Ed Bernard News

Shimmering with 18 songs from Cole Porter's most beloved musicals, High Society, the Musical is a high energy stage adaptation of the 1950's movie that starred Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. The fast-moving story centers on a comically pretentious Oyster Bay wedding in June, 1938. Hilarious romantic complications revolve around the bride-to-be, her parents, and a smitten tabloid reporter. Colorful production numbers capture all the magic of Cole Porter's timeless lyrics.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City opens its 53rd season with Carmen. This will be the Company's final season in the Lyric Theatre. Beginning in the fall of 2011, the Lyric Opera will perform at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

CENTERSTAGE has announced the selection of Management Consultants for the Arts, based in Stamford, Connecticut, to handle a national search to identify a successor for Artistic Director Irene Lewis, who will depart after 19 seasons with CENTERSTAGE at the end of the 2010-11 Season.

The Fountain Theatre will close the first production of its 20th Anniversary Season, the West Coast premiere of Ifa Bayeza's daring, folk and gospel-infused The Ballad of Emmett Till, on April 25th. Shirley Jo Finney (Yellowman) directed Bernard K. Addison, Rico E. Anderson, Lorenz Arnell, Adenrele Ojo and Karen Malina White in the five-week run.

Director and Choreographer Joey McKneely today announced the dynamic young cast who will star in the Australian national tour of the show that is credited with changing the face of musical theatre.