Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Inspired by The Secret Garden: Experience the Flavors of LA's Secret Gardens at Home

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 18:04:00 -0800

Discover Your Garden

Finding a garden in LA can be easier than you think. There are many urban farms, community gardens and backyard gardens that supply an abundant harvest for local restaurants and home cooks alike. With so many choices available, it’s easy to find a garden in LA that fits your needs - whether it's for fresh herbs or vegetables, fruits or flowers. For example, if you live in the San Fernando Valley, The Farm LA is a great option for sourcing seasonal produce. The Garden Of ... in Hollywood also offers both starter kits and seeds to get you gardening right away.

Bring The Magic Home

Once you have found your garden, it’s time to bring The Secret Garden's magic into your cooking. Start by picking the freshest ingredients from your garden, and then experiment with different flavors to create nutritious meals. The possibilities are endless - from grilled eggplant with rosemary and garlic to roasted tomatoes with thyme and olive oil. The beauty of garden-to-table cooking is that you can get creative in the kitchen and incorporate flavorful herbs, vegetables, and fruits into your everyday dishes. You’ll be amazed at the transformation of flavors when you use ingredients that have just been harvested.

Take The Magic To The Table

Garden-to-table cooking in LA can bring magical element to your meals - transforming ordinary dishes with freshly picked flavors and fragrances. By taking the time to explore the gardens of Los Angeles and source fresh, nourishing ingredients for your meals, you can bring The Secret Garden's beauty and magic into your own kitchen. Plus, you’ll be doing a great service to your local farmers and gardeners while creating nutritious dishes that are sure to please.

Share the Magic with Others

Garden-to-table cooking is meant to be shared. The bounty from your garden can be used to create delicious meals for friends and family, or even donated to food banks and other charitable organizations. The beauty and magic of The Secret Garden can be spread far and wide by sharing your homegrown produce and the magnificent delights you create in your kitchen.

Whether you cultivate your own at-home garden or discover a garden in your area, the wonders of garden-to-table cooking can infuse and enhance your life in the form of nutritious, flavorful meals that feed your body and soul. The magic is yours to create - start exploring and experiencing the magic for yourself.

The Legacy of Lucy Simon

Jessica Doherty — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:30:00 -0800

Lucy passed away in October 2022 from metastatic breast cancer—just a day after her sister, Opera Singer Joanna Simon, passed away from thyroid cancer. The two sisters were not the only musical members of the family—they are survived by their sister Carly Simon, who is also a musician and played with Lucy in a duo known as The Simon Sisters in the 1960s. Singing runs in the family as well. One of Julie’s favorite memories was singing with her mother.

“When my mom and I would sing, our voices would carry each other up into the heavens,” Lucy’s daughter Julie Simon said. “One of the things I knew would be hardest for me is not being able to sing with her anymore.”

The “renewal of spring,” Julie said was a “spiritual north star” for Lucy. Julie said one of Lucy’s favorite places was a cherry tree grove in Central Park, which only blooms for about a week or two each year. Even after Julie moved to Los Angeles, the two would stroll through the grove, and the park at large, each time she would visit. Lucy knew every inch of the 843-acre park.

Towards the end of The Secret Garden, Archibald tells Mary, “In this, my lovely child, is your garden.” Julie feels this line speaks directly to her. “I feel they’re giving me the garden, I’m giving them the garden, I feel like my mom is looking down and giving it to us,” Julie said.

The Secret Garden, like the perennial blooms of spring gardens, has the potential to renew itself with each production. When the show first opened on Broadway in 1991, Lucy said she and Marsha Norman, the lyricist and book writer for The Secret Garden, “had wanted to make changes from the day the show opened.”

Norman said Lucy attended “nearly every show that was ever done” of The Secret Garden. Julie said she and her family received many notes from people involved in previous productions across the country. “[Lucy] was the most nurturing soul, as an artist and a mother, and it was important to her that everyone felt a part of that magic.”

Even just before her passing, Lucy was involved in the current production at Center Theatre Group, approving the cuts and changes to the show and sitting in on many rehearsals. Julie attended rehearsals of this production as well. At the first rehearsal, Director Warren Carlyle expressed his gratitude for the involvement of both Lucy and Julie in the production process. Julie felt welcomed by the entire cast and creative team into the rehearsal, finding a new sense of family in the group, at a time when she needed it most.

Julie celebrated this new family with an artistic creation of her own—a homemade cake gifted to the cast and crew on the day of the production’s first preview, topped with flowers featured in the show. She and her mother shared a love for gardens and were inspired by them in their art. Like her mother’s musical, Julie Simon Cakes are whimsical and dreamlike, inspired by fantastical florals. She creates flower petals from sugar that results in a cake topper reminiscent of an oil paint still-life. Lucy treated them as such and had many photographs of Julie’s confectionary creations displayed on the walls of her home.

Julie spent much of the last month of Lucy’s life with her, listening to The Secret Garden. Julie finds when Lily sings of the love, life, and healing in the garden, that it speaks to not only her mother, but to what audiences can take away from the show.

“I feel that’s what my mom wanted for all of us,” she said. “She wanted this garden to continue to grow.”

Want to learn more about Lucy Simon’s legacy? Venture into The Secret Garden from now until March 26^th. Join us for a special celebration of Lucy Simon’s life at an exclusive post-show event on Thursday, March 2^nd for American Express Card Members. Hosted by Sierra Boggess and other members of the cast of The Secret Garden, the event will weave songs and stories to celebrate the life and legacy of Lucy Simon.

The Black Artists of Yesterday, Today, and the Future

Bobby Martinez — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:28:00 -0800

This week, we are exploring the work of playwright and Center Theatre Group Teaching Artist, Aja Houston. Teaching Artists at Center Theatre Group take on a variety of roles and projects, from working directly with students in classrooms to working with community members in workshops at our Boyle Heights costume shop. The cohort works alongside Center Theatre Group’s Education & Community Partnerships team to collaborate with and inspire the greater L.A. community of artists and storytellers. We had the opportunity to sit down with Houston to talk about her experience as a Black Artist, and her work at Center Theatre Group and beyond.

About Aja

Aja Houston was born in Las Vegas, but says she is from “Everywhere, USA” since she moved around the country with her single mother throughout her childhood. “I always say [I was] army brat adjacent, because my mom was really great at her job in public relations, [so] we would just move wherever she was recruited for a better opportunity,” Houston explained. She cites her interests in the arts to her nomadic childhood—as she acclimated as “the new girl” by entertaining those around her.

She studied acting as an undergraduate student at Pitzer College in Claremont, California and began her career in the arts as an actress in London, New York City, and San Francisco.

At one point she said to herself, “This is killing me softly, if I must go up for another…stereotypical role.”

When devising her first play, Houston wanted to create the roles she was not finding or being cast in as an actress. “I was becoming really disenchanted with the plays and the roles that I was going up for,” Houston said. “There is not a lot of variety when it comes to roles for Black women, women, period, right? I mean, I love A Raisin in the Sun, but how many times can that be produced? We're not a monolith, and there's so many different multifaceted parts of the Black diaspora that I would love to see.” she shared.

She moved to Los Angeles to focus on playwrighting, entering the MFA in Dramatic Writing program at the University of Southern California. During her studies at USC, she created plays that use her passion, politics, and magic realism to create unusual worlds that told “nuanced, humanizing Black stories led by Black women.”

Houston found magical realism to be a source of empowerment as a Black artist, creating worlds that allow anything to happen. “Being a Black woman, especially in the States, and moving through this space, there are a lot of obstacles and restrictions,” she said. “With my art, I'm able to create something where people can have superpowers. They still have conflict and obstacles...but having it in a different kind of reality excites me.”

Houston’s writing process begins with a theme and two questions: “What will the world of the play be like? And what’s my in for how I can tell this story differently?”

Houston found that blazing your own trail could be rewarding, with the culmination being her first play, Superwoman? which explores the theme of the detrimental “strong Black woman” stereotype. “I always wanted to do [playwriting] in conjunction with my acting. I was like, ‘I'm going to write the parts that I would love to act in myself.’”

At Center Theatre Group

As a Teaching Artist at Center Theatre Group, Houston is currently leading a six-week workshop for CTG staff to devise their own individual short plays inspired by their impactful life events. Their first drafts are read by local professional actors.

Houston has found the experience of witnessing her students’ generosity and stories to be “lifesaving.” Students have reached out to her to thank her for the ways it taught them to express themselves in a safe space—Houston is happy that they were able to find confidence within themselves and their work.

She finds that the key to an artist’s success is the ability to support and express themselves in a way that contributes value to their own story. “Everybody is not going to like your work. Art is subjective, people's tastes are subjective, and that's not what this space is about. It's about making sure you're telling the story as powerful[ly] as you can,” she said.

Navigating the Arts as a Black Artist

Houston finds that art enables the opportunity for her to have difficult discussions and analyze the darker parts of society. For example, in Waiting (4,380,000 Hours and Counting), she wrote about the “legacy and continued genocide of Black people in this country". The piece uses Houston’s signature lens of magic realism, as the show follows Proctor, an 18-year-old Black American, who passes into the afterlife and finds herself a captive of “The Middle” — a place where Black souls killed for the sin of being “Spooks” are held until they earn their redemption. Another play, Ladyville—developed in The Road Theatre Company’s Under Construction Playwrights Group— tackles the rendering of Black women invisible in this country. “There are so many Black women missing and we don’t get the same attention as what happens to Black males in this country.”

Houston has made it her mission to create work that asks hard and necessary questions, that challenges audiences. “I'm unapologetically Black....and I want you to feel super uncomfortable.... Especially if I'm talking about certain subject matters.” she shares, noting how she hopes her art can become a conduit for conversation and reflection rather than simply just a spectacle. “I want audiences to feel uncomfortable and convicted in some way. Whether or not [they] act on that or not [is their choice]. But I'm not here to pat you on the back and make you feel great.”

Houston’s work is not always dark—she believes there should always be levity. “Yes, we laugh, because you can't always cry. But sometimes we laugh because things are so dark and absurd that you have to laugh.”

Houston finds that the stories she writes are not about an issue, but rather the Black experience. “I don't write issue plays; I write Black stories. The very fact that my Black body is politicized will inherently add another wrinkle to my human experience. I can write a love story and it is impactful because we don't often see Black people loving on each other on stage.”

Looking Forward

Though progress has been made since 2020 and the events surrounding George Floyd’s murder, Houston feels there must be more space for Black and Brown artists within theatre. “[Theatres] have been trying to be a little bit more cognizant of diversifying their programming, but...I still feel like they're playing it safe with what they choose to program, it's repetitive.... not enough theatre companies [are] having the courage and bravery to produce different voices.”

After feeling that theatres were “not ready” for her voice, she is excited to share that a production of her play, HERe, will be produced this fall at Ammunition Theatre Company. The play is a dramedy that explores finding the bravery to heal and love oneself again, all within the world of the “Black Grimm Forest.”

Looking forward, Houston hopes that theatres produce a larger variety of Black stories from different perspectives. “I would like to see theatre that doesn't just focus on our pain...and trauma that we go through, but instead, show how we persevere... and how we still create our art, music, our dance, our everything,” she said. “We do other things that bring us joy, and we're still having the same human experience. It's just that it's colored differently. No pun intended.”

The solution? Aja had one thing to share. “I would just say, be brave. Stop being boring.”

To learn more about Aja Houston, her story, and her mission, visit ajahouston.com

The Black Artists of Yesterday, Today, and the Future

Bobby Martinez — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 17:04:00 -0800

Born in 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland, Smith started attending school after the city had started integrating public schools. She studied acting at Beaver College and went on to receive an MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA. Smith is often credited for having pioneered verbatim theatre, in which the playwright interviews real life people regarding a particular subject and event, in turn creating a show out of the interview material. Smith first explored this work in her play Fires in the Mirror, which explores the Crown Heights riot through the viewpoints of African American and Jewish people that had some connection, whether directly or indirectly, to the event. The show is composed of monologues performed only by Smith, using a limited number of props and costumes, but instead heavily relying on Smith's ability to adapt and walk in her character's footsteps. The show received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person show in 1993 and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

In 1992, Smith began working on her next piece of verbatim theatre in Los Angeles, following the 1992 L.A. Uprising due to the acquittal of police offers who beat Rodney King, which was captured on tape. Smith interviewed around 300 people after the events and debuted her piece at the Mark Taper Forum entitled Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. The show, which was commissioned and developed by Center Theatre Group, tells of the events of the L.A. Uprising as well as the reactions, sentiments, and experiences of people throughout the city. The show subsequently opened on Broadway in 1994 and was nominated for a Tony Award and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person show in 1994, earning Smith the award for a second year in a row.

A new production is set to open at the Mark Taper Forum in March of 2023, 30 years from its original opening. ve actors will now play the roles Smith once played herself.

Smith pioneered an art form that takes the intricacies of society and develops conversations while keeping intersectionality at its core. For her work, Smith has garnered a multitude of accolades, including the 2012 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, which recognizes individuals that deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities. Smith's commitment to the usage of theatre as the medium of conversation has helped revolutionize the way we use art when discussing the difficulties of the real world.

“I think it is a two-way engagement,” Smith said during the first week of rehearsals of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992. “We are living in a very upside-down world right now, [where] people are struggling to make sense of political divisions in our own country...People will come to this play with a certain ability to engage with something that’s not perfect, something about a long-term problem in our country.”

It is because of artists like Smith that we can tell the stories of the marginalized to a broader audience. Even now, Smith prepares to tell the story of the L.A. riots in the reimagined production of Twilight...continuing her commitment to using theatre as a forum for conversation.

Going down sewing with the Auntie Sewing Squad

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 11:36:00 -0800

At the Los Angeles Central Library in Downtown L.A. in early February, Wong joined two of these Super Aunties and one Sewing Auntie to discuss their involvement in the mutual aid organization and contributions to their book, The Auntie Sewing Squad Guide to Mask Making, Radical Care, and Racial Justice. The event was a part of the ALOUD lecture series, sponsored by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.

Jessica Arana first approached the Auntie Sewing Squad with a request—Her brother was an essential worker in 2020 who needed masks for himself and his coworkers. After witnessing how the group was able to mobilize, she joined the team at the suggestion of another member. She dedicated her weekends and evenings to the group, pitching and helping create a spreadsheet of requests along with her husband and connecting with farm workers, formerly incarcerated individuals, and asylum seekers at the U.S. and Mexico border alongside partner organizations.

“Together, the squad was disrupting systems that kept vulnerable people from getting the protection they needed,” she said. “My Auntie work was driven by the reality that working-class people and their communities are often ignored and denied humanity. The partner organizations taught me that their humanity must constantly be restated and reinforced.”

Arana wrote an essay on the connection between that sentiment and the “painful connection” to her grandmother’s labor as a maid for wealthy families in Mexico.

“I do dream of my Mexican grandparents and our Mesoamerican indigenous ancestors,” Arana read. “It happens while I’m awake and in my memory. I remember the brown, resilient, and resourceful working hands that held me with love.”

Photo by Kevin Garcia/Library Foundation of Los Angeles.

Super Auntie Māhealani Flournoy was also inspired by her family to join the Auntie Sewing Squad. Her mother “magically created” prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and ice-skating costumes. With a machine and “the University of YouTube,” Flournoy set out to help sew masks.

At the time of the stay-at-home order, her life as she knew it was upended. Her son was born with a rare genetic disorder, and his medication left him with an incredibly suppressed immune system. Flournoy is also a chef, who had just returned back to work before the stay-at-home orders halted indoor dining.

She turned to the Auntie Sewing Squad to find a sense of focus and purpose during a tumultuous time.

“The [Auntie Sewing] Squad has helped this Indigenous woman of color protect the loves of my brothers and sisters in Indigenous communities and other vulnerable people,” she said. “Though I came to the Squad seeking personal fulfillment, I am humbled to be a part of something much bigger and more impactful.”

Before finishing her segment, she paused to address the room to share of her son’s passing and how his life could hopefully help others born with the disorder he had. “The Squad saved me, so now I save others.”

Fellow Super Auntie Laura Karlin was a new mother around the start of the pandemic, just returning to work as the Artistic Director and Founder of Invertigo Dance Theatre as stay-at-home measures began. “My world was collapsing,” she reflected. So, she messaged Kristina, “I’m broke, sleep deprived, and I don’t sew, but I still want to help.” She started by sending moisturizing balms to the Aunties that did sew as a way to show appreciation for the work they were doing. Soon, she would work alongside Arana to connect with farm workers.

While the “Sewing Squad” has retired, she is one of the “Aunties Not Abandoning Labor” and has helped organize other mutual aid requests—like a winter coat drive for the Lakota communities and drives for heaters.

Her contribution to the book was an ode to the spreadsheet Arana's husband Nathan Stubley helped create and to her young daughter’s future.

She wrote:
“Dear spreadsheet of glory,
I have hovered over you as I do with my newborn baby.
I hope one day she knows
her Mama went down—well, not sewing, but, well,
recording the names of those who did, dammit, and
I hope one day she knows
her Mama won’t go down without a fight.”

Want to learn more about the story of the Auntie Sewing Squad? Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord runs at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from February 12th through March 12th. Tickets are available here.

Five Family-Friendly Musicals

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:08:00 -0800

Winnie the Pooh the Musical

Join Winnie the Pooh on a journey through the Hundred Acre Woods where he searches for honey and finds a crew of famous friends—Tigger, Eeyore, and more—along the way. The beloved Disney cartoon characters come to life with cuddly puppets—which achieve a realistic look of “fluff” through fine feathers. The musical was just presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in 2022 and is now touring at venues across the United States.

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins told the time-tested tale of the classic 1964 Disney film onstage for a new generation at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2012. Based upon the stories of P.L. Travers, the magical nanny Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael on an adventure like no other to bring light and joy to their family. It will bring a ‘spoonful of sugar’ to everyone’s day!

The Sound of Music

High-spirited nun Maria becomes the governess for a widowed family of seven, teaching them the restorative power of love and family in the classic musical The Sound of Music. The national tour of the stage adaptation of the beloved 1965 film began at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2015. It is inspiring and endearing to see children of all ages on stage, and can provide life lessons for everyone young and old alike.

13 The Musical

For tweenagers, 13 The Musical captures the growing pains and social challenges of adolescence. Evan moves from New York City to a small town in Indiana, where he must face social hierarchies, bullying, and his Bar Mitzvah! This coming-of-age musical was developed here at Center Theatre Group, starting as a workshop at the Kirk Douglas Theatre before its world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum in 2007. It was recently adapted into a Netflix movie in 2022!

The Secret Garden

Last, but not least, is The Secret Garden,opening at the Ahmanson Theatre in February. Follow young, orphaned Mary Lennox as she's sent from her home in India to live with her reclusive uncle on his haunted English country estate. Guided by an exceptionally beautiful score, Mary's unapologetic curiosity and the help of unlikely companions send her on a thrilling quest to untangle the pieces of her family's past and, most importantly—discover herself.

From Page to Stage!

Center Theatre Group — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 15:58:00 -0800

The Secret Garden unlocks its gates at the Ahmanson this February, but the show carries a legacy from way before then. Originally published in 1911, The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett is viewed as a classic of English children’s literature. There have been many film and stage adaptations since, with the musical officially premiering on Broadway in 1991. With a book by Marsha Norman and music by the late Lucy Simon, The Secret Garden continues to captivate audiences with powerful music while staying true to the original story by Frances Burnett. But The Secret Garden is not the only musical to have been inspired by a historic piece of literature, so join us as we discuss more musicals that have been adapted from a novel to the stage.

Matilda

Based on the beloved children’s classic by Roald Dahl, Matilda The Musical premiered on Broadway on April 11th, 2013, and mustered four Tony Award wins. Before its Broadway run, the timeless classic had a run in London’s West End, thrilling audiences of all ages. The show is no stranger to L.A. audiences, as the kids and cast of Matilda graced the Ahmanson stage in 2015. The show is perfect for audiences of all ages, reminding us all that, “sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.”

Les Misérables

Hearing the people sing is one thing, but this hit musical has been leading revolutions since 1862, when Victor Hugo published his French historical novel, Les Misérables. Following the themes of justice, love, and politics, the novel became an instant success. Though a classic, the novel was adapted into the musical we all know a century later, with the French production of the musical first premiering in Paris (1980) with direction by Robert Hossein. It was then adapted to the English-language by producer Cameron Mackintosh, opening in London in October of 1985. The production has since become a global phenomenon, having multiple runs on Broadway and on tour throughout the United States. The musical is also no stranger to the Ahmanson, which presented an all-new production of Les Misérables in 2011.

Wicked

Elphaba may not know what she’s reading, but fans of the hit Broadway musical may be familiar with the history behind Wicked. Published in 1995 and written by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West tells the untold story of Elphaba, a young girl who is “cursed” with green skin and must navigate ostracization from society while holding true to her values. The novels share a darker look into Oz, where we find that the Emerald City holds up smoke and mirrors, as the political and social landscape of Oz struggles to find peace within itself. Tackling the themes of social justice, political propaganda, and the roots of evil, the novel inspired composer Stephen Schwartz to ask the question, “Are people born Wicked, or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them?” Originally, the novel was in talks to be produced as a film by Universal, but soon was adapted into the hit musical. Opening on Broadway in October 2003, the musical has since become one of the longest-running shows on Broadway that still proves to audiences around the world that “everyone deserves the chance to fly.”

The Phantom of the Opera

Beware, the Phantom! Originally released in March 1910, The Phantom of the Opera by Pierre Lafitte tells the story of Christine Daaé, a Swedish soprano who is called to the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris, which is rumored to be haunted by the ominous “Phantom of the Opera.” The Phantom lurks through the shadows, becoming obsessed with Christine. The novel was adapted in 1986, first opening in London’s West End and then opening on Broadway in 1988. The show currently holds the title of “longest running show in Broadway history”, and even held a four-year run at the Ahmanson theatre, with the L.A. engagement on May 31st, 1989, and closing in August of 1993.

Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats

Cats The Musical is often considered a polarizing piece of theatre. I personally love it, my supervisor on the other hand is questioning my judgement. Opinions aside, did you know that Cats is based on a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot that was first published in 1939! The musical was adapted in the West End in 1981, and subsequently opened on Broadway in 1982. It has since become a cultural phenomenon, and though it can be divisive, it’s sure to be an entertaining time!

The arts are interconnected, and theatre is always learning and evolving from the art around us. Are there any books you would like adapted into a musical? Let us know in the comments!

And don’t miss The Secret Garden playing at the Ahmanson Theatre February 19 – March 26, 2023.

Inspired by The Secret Garden: Incredible Family Traditions from Around the World

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 16:59:00 -0800

There is something magical and so special about quality time together as a family. It is a time to create lasting memories, cherished traditions, and unbreakable bonds that can stand the test of time. From family gatherings on special occasions, to everyday rituals that bring everyone together, family traditions around the world provide a unique way for families to both make memories and celebrate their heritage. Here are just a few traditions that families throughout the world, whether by blood or by choice, share throughout the world.

Going to The Theatre

For family members who love literature and the arts, family outings to the theatre can be a great way to celebrate art and culture together. From classic plays to new works, sharing a night of the theatre or an afternoon at the movies is an enjoyable family tradition in many countries. Family-friendly shows like the timeless and iconic The Secret Garden is the perfect opportunity to continue this time-honored tradition or create a new one to be shared for generations to come.

Sharing a Meal Together

In many cultures, family meals provide an opportunity for family members to connect over the dinner table. From family recipes passed down through generations, to family members taking turns with the cooking and cleaning duties, sharing a meal together can bring family closer.

Playing Games & Sports

Games of all shapes and sizes have been used by families throughout history as a means to strengthen family ties. Whether it’s outdoor sports like football or indoor board games like Monopoly, playing games is one way for family members to come together and socialize in a structured yet fun atmosphere.

Gifting Meaningful Objects

From heirloom jewelry pieces to new books or souvenirs from vacation, gift-giving is often seen as an act of love among family members. Giving meaningful gifts at special occasions such as birthdays and holidays serves not only to commemorate the family’s shared experiences, but also to remind family members of their special bond.

In this day and age, family traditions are more important than ever before. Whether you choose to keep an established family tradition or create your own, these timeless practices will help bring family members closer together in joy and celebration.

We’d love to hear from you: Does your family participate in any of these traditions? What is your favorite part of your family tradition or your most cherished memory? Is there a family tradition that you celebrate that we missed? Sound off below!

What is theatre, anyway?

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:00:00 -0800

Theatre is an art form that has existed for hundreds of years. While the art of theatre has changed over time due to cultural shifts and technological advancements, the core of the art form has remained the same. At the heart of all theatre is storytelling. This could be one person or multiple people telling a story through words, music, or movement to an audience. But what are the different types of theatre?

Plays

Plays are a form of theatre in which one person or multiple people tell a story through dialogue, aka talking, either with other actors on stage or the audience. There are many different genres of plays—some are serious, some are silly, and some art somewhere in between. There can be one-person plays, like Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord at the Kirk Douglas Theatre (February 12 – March 12, 2023), or feature a cast of characters like the new production of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992at the Mark Taper Forum (March 8 – April 9, 2023).

Musicals

Musicals are plays with music. They often have a book, of scenes with dialogue, and a score, of songs throughout the show. Musicals can sometimes be more exaggerated than plays, as characters often sing when they are so emotional that words alone cannot contain their feelings. This is the case in The Secret Gardenat the Ahmanson Theatre (February 19 – March 26, 2023), where the characters sing about their passions, long-lost loves, and wonders about the world, but they also spend time speaking to each other as well.

Operas

Operas are highly stylized performances where the entire story is song. There is no dialogue whatsoever, only song! And because everyone’s emotional enough to sing, everything is over-the-top—from the costumes and scenic design to the plot! Our neighbors at The Music Center, the LA Opera, produce operas each season.

Operettas

Operettas are a light form of operas—existing somewhere in between opera and musicals. These are often music-heavy shows, but lighter in subject matter and size than their operatic counterparts. Most of the story is conveyed through song as opposed to dialogue. There may be some lines of dialogue scattered throughout, but most of the conversations are through song! One popular example is Les Misérables, which performed at the Ahmanson in 2011. While the cast sometimes speaks, the main plot and actions of the characters are driven through song.

Musical Theatre? What's so special about it?

Center Theatre Group — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 12:01:00 -0800

Have you or someone you know been bitten by the theatre bug? You’re starting to sing along to the Hamilton album in your car, or maybe your TikTok ‘For You Page’ is filled with different creators doing their rendition of “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago the Musical in their bedrooms. Whatever the reason may be, you’ve developed an interest in musical theatre. But what’s so special about theatre that has you jamming to “You Can’t Stop the Beat”? We’ve compiled our top three reasons why musical theatre is more important than ever, so when the questions come around, you can show off your theatre side with pride!

Musical Theatre Broadens Your Perspective
Personal experiences are always the best way to learn about different cultures, people, and ideologies, but sometimes that can turn out to be very difficult. One of the factors that contributes to the success of musical theatre is the ability to tell a story to an audience that may not be familiar with the culture or experiences of others. For example, A Transparent Musical, the world premiere new musical opening May 31st at the Mark Taper Forum, follows Maura, the patriarch who emerges as her true self, the matriarch she always knew she was. The show is an insightful look into the journey Transgender individuals take, and though each experience is unique, it’s a story that reaffirms the lives of our Transgender peers while acknowledging the challenges these journeys may hold. It’s shows like A Transparent Musical that help educate and inform on a medium that captivates audiences through song, dance, and story. See—learning can be fun!
Musical Theatre Lets You Travel to New Worlds
Traveling is one of the best ways to experience new places, but often it can prove to be difficult. After all, it’s time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes our lives prevent us from visiting the far-off lands we dream of. But musical theatre transports audiences to new worlds, giving the viewer the opportunity to travel and learn about new places. Take The Secret Garden, an inspiring musical that starts off in far off India, as the newly orphaned Mary Lennox navigates the challenges of the aforementioned. Following the global pandemic, theatre is the perfect opportunity to escape the hardships of reality and enjoy a whole new world.
Musical Theatre is FUN!
Musical Theatre is fluid, it can be anything that it needs to be, and at the end of it that is what makes it so powerful. It’s fun, exciting, educational, and ever-changing! Each performance carries its own nuances, and each show is a ticket into an experience that will serve as a highlight. The importance of musical theatre lies in the enjoyment it creates, so if musical theatre is just fun to you, that is all that matters. Musical Theatre has something for everyone, and it’s why the artform has been around since the late 1800’s.

With the ability to transcend time and trends, musical theatre proves itself to be a long-lasting artform. But these reasons aren’t the only reasons, what matters the most is what musical theatre means to you. So, take a moment, think about your favorite shows. What draws you to the seat, and what do you get out of it? Let us know down below! And, when you’re ready, stop by one of our three theatres, we’re sure to have shows that will broaden your perspectives, transport you to new worlds, and be the fun you’re seeking. We’ll see you there!