Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

'Lackawanna Blues' Calendar Release

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:03:00 -0800

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March – April 2019

EVENT:

“Lackawanna Blues”

Written, Performed and Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson

DESCRIPTION:

A magical, musical and deeply personal work written, performed and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, “Lackawanna Blues” is a reminiscence of his 1950s childhood in a small town on the banks of Lake Erie. Santiago-Hudson takes on more than 20 colorful characters—from would-be philosophers and petty hustlers to lost souls and abandoned lovers—in a brilliant celebration of the eccentric boardinghouse he grew up in. Santiago-Hudson returns to his roots in this tour de force performance accompanied throughout by the blues music of Obie winning composer Bill Sims Jr.

DATES/TIMES:

Previews begin March 5. Opens March 13. Through April 21, 2019.

Previews (March 5 – 12): Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. No Monday performance.

Opens Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 8 p.m.

Regular Performances (March 14– April 21): Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m. No Monday performances.

Exceptions: Added 6:30 p.m. Sunday performances in lieu of a 1 p.m. performance on April 14 and April 21. No public performances on Tuesday, March 19; Wednesday, March 20; Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22. No 8 p.m. performance on Tuesday, April 16.

TICKET INFO:

Ticket Prices: $30 – $99 (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). Groups: (213) 972-7231. Deaf community: Information and charge, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/ACCESS.

LOCATION:

Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum

At The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012

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December 21, 2018

Cast Set for Matthew Bourne's 'Cinderella' at Ahmanson

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 15:17:00 -0800

CASTING IS SET FOR THE NEW ADVENTURES PRODUCTION OF MATTHEW BOURNE'S "CINDERELLA" PRESENTED BY CENTER THEATRE GROUP AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH MARCH 10

Casting is set for Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” from New Adventures, which will be presented by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre February 5 through March 10, 2019. With direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne and music by Prokofiev, “Cinderella” will open on February 6 at 8 p.m.

Following their triumph playing ‘Victoria Page’ in “The Red Shoes,” the role of ‘Cinderella’ is performed by Cordelia Braithwaite and Ashley Shaw. Cinderella’s heroic Pilot, ‘Harry,’ is performed by Andrew Monaghan and Edwin Ray. ‘The Angel,’ Cinderella’s fairy godfather is danced by Paris Fitzpatrick and Liam Mower.

‘Sybil,’ Cinderella’s stepmother, is performed by Madelaine Brennan and Anjali Mehra. ‘Robert,’ Cinderella’s father is performed by Jack Jones and Alan Vincent.

Cinderella’s step brothers and sisters and the people of 1940’s London complete the cast: Stephanie Billers, Ben Brown, João Carolino, Reece Causton, Jackson Fisch, Sophia Hurdley, Jack Jones, Daisy May Kemp, Kate Lyons, Stephen Murray, Matthew Petty, Danny Reubens, Mark Samaras, Catrin Thomas, Joe Walkling, Katie Webb, Seren Williams and Dan Wright.

One of New Adventures’ most loved productions Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War. Matthew 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 and featuring a specially commissioned recording played by a 60-piece orchestra. Matthew Bourne’s vivid story telling 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.

Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” will also play Blumenthal Performing Arts in Charlotte, NC (1/6/19-1/12/19) and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (1/15/19-1/20/19) before coming to the Ahmanson Theatre.

New Adventures is a national portfolio organisation supported using public funds by Arts Council England.

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 2100-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 for Matthew Bourne’s “Cinderella” are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or by visiting the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $30 – $135 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

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December 19, 2018

DMIS Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary with New Initiatives

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:32:00 -0800

DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS CELEBRATES TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY

CENTER THEATRE GROUP INCLUDED AMONG NEW EXPANSION INITIATIVES LAUNCHING IN 2019

Disney Musicals in Schools (DMIS), an outreach initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Productions to create sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced elementary schools, is entering its tenth landmark year.

Launched in New York City in 2010, the program was developed in response to the Disney Theatrical Production’s concerns that under-resourced public elementary schools were not afforded equitable access to the arts. After its successful launch in New York City schools, Disney Theatrical Productions began partnering with performing arts organizations across the country, expanding the program nationwide.

To date, the program has impacted more than 300 schools, nearly 1,000 teachers and over 40,000 students worldwide. With the 2018 launch in Los Angeles hosted by Center Theatre Group, DMIS is now in 21 cities, including its first international program in London.

Through the program, schools receive free performance rights and materials to a 30-minute version of a Disney musical adapted for elementary school performers. Over the course of a semester, professional Teaching Artists guide school teachers through the process of mounting a musical with student performers with the goal of providing the training necessary for teachers to continue a tradition of theatre education for years to come.

“Disney Musicals in Schools benefits on two levels,” explained Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. “For teachers, our program provides hands-on skills to build self-sustaining theatre programs in their schools. For students, participating in musical theatre builds confidence, team-building and problem-solving skills to last a lifetime, regardless of one’s eventual career path. All of us at Disney Theatrical continue to be inspired by the teachers and students across America who have built deeper community connections through the DMIS program and its unique approach to arts engagement.”

In celebration of this milestone anniversary, Disney will collaborate with Center Theatre Group to provide schools in their first year of the program memorabilia for participants to document their experience, the opportunity for students and teachers to attend a professional age-appropriate show in their community, and contributions for their theatre programs in amounts up to $1,000 each.

Disney also donated $500,000 to Donors Choose to match and fund all eligible DMIS projects to help schools secure items for sets, costumes, props and supplies in support of their new theatre programs. Donors Choose is a school-specific crowdfunding organization that allows teachers to fundraise for materials related to a specific project.

Disney KIDS musicals, created in partnership with Music Theater International (MTI), are 30-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.”

For more information visit http://disneymusicalsinschools.com/.

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 audience of more than 20 million people a year 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,” “Aladdin” and “Frozen.” 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 “Marvel Universe Live!,” bringing beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide. 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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December 4, 2018

Center Theatre Group Selects Three Local Productions for Block Party 2019

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:32:00 -0800

Spanish Language Open Captioned Performance for "Come From Away"

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:32:00 -0800

SPANISH LANGUAGE OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE OF THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL

SET FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019 AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE

The First National Tour of “Come From Away” Continues in Los Angeles Through January 6, 2019

Center Theatre Group will offer Spanish-language translations of the 8 p.m. performance of “Come From Away” on Friday, January 4, 2019 at the Ahmanson Theatre. The show will be performed in English with Spanish translations running simultaneously on open caption screens. Audience members wishing to view the open captions should request to be seated in the captioning area when purchasing tickets.

With a book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the First National Tour of “Come From Away” runs at the Ahmanson through January 6, 2019.

The touring production of “Come From Away” features Kevin Carolan (Disney’s “Newsies”), Harter Clingman (“Peter and The Starcatcher”), Nick Duckart (“In the Heights”), Chamblee Ferguson, Becky Gulsvig (“School of Rock the Musical”), Julie Johnson (“Memphis”), Christine Toy Johnson (“The Music Man”), James Earl Jones II (“The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess”), Megan McGinnis (“Les Misérables”), Andrew Samonsky (“South Pacific”), Danielle K. Thomas (“Avenue Q”), Emily Walton (“August: Osage County”), Marika Aubrey, Jane Bunting, Michael Brian Dunn, Julie Garnyé, Adam Halpin and Aaron Michael Ray.

With a book, music and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award nominees Irene Sankoff & David Hein, “Come From Away” is directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley (“Come From Away”), musical staging by two-time Tony nominee Kelly Devine (“Come From Away,” “Rocky”), with music supervision by Grammy nominee Ian Eisendrath (“Come From Away”), 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 Gareth Owen (“End of the Rainbow”), orchestrations by Tony nominee August Eriksmoen (“Bright Star”), music arrangements by Grammy nominee Ian Eisendrath and casting by Telsey + Company.

“Come From Away” tells 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 September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.

Following sold-out, record-breaking, critically acclaimed world premiere engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre, “Come From Away” landed on the “Best Theater of 2015” lists in the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, San Diego Union Tribune, and Times of San Diego. Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times called the show “An affecting, stirring and unpretentious new musical. Christopher Ashley's production lets the simple goodness of ordinary people outshine sensational evil,” and Bob Verini of Variety raved, “Superb! Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein have forged a moving, thoroughly entertaining tribute to international amity and the indomitable human spirit.”

“Come From Away” began performances on Broadway on February 18, 2017 and officially opened to critical acclaim on March 12, 2017 at Broadway’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), and continues to play to standing-room-only audiences.

The Tony Award-winning musical launched a second company in Canada with a sold out four-week engagement in Winnipeg and is currently playing to standing-room-only audiences in Toronto at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

The Mark Gordon Company will produce and finance a feature film adaptation of “Come From Away.” Two-time Tony Award nominees, Grammy nominees and Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award winners Irene Sankoff and David Hein, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, will adapt the feature screenplay for the project and Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley will direct. MGC’s Mark Gordon will produce.

A “Best Musical” winner all across North America, the smash hit musical has won the Tony Award for “Best Direction of a Musical” (Christopher Ashley), five Outer Critics Circle Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding New Broadway Musical,” three Drama Desk Awards (NYC) including “Outstanding Musical,” four Helen Hayes Awards (D.C.) including “Outstanding Production of a Musical,” four Gypsy Rose Lee Awards (Seattle) including “Excellence in Production of a Musical,” six San Diego Critics Circle Awards including “Outstanding New Musical,” three Toronto Theatre Critics Awards including “Best New Musical,” three Dora Awards (Toronto) including “Outstanding New Musical/Opera” and “Outstanding Production,” and the 2017 Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award (Toronto).

“Come From Away” is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams, Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff and Sue Frost), Jerry Frankel, Latitude Link, Smith & Brant Theatricals, Steve & Paula Reynolds, David Mirvish, Michael Rubinoff, Alhadeff Productions, Michael Alden & Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Sam Levy, Rodney Rigby, Spencer Ross, Richard Winkler, Yonge Street Theatricals, Sheridan College, Michael & Ellise Coit, Ronald Frankel, Sheri & Les Biller, Richard Belkin, Gary & Marlene Cohen, Allan Detsky & Rena Mendelson, Lauren Doll, Barbara H. Freitag, Wendy Gillespie, Laura Little Theatricals, Carl & Jennifer Pasbjerg, Radio Mouse Entertainment, The Shubert Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Gwen Arment/Molly Morris & Terry McNicholas, Maureen & Joel Benoliel/Marjorie & Ron Danz, Pamela Cooper/Corey Brunish, Demos Bizar/Square 1 Theatrics, Joshua Goodman/Lauren Stevens, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams Productions, Bill & Linda Potter/Rosemary & Kenneth Willman, La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theatre.

“Come From Away” was originally co-produced in 2015 by La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle Repertory Theater. “Come From Away” (NAMT Festival 2013) was originally developed at the Canadian Music Theatre Project, Michael Rubinoff Producer, Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada and was further developed at Goodspeed Musicals’ Festival of New Artists, in East Haddam, CT. The Canada Council for the Arts, The Ontario Arts Council, Steve and Paula Reynolds and The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle WA also provided development support.

Tickets to the Spanish language open captioned performance of “Come From Away” are $55. They are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/promo and using promo code CFASL at the Center Theatre Group Box Office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles). The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

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December 12, 2018

Cast Announced for "Linda Vista" at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:32:00 -0800

CAST IS SET FOR “LINDA VISTA” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM JANUARY 9 THROUGH FEBRUARY 17, 2019

Center Theatre Group has announced the cast for “Linda Vista” by Tracy Letts. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company production will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum January 9 through February 17, 2019. Directed by Dexter Bullard, the opening of “Linda Vista” is set for January 16, 2019.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Ian Barford, Tim Hopper, Sally Murphy, Caroline Neff, Chantal Thuy, Cora Vander Broek and Troy West.

The creative team features scenic design by Todd Rosenthal, costume design by Laura Bauer, lighting design by Marcus Doshi and sound design by Richard Woodbury. Edward Sobel is the Dramaturg and the production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

Letts’ bitingly hilarious play “Linda Vista” tells of Wheeler, a 50-year-old man who is floating. His marriage is over, his job is mundane and the best years of his life appear to be behind him. A move from the cot in his ex-wife’s garage to his own apartment opens up new possibilities for love, sex and maybe a taste of redemption.

Full of opinions, yet short on self-examination, Wheeler must reconcile the man he has become with the man he wants to be in this searing work that resonates with a new sense of sobriety in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times called “Linda Vista” “a male midlife crisis tragicomedy of epic proportions.” And The Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout said it “might just be Mr. Letts’ best play yet.”

Tracy Letts is an award-winning playwright, actor and Steppenwolf ensemble member. He is the author of plays “Mary Page Marlowe,” “The Scavenger’s Daughter,” “Superior Donuts,” “August: Osage County” (Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award), “Man from Nebraska” (Pulitzer Prize finalist), “Bug” and “Killer Joe.” Also an actor, he received the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.” TV and film credits include “Lady Bird,” “The Lovers,” “Christine,” “Elvis and Nixon,” “The Big Short,” HBO’s “Divorce” and two seasons as Senator Lockhart on Showtime’s “Homeland.”

“Linda Vista” was commissioned by and the world premiere presented at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL in April 2017.

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). Tickets range from $30 – $99 (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 13, 2018

Center Theatre Group Selects Five Schools for DMIS Program

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:02:00 -0800

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

Los Angeles-Area Public Elementary Schools to Produce a Disney Musical at No Cost

Center Theatre Group is pleased to announce the five new schools that have been selected to participate in the 2018-2019 Disney Musicals in Schools 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 a part of Los Angeles County. The five schools include: Breed Street Elementary (LAUSD), Cantara Street School (LAUSD), Saturn Street Elementary (LAUSD), Tulsa Street Elementary (LAUSD) and Wild Rose School of Creative Arts (Monrovia Unified School District).

The selected schools will begin a 17-week musical theatre residency in the winter 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-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 on the Ahmanson Theatre stage for an audience of students, teachers, family and community members.

On being selected, the principals from each school had the following to say:

“Breed [Street Elementary] is thrilled and honored at being one of the schools selected to be part of the Disney Musicals in Schools. Our partnership allows Breed students to be actively engaged in their own learning as they experience the world of theatre, both in front and behind the curtain. Students will experience the various arts as they help develop the theater production known as ‘a musical.’ Our school community looks forward to learning and working with Center Theatre Group teaching artists as we participate in a positive endeavor to bring the magic of musical theatre to Breed Street Elementary School!” –Patricia Romero, Breed Street Elementary

“We are thrilled to partner with Center Theatre Group and DMIS to foster student creativity, inspire self-expression and promote self-esteem as students create an engaging performance for the benefit of the whole community.” –Melanie Karabedian, Cantara Street School

“When we started our journey for building our Arts Integration program, we made the conscious decision to believe that everything we needed would come our way. Because we use a star as a symbol for positivity, we smiled and sang out, ‘When you wish upon a star…’ as we continued to make connections and request. So, when the Disney Musicals in Schools application was received, we knew this was for us. Then, when the notification was made that we were selected, our staff first cheered and then said, ‘Okay, here we go, it’s happening and it’s now!’” –Tracie Bryant, Saturn Street Elementary & Arts and Media Magnet

“Tulsa School for Advanced Studies is so excited to be selected to be part of the Disney Musicals in Schools program. I know this will be the experience of a lifetime for our entire school community. With the excellence Disney is known for along with the expertise of the teaching artists from the Center Theater Group, our teachers and students will acquire so many valuable skills while creating lasting memories.” –Lester Powell, Tulsa Street Elementary

“Being accepted into the DMIS Program opens so many vistas for our school. You never know who will be inspired to want to be the next Tony Award winner. This collaboration gives our teachers, parents and students the chance to experience the joy of creativity, movement, poise and being part of a collaborative process to bring together a musical performance. I am so thrilled to begin our journey with Center Theatre Group.” –Leslie Miller, Ed.D., Wild Rose School of Creative Arts

Last year, five Los Angeles public schools successfully participated in the program, with 280 students and 28 educators working together to create a culture of musical theatre at their schools. Center Theatre Group is pleased to announce that all schools are continuing to produce musicals at their schools. They include Harrison Elementary (LAUSD), Hope Street Elementary (LAUSD), Humphreys Avenue Elementary (LAUSD), La Ballona Elementary (Culver City Unified School District) and Ritter Elementary (LAUSD).

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.

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.

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 20 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,” “Aladdin” and “Frozen.” 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.”

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November 20, 2018

Center Theatre Group Announces "Dear Evan Hansen" Return Engagement in 2020/2021 Season

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:02:00 -0800

“DEAR EVAN HANSEN” SMASHES WEEKLY BOX OFFICE RECORDS IN LOS ANGELES WITH FIVE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OVER $2 MILLION

CENTER THEATRE GROUP ANNOUNCES RETURN ENGAGEMENT IN 2020-2021 SEASON CITING UNPRECEDENTED AUDIENCE RESPONSE

Hot off a record-breaking, six-week sold-out engagement in Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group announced today that the national tour of “Dear Evan Hansen” will play a return engagement in Los Angeles in Center Theatre Group’s 2020-2021 Season at the Ahmanson Theatre. Ticketing information and engagement dates will be announced at a later date.

The six-time Tony Award-winning musical shattered the previously held box office record early in the Los Angeles engagement (10/17 – 11/25/18)—in just its second week in Los Angeles, “Dear Evan Hansen” became the first show in Ahmanson Theatre history to gross more than $2 million in a single playing week. The show went on to break its own record for each of the next four consecutive weeks topping out at over $2.5 million in the final week.

Response to the show in Southern California has been overwhelming—and fans have another chance to see the show early in 2019 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa (1/1 – 1/13/19). Ticket information is available at DearEvanHansen.com.

The National Tour opened in Denver this September, where it played 36 performances before moving to Los Angeles. The show will open tomorrow at ASU Gammage Auditorium in Tempe, AZ (11/27 – 12/2/18), where it already became the fastest selling show in venue history, selling out of all available inventory before the single ticket onsale, and it will play a holiday engagement at The Curran in San Francisco (12/5 – 12/30/18).

“‘Dear Evan Hansen’ was truly a record-breaking phenomenon that captivated Los Angeles every night at the Ahmanson Theatre,” said Douglas C. Baker, Center Theatre Group’s Producing Director. “We’re thrilled with the show’s extraordinarily strong ticket sales. Even more remarkable is the musical’s emotional impact on our audiences. It’s clear from the response and energy in the theatre after each performance that Los Angeles can’t get enough of ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ so we couldn’t wait to announce its return in the 2020-21 Season.”

The winner of six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” features a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman”), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (“Rent,” “Next to Normal”).

Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in 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 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, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Helen Hayes Awards. The show’s original cast won a Daytime Emmy Award for “Best Musical Performance on a Daytime Talk Show” for their April 2017 performance of “You Will Be Found” on NBC’s “Today Show,” only the second Broadway show in history to win that category.

The Grammy Award-winning 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 #8 – the highest charting debut position for an original cast album since 1961 – and went on to win the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. A Deluxe Album of the Grammy-winning cast recording, with six bonus tracks including “Waving Through a Window” performed by pop star Katy Perry, was released digitally by Atlantic Records on November 2, 2018.

A special edition coffee table book authored by Levenson, Pasek and Paul, “Dear Evan Hansen: through the window” (Grand Central Publishing / Melcher) is now available, offering an in-depth, all-access look at the musical, including never-before-seen production photos and cast portraits, behind-the-scenes stories, and a fully annotated script by the authors.

In addition to the touring production and the record-breaking Broadway production, “Dear Evan Hansen” will launch its first international production in Canada, in March 2019 at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, followed by a production in London at the Noël Coward Theatre later in 2019.

“Dear Evan Hansen” features scenic design by David Korins, projection design by Peter Nigrini, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, and hair design by David Brian Brown. Music supervision, orchestrations and additional arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire. Ben Cohn is the Associate Music Supervisor. Vocal arrangements and additional arrangements are by Justin Paul. Danny Mefford is the choreographer. U.S. Casting by Tara Rubin Casting/Lindsay Levine. Adrienne Campbell-Holt, Sash Bischoff and Adam Quinn are the Associate Directors. Judith Schoenfeld is the Production Supervisor.

The touring production of “Dear Evan Hansen” is produced by Stacey Mindich. The co-producers are Mickey Liddell, Hunter Arnold, Caiola Productions, Double Gemini Productions, Fakston Productions, Roy Furman, Harris Karma Productions, On Your Marks Group, Darren Bagert, Roger & William Berlind, Bob Boyett, Colin Callender, Caitlin Clements, Freddy DeMann, Dante Di Loreto, Bonnie & Kenneth Feld, FickStern Productions, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Robert Greenblatt, Jere Harris and Darren DeVerna, The John Gore Organization, Mike Kriak, David Mirvish, Eva Price, Zeilinger Productions, Adam Zotovich, Ambassador Theatre Group, Independent Presenters Network, and the Shubert Organization, in association with Arena Stage, Molly Smith and Edgar Dobie, and Second Stage Theatre, Carole Rothman, and Casey Reitz. Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey M. Wilson are Executive Producers.

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November 26, 2018

"Come From Away" Opens at Ahmanson

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 12:02:00 -0800

BROADWAY’S TONY AWARD-WINNING “MUST-SEE MUSICAL” (NPR)

“COME FROM AWAY” OPENS AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES

NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION CAST FEATURES

KEVIN CAROLAN, HARTER CLINGMAN, NICK DUCKART, CHAMBLEE FERGUSON, BECKY GULSVIG, JULIE JOHNSON, CHRISTINE TOY JOHNSON, JAMES EARL JONES II, MEGAN MCGINNIS, ANDREW SAMONSKY, DANIELLE K. THOMAS, EMILY WALTON

MARIKA AUBREY, JANE BUNTING, MICHAEL BRIAN DUNN, JULIE GARNYÉ, ADAM HALPIN, AARON MICHAEL RAY

BOOK, MUSIC & LYRICS BY IRENE SANKOFF & DAVID HEIN DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY MUSICAL STAGING BY KELLY DEVINE MUSIC SUPERVISION & ARRANGEMENTS BY IAN EISENDRATH

The First National Tour of “Come From Away” will open its Los Angeles engagement on Wednesday, November 28. The Tony Award-winning musical continues through January 6, 2019, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.

The touring production of “Come From Away” will star Kevin Carolan (Disney’s “Newsies”), Harter Clingman (“Peter and The Starcatcher”), Nick Duckart (“In the Heights”), Chamblee Ferguson, Becky Gulsvig (“School of Rock the Musical”), Julie Johnson (“Memphis”), Christine Toy Johnson (“The Music Man”), James Earl Jones II (“The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess”), Megan McGinnis (“Les Misérables”), Andrew Samonsky (“South Pacific”), Danielle K. Thomas (“Avenue Q”), Emily Walton (“August: Osage County”), Marika Aubrey, Jane Bunting, Michael Brian Dunn, Julie Garnyé, Adam Halpin and Aaron Michael Ray.

On September 11, 2001 the world stopped. On September 12, their stories moved us all.

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 for “Come From Away” are available by calling (213) 972-4400, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or by visiting the Center Theatre Group Box Office located at the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets range from $30 – $135 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, 90012.

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November 27, 2018

Spanish Language Open Captioned Performance for 'Valley of the Heart'

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 16:29:00 -0800

SPANISH LANGUAGE OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE SET FOR LUIS VALDEZ’S “VALLEY OF THE HEART” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM

Center Theatre Group will offer Spanish-language translations of the 8 p.m. performance of Luis Valdez’s “Valley of the Heart” on Friday, December 7 at the Mark Taper Forum. Each show will be performed in English with Spanish translations running simultaneously on open caption screens. Audience members wishing to view the open captions should request to be seated in the captioning area when purchasing tickets.

Written and directed by Luis Valdez (“Zoot Suit”) and presented in association with El Teatro Campesino, “Valley of the Heart” will run at the Taper through December 9, 2018. The cast of “Valley of the Heart” includes, in alphabetical order, Mariela Arteaga, Moises Castro, Justin Chien, Melanie Arii Mah, Randall Nakano, Joy Osmanski, Rose Portillo, Michael Naydoe Pinedo, Christy Sandoval, Scott Keiji Takeda, Daniel Valdez and Lakin Valdez.

The creative team includes set design by John Iacovelli, costume design by Lupe Valdez, lighting design by Pablo Santiago, projection design by David Murakami and sound design by Philip G. Allen. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin and Kinan Valdez is the associate director.

The fight to maintain dignity, identity, family and faith are at the heart of this American story deeply rooted in the once-fertile farmland that is now known as the Silicon Valley. “Valley of the Heart” tells the story of the Yamaguchis and the Montaños, two immigrant families struggling to provide a future for their American-born children after the Great Depression on the farmland the two families share. The families’ oldest children secretly fall in love only to have the emotional stakes further heightened when the attack on Pearl Harbor throws these Mexican and Japanese American families into uncertainty.

When the Yamaguchis are interned along with thousands of other Japanese Americans, allegiances are tested, heroes are made, and the two young lovers must find a way to stay loyal both to their families, their country and each other.

Luis Valdez’s screen credits include “Zoot Suit” (featuring Edward James Olmos), “La Bamba” (starring Lou Diamond Phillips), “The Cisco Kid” (featuring Jimmy Smits and Cheech Marin) and “Corridos: Tales of Passion and Revolution” (with Linda Ronstadt). Awards include LA Drama Critic Circle Awards, Bay Area Critics Awards, the George Peabody Award for excellence in television, the Presidential Medal of the Arts, the Governor’s Award from the California Arts Council and Mexico’s prestigious Aguila Azteca Award given to individuals whose work promotes cultural excellence and exchange between the U.S. and Mexico. He was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 2007, he was awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship as one of the 50 U.S. artists so honored across the United States. Valdez was recently inducted into the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences as a director.

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 “Valley of the Heart” are $30. They are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/promo using promo code VOHSL or at the Center Theatre Group Box Office (at the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles). The Mark Taper Forum is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

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November 15, 2018