Ahmanson Theatre News

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which was just nominated for eight Tony Awards, begins previews tonight, May 3 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances of the exclusive Los Angeles engagement of the Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed Broadway production of Follies will continue through June 9, 2012. Opening is set for May 9.

David Mirvish presents an explosive new musical comedy in Toronto, opening tonight. Bring It On: The Musical will play for a strictly limited engagement tonight, May 2 through June 3, 2012 at the Canon Theatre. The production is the final show of the 2011-12 Mirvish Subscription Season.

The world's most famous nanny returns to Los Angeles for four weeks only with MARY POPPINS. Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, Mary Poppins will begin previews on August 9 (2pm and 7.30pm) and open August 10 (7.20pm) through September 2 at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012.

Artistic Directors August Viverito and T L Kolman have announced the third offering of The Production Company's 2012 season: the world premiere of Steve Yockey's VERY STILL AND HARD TO SEE. Helmed by director Michael Matthews and an all-star production team including lighting design by Tim Swiss and sound design by Tony Award nominee Cricket S. Myers. This production will run June 1 through July 7, 2012 at The Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038.

Colin Donnell, who currently plays the role of 'Billy Crocker' in Anything Goes, is set to depart the production on April 29. Bill English, who played the role while Donnell was filming a pilot in January, will take over started May 1.

Here's your chance, aspiring Broadway Babies! Enter the 'Follies' Broadway Baby Contest for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles and two tickets to 'Follies' at the Ahmanson Theatre! Entering is easy: warm up your vocal chords, select your favorite Sondheim tune and put on a show for the camera! The winning entry will be selected from the top five vote-getting videos so once you've uploaded your video, encourage your friends and family to vote for you by clicking on the 'view/vote' button underneath your entry. And if you're overcome by that nagging stage-fright sensation and need a little coaxing, check out these fearless Broadway Babies' entries here!

The Old Globe's 2012-13 Season will feature the World Premieres of two new musicals: Allegiance - A New American Musical by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. The season also includes George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in celebration of the classic play's 100th anniversary and the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey and Kirsten Brandt. Two recent Broadway hits will make their San Diego debuts at the Globe: David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. Rounding out the season are the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's Be a Good Little Widow and the Southern California Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size.

Leap of Faith, based on the 1992 film of the same name, began previews on April 3 and opens on Broadway on tonight at the St. James Theatre. It's been a long road to the Broadway stage, and we highlight key parts of the musical's journey below!

Center Theatre Group will soon present FOLLIES starring Victoria Clark (replacing Bernadette Peters), Jan Maxwell, Danny Burnstein, and Ron Raines. The limited engagement will play May 3 through June 9, 2012. The opening is scheduled for May 9. Check out photo sof the cast in action, as featured on CTG's Facebook page, below.

What do you get when you cross a Danish Orthodox Jew and a simple Israeli girl from a kibbutz? You get Charlotte Cohn, who at nineteen was already a Commander in the Israeli Army, but had her sights on a different path. Join her in this eclectic evening of music ranging from Puccini to The Beatles and hear the real stories that brought her from Ben Yehuda Street to Broadway.

Preliminary round auditions for the 2012 Globe Honors and The Road to the Jimmy™ Awards, an annual competition recognizing excellence in high school theater, will take place on May 5, 6 and 7 at The Old Globe. Presented annually by The Old Globe, and this year in association with Broadway/San Diego - A Nederlander Presentation, final rounds will take place on May 21 at 8:00 p.m. on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and conclude with the announcement of the winners. For eligibility and audition requirements, please visit www.TheOldGlobe.com/GlobeHonors or email GlobeLearning@TheOldGlobe.org. Tickets to attend Globe Honors and The Road to the Jimmy Awards™ on May 21 are $5 for students and $10 for adults and can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Danai Gurira's powerful new play, "The Convert," which was commissioned by Center Theatre Group, will be presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, April 17 through May 19, 2012. The opening is scheduled for April 19. The world premiere production of "The Convert," a co-production with McCarter Theatre Center and Goodman Theatre, is directed by Emily Mann.

Laura Osnes will play Cinderella and Santino Fontana will portray the Prince in the new Broadway-bound production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, it has been announced by the musical's producers. CINDERELLA -- which is aiming for a Broadway opening during the 2012-13 season -- is produced by Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman in association with Center Theatre Group.

The New Voices Collective present NEW VOICES at NYU: A Celebration of Songs by NYU Musical Theatre Writers, Past and Present, tonight Monday, April 16, at 8:00 p.m.

New Voice Collective and NYU Steinhardt School, program in vocal performance, present NEW VOICES AT NYU: A Celebration of Songs by NYU Musical Theatre Writers Past and Present tonight April 16 at 8:00 PM Frederick Loewe Theatre 35 WEST 4TH STREET.

The New Voices Collective will to present NEW VOICES at NYU: A Celebration of Songs by NYU Musical Theatre Writers, Past and Present on Monday, April 16, at 8:00 p.m.

BroadwayWorld.com is excited to share a weekly series developed by the Theatre Communications Group! This week Gordon Davidson shares pivotal moments in his theatre career and why the arts matter to him!

What do you get when you cross a Danish Orthodox Jew and a simple Israeli girl from a kibbutz? You get Charlotte Cohn, who at nineteen was already a Commander in the Israeli Army, but had her sights on a different path. Join her in this eclectic evening of music ranging from Puccini to The Beatles and hear the real stories that brought her from Ben Yehuda Street to Broadway.

Young Hollywood takes you backstage at the Ahmanson Theatre and behind the scenes of the rockin' musical, 'American Idiot', based on the Grammy-winning Green Day album of the same name! Stars Van Hughes and Jake Epstein rest their pipes and sit down with us to talk about the show's amazing run and success -- hear how Van went from stand-in to leading man, and Jake shares a specific pitfall of spending the entire show on stage! Hosted by Lesley Robins. Check out the behind the scenes video below!

The National Tour of Bring It On: The Musical arrives in St. Louis for 16 performances at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through April 8, 2012!