Mel C. News

BAM presents the New York premiere of Theatre de la Ville's production of Ionesco's absurdist classic, Rhinoceros, directed by the Paris-based company's artistic director, Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota. Both the company and the director are making their BAM debut. Written in 1959, the play is a satire on social conformity and a commentary on fascism

Justin Townes Earle brings a contemporary eye to the Guthrie canon on the year of Woody Guthrie's centenary These concerts mark a unique step forward for Earle outside his popular club appearances as he curates multiple artist and multi-date shows in a performing arts hall. Each date will reveal a different side of both Earle and Guthrie; the show on October 26 will be a three man affair with Earle performing beside his friends Joe Pug and John McCauley of the band Deer Tick. On October 27, Earle will perform alongside a full band with special guests Joe Pug and the band The Low Anthem. Special guest Joe Klein, political and music journalist, will read from his book Woody Guthrie: A Life at both shows.

The National Theatre's epic War Horse, winner of five 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Play, will make its Philadelphia premiere for a two-week limited engagement from November 20 through December 2 at the Academy of Music, kicking off the 2012-13 Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization.

Actor Liam Neeson will visit the season premiere of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO tonight, October 2 on Bravo (7-8 p.m. ET)

Following a widely acclaimed tour and run at the Globe in 2011, Shakespeare's Globe returns to the Schimmel Center, the company's New York home, elemental production of Hamlet. Using an Elizabethan-inspired stage in this scaled-down production, a handful of energetic players will perform this inexhaustible play.

Fans of PBS are in for a special treat when Under the Streetlamp performs an electrifying evening of classics from the American radio songbook at the Merriam Theater on October 24, 2012 at 8 p.m.The new quartet consists of the dreamy voices of four young lead singers, as they embark on national 32-city tour beginning in Sioux City, IA on October 16 and continuing through December 31 in Aurora, IL.

Encore Series, Inc., presenter of Peter Nero and The Philly POPS, have announced the first concert series of the 2012/2013 Season will be held October 12-14, 2012 in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. "Dancing and Romancing" is a tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, featuring nationally acclaimed dancers, Joan Hess and Kirby Ward.

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts announces today regional arts and cultural organizations participating in Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013 (PIFA) returning to Philadelphia March 28 to April 27. Produced by the Kimmel Center, PIFA 2013 combines the creative talents of both large and small Philadelphia arts and culture organizations to create innovative and new works. The biennial city-wide festival's 2013 curatorial theme is If You Had a Time Machine…with 50+ events presented in Philadelphia.

Pace Presents: FATOUMATA DIAWARA (from Mali) as a part of Pace Presents' World Music Series at The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. Doors and Lobby Bar open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are priced at $35.

Looking ahead to winter, David T. Little's evening-length multi-media music-theatre work, Soldier Songs (2006), receives its New York City premiere as part of BMP and HERE's inaugural PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival January 11-13 + 16-18, 2013, showcasing pioneering work by a new generation of opera-theatre and music-theatre composers. Created and composed by Little, Soldier Songs is based on recorded interviews with veterans of five wars, with a libretto adapted by the composer.

Today, September 25, 2012, Deutsche Grammophon releases Mahler 8 Symphony of a Thousand featuring Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. Available for purchase on standard DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as on iTunes, the video features the culminating concert of The Mahler Project, Mahler's Eighth Symphony, "Symphony of a Thousand" recorded live at the Teatro Teresa Carreño in Caracas, Venezuela, on February 18, 2012.

Naxos Canadian Classics today, September 25, 2012, releases Dreamscapes, a world premiere recording of three works by Edmonton-born composer Vivian Fung.

Last night, 21 September, 2012, at the O2 Arena in London was the first show of the new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Melanie C as Mary Magdalene, Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot, Chris Moyles as King Herod and 'Superstar' winner Ben Forster as Jesus. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Last night was the first show of the new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Melanie C, Tim Minchin, Chris Moyles and 'Superstar' winner Ben Forster.

According to contactmusic.com, Spice Girl Melanie C, star of the upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar UK tour, has revealed her Broadway ambitions.

Michael Fletcher joins the cast of InSTEP Theatre's award-winning production of Departure Lounge direct from ITV's Superstar.

David leaves the competition

The Really Useful Group and AEG Live today announced that the first ever UK arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar has added an extra performance due to popular demand. The show will now play an additional matinee at London's O2 Arena on September 22.

Michael Fletcher joins the cast of InSTEP Theatre's award-winning production of Departure Lounge direct from ITV's Superstar.

After last night's first audition show (read my recap blog here), we're off to Superstar Island tonight.