Performances Magazine | Ahmanson Theatre, May 2025
WELCOME TO CENTER THEATRE GROUP AND THE AHMANSON THEATRE.
How are we almost halfway through 2025 already!
The year started off with joyful productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at the Ahmanson Theatre and Larissa FastHorse’s Fake It Until You Make It at the Mark Taper Forum—with Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends moving on to Broadway and Fake It Until You Make It continuing its run in DC.
The year also began with heartache for so many in the wake of the LA Wildfires. As so many of our audience and community members continue to be affected, we have been honored to have welcome thousands of Angelenos who were affected by the fires to join us for these shows through our Wildfire Relief Fund as well the kids from Eliot Arts Middle School perform their production of Shrek The Musical JR. on the Ahmanson stage.
I kicked off our season last fall by saying that there is something for everyone at CTG and hoping that you see yourself reflected on our stages. For me, Life of Pi does that through the story of Pi Patel, a teenage Indian boy who goes on a life altering journey. Life of Pi is a beloved novel and award-winning movie, so I wasn’t quite sure about a stage adaptation and how the material would translate. Well, I am happy to report it translates magnificently, as you will experience today. The story is all about one boy’s imagination in the face of immense adversity and the beautiful puppets, visuals, and design (Tony Award winning, in fact) coupled with one’s imagination create an enchanting, enthralling, one-of-a-kind experience.
We hope you’ll also join us at the end of this month for our last Taper show of the season with Robert O’Hara—the revolutionary director behind Slave Play, which broke box office records at the Taper in 2022—and his sultry, film noir-infused adaptation of Hamlet
I look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
Warmly, Snehal Desai Artistic Director
Center Theatre Group (CTG), Los Angeles’ leading theatre company, is the largest producing notfor-profit theatre company outside of New York City, and is one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations. CTG produces and presents programming at the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. CTG is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967, CTG has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as Zoot Suit; Angels in America; The Kentucky Cycle; Biloxi Blues; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Children of a Lesser God; Curtains; The Drowsy Chaperone; 9 to 5: The Musical ; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. CTG also serves thousands of children and young adults each year through free educational and community-based programs that introduce the joy of theatre to future generations.
SNEHAL DESAI
Artistic Director
MEGHAN PRESSMAN Managing Director/CEO
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
PUBLICATIONS 20
EDITORS Jessica Doherty, Brett Webster
ART DIRECTOR
COPY EDITOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Bobby Martinez, Keeley Bell
DESIGNERS Javier Vasquez, Lila Wakili, Cindy Andrade, Cheyne Gallarde
ELEVATE YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT, GALA, CONFERENCE, OR WEDDING BY BOOKING WITH HOPE & GRAND AT THE MUSIC CENTERWHERE WE TRANSFORM MOMENTS INTO UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES.
our mission our core values
To serve the diverse audiences of Los Angeles by producing and presenting theatre of the highest caliber, by nurturing new artists, by attracting new audiences, and by developing youth outreach and arts education programs.
This mission is based on a belief that the art of theatre is a cultural force with the capacity to transform the lives of individuals and society at large.
ARTISTIC AMBITION – We create and present a broad range of outstanding live theatrical work that is bold, authentic, provocative, engaging, entertaining, and inspiring. We support artists working at the highest levels of their own experience and craft.
ARTISTIC IDENTITY, RISK-TAKING, AND INNOVATION –
The theatrical creative process is the center of our work. We collaborate with diverse, creative, and innovative artists, risk-takers, and boundary-breakers to bring great stories to life and create theatre magic.
CENTERING LOS ANGELES – We are a civic institution anchored in the cultural vibrancy and rich diversity of Los Angeles, committing to represent the communities that make up our great city, country, and world by bringing theatre to our stages for Los Angeles audiences.
LIFELONG LEARNING, INSPIRATION, AND HUMAN CONNECTION – We nurture a lifelong passion for theatre in our current and future generations. We center human connection through collaboration, inclusion, imagination, united in the power of storytelling.
RESPECT, COMPASSION, SOCIAL CONSCIENCE, AND AREDI (ANTI-RACISM, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION) – Guided by our social responsibility, we lead with respect and compassion. We create opportunities, cultivate relationships, and dismantle barriers using an anti-racist frame that strives to include marginalized, underrepresented, and excluded communities.
As one of the nation’s leading not-for-profit theatres, we are committed to bringing world class theatre, education, and community engagement to Los Angeles—but we can’t do it without your support. For more information, and to find out how you can make a difference, please visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2024-2025
honorary chairman
Lew R. Wasserman† (1913-2002)
president
Amy R. Forbes
chairperson
William H. Ahmanson
executive vice president / treasurer
William R. Lindsay
vice presidents
Miles Benickes
Gail Berman-Masters
Jana Bezdek
Matthew Walden
secretary
Cecilia Estolano
assistant treasurer
Noah Francis
†Deceased
board of directors
Harry Abrams
Nnamdi Asomugha
Jonathan Axel
Betsy Borns
Diana Buckhantz
Dannielle
Campos Ramirez
Wendy Chang
Stephen Cheung
Jill Chozen
Sarah Clossey
Christine
Cronin-Hurst
Snehal Desai
Gary Frischling
Ron Gillyard
Patricia Glaser
Manuela Cerri Goren
Robert Greenblatt
Jason Grode
Aliza Karney Guren
Stanley Iezman
Paul James
Justin Mikita
Louise Moriarty
Kari Nakama
Jeanne Newman
Jamie Patricof
Meghan Pressman
David Quigg
Kristine
Louis Reynal
Edward Ring
Laura Rosenwald
Scott Sandler
Elliott Sernel
Glenn A. Sonnenberg
Jay P. Srinivasan
Sandra Stern
Marsha
Tauber Sallai
Bonnie Vitti
Kim McLane Wardlaw
Shana C. Waterman
Richard Weitz
Hattie Winston
emeritus directors
Harold Applebaum
Ronald J. Arnault†
Judith Beckmen
Ava Fries†
Brindell Roberts Gottlieb†
Susan Grode
Phyllis Hennigan
Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.
Richard Kagan
O. Kit Lokey†
Walter Mirisch†
Diane Morton
Edward B. Nahmias
Bruce L. Ross
past presidents
Lew R. Wasserman†
Marshall Berges†
Armand S. Deutsch†
Walter Mirisch†
Henry C. Rogers†
Richard E. Sherwood†
J. David Haft†
Lawrence J. Ramer†
Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.
Phyllis Hennigan
Richard Kagan
Martin Massman†
William H. Ahmanson
Kiki Ramos Gindler
Center Theatre Group is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose work is made possible thanks to the generous support of our donors.
Call 213.972.7564 or visit CTGLA.org/Support to learn more.
s
dial s for shakespeaRE
A LOOK AHEAD AT HAMLET AT THE TAPER.
By Keeley Bell
Tony Award-nominated director and playwright Robert O’Hara’s vision of Hamlet began by asking questions, and we posed a few of our own before the production began rehearsals.
O’Hara returns to CTG this season with his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, beginning May 28th at the Mark Taper Forum. His second time working at the Mark Taper Forum since directing the post-Broadway run of Jeremy
O. Harris’s Slave Play, O’Hara’s Hamlet promises an investigative look at the motivations behind Shakespeare’s ultimate leading man. And he does so by inserting the Prince of Denmark into a film noir set in Los Angeles.
We caught up with O’Hara to discuss his relationship with CTG, his artistic connections to Shakespeare, and what inspired this one-of-a-kind production.
Answers are edited for clarity.
You’ve worked with us in the past, most recently with the post-Broadway run of Slave Play. How did your relationship with CTG begin?
Robert O’ Hara: My thesis play that I had written, Insurrection: Holding History was given a workshop production there, and I was in graduate school. [They] first flew me out to do the reading of it, and then they flew me out and did a sort of workshop production of it. And [it was] the same place that they had done a workshop production of Angels in America.
How did that feel, being so young?
It was surreal…I had been to California as a kid with my mom, but I had never been like, you know, flown out for work, right? And so that was exciting, actually. And it sort of gave me a sense that there was a possibility for me to work in the industry. I was [also] the first recipient of the Sherwood Award that [was] administered through CTG.
And now you’re back! How did this production of Hamlet come to be?
Snehal called me up…and said that he wanted me to be in his first season. And so we were sort of kicking over some titles, and we landed on Hamlet, which has always been something that I wanted to sort of engage with on a deeper level…because I had questions about the narrative. If I have questions about it, I think that's a good starting point…If [I] don't have any question now, I really don't feel the need to actually engage with it.
What questions did you have about it?
My main question was, “Why are you talking to a ghost?”
[If Hamlet hadn’t listened] to this ghost, there wouldn't be five dead bodies in the other room…and drownings and murder and all this other stuff. I've always been fascinated by, “Why are you talking to this ghost?
And what does that mean to the world that we're in?”
Because people make it so incidental…Let my dead father show up and start talking to me. [The] last thing I'm going to do is…see who I'm going to try and kill. There's all this sort of craziness, you know…And that sort of intrigues me as an artist.
That's a really cool way to look at it from a modern lens. Many plays you’ve worked on in the past, like Slave Play and Insurrection, deal with themes of race and identity. How do you think Hamlet changes through the lens of a Black director and adapter?
Well, I think that the fact that I'm doing Shakespeare itself. [We] don't often ask Black people or Black directors to engage with Shakespeare. He's put upon a pedestal as the greatest and the work is absolutely kind of wonderful and thrilling to sit inside of, but to [work] on something by delicately touching it up on a pedestal that's too high for you to touch is not going to get you very far. I was excited, as a person of color, period, to be given
the opportunity to investigate what is considered one of the greatest plays ever written. And so, I had to find out how I, as a queer Black man, can find a way in, and into the story. Because it's really a story of nepotism, a story for entitlement and a story of power, right? And rarely do you have Black people benefiting from nepotism and owning a sense of entitlement and having power. That means something to me in my Black queer body…To be given the opportunity to actually sit with it and then to explore it in public, is something that I think is unusual, and I hope happens more and more, especially at this level of operation.
How is this production of Hamlet different from classic Hamlet? What makes it NotYour-Mother’s-Hamlet?
This production…comes at it from the lens of the film noir, and also from a lens of talking to itself, talking back at the play. I won't give too much away, but there is an interruption in the narrative at a certain point, and that interruption changes the nature of what we've been watching.
That definitely has me interested. What made you gravitate towards the noir genre when telling this story?
I felt like it would be fun to set it in LA, and LA is a very film noir setting. And I wanted to set it in a place where there was privilege and deceit and danger. So that all leads into some of the tropes of film noir, where you have a man on the run, or a man on a hunt, or a mystery that needs to be solved.
I think film noir is also about shadow play, about what you can see, or what you think you are seeing, and sort of how you usurp what is being shown to you, and then what is revealed later on about the scenes that you've been watching.
I'm a huge fan of David Lynch and a huge fan of Hitchcock, and so I wanted to play around with making this a mystery that then begins to tell on itself in a way. Usually in film noir, it gets to a certain point where all of the chips begin to fall. If there's a ghost in front of me, and a couple people can see it, and the ghost only wants to speak to me, and his wife can't see it or hear it, and he tells me to go avenge him…You should be [suspicious]
“ why are you talking to a ghost?”
of that ghost. There’s always characters from noir that are very, very attractive to listen to and watch, but we should find them suspect.
You mentioned Hitchcock and Lynch, what are some of your other noir influences?
I did a workshop of Hamlet last year, and we watched a bunch of movies [like] Night of the Hunter, The Clock, Double Indemnity, The Big Heat, Dial M for Murder, The Grifters, [and] Vertigo.
Without any spoilers, what moments are you excited for audiences to see?
I'm interested in the audience [seeing] how we handle the soliloquies of Hamlet, because I think that it's usually done as a sort of matter-of-fact conversation that he’s having to an audience. And I always ask myself, “Well, who does he think he's talking to?”
And then also...making the ghost more than just a voice or a person walking on stage telling him to go kill somebody. Can the ghost be overwhelming so that it feels like that there is something that is being triggered in Hamlet physically? Those are two of the moments I think could be exciting.
Why should audiences see this production? What are you hoping they walk away with?
You will have a difference of opinion from what this production is. [It] won't be what you think you know about Hamlet. A sense of questioning of the Hamlet narrative, and Hamlet as a hero…One of the great things about doing Hamlet is that people already come in with their opinions. So I don't have to introduce you to the story of Hamlet. You know there's going to be a bunch of people dead at the end. You know he's going to act crazy throughout it. And you know he has “to be or not to be,” so now it's just, how do we get through those things?
Lastly, we heard this production is pretty bloody. What is the significance of that choice?
There will be blood. [There’s] the heads of the king and the queen; two kings, really. And I feel [in theatre] we never really see the results of being poisoned. And the results of being poisoned can sometimes be blood from orifices!
I don’t know if it’s going to be really really bloody, but there will be blood, that’s for sure.
PULLING ON
head, hind,
AND
heartstrings
HOW A TEAM OF ACTORS AND PUPPETEERS BRING THE WORLD OF LIFE OF PI TO THE STAGE THROUGH PUPPETRY.
By Jessica Doherty
L to R: Anna Leigh Gortner, Shiloh Goodin, Toussaint Jeanlouis and Taha Mandviwala in the National Tour of Life of Pi. Photo by Evan Zimmerman.
While the show might be named Life of Pi, there is an ensemble of animals and characters that Pi interacts with along his journey across the sea—most notably, the tiger named Richard Parker. Pi and Parker encounter many animals and aquatic creatures that reside on and around the island on which they are stranded. From fish to orangutans to butterflies, these animals are represented on stage through many different puppets–and many puppeteers.
Scarlet Wilderink, the Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director for Life of Pi, said each puppet designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell were made with the puppeteers in mind. The materials used are lightweight to reduce the strain on the puppeteers from hoisting and wielding the puppets over the course of the show’s two-hour-and-15-minute runtime. When designing the armature, or structure of the puppets, Wilderink said Barnes and Caldwell used the bone structure of each animal as inspiration, so the movements of the puppet are true to the animal’s anatomy and are more ergonomic for the puppeteers to maneuver.
“The reason to make Richard Parker a puppet is, I think, quite clever, because puppetry can toe the line of what’s real and what’s not real in an incredible way,” Wilderink said. “[Puppets] can try and represent things that we already know to be true and things that are very abstract as well...we’re trying to tell the audience about things that are not really there.”
The puppets in the show are not just animals—but also the elements and objects of the world around the characters. Wilderink said that puppeteering things like the air and ocean are approached differently than the animals. “Object work is a bit more neutralized and animal work is from a much more psychological place,” she said. When puppeteering an object or element, the environment manipulates the object, which then manipulates the puppeteer. Meanwhile, puppeteering animals starts with the character’s motivations in the scene. But for both forms of puppetry, Wilderink said the puppeteer should achieve a state of flow.
For the puppeteers working on larger puppets, that state of flow also needs to be achieved with each other. Richard Parker may just be one tiger, but he is portrayed
by a team of eight puppeteers. Each night, Richard Parker is operated by three puppeteers in different places across the puppet—the head, heart, and hind. The puppeteers take turns playing different positions of Richard Parker as well.
Toussaint Jeanlouis, one of the puppeteers and actors playing Richard Parker, said that the rehearsal and performance process has been collaborative since the start.
“It’s like jazz musicians, you all have your instrument and then you have to figure out how to play with each other,” Jeanlouis said.
The cornerstone of that process is breath. The puppeteers cannot speak to each other during the show, so they have learned to communicate to each other through breath. Jeanlouis said a deep inhale while puppeteering the head can signal to the team that they are about to start moving, whereas a sigh could signal that they should slow down when already in motion. He also must tie these breaths into his performance as the head, which requires him to sometimes vocalize in a low, gravelly voice in lieu of spoken dialogue.
Richard Parker is not the only reason why Life of Pi is a demanding show. On nights where they are not a part of Richard Parker, puppeteers could be performing as a goat, a turtle, or an orangutan—each requiring a different physical skillset and mannerisms.
“It’s probably the most physically demanding project I’ve ever worked on because of the nature of the rotations, how we’re learning multiple tracks,” said Betsy Rosen, who is the tour’s Assistant Puppetry and Movement Director as well as one of the puppeteers behind Richard Parker.
“For some people, depending on their background, these kinds of [puppetry] shows are the hardest things they’ll do physically in their entire careers,” said Wilderink.
The actors also come from different physical training backgrounds like martial arts, yoga, dance, and gymnastics. A physical therapist also travels along with the cast to ensure they are avoiding injury or strain.
“You do really need to devote a lot of time and energy to staying active in your outside practice to balance how the show affects your body,” said Rosen.
MAKING COMMUNITY
THE
LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS FOSTERED NEW SKILLS AND CONNECTIONS.
By Jessica Doherty
The Student Ambassador program is a seven-month-long paid leadership program for arts-interested high school students in which students work on their leadership skills through project-based learning tied to a show in the Center Theatre Group season. The most recent cohort, which concluded in April, planned a community engagement event around Fake It Unitil You Make It at the Mark Taper Forum. The world premiere play by Larissa FastHorse was a satirical farce about different nonprofit organizers discovering who they are—and if there are ways to change that.
Program Manager Meighan La Rocca oversees the Student Ambassadors alongside CTG Resident Teaching Artist Christine Breihan and Teaching Artist Zachary Bones. In the first half of the curriculum, students are introduced to the many different roles and skills involved in community engagement and arts programming. From there, they choose a discipline and work together to create and host an event.
“Boundaries actually create freedom,” Breihan said of the ethos of the Student Ambassador program. Breihan and Bones provide parameters of the event and introductory
examples of each discipline. After that, students decide what event they want to plan and which role in the planning they want to play. The Teaching Artists then provide support and feedback along the way, but the students take the lead.
“We’re in leadership positions now, but how do you become a leader?,” Breihan said. “[Bones] and I are of the mindset that you don’t learn it until you do it, right? That leadership is often something that is given to you at some point, whether you feel ready for it or not, and that’s how you find out what you’re made of.”
For this cohort, the students decided on planning a pre-show community engagement event for audiences ages 16 and up around Fake It Until You Make It. The Student Ambassadors led participants through games about their identity and a dramaturgical presentation related to the show.
The theme of identity in Fake It Until You Make It particularly resonated with the Student Ambassador cohort. For Student Ambassador Viviana Estrada, it was the first time she was able to engage in conversations around her identity as a Native American and Mexican individual without feeling singled out.
WITH CTG STUDENT AMBASSADORS
“This is the first time I’ve really been able to openly express... and feel comfortable and safe with...[identifying] as Mexican and Native American, because sometimes in other theatre settings I’ve been in, people kind of look at you like a unicorn... or [ask] me weird questions.”
Estrada is a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and was interested in the Student Ambassador program because it was one of the first opportunities she had to work with a play written by a Native American. She joined the dramaturgical team and helped create and lead the group’s presentation about blood quantum and its significance in the play—something her family has been directly affected by. “My sister was applying to jobs recently and she’s been turned down for one because she wasn’t registered, and they said her application was amazing, but she wasn’t basically native enough,” she said.
Blood quantum is a controversial way of measuring how “Native American” an individual is based on the percentage of “Native blood” they have. It was originally used at the turn of the 20th century as a federal requirement to diminish the enrollment of Native populations—and their funding to them. Some tribes will only allow individuals with a certain minimum of Native blood percentages to enroll, making it harder for later generations of families to stay involved. In Fake It Until You
Make It, blood quantum becomes a pivotal moment for two characters in learning about who they really are.
Estrada and the dramaturgy team interviewed cast members and conducted research about the show to develop the presentation and follow-up conversation. “I feel like it really helped open people’s minds a lot,” she said of the experience.
“It was so fantastic that we managed to put on an event that had people of all different ages and different beliefs and made them all feel welcome and included in the activities,” said fellow Student Ambassador Alondra “Ofelia” Bautista. They are a senior at The Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and were part of the managerial team for the Student Ambassador event. Many of the skills she learned managing the event—like communication, collaboration, and project management—translated well to theatre. “I’ve gotten to know what it's like to collaborate with these managers and [learn] what it’s like to collaborate with the dramaturgs and [know] how everything fits into place,” they said. “I think, because I am a lighting designer. I feel like it gives a really different creative view and will help me to communicate with my collaborators in the future.”
Bautista also felt they were able to bond with and trust their cohort during the process, something that Bones seeks to foster throughout the program.
forging from flames forging creativity from flames
part 1: A Soft Place to Land
Just days after the fires broke out, Center Theatre Group engaged with local nonprofit Project:Camp, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks to place Teaching Artists at temporary recreational camps established throughout the county for students displaced by the fires. By the end of the program, 25 Teaching Artists across multiple disciplines provided 225 hours of instruction. Teaching Artists went to work the week after the fires to a variety of county and city sites like Descanso Gardens, The Arboretum, Oakwood, and Mar Vista to support families displaced by both the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Many participants in these recreational camps experienced different kinds of displacement— from their homes, schools, and communities. The same went for some of the Teaching Artists, like Estela Garcia, who was evacuated during the fires. “This was my neighborhood going up in flames, these were my neighbors,” she said. “I needed to do something and this was a skill I had.”
As a Teaching Artist at these programs, Garcia led activities for participants of all ages, groups of all sizes, and in different stages of processing the unfolding events.
“I was mindful...of giving them that choice to participate or watch,” she said. “[We] were there to support, to bring some levity to these kids' lives and roll with the punches.”
Garcia was initially nervous about what emotional response the program would stir up for her because the fires hit so close to home. But the recreational programming was a
WHEN THE EATON AND PALISADES FIRES BROKE OUT IN EARLY JANUARY 2025, DEVASTATING AND DESTABILIZING MUCH OF LOS ANGELES AND ITS RESIDENTS, CENTER THEATRE GROUP SPRANG INTO ACTION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
reminder of the community's resilience. "I remember that first day walking in and blown away to see the kids running around, to hear the sounds of a playground where kids are laughing and chasing each other, there was so much joy in the room...it was very healing to be surrounded by such fantastic energy," she said. "Things are going to be okay because these kids are okay."
“Our Teaching Artists are incredible individuals,” said Camile Schenkkan, CTG Deputy Managing Director. “They are practicing artists first, but they also have a strong education background and understand how to create curriculum. We were grateful that our team holds expertise around creative wellbeing and trauma-informed pedagogy.”
Teaching Artists at Center Theatre Group have engaged in trainings around learning spaces and trauma since the return to classrooms after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fellow Teaching Artist Carene Rose Mekertichyan relied on not only her training and experience working with many different Los Angeles communities at the temporary recreational camps, but also adapted and responded to the needs of any given group or individual. Siblings stuck together—
which meant many group activities needed to be suitable for a variety of age groups.
Mekertichyan was inspired by CTG’s recent presentation of A Strange Loop for one activity in which participants write a guided poem tied to a specific memory. “It was one of those prompts that I knew that, for some of the youth, they really wanted to have this moment to express...and think about what home was for them,” she said. “I find poetry and writing to be very therapeutic and a great way of working through a lot of big emotions and feelings, and especially in that first week where there was a lot happening...it was great to take a piece from a show that maybe wasn’t necessarily age-appropriate...to tweak in a way that they could still engage with.”
Some of the students were also engaging with theatre for the first time. Teaching Artist Johnathon Jackson found ways to connect with students to make them comfortable with exploring theatre and trying something new during a stressful time. “I just have fun with them; [we played games] where we can have fun and build a rapport,” he said. “A lot of these kids have never experienced theatre—even the word theatre
is kind of like, ‘I’m not an actor’—so [we found] different ways to name what we were doing and playing basic games.”
Jackson said many of the schools that participated in the temporary recreational camps were from schools Center Theatre Group had yet to partner with, allowing for the work of Education & Community Partnerships to expand in a new way. “It revealed there is always an opportunity in ashes; sometimes when you’re rebuilding, you want to make sure you have a foundational piece of art in your culture and in your everyday life to make it more of a norm for these kids and...to continue it so art isn’t associated with tragedy, but just the way and a part of life.”
And as the process of rebuilding continues, so, too, does the work of Teaching Artists.
“It made me feel good as an Angeleno that tragedy hits and we don’t run,” Jackson said.
“We need to be the people that run into these situations and say
‘Hey, what can I do? How can I help?’”
part 2: A spotlight in the dark
On the evening of January 7th, students at Altadena Arts and Eliot Arts Magnet Schools held their first rehearsal for their upcoming show, Shrek The Musical JR For thespians, the first rehearsal is always one of the most memorable days in the life cycle of a production, where the cast and creatives come together and celebrate the “Big Bright Beautiful World” that is theatre!
What was meant to be a night of community and theatre was immediately tainted when the Eaton Fire broke out. The Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre regions were devastated by the disaster, with more than 10,000 students from the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) needing to evacuate their homes, many only to return to rubble.
Students and staff at Eliot Arts were displaced from their homes, their school, and their community, affecting their everyday lives. With the school auditorium and campus destroyed by the fire, school administrators began to search for a new venue in hopes that they would still be able to present their production. Theatre has long been an art form that brings community together, so in the wake of destruction, it was necessary for ‘the show to go on.’
When Center Theatre Group was informed about Eliot Arts’ journey for a new venue, the organization jumped at the chance to help its community. In partnership with Pasadena Unified School District and Pasadena Playhouse, Center Theatre Group was able to provide the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles as the new venue for Altadena Arts Magnet and Eliot Arts Magnet’s production of Shrek The Musical JR
On March 13th, the students were invited to The Annex, which houses CTG’s rehearsal spaces, and the Ahmanson Theatre to get to know the staff members who would be supporting them throughout their production. After arriving at the Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center wearing their finest gear (Shrek ears donated by Dreamworks), students were welcomed by staff and had time to sit together and share their hopes and excitement for the production. Following lunch and a vocal workshop with CTG Teaching Artist Rebecca Cathlin Graul the students went backstage to explore the space and then walked onto the Ahmanson stage for the first time.
CREATIVE SPARK.
Staff in attendance watched as over 60 students beamed with glee on the professional stage. Overlooking 2,000 seats, the students were electrified and went straight into their first rehearsal led by Eliot Arts teachers Mollie Lief and Billy Rugh. They began with warmups, which quickly led into full run throughs of the musical’s numbers, including “I’m a Believer” and “What’s Up, Duloc?.” Though many had experienced grief and loss over the last couple of months, the students rehearsed in their full glory, reminding us of the power of theatre in the darkest of times.
After their first rehearsal at the Ahmanson, the students returned to their temporary rehearsal space in Pasadena, where they prepared for their one night only performance in Downtown LA. Emotions ran high leading to the big day, but on April 18th, the students were joined by their family members, teachers, staff, and friends for an unforgettable performance. Students walked out onto the Ahmanson stage, with loved ones cheering from the audience. It was the moment that turned the Ahmanson Theatre into a full-blown rock concert, with the students receiving thunderous applause from the start of the
GOLDA
SATURDAY, MAY 24 at 6:30 pm
Don’t Miss Golda’s Next Concert of Inspirational & Sacred Music
AHMANSONTHEATRE 2024/25 SEASON
CTG:FWD
DUEL REALITY
Directed by Shana Carroll
SEPTEMBER 11–22, 2024
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, & Marshall Barer
Adapted by Amy Sherman-Palladino
Choreography by Lorin Latarro
Directed by Lear deBessonet
DECEMBER 10, 2024 – JANUARY 5, 2025
STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS
Starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Devised by Cameron Mackintosh
Choreography by Stephen Mear
Direction & Musical Staging by Matthew Bourne
Side by Side with Julia McKenzie
FEBRUARY 8 – MARCH 9, 2025
LIFE OF PI
Written by Lolita Chakrabarti
Based on the novel by Yann Martel
Directed by Max Webster
MAY 6 – JUNE 1, 2025
PARADE
Book by Alfred Uhry
Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Co-Conceived by Harold Prince
Directed by Michael Arden
JUNE 17 – JULY 15, 2025
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SNEHAL DESAI Artistic Director | MEGHAN PRESSMAN Managing Director/CEO | DOUGLAS C. BAKER Producing Director
GORDON DAVIDSON Founding Artistic Director
SIMON FRIEND DARYL ROTH HAL LUFTIG MARK GORDON PICTURES NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS
42ND.CLUB KATE AND BILL FISHEL PLAYING FIELD HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE KUHN DODANI
HANNA OSMOLSKA & SETH WENIG, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER AND SHEFFIELD THEATRES PRESENT
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY YANN MARTEL ADAPTED BY LOLITA CHAKRABARTI
TAHA MANDVIWALA
OGE AGULUÉ JESSICA ANGLESKHAN ALAN ARIANO PRAGUN BHARDWAJ MAHNAZ DAMANIA BEN DUROCHER
SHILOH GOODIN ANNA LEIGH GORTNER AUSTIN WONG HARPER AARON HASKELL
RISHI JAISWAL TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS MI KANG INTAE KIM SHARAYU MAHALE SINCLAIR MITCHELL
MAYA RANGULU BETSY ROSEN ANNA VOMÁCKA ANDREW WILSON SORAB WADIA & SAVIDU GEEVARATNE
Scenic & Costume Design TIM HATLEY
Puppetry & Movement Direction FINN CALDWELL
Video & Animation Design ANDRZEJ GOULDING
Hair & Wig Design DAVID BRIAN BROWN MEG MURPHY
Puppet Design NICK BARNES & FINN CALDWELL
Lighting Design TIM LUTKIN & TIM DEILING
Composer ANDREW T. MACKAY
Sound Design CAROLYN DOWNING
Dramaturg JACK BRADLEY
Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director SCARLET WILDERINK U.S. Associate Puppetry & Movement Director/Resident Director JON HOCHE
ARC
DUNCAN STEWART, CSA PATRICK MARAVILLA
General Management
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES GREGORY VANDER PLOEG
Management SIMON FRIEND ENTERTAINMENT
Production Stage Manager KELSEY TIPPINS Company Manager KATIE CORTEZ Production Management NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS JASON JUENKER
Tour Director ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE
Director MAX WEBSTER
FIRST PRODUCED AT SHEFFIELD THEATRES NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE AT THE AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY DIANE PAULUS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: KELVIN DINKINS, JR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAST
TAHA MANDVIWALAOGE AGULUÉJESSICA ANGLESKHANALAN ARIANO
PRAGUN BHARDWAJMAHNAZ DAMANIA BEN DUROCHERSAVIDU GEEVARATNE
SHILOH GOODINANNA LEIGH GORTNERAUSTIN WONG HARPERAARON HASKELL
Richard Parker/Puppeteer .......................................................... BEN DUROCHER, SHILOH GOODIN, ANNA LEIGH GORTNER, AUSTIN WONG HARPER, AARON HASKELL, TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS, BETSY ROSEN, ANNA VOMÁCKA, ANDREW WILSON
Ensemble.........................................PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, BEN DUROCHER, SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, SHILOH GOODIN, ANNA LEIGH GORTNER, AUSTIN WONG HARPER, AARON HASKELL, TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS, BETSY ROSEN, ANNA VOMÁCKA, ANDREW WILSON
SETTING
1976-78. Pondicherry in India, Tomatlán in Mexico and the middle of the Pacific Ocean
UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for the listed players unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance.
Pi SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, SHARAYU MAHALE; Cook/Voice of Richard Parker ......................................................................................... INTAE KIM; Father PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, RISHI JAISWAL; Admiral Jackson/Russian Sailor/Father Martin ................................ PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, INTAE KIM; Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice MAYA RANGULU; Lulu/Leonard Chen/Mrs./Mr. Biology Kumar/Zaida/Mr. Khan INTAE KIM, MAYA RANGULU; Mamaji/Pandit-Ji ...................................................... PRAGUN BHARDWAJ, AUSTIN WONG HARPER; Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai JON HOCHE, INTAE KIM; Rani/Ravi ........................................................................... SAVIDU GEEVARATNE, MAYA RANGULU; Richard Parker JON HOCHE
Swings: MAHNAZ DAMANIA, JON HOCHE, INTAE KIM, MAYA RANGULU
Assistant Puppetry & Movement Direction/Puppet Captain: BETSY ROSEN
Fight Captain: TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS
Lift Captain: AUSTIN WONG HARPER
Resident Director: JON HOCHE
Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones and watch alarms. The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, with or without flash, is strictly prohibited.
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management. Patrons with disabilities: wheelchair seating is available in a variety of theatre locations. When ordering tickets, please indicate any special needs. For our hearing-impaired guests, the theatre is equipped with listening devices; please contact an usher for assistance.
WHO’S WHO
TAHA MANDVIWALA (Pi) is an AEA actor and movement artist from Kentucky. Favorite credits include Life of Pi (Broadway & 1st National Tour), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo, Santa Cruz Shakespeare), A Christmas Carol (Fred), and Murder on the Orient Express (Bouc) at Cincinnati Playhouse. He draws on health, movement, and story—including a lifelong love of fantasy and D&D—to explore the dynamism of human life, where strength, vulnerability, and imagination converge. More at tahamandviwala.com or IG @manlykoala.
OGE AGULUÉ (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker).
Broadway: Life of Pi, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Off-Broadway: Love’s Labour’s Lost. National Tour: The Book of Mormon. Select Regional: Bay Street Theater, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Film/TV includes Past Lives, Washington Black, WeCrashed, Little America, Bull, The Code. Training: MFA, UC Irvine. @iamoge
JESSICA ANGLESKHAN (Amma/Nurse/Orange Juice) is an NYC actor of over 20 years, now on her first national tour. Frequent Met Opera performer, she’s worked internationally as a revival movement director. Other credits include Law and Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, and more. Training: NYU, Stella Adler. Member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA. For Behr.
ALAN ARIANO (Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai) comes direct from Girl From the North Country (Dr Walker) National Tour. Broadway: Miss Saigon (Original 1991), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, The King and I, M. Butterfly, Shogun. OffBroadway: Felix Starro, Good Enemy, Greater Clements. TV: Law and Order: SVU (recurring), L&O, FBI: Most Wanted, Gotham, Tremé Visit alanariano.com. For MOM
u/s Mamaji/Pandit-Ji) is an Indian American actor with a BFA in Musical Theater from Pace University and is thrilled for his tour debut! Recently seen in Sunset Boulevard (Artie Green) at ACT of CT, and In The Heights (Ensemble - u/s Benny, Sonny, Piragua Guy) at the Gateway. Thankful for my beautiful family. @pragun_bhardwaj
MAHNAZ DAMANIA (Swing). Theatre: (U.S.)
Life of Pi at A.R.T.; (India) Shikhandi— The Story of the Inbetweens (nominated, Best Actor; winner, Best Ensemble META 2018), 07/07/07 (winner, Best Ensemble META 2016), Naqqaash, Sundays With Chitra and Chaitali, Three Women. TV: New Amsterdam, Inside Edge. Film: The Wandering Earth II, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Tu Hai Mera Sunday.
BEN DUROCHER (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble). New York: Avenue Q (Princeton/Rod), Madama Butterfly at Met Opera, TV/Film: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, Helpsters, Pineapple Playhouse, Dying For Sex, Mr. Crocket. Twotime Emmy Award-winning puppet builder/ wrangler for Sesame Street and The Jim Henson Company. @bendurocher
SAVIDU GEEVARATNE (Ensemble, u/s Pi, u/s Ravi) is thrilled to be joining Life of Pi! A Sri Lankan-American actor, singer, and musician, he trained at NYU Tisch. Off-Broadway: Your Own Personal Exegesis, Monsoon Wedding. Thanks to ARC+Julia for believing! Love to his teachers, friends, and family for their support. Thank you Amma for everything. @the_savidoodle_
SHILOH GOODIN (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway: Life of Pi, Paradise Square. Off-Broadway: Babes in Toyland at Lincoln Center, Love Life at Encores!, Screwtape Letters, The Anthem. Other faves: A Chorus Line (Cassie) at Cincinnati Playhouse, Rigoletto (Santa Fe Opera), Twelfth Night (Assoc Choreo, The Public).
ANNA LEIGH GORTNER (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway tour debut! Regional Theatre: label•less (Cincinnati Playhouse), The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Proud Tumbling instructor at Broadway Dance Center! So much love to Mom, Dad, Beth, Chris, Andrew, and all of the teachers who helped me on the way! Jer 31:13. @anna.gortner
AUSTIN WONG HARPER (Richard Parker/ Puppeteer, Ensemble, u/s Mamaji/Pandit-ji, Lift Captain; he/him). National Tour: Tootsie Select Regional: Sister Act (The Muny), Tootsie (Ogunquit Playhouse), Guys and Dolls, Newsies, Billy Elliot (Woodminster). Big love to mom, Patrick, and Stanley! @austinhapa
AARON HASKELL (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble). Fellowship recipient at Alvin Ailey. Credits: War Horse, Lion King Broadway (Puppetry Specialist), Cirque du Soleil’s Toruk, and Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy. Creator/Director of Wake Up, You’re Dead! and The Pact; Designer/Builder for Six Flags, Lincoln Center, Acheson/Walsh Studios, and Nightmare: Haunted House.
RISHI JAISWAL (Mamaji/Pandit-Ji, u/s Father) is an actor, director, screenwriter, and choreographer. He has been featured on the NBC comedy American Auto, ABC’s Johnny Knoxville’s Prank Panel, NBC’s Superstars of Dance, So You Think You Can Dance, and Good Morning America. Rishi wrote, starred in, and directed the feature film Unmasked in 2022.
TOUSSAINT JEANLOUIS (Cook/Voice of Richard Parker, Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble, Fight Captain). Meredith Monk’s Indra’s Net (Chorus), Dr. Bernice Reagan Johnson and Toshi Reagan’s International Tour of Parable of the Sower: The Opera (Bankole/Richard Moss), based on the novel by Octavia E. Butler, Katori Hall’s Pulitzer-Prize winning Hot Wing King (Cordell), and SITI Company’s The Bacchae (King Pentheus).
MI KANG (Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan) is thrilled to be part of the Life of Pi! Selected Credits: Inherit the Wind (Goodman); Villette (Lookingglass); The Chinese Lady (TimeLine); Dracula (Cincy Playhouse); Journal of Ben Uchida (Seattle Children’s); Tale for Time Being (Book-It). Mi is a Northwestern MFA Acting graduate and represented by Stewart Talent.
INTAE KIM (Swing, u/s Admiral Jackson/ Russian Sailor/Father Martin, u/s Leonard Chen/Mr. Biology Kumar/Mr. Khan, u/s Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai) is making his national tour debut. Originally from Boston, he graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Theater and English. Past credits include projects like Fargo and Succession. He’s thrilled to tour with this team and grateful to his family and loved ones for their support.
SHARAYU MAHALE (Rani, u/s Pi) is an IndianAmerican actor and dancer. After completing a BS in Business from NYU she pivoted to a career in the performing arts! Credits include: Monsoon Wedding (Off-Broadway), Cobra Kai (Netflix), Footnotes (Amazon), Frankie Meets Jack (Tubi). Thank you Aai & Papa! @sharayu.mahale
SINCLAIR MITCHELL (Admiral Jackson/ Russian Sailor/Father Martin). Broadway: The Lion King. Off-Broadway: The Emperor Jones, Harlem Song. National Tour: The Prom, School of Rock, The Producers, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Regional: Shout Sister Shout!, The Wiz. CCM Grad, Olympic Torch Bearer (’96 games). Love to fiancé Joey. Thanks to About Artists Agency.
MAYA RANGULU (Swing, u/s Amma/Nurse, u/s Lulu Chen/Mrs. Biology Kumar/Zaida Khan, u/s Rani) is thrilled to make her national tour debut! Originally from Portland, Oregon, her training includes American Conservatory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, AMAW Los Angeles, and a BA from Stanford University. Endless gratitude to family, friends, and mentors. Here’s to the stories we tell and the people we love. @mayarangulu
BETSY ROSEN (Assistant Puppetry and Movement Director/Puppet Captain/Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a Helen Hayes Award-winning artist based in NYC. Broadway: Life of Pi (OBC). Selected Credits: Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, American Repertory Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Woolly Mammoth. Grateful for all who hold me up, the LOP family, and FSE. @thebetsyrosen
ANNA VOMÁCKA (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble) is a dancer who has worked with Brennan Gerard & Ryan Kelly, Bebe Miller, and Nami Yamamoto. She also creates her own work, including film Listening Near an Edge (2022) and immersive performance W A S T E in S P A C E (2019). Excited for her national tour debut! Annavomacka.com @anna.vomacka
SORAB WADIA (Father). From Bombay, India. Tours: Aladdin, Oklahoma! Kite Runner (solo play). International: Jihad! The Musical (West End, London), Merchant of Venice (Venice, Italy), Bend It Like Beckham (Toronto). Regional: Nathan the Wise (Folger/Theater J), Much Ado About Nothing (St. Louis Shakespeare Festival), Monsoon Wedding (Berkeley Rep). Off-Broadway: Babette’s Feast (Theater at St. Clement’s), The Tempest (LaMama), Bunty Berman Presents… (The New Group), Nymph Errant (Prospect Theater). TV: Blacklist: Redemption, Madame Secretary, L&O: SVU, 30 Rock, Chapelle’s Show @SorabWadia
ANDREW WILSON (Richard Parker/Puppeteer, Ensemble). Broadway: Life of Pi (OBC), Cats (Revival). Tours: Newsies the Musical (OTC and Disney+), Cats, Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, Seven Brides. Other credits: TUTS, Music Circus, PCLO, MUNY, La Mirada, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Riverside, Met Opera, NYC Opera. Theater dance and acrobatics educator at @bdcnyc. For Chris and Duke! Insta: @andrewwilsonny
YANN MARTEL (Novelist) is a Canadian writer. He is the author of a collection of short stories and four novels, most notably Life of Pi, for
which he won the 2002 Man Booker Prize. Writing credits include: The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, Self, Life of Pi, Beatrice and Virgil, The High Mountains of Portugal, and the non-fiction collection 101 Letters to a Prime Minister: The Complete Letters to Stephen Harper. Martel is presently at work on Son of Nobody, a novel about the Trojan War. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with the writer Alice Kuipers and their four children.
LOLITA
CHAKRABARTI (Playwright) is an actress and award-winning playwright. She won an Olivier, WhatsOnStage and UK Theatre Award for Best New Play for Life of Pi. Her adaptation of Hamnet recently opened at The RSC and London’s West End. Her debut play Red Velvet earned her the Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award and The Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and an Olivier Award nomination. Other writing includes Hymn, Invisible Cities, Calmer, dramaturg on Message In A Bottle, and Sylvia. Lolita trained at RADA and has worked as an actress on stage and screen for 35 years.
MAX WEBSTER (Director) is a Tony & Olivier Award-nominated director specializing in new work, opera, and live music events. Theatre credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Upcoming, National Theatre), Macbeth (Donmar & West End), Henry V (Donmar), Antigone, As You Like It and Twelfth Night (Regent’s Park), Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/San Diego Old Globe/Minneapolis Children’s Theatre), The Jungle Book (Fiery Angel), Fanny and Alexander, Cover My Tracks (Old Vic), The Twits (Leicester Curve), The Winter’s Tale (Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh), The Sea of Fertility, Mary Stuart (Parco Tokyo), Much Ado About Nothing (Globe), Orlando, To Kill a Mockingbird, My Young and Foolish Heart (Royal Exchange, Manchester), James and the Giant Peach, My Generation (Leeds Playhouse). Opera: La Bohème (Göteborgsoperan, Sweden) and The Merry Widow (ENO).
ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE (Tour Director).
Broadway: Life of Pi, Indecent, Fun Home, The Glass Menagerie. Broadway National Tour: Hamilton (Resident Director). Off-Broadway: All of Me (The New Group), Julius Caesar (CSC), Death Cruise (Access Theater), The Goree All-Girl String Band (Theatre Row).
Regional: All of Me (Barrington Stage Company), Fun Home (Cape Rep), Indecent (Huntington, Center Theatre Group).
TIM HATLEY (Scenic Design and Costume Design). Broadway/West End: Starlight Express 2024, Back to the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi, Dreamgirls, Travesties, Ghosts, Vincent in Brixton, Temple, Bodyguard, Shrek, Spamalot, Humble Boy, Private Lives, The Crucible, The Pajama Game, Carmen, Don Quixote, My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain. Film credits include Closer, Notes on a Scandal, and Stage Beauty. Winner of three Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards for Best Design. timhatley.com
FINN CALDWELL (Co-Puppet Design, Puppetry/ Movement Director) is an Olivier Award-winning director, designer, and performer; he is a coartistic director of Gyre & Gimble, where his co-director/puppet designer credits include The Four Seasons: A Reimagining (Globe), The Hartlepool Monkey (U.K. tour) and The Elephantom (National Theatre/West End). As puppet co-designer/director: The Wicker Husband (Watermill), The Grinning Man (Bristol Old Vic/West End), Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (Old Vic/San Diego Old Globe/Minneapolis Children’s Theatre) and Running Wild (Chichester/ Regent’s Park/U.K. tour). As director of puppetry/movement: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Angels in America, The Light Princess, and War Horse (all National Theatre/West End). As director, credits include: Ex Machina (NIDA, Australia) and Lardo (Old Red Lion).
NICK BARNES (Co-Puppet Design) began making puppets at university and afterwards at the Slade School of Fine Arts, incorporating puppets into his theatre designs for opera and theatre. He subsequently formed the puppetry
company Blind Summit Theatre, devising and performing in shows which toured internationally from the Edinburgh Fringe to the Metropolitan Opera and co-directed the puppetry for the London Olympic Games opening ceremony. Nick now runs his puppet making studio in Hove. Follow Nick’s work at nickbarnespuppets.co.uk
ANDRZEJ GOULDING (Video & Animation Design). Video designs include & Juliet, Room, Groundhog Day (Broadway); Starlight Express, Just For One Day, Life of Pi, The Drifters Girl, & Juliet, Message in a Bottle, Sylvia, The Unfriend, Eureka Day, Pressure (West End); People, Places and Things (St Ann’s Warehouse); Henry V, Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse, NT Live); The Da Vinci Code (U.K. tour); Burn (Joyce Theater); The Machine (Park Avenue Armory); Message in a Bottle (tour).
TIM LUTKIN (Lighting Design). Tony and twotime Olivier Award winner. Broadway: Back the Future: The Musical, Life of Pi. Select West End: The Crucible, Back to the Future, Fiddler on the Roof, Noises Off, Strangers on a Train, Close to You, The Full Monty, Present Laughter, Chimerica, Quiz, Lungs, A Number, Elf, Big. National Theatre: Under Milk Wood, Antony and Cleopatra, LesBlancs, Jack Absolute Flies Again.
TIM DEILING (Lighting Design). West End credits: SIX, Knights of the Rose, American Idiot, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Vanities the Musical. He’s also lit many U.K. tours including Club Tropicana, Our House, HMS Pinafore, and Summer Holiday. He’s worked on many plays/musicals at regional U.K. theatres and throughout Europe. He’s also worked for many years as an associate to Ken Billington and The National Theater in London. Tim is an American living in London.
CAROLYN DOWNING (Sound Design) is an award-winning sound designer working internationally in a variety of fields with creativity and collaboration at the heart of her work. Carolyn’s work includes The Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening
Ceremony, Birmingham; Jean Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibition; The Normal Heart for the National Theatre; Downstate at National Theatre, Steppenwolf, Playwrights Horizons; Henry V for Donmar; Summer and Smoke (Olivier nomination 2019) and Chimerica for Sonia Friedman Productions (Olivier Award 2015).
DAVID BRIAN BROWN (Wig Design). Broadway Highlights: Drama Desk Awards for Mrs. Doubtfire and War Paint. Moulin Rouge!, Life of Pi, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, She Loves Me (Drama Desk nomination), Shrek, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Nine, Sweet Smell of Success, Aida, Chicago, Sideshow. Film Credits: Angels in America (Emmy-nominated), To Wong Foo…
ANDREW T. MACKAY (Original Music) is an Olivier Award-nominated composer and the co-founder of Bombay Dub Orchestra. He studied at the London College of Music. His music often fuses orchestra with traditional elements from the project’s region and has scored many films in India and around the globe. Life of Pi was Andrew’s first theatre score, followed by Henry V (Donmar) with Kit Harington. The soundtrack to Life of Pi is available on all streaming platforms.
JACK BRADLEY (Dramaturgy) is a dramaturg, translator, and playwright. As literary manager at the National Theatre (1994-2007), he advised Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn, and Nicholas Hytner on new plays. For Sonia Friedman Productions since 2007, shows include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; Mean Girls; and New York, New York. For Tricycle Theatre (2007-2012): The Great Game, The Bomb-A Partial History, The Riots. And for Simon Friend, other work: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Jack has conducted writing workshops around the world.
SCARLET WILDERINK (Global Associate Puppetry & Movement Director, she/her/hers). One of the Olivier Award-winning puppeteers in the original West End cast of Life of Pi;
then set up the ART, Broadway, and Toronto productions. Regional: Life of Pi, Mirvish Theatre, American Repertory Theatre. West End: War Horse, New London Theatre; Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre (Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor); Pinocchio, National Theatre. Off-West End: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Southwark Playhouse; Putting It Together, The Other Palace. U.K. Regional: The Wicker Husband and Watership Down, Watermill Theatre; Treasure Island, Stephen Joseph Theatre. U.K. tour: The Comedy of Errors & A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Running Wild. International: Cabaret, MAC Theatre. Education: Guildford School of Acting. Actors’ Equity Association member.
JON HOCHE (U.S. Associate Puppetry & Movement Director/Resident Director/ u/s Mr. Okamoto/Captain/Jai, u/s Richard Parker). Broadway: Life of Pi (Richard Parker puppeteer), King Kong (Voice of King Kong/ Puppeteer). Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey 2 puppeteer); Soft Power (The Public Theater, Grammy-nominated); Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks (Manhattan Theatre Club); Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G (Ma-Yi Theater/ Vampire Cowboys Theater); Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth (Playwrights Realm). National Tour: War Horse (Puppeteer/Puppet Captain). TV: Hello Tomorrow! (Apple TV+) @JonHoche
ARC (Casting). 150+ productions across the globe & 13 Artios Awards for Casting. Broadway/NY Past & Present Productions include: A Wonderful World, Life of Pi, Chicago the Musical, Disney’s The Lion King & Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, Lost in Yonkers, Great Comet of 1812, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, 39 Steps, Pippin, La Cage aux Folles. TV/Film: Netflix, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Lionsgate, Disney Channel. West End/U.K.: Sister Act, Hadestown, Thriller Live, Menier Chocolate Factory. Tours: 1776, Girl From the North Country, Hairspray, Waitress, Urinetown, Finding Neverland, Into the Woods, We Will
Rock You. Regional: A.R.T., Berkeley Rep, Alley, Bay Street, Goodspeed, Hollywood Bowl, McCarter, Signature. ARC, Part of RWS Global. castingbyarc.com IG: castingbyarc
BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing, and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic, and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com
KATIE CORTEZ (Company Manager). National Tours: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1776, Waitress, The Prom, The Phantom of the Opera, Finding Neverland, Bullets Over Broadway, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
FRANK DEMING II (Associate Company Manager). National Tours: Mean Girls, To Kill a Mockingbird (ACM), Pretty Woman (ACM), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (CSM). Regional: Virginia Theatre Festival (CM), New Harmony Theatre (CM). Graduate of the University of Montevallo. Proudly mentored by Jen and Marcus Lane, Katie Cortez, and Jack Stephens.
KELSEY TIPPINS (Production Stage Manager, she/they). National Tours: Mrs. Doubtfire, Pretty Woman the Musical, The Prom, Once On This Island, A Bronx Tale, Finding Neverland, Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Elf The Musical, and Shrek The Musical. Favorite Regional: The Muny, Weston Playhouse, and Piedmont Opera. For Ace. @kelseytippins
MATTHEW BROOKS (Stage Manager, he/ him). National Tours: Company; Jesus Christ Superstar; A Christmas Story; An Officer and a Gentleman; Xanadu; and Rosie Revere, Engineer and Friends. Regional: Asolo Repertory Theatre; New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theatre; Connecticut Repertory
Theatre; Colorado Shakespeare Festival; and the Dorset Theatre Festival. Thanks to Kelsey, Heather, my parents, and mi amore Nia most of all. Proud AEA member and graduate of the University of Illinois. matthewibbrooks.com
FOUAD HASSAN (Assistant Stage Manager, he/ him) is a blind and Arab stage manager, proud of both. Fouad dedicates his work to beautiful Arabs who rarely see ourselves and our real stories represented. With credits including Broadway’s Hamilton and The Kite Runner, and Off-Broadway’s We Live in Cairo, Fouad strives to foster spaces of community, care, and visibility for all.
GENTRY & ASSOCIATES (General Manager) has managed nearly 250 national and international touring theatrical productions over the past 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Funny Girl, The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, and The Wiz.
HANNA OSMOLSKA (Executive Producer) has general managed Life of Pi in London’s West End (Wyndham’s Theatre), on UK tour and on international engagements. She is also the Executive Director of Simon Friend Entertainment whose current and recent productions include Paranormal Activity, Here You Come Again, The Girl on the Train, and The Height of the Storm.
SETH WENIG (Executive Producer) has been with NETworks since its inception in 1995. He spearheaded the international tours of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Seth has produced the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and the National Theatre production of War Horse. Together with Cameron Mackintosh, Seth served as Executive Producer for both the US and UK tours of the National Theatre’s My Fair Lady, the
25th Anniversary US tour of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera tour, Miss Saigon. Currently, Funny Girl, The Book of Mormon, and Life of Pi. He is most proud of his greatest productions–Marlo and Camden.
SIMON FRIEND (Producer) has commissioned, developed, and lead produced many productions in the U.K. including Life of Pi, which arrived on Broadway last year after a long run in London’s West End the production won 3 Tonys and 5 Oliviers. This year has included world premiere productions of Minority Report based on Philip K. Dick’s story and Paranormal Activity based on the Paramount Pictures films; the enormously successful new Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again across the U.K. and in London; and the forthcoming new play Second Best. Recent West End credits: The Real Thing, Life of Pi, Bad Jews, The Starry Messenger, The Girl on the Train, The Height of the Storm (also Broadway), and Admissions, amongst many others. Simon also produced the Academy Award-winning film The Father.
DARYL ROTH (Producer) holds the singular distinction of producing seven Pulitzer Prizewinning plays: Anna in the Tropics, August: Osage County, Clybourne Park, How I Learned to Drive, Proof, Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, and Wit. The proud recipient of 13 Tony Awards and London’s Olivier Award, over 130 productions including Kinky Boots, Into the Woods, Indecent, Left on Tenth, and The Normal Heart. Trustee, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center Theater. Honored to have been inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.
HAL LUFTIG (Producer). Winner of five Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards, Hal Luftig has worked on and off Broadway for the past 35 years. Broadway includes Here Lies Love, Plaza Suite, American Utopia, Kinky Boots, Children of a Lesser God, Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Angels in America. Off-Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish; Scotland, PA (Roundabout);
Here Lies Love (The Public). Upcoming: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; Becoming Nancy and Scotland, PA (Broadway).
MARK GORDON PICTURES (Producer).
Broadway: Romeo + Juliet, Life of Pi, The Piano Lesson, POTUS. Off-Broadway/Regional: Teeth, Highway Patrol, Nollywood Dreams, The Buddy System. UK: People, Places and Things; Brace Brace; Punch; School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play. Film: Saving Private Ryan, Speed, The Day After Tomorrow, 2012, Murder on the Orient Express, Source Code, Molly’s Game, Steve Jobs, The Patriot. Television: Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Ray Donovan, Designated Survivor, Quantico, Private Practice, The Rookie
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Funny Girl, The Great Gatsby, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Mean Girls, Peter Pan, Cameron Mackintosh presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music and The Wiz.
42ND.CLUB (Co-Producer) is a seven-time Tony Award-winning network of Broadway producers and investors. Productions include & Juliet, Hadestown and Moulin Rouge!. In development: Alice in Neverland. Producers: Phil & Claire Kenny, Winston Hatta (@ buddybroadway) and Miles & Bonnie Romney. 42nd.club
PLAYING FIELD (Co-Producer). Combining our knowledge of theatre and capital, Playing Field is dedicated to accelerating the creation of world class theatre through the early-stage development, late-stage investment and production of a wide variety of projects in London, nationally and internationally. Work includes The Lehman Trilogy, Back to the Future, Life of Pi, War Horse, Starlight Express,
Dear England, Stranger Things, The Motive and the Cue, Moulin Rouge, Merrily We Roll Along, Funny Girl, Patriots, and Jerusalem. playingfield.co.uk
HARRIET NEWMAN LEVE (Co-Producer) has won four Tony Awards. Productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Beautiful, An American in Paris, Hedwig, War Horse, The 39 Steps, The Mountaintop, A Little Night Music, La Cage aux Folles, The Norman Conquests, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Crucible, and Stomp.
INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK (CoProducer). Over 30 presenters of touring Broadway in the US, UK and Asia. Recent/ Upcoming: & Juliet, The Devil Wears Prada, The Notebook, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Some Like It Hot.
JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION (Co-Producer) family of companies include Broadway Across America and Broadway.com, under the supervision of 22-time Tony-winning producer John Gore. Productions include: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, The Outsiders, Gypsy.
KUHN DODANI (Co-Producer). Eric Kuhn is a Tony Award-winning producer between New York and London and co-CEO and co-founder of Folk Media Group. Nik Dodani is an actor, filmmaker, and producer who serves as CEO of Cosmic Pomegranate and co-founder of The Salon.
KATE AND BILL FISHEL (Co-Producer) live in the Pacific Palisades with their three sons Mike, John, and Andy and their own representative of the divine through love, fear, and survival: Wally Washington Fishel.
AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATER (Co-Producer) at Harvard University, led by Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., produces groundbreaking work to catalyze dialogue and transformation. The A.R.T. is a Tony Awardwinning creative hub, launching acclaimed productions seen on Broadway, across the U.S., and around the world including Jagged
Little Pill, Waitress, Great Comet, All the Way, The Glass Menagerie, Pippin, Once, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, 1776, and Real Women Have Curves (upcoming).
SHEFFIELD THEATRES (Co-Producer) is the largest U.K. producing theatre complex outside London, comprising the Crucible, Lyceum, and Playhouse. Celebrated for creating bold new work, recent hits include Life of Pi, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Standing at the Sky’s Edge.
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
SNEHAL DESAI (Artistic Director, he/him) was appointed Center Theatre Group's third artistic director in 2023. As an artistic leader, Snehal has sought to raise awareness of social issues that affect Angelenos through impactful and empowering storytelling. Previously, he was the Producing Artistic Director of East West Players. A Soros Fellow and the recipient of a Tanne Award, Snehal was the Inaugural Recipient of the Drama League’s Classical Directing Fellowship. He currently serves on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and was on the faculty of USC’s graduate program in Arts Leadership. Directing highlights include Assassins, Mamma Mia!, Grease, Allegiance, and The Who's Tommy
MEGHAN PRESSMAN (Managing Director/ CEO, she/her) joined Center Theatre Group in 2019. Previously, she served as Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (D.C.), Director of Development for Signature Theatre (N.Y.), and Associate Managing Director of Berkeley Rep. She is a graduate of Yale School of Drama/Yale School of Management and serves as a mentor in the Theater Management program. Meghan has served as the Vice-Chair for the Theatre Communications Group Board of Directors and is a member of the Broadway League.
GORDON DAVIDSON (Founding Artistic Director) led the Taper throughout its first 38 seasons, guiding over 300 productions to its stage and winning countless awards for himself and the theatre—including the Tony Award for theatrical excellence, Margo Jones Award, The Governor’s Award for the Arts, and a Guggenheim fellowship. The Kentucky Cycle and Angels in America (Part One) won the Pulitzer in consecutive years and, in 1994, three of the four plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play were from the Taper (Angels in America won). In 1989, Gordon took over the Ahmanson and, in 2004, he produced the inaugural season in the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
DOUGLAS C. BAKER (Producing Director, he/him) joined Center Theatre Group in 1990. Doug is an active member of the Broadway League, the Independent Presenters Network (IPN), and is a proud member of the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM). In 2013, Doug received the Broadway League’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management Award.
ERIC SIMS (General Manager, Presentations, he/him) joined CTG in 2005 and has served in various capacities, including as the Director of Operations for the Kirk Douglas Theatre from 2008-2018. Previously, he was the Managing Director of the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. He is the Vice President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association and was the Co-Chair of the Ovation Rules Committee, producing the Ovation Awards from 2015-2019.
CENTER THEATRE GROUP, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading notfor-profit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the
Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967, Center Theatre Group has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as Zoot Suit; Angels in America; The Kentucky Cycle; Biloxi Blues; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Children of a Lesser God; Curtains; The Drowsy Chaperone; 9 to 5: The Musical; and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. CenterTheatreGroup.org
Opening Night: December 10, 2024
STAFF FOR LIFE OF PI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Hanna Osmolska and Seth Wenig
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Gentry & Associates
Gregory Vander Ploeg
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
NETworks Presentations
Jason Juenker
TOUR BOOKING, MARKETING & PUBLICITY
BOND THEATRICAL bondtheatrical.com
TOUR BOOKING
Temah Higgins Mollie Mann Wendy Roberts
Madison St. Amour Laura Rizzo Nilesha Alexander
TOUR MARKETING & PUBLICITY
DJ Martin Marc Viscardi
Tony Joy Harrison Mootoo
CASTING
ARC
Duncan Stewart, CSA Mark Brandon, CSA
Patrick Maravilla, Jarrett Reiche, Kendra Luca
Kyle Coker, Devi Peot, Jaron Cole
Ryan Stana, CEO RWS Global
Ryan Saab, SVP RWS Global
Production Stage Manager Kelsey Tippins
Stage Manager Matthew Brooks
Assistant Stage Manager Fouad Hassan
Company Manager Katie Cortez
Associate Company Manager Frank Deming II
Associate Puppet Designer Caroline Bowman
Associate Scenic Designer................................................. Ross Edwards
Associate Costume Designer Robin L. McGee
Assistant Costume Designer Jeanna DiPaolo
Associate Lighting Designers Timothy Reed, Paul Toben
Moving Light Programmer Paul Toben
U.K. Associate Sound Designers Sam Clarkson, Elliott Williams / Sound Quiet Time
Associate Video and Animation Designer Brad Peterson
Producers Jessica Chase, Katie Myers, Bonnie-Chance Roberts
Associate Producer Michela Rodriquez
Executive Assistants Chelsey Dobbins, Andrea Rivera, Taylla Smith
CREDITS
Scenery fabricated by Great Lakes Scenic Studios, Burlington, ON, Show Control and Scenic Motion Control featuring STAGE COMMAND SYSTEMS® by PRG Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway
L.L.C., New Windsor, New York. Sound and Video Systems provided by Sound Associates, Yonkers, NY. Lighting equipment from Christie Lites. Costumes by Eric Winterling Inc., Pintler Costumes. Puppets made by Nick Barnes Puppets: Caroline Bowman, Jodie Dean, Aga Fraczak, Harriet Lansdown, Suzanne Law, Chelsey Lee, Oli Simonon, Georgina Smith, Jessica Taylor, Charlie Tymms, Ash West.
Rehearsed at NEW 42nd Street Studios, 229 W 42nd Street, New York, NY.
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Cameron Mackintosh, Mark Lunsford, Emma Watt, Skip Curtiss, Sabrina Cuniberto.
Broadway Across America
Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD
Ron Legler, President and Chris Mahan, Vice President.
Insurance Broker Services
EPIC Entertainment & Sports
Financial Services and banking arrangements by Flagstar Bank N.A.
The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers of the United States.
The House Managers, Press Agents, and Company Managers employed in this production are represented by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers.
The following employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Machine Operators, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC: Stage Crew Local 33; Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Local 857; Wardrobe Crew Local 768; Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Local 706.
United Scenic Artists represents designers and scenic artists for the American Theatre.
This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.
Center Theatre Group is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the American Arts Alliance, the Broadway League, Independent Producers’ Network (IPN), and the Theatre Communications Group (TCG).
ARTISTIC
SNEHAL DESAI Artistic Director | MEGHAN PRESSMAN Managing Director/CEO | DOUGLAS C. BAKER Producing Director
GORDON DAVIDSON Founding Artistic Director
Center Theatre Group would like to thank its exceptional staff for their ongoing commitment, dedication, and extraordinary efforts. ♦ On staff for 10+ years. °Education & Community Partnerships Alumni.
ANTONIO DIXON, HERVIN HERNANDEZ, NATAILE MARCEAU, REGINA NILES Drivers
VANESSA BRADCHULIS, OLIVIA CHOATE, PRESSLY COKER, MONICA GREENE, PAT LOEB, TWON POPE, SAM UDERO Stage Door Attendants
FINANCE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND HUMAN RESOURCES
CHERYL SHEPHERD Chief Financial Officer
PETER BANACHOWSKI............................................................Controller
DENICE BEHDAD Assistant Controller
ANAHITA ASHRAFIPOUR Senior Accountant
XOCHITL ORTEGA Accounts Payable Supervisor
KERRY BETH KAUFFMAN° Accounting Assistant
JESSICA HERNANDEZ Payroll Manager
MYLAH BARRETO Payroll Specialist
TOM MEGALE IT Director
JANELLE CABRERA TORRES Tessitura & Web Administration Director
JOEY SOLANO Digital Product Manager
CRIS SPACCA♦ Information Technology Manager
JODY HORWITZ♦ Director of Human Resources
JERMAINE CARTER HR Generalist
MOSS ADAMS Auditor
MICHAEL C. DONALDSON, LISA A. CALLIF Legal Counsel
GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER Legal Counsel
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
SARAH SULLIVAN Director of Institutional Advancement
RICKY CARTER Director of Development
CRYSTAL DIAZ Director of Special Events
KATASHA ACOSTA-ROWE Director of Advancement Operations
PAULA MATALLANA Director of Institutional Grants
GRACE PIPER Assistant Director, Prospect Research and Strategy
NICOLE SCIPIONE♦ Senior Individual Giving Officer
OYE EHIKHAMHEN Individual Giving Officer
ZAIN PATEL Individual Giving Officer
NICKI BONURA Advancement Associate
RACHEL BONDS Senior Analyst, Gift Accounting and Reporting
HAILEY BRUNSON Annual Giving Coordinator
ALICE PELAYO Donor Liason & Institutional Advancement Assistant
IRENE CHO Executive Assistant to the Director of Institutional Advancement
As part of our commitment to supporting new plays and playwrights, we foster and develop a broad range of theatrical work from diverse artists locally, nationally, and abroad.
MEDIA AND CONTENT
BRETT WEBSTER Director of Media and Content
JESSICA DOHERTY° Associate Content Director
BOBBY MARTINEZ Content Associate
KEELEY BELL Media and Content Coordinator
DAVIDSON & CHOY PUBLICITY:
TIM CHOY, PETER GOLDMAN,
VICTORIA WESTBROOK Publicity Consultants
DEANNA McCLURE Design Director
JAVIER VASQUEZ♦ Digital Content Producer
LILA WAKILI Senior Graphic Designer
CINDY ANDRADE Graphic Designer
CHEYNE GALLARDE Graphic Designer
MARKETING AND SALES
GARRETT COLLINS Director of Marketing and Sales
PAMELA KUHR Director of Membership
BRENNIE TELLU Ticketing & Customer Experience Director
CANDICE WALTERS♦ Marketing Campaigns & Operations Director
SKYPP CABANAS♦ Senior Manager, Ticket Operations
DEVANY HARDEN° Senior Manager, Audience Loyalty
KATHARINE MEANS° Senior Manager, Advertising
MIKE RATTERMAN Senior Manager, Membership Engagement
ANDRESSA ROYER Senior Manager, Audience Development & Marketing Events
NINA PERRY Account Sales Manager
CHASE ANDERSON-SHAW Kirk Douglas Theatre Manager
ROMAN DICESARE Email Marketing Associate
MARC GOODMAN Senior Analyst, Sales Strategy & Data
TINTIN NGUYEN Ticket Operations Coordinator
PETER SULLIVAN Marketing Coordinator
AARON HIGAREDA Membership Engagement Supervisor
LA'RAE CARMICHAEL, JOE CASPER, NATALIE DRESSEL, DAVID HUNTER, ABHI KATYAL, NAT KEEZER, KATHLEEN LITTLEFIELD, JO NUNEZ, IAN PRICE,
DONALD RIZZO, BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ
DIANE WARD Membership Engagement Representatives
CAROLINE THOMPSON/IMPACT 123 Media Planning
SANDY CZUBIAK♦ Audience & Subscriber Services Director
JONATHAN FLORES Audience Services Assistant Supervisor
JURGEN SANTOS, CHRISTIAN UNGER Audience Services Sales Associates
JOSHUA BADILLO, CLAY BUNKER, FRANK ENSENBERGER, DANIEL GARCIA, MICHAEL MUNOZ, SAMUEL ROQUE, DAVID SALAZAR, ASHLEY SANDOVAL, CHRISTINA WRIGHT Audience Services Representatives
LUIS ESPINOZA, KAITLYN GALVEZ, MICHAEL KEMPISTY,♦ RICHARD RUBIO 2nd Assistant Treasurers
LA WRITERS’ WORKSHOP
Since 2005, we have invited local playwrights to spend a year researching and writing a new work with the feedback of their fellow writers and artistic staff as part of our L.A. Writers’ Workshop.
Artists creating new work commissioned by Center Theatre Group this season: Learn more at CTGLA.org/ARTISTS
AZIZA BARNES
LISA D’AMOUR
LARISSA FASTHORSE
JENNIFER HALEY
ALESHEA HARRIS
GERALDINE ELIZABETH INOA
LISA KRON
KIMBER LEE
YOUNG JEAN LEE
MATTHEW LOPEZ
ROGER Q. MASON
TAHIRIH MOELLER
JANINE NABERS
QUI NGUYEN
LYNN NOTTAGE
MARCO RAMIREZ
CYNTHIA GRACE ROBINSON
SARAH RUHL
T.TARA TURK-HAYNES
LUIS VALDEZ
PAULA VOGEL
KAREN ZACARÍAS
2023/24 COHORT:
AMY BERRYMAN
INDA CRAIG-GALVÁN°
ISAAC GÓMEZ
CHRISTOPHER OSCAR PEÑA
RAMIZ MONSEF
JASMINE SHARMA
LA ARTIST RESIDENCIES
DIANA BURBANO
LARISSA FASTHORSE
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
MICHAEL JOHN GARCÉS
DANIEL ALEXANDER JONES
MADELINE SAYET
KRISTINA WONG
CRITICAL MASS PERFORMANCE GROUP
ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE LA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHALK REP NATIVE VOICES AT THE AUTRY
OUR SUPPORTERS: ANNUAL DONORS
THANK YOU for your generous annual support.
As we emerge from the most challenging period in Center Theatre Group’s history, we recognize our generous individual donors for their annual and event support.
$500,000+
Anonymous
Kirk & Anne Douglas^
The Louis & Harold Price Foundation
$250,000+
Jana & Trevor Bezdek
Amy Forbes & Andrew Murr
Stanley Iezman & Nancy Stark
$100,000+
Anonymous(2)^
Diana Buckhantz & Vladimir & Araxia Buckhantz Foundation
Helen & Morgan Chu
Cindy & Gary Frischling
Kiki & David Gindler^
Aliza Karney Guren & Marc Guren^
Louise Moriarty & Patrick Stack
Deena & Edward Nahmias
Laura & James Rosenwald & Orinoco Foundation
$50,000+
Anonymous
Joni & Miles Benickes^
Margaret Sheehy Collins
Patricia Glaser & Sam Mudie
Manuela & James Goren
Robert Greenblatt
Mr. & Mrs. James L. Hunter
Vicki King
Thomas Safran
Elliott Sernel & Larry Falconio^
The estate of Frank J. Sherwood*
J R Stein Family Foundation
Donna & John Sussman^
Matt & Dana Walden
$25,000+
In Memory of Morris A. Hazan
In memory of Trana and Ronald Labowe
Anonymous (2)
Gay & Harry Abrams/ Abrams Artists Agency
Karen & Jonathan Axel
Elissa Becker
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Foundation Donor Advised Fund
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Stone Family
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$15,000+
Robert Abernethy
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I. Mark & Marlene Bledstein
Lynn Booth and Kent Kresa
Paula Brand
Dr. Robert Braun & Dr. Joan Friedman
Janice R. Brittain
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Doug Dust and Lorin Liesy
Connie Elliot
Michael A. Enomoto
Lisa Field
Robyn Field & Anthony O’Carroll
Jason Grode & Maryl Georgi
Annie Gross
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McLeod Family Foundation
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The Sugimoto Family Foundation
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Karen & William Timberlake
Peter & Iona Tompkins
Elinor & Rubin Turner
Peter & Susan Van Haften
Seymour Waterman & Family
Jerrie D. Whitfield &
Richard W. Motika
$10,000+
Linda Antonioli in loving memory of
Kenny Antonioli
Anonymous
Amy & Bob Abramson
Betsy & Harold Applebaum
Laurie and Bill Benenson
Fran R. Berger
Robert Bienstock
Ms. Virgina Blywise
Henry Cohen
Dr. Lawrence & Jane Z. Cohen
Bob Ducsay and Marina Pires de Souza
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Rhonda C. Evans
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Dr. Stephen D. Henry & Rudy Oclaray
Robert D. & Claire Heron
Phil Hettema
Ann & Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr
Honey Sanders
Douglas Hutchinson
Janice A. Kido^
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Sheila Krasnoff
David & Tam Lachoff
Sarah Landau
Michael & Sandy Leahy
Steven Llanusa & Glenn Miya, M.D.
Tiffany Lovett
Margot & Mitch Milias
Muller Family Foundation
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Newman Family Foundation
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Snyder Family Foundation
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Brad & George Takei
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Elizabeth Topkis
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Hattie & Harold Wheeler
George Zimmerman & Tatyana Gurvich^
$8,000+
Desobry E. Bowens in Memory of Alice Desobry Bowens
In Memory of John W. Carner
Remembering Lynn Kinikin
Anonymous (2)
Lois Yvonne Adams
Russell Allison
Debra & Dave Alpert
Adriana & Jay Balaban
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The Hoebich Family Foundation
Mary Ann Jacobsen
Roslyn & Warren Jacobson
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Curtis Lelash
Ronald Levenson &
Marcia Gold Levenson
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Judy Nussenblatt
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Tracy A. Stone & Allen Anderson
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$5,000+
All My Friends Productions
Empress Jacquie
In Memory of Marianne Cooper*
In Memory of Mille Kern
Geoffrey Tully and Madison Tully in memory of Genise Reiter
Stuart & Laurie Rice In Loving
Memory of Adam Rice
Nita Whitaker
VoiceWorks Productions, Inc.
Anonymous (6)
Katherine Adamson
Florence C. Agcawili
Andrew Aichlmayr ^
Susan Alschuler
Robert C. Anderson
Suzanne Attig
Cheryl & Elliott Balbert
Howard Banchik
Christopher & Anadel Barbour
Angela Bardowell
Linda Barnett
Mark & Jody Barnhill
Lois Barth & Michael Schubach*
Susan Baumgarten
Pamela & Dennis Beck
Martin & Gina Bell
Yvonne & Derek Bell
Daniel Berendsen and Kevin Brockman
Susan & Adam Berger
Drs. Jack & Barbara Berman
Peter & Helen Bing
Diane Birnbaumer &
James Thompson
Leah Bishop & Gary Yale
Joan & Rob Blackman
Majorie Blatt
Yvonne Bogdanovich & Family
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The Brannan Family Foundation
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Dr. Lisa Bukaty &
Mr. Raymond M. Bukaty
Richard J. Burdge Jr. & Lee Smalley Edmon
Linda Stafford Burrows
Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Busuttil
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Patty Chan
The Honorable Judith C. Chirlin^*
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Mary Coates
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The Craig Family
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Cathy DeRoy
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Alan & Barbara Faiola
Valerie Field
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Judith R. Forman & Richard N. Weiner
The Franke Family Trust
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Fariba Ghaffari
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Mr. Kevin A. Yoder
Tanna Handley Havlick
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Zvia Hempling^
Alicia Hirsch & Jesse Russo
Karen Hirshan/Hirshan Family
Foundation
Ofer B. Ho
Rand Hoffman & Charlotte Robinson
Amy Hogan
Erika Honda
Gary Kading
Linda R. Kaplan
Cari & Marty Kavinoky
Ken & Stefanie Kay
Claudia E. Kazachinsky & Richard A. Sherer
Albert Kelly & Marjorie Stevens Kelly
Sharon Kerson
Genni Klein
Michael & Deborah Klein^
Karen & Bob Knapp
Joanne C. Kozberg
Darell & Elizabeth Krasnoff
Mr. & Mrs. Stan Krasnoff
Jale Kutay
Anne & Michael Landsburg
David & Janet Lazier
Ron & Pat Lebel
Dinny & David Lesser
Dr. Dianne N. Long
Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Louchheim
M. Michele Martin
Dr. Rosie M. Mayfield
Gerard McCallum
Alan & Jodi Melcher
Carla Meyer & Chuck Arnold
Donna Millan
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Miller
Joanne & Joel Mogy
Patrick Moran
Toni Morgan
Lon Morse and Toni Hollander-Morse
Loula Moschonas & James Edgerton^
Jerri & Dr. Steven Nagelberg
Bob & Renee Nunn^
Mr. Richard Nupoll
Michael R. Oppenheim^
Janie & Allan Orenstein
Yvonne Orji
Elsie & Peter Paterno
Jamie Patricof & Kelly Sawyer Patricof
Helen Pekny
Maggi Phillips & Mario Gerla
Dr. Ralph & Cathy Quijano
Rollin A. Ransom & Chris Lacroix
Paula F. Reach
Resnik Family Foundation
Kristine Reynal
Rick & Judy Richman
Michael Robin
Lois Rosen
Ellen & Mike Rosenberg
Karen P. Rosenthal & Clark Linstone
Stephen and Kate Sachs
Marsha & Imre Sallai^
June Sanders Sattler
Stephen J. Sass &
Dr. Steven Hochstadt
Leonard Sharzer
Linda M. Sherman
Jacque & Herb Spivak
Merrilee B. St. John^
Jill Stein
Clumeck Stern
Schenkelberg & Getzoff
Laura Stevenson Maslon
Susan R. Stockel
Jeff Sung
Robin & David Swartz
Fran Sweeney
Marcy Szarama
Laney Techentin
Russell Todd
Lynn Tolkan Franklin
Sandra Tufts
Michael Valocchi
Rob Wade
Norman & Barbara Weiler
Susan & William Weintraub
John R. White and Kimberly Stirling
Denise J. Winner
Mary J. Witt
Wolfen Family Foundation
Virginia & Greg Young
Arnold H. & Tricia L. Zane
Richard Zbur
$2,500+
Beatrice (Tina) Castillo & Gail Sandford
Bobbie Stern
Ellen Eubanks
In Honor of Laura Woolls
In Honor of My Mother, Consuelo Lopez
In memory of Robert A. Fisher
In Memory of Ruth & Leon Sirkin
In Memory of Wayne Jervis, Jr. Anonymous (9)
Michael and Susan Abeles
Paula A. Adams
Craig J. and Kathryn K. Anderson
Laura Armour
Sandra Aronberg, M.D. & Charles Aronberg, M.D.
Margaret Arvey
Linda Ayers
Corinne Baldassano
John Ballinger & Rod Davis
David Baltimore & Alice Huang
Chris & Rose Bauss^
Dr. Martine Bauwens
Mr. & Mrs. John Bettfreund
Christopher Bissonnette
Susan Bloch & Stephen Kay
Rachel Bloom
Annette Blum
Betsy Borns
Irene Boyd
Lynn and Robert Brandt
Devra Breslow
Leah Broidy
Jaron Brooks
Abbott Brown
Todd & Cory Buchner
Christine Cahill
Kelly Campbell
Steven Cantrell
Melinda Carmichael
Thomas J. Carmichael
Sandra L. Carter
Arthur & Katheryn Chinski
Caroline Choi
Joanne R. Cohen
Victor Cole & Patricia Green
Father Vince Connor
Hon. Candace Cooper (Ret.)
Corbell Family
Ted Cordes
William Dandridge
Steve & Linda Darling
Kenneth Davis
Larry Davis
Mr. Nicholas Davis
Heidy & Saul De La Rosa
Tom De Simone & Jason Wright
Erica B. Deutsch
Chiedu Egbuniwe
Thomas Farrell
Mrs. Barbara J. Feiga
Robert Finkel & Adelle Gross
Lauren Firestone & Chris Cookson
Jon Fisher
Darcy Fleck
Ruth Fleming-Stephens
Laura E. Fox, M.D. &
John D. Hofbauer, M.D.
Tony and Elisabeth Freinberg
Kenneth J. Friedman
Rosalie Friis-Ross
Howard J. Fulfrost
Kerry Garvis Wright
Dr. Robert Gasway & Kristen Wong
Freddi & Marvin Gelfand
Jeanne K. Gerson
Jeri & Keith Gertzman
Patrick & Frank Gibson-McMinn
Celine Gillibrand
Kelly Lynn Gitter
Bruce & Madelyn Glickfeld
Bob Gold
Ms. Gail Goldberg Stoter
Andrew and Colleen Goldberg
Dr. Irene Goldenberg
Nan & Allan Goodman
Edith Gould
Mr. & Mrs. Francisco Govea
Dr. Stuart & Adrienne Green
Nancy Greenberg
Sally Greenfield
Ms. Ann Greer
Craig Greiwe
Debra Grieb & John Mickus
Cynthia Griffin
Pam Grissom
Lorrie & Richard Gurewitz
Ms. Elizabeth Haaker
Scott Hall & Rhonda Church
Ms. Kamala Hamilton & Mr. Lucky Weir
Marc Hankin
Harris Family Foundation
Sam Harris
Johnny Ruth Harrison, M.D.^
Trish Harrison-Runnette & John Runnette
Catherine & Mark Helm
Phyllis & J. Michael Hennigan
Barbara Herman
R. Christine Hershey
Ellen & Tom Hoberman
Fritz Hoelscher
Laurie Zaks & Jeff Horn
Joan Hotchkis
Heidi Hu
Elizabeth Irvine Bray
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Itami
Irwin & Meredith Jacobson
The James Irvine Foundation
Sean Johnson & Alex Ocampo
Carol & Bruce Johnston
Rosalind Joseph
Janet & Steve Kahane
Judith & Russell Kantor^
Regina & Richard G. Kaplan
Elyse & Stanley Katz
Laurence & Linda Kaufman
Jennifer Keller
John and Karen Keller
Sarah E. Kiefer
Kerry Korf, Geoffrey Korf, William Korf, & Hannah Haas
Lindsey Kozberg
Dr. Peter A. Krikes
Dr. Micheal and Mrs. Mindy Kuhn
Lynn Kwock
Lynn Lalonde Allen
Katherine L'Amour
Michael Lanning
Sharon Lapid
Joan & Chris Larkin^
Ned Leiba
Gordon Lemke & Brian Rodgers
Charles Letzgus & Michael McDonald
Jeff S. Levine/The J2 Foundation
Marla E. Levine
Carl L. Levinger^
Carrie & Mark Levinson & Emily,
Lauren & Max
Nancy & Jonathan Littman
Mary Anne Lucero
Michael Lurey & Laurie Hasencamp
Roger MacFarlane
Marge & Bill MacLaughlin
Hon. Nora M. Manella
Darlene Manus
Deborah Marshall
Emily & Phillips Marshall
Amy & Harold Masor
Marie Mazzone & David Israeli
Meg McComb
McKinney Fund
Robert L. Mendow^
Lorraine & Craig Meyer
Nick & Vaughan Meyer
Carole Miller
Joan & Philip Miller
Gretchen & Marshall Milligan
Julien Minard
Lawrence A. Mirisch
Arline M. Nakanishi
Robert & Sally Neely
Marianne & Michael Newman
Patty & John Nickoll
Marsha Niles
Russell Noel
Cindy & Ken Norian
Nancy Norris
Dr. David Oh
Susan Oka
Mary Rose & Edward Ortega
Thomas Payne
Carole Pelton
Carol Phillips & Bob Shapiro
Frank and Cheryl Pine
Carolyn & John Poer
Pauline & Drew Pomerance
Clark and Kathryn Porter Family
Foundation
Irv & Gina Posalski
Michael Powell & Dr. Sheila Phillips
Shelley Powsner & Stephen Skrovan
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Praw
Patricia Price
Jeffrey C. Quinn
Nan Rae
Lee Ramer
Van Ramich
Tracy L. Ramont
Courtney Rangen
Lary Rappaport & Ellen Isaacs
Kirk & Cathy Reynolds
Andrea and Mark Richard
David A. & Karen Richards Sachs
Peter Richards
Ms. Carol Risher
Lindsay Ritter
Murphy & Ed Romano
Bingo Roncelli
Robert Roosth
Jeffrey A. Rosen
Nathalie & Jim Rosen
Lynne Rosenberg
Richard M. Ross
Rabbi & Mrs. Moshe Rothblum
Jeanne Sakata
Dana Saladen & Linda Walters
Jay & Linda Sandrich
Linda & Clifford Schaffer
Barbara Schnell & Gordon Johnson
Scolamieri/Colwell Family Trust
Rob & Cathy Sevell^
Patrick & Patricia Sheldon
Ms. Shannon Shih
Jacqueline & Harvey Shulman
Karen & Gordon Silverstein
Alan and Esther Siman
Kurt & Keli Skarin
Stephen & Judith Slagle
Leslie Smith
Roberta Smith^
Bruce Spector
Kathy Speer & Terry Grossman
David A. Steinberg
Jack & Marlene Susser
Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Sussman
I.H. Sutnick
Stephen & Karen Sweeney
Nathan Swisher
Ellen Tam
William L. Tan & Shelly M. Ushio
Will Tanous
Judith N. Taylor
Mary & Peter Tennyson
Dr. Keith Terasaki
Ms. Allison Thomas
Marla Thornton
Susan & William Tinkley
Judy Tishkoff & Keith Crasnick
Eileen T'Kaye & David Bischoff
Paulette Toumazos & Michael Lorenz
Sue Tsao
Trude Tsujimoto
Carol Vernon & Robert Turbin
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Wallace
Jason Wanderer
Rita Warren
Charles W. Weeks
Janice & Larry Weiner
Bonnie Weis
John & Martha Wengert
Kim White Peterson
Sara Widzer
Lori Williams & Stephen Schulte
Eric Winston &
Jacqueline McIntyre-Winston
Edward Wolkowitz Family
Wayne Zahner
Matt Zaslow
Ruth Zommick
The above list reflects total annual giving from either the FY25 fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) or the previous fiscal year FY24 (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024), whichever is greater. This list is updated as of March 19, 2025.
Please contact our Advancement team at 213.972.7564 or Give@CTGLA.org with any corrections to this list. Thank you! ^Acknowledges a loyal supporter who has pledged a multi-year commitment to Center Theatre Group, including next year. Deceased
Cinderella
OUR SUPPORTERS: ENDOWNMENT + PLANNED GIFTS
THANK YOU for investing in our future.
We are honored to recognize contributors who have provided support that extends well beyond the current season and safeguards the future of Center Theatre Group. We thank all of our endowment and Ovation Circle donors for making a commitment that sustains the finest theatre artistry.
ENDOWMENT GIFTS
$500,000+
The Ahmanson Foundation
Gordon Davidson Tribute Fund
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
Ann & Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.
The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation
Renee & Meyer Luskin
Martin Massman
John S. Surabian, Jr. and in memory of Faith and Sharon Ann Surabian
$250,000+
S. Brower Trust
The Michael Shaw Jacobs Fund
Patricia Glaser & Sam Mudie
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Simon
$100,000+
Betsy & Harold Applebaum
Judith & Thomas Beckmen
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
Maynard & Linda Brittan—
Traub-Brittan Family Trust
Center Theatre Group Affiliates
Kenneth Corday
Regina Fadiman
Barbara & Peter Fodor
Ava & Charles Fries
Brindell & Milton Gottlieb
The Hearst Foundation, Inc.
Vicki King
Gloria Lothrop
Richard G. & Virginia L. Martin
The Estate of Frank J. Sherwood
Louise Taper
$50,000+
Moira Byrne Foster Foundation
Margaret Sheehy Collins
Deborah M. Hyde
Ellen & Michael S. Korney
Dorothy & Richard Sherwood
$25,000+
Abbott Brown
Linda Brown
Greve Foundation
Dr. Tom Hickey
Renata Landres and Family
Levine Foundation
Diane & Leon Morton
The Estate of Anita Mae Hirsh
$10,000+
A and J Davidson Skipper Award Fund
George A. V. Dunning
Carolyn & Kit Lokey
Betty & Sanford Sigoloff
PLANNED GIFTS
Shirley & Irving Ashkenas
W. Lee Bailey, M.D.
Angela Bardowell
Chris & Rose Bauss
Tim Curtis and Shandon Youngclaus
Pamela & Dennis Beck
Judith & Thomas Beckmen
The Bennetts
Linda Brown
Allan & Joan Burns
Richard & Norma Camp
Bill Cohn & Dan Miller
Earl & Christine Cory
Zoe Cosgrove Estate
Susan D. Clines & Charles Dillingham
Anne M. Dougherty & David Dobrikin
Kirk & Anne Douglas
Elisabeth Katte Harris Trust
Amy Forbes & Andrew Murr
Kiki and David Gindler
Mr. & Mrs. Walter E. Grauman
Susan A. Grode
Virginia Hayes
Sharon L. Henderson
Mr. Kim L. Hunter
Deborah M. Hyde
The Doug Jones and John Sanger
Theater Ticket Fund
Richard & Julie Kagan
Arlene M. Kageyama-Chikami
Sarah & Andy Kane
Debra L. Karrenbrock
Dr. & Mrs. Jack Kavanaugh
The Paul Kowal Charitable Foundation
Darell L. Krasnoff Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald
Joyce & Kent Kresa
Marla E. Levine
Steven Llanusa & Glenn Miya, M.D.
Carol & Douglas Mancino
George Manet
Meg McComb
Betty McMicken in honor of Jeanette Shammas
Diane & Leon Morton
Merle & Peter Mullin
Isabel F. Newman
Bob & Renee Nunn
Doug Palmer
Linda S. Peterson
Sally & Frank Raab
Edward L. Rada
Nan Rae
Stuart & Laurie Rice In Loving Memory of Adam Rice
Rocco-Davies Foundation
Penelope C. Roeder, Ph.D.
Bruce & Randy Ellen Ross
Allyson S. Rubin
Eileen B. Salmas
Wes Schaefer &
Cathy King-Schaefer
Elliott Sernel
Margaret Sheehy Collins
Sue & Steve Soldoff
I.H. Sutnick
William Tierney and Barry Weismarys
Karen & William Timberlake
Paulette Toumazos & Michael Lorenz
Sue Tsao
Carol Vernon & Robert Turbin
Peter & Susan Van Haften
Magda & Frederick R. Waingrow
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Wallace
Pat Warford
Susan & William Weintraub
Lauri N. Weiss
James Blair White
Margaret H. White
Mary J. Witt
Give@CTGLA.org.
GALA PERFORMANCE
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 6 PM
SPRING SHOWCASE
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1 PM AND SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1 PM
YVONNE MOUNSEY & ROSEMARY VALAIRE
PHOTOGRAPH
THANK YOU for your institutional support.
We deeply appreciate the corporate members, grant-making institutions, and government agencies that partner with Center Theatre Group to sustain and expand our engagement with the Los Angeles community through the art of theatre.
$1,000,000+
The Ahmanson Foundation
Anonymous
Edgerton Foundation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Mellon Foundation
Perenchio Foundation
S. Mark Taper Foundation
$200,000+ Bank of America
The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation
Gilead Sciences
The Shubert Foundation, Inc.
$100,000+
David Lee Foundation
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
SNAP Foundation
The Louis & Harold Price Foundation
$75,000+ PNC Bank
$50,000+
The Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
The David William Upham Foundation
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
L.L. Foundation For Youth
Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture
US Bank
$25,000+ Anonymous (2) Amazon Studios
Angelo Family Charitable Foundation
Babcock Power, Inc./ Dale S. Miller
The Baldwin Group
Center Theatre Group Affiliates
City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
The Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Rosenthal Family Foundation
Tiger Baron Foundation
$15,000+
Anonymous
California Arts Council
Culver City Unified School District
Edison International
The Friars Charitable Foundation
The Kenneth T. & Eileen L. Norris Foundation
The Otis Booth Foundation
Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts
Sascha Brastoff Foundation
Warner Bros. Discovery
$10,000+
The Harold and Mimi Steinberg
Charitable Trust
Jones Day
Lawrence P. Frank Foundation
NBCUniversal Payden & Rygel
The City of Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission
The Fran and Ray Stark Foundation
$7,500+ Chubb
Perry, Neidorf & Grassl, LLP
Sony Pictures
Entertainment
USI Insurance Services
$5,000+
The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
Find Your Light Foundation
SoCalGas
The Brookside Fund
$1,000+
The Caplin Foundation
The Sheri and Les Biller
Family Foundation
Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
CORPORATE SUPPORT
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
SEASON SPONSOR
A culinary
for your theatre outing encore
A PERFECT DINING EXPERIENCE TO PAIR WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE
Indulge in a seasonal three-course prix fixe menu at Noé Restaurant & Bar, just a short walk from the theatre. Enjoy a stress-free meal with valet parking for $25 and receive 15% off your bill at Noé when you present your theatre program. Scan the QR code & reserve your table now for an unforgettable evening.
SEASON PROGRAMMING SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
PRESIDENT
Marsha Tauber Sallai
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Stephanie Germeraad
Roberta Haft*
Christine Harte
Marianne Tobé Karns
Melinda J. Kelly
Thea F. Koss
Joan Krause
Marianne Mandel
Jerri Nagelberg
Lisa Nichols
Sharon Reisz
June Sanders Sattler*
Dr. Carmen Estrada Schaye*
Mary Kay Schumacher
Janice Brock Wallace*
Janice Weiner
Beth White
MEMBERS
Jamila Abu-Omar
Jacqui Assadi
Vi Ballard
Janet Barnet*
Sue Bass
Judith Beckmen*◆
Marjorie Bender◆
Lestrita Boardman◆
Elnora Guerraro Campos
Judy Colich
Judi Davidson
Ilene Eisenberg◆
Lynda Wolfson Fadel
Carolyn H. Fried
Dina Goldstein
Debra C. Gordon
Meg Greenwood
Kristina Greiner
Gina Harpur
Stephanie J. Hibler
Kim-Chi Hoang
Diane Kessler*
Barbara Krasnoff
Cheryl Lacsina
Rita Lee ◆
Annie Marie Lehrer
Diane Lesser
Helen Gordon Lowy
Dr. Elizabeth Lu
Gladys Lyons
Phyllis Massing
Diane Morton
Deena Nahmias
Olivia Neece
Diane Neubauer*
Sheila Poncher*◆
Gina Russ Posalski*
Nan Rae
Courtney Rangen◆
Linda Rendleman
Corina Rinaldi
Harriett Chatter Rose ◆
Lois Rosen
Marla Rubin
Gaile Gray Ryan
Carole Schiffer ◆
Angela Shah
Suzanne M. Shapiro
Maggy Simon
Christine Smith
Verra Smith-Terrell
Carole Solomon◆
Robbie J. Solomon
Marilyn Stambler*◆
Roslyn Holt Swartz
Louise Taper
Katherine L. Todd*
Sue Tsao ◆
Elinor Turner
Susan Tyssee
Barbara Van Orden
Donna Marie Venick*
Barbara Weber
Kim White Peterson*
Rosaline Zane*◆
Donna Sussman* * Past President ◆ Board Member at Large
Ruth Flinkman-Marandy
Los Angeles Jewish Health...Energizing Senior Life!
show through the end. For all the students on stage, it was their big break from the world around them, sheltering in the embrace of live theatre.
After months of challenges and bravery, the students had their “All Star” moment, showing that even hardship has layers. While the path forward is still in progress, nothing can stop these kids from letting their “freak flags fly!”
2024/25 SEASON
VISIONARIES:
MARTÍN + BEETHOVEN
MAY 10 | 7:30 PM | Alex Theatre
MAY 11 | 4 PM | The Wallis
Jaime Martín CONDUCTOR
Nemanja Radulović VIOLIN
CELESTIALS:
MOBLEY + VIVALDI
MAY 20 | 7:30 PM | The Wallis
MAY 22 | 7:30 PM | The Huntington
Margaret Batjer LEADER
Reginald Mobley COUNTERTENOR
MAESTROS:
MARTÍN + BACH
MAY 31 | 7:30 PM | The Wallis
JUN 1 | 4 PM | The Huntington
Jaime Martín
CONDUCTOR + SOLO FLUTE
Reginald Mobley COUNTERTENOR
The story also supports the puppeteers—with most of the action in the first half, actors warm up at the start of the show and then cool down as the action slows in Act Two.
In a similar vein, the puppetry supports the narrative. “There is something to be said about the way that you’re able to speak to metaphor with puppetry that is different than a human being coming on stage,” Rosen said. “When a human comes on stage to say lines, they explain the metaphor or talk about the metaphor— when a puppet comes on stage, it actually is the metaphor.”
Despite being a physical necessity, the puppetry rotation allows for the actors to create a truly new show each night based on which puppeteers take to the stage.
TICKETS LACO.ORG
“We have the basic choreography, but maybe it’s a shake or a sharp look, these little things you can add that give it so much more life,” Jeanlouis said.
When Jeanlouis operates the head of Richard Parker, he says he needs to listen to animate how the tiger is
The National Tour cast of Life of Pi Photo by Evan Zimmerman.
Jaime Martín MUSIC DIRECTOR
Radulović
feeling and interacting with the space—twitching the ears when he senses fear, shifting his eyes to focus on the action in front of him, operating the mouth when Parker needs to vocalize or yawn. Meanwhile, the hind often takes the lead when Richard Parker sits or lies down, while the heart helps connect the head and hind through their many motions.
And as the show continues to perform around the country, it evolves and changes along with the performers over time as well. “That’s the beauty of puppetry,” Rosen said. “It’s never done; the work is always evolving.”
For Jeanlouis, those possibilities feel endless. “When I am checking into the tiger, it’s like I am the universe,” he said. “The tiger has taught me about being grounded and fully present in who I am.”
Rosen hopes that Richard Parker, despite being a puppet, can inspire humanity in audiences as well.
“Maybe there exists a tiger in all of us,” Rosen said. “When do we have to step into that tiger mode?”
KASIMOFF-BLÜTHNER PIANO CO.
L.A.’s oldest piano store
Concert and Home Rentals
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YOU’RE HERE.
Congrats, You’ve Picked a Great Performance! Check out the interactive version of this theater program magazine and enjoy even more insight into the performers, creative talent and theater activities that are behind it all.
LINKS TO PERFORMERS’ SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
MULTI - MEDIA PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE.
UNDERSTUDY UPDATES
THEATER SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES
UPCOMING SHOWS AND CONCERTS AROUND TOWN
INSIDER SCOOPS FROM THEATER AND MUSIC PROFESSIONALS
“It’s a really great group of young people,” he said of the Student Ambassadors. “They were all incredibly responsible...they were eager and excited to jump in.” Breihan agreed. “They’re funny, they’re overachieving, they’re really curious,” she said. “You know, we made it through the fires, we made it through the election, we made it through a lot of hard times...[and] they showed up and they were happy to get to work. And that honestly lifted me up on a few of those tough weeks, so they’ve been a real gift to get to work with.” continued from page 13
“It was so fantastic that we managed to put on an event that had people of all different ages and different beliefs and made them all feel welcome and included.”
— Student Ambassador Alondra “Ofelia” Bautista
Don’t miss this AUDACIOUS sequel 146 years after Ibsen’s CLASSIC .
| Tickets Start at $40
Welcome to The Music Center!
Thank you for joining us.
The Music Center is your place to experience the joy, solace and transformative power of the arts. Here you can express yourself, connect with others and enjoy incredible live performances and events in our four beautiful theatres, at Jerry Moss Plaza and in Gloria Molina Grand Park.
We promise to provide you with the best experience possible on our campus. Please do your part to help us create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment by reviewing The Music Center Guest Agreement at musiccenter.org/guestagreement
Visit musiccenter.org to learn about upcoming events and performances.
Enjoy the show!
#BeAPartOfIt
@musiccenterla
General Information (213) 972-7211 | musiccenter.org
Support The Music Center (213) 972-3333 | musiccenter.org/support
TAKE A TOUR OF THE MUSIC CENTER
Free 90-minute docent-led tours take you through the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall, along with Jerry Moss Plaza. You’ll learn about the history and architecture of the theatres along with The Music Center’s beautiful outdoor spaces as well as the incredible selection of artwork located throughout the campus.
Tours are offered daily. Check the schedule to plan a fun-filled day in Downtown L.A.!
Visit musiccenter.org for additional information.
OFFICERS
Cindy Miscikowski
Chair
Robert J. Abernethy
Vice Chair
Rachel S. Moore
President & CEO
Diane G. Medina
Secretary
Susan M. Wegleitner
Treasurer
William Taylor
Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
MEMBERS AT LARGE
Charlene Achki Repko
Charles F. Adams
William H. Ahmanson
Romesh Anketell
Jill C. Baldauf
Susan Baumgarten
Phoebe Beasley
Kristin Burr
Dannielle Campos
Alberto M. Carvalho
Elizabeth Khuri Chandler
Riley Etheridge, Jr.
Amy R. Forbes
Greg T. Geyer
Joan E. Herman
Jeffrey M. Hill
Jonathan B. Hodge
Mary Ann Hunt-Jacobsen
Carl Jordan
Richard B. Kendall
Terri M. Kohl
Lily Lee
Cary J. Lefton
Keith R. Leonard, Jr.
Kelsey N. Martin
Susan M. Matt
Elizabeth Michelson
Darrell D. Miller
Teresita Notkin
Michael J. Pagano
Karen Kay Platt
Susan Erburu Reardon
Joseph J. Rice
Melissa Romain
Beverly P. Ryder
Maria S. Salinas
Corinne Jessie
Sanchez
Mimi Song
Johnese Spisso
Michael Stockton
Jason Subotky
Timothy S. Wahl
Jennifer M. Walske
Jay S. Wintrob
GENERAL COUNSEL
Rollin A. Ransom
DIRECTORS
EMERITI
Wallis Annenberg
Peter K. Barker
Judith Beckmen
Darrell R. Brown
Ronald W. Burkle
John B. Emerson **
Richard M. Ferry
Bernard A. Greenberg
Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.
Kent Kresa
Mattie McFaddenLawson
Fredric M. Roberts
Richard K. Roeder
Claire L. Rothman
Joni J. Smith
Lisa Specht **
Cynthia A. Telles
James A. Thomas
Andrea L. Van de Kamp **
Thomas R. Weinberger
Alyce de Roulet
Williamson
** Chair Emeritus
Current as of 3/28/25
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Yannick Lebrun. Photo by Dario Calmese.
John McCoy for The Music Center.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors plays an invaluable role in the successful operation of The Music Center.
Janice Hahn Supervisor, Fourth District
Lindsey P. Horvath Supervisor, Third District
Kathryn Barger Chair, Fifth District
Holly J. Mitchell Supervisor, Second District
Hilda L. Solis
Chair Pro Tem, First District
(From left to right)
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
As a steward of The Music Center of Los Angeles County, we recognize that we occupy land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh and Chumash Peoples. We honor and pay respect to their elders and descendants — past, present and emerging — as they continue their stewardship of these lands and waters. We acknowledge that settler colonization resulted in land seizure, disease, subjugation, slavery, relocation, broken promises, genocide and multigenerational trauma. This acknowledgment demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to truth, healing and reconciliation and to elevating the stories, culture and community of the original inhabitants of Los Angeles County.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these ancestral lands. We are dedicated to growing and sustaining relationships with Native peoples and local tribal governments, including (in no particular order) the:
• Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
• Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council
• Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians
• Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation
• San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
• San Fernando Band of Mission Indians
To learn more about the First Peoples of Los Angeles County, please visit the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission website at lanaic.lacounty.go
Photo Credit: David Franco, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Photographer.
Happening at The Music Center
FRI 2 MAY / 11:00 a.m.
Beethoven & Dessner
with Esa-Pekka Salonen
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 5/4/2025
FRI 2 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Patrice Rushen
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
FRI 2 MAY / 7:30 p.m.
Grupo Corpo
THE MUSIC CENTER
@ Ahmanson Theatre
Thru 5/4/2025
SAT 3 MAY / 11:00 a.m.
The Music Center's
Very Special Arts Festival: Family Day
TMC ARTS
@ Jerry Moss Plaza
SAT 3 MAY / 7:30 p.m.
Ainadamar
LA OPERA
@ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Thru 5/18/2025
SUN 4 MAY / 7:00 p.m.
Rufus Wainwright's Dream Requiem
LOS ANGELES
MASTER CHORALE
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
TUE 6 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Life of Pi
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
@ Ahmanson Theatre Thru 6/1/2025
MAY 2025
Visit musiccenter.org for additional information on all upcoming events. @musiccenterla
THU 8 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Esa-Pekka Salonen Leads
Debussy & Boulez
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 5/11/2025
FRI 9 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Max Richter
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
TUE 13 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
All-Brass Chamber Music
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
FRI 16 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Ravel & Adolphe
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
Thru 5/18/2025
SAT 17 MAY / 11:00 a.m.
Symphonies for Youth: Painting with Music
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
Also 5/24/2025
SAT 17 MAY / 4:00 p.m.
The Music Center’s On The Record: Vinyl Fair
TMC ARTS
@ Jerry Moss Plaza
SUN 18 MAY / 7:30 p.m.
Cameron Carpenter
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
MON 19 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Jon Batiste
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
TUE 20 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Mozart, Shaw & Smith
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
FRI 23 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Gershwin & Strauss
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 5/25/2025
WED 28 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Hamlet
CENTER THEATRE GROUP
@ Mark Taper Forum Thru 7/6/2025
WED 28 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Isata Kanneh-Mason
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall
THU 29 MAY / 8:00 p.m.
Tchaikovsky & Pereira
LA PHIL
@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 6/1/2025
SAT 31 MAY / 7:30 p.m.
Rigoletto
LA OPERA
@ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Thru 6/21/2025
Will Yang for The Music Center.
SWAN LAKE
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Thursday, June 26, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, 2025 / 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 28, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, 2025 / 2:00 p.m.
Enter the enchanting world of Swan Lake, where romance and betrayal unfold through breathtaking choreography and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Boston Ballet’s exquisite production brings this iconic masterpiece to life with dazzling precision, evocative storytelling and stunning design.
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion musiccenter.org/bostonballet | (213) 972-0711
BRING A GROUP AND SAVE! Contact marketing@musiccenter.org for more information.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Boston Ballet in Mikko Nissinen’s Swan Lake; photo by Rosalie O’Connor; courtesy of Boston Ballet.
