Benjamin Britten News

Chicago Opera Theater's second opera of their 2009 Spring Festival Season is La Tragédie de Carmen, a 90 minute adaptation of Georges Bizet's Carmen by Marius Constant, Jean-Claude Carrière, and Peter Brook. La Tragèdie de Carmen runs May 2nd through May 15th at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Chicago Opera Theater opens their 2009 Spring Festival Season on April 18 with Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (through May 1) at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Absent from Chicago stages in more than a generation, La clemenza di Tito has made a resurgence in the rest of the world. Most notably in New York City last year?both at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival. The New York Times declared, 'Clemenza emerges as a musically ravishing and dramatically complex opera of great immediacy.'

Opening tonight - Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm is The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) production of ?Avow? by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews began Thursday, February 19, 2009 for the limited Off Broadway engagement. The play takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues, especially with Proposition 8. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis. Http://www.CardinalGroupNYC.com

The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE for 'AVOW' OFF BROADWAY at 45th STREET THEATRE Previews begin February 19 Opening Wednesday, February 25 The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE for 'AVOW' OFF BROADWAY at 45th STREET THEATRE Previews begin February 19 Opening Wednesday, February 25 The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents Avow by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

London's National Theatre announced Wednesday, Jan. 14th, that it will transmit live performances to movie theaters around the world in a quest to widen its audience and test the public appeal for watching stage productions onscreen. The first of four planned simulcasts will be the June 25th performance of Jean Racine's tragedy 'Phedre' starring Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren and mega hit 'Mamma Mia' film star Dominic Cooper. The National's artistic director Nicholas Hytner said Mirren, who won a best actress Oscar for 'The Queen,' was 'tremendously excited' by the idea.

Following critically acclaimed performances at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland (Pick of the Fringe), the 10th Annual Festival Internacional de Puebla in Mexico, and 303 Bond in Brooklyn, Company XIV proudly presents a revival of their hit show, The Judgment of Paris. Dubbed by the company as 'A dramatic entertainment,' this erotically charged show fuses theater, dance, music, naughty cabaret and can-can! The Judgment of Paris is conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick, with adapted text by Austin McCormick and Toby Burns.

In February of 2009, in honor of the bicentennial of Joseph Haydn's death, Gotham Chamber Opera will present the New York City stage premiere of L'isola disabitata (Desert Island) in a new production staged by Mark Morris at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

Following critically acclaimed performances at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland (Pick of the Fringe), the 10th Annual Festival Internacional de Puebla in Mexico, and 303 Bond in Brooklyn, Company XIV proudly presents a revival of their hit show, The Judgment of Paris. Dubbed by the company as 'A dramatic entertainment,' this erotically charged show fuses theater, dance, music, naughty cabaret and can-can! The Judgment of Paris is conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick, with adapted text by Austin McCormick and Toby Burns.

Following critically acclaimed performances at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland (Pick of the Fringe), the 10th Annual Festival Internacional de Puebla in Mexico, and 303 Bond in Brooklyn, Company XIV proudly presents a revival of their hit show, The Judgment of Paris. Dubbed by the company as 'A dramatic entertainment,' this erotically charged show fuses theater, dance, music, naughty cabaret and can-can! The Judgment of Paris is conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick, with adapted text by Austin McCormick and Toby Burns.

Following critically acclaimed performances at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland (Pick of the Fringe), the 10th Annual Festival Internacional de Puebla in Mexico, and 303 Bond in Brooklyn, Company XIV proudly presents a revival of their hit show, The Judgment of Paris. Dubbed by the company as 'A dramatic entertainment,' this erotically charged show fuses theater, dance, music, naughty cabaret and can-can! The Judgment of Paris is conceived, directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick, with adapted text by Austin McCormick and Toby Burns.

In February of 2009, in honor of the bicentennial of Joseph Haydn's death, Gotham Chamber Opera will present the New York City stage premiere of L'isola disabitata (Desert Island) in a new production staged by Mark Morris at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

Julie Taymor's hit production of Mozart's The Magic Flute returns to the Met as this season's special holiday presentation beginning December 22. The abridged, English-language version is specially priced to appeal to families and will have four matinees and one holiday evening performance, running through January 1.

In February of 2009, in honor of the bicentennial of Joseph Haydn's death, Gotham Chamber Opera will present the New York City stage premiere of L'isola disabitata (Desert Island) in a new production staged by Mark Morris at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

In anticipation of the beginning of Gerard Mortier's tenure as General Manager and Artistic Director in 2009-10, New York City Opera will present Looking Forward, a celebration of twentieth-century music, as part of a unique series of concerts and events planned for 2008-09.

New York City Opera will present a series of concerts, showcases, discussions, screenings, and master classes in 2008-09, designed to bring the company's unique brand of music-making and cultural conversation to all five boroughs of New York City while renovations take place at its home, the New York State Theater.