Kirk Douglas News

The Old Globe today announced its 2017-2018 Season, which will kick off with the world premiere musical Benny & Joon, with book by Kirsten Guenther, music by Nolan Gasser, and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

Center Theatre Group is now accepting submissions for the 2018 Richard E. Sherwood Award. The deadline to submit an application is June 5, 2017, at 11:59 p.m.

Los Angeles audiences will discover a new perspective on many timeless classics interpreted through a contemporary lens as they journey through The Music Center's dance season and uncover themes of conflict between female strength and societal expectations.  The 2017/2018 Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (Dance at The Music Center) season is replete with powerful characters, riveting storylines, modern choreography and theatrics that take the traditional narrative ballet to a new level.  Audiences are invited to venture into the world of dance and experience realms of expression beyond expectation.  The coming season opens with the U.S. premiere of Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes (September 15-October 1, 2017), a beloved fairytale and Hollywood classic where life imitates art, presented by Dance at The Music Center and Center Theatre Group. 

Laguna Playhouse has announced a very special theatrical event, Bruce Davison, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart & Vanessa Stewart starring in TESLA: A RADIO PLAY FOR THE STAGE, written by Dan Duling and directed by Michael Arabian.

Center Theatre Group's Block Party continues with the opening of The Fountain Theatre production of "Citizen: An American Lyric" this Sunday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Based on a book of poetry by Claudia Rankine, adapted for the stage by Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, "Citizen: An American Lyric" will begin previews April 28 and continue for 11 performances only through May 7, 2017.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2017-2018 season at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Citizen: An American Lyric joins Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the inaugural Block Party program.

On Saturday, May 13, 2017, following the 2 p.m. matinee performance of Fiasco Theater's "Into the Woods" at the Ahmanson Theatre, Center Theatre Group will throw a cast party for all the Bakers and Witches, Cinderellas and Princes, Milky Whites, et al., who have ever appeared in a production of "Into the Woods."

Actress Christine Pedi is well known for her theatre/cabaret appearances as well as TV and SiriusXM radio. Her finest hour has come in Forbidden Broadway with her glorious singing impressions. She took time out from her busy schedule to talk about her upcoming appearance in LA for the last S.T.A.G.E. benefit on Saturday May 13 at the Saban Theatre.

Center Theatre Group will host multiple community events inspired by 'Archduke' including two Community Conversations on May 13 and 24; three post-show Stage Talks on May 2, 21 and 23; post-show Audience Talks after every evening performance beginning May 11; a special 'Taper and Tonic' gin tasting event on May 3; and two 'Archduke'-themed trivia nights on April 26 and May 1.

Abingdon Theatre Company presents its first musical with the New York premiere of THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR, with music by Tim Rosser and book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne, winners of 2015 Jonathan Larson and Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart awards. Directed by Abingdon Theatre Company Artistic Director Tony Speciale, THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR plays four weeks only, May 15 through June 11, at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is Thursday, May 25 at 7PM.

On Friday, April 28, Center Theatre Group will launch the newly created free concert event 'Broadway at Grand Park' from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. with cast members from the Ahmanson Theatre's 'Into the Woods' and 'Jersey Boys' performing some of the biggest hits from these popular shows.

Coeurage Theatre Company in Los Angeles (Jeremy Lelliott, Artistic Director; Nicole Monet, Executive Director), now beginning its eighth season, has announced its upcoming slate of three plays including Nicky, a world premiere by acclaimed LA playwright Boni B. Alavarez, Emilie: La Marquise du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight by Lauren Gunderson, and The Secret in the Wings by Mary Zimmerman.

'Failure: A Love Story' chronicles the lives, loves and deaths of the three Fail sisters (June Carryl, Margaret Katch, and Nicole Shalhoub) and the one man with the double moniker Mortimer Mortimer (Kurt Quinn) who fell in love with each of them but not at the same time. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Chicago, this touching, whimsical tale explores the impermanence of life and the permanence of love, especially among devoted family members. The 'failure' in the title refers to poor Mortimer's inability to ever marry any of the three sisters after falling in love with them, as the untimely deaths of the three sisters happen before any marriages can take place.

Goodman Theatre joins Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group (CTG) in a new co-commissioning partnership that also involves three other internationally renowned theaters-London's Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre, and New York's Second Stage-in the hopes of generating new plays to appear in multiple cities over the next decade.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has shared that Artistic Director Anna D. Shapiro is one of three celebrated artists to be invited into an expanded relationship with the Center Theatre Group (CTG) in Los Angeles. CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie announced today Shapiro, as well as Matthew Bourne and Danai Gurira, will be Associate Artists with the company.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie announced separate co-commissioning partnerships with four internationally renowned theatres.

Celebration Theatre presents under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the third and final show in its 2016-2017 season, CABARET, book by Joe Masteroff  (based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood), music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Anthony Zediker and directed by Michael Matthews.  CABARET will begin previews on Friday, May 26 at 8pm; will open on Friday, June 2 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, July 2 at Celebration Theatre @ the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Following a run of nine months packing audiences in at The Triad on W. 72nd St., Spamilton, the comedic musical take on all things Hamilton and Broadway, recently announced its move to 47th Street Theatre/The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater with performances beginning June 2nd, 2017. The show's move to Off-Broadway puts it just a stone's throw from the theater housing its inspiration and main punchline. The show is set for an open engagement.

 Delta Highway Productions presents the Los Angeles Premiere of Emmitt and Ava written and directed by two-time Ovation winner Dominic Hoffman. Tucker Smallwood shares the stage with with Tom Schanley, Stephanie Schulz and Harry Fowler in Emmitt and Ava, a contemporary tale of love and loss. Two families, unacquainted with one another, suddenly find themselves forced to communicate on most intimate terms. Emmitt and Ava is a play as dynamic as it is relevant.