Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

LA arts organizations take on ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

LA arts organizations take on ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

People everywhere are participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, an activity that has spread across various social media platforms to raise awareness of Lou Gehrig’s disease for the ALS Association.

The challenge goes like this: a participant agrees to let someone pour a bucket of ice water on their head. Afterward, the person nominates others to take on the challenge. This whole sequence must be filmed and shared via social media.

Recently, various L.A. arts organizations have nominated each other to take on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, including the Geffen Playhouse, which nominated Center Theatre Group, as well as
Pasadena Playhouse and The Broad Stage.

CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie accepted The Geffen’s challenge in the fountain at the Mark Taper Forum on Aug. 21.

"On behalf of the board and the staff of Center Theatre Group and all the great theatres here in Los Angeles, I accept the challenge using recycled water," he said.

Ritchie then nominated Los Angeles Times theatre critic Charles McNulty.

"He has occasionally thrown cold water on my own admittedly self-inflated ego," Ritchie joked.

Michael Ritchie accepts your #ALSIceBucketChallenge, @GeffenPlayhouse. Your turn, @CharlesMcNulty! #LAThtr http://t.co/KzeUle32X6
— Center Theatre Group (@CTGLA) August 21, 2014

@CTGLA @GeffenPlayhouse I'm at the dentist. I'll send a check when I get home.
— Charles McNulty (@CharlesMcNulty) August 21, 2014

Have you taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Share your videos with us below!

Following ‘The Nether’: where the play is today

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Following ‘The Nether’: where the play is today

In March 2014, Center Theatre Group produced the world premiere of The Nether by Los Angeles playwright Jennifer Haley. The sci-fi thriller explored the murky moral conflicts between our on- and offline selves.

LOS ANGELES BEGINNINGS

During its run at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, the play was well received by both audiences and critics, who called it a “handsomely staged play” and an “impressive new work.” The Nether earned many awards, including the [2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize](http://www.blackburnprize.org/winner 2012.htm) and seven Ovation awards.

TAKING THE LONDON STAGE

Since its departure from CTG, The Nether went on to the Royal Court Theatre in London, where it received similar critical acclaim. The Huffington Post UK called The Nether a “Dark, Disturbing and Extraordinary” production that “asks all the right questions yet … leaves us with no easy answers.”

Likewise, The Telegraph and TimeOut London both gave The Nether four out of five stars on their respective websites, the former calling the play “a haunting and highly original modern fairy-tale.”

NEXT STOP: NEW YORK

The Nether’s next destination is New York at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, where it will run from February 4 to March 15, 2015.

Did you see The Nether in either Los Angeles or London? Tell us what you thought about the play in the comments below!

Remembering Robin Williams

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Remembering Robin Williams

Comedic genius and Broadway actor Robin Williams passed away on Monday August 11, 2014. According to various news sources, the cause of Williams' death was suicide by asphyxia. Williams was 63 years old.

Robin Williams leaves behind a reputable film career, starring in timeless works such as the modern classic Dead Poets Society and the iconic Good Will Hunting, for which Williams won an Oscar. Williams also leaves behind four unreleased films, all of which will appear in theatres within the next year.

The Juilliard-trained actor has notable stage credits as well. In 1988, he starred opposite Steve Martin in an off-Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. Most recently in 2011, Williams made his Broadway debut in Rajiv Joseph's Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which was produced by Center Theatre Group.

Williams' "one of a kind talent" and "genuine soul" are kept alive not only through his work, but also through the many tributes made in his honor by his colleagues, family and fans.

LA theatre to produce deaf-blind production of ‘Spring Awakening'

Mon, 11 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

LA theatre to produce deaf-blind production of ‘Spring Awakening’

Los Angeles theatre Deaf West recently announced they are producing a deaf-blind production of the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening.

Deaf West’s Spring Awakening will be presented in both American Sign Language and spoken English, and will feature a cast of 25 hearing and hearing-impaired actors. The theatre recently launched a kickstarter campaign to fund the production.

According to Deaf West artistic director David J. Kurs, “the inability of the characters in Spring Awakening to connect to and communicate with their parents is similar to the experience of many deaf children." Michael Arden, the show's director, hopes that Spring Awakening "will kindle a new connection between the hearing and deaf communities."

Center Theatre Group has previously worked with Deaf West on Big River at the Ahmanson Theatre, _Sleeping Beauty Wakes _at the Kirk Douglas Theatre and Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum.

Spring Awakening will run from Sept. 13-Oct. 9 at Inner-City Arts in downtown L.A.

Keke Palmer is Broadway’s first black Cinderella

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Keke Palmer is Broadway’s first black Cinderella

Actress, recording artist and talk show host Keke Palmer will play the starring role in the Broadway revival of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. According to many news sources, the 20- year-old star is making theatre history as the first black actress to be cast as Cinderella on Broadway.

Palmer made her acting debut in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee and has since then amassed numerous film and TV credits. Most recently, she starred opposite Vanessa Williams, Blair Underwood and Cicely Tyson in the Lifetime movie
_The Trip _to Bountiful (Center Theatre Group is presenting at the stage production at the Ahmanson Theatre in the fall).

Palmer also made TV history earlier this year as the youngest person to host her own talk show. Similarly, she is the youngest person to play Cinderella on Broadway.

Cinderella’s producer Robyn Goodman attests to Palmer’s ability to play the role, saying that Keke “grew up in the Chicago acting community and definitely has musical theatre in her blood.”

Center Theatre Group will present Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Ahmanson Theatre from March 15 through April 26, 2015.

Study names London, not New York, the world’s theatre capital

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Study names London, not New York, the world’s theatre capital

A recent study shows that London is at the top of the theatre world.

According to the London Theatre Report, authored by Alistair Smith and commissioned by the Society of London Theatre and the National Theatre, the London theatre scene is in its golden period — the city boasts 241 theatres and 110,000 seats, and 22 million theatre goers saw productions in 2012-2013.

These numbers have pulled in some dramatic comparisons. According to several news sources, London theatre has more attendees than Premier League football. In addition, London’s theatres brought in £618.5 million in revenue in 2012-2013 — far more than its cinemas had made in the same year.

Ultimately, the London press has been quick to emphasize that the West End beat out Broadway, thereby displacing New York as the world’s theatre capital.

Although these results undoubtedly show the success of West End theatre, Los Angeles might also be a contender for the title of “theatre capital of the world.” The city boasted over 1,000 performing arts venues, and one in every six L.A. residents is estimated to work in a creative industry.

Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

LA arts organizations take on ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

LA arts organizations take on ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Have you taken the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? Share your videos with us below!

Following ‘The Nether’: where the play is today

Following ‘The Nether’: where the play is today

LOS ANGELES BEGINNINGS

TAKING THE LONDON STAGE

NEXT STOP: NEW YORK

Did you see The Nether in either Los Angeles or London? Tell us what you thought about the play in the comments below!

Remembering Robin Williams

Remembering Robin Williams

LA theatre to produce deaf-blind production of ‘Spring Awakening'

LA theatre to produce deaf-blind production of ‘Spring Awakening’

Keke Palmer is Broadway’s first black Cinderella

Keke Palmer is Broadway’s first black Cinderella

Center Theatre Group will present Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Ahmanson Theatre from March 15 through April 26, 2015.

Study names London, not New York, the world’s theatre capital

Study names London, not New York, the world’s theatre capital

What do _you _consider to be the theatre capital of the world? Tell us in the comments section!