Watch Sierra Boggess and Warren Carlyle Share What to Expect From The Secret Garden at the Ahmanson

Drama Desk and Drama League nominee Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, Love Never Dies, Harmony) and Tony winner Warren Carlyle (After Midnight) stopped by the Playbill Studio to share what to expect of Center Theatre Group's upcoming, Broadway-aimed production of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman’s The Secret Garden.
Performances of the reimagined revival are scheduled to run February 19-March 26, 2023, at the Ahmanson Theatre, with opening night set for February 26.
Carlyle is directing and choreographing the revival, which will feature revisions to the show from co-creators Norman and the late Simon. Rob Berman will music direct.
“The Secret Garden is about healing and about growth, both things that deal with, literally, a garden. There is healing in a garden. There's healing on this earth. And, there is major growth that happens. And, it's what we as humans are learning about that and these people that are in struggle that need both of those things,” shares Boggess, who will play the role of Lily.
Playbill recently announced that Center Theatre Group has found its Mary Lennox for its production of The Secret Garden: 11-year-old Sadie Brickman Reynolds.
The production has been in the works for Carlyle since at least 2018, when he was announced to helm a Broadway revival in the 2018-19 season that never materialized. A 2018 workshop of Carlyle’s staging streamed in April 2021 to benefit The Dramatists Guild Foundation and The Actors Fund, featuring Boggess as Lily. The stream was dedicated to the late Rebecca Luker, who played the role in the original Broadway company.
Based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, The Secret Garden features a book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer winner Norman and music by Grammy winner and Tony nominee Simon. The work was first produced on Broadway in 1991, receiving six Tony Award nominations and winning Best Book of a Musical for Norman, Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Heidi Ettinger, and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Daisy Eagan.
Visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.

[@twrldr1]

Been watching Sierra for years. She is one of my favorite singers!

[@mordybarnett5043]

I’m so excited for this!!!

[@inlovewithJLT]

Very disappointing to hear they've stripped the orchestra, but I still look forward to seeing and hearing the show again.

[@jenniferp7497]

They also took out two big songs :-( We enjoyed it, but not seeing the full production was disappointing, and it made the second act go by far too fast.

[@inlovewithJLT]

@@jenniferp7497 Oh no, what did they cut?

[@TweedlDum9]

So excited for this next spring! The irony that Playbill is advertising the show but the Ahmanson Theatre in LA *doesn't* give us Playbills...we get Performances Magazine instead...why?

[@DaidairoGS]

Can't wait for this! P.S. Ramin Karimloo as Archie please please please pleaseee

[@laallaal1078]

YES, OH GOD, YES, LET IT BE RAMIN

[@peterreardon8878]

This production got destroyed by the critics...guess it's back to the drawing board and definitely find a better director {which shouldn't be too hard}.

[@KL-sw5xi]

Did Warren Carlyle read the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett? I didn't think so, because what I saw at the Ahmanson theatre was TRASH