Ahmanson Theatre News

Casting for Sebastian Barry's poignant story of a man left behind by history, 'The Steward of Christendom,' featuring two-time Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy, has been completed and rehearsals have begun for the Mark Taper Forum presentation, November 26, 2013, through January 5, 2014. Opening is set for December 8. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

The world premiere of 'The Black Suits,' began previews October 27 at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Opening night is November 3 and performances run through November 24, 2013. The cast features Jimmy Brewer, Harrison Chad, Veronica Dunne, Coby Getzug, Annie Golden and Will Roland. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below!

Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie, Guggenheim and PEN Award-winning playwright and performer Dael Orlandersmith is returning to the Kirk Douglas Theatre for a staged reading of her newest CTG-commissioned piece, 'Forever,' on November 11, 2013, at 8 p.m. Directed by Neel Keller, 'Forever' is a part of DouglasPlus programming and will play for one night only.

Performances began tonight for the world premiere of 'The Black Suits,' at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Opening night is November 3 and performances run through November 24, 2013. The cast features Jimmy Brewer, Harrison Chad, Veronica Dunne, Coby Getzug, Annie Golden and Will Roland. Take a look behind the scenes of the musical below!

'The Black Suits', with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and book by Joe Iconis and Robert Maddock, will be directed by John Simpkins in its World Premiere at CTG's Kirk Douglas Theatre, tonight, October 27 through November 24, 2013.

Full casting is set for the five-time Tony Award-winning 'Peter and the Starcatcher,' opening December 4, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. (Preview on December 3.) Written by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice ('Jersey Boys,' 'The Addams Family') and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers ('Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson'), 'Peter and the Starcatcher' continues through January 12, 2014.

Popular music icon Barry Manilow reflects on the recent out-of-town tryout of his new musical HARMONY and looks ahead to the future for the project - and his own forthcoming endeavors - as part of a new blog post on his official Facebook page.

THE BOOK OF MORMON's tour stars Nic Rouleau and Ben Platt just announced via Twitter that they will soon join the Broadway company, replacing Matt Doyle (Elder Price) and Cody Jamison Strand (Elser Cunningham) respectively. Rouleau wrote: 'Thrilled to announce that Heavenly Father is sending me back to Broadway to serve another mission at @BookofMormon in January!!' Platt wrote: 'Bursting with excitement to finally announce that I will be joining the Broadway company of @BookofMormon this January!! #DreamComeTrue #NYC'

The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, announces the complete cast for the tour launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November. The show plays in Charlotte July 15-20, 2014 in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

'Humor Abuse,' the hilarious and heartfelt story of growing up in the circus, which opened September 21 and plays through November 3, 2013, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, has proven to be a hit with Los Angeles critics.

Casting has been announced for the national tour of 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, which will open at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on April 23 and play through June 1, 2014. (Preview on April 22.) The tour, accompanied by a 23-piece orchestra, is set to launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November.

The Second City's 'A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!' by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort will return to CTG's Kirk Douglas Theatre this holiday season, directed by Marc Warzecha. BroadwayWorld has photos from last year's performance below!

On Oct. 2, Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre's production of Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys' with Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch celebrated its opening. The show will continue through November 3, 2013. Watch the opening night video below, featuring interviews with Marilu Henner, Rhea Perlman, Robert Wuhl, Frank Kopyc, Justin Bartha, Johnnie Fiori, Danny DeVito, Judd Hirsch and more!

The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, announces the complete cast for the tour launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November with rehearsals starting Monday, Oct 14 in New York City. The tour, accompanied by a 23-piece orchestra, will begin performances Sunday, Nov. 10 with an official opening on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of 'The Black Suits,' which begins previews October 27 at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Opening night is November 3 and performances run through November 24, 2013. The cast features Jimmy Brewer, Harrison Chad, Veronica Dunne, Coby Getzug, Annie Golden and Will Roland. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

CELEBRATION THEATRE in association with Bruce W. Zisterer, Nicholas Caprio, Cameron Faber, Samantha Kern & Todd Milliner present the West Coast premiere of a new play, THE HOMOSEXUALS, written by Philip Dawkins and directed by Michael Matthews. THE HOMOSEXUALS will begin previews on Sunday, October 6 and will open on Thursday, October 10 and will perform through Sunday, December 1 at the Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.

HIGHLIGHTS from this week include the first look at HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, first bows in THE SUNSHINE BOYS, and PRISCILLA makes it's first stop on tour!

Jim Royce, Center Theatre Group's longtime Director of Marketing, Communications and Sales, will be leaving his position with the Los Angeles theatre company in February 2014 to further expand his arts consulting business.

Last night, Oct. 2, Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre's production of Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys' with Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch opened, and will continue through November 3, 2013. Below, check out a first look at DeVito, Hirsch, and Justin Bartha's first bows, plus the starry red carpet arrivals and opening night celebration, including the cast of IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA!

Tony Yazbeck will join the previously announced Christian Borle in Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's Little Me, the opening production of New York City Center Encores! series, running for seven performances, February 5 - 9, 2014. Joshua Bergasse will choreograph the production, along with the previously announced Director John Rando and Music Director Rob Berman.