Andrew Drost News

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater, has announced that Kyrian Friedenberg, the ten-year old singer, violinist and actor most recently seen in Gypsy with Patty LuPone on Broadway, has been cast as Charlie Bucket in ALT's upcoming workshop and reading of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Speaking of the young performer, Edelson said that 'Kyrian has a wonderful voice, is incredibly musical, and has charisma that is truly contagious. After hearing him sing Charlie's first act Aria from The Golden Ticket, I had no doubt that he was the right boy to bring Roald Dahl's classic character to life in our upcoming workshop.'

Hell's Kitchen The Musical opened Off-Broadway February 11th at The Hudson Guild Theater. Veteran singer/songwriter and composer Jon Montgomery (Foreigner, KISS) adapted Hell's Kitchen The Musical from his screenplay 'The King Of 42nd Street.' He teamed up with pianist and composer Toby Kasavan (Bootsy Collins, Wilson Pickett), and after the score and book was written, Hell's Kitchen was first showcased at 353 Studios in 2004.

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of ALT, has announced that the company has commissioned The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In his announcement, Edelson explained that all of Dahl's beloved characters find a unique voice in this exciting new opera. 'If thoughts of Augustus Gloop being swept away in the Chocolate River, Violet Beauregarde inflating like a giant blueberry, Mike Teavee being demagnified into the tele-dimension, and Veruca Salt being thrown down the rubbish shoot by a gang of nut-inspecting squirrels sound like your idea of a fun night at the opera - or better yet, unlike any night at the opera or theater you've ever experienced - The Golden Ticket is....just the ticket!'

Hell's Kitchen The Musical opened Off-Broadway February 11th at The Hudson Guild Theater. Veteran singer/songwriter and composer Jon Montgomery (Foreigner, KISS) adapted Hell's Kitchen The Musical from his screenplay 'The King Of 42nd Street.' He teamed up with pianist and composer Toby Kasavan (Bootsy Collins, Wilson Pickett), and after the score and book was written, Hell's Kitchen was first showcased at 353 Studios in 2004.

Hell's Kitchen The Musical opens Off-Broadway February 11th at The Hudson Guild Theater. Veteran singer/songwriter and composer Jon Montgomery (Foreigner, KISS) adapted Hell's Kitchen The Musical from his screenplay 'The King Of 42nd Street.' He teamed up with pianist and composer Toby Kasavan (Bootsy Collins, Wilson Pickett), and after the score and book was written, Hell's Kitchen was first showcased at 353 Studios in 2004.

Hell's Kitchen The Musical opens Off-Broadway February 11th at The Hudson Guild Theater. Veteran singer/songwriter and composer Jon Montgomery (Foreigner, KISS) adapted Hell's Kitchen The Musical from his screenplay 'The King Of 42nd Street.' He teamed up with pianist and composer Toby Kasavan (Bootsy Collins, Wilson Pickett), and after the score and book was written, Hell's Kitchen was first showcased at 353 Studios in 2004.

New York City Opera is proud to present the company premiere of Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra in concert on January 15 and 16, 2009 at 8 PM in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. Soprano Lauren Flanigan sings the role of Cleopatra opposite baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, in his New York City Opera debut, as Antony. The cast includes rising tenor Simon O'Neill as Caesar and City Opera favorites David Pittsinger as Enobarbus, Sandra Piques Eddy as Charmian and Laura Vlasak Nolen as Iras. City Opera Music Director George Manahan will conduct. The company's celebration of Samuel Barber's upcoming centennial will also include a Symposium on Antony and Cleopatra on Saturday, January 10, co-presented by and taking place at Miller Theatre at Columbia University, which will feature City Opera soprano Elizabeth Futral in a unique recital of musical depictions and evocations of Cleopatra.

Jon Montgomery's Hell's Kitchen The Musical welcomes tap sensation Omar Edwards to the cast in the role of Harlem Gangster, Renny,' The Duke ' Carter. Omar: - Bring In The Noise, Black & Blue, Showtime At The Apollo, Dave Chapelle's Road Show, Ellen Degeneres and much more in his wonderful career.

New York City Opera is proud to present the company premiere of Samuel Barber's Antony and Cleopatra in concert on January 15 and 16, 2009 at 8 PM in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. Soprano Lauren Flanigan sings the role of Cleopatra opposite baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, in his New York City Opera debut, as Antony. The cast includes rising tenor Simon O'Neill as Caesar and City Opera favorites David Pittsinger as Enobarbus, Sandra Piques Eddy as Charmian and Laura Vlasak Nolen as Iras. City Opera Music Director George Manahan will conduct. The company's celebration of Samuel Barber's upcoming centennial will also include a Symposium on Antony and Cleopatra on Saturday, January 10, co-presented by and taking place at Miller Theatre at Columbia University, which will feature City Opera soprano Elizabeth Futral in a unique recital of musical depictions and evocations of Cleopatra.

Bryant Park Corporation announces the inaugural season of a series of early fall classical music concerts featuring musicians from the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, and The New York Pops. Entitled Bank of America presents New York Now in Bryant Park, the series runs for three weeks, from September 23 through October 8, kicking off with musicians from the New York Philharmonic, featuring Principal Clarinet Stanley Drucker.

Jamie Bernstein, Judy Kaye, the St. Luke's Orchestra and other talents celebrate Leonard Bernstein at Caramoor's International Music Festival

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming New York City Opera production of The Most Happy Fella, starring Paul Sorvino, which will run from March 4th through March 25th

In the upcoming and much anticipated 'Sweeney Todd' at NYCO, Andrew Drost tackles the role of Pirelli. BWW's Marie Forbes sat down with Andrew to talk about his NYCO Debut...