Michael Grandage News

Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi will lead his first Met performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni, in a new production directed by Tony Award winner Michael Grandage in his Met debut.

Peter Mattei will sing the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni on October 17 and 22 evening, in addition to the new production premiere tomorrow night, October 13.

New production! Mariusz Kwiecien brings his sensual interpretation to Mozart's timeless anti-hero, Don Giovanni, under the direction of Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage. Broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater.

Luca Pisaroni makes his Metropolitan Opera role debut as Leporello in the Met's new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Fabio Luisi (October 13-November 11). The Met Opera will beam the production to cinema audiences across the nation and around the globe with its HD broadcast on October 29.

Peter Mattei will sing the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni for the new production premiere this Thursday evening, October 13, replacing Mariusz Kwiecien, who injured his back at the final dress rehearsal today.

Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!

According to the Daily Mail, Michael Grandage, the award-winning director has assembled his cast for his upcoming production of RICHARD II at the Donmar Warehouse.

Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi will lead his first Met performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni, in a new production directed by Tony Award winner Michael Grandage in his Met debut.

The first London production for 90 years of St John Ervine's searing Belfast tragedy Mixed Marriage, first seen at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, plays for a four-week season beginning tonight (Press Night: Thursday, 6 October 2011 at 7.30pm) at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre.

Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni looks forward to a stellar 2011-2012 season, beginning with two starring turns at the Metropolitan Opera.

As previously reported, producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders will produce a revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, opening on Broadway in April 2012.

The Metropolitan Opera will open its 2011-12 season on September 26 at 6:30 p.m. with the Met premiere of Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring soprano Anna Netrebko in her highly anticipated first North American performances of the tour-de-force title role.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2011-12 season will feature the world's leading singers, conductors, and stage directors in seven new productions, including a world premiere, a Met premiere, and the first complete performances of a new Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle conducted by Music Director James Levine and directed by Robert Lepage.

Actor Tom Hiddleston is set to play the same role three times - in two separate films.

Ellie Dehn will make her Met role debut as Donna Elvira in this spring's performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni, replacing Annette Dasch, who has withdrawn due to pregnancy. Dehn will sing the performances on February 21, 24, 29, March 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17.

As previously reported, producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders will produce a revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, opening on Broadway in April 2012.