Photo Flash: Michael McKean, Annette O'Toole and More Visit WAR HORSE at the Ahmanson

Producers Bob Boyett and The National Theatre of Great Britain present the U.S. tour of the 2011 Tony Award-winning Best Play, War Horse, which launched at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on June 14 and continues through next Saturday, July 29. Michael McKean (Gore Vidal's The Best Man on Broadway), Annette O'Toole, and Annette's daughter Nell Geisslinger recently visited with Joey after the show. Check out a photo of the group below!

The company, comprised of more than 30 performers, includes Andrew Veenstra as Albert Narracott, Brian Keane as Arthur Narracott, Michael Wyatt Cox as Billy Narracott, Todd Cerveris as Ted Narracott, Angela Reed as Rose Narracott, Jason Loughlin as Lieutenant James Nicholls, and Jason Alan Carvell as Private Schnabel.

Also featured in the cast are Michael Stewart Allen, Danny Beiruti, Brooks Brantly, Laurabeth Breya, Brian Robert Burns, Grayson DeJesus, Catherine Gowl, Aaron Haskell, Mike Heslin, Jon Hoche, Mat Hostetler, Chad Jennings, Nathan Koci, Jessica Krueger, Nick LaMedica, Rob Laqui, Megan Loomis, Christopher Mai, Gregory Manley, Andrew May, John Milosich, Alex Morf, Patrick Osteen, Jon Riddleberger, Lavita Shaurice, Derek Stratton and Danny Yoerges.

The winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, War Horse will tour to 30 U.S. cities in 2012-2013.

The tour of War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford, is directed by Bijan Sheibani based on the original Tony Award-winning direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

Michael Morpurgo’s novel, War Horse is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg’s feature film of the same name, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

War Horse is the powerful story of young Albert’s beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man’s land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.

In addition to Best Play, War Horse received Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Rae Smith), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Paule Constable), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Christopher Shutt). A Special Tony Award was given to Handspring Puppet Company for their integral work on the production.

For the full tour schedule, visit warhorseonstage.com. And for tickets for the LA run, visit  www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Photo credit: Todd Cerveris

Michael McKean, Annette O'Toole, and Annette's daughter Nell Geisslinger visiting with War Horse's Joey at the Ahmanson in LA