Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Performances Have Begun for 'A Play Is a Poem' at Taper

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:07:00 -0700

PERFORMANCES HAVE BEGUN FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF ETHAN COEN’S “A PLAY IS A POEM” AT THE MARK TAPER FORUM THROUGH OCTOBER 13, 2019

Performances have begun for the world premiere of Ethan Coen’s “A Play Is a Poem” at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Neil Pepe and presented in association with Atlantic Theater Company, “A Play Is a Poem” is currently in previews with the opening set for September 21 at 8 p.m. Performances will continue through October 13.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Ro Boddie, Max Casella, Micaela Diamond, Peter Jacobson, Jason Kravits, Nellie McKay, Saul Rubinek, Miriam Silverman, Joey Slotnick, Sam Vartholomeos and CJ Wilson.

The creative team features scenic design by Riccardo Hernández, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, sound design by Leon Rothenberg with original music by Nellie McKay, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe and fight direction by Steve Rankin. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

“A Play Is a Poem” is a new collection of five one acts by Ethan Coen set in the hillbilly hollows of Appalachia, the executive suites of Hollywood, a New York tenement apartment, the smoke-filled office of a Los Angeles private eye and a magnolia-scented gazebo in Natchez, Mississippi. Each place holds a different story – together they offer an eccentric look at life across America that only Ethan Coen could deliver.

Ethan Coen has written three previous evenings of one acts, “Happy Hour,” “Almost an Evening” and “Offices,” all three directed by Neil Pepe. His full-length play “Women or Nothing” was directed by David Cromer and premiered at Atlantic Theater Company. He contributed a play to “Relatively Speaking,” a Broadway trio of one acts whose other contributors were Woody Allen and Elaine May. Coen has written a collection of stories, “Gates of Eden,” and two collections of poems, “The Drunken Driver Has the Right of Way” and “The Day the World Ends.” Coen has also written, produced and directed films with his brother Joel for 35 years.

Neil’s recent directing credits include the New York premiere of Simon Stephens’ “On the Shore of the Wide World,” and the world premieres of George Brant’s “Marie and Rosetta,” Kenneth Lonergan’s “Hold On To Me Darling” and David Mamet’s “The Penitent,” all at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York. Broadway credits include the musical, “Hands on a Hardbody” the acclaimed revival of David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow” and “A Life in the Theatre.” Off-Broadway credits at Atlantic Theater Company include John Guare’s “3 Kinds of Exile;” Moira Buffini’s “Dying For It;” Jez Butterworth’s “Parlour Song,” “Mojo” and “The Night Heron;” Ethan Coen’s “Happy Hour,” “Offices” and “Almost an Evening;” Harold Pinter’s “Celebration and The Room;” Adam Rapp’s “Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling;” Joe Penhall’s “Blue/Orange;” Hilary Bell’s “Wolf Lullaby;” David Pittu’s “What’s That Smell?;” Howard Korder’s “Sea of Tranquility;” Edwin Sanchez’ “Clean;” Quincy Long’s “Shaker Heights.” Additional off-Broadway credits include David Mamet’s “American Buffalo” (Donmar Warehouse, Atlantic Theater Company); “Romance” and “Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet” (Center Theatre Group, Atlantic Theater Company); Zinnie Harris’ “Further Than the Furthest Thing” (Manhattan Theatre Club); Jessica Goldberg’s “Refuge” (Playwrights Horizons); Tom Donaghy’s “The Beginning of August” (South Coast Repertory, Atlantic Theater Company); Frank Gilroy’s “The Subject Was Roses” with Martin Sheen (Center Theatre Group) and Eric Bogosian’s “Red Angel” (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Neil has been the Artistic Director of the award-winning off-Broadway company, Atlantic Theater Company, since 1992.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, Managing Director Meghan Pressman and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, 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 $25 – $110 (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.

September 13, 2019

Center Theatre Group, Yale School of Drama and East Los Angeles College To Host "Graduate School Training for Design/Tech/Stage Management"

Center Theatre Group — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 17:07:00 -0700

CENTER THEATRE GROUP, YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA AND EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE TO HOST “GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAINING FOR DESIGN/TECH/STAGE MANAGEMENT” A FREE PANEL DISCUSSION AND WORKSHOPS ON OCTOBER 4

In partnership with Yale School of Drama and East Los Angeles College, Center Theatre Group will host “Graduate School Training for Design/Tech/Stage Management: Through the Lens of Yale School of Drama,” a free panel discussion followed by a reception and workshops from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at East Los Angeles College Theatre Arts Department. The panel and reception are open to current undergraduates, early-career field professionals and college educators. Workshops are for prospective graduate students only.

The panel discussion begins at 1 p.m. and will feature Yale representatives describing the school’s conservatory training focusing on the design, technical design and production and stage management disciplines. The panel is followed by a reception where prospective students will have the opportunity to chat with faculty and alumni of the school. From 3 to 3:30 p.m., educators will meet with Yale representatives to discuss pathways from local schools into Yale School of Drama. From 3 to 4:30 p.m., prospective students will participate in brief workshops focused on resume building, personal statements and references and portfolio creation.

While the panel discussion, reception and workshops are free to attend, RSVPS are required. To RSVP, prospective students and educators may visit CTGLA.org/ELAC. For more information about the event, please email Camille Schenkkan at cschenkkan@ctlg.org.

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September 23, 2019

'The New One' Calendar

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:46:00 -0700

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October – November 2019

EVENT: “The New One”

Written and performed by Mike Birbiglia

Directed by Seth Barrish

DESCRIPTION:

Birbiglia’s previous plays “Sleepwalk with Me,” “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” and “Thank God for Jokes” all earned Lortel Award nominations for “Best Solo Show” with “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” winning the 2011 award. In his Drama Desk Award- winning Broadway debut, “The New One,” Birbiglia delves back into his own life to tell a new story in a new way with the same heart and humor his fans have come to expect.

DATES/TIMES:

Previews begin October 23. Opens October 25.

Through November 24, 2019.

Previews: October 23 and 24 at 8 p.m.

Opens Friday, October 25 at 8 p.m.

Regular Performances: (October 26 – November 24):

Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. No Monday performances.

Exceptions: No 8 p.m. performance on Halloween, October 31. Added 2 p.m. performance on Thursday, November 21. No 6:30 p.m. performance on Sunday, November 24.

TICKET INFO:

Ticket Prices: $35 – $145 (Ticket prices are subject to change.)

Tickets are available online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, by calling Audience Services at

(213) 972-4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Office. Groups: (213) 972-7231. Groups: (213) 972-7231. Deaf Community: Information and charge, visit

CenterTheatreGroup.org/ACCESS.

LOCATION:

Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre

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

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September 4, 2019

Rehearsals Have Begun for 'On Beckett' at the Douglas

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:46:00 -0700

REHEARSALS HAVE BEGUN FOR BILL IRWIN’S “ON BECKETT” AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE SEPTEMBER 13 THROUGH OCTOBER 27, 2019

Rehearsals have begun for “On Beckett” at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre. Conceived and performed by Bill Irwin, “On Beckett” begins performances on September 13 and continues through October 27. The opening is set for September 18.

The creative team features scenic design by Charlie Corcoran, costume design by Martha Hally, lighting design by Michael Gottlieb and sound design by M. Florian Staab. The production stage manager is Lora K. Powell.

The role of the Boy will be performed in rotating repertory by Carl Barber and Benjamin Taylor. Bill Irwin is haunted by the work of Samuel Beckett – language he learned over years as a performer and now finds himself considering and reconsidering. In this intimate 90-minute engaging, funny and illuminating evening, Irwin explores his own personal “actor’s relationship” to the Nobel Prize-winning Irish writer, mining the physical and verbal talents acquired from his years as a master clown and Tony Award-winning actor. Irwin's approach to the comic, the tragic, to every side of Beckett’s work – including “Waiting for Godot” and “Texts for Nothing” – offers the opportunity to experience Beckett’s language through the lens of a uniquely skilled performer.

Bill Irwin is a Tony-winning actor, director, writer and clown. His original works include “The Regard of Flight,” “Largely New York” (four Tony nominations), “Fool Moon” (co-created with David Shiner), “Old Hats” (co-created with David Shiner), “The Happiness Lecture” and others. He has starred in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions, including “The Iceman Cometh,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” (Tony for Best Actor in a Play – also at the Ahmanson Theatre), “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia” opposite Sally Field, “Waiting For Godot” with Nathan Lane (2009 for a Drama Desk Award nomination) and “Texts for Nothing.” Current television roles include Mr. Noodle of “Elmo’s World” and Cary Loudermilk of “Legion.” His film credits include “Rachel Getting Married,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” “Eight Men Out,” “Interstellar,” “Stepping Out” and others. Irwin was an original member of Kraken, a theatre company directed by Herbert Blau, and was also an original member of the Pickle Family Circus of San Francisco. Irwin has received MacArthur, Guggenheim, Fulbright and National Endowment for the Arts Choreographer’s Fellowships.

This Irish Repertory Theatre production premiered at Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City on October 3, 2018. “On Beckett” was originally developed at the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco in consultation with Artistic Director Carey Perloff, and produced at the Strand Theater in January 2017. On Beckett was also workshopped at Vineyard Theatre and the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

Tickets for “On Beckett” 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 “On Beckett” range from $30 – $75 (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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September 5, 2019

'On Beckett' Opens at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:46:00 -0700

BILL IRWIN’S “ON BECKETT” OPENS AT CENTER THEATRE GROUP’S KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE

“On Beckett” Will Run Through October 27, 2019

“On Beckett” will open at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre on Wednesday, September 18 at 8 p.m. Conceived and performed by Bill Irwin, “On Beckett” is currently in previews and continues through October 27, 2019.

The creative team features scenic design by Charlie Corcoran, costume consultant Martha Hally, lighting design by Michael Gottlieb and sound design by M. Florian Staab. The production stage manager is Lora K. Powell.

The role of the Boy is performed in rotating repertory by Carl Barber and Benjamin Taylor.

Bill Irwin is haunted by the work of Samuel Beckett – language he learned over years as a performer and now finds himself considering and reconsidering. In this intimate 90-minute engaging, funny and illuminating evening, Irwin explores his own personal “actor’s relationship” to the Nobel Prize-winning Irish writer, mining the physical and verbal talents acquired from his years as a master clown and Tony Award-winning actor. Irwin's approach to the comic, the tragic, to every side of Beckett’s work – including “Waiting for Godot” and “Texts for Nothing” – offers the opportunity to experience Beckett’s language through the lens of a uniquely skilled performer.

This Irish Repertory Theatre production premiered at Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City on October 3, 2018. “On Beckett” was originally developed at the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco in consultation with Artistic Director Carey Perloff, and produced at the Strand Theater in January 2017. “On Beckett” was also workshopped at Vineyard Theatre and the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

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September 16, 2019