Andrew Davis News

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions by invitation in New York City for male dancers for the 2015-16 season production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. This new-to-Chicago production is part of the company's American Musical Theater Initiative and features an internationally acclaimed creative team, including director Lee Blakeley, conductor David Chase, and choreographer Peggy Hickey.

The holiday season brings family, fun, togetherness and music! Experience all of that and more at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday celebration, Highmark Holiday Pops, on December 11-13 and December 19 and 20 at Heinz Hall.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Details on the arrivals of 'Hamilton' and 'If/Then,' and Bill Pullinsi's and Michael Flatley's retirements mark the end of two eraa. 'Far From Heaven' and 'Heathers' will premiere locally, and 'Bel Canto' bows at the Lyric Opera. 'Daddy Long Legs' streams, 'Option Up!' debuts new works, and voting for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards heats up!

Stageplays Theatre Company presents a 2-performance benefit concert reading Sunday and Monday, December 13-14, to introduce its next world-premiere play, It's Only Money, a new comedy by Llywelyn Jones and Tom Ferriter.

The holiday season brings family, fun, togetherness and music! Experience all of that and more at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday celebration, Highmark Holiday Pops, on December 11-13 and December 19 and 20 at Heinz Hall.

With artful direction and choreography from Susan Stroman, Lyric Opera's mounting of Franz Lehar's well-known 1905 operetta THE MERRY WIDOW sweeps audiences into a joyful waltz, complete with exquisite talent and a production with opulence to spare. This production debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the fall of 2014 with commanding opera diva Renee Fleming at the helm as the titular widow Hanna Glawari. Fleming truly shines in this production, with the equally talented Thomas Hampson at her side as Count Danilo Danilovich.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2015-16 season with a concert version of The Beatles' iconic album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performed by the Art of Time Ensemble, tonight, November 21, 2015 at 8pm.

Peter Oundjian, music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Scotland's Royal National Orchestra, and celebrated violinist Stefan Jackiw make their debuts with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) for two performances on Saturday, December 12, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, and Sunday, December 13, 2015, 7 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Oundjian, described as 'consistently illuminating' (Gramophone), conducts Bartok's brilliant Divertimento, Sz 113; Beethoven's sunny Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60; and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. The latter work, among the most beloved violin concertos ever written, features Jackiw, also making his Los Angeles debut, who has been hailed for 'talent that's off the scale' (Washington Post) and as a 'legend in the making' (Chicago Tribune).

Manhattan School of Music (MSM) recently announced the appointment of Kent Tritle, also the School's Director of Choral Activities, as Chair of its historic Organ Department. Tritle, who the New York Times has hailed as 'the brightest star in New York's choral music world,' is organist for both the New York Philharmonic (since 1994) and American Symphony Orchestra (since 1993), as well as serving as Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He is also Music Director of both Musica Sacra, the longest continuously performing professional chorus in New York, and the acclaimed Oratorio Society of New York.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar in a new-to-Chicago production directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Presented in English with projected titles, the production opens tonight, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár in a new-to-Chicago production to launch the holiday season. It opens tomorrow, November 14, with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performances are in English with projected titles. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar in a new-to-Chicago production to launch the holiday season. It opens on Saturday, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performances are in English with projected titles.

The McCarter Theatre Center's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has become a welcome holiday treat for families across the region. This heartwarming and powerfully honest musical adaptation of Dickens' classic novel is a wonderful way to honor tradition while experiencing the joys and warmth of a holiday favorite. A Christmas Carol runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 27 on the Matthews Stage.

Alban Berg's opera Wozzeck is not the first to swirl with immortal themes like power play, lust, betrayal, and death (far, far from it), but thanks to the circumstances of its composition - further emphasized by Sir David McVicar's new production at the Lyric Opera - it is prominent in its search to question the meaning of it all. So, whether or not philosophizing about the inherent nature of man gets you up and out in the morning, a visit to the Civic Opera House would very much be in order for a beguiling production that, while leaving one starved for melody, makes for cracking drama and discussion.

Manhattan School of Music (MSM) recently announced the appointment of Kent Tritle, also the School's Director of Choral Activities, as Chair of its historic Organ Department. Tritle, who the New York Times has hailed as "the brightest star in New York's choral music world," is organist for both the New York Philharmonic (since 1994) and American Symphony Orchestra (since 1993), as well as serving as Director of Cathedral Music and Organist at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He is also Music Director of both Musica Sacra, the longest continuously performing professional chorus in New York, and the acclaimed Oratorio Society of New York.

New York Festival of Song opens a new season of NYFOS Mainstage with 'From Russia to Riverside Drive: Rachmaninoff & Friends,' featuring Rachmaninoff's ravishing romanticism and his American contemporaries - songs by Rachmaninoff, Ellington, Gershwin, Schillinger.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College continues its 2015-16 season with a concert version of The Beatles' iconic album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, performed by the Art of Time Ensemble, on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 8pm.

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a searing new production that opens this Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a searing new production that opens this Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the show!

The Lyric Opera of Chicago and American Guild of Musical Artists have settled an agreement.