Neil Austin News

Carly Bawden, Simon Lipkin, Mike McShane, Andy Nyman, David Roberts and Catherine Tate have been cast in Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's ASSASSINS, directed by Jamie Lloyd, at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 21st November 2014 - 7th March 2015. Press Night is Monday 1st December, 8pm. Public booking opens today.

Lucy Punch will play the leading role of Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play,Great Britain. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the National Theatre's sell out production transfers to theTheatre Royal Haymarket on 9 September 2014 with opening night on 26 September at 7pm. Great Britain's strictly limited run, booking to 10 January 2015, is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Check out an (updated) first look below!

Houston Grand Opera's 2014–15 season, the company's 60th anniversary season, includes the world premiere of A Christmas Carol by Iain Bell—the company's 55th new commission —from award-winning Dickens authority Simon Callow; the continuation of HGO's first Ring cycle, with the American premiere of La Fura dels Baus's groundbreaking take on Die Walküre; the American premieres of Sir Nicholas Hytner's The Magic Flute and Lee Blakeley's Sweeney Todd; a 60th Anniversary Gala Concert featuring mezzo-soprano (and HGO Studio alumna) Joyce DiDonato; and a host of career-shaping role debuts that speak to Patrick Summers's gift for casting. Together with the company's first presentation of John Cox'sOtello, and the returns of Göran Järvefelt's beloved Così fan tutte and Michael Grandage's hit staging of Madame Butterfly, these rich offerings serve once again to illustrate some of the ways that HGO—still the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony—epitomizes “one model of what a forward-looking opera company could be” (Greg Sandow, Arts Journal).

The Kennedy Center today announced casting for the Washington, D.C. engagement of Evita which runs in the Kennedy Center Opera House from September 30 to October 19, 2014. Directed by Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford, this is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway more than 30 years ago. The press opening night is Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that it will kick off its 2014-2015 season with the Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, today, Aug. 12-17.

Lucy Punch will play the leading role of Paige Britain in the West End transfer of Richard Bean's new play,Great Britain. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the National Theatre's sell out production transfers to theTheatre Royal Haymarket on 9 September 2014 with opening night on 26 September at 7pm. Great Britain's strictly limited run, booking to 10 January 2015, is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti.

Houston Grand Opera capped a financially and artistically successful 2013–14 season by presenting Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger —the Polish-Jewish composer's long-suppressed Holocaust opera—to wide acclaim at New York's Park Avenue Armory as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, July 10–13. Earlier this year, HGO gave the American premiere of the work in Houston with the same cast. There was special praise for the production and performances, conducted by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers. New York magazine described David Pountney's staging as “a multi-story set so vivid you can practically smell the machine oil and coal smoke,” while the Financial Times said: “The production, imported from Houston, is imposing in every way.” The New York Times called the cast “flawless,” adding: “The conductor, Patrick Summers, drew a surging, textured, richly detailed performance of this challenging score (lasting three hours) from the inspired musicians of the Houston Grand Opera.” WQXR's Operavore summed up the import of the performances: “The Passenger shows how a Holocaust opera can hold the stage while examining important, complex issues—and could certainly point the way for future composers to deal with such important but delicate subject matter.”

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that it will kick off its 2014-2015 season with the Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, Aug. 12-17. Tickets start at $36 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

Nicholas Hytner's production of Richard Bean's Great Britain will transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket following its National Theatre run, with performances beginning 10 September 2014. Public booking will open this Friday, 4 July, at 9.30am, for performances until 10 January 2015. Great Britain is designed by Tim Hatley, with video design by 59 Productions, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Grant Olding and sound by Paul Arditti. Casting for the West End run will be announced shortly.

Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece - Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, July 8-13 at the Benedum Center.

Richard Bean's fast and furious new play is an anarchic satire about the press, the police and the political establishment. Billie Piper plays Paige Britain, ambitious young news editor of The Free Press, a tabloid newspaper locked in a never-ending battle for more readers.

The Old Vic and Sonia Friedman Productions present Sophocles' ELECTRA, in a version by Frank McGuinness, starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece, Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, presented as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2013/2014 season at the Fox Theatre.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and Broadway Across America are pleased to present the national tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's passionate and elegant masterpiece EVITA. The Tony Award-winning musical will play at the Arsht Center's Ziff Ballet Opera House for a limited engagement from tonight, May 27 - June 1, 2014. EVITA closes the Broadway in Miami 2013-2014 subscription season presented by Bank of America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and Broadway Across America are pleased to present the national tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's passionate and elegant masterpiece EVITA. The Tony Award-winning musical will play at the Arsht Center's Ziff Ballet Opera House for a limited engagement from May 27 - June 1, 2014. EVITA closes the Broadway in Miami 2013-2014 subscription season presented by Bank of America. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

EVITA began as a rock opera concept album. The success of the album led to the 1978 production on London's West End and the 1979 production on Broadway. With a slew of regional productions, revivals, and tours, EVITA continues to capture the hearts of audiences, and the U.S. National Tour of the 2012 Broadway Revival production is a prime example of why.

Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce casting for the forthcoming stage production of Shakespeare in Love. The announcement coincides with the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) invites Houstonians to experience the passion and seduction of the Tony Award-winning elegant masterpiece EVITA, running May 6 - 18 at Hobby Center's Sarofim Hall.

EVITA won 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical and six Drama Desk Awards. If you never saw a live, production of "EVITA", GO SEE IT!