Ahmanson Theatre News

Monty Python's Spamalot begins a two month run in Los Angeles on July 7th. The show plays at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre (At the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A.) There will be a preview performance on July 7 at 8 p.m. Monty Python's Spamlot opens July 8 at 8 p.m, and will perform through September 6, 2009.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'August: Osage County' by Tracy Letts and directed by Anna D. Shapiro opens Wednesday September 9 at 7:30pm.

'Monty Python's Spamalot,' the popular musical lovingly ripped-off from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' openedCenter Theatre Group's 2009-2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre of the Los Angeles Music Center on July 7th. 'Monty Python's Spamalot' plays through September 6, 2009. The Ahmanson production marks the first time the international hit comedy has been presented in Los Angeles. John O'Hurley stars as King Arthur.

Center Theatre Group and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that, due to popular demand, performances for the eagerly anticipated production of 'Mary Poppins' at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles will be extended by four weeks.

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'August: Osage County' by Tracy Letts and directed by Anna D. Shapiro opens Wednesday September 9 at 7:30pm.

Renowned director Derek Charles Livingston and musical director Richard Berent bring Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical thriller SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET to The Production Company's Chandler Studio Theatre in a re-imagining of sheer theatrical lightning beginning September 18th, 2009. This ?Sweeney' is up close and personal!

Two classic American plays by iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights, two audacious plays by contemporary mavericks, a world premiere musical by one of America's greatest living singer/songwriters and the bonus option of a delicious spoof of a 1935 movie are set for Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum's 2010 season at the Los Angeles Music Center, it was announced today by Michael Ritchie, CTG's Artistic Director.

Rehearsals are under way for Danai Gurira?s ?Eclipsed,? which will be presented by Center Theatre Group as the first production in the 2009-2010 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, opening on September 20, 2009, and continuing through October 18. Previews begin September 13.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will present the premiere engagement at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical.

'Monty Python's Spamalot,' the popular musical lovingly ripped-off from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' openedCenter Theatre Group's 2009-2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre of the Los Angeles Music Center on July 7th. 'Monty Python's Spamalot' plays through September 6, 2009.

South Coast Repertory kicks off the 2009-10 Season with Putting It Together, a compilation of Stephen Sondheim songs, that the composer put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, creating a narrative set at a cocktail party in an elegant Manhattan condo. The non-traditional musical, led by Broadway and television star Harry Groener, has a cast of five (a glamorous but slightly jaded couple, a starry-eyed younger couple and a savvy observer) who sing more than 30 songs that reflect their lives, lifestyles and moods of the moment. Some of the songs will be familiar, some less so, a few were even cut from their original musical scores, but they are all sophisticated, smart and drop-dead droll. All, in other words, Sondheim.

'Monty Python's Spamalot,' the popular musical lovingly ripped-off from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' openedCenter Theatre Group's 2009-2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre of the Los Angeles Music Center on July 7th. 'Monty Python's Spamalot' plays through September 6, 2009. The Ahmanson production marks the first time the international hit comedy has been presented in Los Angeles. John O'Hurley stars as King Arthur.

Old Globe Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Sammy, a new musical based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and additional songs by Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Directed by Keith Glover with choreography by Keith Young and music supervision by Ian Fraser, Sammy will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 19 - Nov. 8. Previews run from Sept. 19 - Oct. 1. Opening night is Oct. 2 at 8:00 p.m.

On Sunday, August 9, Mary Poppins folded her umbrella for the final time at the State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland as the second city of the MARY POPPINS North American Tour completed its smash four-week engagement. Having performed for over 72,000 theater patrons and grossed an extraordinary $4.4 million at the box office, the tour continues on to St. Louis, Missouri to work its magic on audiences at the Fox Theatre beginning Thursday, August 13.

Center Theatre Group (CTG) was recently awarded a three-year, $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation that will support the expansion of CTG's New Play Production Program. The expansion will focus on the commissioning, development, and production of non-text-based work, which is often underrepresented in the programming for large regional theatres such as CTG. The grant will also place an emphasis on supporting works from Los Angeles-based artists.

On Sunday, August 9, Mary Poppins folded her umbrella for the final time at the State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland as the second city of the MARY POPPINS North American Tour completed its smash four-week engagement. Having performed for over 72,000 theater patrons and grossed an extraordinary $4.4 million at the box office, the tour continues on to St. Louis, Missouri to work its magic on audiences at the Fox Theatre beginning Thursday, August 13.

BroadwayWorld gave the very talented Rick Holmes, who plays Sir Lancelot and The French Taunter among many other roles in hit musical, a FLIP video camera and set him free backstage and beyond as 'Spamalot' brings some 'Snap snap, grin grin, wink wink, nudge nudge' to sunny Los Angeles.

The Civilians' Artistic Director Steve Cosson ('This Beautiful City'), composer Michael Friedman ('This Beautiful City,' 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson') and book writer Bess Wohl ('Cats Talk Back,' 'In') have begun investigations in Los Angeles for an untitled porn musical. The new project from the award-winning investigative theatre company is commissioned by Center Theatre Group, which presented The Civilians' 'This Beautiful City' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in 2008.

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh Present 'Mary Poppins'. Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Book by Julian Fellowes, New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Co-Choreography by Stephen Mear. Co-Direction and Choreography by Matthew Bourne. Directed by Richard Eyre

The Broadway real estate game is in full swing with the news that the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway), current home to 9 to 5: The Musical, will soon be available. The big question now is what might be going into that theatre.