Kate Ashton News

It’s amazing how much emotion John Musto and Mark Campbell have been able to cram in the mere 75 minutes of LATER THE SAME EVENING, a one act opera, which has been on view this past week at Juilliard Opera at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, on West 65 Street, down the block from Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall.

As SYREN celebrates its 20-year anniversary, the company will present Ithaka, a nine-section modern dance created by Kate Sutter in collaboration with the dancers of SYREN and set to the lively and dynamic music of LA-based composer and producer Calimossa.

When an organization reaches a milestone like 50 years, it can be easy to look back at everything that brought you to that milestone. While Des Moines Metro Opera's productions of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and PORGY AND BESS do that, they are also looking at the future with the world premiere production of A THOUSAND ACRES. If this production indicates what Des Moines Metro Opera has planned for the future, then I'm sure we will see them around for another 50 years and more.

Des Moines Metro Opera's General and Artistic Director Michael Egel announced today the repertory for the company's 50th Anniversary Season alongside the launch of the public phase of a $15 million fundraising campaign, 50 Next: Giving Voice to the Future.

On June 27th, 2019, Des Moines Metro Opera announced its 2020 season to the public but what captured my attention was a barber's chair dimly lit by a window above it. There is only one show that this could have been, Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD. I had seen the recording of the original production, two filmed concerts, and the movie, but I was going to be able to see it live for the first time. I was extremely excited but then came COVID, which forced the opera to postpone its season. I was heartbroken—but then it was postponed to 2021 and used it as their season opener.

Des Moines Metro Opera announced today the repertory for the organization's 2021 Summer Festival, which runs July 2 through July 25, 2021.

Every so often, a production comes around that leaves you pondering about the show when it is done. For me, it's usually a jarring show that asks the audience to think about how we see things in the world, and if the way we see things can be adjusted or not. Des Moines Metro Opera's (DMMO) production of 'WOZZECK' was a production that will leave you thinking about a topic that is very prevalent in our world today, mental illness. This production deals with a character that is dealing with insanity. What this production does well is having the idea of insanity prevalent in multiple aspects of the show.

Juilliard's Ellen and James S. Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Zeger, opens its opera season with Britten's The Turn of the Screw, featuring Juilliard singers and the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Steven Osgood and directed by John Giampietro, on Wednesday, November 14 and Friday, November 16, 2018, at 7:30pm, and Sunday, November 18, 2018, at 2pm in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater.

Theater Mitu is presenting a new production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Theater Mitu will present a new production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN.

Bristol Riverside Theatre heads into the new year with Alfred Urhy's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic DRIVING MISS DAISY January 24-February 12.  Directed by Amy Kaissar, the ensemble cast includes Marvin Bell, Michael Samuel Kaplan, and Lucy Martin.

Bristol Riverside Theatre opens Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic DRIVING MISS DAISY on Tuesday, January 24, with the production running through February 12. Directed by Amy Kaissar, the ensemble cast includes Marvin Bell, Michael Samuel Kaplan, and Lucy Martin.

Bristol Riverside Theatre heads into the new year with Alfred Urhy's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic DRIVING MISS DAISY January 24-February 12.  Directed by Amy Kaissar, the ensemble cast includes Marvin Bell, Michael Samuel Kaplan, and Lucy Martin.

It's a shame that Bellini wasn't Donizetti--because the story of LA SONNAMBULA seems to be begging for the full comic treatment and could have been a great companion to L'ELISIR D'AMORE. (I'm not sure how Maria Callas would have felt about changes in one of her great roles.) As it stands, performing the semi-serious work in a concert format--as The Juilliard Opera did last week--is the next best thing, putting the emphasis on the music and the virtuoso singing it calls for and less on the absurd storyline.

The Public Theater will officially open the New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I tonight, March 10. Written by Olivier nominated actress and writer Cush Jumbo, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, JOSEPHINE AND I began previews on Friday, March 27 and runs through Sunday, April 5 at Joe's Pub at The Public. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Jumbo onstage below!

The Public Theater will officially open the New York premiere of JOSEPHINE AND I on Tuesday, March 10. Written by Olivier nominated actress and writer Cush Jumbo, and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, JOSEPHINE AND I began previews on Friday, March 27 and runs through Sunday, April 5 at Joe's Pub at The Public. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Jumbo onstage below!

Christopher Durang's Tony winning play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is certainly one for the books for Northports's John W. Engeman Theatre. The gorgeous Long Island venue has mounted a wonderful incarnation running through March 8th and boasts an extraordinary cast.

The John W. Engeman Theater has announced the cast and creative team for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Performances begin tonight, January 22, 2015 at 8:00pm and run through March 8, 2015.

The John W. Engeman Theater has announced the cast and creative team for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Performances begin on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 8:00pm and run through March 8, 2015.

Laughter can be found at Bristol Riverside Theatre in Neil Simon's dramedy Lost in Yonkers playing today, November 11-30. Directed by Keith Baker, the ensemble cast features Joy Franz, David Nate Goldman, Bruce Graham, Eleanor Handley, Kyle Klein II, Karen Peakes, and Danny Vaccaro.