Susan Benson

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada announced today that after 24 years of service, Wardrobe Supervisor Marjory Fielding is retiring from the National Ballet. Ms. Fielding's final day at the National Ballet will be January 11, 2019.

William Shakespeare's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is a comedic, character-driven piece about the courtship of volatile Katherina and obnoxious Petruchio. Character pieces require great characters, naturally, and great performers. In his ballet adaptation, John Cranko delivers. In the Houston Ballet production, so do the dancers.

The Canadian Opera Company's beloved production of Puccini's heartbreaking masterpiece of love, longing and loss, Madama Butterfly, comes to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this October. An exquisite production by Canadian theatrical legend Brian Macdonald, designed by Susan Benson with lighting by Michael Whitfield, the COC'sMadama Butterfly has become a Toronto favourite, playing to sold-out audiences at its 1990 premiere and subsequent revivals in 1994, 1998, 2003 and 2009. Madama Butterfly is sung in Italian with English SURTITLESTM and runs for 12 performances on October 10, 11, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31, 2014.

April 26, 2014 marks the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. In honor of this milestone in world culture, Houston Ballet will present dance interpretations of great Shakespearean works by choreographers from three continents: a lavish new production of Romeo and Juliet by Stanton Welch; the company premiere of John Neumeier's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a revival of John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew.

The Canadian Opera Company unveiled a season dominated by the most important, respected and talked-about artists working on the operatic world stage today at a public launch of its 2014/2015 season at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Puccini's searing tragedy of East and West brings down the curtain on Seattle Opera's 2011/12 season. One of opera's most beloved characters, Cio-Cio-San, tests the limits of faith and choose death over dishonor at the climax of eight performances of Madama Butterfly, tonight, May 5 through May 20, 2012. The production features the Seattle Opera debuts of five exciting artists, and the opening night performance tonight, May 5 will also be the company's first-ever simulcast.

Puccini's searing tragedy of East and West brings down the curtain on Seattle Opera's 2011/12 season. One of opera's most beloved characters, Cio-Cio-San, will test the limits of faith and choose death over dishonor at the climax of eight performances of Madama Butterfly, May 5 through 20, 2012. The production features the Seattle Opera debuts of five exciting artists, and the opening night performance on May 5 will also be the company's first-ever simulcast.

As the final of three mainstage productions during the two-month Eugene O'Neill Festival spearheaded by Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Long Day's Journey into Night rounds out this celebration of O'Neill's life and work. The English-born and Canadian-based director and former Stratford Festival Artistic Director Robin Phillips makes his Arena Stage debut to direct his fourth production of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play in a theatrical career spanning more than 50 years.

As the final of three mainstage productions during the two-month Eugene O'Neill Festival spearheaded by Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Long Day's Journey into Night rounds out this celebration of O'Neill's life and work. The English-born and Canadian-based director and former Stratford Festival Artistic Director Robin Phillips makes his Arena Stage debut to direct his fourth production of this Pulitzer Prize-winning play in a theatrical career spanning more than 50 years.

'ROB ROY THE MUSICAL' is no longer going to have its Chicago premiere, and will instead begin at the Elgin Theater in Toronto. Any previously purchased tickets can be refunded where they were purchased. The Arie Crown theater now has a space in its schedule.

CanStage presents Toronto premiere of 2004 Tony winner I AM MY OWN WIFE.