos.” The musical ran for over a year at the John Golden Theatre and won Tony Awards for Finn’s score and Finn and Lapine’s book.

The new production of “Falsettos” is directed once again by James Lapine with choreography by Spencer Liff, sets by David Rockwell, costumes by Jennifer Caprio, lighting by Jeff Croiter, sound by Dan Moses Schreier and features Michael Starobin’s original orchestrations. “Falsettos” received five 2017 Tony nominations and was hailed as “an exceptional production” by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times, who added, “this singular show, about an unorthodox family grappling with the complexities of, well, just being a family — unorthodox or otherwise — has been restored to life, some 25 years after it was first produced, with such vitality that it feels as fresh and startling as it did back in 1992.”

“Indecent”

June 4 – July 7, 2019

Highly acclaimed new play with music “Indecent” begins previews on June 4 and continues through July 7, 2019, at the Ahmanson Theatre. Co-produced by Center Theatre Group and Huntington Theatre Company, the opening is set for June 9, 2019.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel and directed by Rebecca Taichman, “Indecent” is a deeply moving play inspired by the true events surrounding the controversial 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s “God Of Vengeance” — a play seen by some as a seminal work of Jewish culture, and by others as an act of traitorous libel. “Indecent” follows the history of an incendiary drama and the path of the artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it.

Infused with klezmer music, “Indecent” was uniformly praised by critics when it debuted Off-Broadway where Charles Isherwood called it “a powerful new play.” It would go on to Broadway where it was nominated for three Tony Awards, winning Best Direction and Best Lighting Design. The New York Times called it “a powerful new play.”

“Indecent” marked the Broadway debut of Ms. Vogel, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1998 for her unforgettable play “How I Learned To Drive,” which received the NY Drama Critics Circle Award, Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Obie Awards for Best Play. Ms. Vogel’s numerous works, which have been widely produced in the U.S. and around the world, include “Baltimore Waltz,” “The Long Christmas Ride Home,” “A Civil War Christmas” and “And Baby Makes Seven.”

“Indecent” features choreography by David Dorfman; Aaron Halva and Lisa Gutkin are co-composers; Riccardo Hernandez is scenic designer; costume design is by Emily Rebholz; lighting design is by Christopher Akerlind; sound design is by Matt Hubbs and projection design is by Tal Yarden.

Rebecca Taichman won the Tony Award for Best Direction for “Indecent” in 2017. Most recently she directed “School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play” at MCC. She has directed at Lincoln Center, Roundabout and Playwrights Horizons, among others.

“The Play That Goes Wrong”

July 9 – August 11, 2019

“The Play That Goes Wrong” begins previews July 9 and continues at the Ahmanson through August 11, 2019. The opening is set for July 10.

Co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, “The Play That Goes Wrong” is a riotous comedy about the theatre. The play introduces The ‘Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’ who are attempting to put on a 1920s’ murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong...does, as the accident prone thespians battle on against all the odds to get to their final curtain call.

It is a remarkable rags-to-riches story for a play which started its life at a London fringe venue with only four paying members of the public at the first performance, and has gone on to play to an audience of over half a million around the world.

Mischief Theatre, led by Artistic Director Henry Lewis and Company Director Jonathan Sayer, was founded in 2008 by a group of graduates of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and began as an improvised comedy group. Mischief Theatre performs across the UK and internationally with improvised and original scripted work.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is directed by Mark Bell, featuring set design by Nigel Hook, lighting design by Ric Mountjoy, sound design by Andy Johnson and costume design by Roberto Surace.

The Broadway production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” transferred from the West End where it was awarded 2015 Olivier Award. It went on to receive a 2017 Tony Award for Best Set Design, Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Play and the Theater Fans’ Choice Award for Best Play. “The Play That Goes Wrong” is now in its third smash hit year on the West End and is the longest running play currently on Broadway.

Bank of America is the season sponsor and Delta Air Lines is the official airline sponsor for Center Theatre Group’s 2018 – 2019 season at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Tickets for the 2018 – 2019 season are currently available by season ticket membership only. For information and to charge season tickets by phone, call the Exclusive Season Ticket Hotline at (213) 972-4444. To purchase season memberships online, visit www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/Ahmanson.

Center Theatre Group offers a number of services to accommodate persons requiring mobility, vision and hearing access. For more information, please visit www.centertheatregroup.org/access.

Center Theatre Group Hosts Block Party Kick-Off and Community Conversation

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:33:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP TO HOLD BLOCK PARTY 2018 KICK-OFF EVENT AND COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE ON MARCH 7

Block Party Will Remount Productions from Celebration Theatre, Critical Mass Performance Group and Playwrights’ Arena March 29–May 20

Co-Hosted With LA STAGE Alliance, Community Conversation is Titled Theatre Destination L.A.—Can Collaboration Build New Audiences?

Center Theatre Group will host a Block Party Kick-Off Event at the Kirk Douglas Theatre to celebrate the remounting of three local productions from Celebration Theatre, Critical Mass Performance Group and Playwrights’ Arena. This free and public event is open to the entire Los Angeles theatre community and will take place on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. Reservations are encouraged and can be made at CTGLA.org/BlockPartyKickOff.

Prior to the event, Center Theatre Group and LA STAGE Alliance will host a Community Conversation titled Theatre Destination L.A.—Can Collaboration Build New Audiences? The conversation will discuss what it would take to make Los Angeles more widely recognized as a global theatre destination as well as tactics to foster new audiences. The discussion will also highlight successful programs and collaborations from theatre communities across the country and will consider how to define success and sustainability in Los Angeles theatre. The conversation will take place in the Kirk Douglas Theatre Rehearsal Room at 5 p.m. and LA STAGE Alliance Executive Director Steven Leigh Morris will moderate the discussion. Panelists will be announced at a later date. Seating is limited, but those who wish to add their name to the waitlist can visit CTGLA.org/DestinationLA. The event will also be live-streamed via Facebook at facebook.com/CTGLA.

The Block Party Kick-Off Event will open with remarks from Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. There will also be activities to introduce attendees to the Block Party visiting companies and their productions, an interactive photo booth, music and exclusive ticket offers for Block Party available. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

The second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre will take place March 29 through May 20 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and will feature Playwrights’ Arena’s production of “Bloodletting” by Boni B. Alvarez and directed by Playwrights’ Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, Critical Mass Performance Group’s production of “Ameryka” written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company and Celebration Theatre’s production of “Die, Mommie, Die!” by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann.

Each Block Party production will have a two-week run. “Bloodletting” will take the first slot and will begin previews March 29, open March 31 and close April 8. Next will be “Ameryka,” which will begin previews on April 19, open April 21 and close April 29. “Die, Mommie, Die!” will take the final slot and will begin previews May 10, open on May 12 and close on May 20.

The visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production. Full casting for “Bloodletting,” “Ameryka” and “Die, Mommie, Die!” will be announced at a later date.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).

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February 21, 2018

Block Party 2018 Calendar Release

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:07:00 -0800

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March – May 2018

EVENT:

Block Party 2018: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre

First Production:

“Bloodletting” from Playwrights’ Arena

Previews March 29 and 30, 2018. Opens March 31 at 8 p.m. Through April 8.

by Boni B. Alvarez

Directed by Playwrights’ Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera

Second Production:

“Ameryka” from Critical Mass Performance Group

Previews April 19 and 20, 2018. Opens April 21 at 8 p.m. Through April 29.

Written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company

Third Production:

“Die, Mommie, Die!” from Celebration Theatre

Previews May 10 and 11, 2018. Opens May 12 at 8 p.m. Through May 20.

by Charles Busch

Directed by Ryan Bergmann

DESCRIPTIONS:

Center Theatre Group’s second annual Block Party highlights some of the remarkable work being done on other stages throughout Los Angeles by fully producing three previously staged productions.

First Production: “Bloodletting” follows Farrah and Bosley, two Filipino American siblings who recently lost their father. They arrive on an island called Palawan to scatter his ashes when a typhoon hits and they are forced to seek shelter at a tiny café. The peculiar café owner and his granddaughter share tales of aswangs (witches) with the siblings—that is until Farrah discovers she has a few peculiarities of her own.

Second Production: From the American Revolution to the global war on terror, from the struggle for civil rights to the fight against communism, “Ameryka” shines a light on the promises and pitfalls of democracy. An ensemble-created piece developed over six years, it showcases Critical Mass Performance Group’s kaleidoscopic style of found texts, movement, original music and exuberant spectacle.

Third Production: “Die, Mommie, Die!” is a campy noir classic that follows the devious actions of aging Hollywood star Angela Arden (played by Drew Droege in drag) who is trapped in an unhappy marriage and plots to kill her husband in order to be with her young lover. When Angela’s children learn of her plot and seek revenge, madness ensues in this over-the-top comedy.

DATES/TIMES:

Preview Performances: Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.

Regular Performances: 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 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 1, April 22 and May 13

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. A Block Party Party Pass is available for $75, which includes a ticket to all three productions as well as a complimentary cocktail (or non-alcoholic beverage) at each performance. The Party Pass is available by phone or in-person now through April 8. 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

Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby)

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February 7, 2018

Hana S. Kim Selected As 2018 Sherwood Award Recipient

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:49:00 -0800

HANA S. KIM SELECTED AS 2018 SHERWOOD AWARD RECIPIENT

Center Theatre Group’s $10,000 Award Supports Emerging L.A. Theatre Artists

Center Theatre Group recognizes and celebrates the recipient of the 2018 Richard E. Sherwood Award, Hana S. Kim, for her exceptional contribution to the Los Angeles theatre landscape and her work as a ground-breaking and adventurous artist.

Created in memory of Richard E. Sherwood, the $10,000 award aims to cultivate emerging theatre artists working in Los Angeles who push the formal and aesthetic boundaries and demonstrate dedication to improving their respective artistic fields. The recipient of the $10,000 award was announced at the 2018 Ovation Awards on Monday, January 29, 2018, at The Theatre at Ace Hotel.

The two additional finalists, Gina Young and Marsian De Lellis, will receive a $2,000 honorarium. Hana S. Kim is a live performance set and projection designer with a background in film design. Her designs have received Stage Raw Awards, StageSceneLA Awards, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards and Helen Hayes Awards, as well as nominations for the Ovation Awards and Theatre Bay Area Awards. Hana’s most recent work includes projection design for “Steal A Pencil For Me” directed by Omer Ben Seadia at Opera Colorado, scenic and projection design for “Eva Trilogy” directed by Loretta Greco at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco and “The Christians” directed by Hana Sharif at Baltimore Center Stage. She is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and recipient of Princess Grace Award in Theatre Design.

Originally created in 1996, the Sherwood Award has met a vital need in the theatre landscape to support emerging artists.

Richard E. Sherwood was a patron of the arts with a special appreciation for emerging artists who are in the vanguard of theatre. He was president and then chairman of the Center Theatre Group Board of Directors from 1980 until his passing in 1993. The award is established as an endowed fund at Center Theatre Group by his family, friends, colleagues and fellow board members, to honor Sherwood’s passionate commitment to theatre.

Past recipients of the Richard E. Sherwood Award include lighting designer Pablo Santiago, Miwa Matreyek of Cloud Eye Control, Sean Cawelti of Rogue Artists Ensemble, Miranda Wright of Los Angeles Performance Practice, Lars Jan of Early Morning Opera, lighting designer Christopher Kuhl and costume designer Ann Closs-Farley, among others.

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February 1, 2018

Performances Have Begun For "Water by the Spoonful" at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:24:00 -0800

PERFORMANCES HAVE BEGUN FOR “WATER BY THE SPOONFUL” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play Opens February 11 and Continues Through March 11

Performances have begun for Center Theatre Group’s production of “Water by the Spoonful” by Quiara Alegría Hudes. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will open on February 11 and continue through March 11, 2018, at the Mark Taper Forum.

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

“Water by the Spoonful” features set design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Raquel Barreto, lighting design by Yi Zhao, sound design by Jane Shaw and projection design by Hannah Wasileski. The production stage manager is 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, is 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.

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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February 1, 2018

Spanish Language Open Captioned Performances at Douglas and Taper

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:10:00 -0800

SPANISH LANGUAGE OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES SET FOR “ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE” AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE AND “WATER BY THE SPOONFUL” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM

Center Theatre Group will offer Spanish-language translations of the 1 p.m. performance of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” on Sunday, February 25 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and the 8 p.m. performance of “Water by the Spoonful” on Friday, March 9 at the Mark Taper Forum. Each show will be performed in English with Spanish translations running simultaneously on open captioned screens. Audience members wishing to view the open captions should request to be seated in the captioning area when purchasing tickets.

Directed by Shishir Kurup, Hudes’ Pulitzer finalist “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” began previews January 27, opens February 3 and continues through February 25.

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.”

Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “Water by the Spoonful” begins previews January 31, opens February 11 and continues through March 11.

“Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” and “Water by the Spoonful” are the first and second in a Hudes’ Elliot Trilogy. 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.

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 the Spanish language open captioned performances of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” and “Water by the Spoonful” are $25 and $30, respectively. They are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/promo using promo code AGUA, at the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office two hours prior to performance. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby). The Mark Taper Forum is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

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January 31, 2018