Michael Ritchie News

David Mamet's comedy "November" is now playing at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum through November 4, 2012. Opening night was last night - check out photo coverage of the starry arrivals, curtain call and more below!

Another Friday, another recap of news making the rounds in the Broadway World! Nominations have been tallied and voting is now open for the 2012 BWW UK Awards so get your vote in today! The 2012 BWW Regional Awards are also underway with nominations being accepted in 30 regions for your favorite stars and productions. October 26 is the deadline for submitting a nomination so have your say on who should win in your region!

Center Theatre Group's Robert Egan will direct Jon Robin Baitz's "Other Desert Cities" at the Mark Taper Forum. The play that received a 2012 Tony nomination for Best Play will be presented in its West Coast premiere at the Taper and will close out the Taper's 45th season at the Los Angeles Music Center. The presentation of "Other Desert Cities" runs November 28, 2012, through January 6, 2013, with the opening set for December 9. In the video below, watch CTG's Artistic Director Michael Ritchie discuss 'Other Desert Cities'!

Rehearsals have begun for David Mamet's fiendishly funny comedy "November," which will be presented at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, September 26 through November 4, 2012. The opening is set for October 7. In addition to previously announced cast members Ed Begley, Jr., Felicity Huffman and Rod McLachlan, "November" will feature Gregory Cruz and Todd Weeks.

Actor/singer Maxwell Caulfield became an instant heartthrob in 1982 when Grease 2 hit the big screen. He also created a sensation in TV's Dynasty and The Colbys and has essayed countless MOWs on TV and stage plays internationally. Without question he has turned into a fine dramatic actor over the last 30 years. Originally from Great Britain, Caulfield has been married to actress Juliet Mills since 1980. He is currently rehearsing Euripides' Helen as King Menelaus at the Getty Villa in Malibu which opens September 6. In our chat he talks about Helen, some of his recent stage roles and those he would like to play.

Five powerful productions have been scheduled for Center Theatre Group's 2013 season at the Mark Taper Forum, it was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

Broadway veteran and GLEE star Jonathan Groff stars opposite original cast member Alfred Molina in the Los Angeles premiere of RED at the Mark Taper Forum. Groff plays Ken (orignally played by Tony winner Eddie Redmayne) in the play, alongside Molina who reprises his Tony-nominated role as Mark Rothko. Michael Grandage directs.

HERO Theatre previously announced that Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike would join Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award nominee for Fargo, in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held today, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, Calif. The event will include a silent auction.

HERO Theatre announced the full cast for their benefit staged reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings" to be led by Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike. The cast includes Tim Bagley, Stephanie Beatriz, Elisa Bocanegra, Dan Donohue, Brent Jennings, and Sam Murphy. The director is John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held on Sunday, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, CA and will include a silent auction.

HERO Theatre has announced that Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike has joined previously announced Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award nominee for Fargo, in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held on Sunday, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, CA. The event will include a silent auction.

As previously announced, Broadway veteran and GLEE star Jonathan Groff will star opposite original cast member Alfred Molina in the Los Angeles premiere of RED at the Mark Taper Forum. Groff will play Ken (orignally played by Tony winner Eddie Redmayne) in the play, alongside Molina who reprises his Tony-nominated role as Mark Rothko. The production will run August 1- September 9. Michael Grandage directs.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2012-2013 season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In a season of contrasts - of surprising comedy and startling drama, the 2012-2013 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre will include the magical and mystical hi-jinks of the CTG-commissioned "Elephant Room" by Trey Lyford, Geoff Sobelle and Steve Cuiffo; the acclaimed Gate Theatre Dublin production of the Beckett classic "Krapp's Last Tape" with one of Britain's greatest actors, John Hurt; the comic genius of The Second City with their unique, satirical twist on a Dickens's favorite - "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" written by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort; the world premiere of the otherworldly drama "The Nether" by the 2012 Susan Blackburn Smith prize-winning playwright Jennifer Haley; and the world premiere of the powerful boxing drama "The Royale" by Los Angeles playwright Marco Ramirez.

The world premiere of the musical "Los Otros" officially opened last night, June 3 at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, Los Otros' performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk plays the role of Woman and Julio Monge plays the role of Man. See photos from the starry opening night party below, including Monge and Pawk, along with composer Michael John LaChiusa, Julie Tolivar, FOLLIES Becky Elizabeth Stout, actor Kurtwood Smith and more!

The 2012-2013 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. The new season, the 46th season at the Music Center of Los Angeles, will include Jeff Goldblum in the West Coast premiere of the smart, sexy, new Broadway comedy "Seminar," Rachel York in the beloved 1930s musical romp - Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," the American premiere and pre-Broadway presentation of the dramatic musical "Backbeat" which features classic rock 'n' roll in its story of the birth of the Beatles, Tracie Bennett starring as the iconic Judy Garland in the West Coast premiere of the acclaimed play with music - "End of the Rainbow," and the daring new musical that explores a shocking event in American history - Kander and Ebb's "The Scottsboro Boys." In addition, the exuberant musical "Fela!" will return for a limited engagement as a bonus option to the season subscription.

HERO Theatre presents a benefit staged reading of William Shakespeare's KING LEAR tonight, May 21st at 7:30PM to be held at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street. Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis will play the title role and director Austin Pendleton will direct a cast featuring special guest artists performing alongside HERO Theatre company members.

HERO Theatre has just announced that William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award-nominated for Fargo, will star in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Levey. The presentation will take place in Los Angeles, Summer 2012. This will mark HERO Theatre's west coast premiere.

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which was just nominated for eight Tony Awards, opened last night, May 9 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances of the exclusive Los Angeles engagement of the Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed Broadway production of Follies will continue through June 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night festivities below!

HERO Theatre announced today that the cast of the "King Lear" benefit staged reading starring Olympia Dukakis and directed by Austin Pendleton will include Louis Cancelmi (Sarah Kane's "Blasted" at Soho Rep), Lynn Cohen ("Sex and the City," Tina Howe's "Chasing Manet'), Dashiell Eaves ("Becky Shaw", "A Behanding In Spokane"), Paul Lazar (Classic Stage Company's "Three Sisters", "Silence of the Lambs") and George Morfogen ("Freud's Last Session", CSC's "Three Sisters", and HBO's "OZ"). The cast also includes Elisa Bocanegra, Seth Duerr, Korey Jackson, Albert Jones, Thomas Kopache, James Martinez, Desiree Matthews, Anya Migdal, Liam Mitchell and Bobby Plasencia.

Laura Osnes will play Cinderella and Santino Fontana will portray the Prince in the new Broadway-bound production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, it has been announced by the musical's producers. CINDERELLA -- which is aiming for a Broadway opening during the 2012-13 season -- is produced by Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman in association with Center Theatre Group.

HERO Theatre will present a benefit staged reading of William Shakespeare's KING LEAR on Monday, May 21st at 7:30PM to be held at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street. Academy Award-winner Olympia Dukakis will play the title role and director Austin Pendleton will direct a cast featuring special guest artists performing alongside HERO Theatre company members.