Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Rehearsals Have Begun for 'Happy Days' at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 16:36:00 -0700

REHEARSALS HAVE BEGUN FOR SAMUEL BECKETT’S “HAPPY DAYS” STARRING DIANNE WIEST PLAYING AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM MAY 15 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019

The Yale Repertory Theatre production of Samuel Beckett’s classic “Happy Days” has begun rehearsals at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Directed by James Bundy, the production features Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest (“Hannah and Her Sisters,” “Bullets Over Broadway”) as Winnie. Michael Rudko will be joining the previously announced Wiest in the role of Willie. “Happy Days” will play at the Mark Taper Forum May 15 through June 30, 2019, with the opening set for May 22 at 8 p.m.

The design team includes scenic designer Izmir Ickbal, costume designer Alexae Visel, lighting designer Stephen Strawbridge and sound designer Kate Marvin. Catherine Sheehy and Nahuel Telleria serve as dramaturgs and the production stage manager is Kelly Montgomery. Samuel Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece “Happy Days” centers on Winnie (played by Wiest). With her husband Willie (played by Rudko) increasingly out of reach and the earth itself threatening to swallow her whole, Winnie’s buoyant optimism shields her from the harsh glare of the inevitable in this absurdly funny and boundlessly compassionate portrait of the human spirit. Winnie is considered modern drama’s pinnacle female role. She is an endlessly fascinating spirit of cheery resourcefulness and unassuming grace in the face of inevitable oblivion in a play Wiest refers to as “Hamlet” for women.

Jesse Green of the New York Times said, “Ms. Wiest’s Winnie is more like nature’s plaything, knocked about and childlike. Several times I thought I recognized in her skittishness the affect of an abused woman, clinging to what abuses her, which in this case is life.” He adds, “She shows us what a deeply womanly role Beckett has written, albeit one whose tragedy is refracted through a distorting comic lens. She finds laughs not only in the words but also in the gaps between.

Dianne Wiest’s New York theatre credits include “Rasheeda Speaking” (The New Group), “The Cherry Orchard” (Classic Stage Company), Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” on Broadway, “The Seagull” (CSC), “Third,” “Memory House,” “Salome” and “Oedipus” with Al Pacino, “The Shawl,” “Hunting Cockroaches,” “After the Fall,” “Beyond Therapy” and “The Art of Dining.” For Yale Rep, she previously appeared in “Hedda Gabler” and “A Doll House.” Her film credits include “Five Nights in Maine,” “Sisters,” “The Humbling,” “Synecdoche, New York,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” “Hannah and Her Sisters” (Academy Award), “The Purple Rose of Cairo” “Radio Days,” “September,” “Bullets Over Broadway” (Academy Award), “Parenthood” (Academy Award nomination), “Rabbit Hole,” “Footloose,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “The Birdcage.” She received Emmy Awards for her performances in “The Road to Avonlea” and the HBO series “In Treatment” and currently appears in the CBS series “Life in Pieces.”

The Los Angeles engagement of “Happy Days” is generously supported in part by Ruth Flinkman-Marandy and Ben Marandy.

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 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 $32 – $115 (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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April 25, 2019

Rehearsals Begun for 'Dana H.' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 16:36:00 -0700

REHEARSALS BEGIN FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF LUCAS HNATH’S “DANA H.” AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

“Dana H.” Will Run May 26 Through June 23, 2019

Rehearsals begin for the world premiere of Lucas Hnath’s “Dana H.” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in a co-production with Goodman Theatre. Adapted from interviews with Dana Higginbotham, conducted by Steve Cosson, directed by Les Waters and featuring Deirdre O’Connell in the title role, “Dana H.” will begin previews May 26, open June 2 and continue through June 23, 2019.

The creative team includes set design by Andrew Boyce, lighting and supertitle design by Paul Toben, costume design by Janice Pytel and sound design by Mikhail Fiksel.

“Dana H.” tells the real-life story of Hnath’s own mother. A nondenominational hospice chaplain, Dana had stared death in the face on countless occasions, but when she helped a mentally ill ex-convict turn his life around, she suddenly found her own life hanging in the balance. “Dana H.” recounts the harrowing five-month odyssey as she was held captive by, traveled with and eventually escaped her unstable captor. Told in Dana’s own words, reconstructed for the stage by her son, award-winning playwright Lucas Hnath (“A Doll’s House, Part 2,” “The Christians”), this innovative work of theatre shatters the boundaries of the form and of our understanding of good and evil.

Hnath’s work as a playwright includes “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” “Hillary and Clinton,” “Red Speedo,” “The Christians,” “A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney,” “Isaac’s Eye” and “Death Tax.” His work has been produced nationally and internationally, including at Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshop, Soho Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival of New Plays, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Mark Taper Forum (“The Christians”), Steppenwolf Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Royal Court Theatre, and on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre. He is a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and a resident of New Dramatists. Hnath is a recipient of an Obie, Guggenheim Fellowship, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Play, Whiting Award, Kesselring Prize, two Steinberg citations from the American Theatre Critics Association, and a 2017 Tony nomination for Best Play. At NYU, Hnath has previously served as a Language Lecturer in the Expository Writing Program. Additionally, he has taught at Rutgers, University of Rochester and the Southampton Writers Conference.

Tickets for “Dana H.” 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 “Dana H.” range from $25 – $79 (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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April 29, 2019

'Falsettos' Begins at the Ahmanson

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:10:00 -0700

THE LINCOLN CENTER THEATER BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF “FALSETTOS” WILL BEGIN PERFORMANCES AT THE AHMANSON THEATRE APRIL 16 THROUGH MAY 19, 2019

Music and lyrics by WILLIAM FINN, Book by WILLIAM FINN and JAMES LAPINE, Direction by JAMES LAPINE

The Lincoln Center Theater production of William Finn and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning musical “Falsettos” will begin performances at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on April 16, 2019. Performances will continue through May 19 with the opening set for April 17.

Included in the National Company are Nick Adams (“La Cage aux Folles” and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”) as Whizzer, Eden Espinosa (“Wicked,” “Brooklyn The Musical” and “Rent”) as Trina, Max von Essen (“An American in Paris,” Tony Award-nominee, “Evita” and “Les Misérables”) as Marvin, Nick Blaemire (Broadway’s “Cry-Baby,” “Godspell” and Off-Broadway’s “tick…tick…Boom!”) as Mendel, Audrey Cardwell (First National Tours of “Bright Star” and “Cinderella”) as Cordelia, Bryonha Marie Parham (Broadway’s “Ragtime,” “Porgy and Bess” and “Prince of Broadway”) as Dr. Charlotte and Thatcher Jacobs and Jonah Mussolino sharing the role of Jason. Mussolino will replace the previously announced Jim Kaplan. Rounding out the company are Josh Canfield, Melanie Evans, Megan Loughran and Darick Pead.

"It is a great thrill to be bringing ‘Falsettos’ to theatre audiences across America and to be doing so with this exceptional cast of Broadway actors,” said James Lapine.

This production was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival when it returned to Broadway in Fall 2016. The North American Tour of the Lincoln Center Theater Broadway production of “Falsettos” is directed once again by James Lapine. The production has choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy Award nominee for FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance”), sets by David Rockwell (“Hairspray,” “The Normal Heart,” “She Loves Me”), costumes by Jennifer Caprio (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”), lighting by Jeff Croiter (“Bandstand,” “Something Rotten!”), sound by Dan Moses Schreier (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” “Gypsy” with Patti LuPone), casting by Eric Woodall / Tara Rubin Casting, music supervision by Vadim Feichtner and features Michael Starobin’s (“Assassins,” “Next to Normal”) original orchestrations.

The North American Tour of the Lincoln Center Theater Broadway production of “Falsettos” is produced by Jujamcyn Theaters and NETworks Presentations.

“Falsettos” revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife, lover, about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist and the lesbians next door. It’s a hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family… and a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.

This production of “Falsettos” marks a happy reunion for composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James 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.” It 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.” “Falsettos” ran for over a year at the John Golden Theatre and won Tony Awards for Finn’s score and Finn and Lapine’s book.

Tickets for “Falsettos” 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 – $145 (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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April 10, 2019

Center Theatre Group Announces Additional Casting for 'A Grand Night' Benefit at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:10:00 -0700

CENTER THEATRE GROUP ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CASTING FOR “A GRAND NIGHT” BENEFIT AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM ON APRIL 22 CELEBRATING OVER A HALF CENTURY OF LANDMARK MUSICALS

Lea Michele and “Falsettos” Cast Members Nick Adams, Nick Blaemire, Audrey Cardwell, Eden Espinosa, Thatcher Jacobs, Bryonha Marie Parham and Max von Essen

Join the Previously Announced Performers Obba Babatundé, Erich Bergen, Darren Criss, Barrett Foa, Katie Lowes, Adam Pascal and Adam Shapiro

Dominique Morisseau and Casey Nicholaw Will Also Make an Appearance Evening Includes a Reception in the Ahmanson Theatre Lobby, a Performance at the Mark Taper Forum and a Gala Dinner on the Ahmanson Stage

Performance-Only Tickets Start at $100

Center Theatre Group has announced additional performers and two special guests for “A Grand Night,” a one-night-only event on Monday, April 22 featuring a 5:30 p.m. pre-show reception in the Ahmanson lobby, a 7 p.m. performance in the Mark Taper Forum and a post-show gala dinner on the stage of the Ahmanson Theatre. Tickets are also available for the performance only starting at $100.

Lea Michele (“Spring Awakening,” “Glee”) and “Falsettos” cast members Nick Adams (“La Cage aux Folles,” “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”), Nick Blaemire (“Cry-Baby,” “tick…tick…Boom!”), Audrey Cardwell (First National Tours of “Bright Star” and “Cinderella”), Eden Espinosa (“Wicked,” “Rent”), Thatcher Jacobs, Bryonha Marie Parham (“Ragtime,” “Porgy and Bess”) and Max von Essen (“An American in Paris,” “Anastasia”) will join the previously announced Obba Babatundé (“Dreamgirls,””Jelly’s Last Jam”), Erich Bergen (“Jersey Boys,” “Madam Secretary”), Darren Criss (“Glee,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”), Barrett Foa (“Avenue Q,” “NCIS: Los Angeles”), Katie Lowes (“Scandal,” “Waitress”), Adam Pascal (“Rent,” “Something Rotten”) and Adam Shapiro (“Waitress,” “The Affair”). Carmen Cusack and Zooey Deschanel will no longer be performing at the Taper.

Dominique Morisseau, who wrote the book for recent Ahmanson hit and current Broadway smash “Ain’t Too Proud” will be a special guest as will Casey Nicholaw who made his directorial debut with “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Ahmanson and is currently represented on Broadway with “The Prom,” “Mean Girls,” “Aladdin” and “The Book Of Mormon” (also coming to the Ahmanson in 2020).

For over 50 years, Center Theatre Group has developed or presented countless landmark musicals. “A Grand Night” will feature a one-night-only musical performance that highlights some of the greatest moments from Center Theatre Group’s history and a sneak peek at seasons to come.

The 2019 gala dinner on the Ahmanson Theatre stage will be hosted by Jana Bezdek and Trevor Bezdek. Karla Ahmanson and William H. Ahmanson, Kiki Ramos Gindler and David Gindler, Patricia Glaser and Sam Mudie, Ellyn Lindsay and William Lindsay, Laura Rosenwald and Jamie Rosenwald will serve as gala co-chairs, with Matthew Walden and Richard Weitz as gala performance co-chairs.

The company has played a part in many legendary musical theatre works, and collaborated with major actors, singers, writers and composers, from Neil Simon and Lena Horne to Neil Patrick Harris and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Last year alone, Center Theatre Group produced the innovative “Soft Power,” hosted the Broadway-bound hit “Ain’t Too Proud” and presented the blockbuster tour of “Dear Evan Hansen.”

Gala dinner tickets start at $5,000 and include a pre-performance reception, prime seating locations for the performance and an unforgettable dinner on stage at the Ahmanson Theatre. Dinner tickets can be reserved by calling (213) 972-3192 or by emailing gala@ctgla.org. Performance only tickets start at $100 and are available for purchase on our website at CTGLA.org/AGrandNight. Proceeds from the 2019 Gala will support the ongoing impact Center Theatre Group strives to make in the community, by producing the highest quality work on our stages and programming a range of educational opportunities for students and audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

The Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre are located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

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April 10, 2019

Cast Announced For World Premiere of Lucas Hnath's 'Dana H.' at Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:10:00 -0700

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR WORLD PREMIERE OF LUCAS HNATH’S “DANA H.” AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

“Dana H.” Will Run May 26 Through June 23, 2019

Center Theatre Group has announced that Deirdre O’Connell will play the title role in the world premiere of “Dana H.” by Lucas Hnath at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in a co-production with Goodman Theatre. Adapted from interviews with Dana Higginbotham, conducted by Steve Cosson and directed by Les Waters, “Dana H.” will begin previews May 26, open June 2 and continue through June 23, 2019. “Dana H.” was originally commissioned by The Civilians (New York) and Goodman Theatre; it will appear at the Goodman from September 6 through October 6, 2019, during their 2019/2020 Season.

The creative team includes set design by Andrew Boyce, lighting and supertitle design by Paul Toben, costume design by Janice Pytel and sound design by Mikhail Fiksel.

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April 17, 2019

'Native Son' Opens at Douglas Part of Block Party 2019

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:10:00 -0700

ANTAEUS THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF “NATIVE SON” OPENS APRIL 20 AS PART OF CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S BLOCK PARTY 2019

Written by Nambi E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Richard Wright and Directed by Andi Chapman “Native Son” Will Play Through April 28, 2019 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

Antaeus Theatre Company’s production of “Native Son,” which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre, will open Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. Written by Nambi E. Kelley, based on the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Andi Chapman, “Native Son” is currently in previews and will close April 28.

The cast includes Noel Arthur, Gigi Bermingham, Jon Chaffin, Ellis Greer, Matthew Grondin, Mildred Marie Langford, Ned Mochel, Victoria Platt and Brandon Rachal.

The design team includes scenic design by Edward E. Haynes Jr., costume design by Wendell C. Carmichael, lighting design by Andrew Schmedake, sound design by Jeff Gardner, and projection design by Adam R. Macias. The production stage manager is Taylor Anne Cullen.

Block Party 2019 also remounted Theatre of NOTE’s production of “For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)” from March 7 through 17 and Skylight Theatre Company’s production of “Rotterdam” from March 28 through April 7. The three visiting companies received the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

“Now in its third year, Block Party continues to be a real treat for our entire organization,” said Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. “We all look forward to working with Theatre of NOTE, Skylight and Antaeus and sharing their exciting work with our audiences.”

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.

Previous Block Party productions have included “Ameryka” (Critical Mass Performance Group), “Bloodletting” (Playwrights’ Arena), “Citizen: An American Lyric” (The Fountain Theatre), “Die, Mommie, Die!” (Celebration Theatre), “Dry Land” (The Echo Theater Company) and “Failure: A Love Story” (Coeurage Theatre Company).

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 $27 – $77 (ticket prices are subject to change).

The first Friday performance of each Block Party production (April 19 for “Native Son”) is a pay-what-you-want performance. Another way to share these exciting productions and connect with the Los Angeles Theatre community, the pay-what-you-want performances offer patrons the opportunity to decide what their theatre experience was worth before, during or after the performance. Tickets for the pay-what-you-want performances are available in person only at the Center Theatre Group Box Office at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office.

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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April 19, 2019

Center Theatre Group Hosts Free Teen Youth Summit for 'Lackawanna Blues'

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:00:00 -0700

CENTER THEATRE GROUP TO HOST A FREE TEEN YOUTH SUMMIT ON APRIL 11 INSPIRED BY RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON’S ONE-MAN SHOW “LACKAWANNA BLUES”

“Lackawanna Blues” Runs through April 21, 2019 at the Mark Taper Forum

Center Theatre Group invites current high school students to attend Celebrating Our Stories, a teen youth summit inspired by Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s one-man show “Lackawanna Blues.” The free youth summit will take place on Thursday, April 11, 2019, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. (includes performance time for “Lackawanna Blues”) at The Music Center Annex (601 West Temple St) and the Mark Taper Forum (135 N Grand Ave) in Downtown L.A.

The teen youth summit will feature three interactive pre-show workshops that explore the theme of the play. Workshops include Cultural Mapping, Storytelling Through Movement and Poetry Writing: Telling Your Story. Students who attend the summit will also receive a ticket to the 8 p.m. performance of “Lackawanna Blues” at the Mark Taper Forum that evening. However, students must attend the entire event to receive their complimentary ticket. Dinner will be served at the youth summit.

The teen youth summit is planned by Center Theatre Group’s Student Ambassadors, a group of high school students participating in a yearlong leadership program.

A magical, musical and deeply personal work 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 live blues music.

In his Los Angeles Times review, Charles McNulty wrote that “[Ruben] Santiago-Hudson, a Tony-winning actor and talented stage director who’s one of the foremost interpreters of August Wilson’s plays, beautifully merges his autobiographical narrative with music.” The New York Times’ Bruce Weber said, “Mr. Santiago-Hudson does a virtuoso turn as a performer. Delivering anecdotes and testimonials from Miss Rachel's boarders and friends, the population of a child's world, he passes from one identity to the next so fluidly that you barely notice the flip of the switch.”

Tony and Obie Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson recently directed the Broadway debut of August Wilson’s “Jitney” (2017 Tony Award for Best Revival, Tony nomination for Best Direction of a Play) as well as the world premieres of Dominique Morriseau’s “Skeleton Crew” at the Atlantic Theater and “Paradise Blue” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Santiago-Hudson won a Tony for his performance in August Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” on Broadway and later went on to direct the play. Other directing credits include “The Piano Lesson,” “The First Breeze of Summer,” “Cabin in the Sky” and many more. The multi-award-winning director and actor wrote, executive produced and starred in the HBO film of “Lackawanna Blues.” It received several honors, including Emmy, Golden Globe, Humanitas, National Board of Review and Christopher Awards. Ruben recently starred alongside Anika Noni Rose in BET’s drama “The Quad.” Santiago-Hudson also recurs on Showtime’s “Billions” and starred in TNT’s “Public Morals.” He will also recur on OWN’s new “David Makes Man” alongside Phylicia Rashad later this year. The Lackawanna, New York native opened the Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center in 2014 in his hometown.

To RSVP to Celebrating Our Stories youth summit, students can visit CTGLA.org/YouthSummit. RSVPs are available through Tuesday, April 9 by 5 p.m. or until the event is filled (whichever comes first).

Tickets for “Lackawanna Blues” 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 – $105 (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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April 3, 2019

Cast Announced for Antaeus Theatre Company's Production of 'Native Son' Part of Block Party 2019

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:00:00 -0700

CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR ANTAEUS THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION OF “NATIVE SON” AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE PART OF CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S BLOCK PARTY 2019

Written by Nambi E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Richard Wright and Directed by Andi Chapman “Native Son” Will Play April 18 Through 28, 2019 at the Douglas

Casting is set for Antaeus Theatre Company’s production of “Native Son,” which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Nambi E. Kelley, based on the novel by Richard Wright and directed by Andi Chapman, “Native Son” will begin previews April 18, open April 20 and continue through April 28, 2019.

The cast includes Noel Arthur, Gigi Bermingham, Jon Chaffin, Ellis Greer, Matthew Grondin, Mildred Marie Langford, Ned Mochel, Victoria Platt and Brandon Rachal.

“Native Son” is set in 1930s Chicago, where a longing for social justice ignites a palpable rage within protagonist Bigger Thomas. “Native Son” is a gripping adaptation of the classic Richard Wright novel and focuses on the inner workings of Thomas’ mind as events violently and irrevocably seal his fate. Block Party 2019 also remounted Theatre of NOTE’s production of “For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)” from March 7 through 17 and Skylight Theatre Company’s production of “Rotterdam” from March 28 through April 7. The three visiting companies receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Center Theatre Group received submissions for Block Party from intimate theatre companies throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The selected productions come from Hollywood (Theatre of NOTE), Los Feliz (Skylight Theatre Company) and Glendale (Antaeus Theatre Company). 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.

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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April 4, 2019

Meghan Pressman Named New Center Theatre Group Managing Director/CEO

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 12:00:00 -0700

MEGHAN PRESSMAN NAMED NEW CENTER THEATRE GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

Pressman to Join Center Theatre Group From Her Role as Managing Director for Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Center Theatre Group’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Meghan Pressman as the organization’s new Managing Director/CEO. Pressman joins Center Theatre Group from Washington, DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, where she has served as Managing Director since 2014.

Following an international search conducted by Phillips Oppenheim, Center Theatre Group’s Board of Directors selected Pressman to partner with Artistic Director Michael Ritchie in leading one of the nation’s largest and most active theatre companies. As Managing Director/CEO, Pressman will oversee all of Center Theatre Group’s management, finances, communications, marketing, institutional advancement, technology and human resources.

“It’s truly a delight and honor to join Michael Ritchie in the leadership of one of our country’s most essential and influential cultural institutions,” said Pressman. “This is an amazing opportunity to build on Center Theatre Group’s legacy of artistic ambition and excellence, and to cultivate an audience as diverse and vibrant as Los Angeles. Center Theatre Group is really at a great, pivotal moment in its history, having already brought so many amazing works of theatre to audiences from all walks of life. I look forward to working with Michael, the Board, and the incredible staff to continue exploring ways to connect with new and different members of the community and ensuring the organization remains an integral part of L.A.’s cultural fabric for the next 50 years.”

“I look forward to a robust partnership with Meghan as together we move into this exciting new chapter for Center Theatre Group,” said Ritchie. “Following the resounding success of our 50th Anniversary Season, we are well positioned to set a strong foundation for this organization’s future, both as an internationally renowned theatre organization and as a civic partner for Los Angeles. Meghan is a great leader for where Center Theatre Group is today and where we expect to be in the next 10 years.”

“I am thrilled about the Board’s choice after an extensive and highly competitive international search which involved outreach to many of our stakeholders to help identify the best person for this critical leadership position,” said Center Theatre Group Board President Kiki Ramos Gindler. “Our search committee was looking for someone who could bring a fresh and strategic vision to our more than 50-year-old organization to continue steering it toward an exciting future. With Meghan’s deep roots in theatre, and her solid business training and fundraising experience, we are confident that she is the perfect individual to enhance Center Theatre Group and its impact on our patrons, donors and other stakeholders both throughout the greater Los Angeles area and also across the field nationally.”

At Woolly Mammoth, Pressman has overseen the operations of a $5 million nonprofit organization with a national reputation as a center for theatrical research and development. Her role has included the supervision of all financial, operations, development and marketing departments and shared supervision with the Artistic Director of the production and community engagement departments. During Woolly Mammoth’s 2017/18 Season, she served on the leadership team of its Artistic Director Search Committee to replace the organization’s then retiring Founding Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz and simultaneously designed and launched the Woolly Legacy Campaign to fund the search, transition and key building infrastructure. During her tenure, Woolly Mammoth raised over $5 million in new special project and multi-year grants and was one of only seven national theatres awarded a four-year $1.2 million Wallace Foundation “Building Audiences for Sustainability” grant.

Prior to joining Woolly, Pressman served as Director of Development at Signature Theatre in New York City, where she worked with the senior leadership and the Board of Trustees on long-range strategic planning; organized the advancement of the Signature Ticket Initiative, a groundbreaking program that makes all tickets available for $25 for the initial run of every production; and oversaw the solicitation, cultivation and expansion of the company’s diverse roster of capital and annual donors.

Pressman previously served as Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Associate Managing Director as well as the Managing Director for The Ground Floor: Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. Pressman has also served various other theatre and arts organizations including Yale Repertory Theatre as Associate Managing Director, Chicago Theatre for Young Audiences as Co-Founding Managing Director and at the Chicago Improv Festival as an Associate Producer.

Pressman holds an MFA in theatre management from Yale School of Drama, an MBA from Yale School of Management, an MA from Northwestern University and a BA from Boston College. At Yale, she was the recipient of the Morris J. Kaplan Award and the Benjamin Mordecai Scholarship, both for recognition in theatre management. She is the Vice-Chair of the National Board for the Theatre Communications Group (TCG).

ABOUT WOOLLY Woolly Mammoth, a national innovator in the development and production of new plays, is one of the best known theatres in the country and “the hottest theatre company in town” (Washington Post). For almost four decades, Woolly has held a unique position at the leading edge of the American theatre, earning a reputation for staying “uniquely plugged in to the mad temper of the times” (The New York Times). Woolly’s mission is “to create rousing, visceral, enlightening theatre experiences that galvanize diverse artists and audiences to engage with our world in unexpected and often challenging ways.” Woolly serves an essential research and development role within the American theatre. Plays premiered at Woolly have gone on to productions at more than 250 theatres all over the world.

ABOUT CENTER THEATRE GROUP 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.

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April 8, 2019

Center Theatre Group, LA Stage Alliance, UCLA, Chapman University and USC Present The Going Pro Career Fair

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 11:37:00 -0700

CENTER THEATRE GROUP, LA STAGE ALLIANCE, UCLA, CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY AND USC PRESENT THE GOING PRO CAREER FAIR A FREE EVENT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT THE LOS ANGELES THEATRE CENTER

Workshops and More Offered to Current Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Center Theatre Group invites current undergraduate and graduate students to attend the free Going Pro Career Fair on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center (514 S. Spring St. in Downtown L.A.) from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Co-presented by LA STAGE Alliance, the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Chapman University College of Performing Arts and the USC School of Dramatic Arts, the event is free but reservations are recommended.

The Going Pro Career Fair is intended to help current students prepare for a professional theatre career. This year, the fair will focus on financial topics: how to ask for money, make it and manage it. The fair will feature tables hosted by LA STAGE Alliance, Actors Fund, Actors’ Equity and other unions and service organizations for students to learn more about their work and the resources they offer theatre artists. The event will also feature a technical theatre jobs networking mixer, 20-minute speed mentorship sessions and four free workshops.

Students who RSVP for Going Pro will be eligible to secure one of a limited number of slots for the professional theatre open auditions organized by LA Stage Alliance or free headshots with a professional photographer. The auditions allow students to be seen by producers and directors from Los Angeles theatre companies -- they are not for a specific production or to join a particular company’s membership, but offer a way for actors to introduce themselves to the performing arts community. There are only 100 headshot sessions and 40 audition time slots available. They will be filled on a first come, first serve basis and students are encouraged to arrive at the event early. Students who do not RSVP in advance will not be eligible.

The four workshops offered at the Going Pro Career Fair are “Navigating the First Three Years” (10 a.m.), a panel discussion featuring recent college alumni discussing how they made the leap from college to career, focused on how they found work, paid their bills and navigated life as artists. The second workshop is “What Theatres Need” (11:15 a.m.) where Center Theatre Group staff and independent producers give a quick overview of what makes you an asset as an actor, technician, playwright, designer or manager. The third workshop, “Financial Empowerment for Artists,” (1 p.m.) is presented by East Los Angeles College and will focus on how to create a personal budget, plan for and submit taxes and embrace the financial realities of being a theatre artist. The final workshop is “Contracts and Negotiation 101” (2:15 p.m.) where students will learn the ins and outs of contracts and what it means to be an independent contractor.

The Going Pro Career Fair is open to current undergraduate and graduate students only. While guests are welcome to stop by at any point during the fair, reservations are free and required to guarantee admission and to be eligible for on-site auditions and headshots. Attendees will also receive a free, one-year subscription to Backstage (available upon check-in). To RSVP to the Going Pro Career Fair and for more information about the fair, students can visit www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/GoingPro. Reservations are accepted through Wednesday, April 10 at 5 p.m. to be eligible for speed mentorship sign-ups in advance and Thursday, April 18 at 5 p.m. for general registration.

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April 3, 2019