Los Angeles’ Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre has announced the lineup for its 2013-2014 season, which includes the Barry Manilow musical Harmony, a production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys starring Danny DeVito and Richard Griffiths and a pair of acclaimed shows direct from Broadway.
The season begins with DeVito and Griffiths in The Sunshine Boys, fresh from an acclaimed run in London's West End. Thea Sharrock directs the revival of Simon's classic comedy, which runs at the Ahmanson from September 24 through November 3. Opening night is set for October 2.
The Broadway.com Audience Choice Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher, which re-imagines the origin story of Peter Pan, will run during the holiday season. The show begins performances on December 3, opens on December 4 and runs through January 12, 2014. Casting for the production has not yet been announced.
Harmony, a haunting new musical by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, will make its Ahmanson debut March 5, 2014 through April 13, and open on March 12. Directed by Tony Speciale, the show tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, a group of German street musicians in the early 20th century who become world-famous superstars. Manilow wrote the music, and the show's book and lyrics are by Sussman.
The touring production of Porgy and Bess will run from April 22 through June 1, opening on April 23. Diane Paulus directed the show, which was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning two (including Best Revival of a Musical).
Rounding out the season's offerings will be the long-running London musical We Will Rock You, featuring the music of Queen. The smash hit jukebox musical lands at the Ahmanson over the summer, running July 15 through August 24 and opening on July 16.
As bonus options to the season, the Ahmanson will also present Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty, a gothic romance featuring music composed by Tchaikovsky and choreography by dance master Bourne. The New Adventures production will run November 21 through December 1. Also on tap for the theater is the gripping new play The Last Confession, written by Roger Crane, directed by Jonathan Church and starring David Suchet. The Last Confession is a Chichester Festival Theatre production that comes straight from London’s West End, making its U.S. premiere at the Ahmanson June 10 through July 6. Opening night is June 11.