Ahmanson Theatre News

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 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!

A literary masterpiece comes to life this spring when TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley presents OF MICE AND MEN. Crafted for the stage by Steinbeck himself, this portrait immortalizes the strength of friendship and the depth of the American dream. OF MICE AND MEN plays April 4-29, 2012 (press opening April 7) at TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets ($19-$69) and information the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

Based on a concept album by the punk rock band Green Day, American Idiot, like Rent before it, revolutionizes musicals as it is one of a chosen few to combine genuine rock music with a narrative. It is big, bold and uninhibited in structure and style, and with next to no dialogue whatsoever, is able to convey the rage and joy experienced by its trio of male pals and their women. At the Ahmanson until April 22, the Tony nominated musical may not be everyone's cup of tea, but its roar should be acknowledged and appreciated on its own terms. Green Day's frenetic score certainly matches the glaring videos and images projected onto multiple screens all over the set that illustrate just how excruciatingly unpleasant life can be.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the winners and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2011. The 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony took place Monday, March 19 at A Noise Within in Pasadena, and was co-hosted by Jason Graae and Lesli Margherita.

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 on Sunday, March 18 following its final show headlined by Reba Buhr, co-star of Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. Miss Buhr is also a host for the Disney Channel's popular 365 television series. The announcement became official by producer Michael Sterling.

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 national tour of Green Day's 'American Idiot' opened in Los Angeles last night, March 14, at the Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through April 22, 2012. Check out photos from the star-studded opening night below!

Academy Award nominee and three-time Emmy Award nominee James Cromwell (who will play Pozzo), Hugo Armstrong (Lucky) and LJ Benet (Boy) will join the previously announced prominent Beckett actors Alan Mandell and Barry McGovern in the classic tragicomedy "Waiting for Godot" opening at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum March 21, 2012. Written by Samuel Beckett and directed by Michael Arabian, "Waiting for Godot" begins previews March 14; performances will continue through April 22.

'American Night: The Ballad of Juan José,' written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Bonney, opens Sunday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Performances begin March 9 and continue through April 1, 2012.

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 on Sunday, March 18 following its final show headlined by Reba Buhr, co-star of Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. Miss Buhr is also a host for the Disney Channel's popular 365 television series. The announcement became official by producer Michael Sterling.

The cast has been set for the new work, "American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney and directed by Bonney.

"American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Bonney, opens Sunday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Performances begin March 9 and continue through April 1, 2012.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's 43rd Annual Awards Show will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within in Pasadena. The show will feature performances from previously-announced hosts Jason Graae (recipient of the 2007 Joel Hirschhorn Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre) and Lesli Margherita (nominee for Kiss Me, Kate). In addition, the Awards show will feature the Los Angeles premiere performance of My Husband, by Paul Rudnick, a short play added to the New York production of Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. Also, Yvette Tucker and Salvatore Vasallo will perform an excerpt from "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," from On Your Toes, choreographed by this year's Hirschhorn Award recipient, Lee Martino.