Center Theatre Group to Host Block Party Info Session This Month

Center Theatre Group will host a special informational session at the Kirk Douglas Theatre rehearsal room on Monday, May 22, 2017, at 7 p.m. for those interested in applying to Center Theatre Group's second annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre.

Block Party aims to highlight some of the remarkable work being done on other stages throughout Los Angeles by fully producing three previously staged productions. The deadline to apply to the 2017-2018 Block Party program is May 30, 2017.

Theatre companies from the greater Los Angeles area may submit one production for consideration. To be eligible, the production must have opened between January 1, 2016, and May 30, 2017. Three productions will be selected for presentation at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, March 29 through May 20, 2018.

This year, the round one application has been significantly simplified, streamlining the application process for companies that apply. A select number of companies will then be invited to the round two application, at which time more in-depth design information will be requested.

The three selected productions will be announced in the fall and each will have a two-week run with 12 performances (including two previews) at the Douglas. All three theatre companies will be part of a collaboration with Center Theatre Group and will receive the full support of Center Theatre Group and its staff in order to fund, stage and market each production.

Center Theatre Group's 2016-2017 inaugural Block Party featured the Coeurage Theatre Company production of "Failure: A Love Story," which ran April 14 through 23, followed by The Fountain Theatre production of "Citizen: An American Lyric," which ran April 28 through May 7 and will finish with The Echo Theater Company production of "Dry Land," which runs May 12 through May 21.

With Block Party, Center Theatre Group hopes to strengthen relationships within the Los Angeles community, create additional avenues for Center Theatre Group to become familiar with local playwrights, actors, directors and designers, and foster relationships between Center Theatre Group staff and the staff at theatre companies throughout Los Angeles.

Block Party receives major support from Aliza Karney Guren and Marc Guren with generous funding also provided by Joni and Miles Benickes.

Center Theatre Group has a long history of pairing with local theatre companies including the Deaf West production of "Big River" which was produced at the Mark Taper Forum in 2002 and went on to Broadway before returning to the Ahmanson Theatre in 2005 as part of a national tour. More recently, Center Theatre Group partnered with Ebony Repertory Theatre for the remounting of "A Raisin in the Sun" (which played at the Douglas), 24th Street Theatre's "Walking the Tightrope" (also at the Douglas) and other productions around the city such as "The Behavior of Broadus" (with Burglars of Hamm and SacRed Fools Theater Company) and "Birder" (with The Road Theatre Company).

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation's preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles' leading nonprofit theatre company, programming seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2000-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation's leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Interested theatre companies need to complete an online application by May 30, 2017, to be considered. To fill out the online application and for more information about Center Theatre Group's Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre, visit www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/BlockParty. Should any questions arise throughout the application process, email BlockParty@CTGLA.org.

Those interested in attending the May 22 informational session are encouraged to RSVP by emailing BlockParty@CTGLA.org.

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