Ken Howard News

Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera gets its NY premiere as it kicks-off the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) this July. Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera has a concept, book and lyrics by Elizabeth Searle, music by Michael Teoli, and will be directed by David Alpert (If/ Then), with musical direction by Henry Aronson (Rock of Ages), and choreography by Marc Kimelman (A Bronx Tale). Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera will play at the PTC Performing Space (555 West 42nd St.) from July 9 - July 16, 2015.

Broadway director and choreographer Susan Stroman, whose many credits include the Tony Award-winning musicals Crazy for You, Contact, and The Producers, makes her Met debut with a lavish new staging of Lehar's effervescent operetta The Merry Widow

This review was first published by KDHX 88-1 St. Louis. Opera Theatre of St. Louis has opened a very fine production of 'Emmeline,' by Tobias Picker, with libretto by J. D. McClatchy. This remarkable piece premiered at the Santa Fe Opera in 1996 to great praise. It was done at the New York City Opera in '98 (with much the same cast)—again to considerable praise. It was deemed one of the great modern operas. Except for two 'reduced version' productions the work lay fallow until this full-scale revival by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

This review was first published by KDHX, St. Louis. Opera Theatre of St. Louis has opened Handel's 'Richard the Lionheart,' and it is truly astonishing! It is, in all aspects, the most perfect production of an opera that I've ever seen. And voices? Ah, the voices are quite stunning! This is not to be missed. This is a masterpiece.

The restored director's cut edition of the musical 1776 was just released on Blu-ray, and Tony-winning director Peter H. Hunt revealed to the Los Angeles Times the drama behind the original 1972 release of the film -- and just how much producer Jack L. Warner left out.

A rare Puccini receives a lovely production: 'La rondine' at Opera Theatre of St. Louis

1776 arrives on Blu-ray at long last!

I think I bring this up every time I write about an opera, but it's just so funny to me that most of my early exposure to the medium came through films that I saw on TV when I was kid. Whether it was an Our Gang short (the one where Alfalfa wants to give up crooning to become an opera singer), a Bugs Bunny cartoon (Carl Stallings frequently drew from famous classical works), or even something from Tom and Jerry, I was privy to melodies that would eventually work their way into my musical subconscious. That's just one of the reasons I found the Opera Theatre of St. Louis' production of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE so engaging. Add to that the fact that the brilliant, sexy, funny, and colorful films of Pedro Almodovar provided the inspiration for the look and feel of this particular presentation, and you have a match made in heaven. You should make it a point to catch all of the Opera Theatre's productions, because they're always innovative, and I especially recommend the wacky comic delights of composer Giochino Rossini's THE BARBER OF SEVILLE.

The Met was running on all cylinders for the last performance of the season, with Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERA in an energized version of the production that premiered in 2012. The trio of principals--soprano Sondra Radvanovsky as Amelia, tenor Piotr Beczala as Gustavo and baritone Alexey Markov as Anckarstrom--gave ringing, heart-felt performances in a concept from David Alden that previously seemed half-baked. Now, the singing and acting were so good that one could forget the conceit's shortcomings.

The Metropolitan Opera and Fathom Events partner to present "The Met: Live in HD' 2015 Summer Encores," a series of four encore performances from the 2014-2015 Live in HD series in more than 480 U.S. cinemas nationwide through Fathom's Digital Broadcast Network.

What: Donizetti's comic opera DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT Where: Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Downtown Pittsburgh When: Saturday, May 2, 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.* Sunday, May 10, 2:00 p.m.

SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard today praised the Fair Play Fair Pay Act of 2015, introduced by representatives Jerrold Nadler, Marsha Blackburn, John Conyers Jr. and Ted Deutch.

What a great idea it was for the Met to mount revivals of Verdi's ERNANI and DON CARLO at the same time! It offers an opportunity to compare two operas that have much in common--and a production well worth seeing.

Opera singer Michael Fabiano was given only seven hours to prepare for the role of Edgardo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at New York's prestigious Metropolitan Opera House when a cast member fell sick. All he had left was the finale before a standing ovation, but thhen disaster struck as he exited the stage.

Emmy Award winning actor, William Daniels will be on hand at the Turner Classic Film Festival, today, March 28, 2015 at the TCL Chinese Theater, 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA at 1:45pm, to introduce the new 4K definitive director's cut restoration of the iconic film 1776 which will include some previous unseen footage.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents A Night with Kent State University tonight, March 27, 2015 at 11:30pm. A Night with Kent State University is a one ­night only concert celebrating the alumni and current students of The Kent State Musical Theatre Program.

Going to London's National Theatre, New York's Metropolitan Opera or Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet to see world-class productions is as easy as going to The Ridgefield Playhouse! Incomparable performances captured live on stage are coming to the Playhouse on the big screen in HD! On Saturday, April 4, at 4 p.m., The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow will present Romeo and Juliet. From London's National Theatre on Saturday, April 11, at 12 noon, comes family entertainment -- Treasure Island, which is suitable for 10+ years. Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana/Leoncavallo's Pagliacci is a double bill starring Marcelo Álvarez from the Met on Saturday, April 25, at 12:30 p.m. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the productions!