Center Theatre Group Blog

Mike Sablone is CTG’s Literary Associate, starting left fielder and third-string shortstop for Dark Monday, the CTG softball team.

As one often does, I was getting my hair cut earlier in the week.

Note: I refuse to say “hairs cut” because it sounds ridiculous. What’s odd about that is that I’m usually all about saying things ridiculously if it’s going to mask my inherent stupidity.

Note: This does not count for my particularly New Englandy way of double and even triple negative-ing certain sentences (”That’s never not funny” being a favorite of mine.)

So, again, as one often does, one is engaged in conversation with one’s barber.

Note: I’m not a big fan of talking to my barber. I prefer to zone out and think about what it would be like if I shaved my head or had them buzz a hilariously inappropriate symbol or letters into my hair.

Note: It’s not that I don’t want to talk, I just want to avoid having to explain what it is I do. This is not a situation particular to barbers. It’s also applicable to friends, friends of friends, people at the bus stop, my landlord, my parents, the government, that sassy judge, my coworkers, Tony Danza, you know, the usual.

Note: I’m not ashamed, it’s just confusing, and because of that it leads to more talking and then more confusion and more talking, and then, before I know it, I’m living with that person.

Note: I know it doesn’t sound like it, but it is a big problem.

Here’s an idea. Instead of getting bogged down with notes, I’m just going to transcribe the conversation:

Barber: So what do you do?

Me: I work for the Center Theatre Group. I’m in the literary department. I develop new plays.

Barber: (beat) Wouldn’t there be more of that in San Francisco?

Me: Well, there is certainly a great theater scene there, but we’re a pretty big organization. We’ve got three theaters and work with a lot of fantastic artists here in Los Angeles.

Barber: Huh. (Snip, snip. Snip, snip. Snip, snip. Pause. Snip. Pause. Snip.) Uh, did you say you develop nude plays?

Me: No. No I did not. I said new.

Barber: Oh! That makes more sense!

Me: Yeah. I suppose your comment about San Francisco comment also makes more sense.

Fin.

Mike Kindle, Facility Assistant, Kirk Douglas Theatre

What’s up with that house?

Visitors to the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Historic Downtown Culver City often wander past this quiet residence surrounded by a well manicured lawn right next door, and wonder, “What’s up with that house?”

Well, CTG owns it.  Sort of.  For now.

Built in 1928, the “Doctors’ House” at 9814 Washington Blvd. is a large distinctive Tudor Revival home with high ceilings, wood floors, and a roof with unique “rolled eaves”.  The house was first owned by a Dr. Hayes and his wife Edith.  Dr. Hayes practiced medicine there in the 1930’s.  The house later became the home and offices of Dr. Paskan, until it was acquired by the City of Culver City in 2003 when the restoration of the Douglas began.

Perhaps in 1928 or at least very soon after, the house was converted for use as an upstairs residence with ground floor doctors’ offices.  It remained mostly unchanged for the next 80 years.  During the renovation of the Douglas, the backyard area was divided from the House and that area is now our Production Yard and Scene Shop. 

Though currently unoccupied and with the power and water disconnected, the House remains in very good shape and sports most of its original historic fabric, including the original wooden kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, historic tile, interior woodwork, and quaint pushbutton light switches.  The original hardwood floors wait beneath later carpeting.  There are three rooms upstairs plus a full bath and small kitchen.  The downstairs has a large kitchen, three large open areas, a foyer, a half bath, and a garage.  There is a basement that stays bone dry even after heavy rains.

The rolled eaves of the roof indicate that originally it would have been shingled with wooden shakes, a characteristic of the historic neighborhood, in the style of the “Storybook House” on Dunn Drive, or the similar era home on the corner of Braddock and Lincoln, each a block away.  This type of roof would have lasted the first half-century, so at some point somebody made the esthetically unfortunate decision to reroof with asphalt shingles.  But that can be corrected. (more…)

Karen Enzer, and her husband Earl, are loyal members of the Inner Circle at Center Theatre Group. We are grateful for her generous support.

My daughter Rachel and I recently attended a special weekday performance of Pippin. The rest of the theatre was filled with middle- and high-school students, who were there as part of the Target Young Audiences Program. Seeing Pippin with these students actually enriched our theatre experience. The day we attended the show, the audience included deaf teens and students who were taking sign language courses in school.  So while some of us were listening to the music and watching the signing in the traditional manner, many were “seeing” and experiencing the music through sign language.  The actors and the audience were both amazing.

I’ve been supporting Center Theatre Group for many years, without really thinking about what my donation was being used for or even why I was making a donation.  But being at that performance of Pippin reminded me of my first introduction to the theatre. It was during elementary school, when my class attended some sort of ballet at the Music Center.  I don’t remember the name of the show or what venue we were in, but I do remember the thrill of discovering a live orchestra and dancing. 

I started buying tickets to musicals as soon as I had a little money and could drive myself to shows.  My own kids started attending as soon as they could sit quietly!  We plan vacations in New York and London around theatre productions we want to see.  And my daughter Rachel is a drama queen:  She is playing the role of Adelaide in her school production of Guys and Dolls this month.

My life continues to be enriched by that school field trip I took to the Music Center some 38 years ago.  I wonder how many of the students at Pippin were seeing professional theatre for the first time?  And how many lives will be touched for years to come by that one show?  

Now I know, my donations to Center Theatre Group are helping to engage a whole new generation of students…and that one theatre experience can start a lifelong love.

(L to R): Julie Nadal and daughter Amy, Karen Enzer with daughter Rachel and friend Hailey Biscow.

So says Kirk Douglas, the star of our current sold-out hit, Before I Forget, running through this weekend at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.  (A cancellation line begins forming one hour before each show…good luck.)

Mr. Douglas, 92, received universal praise for his performance in the one man-show, which he also wrote.   If you have been in theatre as long as some of us have, you will agree that it’s a very rare thing when critics come together like this.  Perhaps we should send Mr. Douglas to Capitol Hill…we’d have universal health care before you can say “Spartacus.”

Los Angeles Times review
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/03/before-i-forget.html

Los Angeles Times Culture Monster – Opening night coverage
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/03/catherine-zeta.html

Variety review
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939826.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

Hollywood Reporter review
http://www.reuters.com/article/artsNews/idUSTRE52819J20090309

Orange County Register review
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/douglas-kirk-lancaster-2327857-burt-michael

L.A. Weekly review
http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/stage-news/stage-raw-before-kirk-douglas

L.A. Splash – review
http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Performances_116/Kirk_Douglas_One_Man_Show_Review.php

E! Online – opening night coverage
http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/03/71568/index.html

Michael Bulger is CTG’s Marketing Coordinator.

In preparation for our April 1^st Spamalot On-Sale event (tastefully titled “SPAMAPALOOZA”) I had the extreme pleasure of spending the morning sifting through Old English garb in our incredible costume warehouse.

I must be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect when I pulled up… but what I found was a Mecca of clothing.  A shopaholics dream!  Rows upon rows of shirts, coats, pants and (my favorite) hats!  From every era, from every economic class, from every style… it was truly stunning.

I could have easily spent four days in there, sorting through clothes and trying things on… but I had to limit myself to a mere four hours.  I was able to come out with a ton of costumes for SPAMAPALOOZA, including outfits for knights in shining armor, monks’ robes, peasant clothes and even a few Maid Marian-esque dresses. 

Below are a few pictures I snapped on my cell phone… I hope you enjoy!  Stay tuned for more info on SPAMAPALOOZA… including how you can get in on the fun!

PS: A very special thanks to Candice Cain, Costume Director here at CTG for all of her help with this project!!