Robert Kelley News

San Francisco, CA, September 30, 2014 – Continuing its trailblazing tradition of presenting new and less familiar works of music theatre, Opera Parallèle will give the world premiere of an opera based on author Catherine Friend's beloved children's book, My Head is Full of Colors, Saturday, November 1, at 11 am in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street. Written by Santa Cruz composer Chris Pratorius with libretto by Opera Parallèle Artistic Director Nicole Paiement, the work is the first commission premiered by the Company and is being performed during National Opera Week (October 24—November 2). The production will feature 4th grade students from Creative Arts Charter Schoolperforming with soprano Carolyn Bacon and baritone Sergey Khalikulov. Laura Anderson is the stage director, costumes are designed by Elly Jessop; the singers and small instrumental ensemble will be conducted by OP Intern Conductor William Long.

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents its 45th Anniversary Celebration, a gala event featuring dinner, dancing, and a special concert version of the most popular show in TheatreWorks history, Emma. The event will honor Donald Kennedy, esteemed teacher, scientist, Stanford president emeritus, former FDA commissioner, and longtime TheatreWorks supporter, who will be recognized for his contributions to the arts and the community. The theme of the event is "Original and Timeless," reflecting TheatreWorks' ongoing commitment to supporting new and innovative work, as well as its role as a fixture in the Bay Area theatre community. TheatreWorks 45th Anniversary Celebration will take place Saturday, November 8 at Hotel Sofitel, 223 Twin Dolphin Dr, Redwood City.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the gripping Broadway musical SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This masterpiece, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, tells the darkly thrilling tale of a 19th century barber's bloody vengeance. With the help of Mrs. Lovett, the devious purveyor of "the worst pies in London," the cruelly wronged Mr. Todd exacts grisly revenge on the residents of London. Theatreworks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this eight-time Tony Award-winning thrill-ride.SWEENEY TODD plays October 8 - November 2, 2014 (press opening October 11) at TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets and information the public may visit www.TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

A glittering group representing theatre and technology worlds celebrated a beautiful friendship Saturday night when TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, staged its annual TheatreWorks Honors gala June 21 at the Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club, this year paying tribute to Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning Broadway composer Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish) and Ray Rothrock, Partner Emeritus of pioneering venture capital firm Venrock. Scroll down for photos!

TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley has stepped forward to offer its condolences and support for San Jose Repertory Theatre, which announced yesterday that it will cease operations. In hopes of easing some of the burden, TheatreWorks has offered to accept San Jose Rep tickets.

Reset to San Francisco with a technology-inspired flair, TheatreWorks' current production of 'Marry Me A Little' is at once charming and original.

TheatreWorks was the fourth largest recipient of funds out of 674 participating nonprofit organizations during yesterday's 'Silicon Valley Gives' event. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of community foundations, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) hosted the first-ever day of giving to benefit local nonprofits in the region. The effort provided over 14,000 unique donors the opportunity to connect with hundreds of local causes, encouraging them to take action in helping the community. Aimed to inspire and unite locals to support philanthropic causes, the 24-hour event collected an astounding $7.9 million in donations through a single online platform. TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, received $100,801 from a total of 125 donors, making it among the top recipients in funds raised. In addition, the theatre received two $5,000 matching grants, from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, raising its total to $110,801.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the appointment of Giovanna Sardelli to the position of Director of New Works. Sardelli brings stellar national directing credits and close ties with many of today's hottest rising playwrights to the company, which has established itself as a leader in cultivating and producing new works. No stranger to TheatreWorks, Sardelli helmed the company's 2013 production of Somewhere by rising star Matthew Lopez, as well as the TheatreWorks' 2011World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize-nominee Rajiv Joseph's The North Pool, named by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of that year's ten best productions in the Bay Area.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the laugh-a-second send-up of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant Sherlock Holmes mystery, adapted by Stephen Canny and John Nicholson.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays today, March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets and information the public may visit www.theatreworks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

An audience of theatre enthusiasts waited in anticipation at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts tonight, when Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, unveiled the thrilling line-up for its 2014-2015 season. Opening with a groundbreaking World Premiere developed at last season's New Works Festival, the line-up will also give Bay Area audiences their first look at the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, the West Coast premiere of the newest work by Rajiv Joseph (The North Pool), a chilling Sondheim revival, a rollicking bluegrass musical, and an elegant Noel Coward confection. Also announced is the company's holiday production, a five-time Tony Award-winning recent Broadway hit.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the laugh-a-second send-up of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brilliant Sherlock Holmes mystery, adapted by Stephen Canny and John Nicholson.

Treehouse Comedy Productions has announced its December 2013 comedy talent lineup at The Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun, located at One Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, Conn. Details below!

On Saturday, December 7, TheatreWorks opened the Broadway musical 'Little Women' to an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd in Palo Alto, CA. After the performance, attendees emerged into the courtyard of the Lucie Stern Theatre to find snow - make with theatre magic! - followed by a champagne reception and meet-and-greet with the cast. Check out photos below by David Allen.

Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" has made its way into American hearts as a classic holiday children's novel, film and musical. Although Christmas plays only a small role in the story's events, a common warmth and familial atmosphere finds its way onto every page, into every line, and, in Theatrework's production of the recent Broadway musical adaptation, included in every song.

Treehouse Comedy Productions has announced its December 2013 comedy talent lineup at The Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun, located at One Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, Conn. Details below!

Tonight, October 29 at 7:30 p.m., soprano Jessica Rivera and mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor are joined by pianist Robert Spano on a program featuring three New York premieres, two of which are Carnegie Hall co-commissions.

On Tuesday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m., sopranoJessica Rivera and mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor are joined by pianist Robert Spanoon a program featuring three New York premieres, two of which are Carnegie Hall co-commissions. Ms. O'Connor and Ms. Rivera have collaborated in concert halls and on modern operatic masterpieces including Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar and John Adams's El Niño. This unique program features Ms. O'Connor performing the New York premiere of David Bruce's That Time With You, a four-song cycle that she co-commissioned with Carnegie Hall. Ms. Rivera sings the New York premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff's Monica Songs, another Carnegie Hall co-commission. Two selections from The Kitchen Songbook by Gabriela Lena Frank will also have their New York debuts, sung by both Ms. O'Connor and Ms. Rivera. Completing this diverse program, the artists present vocal duets by Saint-Saens, Mendelssohn, and Gounod, as well as Debussy's erotically charged Chansons de Bilitis and Mompou's haunting "Combat del Somni."

An audience of theatre enthusiasts waited in anticipation at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts last night, when Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, unveiled the thrilling line-up for its 2013-2014 season. Opening with a groundbreaking World Premiere developed at last season's New Works Festival, the line-up will also give Bay Area audiences their first look at a Broadway hit by playwright Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, A Fair Country, Three Hotels); an Off-Broadway smash by Kenneth Lin (Fallow, Po Boy Tango); and a historical drama from Lauren Gunderson (Exit, Pursued by a Bear). Also announced is an enchanting musical journey told through little-known Stephen Sondheim gems.