Ahmanson Theatre News

Minsky's opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Applause) and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Jelly's Last Jam and Triumph of Love), Minsky's is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone).

The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Spring Awakening is currently making its UK premiere at London's Lyric Hammersmith, as part the Lyric lineup. Spring Awakening is scheduled to run through February 28th. The cast is led by UK newcomers Charlotte Wakefield, Iwan Rheon, and Aneurin Barnard.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2008. The 40th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 16 at the El Portal Theatre, thanks to the generous donation of the El Portal's management. The theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood. Tickets are $40; $5 off if purchased in advance via PayPal. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a catered reception (with no-host bar) and silent auction. The show commences at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the Awards show can be reserved from the LADCC's website, at www.ladramacriticscircle.com

'Ain't Misbehavin' The Fats Waller Musical Show, based on the Life and Music of Thomas 'Fats' Waller, conceived and Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. opens at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre At the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. Ain't Misbehavin is based on an Idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fourth production of its 2008 - 2009 season, CANDIDA, written by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Kathleen F. Conlin. CANDIDA will preview on Wednesday, February 4; Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center. CANDIDA is the delightful, light-hearted classic from George Bernard Shaw, writer of Major Barbara and Arms and the Man, winner of the Academy-Award for writing Pygmalion, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Reverend Morell thinks he and his wife, Candida, have the perfect marriage, but when a passionate young poet also declares his love for her, Morell begins to doubt whether his wife loves him after all. Written over 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw shows that marriage hasn't changed all that much. Directed by Kathleen F. Conlin, from her acclaimed production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21).

Broadway In Chicago and producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce full casting for the eagerly anticipated North American National Tour of MARY POPPINS. Performances begin Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) in preparation for a Wednesday, March 25 opening night. In addition to this Chicago engagement, productions of MARY POPPINS are currently running in NY and on tour in the UK. As previously announced, the show's two original Broadway stars, Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, will be reprising their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert respectively on the tour.

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone')

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

Obie Award?-winner Danny Hoch returns to a Center Theatre Group stage with his latest solo work 'Taking Over,' opening January 23 at 8 p.m. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Previews are January 21 and 22 at 8 p.m.; performances continue through February 22, 2009. The production is directed by Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

Danny Hoch's solo performance piece 'Taking Over' previews tonight, January 21, 2009, and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre. Opening night for the Obie Award-winning performer is Friday, January 23 (at 8 p.m.). Performances continue through February 22. The production is directed by Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre. 'Taking Over' is a riveting study of the effects of gentrification and how this is changing the face of many American cities. Hoch seamlessly transforms himself into the vividly diverse characters from his hometown, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and into the real estate agents and developers who are shepherding radical changes into the district's character and nature. Filling the stage with compelling, impeccably drawn, multicultural portraits, Hoch captures the complexities of the transition of a poorer urban community, once vibrant and colorful - albeit crime and cocaine-ridden - into a culture that is wealthier, less diverse, and the cause of higher rents and property values, and the subsequent displacement of long-term residents. The production features scenic and costume design by Annie Smart, lighting design and projections by Alexander V. Nichols, original music by Asa Taccone and sound design by Adam Phalen. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin. 'Taking Over' was originally produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre and recently played at The Public Theater in New York. Hoch's 'Some People' (Obie Award) was part of CTG's 1995 Taper, Too season, while his 'Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop' was presented as a CTG special event in 1998 at The Actors' Gang. Hoch is a 2008-2009 Guggenheim Fellow.

The Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, which just played its final performance on Broadway last night, Sunday January 18th, will receive its UK premiere at West London's Lyric Hammersmith with performances beginning January 23rd. The young UK cast is led by Aneurin Barnard, Charlotte Wakefield and Iwan Rheon. Here we bring you exclusive pictures of the fresh new cast. This fall marked the launch of the First National Touring Company, which premiered at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco and just completed an engagement in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre. The tour's upcoming schedule includes Tempe, AZ, Chicago, Boston, Tampa, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington, DC among many other stops and is currently booked through the end of 2009. International productions are set in 2009 Vienna, Toronto, Helsinki, and Seoul.

Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's Spring Awakening, the first musical to be presented by the Atlantic Theater Company, opened June 15th 2006 for a limited run through July 9th at the Atlantic Theater Company (336 West 20th Street). The show, in its world premiere production, began previews on May 19th, from the very first performance audiences knew something special was happening. As it readies to play its final performane tonight, we collected some of our past coverage and take a look back at some of the many Spring Awakening highlights in words, pictures and videos.

Best Musical Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking musical hit, will end its Broadway run today, Sunday, January 18, following the 7pm performance.

The Colony Theatre Company presents the fourth production of its 2008 - 2009 season, CANDIDA, written by George Bernard Shaw and directed by Kathleen F. Conlin. CANDIDA will preview on Wednesday, February 4; Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 7 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center. CANDIDA is the delightful, light-hearted classic from George Bernard Shaw, writer of Major Barbara and Arms and the Man, winner of the Academy-Award for writing Pygmalion, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Reverend Morell thinks he and his wife, Candida, have the perfect marriage, but when a passionate young poet also declares his love for her, Morell begins to doubt whether his wife loves him after all. Written over 100 years ago, George Bernard Shaw shows that marriage hasn't changed all that much. Directed by Kathleen F. Conlin, from her acclaimed production at the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

'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,' will open Center Theatre Group's 2009-2010 at the Ahmanson Theatre of the Los Angeles Music Center, July 7 through September 6, 2009, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. The Ahmanson production marks the first time the international hit comedy will be presented in Los Angeles. John O'Hurley will star as King Arthur. Directed by Mike Nichols, 'Monty Python's Spamalot' features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Idle and John Du Prez. Casey Nicholaw is the choreographer. 'Monty Python's Spamalot' is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director, as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of 'Monty Python's Spamalot' won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Grammy and Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik talked to USA Today about his new CD, Whisper House in today's issue. The collection of songs was written for a forthcoming theatrical piece. Whisper House marks Sheik's first solo album since 2006's White Limousine and comes on the heels of the success of the Broadway musical Spring Awakening. On Whisper House, Sheik employs a narrative approach to songwriting, combining elements of the chamber pop that first brought him critical and commercial acclaim. Much like Spring Awakening, which the New York Times praised as a deft blend of straight-up rock, folk and melodic pop, Whisper House is just as much a pop record as it is a musical theatre composition.

Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda in the Los Angeles production of WICKED, returned to the production on Friday, October 31, to play through the end of the engagement on Sunday, January 11th at the Pantages Theatre.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Caf? (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.' Every Friday from 10:30 pm until the wee hours, pros from Broadway and aspiring stars alike belt it out on the stage of The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Join hosts BRANDON CUTRELL (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and ALYSHA UMPHRESS (XL Star) with RAY FELLMAN (Captain Louie) at the piano for this weekly party in the theatre district. There is no cover charge for this event. Come and sing yourself as the mic is always open, or sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop in.