Ahmanson Theatre News

Young Hollywood takes you backstage at the Ahmanson Theatre and behind the scenes of the rockin' musical, 'American Idiot', based on the Grammy-winning Green Day album of the same name! Stars Van Hughes and Jake Epstein rest their pipes and sit down with us to talk about the show's amazing run and success -- hear how Van went from stand-in to leading man, and Jake shares a specific pitfall of spending the entire show on stage! Hosted by Lesley Robins. Check out the behind the scenes video below!

The National Tour of Bring It On: The Musical arrives in St. Louis for 16 performances at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through April 8, 2012!

Continuing its six year reign as the most popular and award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway performers and nightclub artists dedicated to the Great American Songbook, Sterling's Upstairs had its Grand Opening Sunday, April 1st at The Federal Bar and Restaurant in North Hollywood's trendy NoHo Arts District. Sterling's presented Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland production of Take Me Along: The Songs of Bob Merrill as its premiere offering. The six member cast starred musical theatre stars Julie Garnye and Juliana Hansen, Broadway's Melody Hollis and Kristofer McNeely, and musical theatre star Jeffrey Christopher Todd, with Special Guest... Broadway, film, TV, concert and recording star Lainie Kazan. Christy Crowel served as the evening's Musical Director, with Shelly Markham serving as Musical Director for Lainie Kazan. Bruce Kimmel conceived, produced and directed Take Me Along, with Adryan Russ on board as Associate Producer.

La-Z-Boy has released a new commercial featuring two Broadway leading ladies - Orfeh and Brooke Shields - meeting for lunch. Check it out below!

Center Theatre Group has announced that "Spring Awakening" and "Glee" actor Jonathan Groff will be featured opposite previously announced Alfred Molina in the Donmar Warehouse production of the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Play "Red" by John Logan at the Mark Taper Forum, August 1 through September 9, 2012. The opening performance is scheduled for August 12.

The cast has been set for the world premiere of the chamber musical LOS OTROS, with book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa. LOS OTROS will run May 23 through July 1, 2012, with the opening scheduled for June 3. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

Center Theatre Group has posted costume renderings from the upcoming production of FOLLIES on their Pinterest page. The production will star Victoria Clark (replacing Bernadette Peters), Jan Maxwell, Danny Burnstein, and Ron Raines.

Center Theatre Group has announced updated information for three productions in CTG's 2011-2012 season.

After reigning since 2006 as the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's will close its doors in Studio City, CA.

"American Night," a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, performs at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre through April 1, 2012. Opening night is March 11.

Fifteen local high school students from 10 different schools competed in the August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) regional finals at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Monday night, March 26, 2012. The top three student performers received scholarships and the opportunity to compete again in New York City.

Samuel Beckett's modern classic 'Waiting for Godot' opened March 21, 2012 and continues through April 22 at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. The cast includes prominent Beckett actors Alan Mandell (Estragon) and Barry McGovern (Vladimir), Academy Award-nominee James Cromwell (Pozzo), Hugo Armstrong (Lucky) and LJ Benet (Boy); the director is Michael Arabian. Below, check out the opening night video with cast, creative and celebrity audience member interviews!

The National Tour of Bring It On: The Musical arrives in St. Louis for 16 performances at the Fabulous Fox Theatre March 27 - April 8, 2012!

The national tour of Green Day's 'American Idiot' just opened in Los Angeles on March 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Original Broadway cast member Van Hughes stars as Johnny, a role in which he concluded the 'American Idiot' Broadway run, along with original Broadway cast member Joshua Kobak as St. Jimmy, Jake Epstein as Will, Scott J. Campbell as Tunny, original Broadway cast member Leslie McDonel as Heather, Gabrielle McClinton as Whatsername and Nicci Claspell as The Extraordinary Girl. The national tour of American Idiot celebrated its 100th performance on Friday, March 23 and you can check out photos from the festivities below!

Center Theatre Group, host of the August Wilson Monologue Competition (AWMC) in Southern California, has announced that 15 finalists have been selected to compete in the AWMC regional finals to be held at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum on March 26, 2012.

New Voice Collective and NYU Steinhardt School, program in vocal performance, present NEW VOICES AT NYU: A Celebration of Songs by NYU Musical Theatre Writers Past and Present Monday, April 16 at 8:00 PM Frederick Loewe Theatre 35 WEST 4TH STREET. The concert will explore work by current composers in the NYU Musical Theatre writing program, as well as work by some of NYU's most exciting and famous alumni.

Samuel Beckett's modern classic 'Waiting for Godot' opens March 21, 2012, at 8 p.m. and continues through April 22 at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. The cast includes prominent Beckett actors Alan Mandell (Estragon) and Barry McGovern (Vladimir), Academy Award-nominee James Cromwell (Pozzo), Hugo Armstrong (Lucky) and LJ Benet (Boy); the director is Michael Arabian. Check out the production photos below!

The Bay Area premiere of San Jose Rep's God of Carnage begins previews tonight. This winner of the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Play was written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton. The production runs from March 22 to April 15, 2012, with Opening Night on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:30 pm.

The national tour of Green Day's 'American Idiot' just opened in Los Angeles on March 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Original Broadway cast member Van Hughes stars as Johnny, a role in which he concluded the 'American Idiot' Broadway run, along with original Broadway cast member Joshua Kobak as St. Jimmy, Jake Epstein as Will, Scott J. Campbell as Tunny, original Broadway cast member Leslie McDonel as Heather, Gabrielle McClinton as Whatsername and Nicci Claspell as The Extraordinary Girl. Check outhighlights from opening night in the video below!