Arts & Culture Headline Article

Center Theatre Group Announces Extension of SPAMILTON at the Kirk Douglas Theatre thru Jan. 7th

L-R: Zakiya Young, John Devereaux, William Cooper Howell, Dedrick A. Bonner and Wilkie Ferguson III
Cash for your car

That’s right, Spamilton, not Hamilton! After finally seeing Hamilton at the Pantages in Hollywood, I was very curious to see Spamilton. Plus, my theater going friends were gushing about this fun romp of a parody.

Created, directed and written by Gerard Alessandrini, the West Coast premiere of Spamilton began previews on November 5, 2017, and opened on November 12. And now, you can still enjoy this delightful production through January 7, 2018. “We’re very excited about expanding the show a bit,” Alessandrini said. “We will also be adding up-to-date references to Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda and their impact on the current Broadway season.”

Gerard Alessandrini is best known for creating and writing all 25 editions of Forbidden Broadway in Los Angeles, New York, London and around the world. Alessandrini is the recipient of an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, two Lucille Lortel Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Drama League and seven Drama Desk Awards (including two for Best Lyrics for Forbidden Broadway and two special lifetime awards). Alessandrini was also awarded an Honorary Tony Award for ‘excellence in the theatre’.

Well, Spamilton does not disappoint! It was a real treat to see our founding fathers in a comedy setting while still enjoying great music and splendid performances. Produced by special arrangement with John Freedson, David Zippel, Christine Pedi and Gerard Alessandrini, Spamilton celebrates and satirizes the Broadway blockbuster with a versatile cast. The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Glenn Bassett, Susanne Blakeslee, Dedrick A. Bonner, Becca Brown, John Devereaux, Wilkie Ferguson III, William Cooper Howell, Elijah Reyes and Zakiya Young. These Broadway veterans gave their heart and soul to the audience. And all of the fun was packed into just 80 minutes! Amazing indeed.

Spamilton at the Kirk Douglas Theatre

John Devereaux, Dedrick A. Bonner, Wilkie Ferguson III and William Cooper Howell

The creative team includes choreography by Gerry McIntyre, music supervision and arrangements by Fred Barton, set and prop consultant Glenn Bassett, costume design by Dustin Cross, lighting design by Karyn D. Lawrence, sound design by Adam Phalen and music direction by James Lent.

After select Friday performances, the Center Theatre Group hosts a Broadway Karaoke. This is truly the icing on the cake and not to be missed! Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, programs seasons at the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 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.

Tickets for Spamilton are available by calling (213) 628-2772, online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org, at the Center Theatre Group Box Office at the Ahmanson Theatre or at the Kirk Douglas Theatre Box Office two hours prior to performance.

Tickets range from $55 – $99 (ticket prices are subject to change).

The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 Washington Blvd. in Culver City, CA 90232. Free three hour covered parking at City Hall, with validation (available in the Kirk Douglas Theatre lobby).

So make an evening of it – learning U S History was never as fun as this!

Written by Kim Foster

Photo by Craig Schwartz. All Uses © 2017 Craig Schwartz

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