Ahmanson Theatre News

Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the national tour of the Lincoln Center Theater production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical 'South Pacific,' directed by Bartlett Sher, opening June 2 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and playing through July 17, 2010. Previews begin May 27.

Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the national tour of the Lincoln Center Theater production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical 'South Pacific,' directed by Bartlett Sher, opening June 2 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and playing through July 17, 2010. Previews begin May 27.

It was announced today that Rajiv Joseph's darkly comic 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo' has been named as a finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Other finalists include 'The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity' by Kristoffer Diaz, and 'In the Next Room or the vibrator play' by Sarah Ruhl.

Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years will be performed at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on Saturday, April 10 will feature Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Alison Kraus, Wynonna, The Oak Ridge Boys, and other artists will be announced at a later date.

Sheffield Theatres Productions presents True West, the show is directed by Paul Miller and designed by Hayden Griffin. The show will be held at Crucible Theatre at Tudor Square, Sheffield. It will run Thursday 13 May - Saturday 5 June 2010.

Big band sound transforms the Lincoln Theatre into a Duke Ellington jazz club as Arena Stage presents Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, choreographed by and starring Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Uptown... It's Hot!) with direction by Charles Randolph-Wright (Arena's Guys and Dolls and Blue).

Celebration Theatre presents the West Coast Premiere of HARAM IRAN, based on the real life trial and execution of Iranian teenagers, Ayaz Marhouni and Mahmoud Asgari, convicted of being gay in Mashad, Iran in 2005. HARAM IRAN, originally scheduled to conclude April 4th, will now continue through April 11th. The production began previews on Wednesday, March 3rd and opened on Friday, March 5th. The show plays the Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

Rehearsals begin today, Monday, April 5 for the World Premiere production of PARADISE FOUND, a new musical under the combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26.

Celebration Theatre will close out its run of the West Coast Premiere of HARAM IRAN, based on the real life trial and execution of Iranian teenagers, Ayaz Marhouni and Mahmoud Asgari, convicted of being gay in Mashad, Iran in 2005, on April 4th.

Center Theatre Group will end its run of Dreamgirls, Music by Henry Krieger, Lyrics and Book by Tom Eyen, Directed and Choreographed by Robert Longbottom, and Co-Choreography by Shane Sparks on April 4, 2010.

The Producers of Broadway's most acclaimed new musical, Next to Normal, announced today that a National Tour will launch in Los Angeles in November 2010. Performances at the Center Theatre GroupAhmanson Theatre will begin November 23 and run through January 2. Winner of three Tony Awards - Best Score, Best Actress in a Musical, and Best Orchestrations - Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and direction by Michael Greif.

An American architect gets a mysterious assignment from a Middle Eastern dignitary in the latest play from Howard Korder, which will run through March 28 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Kirk Douglas Theatre presents the world premiere of Lisa Kron's The Wake co-produced with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed by Leigh Silverman. Previews begin March 21. The Wake opens March 28 and is set to run through April 18, 2010.

Virtuosic writer-performer David Cale will bring his latest work to the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre this spring when his 'Palomino' replaces the previously announced 'Tynan' as the third production of the Douglas' 2009-2010 season, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

The Home Made Theater will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Saturday, March 27 at 7 PM with a benefit event featuring Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce. The event will take place at Spa Little Theater in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the winners and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2009. The 41st Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony took place Monday, March 22 at the Colony Theatre in Burbank.

Celebration Theatre is thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of a brand new musical, THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE - The Musical, with music, book and lyrics by Tim Acito (Zanna, Don't), choreography by Ameenah Kaplan (Altar Boyz, Frosty the Snow Manilow), musical direction by Greg Nabours (A New Brain), directed by Michael Matthews (Haram Iran, Beautiful Thing) and produced for Celebration Theatre by David Tarlow.

Variety reports that Rebecca Hall is set to star opposite Will Ferrell in the upcoming indie drama Everything Must Go. The film is being produced and financed by Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey in association with Temple Hill Entertainment.

Pacific Stages Ovation recommended production of "Lobby Hero," by award winning writer Kenneth Lonergan will end its run March 21st.

Kirk Douglas Theatre will open the world premiere of Lisa Kron's The Wake co-produced with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed by Leigh Silverman. Previews begin March 21. The Wake opens March 28 and is set to run through April 18, 2010.