Ahmanson announces their worst season ever

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:44pm

The Ahmanson is one of the only sources for good legitimate theatre in LA and other than the stellar Cicely Tyson performance in Trip To Bountiful, this is their worst season ever. Cinderella (yuck), Matilda (even worse), Riverdance (okay, but is it theatre??), and then Dame Edna... What is going on? I was only drivel like Bring it On was a one time thing, but apparently they're going the way of the Pantages and just bringing in any slop they can find. Where's this years Follies, or Clybourne Park? Where's the depth? So disappointed.


http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-cicely-tysontrip-to-bountiful-ahmanson-theatre-20140213,0,5089742.story#axzz2vOQg2uCK

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:50pm

Depth? In L.A.?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 12:57pm

They have been losing money for the last couple of years. The show choices are terrible.

They will probably have to let more people go this year...

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 1:01pm

Yes, depth in LA. That's a very uneducated statement. These are children's theatre musicals that belong at the Pantages. Ahmanson audiences are used to more.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 1:17pm

It was only several years ago that I recall the Ahmanson mounting an incredible production of Topdog/Underdog. We're talking about the same company here, right?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 1:30pm

If you're so pissed off about the choices then don't buy a ticket.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 1:46pm

Both Clybourne Park and Topdog/Underdog were at the 700-seat Mark Taper Forum, not the Ahmanson. The Ahmanson is a 2,000-seat barn that has focused on Broadway musical remounts and tours for at least the last decade. Not sure what the big shock here is.

[bobs3]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:03pm

THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL at The Ahmanson? That play is going to be swallowed up in that theater. They should have put it on the Mark Taper Forum schedule.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:05pm

Also, Heartbeat of Home is not the same as Riverdance. It's not quite a musical, but it's equally enjoyable.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:05pm

You do realize that center theatre group produced Cinderella. It only made sense to house the tour there.

[Jingjo2]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:19pm

Cinderella has an amazing score in a beautiful production.
Matilda is one of a few "quality" shows in the past 15 years.

Have you seen both and hated them or you just started hating
because they sound too mainstream for you?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:35pm

Jingjo, with the way opinions go on this board, who the hell knows anymore?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 2:58pm

Cinderella's pretty great.

[followspot]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 3:14pm

What you seem to be disappointed in, HappyPhantom, is the current family-friendly state of theater in general — which the Ahmanson season is simply reflecting. What current 2,000-seater productions with "depth" were you hoping for?

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 03:14 PM

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 4:03pm

OMG I can not wait for the Marquee to go up.."IN OUR WORST SEASON EVER...we proudly announce..."

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 4:17pm

I cut my theater teeth at the Taper-Ahmanson as a kid in the early 90s. The Taper (as mother would insist) was important for real theater. The Ahmanson, on the other-hand, was for lighter and generally more commercial productions that were also to be enjoyed (Phantom, Rent, Miss Saigon...)

If I still lived in LA, I would also be annoyed by the options, as most theater die-hards would likely have seen these productions already. But, for those who don't travel to NY or London often, Matilda, Dame Edna, and Trip to Bountiful would be pretty all right for me (ok...the OP is totally right about the Riverdance show...but I say that only because I hate Riverdance...)

Will you object when the equally commercial (albeit brilliant) Cabaret comes to the Ahmanson next year? (Presuming the Taper doesn't get it...)

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 04:17 PM

[ABB2357]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 4:26pm

The real problem with CTG is that they shove productions perfect for the Taper into the cavernous Ahmanson, usually star-driven ones like Christopher Plummer's one-man show or SEMINAR with Jeff Goldblum. The Ahmanson isn't bad for a musical (although I thought it dwarfed FOLLIES when even the Marquis didn't), but I've passed up seeing smaller shows there because frankly, it's a barn. I'll pass on BOUNTIFUL for this reason, which is a shame because it would probably be amazing in the Taper.

Also, the $20 Hot Tix sell out frequently and are often only for the rear mezz or God forbid the balcony, a.k.a. Siberia. They make a limited number available and some shows play to half-empty houses because they're holding out to sell the remaining seats at full price. I was able to see shows like CURTAINS, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and Cherry Jones in DOUBT from the orchestra via Hot Tix, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.



Updated On: 3/8/14 at 04:26 PM

[HorseTears]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 5:07pm

Trying being in some flyover state and looking at their average season, then come back and look at Center Theatre Group's and compare. CTG's far from perfect, but the amount of quality productions they import from NY and elsehwere (often with most of the original cast) and, even occasionally mount themselves from the start, is wonderful. And let's not forget, as some have pointed out, CTG encompasses the Ahmanson, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre.

I'm looking forward to Cinderella and Matilda and Trip to Bountiful. As for Dame Edna, I'm thrilled we get one last visit on her farewell tour. Yes, Riverdance is ****, but every theatre needs to make money. And then look at what's already on the slate for the Mark Taper Forum (which hasn't even announced it's 2015 season yet):
Vanya Sonya Masha and Spike with some of the original cast - wrapping up soon
Buyer & Cellar w/ original star Michael Urie
What the Butler Saw - a new prod directed by Joe Orton specialist John Tillinger
Marjorie Prime - a new play by hot young playwright Jordan Harrison, dir. by Tony winner Pam MacKinnon

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 5:12pm

The touring biz has been struggling the past few seasons.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 6:16pm

I use hot tix all the time, saw follies from the front row for $20.00 bucks. I think the bigger problem is that the two LA theatres that house musicals are both barns.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 6:23pm

I think their season is a perfect reflection of the current state of Broadway.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 6:35pm

Yeah, this is about the same as most theatres across the country get in terms of touring productions. In fact, it's way better what my local theatre (in the Midwest) gets.

Updated On: 3/8/14 at 06:35 PM

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 7:05pm

I agree if I subscribed, I would be pretty peeved with Dame Edna and Riverdance, as they both do not fall into the genre of theatre and more into the entertainment category for me, these should be really be season extras, but otherwise there are 3 top shows in there, to be happy about.

The other problem is that the Pantages have bagged all the top shows, which means Ahmanson should of been a bit more creative such as something like Anything Goes with the original Broadway Cast or get a per Broadway try out of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' or Tim Rice's 'From Here To Eternity'.

What happened to 'Nice Work If You Can Get It' or the Ahmanson could of done 'A Gentlemen's Guide To Love and Murder', which would of been the West Coast premiere.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 7:08pm

Totally agree. Looking forward to seeing Cinderella tho and the Taper line up is outstanding.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/8/14 at 7:12pm

They announced this season a month ago and there was already another discussion on it so not clear how disappointed the OP can really be when it took him a month to comment on it. You get big touring shows in the Ahmanson, great smaller shows with name casts in the Taper and newer works (albeit not enough of them) in the Kirk Douglas. And since I discovered Hottix in 2005, I have never been unable, yes I said never been unable to get a Hottix to any show and they are almost always side Orchestra in the Ahmanson although I try to call the first day they become available. You may not like every show they book but seeing these shows for $20? The Center Theater Group is one of the best theater bargains in the country. Seriously, complain about something worth complaining about.