Douglas C. Baker News

Producer Scott Rudin announced today that 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' Aaron Sorkin's new play, directed by Bartlett Sher and based on Harper Lee's classic novel, will be a part of Center Theatre Group's 2020 - 2021 season at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Tony Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas will perform the role of Atticus Finch.

Presented by Center Theatre Group, performances for August Wilson's a?oeJitneya?? will begin on November 22 at the Mark Taper Forum. Performances will continue through December 29 with the opening set for November 24. Originally presented by Manhattan Theatre Club, a?oeJitneya?? is directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. 

Center Theatre Group has announced the four new schools that have been selected to participate in the 2019-2020 Disney Musicals in Schools program. The program is an initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced elementary schools. The four schools are a part of Los Angeles County. The four schools include: Dr. Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary (LAUSD), Eastman Avenue Elementary (LAUSD), Euclid Avenue Elementary (LAUSD) and San Gabriel Avenue Elementary (LAUSD).

Center Theatre Group has welcomed four new passionate supporters of theatre to its Board of Directors, announced Board President Kiki Ramos Gindler. They include Jill Chozen, a theatre investor, philanthropist and past trustee of University Synagogue; George V. Hausler, an executive with J.P. Morgan; Philip Pavel, Managing Director of the NoMad Los Angeles Hotel; and Bonnie Vitti, President of the Louis and Harold Price Foundation, which was founded by her grandfather, Harold Price. 

Center Theatre Group has selected two local productions for the fourth annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from March 18 through April 19, 2020. Block Party 2020 will remount Sacred Fools Theater Company's a?oeThe Art Couplea?? and IAMA Theatre Company's a?oeCanyon.a?? The visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production. 

Center Theatre Group has selected participants for the 2019-2020 L.A. Writers' Workshop, where local playwrights are invited to spend eight months in residence at the company researching and writing new works with the feedback from artistic staff and their fellow writers. The workshop, administrated by Center Theatre Group's Artistic Department, is designed to foster new voices, inspire playwrights to create their best work, encourage bold writing and build relationships among local playwrights, Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles theatre community. 

On October 18, 2019, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, held an evening of Creative Conversation & Cocktails with Special Guests David Henry Hwang, Tony-winning playwright of M. Butterfly, Author of Soft Power, Center Theatre Group/Public Theater, and Douglas C. Baker, Producing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles.

Following its Tony-nominated hit Broadway run seen by tens of thousands, Tony Award winner John Leguizamo's one-man play “Latin History for Morons” will be presented by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from September 5 through October 20, 2019. See photos from opening night!

Center Theatre Group invites high school students from the greater Los Angeles area to apply for the 2019 a?" 2020 Student Ambassador Program, a free leadership development program for students who are curious about the arts and want to build leadership and teamwork skills. 

Following its Tony-nominated hit Broadway run seen by tens of thousands, Tony Award winner John Leguizamo's one-man play a?oeLatin History for Moronsa?? will be presented by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles from September 5 through October 20, 2019. Opening is set for Sunday, September 8. 

Center Theatre Group invites schools and community organizations serving youth from the greater Los Angeles area to apply for the 2019 a?" 2020 Student Matinee Program, a comprehensive arts education experience which brings thousands of students and educators to the theatre each season. 

In 2017, Center Theatre Group was awarded a grant from Disney to bring the Disney Musicals in Schools program to the Los Angeles area. The program is an initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Productions to create sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced elementary schools. Center Theatre Group will select four area public elementary schools to participate in this year's program. Previous recipients have included Breed Street Elementary (LAUSD), Cantara Street School (LAUSD), Harrison Elementary (LAUSD), Hope Street Elementary (LAUSD), Humphreys Avenue Elementary (LAUSD), La Ballona Elementary (Culver City Unified School District), Ritter Elementary (LAUSD), Saturn Street Elementary (LAUSD), Tulsa Street Elementary (LAUSD) and Wild Rose School of Creative Arts (Monrovia Unified School District). 

Center Theatre Group and MPTF hosted a benefit reading of 'Kirk and Anne: Letters of Love, Laughter, and a Lifetime in Hollywood'

The national tour of 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' the hilarious Tony Award-winning hit Broadway comedy celebrated its opening night at the Ahmanson Theatre last night!

Falsettos on tour moved into Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre this week! Check out the photos of the tight-knit family celebrating their opening night below, alongside the show's writer and director James Lapine, and Broadway cast member, Tracie Thoms!

February 23rd is going to be a great day, and here's why: Jessica Phillips, who plays Heidi Hansen on the national tour of the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen, is taking over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story for a two-show day in Chicago! Words fail to describe how excited we are, so be sure to tune in to see all of these friends on a perfect day.

'Cinderella' is a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War. Bourne's interpretation of the classic fairy tale has, at its heart, a true war-time romance.

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.

Hot off a record-breaking, six-week sold-out engagement in Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group announced today that the national tour of “Dear Evan Hansen” will play a return engagement in Los Angeles in Center Theatre Group's 2020-2021 Season at the Ahmanson Theatre. Ticketing information and engagement dates will be announced at a later date.

Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations has broken the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre records for the highest grossing pre-Broadway engagement with a gross of $5,992,378.50, and for highest attendance with 82,792 people having seen the show in Los Angeles.