George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s comedy The Royal Family will also be included in the season which begins with two bonus productions: Flower Drum Song, returning to California where it played the Mark Taper Forum prior to its Broadway engagement; and The Phantom of the Opera.

The musical Never Gonna Dance, which has been in development for a number of years, will start the season at California's Ahmanson before heading to Broadway. Never Gonna Dance is based on the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers 1936 film, "Swing Time," featuring a score by Jerome Kern. Librettist Jeffrey Hatcher, director Michael Greif and choreographer Jerry Mitchell are all attached to the project.

The Weissberger Theater Group/Jay Harris, Edgar Bronfman, Jr., James Walsh and Ted Hartley/RKO Pictures will produce Never Gonna Dance which opens Jan. 25, 2004.

The Royal Family, Kaufman and Ferber's valentine to the theatre, more specifically the Barrymore family, will take the stage for a March 31 opening. The comedy follows the theatrical "first family" of the Cavendishes in the new Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson production.

The national tour of last season's big Tony winner for Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, will make a stop at the Ahmanson stage, opening May 21. The Michael Mayer-directed, Rob Ashford-choreographed production of the musical, which has a book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan, music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Dick Scanlan, is also a part of the Broadway/L.A. 2003-2004 season. Ending the Ahmanson season, opening July 30, is the Baz Luhrmann production of Puccini's opera La Bohème. Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, Emanuel Azenberg and Bazmark Live produce the L.A. run which will feature a rotating cast as its Broadway counterpart.

The complete 2003-2004 Ahmanson season (subject to change) is as follows: