Susan Denaker News

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Los Angeles winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

The Blank Theatre opens its 26th season with a new work written and directed by founding artistic director Daniel Henning that explores one of the most controversial events in U.S. history - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. THE TRAGEDY OF JFK (as told by Wm. Shakespeare) is the result of several decades of research during which time Henning has come to be recognized as an authority on the subject. That, combined with his other great obsession - live theatre - meant it was only a matter of time before LA audiences would see a stage play based on his work.

The cast and designers have been set for The Blank Theatre's World premiere of The Tragedy of JFK (as told by Wm. Shakespeare) conceived, adapted, and directed by Daniel Henning. Performances begin September 24 with opening night set for Saturday, October 1 at the Skylight Theatre in Los Feliz. 

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents 'Rapture, Blister, Burn,' the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist hit comedy from 'House of Cards' writer Gina Gionfriddo, for its sixth and final show of the 40th anniversary season. REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse directs this play that the New York Times calls 'intensely smart and immensely funny,' and has been called 'a smart, funny, and lightning-paced look at feminism' by New York Daily News. The show's run began on Thursday, April 21, 2016 and plays through Sunday, May 15, 2016 with an opening night tonight, April 27, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum Space Theatre at San Diego REP in Horton Plaza.

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents "Rapture, Blister, Burn," the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist hit comedy from "House of Cards" writer Gina Gionfriddo, for its sixth and final show of the 40th anniversary season. REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse directs this play that the New York Times calls "intensely smart and immensely funny," and has been called "a smart, funny, and lightning-paced look at feminism" by New York Daily News. The show's run begins today, April 21, 2016 and plays through Sunday, May 15, 2016 with an opening night on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum Space Theatre at San Diego REP in Horton Plaza.

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents "Rapture, Blister, Burn," the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist hit comedy from "House of Cards" writer Gina Gionfriddo, for its sixth and final show of the 40th anniversary season. REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse directs this play that the New York Times calls "intensely smart and immensely funny," and has been called "a smart, funny, and lightning-paced look at feminism" by New York Daily News. The show's run begins on Thursday, April 21, 2016 and plays through Sunday, May 15, 2016 with an opening night on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum Space Theatre at San Diego REP in Horton Plaza.

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents "Rapture, Blister, Burn," the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist hit comedy from "House of Cards" writer Gina Gionfriddo, for its sixth and final show of the 40th anniversary season. REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse directs this play that the New York Times calls "intensely smart and immensely funny," and has been called "a smart, funny, and lightning-paced look at feminism" by New York Daily News. The show's run begins on Thursday, April 21, 2016 and plays through Sunday, May 15, 2016 with an opening night on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum Space Theatre at San Diego REP in Horton Plaza.

In the opening scene of the Rubicon Theatre Company's production of My Fair Lady, buskers in London's Covent Garden, where Cockney Eliza Doolittle works as a flower girl, are rewarded with tuppence given to them by members of the audience. It is this kind of intimacy, an initial breaking of the fourth wall, that helps make Rubicon's current production an enchanting, warm-hearted interpretation of one of Broadway's most beloved musicals.

The director and designers behind Rubicon Theatre Company's acclaimed environmental productions ofFiddler on the Roof and Man of La Mancha have reunited on the two-piano chamber version of the legendary Lerner and Loewe's classic My Fair Lady. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion, the musical tells the story of Professor Henry Higgins, an arrogant and attractive phonetician who makes a wager that he can transform a 'deliciously low' Cockney flower-seller (Eliza Doolittle) into an elegant lady by teaching her to speak more beautifully. The magnificent score includes 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' 'On the Street Where You Live,' 'Wouldn't It Be Loverly,' and 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face.' For Rubicon's production, Director James O'Neil returns to the source material to explore the Shavian themes of class struggle, social reform and women's rights.

Dominating the nominations in the musical category is the current Broadway sensation 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder,' which made its world premiere in February 2013 at San Diego's The Old Globe (a co-production with Hartford Stage). The musical racked up 11 nominations, including nods for New Musical, its versatile star Jefferson Mays (a UC San Diego alumnus) and its director Darko Tresnjak (former co-artistic director and Shakespeare Festival director at The Old Globe).

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) in partnership with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) will present "In the Heights" by Quiara Alegria Hudes as the first production of the company's 38th season. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning production was conceived by and with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the San Diego REP production is directed by Sam Woodhouse and starring Jai Rodriguez.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, "Gigi", playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

EMILIE: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight WORLD PREMIERE, By Lauren Gunderson and Directed by David Emmes

Natacha Roi and Don Reilly take on the historical roles of Emilie Du Châtelet and Voltaire in the World Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's Emilie - La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight at South Coast Repertory. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Producing Artistic Director David Emmes, Emilie will run from April 19 through May 10, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from April 19 through April 23. Opening night is April 24. Press night is Saturday, April 25 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to Emilie may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Natacha Roi and Don Reilly take on the historical roles of Emilie Du Châtelet and Voltaire in the World Premiere of Lauren Gunderson's Emilie - La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life at the Petit Théâtre at Cirey Tonight at South Coast Repertory. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Producing Artistic Director David Emmes, Emilie will run from April 19 through May 10, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Nevada Conservatory Theatre's production of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba opens February 8 in the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV.