Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Performances Begin for 'Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 13:08:00 -0800

PERFORMANCES HAVE BEGUN FOR “ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE” AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Pulitzer Finalist Will Open February 3 And Run Through February 25

Performances have begun for Center Theatre Group’s production of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes. Directed by Shishir Kurup, the production will open February 3 and continue through February 25, 2018, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

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

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January 30, 2018

Center Theatre Group to Host Community Conversations for 'Elliot' and 'Water'

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 12:29:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP TO HOST TWO FREE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR “ELLIOT, A SOLDIER’S FUGUE” AND “WATER BY THE SPOONFUL”

Community Conversation on February 9 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Will Discuss Coming Home From Combat

Community Conversation on February 21 at the Mark Taper Forum Will Explore How Technology Creates Community

Center Theatre Group will host two Community Conversations inspired by Quiara Alegría Hudes’ plays “Elliot, a Soldier’s Fugue” and “Water by the Spoonful.” Community Conversations are a series of panel discussions that are free and open to the public and feature local thought leaders in dialogue about the context, issues and ideas finding voice on Center Theatre Group stages.

The first Community Conversation relates to “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” and is titled Coming Home From Combat. It will be held on Friday, February 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will discuss how veterans talk about their experiences in combat and how they relate to others after returning from war. The discussion will also examine the feeling of isolation that many veterans grapple with after experiencing war and the individuals and institutions in Los Angeles and beyond that are available to support those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This event will take place at the Kirk Douglas Theatre at 9820 Washington Blvd. Panelists to be announced at a later date.

The second Community Conversation relates to “Water by the Spoonful” and is titled Does Technology Create Community? It will take place on Wednesday, February 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will discuss how technology seemingly provides endless opportunities to connect people to one another, whether it be for love, friendship or support. The event will also examine how online communities are affecting real-life communities and the problems that arise when so much human interaction takes place behind a screen. This event will take place at The Music Center Annex building, 601 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, in Rehearsal Room A. Panelists to be announced at a later date.

Directed by Shishir Kurup, “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” is the first in Hudes’ Elliot Trilogy and will play at the Kirk Douglas Theatre January 27 through February 25. Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, “Water by the Spoonful” is the second in the trilogy and will play at the Mark Taper Forum January 31 through March 11. 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 February 17 through March 19. Presented all together, the full trilogy gives Los Angeles theatre audiences a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in this exciting playwright’s work.

“Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” follows 19-year-old Elliot who is a soldier, like his father and his father’s father and 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.

In “Water by the Spoonful,” 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, 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.” 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 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.

For more information about the upcoming Community Conversations, please visit CTGLA.org/Community. The events are free but an RSVP is encouraged. Refreshments will be provided.

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January 25, 2018

'Ain't Too Proud' Comes to the Ahmanson Theatre

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:45:00 -0800

“AIN’T TOO PROUD—THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS” COMES TO THE AHMANSON THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES

Hit Musical Features Legendary Songs Including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”

The Highest Grossing Show in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s 50-Year History Runs at the Ahmanson Theatre from August 21 through September 30, 2018

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie announced that “Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations” will be presented as part of Center Theatre Group’s 2018-2019 season at the Ahmanson Theatre. Produced by Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, “Ain’t Too Proud” runs at the Ahmanson Theatre from August 21 through September 30, 2018 with the opening set for August 24.

“The Temptations’ music and moves are deeply woven into our consciousness but the band’s story is just as compelling,” said Ritchie. “I am happy that Ahmanson audiences will get to see this exciting new musical before it makes its way to Broadway.”

“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.

With a book by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, “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. The cast of “Ain’t Too Proud” will be announced at a later date.

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, which includes “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Come From Away,” the Lincoln Center Theater production of “Falsettos” and “The Play That Goes Wrong,” are currently only available to renewing subscribers. The remaining productions in the season will be announced at a later date. Current subscribers can call (213) 972-4444 or login to their account at CenterTheatreGroup.org to renew. To be placed on a priority waiting list for group sales, please call (213) 972-7231 and a representative will be able to assist and answer any questions.

Tickets and subscriptions for the 2017 – 2018 season at the Ahmanson Theatre, which includes the “Soft Power” and “The Humans,” are available by phone at (213) 972-4400 and online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/Ahmanson.

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

“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

January 24, 2018

Center Theatre Group Selects Productions for Block Party 2018

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:30:00 -0800

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

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

Center Theatre Group has selected three local productions for the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Block Party 2018 will remount Celebration Theatre’s production of “Die, Mommie, Die!,” Critical Mass Performance Group’s production of “Ameryka” and Playwrights’ Arena’s production of “Bloodletting.”

Each production will have a two-week run with 12 performances presented March 29 through May 20, 2018. 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.”

Full casting for the three productions will be announced at a later date.

“Bloodletting”

Playwrights’ Arena

March 29 – April 8

“Bloodletting” from Playwrights’ Arena will take the first slot and will begin previews March 29, open March 31 and close April 8. Written by Boni B. Alvarez and directed by Playwrights’ Arena Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the play takes place on an island called Palawan. Farrah and Bosley, 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 and his granddaughter share tales of aswangs (witches) with the siblings—that is until Farrah discovers she has a few peculiarities of her own.

“Part of an ongoing relationship with playwright Boni B. Alvarez, ‘Bloodletting’ is set on a remote Philippine island and depicts native folklore through the eyes of Filipino Americans,” Rivera said. “Block Party will shine light on the diversity of our programming at Playwrights’ Arena and further showcase our work.”

“Ameryka”

Critical Mass Performance Group

April 19 – 29

Charting a course through 250 years of astonishing connections between the United States and Poland, Critical Mass Performance Group’s “Ameryka” is an epic exploration of the universal longing for freedom and justice. Written and directed by Critical Mass Performance Group Artistic Director Nancy Keystone in collaboration with the company, “Ameryka” will begin previews on April 19, open April 21 and close April 29.

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.

"We are absolutely over the moon to be chosen to participate in Block Party,” said Keystone. “‘Ameryka’ is a kind of hybrid creation—the different episodes collide in a fast-paced, non-linear structure, and it encompasses a variety of styles: vaudeville, psychological realism, heightened physicality, song, religious ritual, satire. It’s pretty epic!”

“Die, Mommie, Die!”

Celebration Theatre

May 10 – 20

Celebration Theatre’s production of “Die, Mommie, Die!” will take the final slot of Block Party and will begin previews May 10, open on May 12 and close on May 20.

Written by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann, the show 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.

On being selected, Celebration Theatre Co-Artistic Director Michael A. Shepperd said, “It’s a big honor for us. We’re a 53-seat theatre company in L.A. and we’ve seen our stock and value grow immensely over the last few years, so this is a testament to the hard work and the good work that we’ve been doing.”

Center Theatre Group received 53 submissions for Block Party 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 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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January 17, 2018

Center Theatre Group Selects Students for August Wilson Monologue Competition Regional Finals

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:28:00 -0800

CENTER THEATRE GROUP SELECTS 12 LOCAL STUDENTS FOR AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION REGIONAL FINALS TO BE HELD AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM ON MARCH 5

Top Two Students Will Participate in National Finals on Broadway on May 7, 2018

Center Theatre Group has selected 12 local high school students to participate in the regional finals for the 2018 August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) to be held at the Mark Taper Forum on Monday, March 5.

This is the seventh consecutive year Center Theatre Group is hosting the Southern California component of the national monologue competition. The program is designed to inspire and educate Los Angeles youth using monologues from August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle,” a 10-play cycle that details the complexity of the African American experience in the 20th century.

Those selected to participate in the regional finals are AuDrya Clayton (Los Angeles), Mylah Eaton (Studio City), Natalia Echeverria (Los Angeles), Hannah Franklin (Los Alamitos), Sarah-Michelle Guei (Carson), Jackson Lewis (Agoura Hills), Nico Moreta (Los Angeles), Gerardo Navarro (Los Angeles), Dominique Payne (Carson), K.J. Powell (Burbank), Tairah Umeadi (Carson) and Daniel Velez (Los Angeles). The students represent eight local high schools within Los Angeles and Orange counties. Franklin also participated in the 2017 competition.

The students selected will receive training and rehearsal sessions provided by Center Theatre Group throughout January and February. The sessions will allow the students to refine their performances while gaining valuable acting techniques.

On March 5, the 12 regional finalists will perform their monologues at the Mark Taper Forum in front of an invited audience, including a panel of judges. The two top-performing students will move forward to the AWMC national finals; the third place student will serve as alternate. The first and second place students will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for the finals, which will take place on May 7 at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. As preparation for the national component of the competition, all three students will receive master classes to workshop their monologues, as well as scholarship awards.

The program kicked off this season with a preliminary audition that featured 145 students in 10th, 11th or 12th-grade from 32 different high schools in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Fifty-four of those students advanced to a semi-final audition held at The Music Center Annex in December 2017 where the aforementioned 12 regional finalists were selected to move forward.

Center Theatre Group also offers an in-school residency as part of the larger August Wilson Program. The August Wilson In-School Residency is a semester-long program that provides Title 1 students with an in-depth study of the work of August Wilson. This year, classes from Animo Leadership Charter High School, Carson High School, East L.A. Performing Arts Magnet and Ellen Ochoa Prep Academy will take part in the residency. The students and teachers from the four classrooms selected will attend the AWMC Los Angeles Regional Finals as part of their residency experience, witnessing the power of theatre as their peers bring August Wilson’s characters to life.

“AWMC is one of the ways we honor the legacy of playwright August Wilson—a man whose work is truly timeless transcending race, gender and generations,” said Center Theatre Group Director of Education and Engagement Tyrone Davis. “It’s such a privilege to see young people from all over Los Angeles take on these iconic characters from the American theatre.”

AWMC is a national program presented by Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters and hosted in cities throughout the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, New Haven, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland, Seattle, Dallas and Greensboro, North Carolina. Each city runs its program differently and each experience is designed to provide intensive learning opportunities for high school students to study and practice the craft of acting through the work of August Wilson.

The Southern California component of the August Wilson Monologue Competition is led by the Center Theatre Group Education and Community Partnerships Department. One of the most active theatre education programs in the country, Education and Community Partnerships reached roughly 34,000 students, teachers, patrons and community members throughout Southern California in the 2016-2017 season.

Funding for Center Theatre Group’s August Wilson Program is provided by the Center Theatre Group Affiliates. The program also receives generous support from Center Theatre Group’s Corporate Circle, Joseph Drown Foundation, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, Hearst Foundations, the Rosenthal Family Foundation and Hope Landis Warner.

Center Theatre Group honors its long-standing relationship with August Wilson through its August Wilson Program, as well as through its continued production of Wilson’s work. Center Theatre Group has presented nine of Wilson’s plays, including two world premiere productions of his work. Most recently, Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” had a successful run at the Mark Taper Forum in the fall of 2016.

More information on Center Theatre Group’s August Wilson Monologue Competition can be found at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/AugustWilson.

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January 11, 2018

Rehearsals Begin for 'Water by the Spoonful' at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 10:40:00 -0800

REHEARSALS BEGIN FOR “WATER BY THE SPOONFUL” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM

Quiara Alegría Hudes’ Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play Begins Previews January 31 Opens February 11 and Continues Through March 11

Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group’s production of “Water by the Spoonful” by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be produced 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.

“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.

“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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January 5, 2018

Rehearsals Begin for 'Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:01:00 -0800

REHEARSALS HAVE BEGUN 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

Rehearsals have begun for Center Theatre Group’s production of “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue” by Pulitzer Prize-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.

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January 3, 2017