2008–Present
Broadest Range of Theatrical Entertainment in the Country
In Center Theatre Group’s most recent decade, the Kirk Douglas Theatre has thrived in Culver City, the Mark Taper Forum has hosted both critically acclaimed and popular productions, and the Ahmanson Theatre has brought Los Angeles a mix of Broadway’s best plays and musicals.
'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'
The World premiere of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, written and directed by Alex Timbers with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, lands at the Douglas and later moves to Broadway, where it receives two Tony nominations.
'Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet'
The World premiere of Keep Your Pantheon and The Duck Variations appear at the Douglas in Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet.
'9 to 5: The Musical' makes its World premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre before heading to Broadway, September 20 – October 19, 2008
(L-R) Stephanie J. Block, Allison Janney, Dolly Parton, and Megan Hilty in '9 to 5: The Musical.' Photo by Justin Stephens.
'Pippin'
Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre co-produce Pippin at the Taper featuring both deaf and hearing actors.
This production was willed into existence by the conviction and courage of the leading player behind the scenes, Michael Ritchie. Because of him, we return to a venue of special significance in the history of deaf theatre—the Mark Taper Forum, where Children of a Lesser God and Deaf West Theatre’s Big River were introduced to the world.
'The Projectionist'
Hamish Linklater appears in the World premiere of Michael Sargent’s The Projectionist, which is performed in the lobby of the Douglas as part of Center Theatre Group's newly luanched DouglasPlus program.
[DouglasPlus is] a refreshing extension of Center Theatre Group’s artistic palette.
Kirk Douglas in the World premiere of 'Before I Forget' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, March 6, 8, 13, and 15, 2009
Kirk Douglas in 'Before I Forget.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo'
Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo makes its World premiere at the Douglas. The following year, it transfers to the Taper and is a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 2011, the show heads to Broadway.
Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles in David Mamet's 'Oleanna' at the Taper, which transfers to Broadway, June 5 – July 12, 2009
Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman in 'Oleanna.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
Dick Van Dyke Makes Cameo in 'Mary Poppins'
Dick Van Dyke, who starred in the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins, made a one-night-only cameo appearance in the Ahmanson engagement of Broadway's Mary Poppins, reprising the role of bank president Mr. Dawes. Van Dyke joined original Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, both of whom starred in the Los Angeles engagement of the musical.
'The Lieutenant of Inishmore'
Chris Pine appears in Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Taper.
'Leap of Faith'
Raúl Esparza and Brooke Shields star in the World premiere of the musical Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson, which opens on Broadway in 2012.
Jane Fonda stars in '33 Variations,' written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, at the Ahmanson, January 30 – March 6, 2011
Jane Fonda in '33 Variations.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
Stephen Hawking Visits the Ahmanson
Actress Jane Fonda and Physicist Stephen Hawking met backstage after a performance of 33 Variations at the Ahmanson Theatre.
'God of Carnage'
Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, and Marcia Gay Harden reprise their Broadway roles in Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage at the Ahmanson. The production breaks every box office record ever set for a play at the Ahmanson, selling 97,567 tickets and grossing nearly $8 million in eight weeks.
Center Theatre Group becomes the Southern California host of the August Wilson Monologue Competition, which invites high schoolers across the region to engage with Wilson’s work, 2012
Students in the August Wilson Monologue Competition. Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging.
'Clybourne Park'
Pam MacKinnon directs Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park, a spin-off of A Raisin in the Sun, at the Taper. The production moves directly to Broadway and wins the 2012 Tony® Award for Best Play. A Raisin in the Sun runs concurrently at the Douglas.
Alfred Molina and Jonathan Groff star in 'Red' at the Taper, August 12 – September 9, 2012
Alfred Molina in 'Red.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
'Other Desert Cities'
Jon Robin Baitz’s Other Desert Cities at the Taper is the sixth Center Theatre Group production of his work.
The Shop
The Shop initiative transforms Center Theatre Group’s prop and costume shop in Boyle Heights into a hub for community programming that gives residents opportunities to make theatre a part of their daily lives.
'The Nether'
Jennifer Haley’s The Nether premieres at the Douglas and wins seven Ovation Awards. In 2015, The Nether plays London’s West End, where it is nominated for an Olivier Award.
August Wilson’s legacy at Center Theatre Group continues with 'Joe Turner’s Come and Gone' at the Taper, directed by Phylicia Rashad, May 8 – June 9, 2013
(L–R) Glynn Turman, Gabriel Brown, Lillias White, Skye Barrett, and Keith David in 'Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
'The Steward of Christendom'
Brian Dennehy plays Thomas Dunne, a Roman Catholic and former Dublin police officer still loyal to the crown in the wake of Ireland’s bloody struggle for independence in a revival of Sebastian Barry’s 1995 drama.
'Marjorie Prime'
Lois Smith and Frank Wood in the World premiere of Jordan Harrison’s Marjorie Prime at the Taper. Marjorie Prime goes on to garner Harrison the 2016 Horton Foote Prize, become a 2015 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama, and is made into a feature film with Smith reprising her Taper role alongside Geena Davis, Jon Hamm, and Tim Robbins.
Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams, and Blair Underwood star in Horton Foote’s 'The Trip to Bountiful,' directed by Michael Wilson at the Ahmanson, September 17 – November 2, 2014
(L-R) Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood, and Vanessa Williams in 'The Trip to Bountiful.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
Angela Lansbury stars in Noël Coward’s 'Blithe Spirit' at the Ahmanson, December 9, 2014 – January 18, 2015
L-R: Susan Louise O’Connor (standing), Sandra Shipley, Charles Edwards, Angela Lansbury, Charlotte Parry and Simon Jones in 'Blithe Spirit.' Photo by Joan Marcus
'Girlfriend'
Rock musical and love story Girlfriend, with a book by Todd Almond and music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet, opens at the Douglas just weeks after the Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.
'Bent' at the Taper, July 26 – August 23, 2015
Clockwise from top center: Matthew Carlson, Jake Shears, Wyatt Fenner, Brionne Davis and Jonathan B. Wright in 'Bent.' Photo by Craig Schwartz.
'Popol Vuh: Heart of Heaven'
Center Theatre Group, in partnership with famed Chicano theatre company El Teatro Campesino, presents free productions of Popol Vuh: Heart of Heaven featuring puppetry, music, and dance in Grand Park, performed by members of the Boyle Heights community.
'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'
Phylicia Rashad directs August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Taper, the ninth of the 10 plays in Wilson’s American Century Cycle on our stages.
Broadway-bound 'Amélie, A New Musical' plays the Ahmanson featuring Phillipa Soo in the title role, December 4, 2016 – January 15, 2017
Adam Chanler-Berat and Phillipa Soo in 'Amlie, A New Musical.' Photo by Joan Marcus.
Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles’ flagship theater organization, contributed enormously in the last 50 years not only to the storehouse of new plays and musicals but to the decentralization of the art form in America.
Center Theatre Group's 50th Anniversary Celebration, May 20, 2017
Jennifer Hudson performs at Center Theatre Group's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Center Theatre Group.