Ahmanson Theatre News

Rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of Kimber Lee's "different words for the same thing," which begins previews May 4 at the Center Theatre Group / Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Opening night is May 11 and performances run through June 1, 2014. Kimber Lee discusses the show in the video below.

Vanessa Williams and Blair Underwood will join Cicely Tyson in the critically acclaimed, Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Horton Foote's American masterpiece 'The Trip to Bountiful,' which will be presented in the exclusive Center Theatre Group engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre, September 17 through November 2, 2014. The opening is set for September 26.

Variety reports that theater veteran Christopher Plummer has joined the cast of Atom Egoyan's upcoming thriller REMEMBER.

Earn your blood at the tag team match of the century, with the survival of two families in the balance. The Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of an outrageously violent, seriously dark and surprisingly funny new play about backyard wrestling. Larry Biederman directs Backyard by Mickey Birnbaum, opening May 31 at the Echo's new home, Atwater Village Theatre.

The Music Center celebrated 12 teen performing artists and four teen visual artists at The Music Center's 26th Annual Spotlight Awards during a finale performance on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Hosted by Oscar-nominated actor, musician and author, John Lithgow, the awards show culminated The Music Center's year-long free recognition and scholarship program for Southern California high school performing and visual artists. A first place and runner-up were named in each of eight categories, including ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental, jazz instrumental, two-dimensional art (works of art with height and weight, but no depth, using drawing, painting, computer generated or mixed media) and photography (black/white, color and digital). This year's top performing and visual artists were awarded more than $100,000 in cash scholarships with $5,000 for students selected as first place finalists and $4,000 for runners-up in each category; five honorable mentions in each category received $250.

The Tony Award-winning musical 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess' made its triumphant debut at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, opening last night, April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through June 1, 2014. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Many members of the cast of the national tour of The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess will be Inspired By Love May 12th Upstairs at Vitello's at 8:00pm in Studio City, Los Angeles to benefit ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty).

'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, opens at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre tonight, April 23 and play through June 1, 2014.

The Tony Award-winning musical 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess' makes its triumphant debut at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, beginning tonight, April 22 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through June 1, 2014.

Obie Award-winning writer and performer Daniel Beaty's 'The Tallest Tree in the Forest' opens at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum tonight, April 19, 2014, at 8 p.m. This play with music chronicles Paul Robeson's remarkable life as an artist and political activist in an unforgettable theatrical biography, which runs through May 25. (Previews began April 13.)

Variety writes that stage and small screen actor Walter Roy Beery passed away on April 6 due to complications from lymphoma. He was 75.

The Tony Award-winning musical 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess' makes its triumphant debut at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, opening Wednesday, April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through June 1, 2014. (Preview April 22.)

Obie Award-winning writer and performer Daniel Beaty's 'The Tallest Tree in the Forest' opens at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum Saturday, April 19, 2014, at 8 p.m. This play with music chronicles Paul Robeson's remarkable life as an artist and political activist in an unforgettable theatrical biography, which runs through May 25. (Previews began April 13.)

Rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of Kimber Lee's "different words for the same thing," which begins previews May 4 at the Center Theatre Group / Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Opening night is May 11 and performances run through June 1, 2014. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

We can't wait to say 'Hello' to the stars of Broadway's THE BOOK OF MORMON -- live online! Nic Rouleau (Elder Price) and Ben Platt (Elder Cunningham) will participate in a Twitter chat tonight, April 11 at 5 p.m. ET. Find THE BOOK OF MORMON on Twitter @BookofMormon. The chat will be marked by the hashtag #BOMCHAT.

We can't wait to say 'Hello' to the stars of Broadway's THE BOOK OF MORMON -- live online! Nic Rouleau (Elder Price) and Ben Platt (Elder Cunningham) will participate in a Twitter chat on Friday, April 11 at 5 p.m. ET. Find THE BOOK OF MORMON on Twitter @BookofMormon. The chat will be marked by the hashtag #BOMCHAT.

Musical Theatre West presents the third production of their 61st season, the West Coast Premiere of S'WONDERFUL: The New Gershwin Musical, created and directed by Ray Roderick, musicaldirection by Bret Simmons with choreography by Charlie Williams. S'WONDERFUL will preview today, April 4, open on Saturday, April 5 and perform for three weeks only through Sunday, April 20 at The Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located at 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, comes to the Ahmanson Theatre, April 22 - June 1, 2014.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Kimber Lee's "different words for the same thing," which begins previews May 4 at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. The opening night is May 11 and performances run through June 1, 2014.