Friday Karaoke to Kick Off This Week Following SPAMILTON at the Douglas

Starting on Friday, November 17, Center Theatre Group will host karaoke following every Friday night performance of "Spamilton" at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Like the musical "Spamilton," the post-show karaoke will focus on "Hamilton" but also offers an array of other Broadway classics.

Snacks will be provided and there will be a cash bar. On the first four Fridays (November 17 and 24 and December 1 and 8), City Tavern will be providing the snacks. Admission is free to ticket holders only.

Created, directed and written by Gerard Alessandrini, "Spamilton" began previews on November 5 and opens Sunday, November 12. Performances of "Spamilton" have been extended through January 7, 2018.

Produced by special arrangement with John Freedson, David Zippel, Christine Pedi and Gerard Alessandrini, "Spamilton" celebrates and satirizes the Broadway blockbuster with a versatile cast. The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Glenn Bassett, Susanne Blakeslee, Dedrick A. Bonner, Becca Brown, John Devereaux, Wilkie Ferguson III, William Cooper Howell, Elijah Reyes and Zakiya Young.

The creative team includes choreography by Gerry McIntyre, music supervision and arrangements by Fred Barton, set and prop consultant Glenn Bassett, costume design by Dustin Cross, lighting design by Karyn D. Lawrence, sound design by Adam Phalen and music direction by James Lent.

"We're very excited about expanding the show a bit," Alessandrini said. "We will also be adding up-to-date references to 'Hamilton,' Lin-Manuel Miranda and their impact on the current Broadway season."

Gerard Alessandrini is best known for creating and writing all 25 editions of "Forbidden Broadway" in Los Angeles, New York, London and around the world. Alessandrini was featured in the 1982 cast of "Forbidden Broadway" and can be heard on four of the 12 "Forbidden Broadway" cast albums. Television writing credits include comedy specials for Bob Hope, Angela Lansbury and Carol Burnett. Directing credits include Maury Yeston's "In the Beginning." As a director, he is currently working on an upcoming revue focusing on the songs of Maury Yeston, entitled "Anything Can Happen (In the Theatre)." Alessandrini is the recipient of an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, two Lucille Lortel Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Drama League and seven Drama Desk Awards (including two for Best Lyrics for "Forbidden Broadway" and two special lifetime awards). Alessandrini was also awarded an Honorary Tony Award for "excellence in the theatre."

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation's preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles' leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2000-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation's leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Tickets for "Spamilton" are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, at the Center Theatre Group Box Office at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office two hours prior to performance. Tickets range from $55 - $99 (ticket prices are subject to change). Rush tickets may be purchased in person at the Kirk Douglas Theatre box office 30 minutes before curtain for $30, subject to availability. The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall, with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).

Photo Credit: Craig Schwartz