Mr. Williams News

The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 32nd annual celebration of contemporary literature, culture, theater, and the works of Tennessee Williams. From March 21-25, 2018, attendees will enjoy celebrated award-winning speakers alongside fresh new voices on the literary scene.

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported yesterday, Sammy Williams, best known for his Tony Award winning performance as Paul San Marco in the original production of A Chorus Line, has passed away yesterday morning at 69. As Paul San Marco, Mr. Williams was also awarded the prestigious Obie Award and was given a Special Theatre World Award for his contribution to that production.

BroadwayWorld is sad to report that Sammy Williams, best known for his Tony Award winning performance as Paul San Marco in the original production of A Chorus Line, has passed away at 69.

Often referred to as the composer who has scored the soundtracks of the lives of generations of fans, John Williams is saluted in a concert by the San Diego Symphony under the baton of its Associate Conductor, Sameer Patel. The concert program, entitled "Rebels, Raiders, and Supermen," is presented Sat., March 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Moonlight Amphitheatre. Patel will lead the orchestra through some of Williams' most well-known film scores, including selections from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, E.T., Harry Potter, Jaws, and more. Tickets are priced $18 - $57 and are on sale now at VisTix, by phone at (760) 724-2110, or online at moonlightstage.com.

Executive Producers Dean Cain and Montel Williams were honored by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan with the ORDER OF HONOR, one of the country's highest awards, Architects of Denial, LLC has announced. The ceremony took place on March 6 at the Presidential Palace in Yerevan. The President announced the award for the two celebrities who have worked for the recognition of genocide worldwide.

The Juilliard School announced today that it has received a bequest from Academy Award-winning composer and conductor John Williams of his complete library of concert music and film music scores as well as his sketchbooks. Mr. Williams, who studied piano with longtime Juilliard faculty member Rosina Lhevinne, announced the gift at a special alumni event held in Los Angeles at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, where Mr. Williams was also presented with a President's Medal by Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi.

The Art of the Score, exploring some of the most distinctive uses of music in film, will return for its fifth season with Amadeus: Live, the New York Premiere screening of Amadeus with the Mozart-centered score performed live to the complete film. Conducted by Richard Kaufman in his Philharmonic debut and featuring Musica Sacra, directed by Kent Tritle, Amadeus: Live will take place Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m.; Saturday, April l4 at 7:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. On April 11 actor Alec Baldwin - Philharmonic Board Member and Artistic Advisor of The Art of the Score - and special guest F. Murray Abraham - who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Salieri - will introduce the film.

The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 32nd annual celebration of contemporary literature, culture, theater, and the works of Tennessee Williams. From March 21-25, 2018, attendees will enjoy celebrated award-winning speakers alongside fresh new voices on the literary scene.

Leonard Bernstein made one foray into Hollywood with an original film score: the 1954 romantic tragedy On the Waterfront, which is ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the ten best films of all time.  On Saturday, February 24 at 8pm, On the Waterfront will exuberantly come to life when the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) presents Richard Kaufman conducting Bernstein's electrifying score live, while the newly re-mastered film is shown in glorious high definition on the big screen with original dialogue intact.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards. Now in their 11th year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective organizations.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) is delighted to present its second reading of its 2017-1018 staged reading series, Theater at The Woodland, with a presentation of FEAR, written by Matt Williams and directed by Mark Armstrong. This event will be performed for one night only on Sunday, December 3rd at 7:00pm at The Woodland (60 Woodland Rd. Maplewood, NJ), where MDR is the resident theater company. The reading is $20 (advance purchase), $25 (if purchased at the door) and open to the public. Student/Senior discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite by clicking the link HERE.

This December The Utah Symphony will present a jam-packed program that could make even the Grinch crack a grin. Between sixties-style crooning, modern holiday classics, and international pop-stars, there is something for everyone this Christmas season, guaranteed. Come one, come all, and take part in the magic of the holiday season. Rumor has it the Big Man himself might even make an appearance! Tickets range from $8 to $125, and can be purchased at utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Lively Production of Once Wows Sarasota Audiences

Broadway In Chicago and Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber have announced that casting has been finalized for the national tour of the high-octane Broadway and West End hit, SCHOOL OF ROCK - THE MUSICAL.

Victory Hall Opera will present the American Premiere of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Sympathy (1751, original title: Acante et Cephise ou La Sympathie), performed in French with English supertitles at The Haven, 112 Market Street, Charlottesville VA, 22902.

The Pops Season Opener honor both John Williams music and the 40th Anniversary of the first Star Wars film.

Conductor John Morris Russell conducts the Cincinnati Pops Opening Weekend at the newly renovated Music Hall on October 13-15. The concert program celebrates the legendary film music of composer John Williams. His scores from such films as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones have engrained themselves into the American musical experience.

Conductor John Morris Russell conducts the Cincinnati Pops Opening Weekend at the newly renovated Music Hall on October 13-15. The concert program celebrates the legendary film music of composer John Williams. His scores from such films as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones have engrained themselves into the American musical experience.

The Mountain Valley Spring Water has been named the official water of the new Music and Arts venue opening in El Dorado, AR September 27th. The $100 million dollar revitalization effort kicks off with a five-day concert featuring performances by Brad Paisley, Smokey Robinson, ZZ Top, Train, Lyle Lovett, Ludacris, Hunter Hayes among others and will take place in venues throughout a six-block area.

The New York Philharmonic will celebrate its 175th birthday with a subscription program led by former Music Director Alan Gilbert; nearly 100 historic radio broadcast performances released for streaming for the first time; a New York Philharmonic Digital Archives release of all of the Orchestra's archival material from the 19th century; a New York Philharmonic Archives exhibit, The New York Philharmonic at 175: A History of Innovation; and a free Insights at the Atrium event, 'Inside the Orchestra: Yesterday, Today, and Imagining the Future,' with Philharmonic musicians.