Here’s The 10th Season At Kirk Douglas Theatre

Jul 03, 20130

Here’s The 10th Season At Kirk Douglas Theatre

The Center Theatre Group will celebrate its 10^th anniversary at the Kirk Douglas Theatre with a season that encapsulates the variety and artistry that has filled the first nine seasons.

Since the theatre’s birth in late 2004 more than 70 productions, workshops and readings have been presented – new, edgy, boundary-pushing pieces along with the best of American classics and of international fare.

Twenty of these productions were world premieres.

“I’m really looking forward to the premiere of the rock musical ‘The Black Suits,’” said Michael Ritchie. “Joe Iconis is a young musical theatre artist to watch, and his and Robert Maddock’s story of a suburban garage band takes us all back to younger days and the powerful effect that music has on our lives.”

“Kimber Lee’s story in the premiere of her “different words for the same thing” is a beautiful, haunting homage to sweeping, multi-generational tales of families and communities, and I welcome the work of this important, rising young playwright.”

“We are also very lucky to have Barry McGovern with us again,” said Ritchie. “His poignant Vladimir in Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ last year at the Mark Taper Forum was unforgettable. This season, Ireland’s beloved son returns with his celebrated one-man show, ‘I’ll Go On,’ based on three Beckett novels. I can’t wait to see this talented actor at the Douglas.”

“The best holiday gift we can give is the happy return of The Second City’s ‘A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!’ by Second City alums Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort. The audiences loved this show in its world premiere last year, and for good reason. It’ll be fun to see what is meant by this year’s promise of ‘re-loaded and re-twisted.’

“An important part of the Kirk Douglas Theatre experience is our DouglasPlus programming. We often feature works that have shorter runs but have maximum effect. This season we will be presenting three important solo artists from Los Angeles: Luis Alfaro and the world premiere of his ‘St. Jude,’Trieu Tran and his ‘Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam’ and Roger Guenveur Smith and his ‘Rodney King.’ One-person shows cut to the heart of theatre: a performer, a stage and a story that needs to be told.”

The lineup:

“The Black Suits”

Music and Lyrics by Joe Iconis

Book by Joe Iconis and Robert Maddock

Directed by John Simpkins

World Premiere

The high energy, soaring dreams and emotional intensity of being in a high school garage band are captured in the world premiere of the engaging “The Black Suits,” a new rock musical presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, October 27 through November 24. Opening is set for November 3.

Gate Theatre production of

Barry McGovern in “I’ll Go On”

by Samuel Beckett

From “Molloy,” “Malone Dies” and “The Unnamable”

Texts Selected by Gerry Dukes and Barry McGovern

Directed by Colm Ó Briain

Celebrated Beckett interpreter Barry McGovern returns to Center Theatre Group following his memorable performance last year as Vladimir in the acclaimed production of “Waiting for Godot” at the Mark Taper Forum.

This season, for the first time in Los Angeles, McGovern performs in his tour-de-force, one-man show, “I’ll Go On” by Samuel Beckett in the Gate Theatre production presented at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, January 10 through February 9, 2014. The opening is set for January 12.

“I’ll Go On,” which is based on three of Beckett’s novels – “Molloy,” “Malone Dies” and “The Unnamable,” is directed by Colm Ó Briain. .

“different words for the same thing”

by Kimber Lee

Directed by Neel Keller

World Premiere

The world premiere of Kimber Lee’s remarkable new play, “different words for the same thing,” directed by CTG Associate Artistic Director Neel Keller, will be presented May 4 through June 1, 2014, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. The opening is set for May 11.

Set in the small town in southwestern Idaho, and the vast spaces that surround it, “different words for the same thing” depicts the intersecting lives of the townspeople as they deal with the web of love, tradition, religion, politics and heartbreak that connect them all.

In a series of intimate, deeply felt scenes, Lee introduces Marta and Henry, three generations of their family, and many of their friends and neighbors, including a Mexican-American restaurant owner and his teenage daughter, a funeral director, a hairdresser’s assistant, a donut shop owner, a priest, and the town busybody. All are linked to the heartbeat and daily life of the community in ways reminiscent of Thornton Wilder’s classic “Our Town.”

Bonus Option

The Second City’s

“A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!”

by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort

Directed by Marc Warzecha

The genius of The Second City will once again take over the Kirk Douglas Theatre as the legendary comedy theatre group gleefully delivers its special brand of holiday cheer with “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” for three weeks only as a special season bonus option, December 8 through 29, 2013. The opening is set for December 12.

Last year’s world premiere of “Twist Your Dickens!” was an audience favorite, broke all box office records, and according to Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times, “… brought me the gift of laughter.”

The creative team describes this year’s offering as “reloaded and re-twisted – the same show you loved last year, just better.” “Twist Your Dickens!” is written by a team of Second City alums, Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, directed by Second City alum Marc Warzecha, and performed by a cast of talented Second City performers yet to be announced.

DouglasPlus

“St. Jude”

Written and Performed by Luis Alfaro

Directed by Robert Egan

“Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam”

by Trieu Tran with Robert Egan

Directed by Robert Egan

“Rodney King”

Created and Performed by Roger Guenveur Smith

A repertory of performances by some of the hottest solo theatre artists in Los Angeles will open the Kirk Douglas Theatre’s new season, September 14 through October 6, 2013, with the DouglasPlus presentations of Luis Alfaro’s “St. Jude,” Trieu Tran’s “Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam” and Roger Guenveur Smith’s “Rodney King.”

The opening for “St. Jude” is September 20, and the openings for “Rodney King” and “Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam” will take place on September 22.

The 2013-2014 season at the Douglas is currently available by season ticket memberships only. Season members can also purchase in advance discounted tickets to The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” and also the DouglasPlus solo performances.

For information and to charge season tickets by phone, call the Exclusive Season Ticket Membership Hotline at (213) 972-4444. For more information about season tickets visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/Douglas

Center Theatre Group’s 2013-2014 Season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

(In chronological order.)

DouglasPlus:

Three Solo Shows in Repertory -

September 14 – October 6, 2013 “St. Jude”

(Opens September 20 and 22.) Written and Performed by

Part of Radar L.A. Festival, Luis Alfaro

presented by REDCAT Directed by Robert Egan

and CalArts in association with CTG. World premiere.

“Uncle Ho to Uncle Sam”

by Trieu Tran with Robert Egan

Directed by Robert Egan.