Kirk Douglas News

Center Theatre Group is announcing casting for the upcoming Donmar Warehouse production of the musical 'Parade,' starting previews on September 24, 2009, at the CTG/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for October 4 and performances will continue through November 15.

The Dax Foundation - a Los Angeles-based private, non-profit philanthropic foundation dedicated to helping people and animals around the world - announced today that it will be sponsoring nine performances of Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble's celebrated Pericles Redux at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles to benefit recipients of the Foundation's Performing Arts Charitable Trust (PACT).

Marin Theatre Company launches it's 43rd season with Aaron Posner's exquisite adaptation of the classic novel by Chaim Potok, My Name is Asher Lev. MTC's West Coast premiere is one of only two U.S. productions during the 2009-10 season, after the critically acclaimed world premiere at Arden Theatre Company in January 2009.

Variety is reporting that Broadway looks to be set to get a double dose of David Mamet this fall, with a transfer of his OLEANNA. Variety reveals that the production is likely to join a fall slate that also includes the playwright's new play 'Race.' The Doug Hughes-helmed staging of OLEANNA, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, opened Sunday at L.A. Center Theater Group's Mark Taper Forum to enthusiastic reviews.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

David Mamet's 'Oleanna' opens at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. Featuring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles under the direction of Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes, 'Oleanna' continues through July 12.

After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.

Center Theatre Group has announced that Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles will appear in David Mamet's 'Oleanna', the third production of the Mark Taper season, replacing the previously announced 'Uncle Vanya.' That production was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Tony-winning Broadway director Doug Hughes will stage 'Oleanna,' which is scheduled to run May 28th through July 12th. Opening night is scheduled June 5th.

Carrie Fisher set box-office records at Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her hilarious solo show, Wishful Drinking. Then it became a New York Times bestseller and played to sold-out crowds on a six-city national tour. Now Fisher returns to Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, her last stop before the show bursts onto Broadway! This limited run - 15 performances only - begins July 9 and ends July 23.

The Dax Foundation - a Los Angeles-based private, non-profit philanthropic foundation dedicated to helping people and animals around the world - announced today that it is significantly increasing its support for the arts by establishing its new Performing Arts Charitable Trust (PACT) and has awarded its first grants to four outstanding Los Angeles-based theater groups: Shakespeare Santa Monica, Veterans Center for the Performing Arts, Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble and Independent Shakespeare Company.

'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo' by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Mois?s Kaufman makes its World Premiere. A lyrical, haunting new play set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, in which the lives and, in some cases, the afterlives of two American soldiers, an Iraqi translator, the ghosts of Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Ousay, and a Bengal tiger all intersect in a surreal, darkly humorous and gently balanced view of war and its aftermath.

The world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,' presented by Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, opens May 17, 2009, and continues through June 7. Previews began May 10.

Fresh off his lauded New York production of Farragut North, director Doug Hughes reunites much of his ensemble cast, including Juno's Olivia Thirlby, The Wire's Isiah Whitlock, Jr, Mia Barron, Dan Bittner and Justin Huen, at the Geffen Playhouse to join the previously announced Chris Noth and Chris Pine. Noth, best known for his longtime stint as Detective Mike Logan on Law & Order and as the (in)famous Mr.Big on Sex and the City, is a fellow cast member from the Atlantic Theater Company's NY production, while Pine, who is starring as the young Captain Kirk in the new film Star Trek and was recently seen in the Geffen's production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, is new to the LA production. Written by Beau Willimon, Farragut North was recently nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.

Rehearsals have begun for David Mamet's 'Oleanna,' which begins previews May 28 and continues through July 12 at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum (opening night is Friday, June 5). 'Oleanna' features Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles under the direction of Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that they have hired Nella Vera as Marketing Director. Vera is currently the Associate Director of Marketing at Center Theater Group in Los Angeles and was previously the Director of Marketing at Signature Theatre Company in New York. She will assume her new position at The Public on Monday, May 18.

After a 48 year absence, Bye Bye Birdie will return to Broadway this fall presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in a production starring John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez), Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) and Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson). Directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie has a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse. Roundabout is proud to welcome back three artists who have previously worked at the theatrical institution: John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin.

Acclaimed television, stage and movie actor Neil Patrick Harris ('How I Met Your Mother,' Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and Assassins) has been named the host of the 7th Annual 'TV Land Awards,' it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. 'The TV Land Awards' will be taped on Sunday, April 19th at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and air in TV Land PRIME on Sunday, April 26th at 9pm ET/PT.

'Heddatron,' originally scheduled for July 5 through August 2 as the final production of the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre 2008-2009 season, will be postponed indefinitely, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

?Heddatron,? originally scheduled for July 5 through August 2 as the final production of the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre 2008-2009 season, will be postponed indefinitely, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

The final presentation of DouglasPlus, Center Theatre Group's new programming at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, is 'Venice' by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, the team who brought the West Coast premiere of 'Clay' to the Douglas in the 2007-2008 season.