Center Theatre Group announces a series of special events and programming at the Mark Taper Forum, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. These events are the first formally announced under a new initiative created by Artistic Director Snehal Desai called CTG:Forward.
“When I was first announced as Center Theatre Group’s new Artistic Director, I was looking for new ways to use our venues—including hosting special events, one-off performances, and forums for community conversation centered on the arts; along with making CTG a home for L.A. artists and companies,” said Desai. “I am delighted to now be able to announce several events that will help launch CTG:FWD, which will honor Center Theatre Group’s rich history while also looking forward.”
CTG:FWD is created with everyone in mind, whether you are a long-time loyal subscriber, or setting foot in one of Center Theatre Group’s venues for the very first time. The initial slate of programming announcements features direct from Broadway, the comedic special event “Alex Edelman’s Just For Us”; the return of Michael Feinstein in a series of new engagements called “Feinstein’s at the Taper”; and a visit from Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who is currently traveling across the United States, and will pay a visit to The Music Center in November as part of “Amal Walks Across America.”
“I am thrilled that Alex Edelman, Michael Feinstein, and Little Amal will be three of the first events we launch under this new initiative because they speak to what CTG:FWD is all about,” stated Desai. “Alex looks to the future, introducing L.A. audiences to their new favorite comedian and storyteller, fresh off sold-out performances in London and New York. Michael has strong ties to the Taper, having performed a series of very successful salons here in the past, and now returns to represent CTG’s legacy for a new generation of audiences. And finally, Little Amal is an incredible event that will bring artistic collaboration and community together in celebration.”
In addition to Edelman, Feinstein, and Amal, CTG:FWD will also be the home of the Los Angeles Theatre Summit, a series of curated events and gatherings for Los Angeles theatre makers; the L.A. Writers’ Workshop Festival, which features presentations of new works-in-progress at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from some of L.A.’s best playwrights; and the newly established L.A. Artist Residencies, which will provide resources and space across Center Theatre Group venues and facilities for local individuals and companies.
“I am particularly excited about the L.A. Artist Residencies being part of CTG:FWD,” continued Desai. “I have always believed that good storytelling is only as powerful as the community surrounding it. At Center Theatre Group, we are very fortunate to have many resources at our disposal, which we would like to share with our friends and colleagues in the Los Angeles community, in hopes of coming together in support of each other to help create the next generation of artists and boundless work right here in L.A. I truly can’t wait to see what we will build together.”
The L.A. Artist Residencies are comprised of the following theatre companies: Critical Mass Performance Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre LA in partnership with Chalk Rep, and Native Voices at the Autry; in addition to individual artists including: Larissa FastHorse, Michael Feinstein, Michael John Garcés, Daniel Alexander Jones, Madeline Sayet, and Kristina Wong. Additional residencies will be announced at a later date.
Center Theatre Group will also be rolling out more special events and opportunities under the CTG:FWD banner over the coming months and introducing a series of programs centered around CTG’s legacy in the spring of 2024.
Center Theatre Group
Photo courtesy Los Angeles Times
