Michael Ritchie News

The Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre opened Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles January 25. Composer Stephen Schwartz and original cast members Ben Vereen and John Rubenstein joined in on the celebration.

Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Joel Grey returns to television in a new episode of ABC's 'Private Practice.' Grey, whose recent TV credits include 'Brothers & Sisters' and a critically acclaimed appearance on FOX's hit drama 'House,' will guest star as Dr. Alexander Ball in the January 22, 2009 episode titled 'Nothing to Fear.' In 'Nothing to Fear,' Violet finds out she's pregnant but isn't sure who the father is; Addison struggles with her own guilty conscience after her kiss with Wyatt; and Sam and Pete clash when an old friend and colleague (Grey) asks them to help him die. Meanwhile Charlotte proposes marriage to Cooper. 'Private Practice' stars Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, Tim Daly as Dr. Pete Wilder, Audra McDonald as Dr. Naomi Bennett, Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman, KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King, Chris Lowell as William Dell Parker, with Taye Diggs as Dr. Sam Bennett and Amy Brenneman as Dr. Violet Turner. 'Private Practice' airs on ABC-TV from 10:01 - 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/privatepractice.

Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Joel Grey returns to television in a new episode of ABC's 'Private Practice.' Grey, whose recent TV credits include 'Brothers & Sisters' and a critically acclaimed appearance on FOX's hit drama 'House,' will guest star as Dr. Alexander Ball in the January 22, 2009 episode titled 'Nothing to Fear.' In 'Nothing to Fear,' Violet finds out she's pregnant but isn't sure who the father is; Addison struggles with her own guilty conscience after her kiss with Wyatt; and Sam and Pete clash when an old friend and colleague (Grey) asks them to help him die. Meanwhile Charlotte proposes marriage to Cooper.

The Broadway company of CHICAGO is pleased to announce additional offerings for its expanded 'Talkback Tuesdays' program, the new series offering a post-show discussion and audience Q&A session with members of the Broadway company of the record-breaking hit musical. Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, the nlast 'Talkback Tuesdays' on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 offered a chat with Tony Award winner and the revival's original Amos Hart, Joel Grey. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the post show razzle dazzle! Tickets for performances are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office, located at 219 W. 49th St. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Now celebrating twelve glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour on the Great White Way, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is currently the eighth longest-running production in Broadway history, as well as Broadway's longest-running musical revival...and it shows no sign of ever slowing down!

Reprise Theatre Company announced today that 'The Fantasticks' will replace the previously announced production of 'Chess,' May 5-17 at the Freud Playhouse. With music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, 'The Fantasticks' is the world's longest-running musical and will be performed in Los Angeles as its current New York revival continues running off-Broadway. Jason Alexander, artistic director of Reprise, said, 'I am saddened to report the reason why. Our world premiere production of 'Chess' was commissioned and brokered by Gerald Schoenfeld, President of the Shubert Organization. Just before the end of last year, Gerry passed away unexpectedly. Without his support our production of 'Chess' simply is not possible at this time. I am disappointed, both for the loss of this wonderful opportunity and for the loss of an old and good friend.'

'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.

Center Theatre Group and Deaf West's PIPPIN will star Michael Arden and play the Mark Taper Forum, January 15th through March 15th, 2008.

The musical legacy of Frank Loesser, often called the most versatile of all Broadway composers, will be celebrated at Center Theatre Group's Salon XVI at the Taper, 'Happy to Make Your Acquaintance,' hosted by Michael Feinstein, Monday, November 17 at 8 p.m., at the Mark Taper Forum of the Los Angeles Music Center.

More than a century ago, composer Richard Wagner conceived his epic four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen as a festival event that completely engaged the city of Bayreuth, Germany. In 2010, LA Opera will join forces with more than 50 cultural and educational institutions in Los Angeles to stage Ring Festival LA

Center Theatre Group announced today that one of its new plays has been chosen by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as one of the inaugural selections in the NEA New Play Development Program.

Center Theatre Group has created a new ticket discount program - the CTG Entertainment Stimulus Package - which will make 100,000 tickets available at a $20 ticket price, it was announced today by Michael Ritchie, CTG Artistic Director.

The three theater organizations from across the nation, Golden Thread Productions in San Francisco, the Lark Play Development Center in New York, and Silk Road Theatre Project in Chicago, who formed Middle East America (MEA): A National New Plays Initiative have awarded the 2008 Middle East America Distinguished Playwright Award to Adriana Sevan.

9 to 5: The Musical opened on September 20th 2008 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances will continue through October 19, 2008.

The first preview for '9 to 5: The Musical' has been delayed for the second time and will now take place on Tuesday, Sept 9, 2008, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Audiences for the previously-announced previews on September 3, 4 and 5 will be moved to other performances. This change is being made to meet the technical demands of this world premiere musical. Two performances have been added: a matinee preview on Sept 14th and a 6:30 p.m. performance on the closing date of Oct.19.

The first preview for '9 to 5: The Musical' will now take place on Saturday, September 6, 2008, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Audiences for the previously-announced previews on September 3, 4 and 5 will be moved to other performances.

Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group, has set the 2009 season at the Mark Taper Forum of the Los Angeles Music Center. The new season, which features six productions, will run from January 15, 2009, through January 24, 2010.

The Williamstown Theater Festival has announced the 'Nicholas Martin' sandwich, which is to be served at the popular local restaurant, Pappa Charlie's Deli.

The Williamstown Theater Festival has announced the 'Nicholas Martin' sandwich, which is to be served at the popular local restaurant, Pappa Charlie's Deli

Two Unrelated Plays by David Mamet, including a world premiere production, opened over the hot Los Angeles weekend drawing a recognizable crowd to the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City...

Goodspeed Musicals', the only two-time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, latest production, 13, a new musical comedy about coming of age, teen traumas and high school survival, will hit the stage at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut, May 9 - June 8. 13 is sponsored by Essex Savings Bank.