Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Angela Lansbury to reprise Tony Award-winning performance at the Ahmanson

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Angela Lansbury to reprise Tony Award-winning performance at the Ahmanson

Following the internationally acclaimed production with sold-out engagements on Broadway and in London’s West End, television legend, Oscar recipient and five-time Tony Award®-winner Angela Lansbury returns to the stage in Noël Coward’s smash-hit comedic play Blithe Spirit in an exciting North American tour to be launched at Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre.

Performances for Blithe Spirit at the Ahmanson begin Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014 and run through Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015. The opening is set for Sunday, Dec. 14.

Following the L.A. engagement, the tour will continue to SHN’s Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco, Jan. 20 through Feb. 1, 2015; Mirvish Productions’ Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Feb. 10 through March 15, and concludes in Washington, D.C., March 17 through March 29, at the National Theatre where Lansbury made her first pre-Broadway stage debut nearly 58 years ago to the day.

Returning to the role of Madame Arcati, for which she won her fifth Tony Award® in 2009 for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Angela Lansbury (the popular TV show Murder, She Wrote, the memorable stage productions of Sweeney Todd and Mame, the classic film Gaslight) will be joined by an all-star cast including Charles Edwards (PBS’ Downton Abbey, The 39 Steps, Blithe Spirit – 2014 West End revival), Jemima Rooper (the film The Black Dahlia ; One Man, Two Guvnors ; Blithe Spirit – 2014 West End reviv al) and Charlotte Parry (_Cora m Boy, The Importance of Being Earnest_). The cast also includes Susan Louise O’Connor (W” – 2009 Broadway revival) and Sandra Shipley (“Anything Goes,” Blithe Spirit – 2009 Broadway revival). Additional casting will be announced in the coming days.

The play is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Blakemore (Kiss Me, Kate, Copenhagen).

“It’s going to be exciting to play Los Angeles for the first time in over 30 years,” Lansbury said. “I’m delighted to be returning to the Ahmanson Theatre in the role of Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s wonderfully funny play Blithe Spirit. It is one of the great comedic roles and playing her for a new audience every night is a joy. I can’t think of a better place to start off this tour than with my family and friends here in my own backyard.”

The creative team includes scenic and costume designs by Helen Hayes Award-winner Simon Higlett, Ms. Lansbury’s costume designs by two-time Tony Award®-winner Martin Pakledinaz and sound design by Olivier Award-winners Ben and Max Ringham.

Blithe Spirit replaces the previously postponed production of Heartbeat of Home in the Ahmanson Theatre’s 2014-2015 season.

Tickets for “Blithe Spirit” go on sale September 24 and are available by calling 213.972.4400, visiting www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, or in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Blithe Spirit, one of Noël Coward’s most popular comedies, was first seen on Broadway in 1941, the same year it was produced in London where it set British box office records and was the longest running comedy (1,997 performances) until it was eventually surpassed by Boeing-Boeing in the 1970s. The original Broadway production played nearly two years and co-starred Leonora Corbett, Mildred Natwick, Clifton Webb and Peggy Wood. In 1987, it was revived on Broadway in an all-star production with Richard Chamberlain, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey, and Geraldine Page, in her final Broadway appearance.

The latest revival on Broadway in 2009 was directed by Michael Blakemore and co-starred Angela Lansbury, Jayne Atkinson, Christine Ebersole, Rupert Everett, Simon Jones and Susan Louise O’Connor. Following its critical acclaim and box office success on Broadway, Lansbury returned to the London stage after 40 years to reprise her Tony Award®-winning role. Also under the direction of Michael Blakemore and starring Lansbury, the London revival opened at the Gielgud Theatre on March 18, 2014, and co-starred Janie Dee, Serena Evans, Charles Edwards, Patsy Ferran, Simon Jones and Jemima Rooper.

Coward, in his autobiography, claimed he wrote the play in five days during a holiday. Only two lines of dialogue were removed before its first production in London.

Researching for his new novel, Charles Condomine invites the implausible medium Madame Arcati to his house for a séance. While consumed in a trance, Madame Arcati unwittingly summons the ghost of Charles’ dead wife Elvira. Appearing only to Charles, Elvira soon makes a play to reclaim her husband, much to the chagrin of Charles’ new wife Ruth. One husband, two feuding wives and a whisper of mischief in the air – who will win in Coward’s unworldly comedy?

The North American tour of Blithe Spirit is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Steve Traxler, Lee Dean, John Frost, Charles Diamond and Will Trice in association with JAM Theatricals.

Classics heading to regional theatres this fall

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0700

Classics heading to regional theatres this fall

In last week's fall arts preview, Los Angeles Times theatre critic Charles McNulty said he expects classic works to provide our region's most astonishimg moments at the theatre. Among the plays he highlighted were Horton Foote's, The Trip to the Bountiful, now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre through Nov. 2, and Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw, heading to the Mark Taper Forum in November.

But Los Angeles isn’t the only theatre town hoping to break new theatrical ground by remounting a few oldies, but goodies. Consider the following offerings from some of our nation’s most esteemed regional theatres:

The Heidi Chronicles at the Guthrie Theater (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
This now-classic coming of age tale from the late 1980s won the Pulitzer Prize for its funny, in-your-face exploration of one woman’s “success and failures in work, friendship, romance and motherhood.” The show runs through Oct. 26.

Steel Magnolias at the Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia)
“The quintessential story of family, friendship, and steely Southern sisterhood” runs Oct. 22-Nov. 9 and features a cast of theatre and TV veterans: Becky Ann Baker (Good People) as Clairee, Annie Potts (Pippin) as M’Lynn and Mary Pat Gleason (Guiding Light) as Ouiser.

William Shakespeare’s Antony & Cleopatra at McCarter Theatre Center (Princeton, New Jersey)
Award-winning director and playwright Emily Mann, who also serves as the artistic director for the McCarter Theatre Center, helms a “sizzling production … [about] two legendary lovers whose desires shaped the destiny of the world.” Runs through Oct. 5

Our Town at Kansas City Repertory Theatre (Kansas City, Missouri)
Director David Cromer, who “has essentially made a career of staging and restaging [Our Town],” launches Kansas City Rep’s 50th anniversary season with his version of this classic, Pulitzer Prize winner. Runs through Sept. 28.

BONUS: More prominent classics coming to the Ahmanson Theatre in winter 2014 and fall 2015

Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit (Dec. 9, 2014 – Jan. 18, 2015)
Researching for his new novel, Charles Condomine invites the implausible medium Madame Arcati to his house for a séance. While consumed in a trance, Madame Arcati unwittingly summons the ghost of Charles’ dead wife Elvira. Appearing only to Charles, Elvira soon makes a play to reclaim her husband, much to the chagrin of Charles’ new wife Ruth. Now if he wants his latest marriage to stand a GHOST of a chance, he'd better conjure up a solution quickly. One husband, two feuding wives and a whisper of mischief in the air — who will win in Coward’s unworldly comedy?

The Sound of Music (September 2015)
Producer Ken Gentry for NETworks Presentations, in collaboration with Ted Chapin, president and executive director of Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, will launch a brand-new tour of The Sound of Music, directed by Jack O'Brien, at the Ahmanson Theatre in September 2015. This lavish new production will then tour North America for multiple seasons, playing multi-week and weeklong engagements. Read the press release here!

What theatre classics are you looking forward to this season, either in L.A. or across the nation? Tell us in the comments section!

‘The play’s the thing’ in 2015 Taper season

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 00:00:00 -0700

‘The play’s the thing’ in 2015 Taper season

Center Theatre Group to present three bold new plays and two classic dramas in Taper's 48th season

For those who love plays in Los Angeles, the 2015 season at the Mark Taper Forum promises to be "an irresistible year in the theatre," says CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. "Each of the plays is distinct but together they add up to an exceptionally powerful season with a wide range of captivating stories to tell.

"We begin the year by celebrating American icon Arthur Miller with the presentation of The Price," Ritchie continued. "I am proud to welcome director Garry Hynes to CTG and to welcome back actors Kate Burton and Alan Mandell for this much anticipated production.

"Next up is Immediate Family, whose rich characters, led by one of our favorite directors, Phylicia Rashad, will traverse the comic minefields of a changing family dynamic.

"I can't think of a better artist than Moisés Kaufman to direct Bent," Ritchie said. "This is powerful theatre that has earned its rightful place in cultural history, and I am very happy that a major production of this important work is happening at the Taper next season.

"This will be the first time we have worked with Eric Ting, and I'm looking forward to his direction of Appropriate, a sly new play about squabbling siblings who are faced with a shocking family secret.

"We close the season with a compelling play that caught my attention with the larger-than-life questions it asks. I'm glad we have Les Waters returning to CTG to direct The Christians."

The Price by Arthur Miller

Two brothers who haven't spoken to each other in 16 years come together to settle their late father's estate. Victor, a police officer of 28 years; his brother, Walter, a successful surgeon; and Victor's wife, Esther (played by Kate Burton) gather in the attic of the family's New York brownstone, where they are met by Solomon, a wise and wily antiques dealer (played by Mandell).

Years of accumulation of family belongings need sorting out, as do the hidden motives that long ago fractured the brothers' relationship.

An American classic, The Price first opened on Broadway in 1968, and Clive Barnes, writing for The New York Times, said the play was "one of the most engrossing and entertaining plays that Miller has ever written."

The Price, directed by Garry Hynes, will play at the Mark Taper Forum Feb. 11-March 22, 2015. Opening night is set for Feb. 22, 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? 2015 marks the centennial of Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and National Medal of Honors winner Arthur Miller.

Immediate Family by Paul Oakley Stovall

This biting new comedy explores evolving ideas of marriage and family. When the Bryant siblings come together for the first time in five years to attend a wedding, the family reunion quickly becomes a hilarious family showdown.

Secrets are revealed and long-held beliefs are challenged as a spirited game of cards brings all of the family's dysfunctions to the table.

Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune said that Immediate Family, in its 2012 About Face Theatre production at the Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre, "is highly entertaining ... [it] just bursts with life."

Immediate Family, directed by Phylicia Rashad, will play at the Mark Taper Forum April 22-June 7, 2015. Opening night is set for May 3, 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to playwriting, Stovall has appeared in films such as Shortbus (directed by Cameron Mitchell)and the late Robert Altman's The Company, among others.

Bent by Martin Sherman

The harrowing drama Bent is a groundbreaking play about the rare power of love in the most inhumane conditions. The Taper production will be the first major U.S. revival since its Broadway premiere in 1979, when it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play.

Set in Germany in the 1930s, Bent follows the struggles of gay men trying to survive in Nazi Germany, in particular two men who, in the midst of the darkest moments of mankind, manage to give and receive love and find strength in each other.

Benedict Nightingale of The New Statesman said of the London West End premiere in May 1979 that "Mr. Sherman's aim is ... to strike a blow for the human, and especially the homosexual, spirit in extremis ... a V-sign defiantly flourished at all forms of oppression."

Bent, directed by Moisés Kaufman, will play at the Mark Taper Forum July 15-Aug. 23, 2015. Opening night is set for May 3, 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? Martin Sherman's plays have been produced in over 60 countries, and he has been nominated for two Tonys, two Oliviers and two BAFTAs.

Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

The sins of the forebears echo throughout Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' razor-edged new comedy. As estranged family members convene in Arkansas to settle the patriarch's estate, they discover in the ruin and clutter of their crumbling plantation home an album filled with disturbing photos.

Sparks fly when the siblings debate possible family ties to this unwanted legacy, and their tenuous reunion brings up old rivalries and family secrets that soon toss them into a tailspin.

Ben Brantley said of the 2014 New York production that Appropriate is "subversively original ... remarkable and devious."

Appropriate, directed by Eric Ting, will play at the Mark Taper Forum Sept. 23-Nov. 1, 2015. Opening night is set for Oct. 4, 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' honors include a Paula Vogel Award, a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award.

The Christians by Lucas Hnath

The pastor of a large and wildly successful church has a startling message for his congregation in this riveting new play. After 20 years of growing his congregation into the thousands, Pastor Paul does some soul searching and reaches a conclusion that shakes the church's very foundation with a message that challenges one of the basic tenets of his ministry.

As Pastor Paul summons the courage to lead his flock in a new direction, he faces questions about his motivations, and his personal and professional relationships begin to fray. The Christians is a compelling drama that conveys the deep emotions and consequences of one man's personal revelation.

Charles Isherwood said of the March 2014 premiere at the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville that "[Lucas] Hnath is quickly emerging as one of the brightest new voices of his generation."

The Christians, directed by Les Waters, will play at the Mark Taper Forum Dec. 2, 2015-Jan. 10, 2016. Opening night is set for Dec. 13, 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? The Christians is staged as a church service, complete with a choir whose members will be drawn from local choral groups.

Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Angela Lansbury to reprise Tony Award-winning performance at the Ahmanson

Angela Lansbury to reprise Tony Award-winning performance at the Ahmanson

Classics heading to regional theatres this fall

Classics heading to regional theatres this fall

BONUS: More prominent classics coming to the Ahmanson Theatre in winter 2014 and fall 2015

What theatre classics are you looking forward to this season, either in L.A. or across the nation? Tell us in the comments section!

‘The play’s the thing’ in 2015 Taper season

‘The play’s the thing’ in 2015 Taper season

Center Theatre Group to present three bold new plays and two classic dramas in Taper's 48th season

The Price by Arthur Miller

DID YOU KNOW? 2015 marks the centennial of Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and National Medal of Honors winner Arthur Miller.

Immediate Family by Paul Oakley Stovall

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to playwriting, Stovall has appeared in films such as Shortbus (directed by Cameron Mitchell)and the late Robert Altman's The Company, among others.

Bent by Martin Sherman

DID YOU KNOW? Martin Sherman's plays have been produced in over 60 countries, and he has been nominated for two Tonys, two Oliviers and two BAFTAs.

Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

DID YOU KNOW? Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' honors include a Paula Vogel Award, a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the inaugural Tennessee Williams Award.

The Christians by Lucas Hnath

DID YOU KNOW? The Christians is staged as a church service, complete with a choir whose members will be drawn from local choral groups.