Episodes

  • Dael Orlandersmith on “Until the Flood”

    Dael Orlandersmith on “Until the Flood”
    Jan 25 2020
    Center Theatre Group’s Associate Artistic Director and Literary Director Neel Keller guest hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. For this episode of the podcast, playwright and performer Dael Orlandersmith joins Neel in conversation about her latest play, “Until the Flood,” which is onstage at the Kirk Douglas Theatre January 24 – February 23, 2020. Dael is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and celebrated artist who is no stranger to Center Theatre Group, having developed many works with the organization including “Bones,” “Stoop Stories,” and “Forever.” Directed by Neel, “Until the Flood” explores the social uprising in Ferguson, Missouri following the shooting of teenager Michael Brown. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • Ruben Santiago-Hudson on "Jitney"

    Ruben Santiago-Hudson on "Jitney"
    Nov 21 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. For this episode of the podcast, director Ruben Santiago-Hudson joins Michael in conversation about the Tony Award-winning production of August Wilson's "Jitney," which is onstage at the Mark Taper Forum November 22 – December 29, 2019. For nearly 30 years, Center Theatre Group has celebrated Wilson’s work, whether it be through productions at our theatres, educational programming, or assisting with his development process on the road to Broadway. We're now going full circle in bringing the Broadway production of “Jitney” to the Taper—the final play of Wilson’s American Century Cycle to appear on Broadway. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • David Henry Hwang on "Soft Power" (Live)

    David Henry Hwang on "Soft Power" (Live)
    Oct 15 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. For this episode of the podcast, we’re looking back at a conversation Michael had with playwright David Henry Hwang shortly before “Soft Power” made its World premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in 2018. “Soft Power,” which began as a project we commissioned as part of our 50th Anniversary season, became a remarkable piece of theatre that is now making its New York premiere in a co-production with the Public Theater. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • Bill Irwin on "On Beckett"

    Bill Irwin on "On Beckett"
    Oct 3 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. Joining this episode of “30 to Curtain” is Bill Irwin, who joins Center Theatre Group at the Douglas with his tour-de-force and deeply personal play, On Beckett. Bill is regularly called a virtuoso, a master of his craft, and has been designated a “genius” by the MacArthur Foundation. You’ve seen him in everything from TV shows like "CSI" and "Sesame Street" to his Tony Award®-winning turns in plays like "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "Fool Moon"—roles he reprised with Center Theatre Group. Bill is a multi-hyphenate artist and creator—and also exactly the right guide into the world and work of playwright Samuel Beckett. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Neil Pepe on "A Play Is a Poem"

    Neil Pepe on "A Play Is a Poem"
    Sep 24 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. Joining this episode of “30 to Curtain” is Neil Pepe, Artistic Director of the Atlantic Theater Company and also the director of "A Play Is a Poem," a new play by Ethan Coen currently making its World premiere at the Taper. He’s led the Atlantic Theater since 1992. He’s back with Center Theatre Group, having previously directed on David Mamet’s “Two Unrelated Plays” and “Romance” and later Frank Gilroy’s “The Subject Was Roses.” For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Kevin McCollum on "The Play That Goes Wrong"

    Kevin McCollum on "The Play That Goes Wrong"
    Jun 20 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Producing Director Douglas C. Baker guest hosts this episode of “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. Joining us for this episode of “30 to Curtain” is theatre producer Kevin McCollum. Kevin has produced some legendary Broadway shows throughout his career, including "Rent," "In the Heights," and "The Play That Goes Wrong," which joins us at the Ahmanson Theatre July 9 through August 11, 2019. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Lucas Hnath and Les Waters on "Dana H."

    Lucas Hnath and Les Waters on "Dana H."
    May 31 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Artistic Director Michael Ritchie hosts “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. Our guests on this episode are playwright Lucas Hnath and director Les Waters, who join us for the World premiere of “Dana H.” Lucas returns to us, having last brought his play The Christians to the Mark Taper Forum in 2015, also directed by Les. Lucas is now fresh off two huge Broadway triumphs: “A Doll’s House, Part 2” and “Hillary & Clinton.” Les was Artistic Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville from 2012 to 2018 and has collaborated with Lucas on a number of projects over the years. Our Director of Communications James Sims caught up with Lucas and Les in the lobby of the Douglas as the two took a break from rehearsals to discuss their creative process and what little can be said about this play, which is full of surprises. “Dana H.” is onstage at the Douglas May 26 – June 23, 2019. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • James Lapine on "Falsettos"

    James Lapine on "Falsettos"
    Apr 18 2019
    Center Theatre Group’s Producing Director Douglas C. Baker guest hosts this episode of “30 to Curtain,” a podcast featuring 30-minute interviews with some of the theatre artists creating work across the stages of the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles. Joining this episode of “30 to Curtain” is James Lapine, the writer and director of “Falsettos,” which is onstage at the Ahmanson April 16 through May 19, 2019. James is a multiple Tony Award-winning writer and director, having helped create such Broadway classic musicals as “Sunday in the Park with George,” “Into the Woods,” “Passion,” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” He is a longtime collaborator with composers Stephen Sondheim and William Finn. Center Theatre Group was honored to have him in Los Angeles to discuss his storied career, this Tony-nominated revival of “Falsettos,” and the musical’s intriguing history. For more on Center Theatre Group and its upcoming productions, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins