Ahmanson Theatre News

The West Coast premiere of The National Theatre production of War Horse opens Friday, June 29 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Currently in previews, performances for the powerful drama will continue through July 29, 2012.

One of the most popular, highly-regarded stage musicals of all time, LES MISÉRABLES is, to put it simply, a moving, overtly theatrical epic. In this rich-looking--and rich-sounding--tour production, the emotional resonance seems more palpable than ever. The beautifully refreshed 25th Anniversary edition will continue to wow audiences at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through June 24, with future stops in San Francisco, San Diego and Thousand Oaks, CA this summer.

Anything Goes' Stephanie J. Block ("Reno Sweeney") will be interviewed on WAMC radio's "The Roundtable" on Thursday, June 21st at 9:40AM.

REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, has found its male and female leads: Jill Paice will play the role of "I" and Ryan Silverman the role of "Maxim de Winter." REBECCA will open on Broadway Sunday, November 18 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Previews will begin Tuesday, October 30.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that tickets for the National Theatre's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, will go on sale to the public today, June 20, 2012, at 10 a.m. WAR HORSE will come to Chicago this December for a limited three-week engagement from Dec. 18, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.).

Tickets for the Broadway run of Fela! this summer at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre will go on sale to the general public on Saturday June 16 via telecharge.com and phone (212) 239-6200.

Tickets for Bob Boyett and the National Theatre of Great Britain's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony® Awards including Best Play, will go on public sale this Sunday, June 17th at 10AM. WAR HORSE will play a limited 2 week engagement at the Boston Opera House from October 10 - October 21, 2012 and is part of the Lexus Broadway In Boston Series.

End of the Rainbow starring two-time Olivier Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland, has put a new block of tickets on sale through January 6, 2013. The production is directed by Tony Award-winner Terry Johnson, and festuring music by Peter Quilter.

Producers Bob Boyett and The National Theatre of Great Britain launch the first U.S. tour of the 2011 Tony® Award-winning Best Play and international sensation, War Horse, tomorrow, Thursday, June 14 at Los Angeles's Ahmanson Theatre. The national tour will bring the hit play to 30 U.S. cities during the 2012-2013 season. The winner of five 2011 Tony® Awards, War Horse has been seen by over 2 million people worldwide and is currently playing at New York's Lincoln Center Theater, in London's West End, and at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre. Future productions of War Horse are planned for Australia, Berlin and South Africa, as well as a UK Tour. Check out photos from the production below!

Happy Birthday, Danny Burstein! On Broadway, Burstein's appearances have included A Little Hotel on the Side (1992), Yakov in The Seagull (1992-93), in Saint Joan and Three Men on a Horse (both in 1993), Paul in Company (1995), 1st Officer William Murdoch in Titanic (1997-99), Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006-07), Luther Billis in South Pacific (2008-10), and Taxi Driver in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010-11). He played the role of Buddy Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies, which went on to play Broadway's Marquis Theatre and LA's Ahmanson Theatre.

Roundabout has announced that the final eight weeks of performances begin today for the Tony Award winning production of Anything Goes. The original limited engagement subscription run opened on April 7, 2011 and was scheduled to run for 19 weeks. It went on to be extended three times through August 5, 2012 and this week, Anything Goes will celebrate its 500th performance on Broadway. This acclaimed production marks the second longest Broadway run in Roundabout's history, following its beloved revival of Cabaret.

The National Theatre production of "War Horse" begins performances Thursday, June 14 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances for the powerful drama will continue through July 29, 2012. Opening is set for June 29.

LEAP OF FAITH might have taken its final bow back in May, but sources in the cast tell us that an album is in the works. The cast will gather tomorrow, June 13 to record the original cast album. A release date has not yet been announced.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that tickets for the National Theatre's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 10 a.m. WAR HORSE will come to Chicago this December for a limited three-week engagement from Dec. 18, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.).

The National Theatre production of "War Horse" begins performances Thursday, June 14 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances for the powerful drama will continue through July 29, 2012. Opening is set for June 29.

Producers Shawn 'JAY Z' Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and The National Theatre of Great Britain today announced the return of the critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Fela!, currently on a multi-city world tour, for a limited run of 32 performances ONLY at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) from July 9 - August 4. Exploring the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, this provocative hybrid of dance, theatre, music, biography and a party like no-other is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Bill T. Jones, with a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones. The world renowned Antibalas and other members of the NYC Afrobeat community, under the direction of Aaron Johnson, again perform Kuti's rousing music live onstage. Recipient of three 2010 Tony Awards (Best Choreography, Best Costumes, Best Sound Design), Fela!, featuring the music and lyrics by Fela Kuti, was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel, features additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, and additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean. The musical is inspired by the authorized biography Fela: This Bitch of a Life by Carlos Moore. The press opening for this engagement is scheduled for Thursday, July 12 at 7 PM.

The National Tour of War Horse launches with the West Coast premiere at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre on June 13 (opening is scheduled for Friday, June 22 at 8 p.m.) and continues in Los Angeles through July 29, 2012. Watch the video below for the story of the Tony Award-winning show, complete with production highlights and interviews with the cast and creators!

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES closes tonight, June 9, at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre after a critically acclaimed run. Nominated for eight Tony Awards, the show has been through quite the journey, beginning at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center in May 2011, then making its transfer to Broadway's Marquis Theatre, where it opened in September of 2011 and ran through January 22, 2012, and finally traveling to L.A. for its May 9, 2012, opening. As a farewell to Follies, BroadwayWorld brings takes you through this journey with photos, video and highlights from all three productions below.

Comprised of artists from New York, LA and Chicago, the burgeoning team of "Identity Productions" has announced that it will present the compelling drama TAPE by acclaimed playwright Stephen Belber at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, 2012. The production will open tonight June 9th at ArtWorks Theatre Studio A during the Fringe Festival preview period, and run through June 22nd.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater produces the 2011 Tony Award-winning production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, directed by George C. Wolfe. Wolfe, who directed the show's sold-out Broadway engagement last season, mounts the professional D.C.-area premiere of this production, which features returning Broadway cast members Patrick Breen and Luke MacFarlane, among others. Presented by special arrangement with Daryl Roth, The Normal Heart runs tonight, June 8-July 29, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater.