Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

A tribute to Elaine Stritch

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700

A tribute to Elaine Stritch

To pay homage to the Broadway legend, who graced the Ahmanson stage in 2003 with Elaine Stritch at Liberty, we dedicate this week’s digest to "the lady who lunched."

1. Elaine Stritch: An Appreciation by David Rooney [HollywoodReporter.com]
July 17, 2014

"THR's lead theater critic pays personal tribute to the legendary Broadway performer, whose exacting professional standards were as renowned as her tart tongue and eccentric style. ... "

2. Here’s to the Lady Who Lunched: Dozens of Broadway Stars Remember Elaine Stritch by Michael Gioia [Playbill.com]
July 17, 2014

"Broadway stars sent personal messages to Playbill.com and took to Twitter to remember the beloved member of the theatre community. ... "

3. Remembering Elaine Stritch: A Reading List by Max Cea [Vulture.com]
July 17, 2014

"In remembrance of the legendary actress, Vulture compiled New York's coverage of Stritch's life and career, including some of the best quotes about and by Stritch. ... "

4. The best of Colleen Donaghy: A video tribute to Elaine Stritch [Popwatch.EW.com]
July 18, 2014

"On [30 Rock], Stritch turned Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin’s) mother into a force of nature, emphasizing her irascible nature and ability to induce a heady amount of Irish-Catholic guilt. ... "

5. 15 roles that make us grateful for Elaine Stritch by Jaimie Etkin [BuzzFeed.com]
July 17, 2014

"RIP to the ultimate lady who lunches. ... "

“Buyer & Cellar” opens to rave reviews

Wed, 16 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700

“Buyer & Cellar” opens to rave reviews

The reviews are in! Read what critics are saying about Buyer & Cellar, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum.

1. Deliriously Funny BUYER & CELLAR Captivates Mark Taper Audiences by Don Grigware [BroadwayWorld.com]
July 15, 2014

"The nonstop funny patter and Urie's ingenious performance will have you entranced, just as the mystique of Barbra Streisand has been doing these past 50+ years. ... "

2. Theater Review: 'Buyer & Cellar' At The Mark Taper Forum by Savannah L. Barker [NeonTommy.com]
July 14, 2014

"There is truly humor in this show for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or Streisand literacy. Michael Urie’s performance alone is enough of a reason to enjoy this one-of-a-kind comic masterpiece. ... "

3. "Buyer and Cellar" is a pleasant, fond sendup of Streisand by Charles McNulty [LATimes.com]
July 14, 2014

"The premise of this bouncy tale is outlandish, and both Tolins and Urie delight in its playful absurdity ... Tolins' play is very amusing on the subject of Los Angeles and the plight of actors waiting for their big break. ... "

4. Show Review: "Buyer and Cellar" at The Mark Taper Forum by Keri Tombazian [947TheWave.CBSLocal.com]
July 15, 2014

"The Mark Taper Forum is doing Los Angeles proud. ... On the heels of the suspense filled, 'Last Confession,' comes the funniest night of theater I have experienced in, no lie, a decade. ... "

5. 'Buyer & Cellar': Theater Review by Myron Meisel [HollywoodReporter.com]
July 16, 2014

"Unabashed, confident in its broadness of brush ... and with an unerring command of its comic and pathetic effects, Buyer & Cellar is the sort of heartwarmingly savage show the whole family can enjoy. ..."

Arts, education and equity

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Arts, education and equity

How are LA public school officials trying to make the arts accessible to everyone? Find out in this week’s theatre digest.

1. Serving the Same Students: Education Equity & The Arts by Amy Sauceda [ArtsForLA.org]
July 7, 2014

On Wednesday June 25, Arts for LA held a special Cultural Policy Study Session that addressed issues of equity in LA County public schools at the Museum of Contemporary Art. At the event, three speakers shared their thoughts on equity in the education system.

Listen to the presentations »

2. LAUSD using new ‘equity index’ to restore arts to areas of need by Vanessa Romo [LASchoolReport.com]
June 27, 2014

"The plan to expand arts access for students across LA Unified and restore nearly $16 million in arts funding will include data gathered in a new Arts Equity Index, a tool to identify schools in greatest need of arts instruction. ... "

3. UPDATED: Arts access at LA elementary schools, by the numbers by Mary Plummer [SCPR.org]
June 23, 2014

"Los Angeles Unified administrators have released a new document detailing proposed arts access for its 270,000 elementary students next year ... The plan seeks to drastically ramp up arts access for students across the district and restore nearly $16 million in arts funding. ... "

4. Can art help students learn science and other subjects? by Mary Plummer [SCPR.org]
July 7, 2014

"Los Angeles Unified School District is looking to expand a teaching method called 'arts integration,' which mixes arts instruction with teaching in other subjects and is often used as a way to make the most of arts instruction time with students. ... "

5. Rory Pullens confronts challenges of art, money and LAUSD by Vanessa Romo [LASchoolReport.com]
June 10, 2014

"[Rory Pullens] is leaving his post as head of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. and come this fall, he will take the helm of arts education for the [Los Angeles Unified School District]. ... "

Ways to celebrate the Fourth, and this week’s theatre news

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Ways to celebrate the Fourth, and this week’s theatre news

This week, discover ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, and read about the star-studded plans in store for the theatre world.

FOURTH OF JULY IN DOWNTOWN L.A.

1. Some Fourth of July Festivities, and July Fifth Fun as Well by Dan Johnson [LADowntownNews.com]
June 30, 2014

"DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - In this week's Don't Miss List: Some Fourth of July Festivities, And July Fifth Fun as Well ... "

FILM STARS ONSTAGE

2. **Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe to Lead The King and I Broadway Revival **by Adam Hetrick [Playbill.com]
June 30, 2014

" ... five-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara will star as Anna Leonowens opposite Ken Watanabe in his Broadway debut as the King of Siam in a 2015 Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. ... "

3. Lindsay Lohan to Star in David Mamet's 'Speed-the-Plow' in London by David Ng [LATimes.com]
June 26, 2014

"The formerly troubled actress will continue her attempted career comeback with a revival of David Mamet's Hollywood satire 'Speed-the-Plow,' scheduled to begin performances on London's West End in September. ... "

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL RECAP

4. The Hollywood Fringe Announces 2014 Winners by BWW News Desk [BroadwayWorld.com]
June 30, 2014

"The 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival ended last night after crowning this year's award winners at the annual Award Ceremony and Closing Night Party. Over 600 people attended the event. ... "

5. Hollywood Fringe Festival, a theater party with room to grow by Charles McNulty [LATimes.com]
June 22, 2014

"The HFF is clearly a civic boon to Los Angeles. The communal energy is infectious. The economic upside for local businesses is a political selling point ... Does it matter if much of the work is trifling? ... "

Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

A tribute to Elaine Stritch

A tribute to Elaine Stritch

To pay homage to the Broadway legend, who graced the Ahmanson stage in 2003 with Elaine Stritch at Liberty, we dedicate this week’s digest to "the lady who lunched."

“Buyer & Cellar” opens to rave reviews

“Buyer & Cellar” opens to rave reviews

The reviews are in! Read what critics are saying about Buyer & Cellar, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum.

Buyer & Cellar will play at the Mark Taper Forum from July 9 to Aug. 17. The show is recommended for people ages 16+ and contains mature content, language and sexuality.

Arts, education and equity

Arts, education and equity

How are LA public school officials trying to make the arts accessible to everyone? Find out in this week’s theatre digest.

Ways to celebrate the Fourth, and this week’s theatre news

Ways to celebrate the Fourth, and this week’s theatre news

This week, discover ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, and read about the star-studded plans in store for the theatre world.

FOURTH OF JULY IN DOWNTOWN L.A.

FILM STARS ONSTAGE

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL RECAP