American Ballet Theatre Swan Lake

Choreography by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
March 27-30, 2008
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

American Ballet Theatre (ABT), America’s National Ballet Company™, led by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, returns to the Dance at the Music Center series at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion March 27-30 with its full-evening production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. ABT’s Swan Lake features choreography by Kevin McKenzie after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, set and costumes by Zack Brown, and lighting by Duane Schuler. The Wall Street Journal says ABT’s Swan Lake “glides to the forefront of stagings all over the world. The fabled lake of the swans has risen into view, inspiring awe for its mystery and magic.”

The first production of Swan Lake, with choreography by Julius (Wentzel) Reisinger, received its World Premiere by the Russian Imperial Ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on March 4, 1877, danced by Pelagia (Paulina) Karpakova (Odette-Odile) and Stanislav Gillert (Prince Siegfried). Swan Lake as we know it, with the Petipa/Ivanov choreography, was given its first full-length production at the Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, on January 27, 1895, with Pierina Legnani as Odette-Odile and Pavel Gerdt as Prince Siegfried.

American Ballet Theatre (then Ballet Theatre) first performed Act II of Swan Lake, with choreography by Anton Dolin after Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, at the Center Theatre, in New York City on January 16, 1940, with Patricia Bowman as Odette and Anton Dolin as Prince Siegfried. Mr. Dolin also choreographed the grand pas de deux from Act III as the Black Swan Pas de Deux, which was given at the Metropolitan Opera House on October 23, 1944 with Tamara Toumanova as Odile and Anton Dolin.

Act II of David Blair’s staging for ABT was first given at the New York State Theater on January 18, 1966 with Lupe Serrano and Royes Fernandez. The first performance of the complete ballet staged by David Blair was given by ABT at the Civic Opera House, Chicago on February 16, 1967 with Nadia Nerina as Odette-Odile and Royes Fernandez as Prince Siegfried. It received its first New York performance at the New York State Theater on May 9, 1967 with Toni Lander and Bruce Marks. A re-staged production of Swan Lake received its American Ballet Theatre premiere in Washington, D. C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 1981 with Martine van Hamel as Odette-Odile and Kevin McKenzie as Prince Siegfried.

A new production of Swan Lake with choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa and additional choreography by Mikhail Baryshnikov was given its world premiere on December 2, 1988 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Andris Liepa (Prince Siegfried). This production received its New York Premiere on May 8, 1989 at the Metropolitan Opera House, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Ross Stretton (Prince Siegfried).

Swan Lake was revived, with staging by Kevin McKenzie and lighting by Thomas Skelton, on May 21, 1993 at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, danced by Susan Jaffe as Odette-Odile and Jeremy Collins as Prince Siegfried.

The World Premiere of this new production was given on March 24, 2000 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D. C., danced by Julie Kent (Odette-Odile) and Angel Corella (Prince Siegfried).

The New York Premiere of this production was given on May 19, 2000 at the Metropolitan Opera House, danced by Susan Jaffe (Odette-Odile) and Jose Manuel Carreo (Prince Siegfried).

About American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre is recognized as one of the great dance companies in the world. Few ballet companies equal ABT for its combination of size, scope and outreach. Recognized as a living national treasure since its founding in 1940, ABT annually tours the United States, performing for more than 600,000 people, and is the only major cultural institution to do so. It has also made more than 15 international tours to 42 countries as perhaps the most representative American ballet company and has been sponsored by the State Department of the United States on many of these engagements.

In October 1992, former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Kevin McKenzie was appointed Artistic Director. Mr. McKenzie, steadfast in his vision of ABT as "American," is committed to maintaining the Company's vast repertoire, and to bringing the art of dance theater to the great stages of the world.

When American Ballet Theatre was launched in 1939, the aim was to develop a repertoire of the best ballets from the past and to encourage the creation of new works by gifted young choreographers, wherever they might be found. Under the direction of Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith from 1940 to 1980, the Company more than fulfilled that aim. The repertoire, perhaps unmatched in the history of ballet, includes all of the great full-length ballets of the nineteenth century, such as Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, the finest works from the early part of this century, such as Apollo, Les Sylphides, Jardin aux Lilas and Rodeo, and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces such as Airs, Push Comes to Shove and Duets. In acquiring such an extraordinary repertoire, ABT has commissioned works by all of the great choreographic geniuses of the 20th century: George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and Twyla Tharp, among others.

In keeping with the Company's long-standing commitment to bringing the finest in dance to the widest international audience, ABT has recently enjoyed triumphant successes with engagements in Tokyo, London, Paris, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Seoul.

In the Fall of 2000, American Ballet Theatre made its first visit to China, appearing in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Company also appeared in Taipei and Singapore for the first time. Over its 65-year history, the Company has appeared in a total of 126 cities in 42 countries. ABT has also appeared in all 50 states of the United States. In 2006, American Ballet Theatre was recognized by the United States Congress as America’s National Ballet Company.

Reprise! Broadway’s Best
Special Event

“The Odd Couple”
by Neil Simon
A staged reading starring
Martin Short Jason Alexander

Two Performances Only!
Friday, January 25 and Saturday, January 26
Wadsworth Theatre

Martin Short and Jason Alexander will star in a staged reading of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” for two performances only, January 25 and 26, at the Wadsworth Theatre. Short and Alexander are reunited for the first time since they appeared in the Los Angeles production of the hit musical “The Producers” and their appearance in what is perhaps Broadway’s best known comedy, marks one of the few times that two well known stars have appeared on a Los Angeles stage in the show.

Short and Alexander both have great experience playing Neil Simon - Short starred the Broadway musical of "The Goodbye Girl" and the Roundabout Theatre revival of "Little Me" while Alexander appeared on Broadway in Simon's "Broadway Bound," and in the very first Reprise! show "Promises, Promises."

“The Odd Couple” is a special event of the 2007-2008 season from Reprise! Broadway’s Best, which is headed by Mr. Alexander who is its artistic director

Tickets are on sale online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, or by visiting a Ticketmaster outlets, and at the Wadsworth Box Office, Located on Wilshire Blvd, just west of the 405 freeway on the Veterans Administration grounds in West L.A. For more information visit reprise.org.

“The Odd Couple” originally opened on March 10, 1965. While that season began with “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Odd Couple” seemed like a breath of fresh air compared to other plays of the time. Otis Guernsey in Best Plays wrote, “…. there are no dark, twisting emotional meanings … in a season of sick jokes and sick problem plays, ‘The Odd Couple’ brought a rosy flush of laughter to Broadway … [the play is] about the male animal torn between his urge for freedom and his need for domestic conformity.” This is the show that introduced the very neat and tidy news writer Felix Ungar, who thrown out by his wife, has become roommates with his poker buddy, the very slovenly, messy and also divorced sports writer Oscar Madison.

It was always thought that Neil Simon, who had previously scored a Broadway triumph the season before with “Barefoot in the Park,” took his inspiration from his comedy-writer brother Danny Simon, who became roommates with theatrical agent Roy Gerber after recent divorces.

James Robert Parish in his Mel Brooks biography “It’s Good to Be the King” noted that Simon also could have also observed at close range the three months that writer Speed Vogel lived as roommates with Mel Brooks, who was separated from his first wife. Later of course Simon took his brother Danny and his own family as the inspiration for “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Broadway Bound.”

During its original Broadway run of 966 performances, “The Odd Couple” won the Tony Awards for Best Play (1965), Best Director Mike Nichols and Best Actor Walter Matthau, who playing opposite Art Carney, fully established his career as a major American actor. The very successful film was made with Matthau repeating his stage triumph opposite Jack Lemmon, followed by an even more successful television series with Jack Klugman, who had originally replaced Matthau on Broadway, and Tony Randall. Immediately following the last season of the primetime series, two animated dogs – Spiffy, voiced by Frank Nelson and Fleabag, voiced by Paul Winchell -- were “The Oddball Couple,” seen on Saturday mornings for two years. Later a second TV series that paired Ron Glass and Desmond Wilson ran for 13 episodes.

In the mid-eighties and two seasons ago “The Odd Couple” went back to Broadway - first with Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno in the leads, and more recently with Nathan Lane and his “The Producers” co-star Matthew Broderick for eight completely sold out months.

The next to the last opening of the 1964-1965 season was “Flora, the Red Menace,” producer-director Harold Prince’s third Broadway musical of the season (he also produced “Fiddler on the Roof” and directed “Baker Street,” a short lived musical about Sherlock Holmes). “Flora” is the final attraction of the 2007-2007 Reprise! Broadway’s Best season May 6 to 18 (press opening May 7), which also includes “Li’l Abner” February 5 to 17, 2008 (press opening February 5).

“The Odd Couple” will have two readings Friday, January 25 at 8 pm and Saturday, January 26 at 8 pm at the Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd. on the Veterans Administration Grounds. Prices are $40 to $95; premium seats are also available. Tickets may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 213-365-3500 or 714-740-7878, or by visiting a Ticketmaster outlets, and at the Wadsworth Box Office, Located on Wilshire Blvd, just west of the 405 freeway on the Veterans Administration grounds in West L.A.

About The Cast

Martin Short, born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is a veteran of theatre in Canada and on Broadway. Short appeared in the Broadway productions of Neil Simon and Cy Coleman’s Little Me (Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl (Tony Award nomination, Theater World Award, Outer Critics Circle

Award), in the Encores! Series in Neil Simon’s Promises, Promises and in Fame Becomes Me. In Los Angeles, he appeared in Lawrence Kasdan’s production of John Patrick Shanley’s Four Dogs and a Bone and Mel Brooks’ The Producers. Short began his theatrical career in the Toronto production of Godspell.

In 1982, he joined the “SCTV Comedy Network” where his work garnered an Emmy Award. Short's ability as a comedic chameleon brought him to "Saturday Night Live,” where his standout performances included Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers Jr., legendary songwriter Irving Cohen and lawyer Nathan Thurm. He co-wrote, produced and starred in three highly acclaimed television comedy specials: "Martin Short's Concert for the North Americas" (Ace Award); "I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood" (Ace Award); and "The Show Formerly Known As The Martin Short Show” (Emmy Award). He co-starred in the miniseries “Merlin” (Emmy nomination) and “Alice in Wonderland” as the Mad Hatter. In the fall of 1999 he hosted the daily “The Martin Short Show” (nine Emmy nominations). From 2001-2003, Short co-wrote, produced and starred as star-interviewer extraordinaire Jiminy Glick in “Primetime Glick” (Emmy nomination).

Short made the jump to the big screen in 1986 with Three Amigos and Innerspace. Among his other films are Three Fugitives, The Big Picture, Clifford, Father of the Bride (1 & 2), Mars Attacks and Jiminy Glick in La La Wood. In 1994, Short was awarded Canada’s highest civilian honor, The Order of Canada for his contribution to Canadian culture and was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in June 2000. Mr. Short worships and adores his wife Nancy and their children Katherine, Oliver and Henry.

Jason Alexander is probably best known for his 9 year, award–winning stint as George Costanza on the hit TV series, “Seinfeld”. However, those who know him only as George will be surprised to learn of his extensive background as an actor, director, producer and writer. Besides “Seinfeld” his television credits include: Bob Patterson (prod./co-creator); Listen Up (prod.); the TV films of Bye Bye Birdie, The Man Who Saved Christmas, Cinderella, and A Christmas Carol; guest appearances on “Newhart,” “Friends,” “Monk,” “Star Trek-Voyager,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and multiple episodes of the animated series “Duckman,” “Aladdin,” “Dilbert” and “Dinosaurs.”

His film credits include: Pretty Woman; White Palace; North; Dunston Checks In; Love, Valor, Compassion; Rocky and Bullwinkle and Ira and Abby. Jason has starred on Broadway in the original companies of Merrily We Roll Along; The Rink; Broadway Bound; Accomplice; and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway for which he won the Tony, Outer Critics, and Drama Desk Awards as Best Actor in a Musical. He also authored the libretto of the show which received the Tony Award for Best Musical.

On the L.A. stage, Jason has starred in Give ‘Em Hell; Harry; Defiled; the long-running hit of The Producers with Martin Short and the very first Reprise! production, Promises, Promises. Jason has directed in every medium: Television (“Seinfeld,” “Remember WENN,” “Campus Ladies,” “Everybody Hates Chris”); Film (For Better or Worse and Just Looking) and Stage (The God of Hell at the Geffen; Sunday In the Park With George at Reprise! and countless benefits). Jason produced the films, Agent Cody Banks and its sequel as well as the TV special “Ultimate Trek.” Recently, Jason took over the role of Artistic Director of Reprise! He has also authored the children’s book, Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy? He has won the title of Parlour Magician of the Year at the prestigious Magic Castle and he is a noted player in the celebrity poker circuit. Jason resides in L.A. with his wife Daena and their children, Gabriel and Noah.

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SENSATION LUIS BRAVO’S FOREVER TANGO WILL SIZZLE WILSHIRE THEATRE
FOR 4 PERFORMANCES ONLY!

.Luis Bravo’s FOREVER TANGO, the internationally celebrated entertainment event that has played to great acclaim in Europe, Canada and throughout the United States, and most recently enjoyed its third run on Broadway, will beguile and ignite Los Angeles audiences at Wilshire Theatre Beverly HIlls, for 4 performances only. The performance schedule is Friday, February 29 at 8:00pm, and Saturday, March 1 at 2:00pm and 8:00pm, and Sunday, March 2 at 3:00pm.

Tickets for FOREVER TANGO are now on sale and can be purchased at the Wilshire Theatre Box Office, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., online at wtbh.org, and by phone at 323-655-0111. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster - online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

“Intoxicating”
“Superbly theatrical”
“The most magnificent, romantic, exciting evening you can ever spend!”

Sensuous and sophisticated, the tango inhabits a world where everything can be said with the flick of a leg, the tug of a hand, the tap of a foot and the arch of an eyebrow. Created and directed by Luis Bravo, FOREVER TANGO was voted Best Touring Musical by Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle in San Francisco where it played an unprecedented 92 weeks at the Theatre on the Square and has returned season after season. Truly an international event, FOREVER TANGO was also awarded the coveted Simpatia Prize at the 1996 Spoleto Festival in Italy.

FOREVER TANGO features fourteen world-class tango dancers, one vocalist and an on-stage eleven piece orchestra, including the instrument of the tango, the bandoneon, in an evening that celebrates the passionate music and dance of Argentina. The dances, performed to original and traditional music, are the result of collaboration between each couple and director/creator Bravo. “The tango is a feeling that you dance,” says Bravo, “a story you tell in three minutes. It’s passionate, it’s melancholic. It’s tender, violent. You dance it with somebody – but it is so internal, you dance it by yourself. More than just a dance, the tango is music, a drama, a culture, a way of life.”

FOREVER TANGO tells the story of the birth of the tango in 19^th century Argentina where thousands of men, having abandoned a disintegrating Europe to emigrate to South America, found themselves in the crowded abattoirs (packing houses), the bars and street corners of the arrabales (outlying barrios) and in the enramadas (brothels). The tango was born of this lonely and violent existence. Originally shunned by Argentina society as indecent, the tango became an overnight craze in upper-class Paris when Argentine intellectuals taught it when traveling abroad. The tango quickly spread across Europe and to America, and was eventually re-imported home to Argentina society, though not unchanged. Born in the brothels and bordellos of Buenos Aires, the tango may be Argentina’s best known export.

Creator/director of FOREVER TANGO, Luis Bravo is a world-class cellist who has performed with major symphonies throughout the world. His distinguished credits include appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Colon Theatre Opera House, the Buenos Aires Philharmonic and other prestigious ensembles.

FOREVER TANGO’s design team includes Argemira Affonso (Costumes), Luis Bravo (Lighting), Mike Miller (Sound), and Jean-Luc Don Vito (Make-up). Lisandro Adrovar serves as Musical Director/Arranger and composed some of the music in the show.

FOREVER TANGO opened on Broadway June of 1997 for what was expected to be an eight-week engagement, ran for 14 months and has since been back to New York on Broadway on two separate occasions. The New York Times called FOREVER TANGO, “A must-see!” And USA Today said, “Forever Tango shows that the style is more than steamy – it’s smart, even funny … a sensuous, seductive, pleasure.” The New York Daily News raved that the show was, “an evening of sheer pleasure! Sensual, elegant, dazzling!” And the Associated Press declared it to be, “the most theatrical show on Broadway!” These sizzling reviews and huge demand for tickets forced the run to be extended again and again.

FOREVER TANGO will be distributed to public television stations starting on March 1, 2008. Check local listings for broadcast date and time information. In addition, The Forever Tango DVD and CD will be released into retail starting in March 2008 and will also be available through major on-line retailers. The DVD will contain the 60 minute program to be broadcast by public television stations and will also contain bonus features including rehearsals, auditions and backstage footage. The CD and DVD can also be found at DPTV Media www.dptvmedia.org

Tickets for the Los Angeles engagement of FOREVER TANGO at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills are priced at $30-$100, and are currently on sale at the Wilshire Theatre Box Office, 8440 Wilshire Blvd. and by phone at 323-655-0111. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster - online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Sandra_Gabriel: "A Scene from Forever Tango"
Photo Credit: Forever Tango

Cristian Cisneros:"A Scene from Forever Tango"
Photo Credit: Forever Tango

Leonardo_Barrionuevo:"A Scene from Forever Tango"
Photo Credit: Forever Tango

More information is available online at www.ForeverTango.us and www.wtbh.org

Wadsworth Theatre
RICHMARK Entertainment
REEL TALK with Stephen Farber
10 memorable evenings of exciting new films and conversations
10 Mondays at 7:00pm, March 10 – May 19, 2008 (No Screening Monday, April 28)

Stephen Farber, one of the country’s leading film critics and historians, will continue his film series Reel Talk with Stephen Farber at the Wadsworth Theatre for 10 Monday nights beginning March 10th. Reel Talk with Stephen Farber is presented in partnership with RICHMARK Entertainment and Landmark Theatres.

Unlike any other preview series, Reel Talk with Stephen Farber allows the film going public to be the first to sample some of the most exciting movies of 2008. This past fall, Reel Talk members got an early look at several of the hottest films currently running, including “The Kite Runner”, “Juno”, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”, “The Savages”, and “Sweeney Todd” along with films that were the recipients of prestigious year-end critics’ prizes. The tradition continues this coming year, with the season’s most provocative movies followed by revealing discussions with top actors and filmmakers after the screenings. Previous Reel Talk guests have included Forest Whitaker, David Duchovny, Laura Linney, Andy Garcia, Javier Bardem, Claire Danes, as well as master directors Sydney Pollack, John Singleton, Bill Condon, and Mike Leigh, not to mention legendary producer Richard Zanuck.

Farber, who moderates each program, is one of the originators of this popular preview screening series, and has been doing it for more than 25 years now. He assembles the series himself - working with the studios to supply the prints and with the filmmakers themselves to be the guests. For the film going public, this effort provides a connection to the movie industry and to the film itself, that is just not available, much less with this kind of authority, just about anywhere else.

Stephen Farber is currently the film critic and contributing editor for Movieline’s Hollywood Life magazine and a regular contributor to The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Farber has also written reviews and articles on film for Esquire, New York, New West, Harper's Bazaar, Premiere, Film Comment, and other national publications. He has interviewed hundreds of top actors, writers, directors, and producers for these newspapers and magazines.

Farber also taught a similar "Sneak Preview" class for UCLA Extension. He has also lectured on film at several other American universities, at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, at the Swedish Film Institute in Stockholm, and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation in Oslo. He also lectured throughout Australia and New Zealand in a program sponsored by the Australian Film and Television School and the New Zealand Film Commission.

Farber produced three episodes of the Arts & Entertainment network's acclaimed "Biography" series in conjunction with Peter Jones Productions about Anthony Perkins, Spencer Tracy and Roman Polanski. And he has written several acclaimed books on film; The Movie Rating Game (1972, Public Affairs Press), Hollywood Dynasties (1984, Delilah/Putnam), Outrageous Conduct: Art, Ego, and the Twilight Zone Case (1988, Arbor House/Morrow), and Hollywood on the Couch (1993, Morrow).

THE ORANGE CURTAIN THEATRE PRESENTS

HELLO AND GOODBYE
Written by Athol Fugard and Directed by Marla-Gam Hudson

Hester, unrecognized and unwelcomed, barges in on her brother Johnnie after 12 years for a quick hello and goodbye. They churn through the once-promising past to try to comprehend their bleak present. She searches for the concealed or imaginary inheritance that can truly make her free. The brother and sister confront family animosities and recriminations; memories and guilt; responsibilities and lies; and feelings of despair.

Starring: Sherryl Wynne of Vista as Hester and Anthony Yuro of San Clemente as Johnnie.

Friday and Saturday –January 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – January 13, 20 and 27 at 3:00 p.m.

The Orange Curtain Theatre
1776 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano

Photo: Sherryl Wynne of Vista as Hester and Anthony Yuro of San Clemente as Johnnie

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS &

MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT

announce that acclaimed Emmy Award-winning actress

MICHAEL LEARNED
will star as Miss Daisy in
the Third Production of their 2007/2008 Season!

DRIVING MISS DAISY

Written by Alfred Uhry
Directed by Brian Kite

Limited Engagement begins February 1, 2008
at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are proud to announce that acclaimed Broadway actress and Film & Emmy Award-winning TV star Michael Learned (“The Waltons”) will be starring in the third production of their 2007-2008 season, DRIVING MISS DAISY, written by Alfred Uhry and directed by Brian Kite (Proof). DRIVING MISS DAISY will begin performances on Friday, February 1 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 2) and will run through Sunday, February 17 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

MICHAEL LEARNED (Daisy Werthan) is a four-time Emmy award-winning actress, three for her work as Olivia Walton on the acclaimed TV series, "The Waltons," and one for her role as Mary Benjamin in her own series "Nurse.” She is also a three-time Golden Globe nominee. On stage she most recently co-starred with Tom Bosley in the national tour of On Golden Pond; and also in Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch at The Falcon Theatre. Other theatre appearances include Elizabeth the Queen at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Edward Albee's All Over at The Gramercy Theatre and the McCarter Theatre, on Broadway in Gore Vidal's The Best Man and Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosenzweig. West Coast premieres include Woman in Mind and Hapgood both for American Conservatory Theatre.
Ms. Learned's involvement as a leading lady with ACT dates back to 1967. In Los Angeles she has appeared at the Ahmanson in Mary Stuart and Picnic, at The Mark Taper in A Month in the Country and at the Geffen in Looking for Normal. She has toured in A.R. Gurney's Love Letters and Edward Albee's Three Tall Women. Michael premiered in Arthur Miller's The Ride Down Mt. Morgan at Williamstown Theatre Festival. The eldest of six sisters, Ms. Learned spent her first decade on her family's farm in Connecticut. When she was eleven, Ms. Learned moved to Austria where her father worked for the U.S. State Department. While attending boarding school in England, she discovered the theatre and made it her life's work. She trained at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre where she frequently appeared with her first husband, actor Peter Donat. Ms. Learned has appeared in the films "For the Love of Mary," "Life During Wartime," Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" and "Power," directed by Sidney Lumet. Television appearances include "Law and Order: SVU," "Living Dolls," “Profiler," "A Father for Brittany," "A Walton Easter," "A Walton Wedding," "Murder in New Hampshire," "Roots: The Gift" and "All My Sons," to name a few.

DRIVING MISS DAISY will begin performances on Friday, February 1 (with a press opening on Saturday, February 2) and run for three weeks through Sunday, February 17. Performances will be Tuesday through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $45 and $37.50 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre’s Web site, lamiradatheatre.com. Student, Senior, Children and group discounts are available. For more information, call the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, now in its 30th year, has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California." This beautiful state-of-the-art theatre has been producing quality productions for its Southern California audiences since 1977. The theatre has produced several National Tours and is the recipient of many accolades including Ovation and Emmy Awards and Tony Award nominations. The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is theatre-adjacent and free. For further information 562-944-9801or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com

McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT combines the talents of musical theatre star Cathy Rigby with Tom McCoy's extensive production and theatrical experience and has become one of the nation's premier theatrical production companies. Credits include Tony-nominated Broadway shows, long-running national tours, multiple-award-winning Los Angeles stage productions, and hit TV specials.

The number of major theatrical awards garnered by McCoy Rigby Entertainment includes 3 Ovation Awards, 25 Drama-Logue Awards, 3 Backstage Garland Awards and 3 Tony Award nominations, 20 Ovation nominations and 8 NAACP award nominations for the touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar." In addition, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded McCoy Rigby Entertainment an Emmy for Best Scene Design as part of four nominations for the A&E network production of "Peter Pan." www.mccoyrigby.com

TONY® AND EMMY AWARD®-WINNER

TO PERFORM AT KODAK THEATRE
AT HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND CENTER
ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 at 8 pm

Broadway’s master songman, Mandy Patinkin, accompanied by Paul Ford on piano, will bring his critically acclaimed theatre concert to Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center for one performance only on Saturday, February 2 at 8 pm.

Tony® and Emmy Award®-winner Mandy Patinkin has an extensive list of theatre credits that include Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater. He won a Tony Award for his 1980 Broadway debut as Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita and was again nominated in 1984 for his starring role in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Sunday in the Park With George.

He returned to Broadway in the Tony Award®-winning musical The Secret Garden (1991), appeared as Marvin in Falsettos (1992) and in 1997 played a sold-out engagement of his one-man concert, Mandy Patinkin in Concert, with all profits benefiting five charitable organizations. Mandy’s other solo concerts, Celebrating Sondheim and Mamaloshen have been presented on Broadway, Off-Broadway and have toured the United States. His other stage credits include The Wild Party (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations), The Winter’s Tale, The Knife (Drama Desk nomination), Leave it to Beaver is Dead, Rebel Women, Hamlet, Trelawney of the ‘Wells,” The Shadow Box and Henry IV, Part I.

Mandy won a 1995 Emmy Award® for his critically acclaimed performance in the CBS series ”Chicago Hope,” and recently starred in the CBS series “Criminal Minds” as FBI profiler Jason Gideon and in the Showtime Original Series “Dead Like Me” as the reaper Rube Sofer.

His other television appearances include the role of Kenneth Duberstein in the Showtime film “Strange Justice,” playing Quasimodo opposite Richard Harris in the TNT film presentation of “The Hunchback,” and a film version of Arthur Miller's “Broken Glass” for BBC/WGBH-Boston.

Feature film credits include: Everyone’s Hero, Choking Man, Pinero, Elmo In Grouchland, Men with Guns, Lulu on the Bridge, The Princess Bride, Yentl, The Music of Chance, Daniel, Ragtime, Impromptu, The Doctor, Alien Nation, Dick Tracy, The House on Carroll Street, True Colors, Maxie, and Squanto: Indian Warrior.

Mr. Patinkin’s live performances have received wide critical acclaim. Pamela Sommers of the Washington Post wrote, “The most arresting thing about Patinkin is the conversational, often impassioned quality of his singing…you find yourself listening like you’ve never listened before.” Clive Barnes of the New York Post called Mandy “the greatest entertainer on Broadway today – period.” In the New York Daily News, Howard Kissel called his performance, “the most exciting time I’ve had in the theatre in ages. He could single-handedly revive the American musical theatre.” And the London Evening Standard called him, “a master entertainer of a type once thought to be extinct.”

In 1989, Mandy began his concert career at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. This coincided with the release of his first solo album entitled Mandy Patinkin. Since then he has toured extensively, appearing to sold-out audiences across the United States, Canada, London and Australia, performing songs from writers including Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Randy Newman, Adam Guettel and Harry Chapin, among others. In 1990 he released his second solo album entitled Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Dress Casual on CBS Records.

His 1994 recording, Experiment, on the Nonesuch label, features songs from nine decades of popular music from Irving Berlin to Alan Menken. Also recorded on the Nonesuch label is Oscar & Steve and Leonard Bernstein's New York. In 1998 he debuted his most personal project, Mamaloshen, a collection of traditional, classic and contemporary songs sung entirely in Yiddish. The recording of Mamaloshen won the Deutschen Schallplattenpreis (Germany’s equivalent of the Grammy Award). In 2001, Nonesuch Records released Kidults, a collection of beloved songs, designed – as the title suggests – for the kid in every adult. And, in 2002, Nonesuch Records released Mandy Patinkin Sings Sondheim, a figurative journey through Sondheim’s music and lyrics.

Paul Ford was the original pianist for the Broadway productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, the Off-Broadway production of Assassins, and most recently the revival of Pacific Overtures and the Tony award winning revival of Assassins. His other Broadway credits include Curtains, 110 in the Shade (revival), Tom Sawyer, High Society, The Rink, Rags, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, The Secret Garden and Falsettos.

Mr. Ford was the pianist for a number of concerts under the baton of Paul Gemignani including: the acclaimed Follies concert at Lincoln Center; the Carnegie Hall concert performances of A Sondheim Tribute, Anyone Can Whistle and South Pacific with Reba McEntire; A Little Night Music with the Philadelphia Symphony; Gypsy with Patti LuPone and the Chicago Symphony; and episodes of PBS’ “My Favorite Broadway.” He accompanied Mr. Patinkin in Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual at the Public Theater and on Broadway, both the Broadway and Off-Broadway engagements of Mamaloshen, and continues to work with him on all of his recordings and national/international tours.

About Kodak Theatre -- Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood & Highland Center located in the heart of historic Hollywood. The 3,400 seat theatre opened in November 2001 and soon thereafter became known to more than one billion people across the globe as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards®. As a first class live entertainment venue, Kodak Theatre has hosted a range of prestigious artists and events including Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Prince, Elvis Costello, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick, Jr., Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, Tyler Perry, American Ballet Theatre and various touring Broadway productions. Notable television and awards events at Kodak Theatre have included the American Idol finals, AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards to Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and George Lucas, Latin GRAMMY® Awards, ESPY Awards and BET Awards.

Kodak Theatre is operated by TheatreDreams. TheatreDreams and its affiliated companies are led by Tony Award®-winning principals Lawrence J. Wilker, Jill Wilker, Joan A. Alper, William W. Becker and Michael Alper. Formed in 2001, TheatreDreams has co-produced three hit Broadway productions: Urinetown: The Musical, winner of three 2002 Tony Awards®; Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods starring Vanessa Williams and winner of the 2002 Tony Award® for Best Musical Revival; and Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party starring Henry Winkler and the late John Ritter.

This concert event is present by TheatreDreams and Kodak Theatre. Tickets, priced at $65, are available at the Kodak Theatre Box Office, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, through KodakTheatre.com, by phone at 213-480-3232, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. For groups of 15 or more call 323-308-6333.