Leslie Swackhamer News

The quiet semi-autobiographical drama gives harsh treatment to narrow interpretations of family as well as those who see the pain and suffering of another human being as an opportunity for a good story.

Stages Repertory Theatre, in partnership with The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center ('the J'), presents the regional premiere of playwright and Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg's original drama The Revisionist, running April 10-22, 2018. All performances of The Revisionist will take place at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center.

Theatre Three Artistic Director Jeffrey Schmidt has announced the 2018-19 season to be produced on the Norma Young Arena Stage. Theatre Three, Dallas's 57-year-old theatre-in-the-round, is located in the Quadrangle in the heart of uptown at 2800 Routh Street, Suite 168, Dallas, TX 75201.

The Alley Theatre's Alley All New Festival, January 20-28, 2018, features six playwrights and more than 30 actors from the Alley and around the country who will be presenting new work through a series of readings and workshop performances. In addition to Alley Resident Company members, many artists have existing connections to the Alley and some are making their Alley debut. The start of the festival will celebrate the reopening of the Neuhaus Theatre. Tickets to the festival are available now online at alleytheatre.org/allnew or by calling the Box Office at 713.220.5700.

The opera A Thousand Splendid Suns is totally concerned with the political upheavals that have transformed Afghanistan over the past half-century. It is also the story of how the lives of women in that country have been transformed. And, yes, it features human drama. What else should one expect from an opera?

Houston's Queensbury Theatre and Kirkwood Music Services, along with a dedicated team of local theatre practitioners and artists, present Houston Artists for Harvey Relief, a benefit featuring presentations by local performance organizations and groups on September 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM at Queensbury Theatre in CityCentre, hosted by Ernie Manouse and St John Flynn.

Houston's Queensbury Theatre and Kirkwood Music Services, along with a dedicated team of local theatre practitioners and artists, present 'Houston Artists for Harvey Relief,' a benefit featuring presentations by local performance organizations and groups on September 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM at Queensbury Theatre in CityCentre, hosted by Ernie Manouse and St John Flynn.

Houston's Queensbury Theatre and Kirkwood Music Services, along with a dedicated team of local theatre practitioners and artists, present 'Houston Artists for Harvey Relief,' a benefit featuring presentations by local performance organizations and groups on September 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM at Queensbury Theatre in CityCentre, hosted by Ernie Manouse and St John Flynn.

Madame Butterfly is a tragic tale with a colorful beginning. Giacomo Puccini's turn-of-the-century opera is accessible and engaging, tailor-made for opera buffs and newbies alike.

Stages Repertory Theatre's 2017-2018 Season celebrates the theatre's 40^th Anniversary with a mix of world and regional premieres, fan favorites and stories that reflect Houston's vibrant, diverse community. The season features 3 world and 4 regional premieres, collaborations with New York's One Year Lease Theater Company and Houston's Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Stages' inaugural Latina/o Theatre Festival, the 10^th anniversary of Stages' hallmark Panto holiday program for children and families, and a return to Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Washington National Opera's 2016–2017 season concludes with one of the most beloved operas in the repertory, Puccini's Madame Butterfly, May 6– 21, 2017 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Featuring some of the most enduring and memorable music in all of opera, this production also features dazzling sets and costumes by Japanese American production designer Jun Kaneko, whose dramatic designs for WNO's 2014 production of The Magic Flute amazed audiences. This new- to-Washington production from Opera Omaha and San Francisco Opera is directed by Leslie Swackhamer and conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. A special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance of Madame Butterfly is presented in the Opera House on Friday, May 19, 2017, and features current singers of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

The 2017 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.S. playwright Clare Barron for her play Dance Nation. On March 6, New York's Playwrights Horizons hosted a ceremony honoring the winner and finalists of the prize and celebrating the 39th anniversary of the international prize.

San Francisco Opera's 2016–17 Season continues with ten performances of Giacomo Puccini's heartbreaking drama Madama Butterfly, November 6 through December 4 at the War Memorial Opera House. The cast will feature the much-anticipated American debut of young Italian tenor Vincenzo Costanzo as Lt. B.F. Pinkerton and return of Armenian soprano Lianna Haroutounian as the tragic heroine, Cio-Cio-San. Jun Kaneko's colorful and compelling production, last seen in San Francisco during the 2013–14 Season, will be directed by Leslie Swackhamer and Maestro Yves Abel conducts the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

San Francisco Opera today announced cast updates for the upcoming productions of Leoš Jana?ek's The Makropulos Case and Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The role of Albert Gregor in The Makropulos Case will now feature American tenor Charles Workman in his Company debut, replacing Scott Quinn who has withdrawn due to personal reasons. Italian tenor Vincenzo Costanzo will make his United States opera debut as Lt. B. F. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly in lieu of Maxim Aksenov who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Over the past five years Mezzo Soprano Laura Coale has appeared in nine Opera in the Heights productions, singing in the chorus as well as supporting roles. She's thrilled that she will be singing the title role of Orfeo in Gluck's ORFEO ED EURIDICE in her 10th Oh! production.

A brave cast, a spot on director, and amazing technical direction just can't make STRAIGHT WHITE MEN appealing.

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley and Music Director Nicola Luisotti today announced the Company's 2016–17 Season repertory and roster of international guest artists, conductors and creative teams scheduled to appear at the War Memorial Opera House, as well as initial programming for SF Opera Lab 2017 presentations at the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera's Taube Atrium Theater. The Company's 94th Season will also mark Matthew Shilvock's inaugural year as San Francisco Opera's new general director, succeeding his mentor and internationally respected impresario, David Gockley, who will step down on July 31, 2016.

BWW Reviews: Denise Fennell Is A Powerhouse In THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Houston Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!