Daniel Pelzig News

Tonight before a crowd of 1,200 theatre-makers and theatre-lovers at the historic Lincoln Theatre, theatreWashington celebrated excellence on Washington stages at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. The awards celebration was a night of excitement and surprise as 57 Washington theatre artists, theatres, and ensembles received honors in 47 categories for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2014 theatre season. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

Tonight before a crowd of 150 theatre makers and theatre lovers, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Watch the full announcement below, and scroll down for the list of nominees!

KARINA GONZALEZ and SIMON BALL, principal dancers of the Houston Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet's production of The Nutcracker this weekend, December 6 and 7, 2014 at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.

I guess when you're are a writer of Stephen King's stature you can't help be subject to expectations that are often simply too hard to live up to. Most of the criticism directed at THE GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY centers around the book he's cooked up for the show. He and composer (and rock icon) John Mellencamp had been kicking around this idea for about a dozen years, and when it was finally staged it was savaged in a number of ways, with most of the vitriol centered on King's narrative. I wonder if those critics felt the same way a few days after they'd posted their reviews. For me, I've found that the haunting mix of music and imagery has lingered in my memory long after I'd thought it would abate. Charged acting, a terrific roots rock and blues-inflected score, and a story that plays upon simmering tensions that threaten to boil over for the McCandless family, combine to produce something truly special and worthy of appreciation.

KARINA GONZALEZ and SIMON BALL, principal dancers of the Houston Ballet, will appear as guest artists in the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet's production of The Nutcracker on December 6 and 7, 2014 at the Riverview Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The new production of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Pioneer Theatre Company knows how to spell H-I-T. If the longer-than-usual title isn't familiar to you, you owe yourself a visit to Putnam County. And if it is, you already know why a return trip is in order.

Noel Coward's fast-talking comedy of manners Private Lives will close the Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2013-2014 Season. Directed by Maria Aitken (2009-2010 Season's As You Like It), Private Lives enjoyed wild success at the Huntington Theatre Company in 2012, being deemed 'a diamond-sharp production' (The Boston Globe) and will find a home at the Lansburgh Theatre from tonight, May 29-July 13, 2014 (450 7th Street NW).

Noel Coward's fast-talking comedy of manners Private Lives will close the Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2013-2014 Season. Directed by Maria Aitken (2009-2010 Season's As You Like It), Private Lives enjoyed wild success at the Huntington Theatre Company in 2012, being deemed 'a diamond-sharp production' (The Boston Globe) and will find a home at the Lansburgh Theatre from May 29-July 13, 2014 (450 7th Street NW).

The McCarter Theatre Center presents two all-new adaptations of Pierre Beaumarchais' comic masterpieces that inspired Rossini and Mozart's operas: The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Filled with material rarely seen by modern theatregoers (due to being cut by censors for the operas), The Figaro Plays will contain fresh surprises, unexpected laughs, and new insight for 21st century audiences. Click below to go behind the scenes with the cast and creative team!

McCarter Theatre Center presents two all-new adaptations of Pierre Beaumarchais' comic masterpieces that inspired Rossini and Mozart's operas: The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Filled with material rarely seen by modern theatregoers (due to being cut by censors for the operas), The Figaro Plays will contain fresh surprises, unexpected laughs, and new insight for 21st century audiences. BroadwayWorld has a first look at The Marriage of Figaro below!

McCarter Theatre Center presents two all-new adaptations of Pierre Beaumarchais' comic masterpieces that inspired Rossini and Mozart's operas: The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Filled with material rarely seen by modern theatregoers (due to being cut by censors for the operas), The Figaro Plays will contain fresh surprises, unexpected laughs, and new insight for 21st century audiences. Scroll down for a first look at The Barber of Seville!

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, tonight, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

He may not have money, he may not have power...but where there's a wit, there's a way. Figaro is a comic chameleon unmatched across history: clever, insubordinate, restless, lustful, agent of chaos, champion of love, jack of all trades, and man for all seasons. For more than two hundred years, this wily valet has spoken words that have incited revolution and performed deeds that make audiences fall in love with him time and again.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

He may not have money, he may not have power...but where there's a wit, there's a way. Figaro is a comic chameleon unmatched across history: clever, insubordinate, restless, lustful, agent of chaos, champion of love, jack of all trades, and man for all seasons. For more than two hundred years, this wily valet has spoken words that have incited revolution and performed deeds that make audiences fall in love with him time and again.

Voting is now underway for Washington, DC! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Extreme flirting, lots of champagne, and dance-to-dawn partying - it's Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. The most famous of all Viennese operettas arrives at Lyric Opera of Chicago tonight, December 10 in an effervescent new-to-Chicago production, starring Juliane Banse* as Rosalinde, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein, Daniela Fally** as Adele, Michael Spyres* as Alfred, Adrian Eröd* as Falke, Emily Fons as Prince Orlofsky, and Andrew Shore as Frank. Die Fledermaus is conducted by Ward Stare with E. Loren Meeker in her Lyric Opera directorial debut.

Extreme flirting, lots of champagne, and dance-to-dawn partying – it's Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. The most famous of all Viennese operettas arrives at Lyric Opera of Chicago December 10 in an effervescent new-to-Chicago production starring Juliane Banse* as Rosalinde, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein,Daniela Fally** as Adele, Michael Spyres* as Alfred, Adrian Eröd* as Falke,Emily Fons as Prince Orlofsky, and Andrew Shore as Frank. Die Fledermaus is conducted by Ward Stare with E. Loren Meeker in her Lyric Opera directorial debut. (*Lyric debut, **American debut)