Ahmanson Theatre News

Presented by Center Theatre Group, performances for Matthew Bourne's "Cinderella" from New Adventures will begin on February 5 at the Ahmanson Theatre. With direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne and music by Prokofiev, "Cinderella" will open on February 6 at 8 p.m. and performances will continue through March 10, 2019.

Ben Platt took to Twitter to announce the release of his debut album! In the tweet, Platt said, 'With a full heart, I can finally say that my debut album 'Sing To Me Instead' will be out in the world on 3/29. The first two songs will be out THIS FRIDAY 2/1, as well as a pre-order of the whole album. Let the story begin.'

Casting is set for Theatre of NOTE's production of 'For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play),' which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Gina Femia and directed and choreographed by Rhonda Kohl, 'For The Love Of' will begin previews March 7, open March 9 and continue through March 17.

Now being presented by Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Dexter Bullard who also helmed the Steppenwolf production, LINDA VISTA features actor Ian Barford who has originated four roles in Letts' canon of plays, and has remained friends with the playwright for 30 years. But no doubt Letts' very contemporary and biting social commentary on the immaturity of men when it comes to dealing with women and adult life will no doubt upset many in the audience when it becomes apparent Wheeler will never be ready to grow up. After all, it seems the older he gets, the younger he wants to become even when his body won't go along with the idea. It's comically unsettling and all too real when it comes to the contemporary dating scene.

Center Theatre Group has announced the cast for 'Linda Vista' by Tracy Letts. The Steppenwolf Theatre Company production will be presented at the Mark Taper Forum January 9 through February 17, 2019. Directed by Dexter Bullard, the opening of 'Linda Vista' is set for January 16, 2019.

Earlier this month, six time Tony nominee Danny Burstein and Christian Dante White  assumed the role of Alfred P. Doolittle and Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady, directed by Bartlett Sher, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Check out a first look at the duo in action below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (celebrating its 25th Silver Anniversary at the theatre) are thrilled to present the award-winning and revolutionary 1776 THE MUSICAL, with musical direction by Jeff Rizzo and directed & staged by Glenn Casale. 1776 THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, January 11, 2019 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 12 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, February 3, 2019 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.  

Tonight Center Theatre Group opens Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Linda Vista written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Dexter Bullard, who also directed the world premiere at Steppenwolf. The production features Steppenwolf ensemble members Ian Barford, Tim Hopper, Sally Murphy and Caroline Neff with Chantal Thuy, Cora Vander Broek and Troy West.

As previously announced, Ain't Too Proud will play Broadway's legendary Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) with performances beginning Thursday, February 28, 2019, and an official Opening Night set for Thursday, March 21, 2019.

A powerful, emotionally-riveting, dynamically-staged original stage musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a truly incredible, phenomenal show that I happily admit-in just a few years of its existence-has quickly become one of my favorite Broadway musicals of all time. Not only does it feature gorgeous, memorable songs from Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, it also has a simple but notably layered and impactful book by Steven Levenson that encourages deeper, meaningful discourse long after the end of the show. Even more remarkable is that the show presents a troubled but empathetic title character that demands so much from the extraordinary Ben Levi Ross-the actor tasked to bring him to life-that you are left in awe at his performance's sheer tenacity and brilliance. Thankfully, it has finally arrived at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where the Tony Award-winning musical's first national tour continues its much-too-brief two-week engagement through January 13, 2019 in Costa Mesa.

It's our first show of 2019, an this is going to be another incredible year of musical theatre here in Southern California. We love that there are so many CLASSIC shows this season that a lot of us will get to see for the first time.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, will transform the historic theater with an all new version of Ragtime: The Musical as it returns to Los Angeles more than two decades after its premiere at the Shubert Theatre. With 21 actors and a 16-piece orchestra, this is one of the most ambitious productions in the Playhouse's recent history.

Theatre for a New Audience presents About Alice, the world premiere of a new play by Calvin Trillin, inspired by his 2007 memoir of the same name. The production, directed by Leonard Foglia, plays January 8-February 3, 2019 at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn). 

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel begin in Waitress, and more!

The acclaimed production of Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song ends its run today, January 6, 2019 at the Hayes Theater (240 West 44th Street). The play will embark on a national tour launching fall 2019 at Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre. The national tour will star Michael Urie, reprising his lauded Broadway performance as Arnold Beckoff.

Center Theatre Group will offer Spanish-language translations of the 8 p.m. performance of "Come From Away" today, January 4, 2019 at the Ahmanson Theatre.

As with each passing season, 2018 proved to be another exceptional year for theater not only in Souther California in general but also in Orange County---my home base. This year, the OC finally welcomed the debut of what has become this century's most awarded and most renowned stage musical ever about the Founding Father etched regally on the 10 dollar bill. Meanwhile, So. Cal. enjoyed a powerful surge of new stage works that explored Asian-American experiences, a positive step forward in the presentation of diverse voices we seldom hear from on the stage. A pair of touring musicals---both opening in the O.C. in early 2019---made such an impact in their Los Angeles engagements for me personally that I had to include them in my list, even though I have not 'officially' reviewed the productions for print. With that said, here is my 'Best of 2018' from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby---a mixture of outstanding shows and brilliant performances that made a lasting, memorable imprint in my theatergoing experience this year.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

A magical, musical and deeply personal work written, performed and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, "Lackawanna Blues" is a reminiscence of his 1950s childhood in a small town on the banks of Lake Erie.

The Actors Fund announced today that Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song has donated a block of tickets to their Friday, January 4, 2019 performance at 7:30 pm to benefit The Actors Fund on at the Hayes Theater (240 West 44th St.).