Kirk Douglas News

La MaMa presents the New York Premiere of That Beautiful Laugh, the inaugural theatrical production by The Artigiani Troupe. That Beautiful Laugh, a clown show conceived and directed by Obie Award Winner Orlando Pabotoy, stars Alan Tudyk, Julia Ogilvie and Carlton Ward, and is part of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary season. The production runs from March 16 - 25, 2012 in a limited engagement at The Club at La MaMa, located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City.

Edmund Gaynes, in association with David Gersten, will present Loni Ackerman, Brad Bradley Gene Castle, and Karla Shook in TIN PAN ALLEY (The Original iTunes), which began an open-ended Off-Broadway engagement February 25th at Actors Temple Theater (339 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Opening Night is set for March 19th (7pm). TIN PAN ALLEY will run 75 minutes.

Director and actor Natalija Nogulich has been named as director for the Chicago premiere of songwriter Spider Saloff's one-woman musical, THE ROAR OF THE BUTTERFLY, to be presented by KMP Artists at Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater May 2 - 20, 2012. In the tradition of Lilly Tomlin and Tracey Ullman, Saloff portrays eight different characters in this new musical comedy.

The Ebony Repertory Theatre presents Lorraine Hansberry's American classic "A Raisin in the Sun," playing at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

The Board of Directors of The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announced today that Charles Dillingham will serve as interim Executive Director of the theatre during the transition period following Stephen Eich's departure and as The Playhouse launches a national search for a new Executive Director. Dillingham's services are being provided by Arts Consulting Group (ACG), a national consulting firm where he is Vice President. Until he joined ACG in June of 2011 he had been managing director of Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles for twenty years.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, features legendary Broadway composer Charles Strouse in performance for its Third Annual Valentine's Gala on Friday, February 10 at 6:00 pm at Germantown Performing Arts Centre.

Adelaide Festival Centre's Performing Arts Collection will present a collection of one of the greatest dramatic actors of the 20th Century, Dame Judith Anderson.

Danai Gurira's powerful new play, "The Convert," which was commissioned by Center Theatre Group, will be presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 17 through May 19, 2012. The opening is scheduled for April 19. The world premiere production of "The Convert," a co-production with McCarter Theatre Center and Goodman Theatre, is directed by Emily Mann.

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) celebrates the 2nd year of its 3-year Diversity Series with NEAT by Charlayne Woodard. RTW Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director Suzan Fete will direct this play featuring UPROOTED Theatre Co-Founder Marti Gobel.

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," a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, begins performances at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, March 9 after closing in La Jolla in late February. The show continues at the Douglas through April 1, 2012. Opening night is March 11.

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.

Adelaide Festival Centre's Performing Arts Collection will present a collection of one of the greatest dramatic actors of the 20th Century, Dame Judith Anderson.

Ebony Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's American classic 'A Raisin in the Sun,' playing at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, opened last night with performances continuing through February 19, 2012. Cast members include (in alphabetical order) Kenya Alexander, Keith Arthur Bolden, Brandon David Brown, Kevin T. Carroll, Jason Dirden, Deidrie Henry, Amad Jackson, Scott Mosenson, Kem Saunders, Kim Staunton and Ellis E. Williams. In the video below, go behind the scenes of opening night!

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the 2010 Best Play Tony Award Winner, Red.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2011. The 43rd Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at A Noise Within, the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, in its new 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, thanks to the generous donation of A Noise Within's management. The theatre is located on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue at 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Tickets are $40, and should be reserved in advance from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for pre-show hors d'oeuvres (with no-host bar), and the show commences at 7:30 p.m.

Bruce Norris deservedly won the 2011 Pulitzer for his brilliant study of human nature Clybourne Park, which picks up where Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun leaves off. Now at the Mark Taper Forum, Park's director Pam McKinnon holds tight reins over an outstanding ensemble, all of whom play two roles as the play shifts in two acts from 1959 to 2009.

CHRIS ISAACSON has announced the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' second show of their 3rd Season, THE TROUBADOURS, starring American Idol's JACKIE TOHN, MATT WOLPE (The Buddy Holly Story) YVETTE CASON (Dreamgirls, Play On!, Stormy Weather) and JAKE SIMPSON (Star Search Grand Champion, Arena: Born to Rock, Oprah favorite) celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor!

Actor James Farentino, who appeared on Broadway in classic roles such as A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE'S Stanley Kowalski in 1973 and DEATH OF A SALESMAN's Biff two years later, has passed away due to heart failure in Los Angeles. He was 73 years of age.

Bruce Norris' Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Clybourne Park, which began previews January 11, opens next Wednesday January 25 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. The production today confirmed that it's slated to make its Broadway debut on April 12, 2012.

Ebony Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's American classic 'A Raisin in the Sun,' playing at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre, opened last night with performances continuing through February 19, 2012. Check out photos from the show's opening night below!