Casey Reitz News

Here's the second installment of responses from various Los Angeles Theatre heads on how their individual theatre families are holding up in these crazy, safe-distancing times. As with the first batch of responses, these are just as amazing in their uniform positivity.

Following the directives from Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Agency, Segerstrom Center for the Arts has canceled or postponed all performances and events through the month of April. These include:

In accordance with Governor Gavin Newsom's directive and the guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health to postpone or cancel all gatherings that include 250 people or more, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is canceling performances through the remainder of March.  

Segerstrom and South Coast Plaza were hosts to a private dinner celebrating American Ballet Theater's new production by Alexei Ratmansky, Of Love and Rage, which debuted at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County. Thousands of white flowers, Petrosian caviar, and Don Perignon champagne greeted guests on their arrival.

Sony Masterworks Broadway just announced the December 6 release of SUPERHERO (ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING) with music and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize, Tony and Emmy Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Jagged Little Pill, Next to Normal, If/Then) and book by Tony and Golden Globe Award-winning writer John Logan (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Red).  Also making its debut alongside today's preorder is the album's lead offering a?oeIt's Not Like In The Movies,a?? performed by  Tony and GRAMMY Award nominee Bryce Pinkham and Kyle McArthur a?" listen here. 

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President and Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced Ben McKenzie (Ben) will complete the cast of Bess Wohl's GRAND HORIZONS. The production will mark his Broadway debut.

Producers Benjamin Simpson, Joseph Longthorne and Jana Shea are pleased to announce complete casting for the extended run of the smash hit, critically-acclaimed WP Theater (Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Sag, Managing Director) and Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President & Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) production of Alexis Scheer's OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD, directed by Whitney White. Tickets are on sale now at www.ourdeardeaddruglord.com.

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President and Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced that PATRICK J. ADAMS will make his Broadway debut opposite the previously announced Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams in the Broadway production of Richard Greenberg's Tony Award-winning play, TAKE ME OUT. Directed by Scott Ellis, TAKE ME OUT will begin previews April 2, 2020 and officially open on April 23, 2020 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). Mr. Adams will play Kippy Sunderstrom, the best friend of Darren Lemming (Jesse Williams).

Segerstrom Center for the Arts Board Chairman Mark C. Perry announced today that Casey Reitz will become the Center's new President. The presidential search committee, led by long-time Center board members, Lawrence Higby and Shanaz Langson, made a unanimous recommendation after a six-month search conducted by the global executive search firm, Korn Ferry. Since 2010, Reitz has served as Executive Director of Second Stage Theater in New York City, winning a Tony Award as Best Musical as Producer of Dear Evan Hansen in 2017. Reitz will assume his new role in December 2019. 

Alexis Scheer's OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD, directed by Whitney White, will receive an extended life, adding nine weeks to its already twice extended run at the McGinn / Cazale Theater (2162 Broadway), through Sunday, January 5, 2020. Producers Benjamin Simpson, Joseph Longthorne and Jana Shea will present this special extension of the smash hit, critically-acclaimed WP Theater (Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Sag, Managing Director) and Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President & Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) production. Tickets from November 5, 2019 through January 5, 2020 are on sale now at www.ourdeardeaddruglord.com.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts Board Chairman Mark C. Perry announced today that Casey Reitz will become the Center's new President. The presidential search committee, led by long-time Center board members, Lawrence Higby and Shanaz Langson, made a unanimous recommendation after a six-month search conducted by the global executive search firm, Korn Ferry. Since 2010, Reitz has served as Executive Director of Second Stage Theater in New York City, winning a Tony Award as Best Musical Producer of Dear Evan Hansen in 2017. Reitz will assume his new role in December 2019.

Due to extremely strong ticket demand, the acclaimed production of Alexis Scheer's OUR DEAR DEAD DRUG LORD, directed by Whitney White, has been extended a second time and will now run through Sunday, November 3, announced WP Theater (Lisa McNulty, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Sag, Managing Director) and Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President & Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director).

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President and Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced that JESSE WILLIAMS will make his Broadway debut as Darren Lemming in the Broadway production ofRichard Greenberg's Tony Award-winning play, TAKE ME OUT. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production will begin previews April 2, 2020 and officially open on April 23, 2020 at Second Stage's Hayes Theater (240 West 44th street).

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

The Drama League (Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Artistic Director) today announced the 2019 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced this morning by the current stars of Waitress, Shoshana Bean and Jeremy Jordan, at the official announcement event at Sardi's Restaurant, which was streamed live online here at BroadwayWorld.

Broadway In Boston announced today that individual tickets for the Boston premiere of DEAR EVAN HANSEN will go on sale Sunday, March 24, 2019. Dear Evan Hansen will play the Citizens Bank Opera House July 10 - August 4 as part of the 2018-2019 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season.

Dear Evan Hansen comes to Charlotte's Belk Theater March 19-24 as part of the 2018-2019 PNC Broadway Lights. In advance of the start of performances, the production announced today that it will host a digital ticket lottery offering fans the chance to purchase a limited number of $25 tickets available per performance.

Currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season, Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President and Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) will welcome two new Associate Artistic Directors to the staff. Beginning next month, Christie Evangelisto and Bennett Leak will join the artistic staff of the acclaimed company, working under 2ST President and Artistic Director Carole Rothman. A third Associate Artistic Director will be named in the coming weeks.

The first national touring production of the 2017 Best Musical Tony Award-winner Dear Evan Hansen will return to Chicago by popular demand for a limited 12-week engagement July 7 through September 27, 2020, at Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph). Individual tickets for the Dear Evan Hansen return engagement will go on-sale to the public Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 10 a.m. Central, and pre-sale tickets will be available starting Monday, February 18 through Broadway In Chicago's eblast and Dear Evan Hansen's social media channels.

Producer Stacey Mindich announced today that the North American tour of Dear Evan Hansen, which launched September 25, 2018 in Denver, has recouped its investment at a remarkable pace-after only 12 weeks on tour.