Michael Ritchie News

Center Theatre Group has selected three local productions for the third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from March 7 through April 28, 2019. Block Party 2019 will remount Theatre of NOTE's "For The Love Of (or, the roller derby play)," Skylight Theatre Company's "Rotterdam" and Antaeus Theatre Company's "Native Son." Each production will have a two-week run with 12 performances. The three visiting companies will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Center Theatre Group has selected participants for the 2018-2019 L.A. Writers' Workshop, where local playwrights are invited to spend eight months in residence at the company researching and writing new works with the feedback from artistic staff and their fellow writers. The workshop, administrated by Center Theatre Group's Artistic Department, is designed to foster new voices, inspire playwrights to create their best work, encourage bold writing and build relationships among local playwrights, Center Theatre Group and the Los Angeles theatre community.

Center Theatre Group's production of 'Valley of the Heart' celerbated its opening night! See photos from the event below.

Stephen D. Rountree has accelerated his previously announced exit from Center Theatre Group, stepping down as Managing Director/CEO as of today.

On Monday, September 24 at 7 p.m., Center Theatre Group will hold a memorial for longtime Press Director Nancy Hereford at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Center Theatre Group's production of 'Sweat' by Lynn Nottage will opened at the Mark Taper Forum last night. Check out photos from the event below!

Performances have begun for the hit MCC Theater production of Jocelyn Bioh's "School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play" directed by Rebecca Taichman. Currently in previews, the production will open September 8 at 8 p.m. and continues through September 30, 2018, at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Williamstown Theatre Festival announces that the 2019 WTF Gala in New York City honoring Board ChairmanMatt Harris for his visionary leadership will be held on Monday, February 11, 2019, and will feature an evening of performance by Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner and two-time Festival star, Audra McDonald.

Center Theatre Group's production of "Sweat" by Lynn Nottage will open at the Mark Taper Forum on Wednesday, September 5 at 8 p.m. Directed by Lisa Peterson, the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play is currently in previews and continues through October 7, 2018.

Center Theatre Group announces casting for the pre-Broadway run of 'Ain't Too Proud-The Life and Times of The Temptations' at the Ahmanson Theatre August 21 through September 30, 2018. 

Stephen D. Rountree, Managing Director/CEO of Center Theatre Group, has announced that he will retire on March 31, 2019.

Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell reprise their Tony Award®-winning performances in 'The Humans' for the last stop of the national tour at the Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre. Performances began this week in Los Angeles, check out the opening night arrivals below!

Already in previews, the latest Culture Clash project BORDERTOWN NOW runs through June 24, 2018 at the Pasadena Playhouse. We had the chance to query director Diane Rodriguez on her history with the nation's premier Chicano/Latino performance trio, as well as, on some of the projects she's currently involved with - Center Theatre Group, the NEA and BORDERTOWN NOW.  

The world premiere of 'Soft Power' by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori opened last night at the Ahmanson Theatre. Check out photos from opening night below!

Casting is set for the Celebration Theatre production of 'Die, Mommie, Die!' which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann, 'Die, Mommie, Die!' will begin previews May 10, open May 12 and close May 20.

Casting is set for the Celebration Theatre production of 'Die, Mommie, Die!' which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann, 'Die, Mommie, Die!' will begin previews May 10, open May 12 and close May 20.

SOFT POWER, the first collective creation of Tony Award winners David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, will world premiere at the Ahmanson under the auspices of Center Theatre Group, in association with East West Players and the Curran, opening May 16, 2018. We had the wonderful opportunity to chat with a frequent collaborator of both David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, actor/singer Francis Jue who portrays DHH in SOFT POWER.

Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller announced today that Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell will reprise their Tony Award®-winning performances in "The Humans" for the last stop of the national tour at the Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre.

On Monday, May 14, 2018, Third Street Music School Settlement (Third Street), the nation's longest running community school, will honor Grammy Award-winning Singer and Songwriter Rosanne Cash, Tony and Oscar Award-winner Joel Grey, and long-time Board Member and Award-winning Architect Byron Bell at its Annual Spring Gala. Graham Parker, President of Universal Studios Classical Music Labels, will serve as master of ceremonies and Lydia Fenet, Senior Vice President of Christie's Auction House will host the live auction. Members of the cast of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical also will perform. Held at Capitale (130 Bowery) in New York City, the gala will bring together hundreds of luminaries from the arts, culture, education, media, business, finance and philanthropy worlds to pay tribute to the honorees for their contributions to and leadership in arts and music education. Funds raised through attendance, live and silent auction participation will help support Third Street scholarships and financial aid services. With its roots in the settlement movement, Third Street today serves more than 5,000 New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds by providing high quality, accessible music and dance instruction in more than 25 instruments and voice. More than 75% of Third Street students receive financial aid or scholarships through the school's Partners program, which sends teaching artists into community centers and public schools throughout New York City. Alumni include well-known artists Bobby Lopez, Jessie Montgomery, Irving Caesar, among others. This year's honorees join a roster of previous honorees that includes The Roots, Sting, Yoko Ono, Harold Prince, Philip Glass, and Audra McDonald. Rosanne Cash will be presented with Third Street's Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts and Joel Grey will receive Third Street's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. 'Third Street is founded on the principles of artistry, diversity, and community. We believe music connects us and that it is crucial to support programs that enable accessibility to the arts for people of all backgrounds,' said Third Street Music School's Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director, Valerie G. Lewis. 'We are proud to celebrate our 123rd Anniversary with music visionaries, Joel Grey and Rosanne Cash, along with a long-time supporter of Third Street, Byron Bell. They have been incredible advocates for the arts, fostering artistic creativity in their communities and beyond,' she said. Gala Co-chairs are Jeannie Park and Larry Hackett, Kara Saxon and Amit Malhotra, and Kate and James Vanek. Anniversary Co-chairs include Beau Everett and Stephanie Goodman, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Tatiana Serafin and Mick Kalishman, Felipe Toews and Yuu Fujita. Honorary Co-chairs include Barbara E. Field, Philip Glass and Harold Prince. Event sponsors include Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Baldor Specialty Foods, Ernst & Young LLP, Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP, Industry City, JD Carlisle Development Corporation, Steinway & Sons, and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. For more information visit thirdstreetmusicschool.org/gala or contact Katharine Nemeth at 212-777-3240 ext. 26 or gala@thirdstreetmusicschool.org. Tickets start at $500 per person and $5,000 per table. About Third Street Founded in 1894, Third Street Music School Settlement is the nation's longest-running community music school. Celebrating 123 years of service, Third Street works to enrich lives and communities by providing access to high quality music and dance instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of artistic ability or socio-economic circumstances. As a pioneer of community arts education in the United States, Third Street today serves more than 5,000 students in our primary location on East 11th Street, and through partnerships with nearly 25 public schools and community centers throughout New York City. Third Street alumni include violist Masumi Per Rostad of the acclaimed Pacifica String Quartet; Ray Chew, musician and music director of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol; Irving Caesar, composer of the 1920's hit 'Tea for Two'; Bobby Lopez, co-creator of the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q and Academy Award-winning writer of 'Let It Go' from Disney's Frozen and 'Remember Me' from Disney's Coco; Ingrid Michaelson, pop singer/songwriter with hits on the Top 40 charts; and Jessie Montgomery, recipient of the Sphinx Award. Visit http://www.thirdstreetmusicschool.org/ for more information, and follow Third Street on Instagram @3rdstreetnyc and twitter @Third_Street.

Casting is set for the Celebration Theatre production of 'Die, Mommie, Die!' which Center Theatre Group is remounting at the Kirk Douglas Theatre as part of the second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre. Written by Charles Busch and directed by Ryan Bergmann, 'Die, Mommie, Die!' will begin previews May 10, open May 12 and close May 20.