Kurt Weill News

On the heels of their 2012 Grammy Award for the recording of Steve Mackey's Lonely Motel: Music from Slide, new music ensemble eighth blackbird returns to Texas Performing Arts for ten days of residency activities, bookended by two completely different concert programs. This sextet combines the finesse of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band, delivering provocative and mind-changing performances.

The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music has announced the expansion of its Grant Program. In addition to existing categories funding performances of Weill's musical works, scholarly research, and educational initiatives directly related to Weill and Lotte Lenya, financial support will now be awarded in the same categories for projects directly related to Marc Blitzstein, including performances of his musical works. This development is a result of the Foundation's receipt of a 50% share of Blitzstein's musical and literary estate, donated by Blitzstein's nephew Stephen Davis. Blitzstein is best known for his stage works Regina and The Cradle Will Rock and for his English adaptation of Weill and Brecht's The Threepenny Opera.

The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration makes its way to Segerstrom Center for the Arts today, January 13 in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The all- star ensemble will perform classic jazz and original compositions by critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassist and musical director Christian McBride, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Benny Green and drummer Lewis Nash.

Today, we're featuring Bea Arthur and Hal Linden circa 1981. Arthur's stage roles included Lucy Brown in the 1954 Off-Broadway premiere of Marc Blitzstein's English-language adaptation of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, Yente the Matchmaker in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, and a 1966 Tony Award-winning portrayal of Vera Charles to Angela Lansbury's Mame. She reprised the role in the 1974 film version opposite Lucille Ball. In 1981, she appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Light Bulb.

The Encores! 20th Anniversary season opens on January 30, and Encores! alums have been sending in their best wishes. Below, check out a video of Stephen Wallem, Victoria Clark, Mylinda Hull, Chuck Cooper, Elizabeth Stanley, Judy Kaye, Mayor Bloomberg and more riffing on their Encores! experiences!

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) will open its 2012/2013 orchestra series with Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado leading the orchestra for the first time at Carnegie Hall. The performance also marks Heras-Casado's main stage Carnegie Hall debut.

Can't get enough of Patti LuPone? A documentary following the legendary performer has just been released on Youtube, titled 'Entrances, Exits, and Everything In Between.' Creator Josh Johnston writes: 'What she and I have collaborated on is our effort to show aspiring performers and fans of the arts what it's like in the shoes of a veteran of the craft: everything from the Sunset lows to the Rainbow Highs of performing, Patti LuPone has seen and lived it all.' Check out the third episode below!

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents the classic film Casablanca with live orchestral accompaniment in the Orchestra's second NJSO POPS program of the season, on February 9 in Newark and February 10 in New Brunswick. Conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos returns to the NJSO stage to conduct the Orchestra as the film screens above the stage.

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose...you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy is a new, 90-minute documentary by Michael Kantor, creator of the Emmy-winning series, Broadway: The American Musical. The special just aired on Great Performances yesterday, January 1 on PBS. Click below to watch!

Sasha is back in NYC for one night only with 'The Education of Professor Weiss.' Come enjoy amazing songs and stories as Sasha shares the trials and tribulations of being an MFA student. With songs from Kurt Weill to John Mayer, she'll take you from the front of the classroom to behind the bleachers. Accompanied by Dan Micciche and also featuring special guest singers, it's a night you don't want to miss.

As 2013 begins, there are already several productions that are on BroadwayWorld's radar. Here is a brief list of some of the most highly anticipated productions Austin has to offer in the coming year…

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose…you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Eric Idle's cheeky lyric, which unfailingly generated knowing guffaws from Broadway audiences, proves to be more than a little grounded in truth, as BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY convincingly attests.

Broadway Records and 54 BELOW announced in October that they joined in partnership to create a series of albums recorded live at the brand new venue, 54 BELOW, located just steps away from the heart of Times Square.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is delighted to announce its spring schedule of performances. The largest single source of performing arts events in the state of Ohio, CCM presents more than 100 major public performances from Jan. 12 through May 19, ranging from faculty and guest artist concerts to fully supported opera, drama and musical theatre productions.

Cabaret event SONGS OF VISCERA will premiere at Stage Left Studio, 214 W 30th Street, 7:30 pm. The one-night event is the brainchild of Emmy-nominated composer Garth Koren, Drama Desk-nominated character actor Frank Blocker, and the producer Cheryl King, and is (not unconsciously) scheduled for the night before the Mayan calendar ends.

Kelrik is pleased to announce their new INSPIRE 2013 Season. Now in its eighth year in San Luis Obispo, Kelrik is raising the bar for itself with INSPIRE by producing more shows than ever before in a single season.

With rehearsals underway this week, Houston Grand Opera welcomes Lara Teeter to the role of Cap'n Andy in the new production of SHOW BOAT opening January 18. Teeter takes on the role after Tommy Tune stepped down because he is on vocal rest.

Sasha is back in NYC for one night only with 'The Education of Professor Weiss.' Come enjoy amazing songs and stories as Sasha shares the trials and tribulations of being an MFA student. With songs from Kurt Weill to John Mayer, she'll take you from the front of the classroom to behind the bleachers. Accompanied by Dan Micciche and also featuring special guest singers, it's a night you don't want to miss.