Craig Schwartz News

Starting today, November 17, Center Theatre Group will host karaoke following every Today night performance of 'Spamilton' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

For the last 25 years, Gerardo Alessandrini has paid homage to the Great American Musical in the best way he knows how, by skewering it relentlessly. It is an arena where nothing is off limits no diva, no composer, and no quirk of the genre, which is why his FORBIDDEN BROADWAY revues are as beloved as any book musical to grace the Great White Way. Now, the biggest game-changer since Rogers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, or Stephen Sondheim came on the scene, has given him fodder for a new installment in his popular franchise - Lin-Manuel Miranda and his multi-Tony Award-winning mega-hit, HAMILTON: An American Musical.

Starting on Friday, November 17, Center Theatre Group will host karaoke following every Friday night performance of 'Spamilton' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Center Theatre Group has announced an extension of 'Spamilton' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre through January 7, 2018. Created, directed and written by Gerard Alessandrini, the West Coast premiere of 'Spamilton' began previews on November 5, 2017, and opens on November 12. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, continues the cherished holiday tradition of presenting its well-loved production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol this year, onstage for the sixth holiday season.

Center Theatre Group has announced the casting for the West Coast premiere of the hit musical parody 'Spamilton,' created, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini. Currently in rehearsals, 'Spamilton' begins previews November 5, opens November 12 and continues through December 31, 2017, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Steve Martin's and Edie Brickell's Bright Star played Broadway in 2016, garnering a Tony nomination for Carmen Cusack. The show fared somewhat well, but did not seem to be an overall critics' choice. On the minus side, it is an all too familiar story about a backwoods pregnant girl and parental abuse in the 1920s, with far-fetched resolutions and a sweet, but for many, saccharine ending. In spite of this, I was delighted with the bluegrass music by Martin and Brickell, with Walter Bobbie's fluid staging and with the performances. It's most definitely uplifting and an entertaining evening at the Ahmanson through November 19.

Center Theatre Group will host two Community Conversations inspired by 'Head of Passes' on October 13 and October 19.

Presented by Center Theatre Group, 'Bright Star' will open at the Ahmanson Theatre on Friday, October 20. The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, is currently in previews and is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Performances will continue through November 19, 2017. BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at the cast onstage in Los Angeles below!

A Noise Within (ANW) is excited to continue their Sunday Rush $25 tickets for the 2017-2018 season, starting with the October 22 at 7pm performance of The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux and translated by Maurice Valency.

Center Theatre Group will host two Community Conversations inspired by 'Head of Passes' on October 13 and October 19.

'Bright Star' begins previews tonight, October 11, opens October 20, and runs through November 19, 2017 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Presented by Center Theatre Group, the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, will be directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Center Theatre Group will host two Community Conversations inspired by 'Head of Passes' on October 13 and October 19.

Does everyone believe in God? Obviously, some do and some do not. For those that do, how deep does that faith go? Shelah (Phylicia Rashad) lives in her old decaying homestead in Head of Passes, where the Mississipi River meets the Gulf of Mexico. The time is now. She is dying but will not be treated by a doctor, even though Doctor Anderson (James Carpenter) is a family friend. She believes in the power of the Lord, and when the play begins, she has called a family gathering to bring her sons and daughter together to discuss sharing the property she is about to will them. Currently at MTF, Tarell Alvin McCraney has created a powerful play Head of Passes with the brilliant Rashad heading an outstanding cast of eight, directed meticulously by Tina Landau, through October 22.

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's gorgeous musical, Bright Star, will be coming to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles this fall and will feature a number of original cast members. The talented and charismatic A.J. Shively will reprise his role as Billy Cane, the young soldier who returns from war and pursues his dream of being a writer at home in North Carolina. Shively's character is full of hope and optimism, as he is figuring out what's most important in life and coming full circle with the individuals who have shaped his personal story.

The world premiere of Paul Rudnick's new play NIG NIGHT runs at the Kirk Douglas Theatre through October 8, and the critics are weighing in!

Academy Award winner and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney's Head of Passes opens Sunday, September 24 at 7 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Tina Landau, the poetic and powerful new play, which is part of Center Theatre Group's 50th anniversary season at the Taper, continues through October 22, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Master satirist Paul Rudnick blends a deep humanity with a honed sense of hilarity in this powerful and funny play about family and fame, the personal and the political, and the drive to stand up and speak out. But it is also one that promotes a very progressive political stance on human rights, especially within the gay community, with much of the dialogue presented as if they are soapbox speeches meant to sway the listener to take action. But given our current political circumstances, there is nothing wrong with encouraging people to take a stand and speak out to make the world a better and more equal place for everyone.

The world premiere of Paul Rudnick's new play 'Big Night' opens tonight, September 16, at 8 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie ('Chicago' and 'Bright Star'), 'Big Night' is currently in previews. Performances will continue through October 8, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

Rehearsals have begun and the full cast is set for 'Bright Star' at the Ahmanson Theatre. Presented by Center Theatre Group, the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, will be directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. It begins previews October 11, opens October 20 and runs through November 19, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!