Romeo & Juliet News

The Public Theater announced today that Stew and Heidi Rodewald will perform live with the on-stage band for THE TOTAL BENT, playing the guitar and bass, respectively. With text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, which premiered at The Public in 2003, this world premiere musical is directed by Joanna Settle. Performances begin Tuesday, May 10 and continue through Sunday, June 12, with an official press opening on Wednesday, May 25.

Back by popular demand, Shotspeare is returning to New York with its reprehensible renditions of Romeo & Juliet and Macbethat The Slipper Room (167 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002). Performances are Monday nights starting April 4th through June 13th, 2016. Tickets are on sale now via www.slipperroom.com.

Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) concludes its 44thSeason with the most famous tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet. In recognition of the 400thAnniversary of William Shakespeare's death, this revered tragedy will be presented on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 15 at 2 pm in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Avenue. Tickets from $29 (plus fees) may be purchased by calling The Smith Center Box Office at (702) 749-2000 or by visiting www.nevadaballet.org.

Hot off the heels of last month's first-ever SUPERCINEMA inspired by Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, The McKittrick Hotel (530 W 27th Street, New York, NY), home of SLEEP NO MORE, will present its second edition of the one-of-a-kind party, this time an ode to the evocative world of Ian Fleming's James Bond 007. 

MILWAUKEE 03/16/2016 - The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart announced plans today for the 2016.17 Classics season, de Waart's eighth and final as music director. The MSO will spend de Waart's valedictory season honoring his contributions to the orchestra and the tremendous growth in artistry that the MSO has achieved under his skilled direction. The blockbuster season will include Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro - the third in the series of semi-staged operas, a performance by Itzhak Perlman with Edo de Waart conducting, and symphonies by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Elgar, Bruckner, Mahler, and Brahms. Former MSO associate conductor and current music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta returns to the MSO to conduct Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. The Naughton sisters once again join de Waart to perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. Edo de Waart will conduct Holst's The Planets, which was on the first program he conducted with the MSO eight years ago. Under the direction of de Waart, Joseph Kalichstein (piano), Jaime Laredo (violin), and Sharon Robinson (cello) will perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Finally, de Waart with culminate eight years with the MSO by leading the orchestra in Mahler's beautiful and inspiring Symphony No. 3, which concluded his final concert of his first season with the orchestra. Next season, the MSO returns to the Basilica of St. Josaphat for three concert weekends. Assistant Conductor Yaniv Dinur leads the MSO and MSO Chorus in John Luther Adams's Become Ocean and several additional works with the chorus. Matthew Halls conducts Mozart's Requiem for the second of the three Basilica concerts. Rounding out the Basilica series will be the perennial favorite Handel's Messiah in December. Additional performances will also be given at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and new this year, the Concordia University of Wisconsin Chapel of Christ Triumphant. The 2016.17 season also features four MSO musicians in solo roles: Concertmaster Frank Almond plays Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1; Principal Clarinet Todd Levy plays Finzi's Concerto for Clarinet; Principal Cello Susan Babini plays Bloch's Schelomo; and Associate Concertmaster Ilana Setapen plays Barber's Violin Concerto. “From the moment I stepped foot on stage with the MSO eight years ago, I have felt at home with this orchestra,” said Music Director Edo de Waart. “I said early on that the outstanding quality of Milwaukee's orchestra was the best kept secret in the Midwest. I don't think it's a secret anymore. It has been my privilege to be a part of the orchestra's growth and its continued development. I will treasure the friendships I've made and the time I have spent with these wonderful musicians and the Milwaukee community. As we embark upon our final season together, I hope that we can once again inspire, uplift, and excite audiences with some of the greatest music of all time.” “We will spend the 2016.17 season celebrating the artistry of Edo de Wart and the contributions he has made to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,” said President & Executive Director Mark Niehaus. 'Over the last eight years, it has been an honor to work with Maestro de Waart as both a musician and executive director. I couldn't have asked for a better partner and continue to marvel at the impact he has had on our great orchestra. We will continue to enjoy the fruits of his labors for years to come as he has hired more than a third of our musicians on stage today. Under his direction, the MSO attracted top soloists and guest conductors, explored new compositions and performed classical music's greatest repertoire – complete cycles of Brahms, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff and semi-staged performances of the three Mozart/DePonte operas, and he took the MSO on its 13th trip to Carnegie Hall to perform for the Spring for Music Festival in 2012.We look forward to his final year of inspiring, not-to-be-missed performances as our music director and are pleased we will continue to see him regularly as our conductor laureate.” “It is incredibly fortunate that the MSO has had the opportunity to work with a music director of Edo's caliber,” said Board Chairman Andy Nunnemaker. “Edo is known as an 'orchestra builder' in the classical music industry and it's clear after seven seasons with him why that is the case. He is dedicated to excellence and artistry and he inspires the same dedication in those around him. This season, it is with great pride that we celebrate eight years of musical excellence with Edo at the helm of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.” 2016.17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will spend the 2016.17 season celebrating the tenure of Music Director Edo de Waart, presenting inspiring performances, and engaging with the community. The MSO and Edo de Waart will open the season with the third in the series of semi-staged Mozart operas, The Marriage of Figaro. Robin Guarino will direct. De Waart and the MSO continue the exploration of the works of Strauss with Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks and Four Last Songs. Itzhak Perlman will join Edo de Waart and the MSO in September to perform Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. Frank Almond will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1; Todd Levy will perform Finzi's Concerto for Clarinet; Susan Babini will perform Bloch's Schelomo; Ilana Setapen will perform Barber's Violin Concerto. Madison natives Christina and Michelle Naughton return to the MSO to perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, with Edo de Waart conducting. Former MSO associate conductor (1985-1988) and current music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra JoAnn Falletta returns to the MSO to conduct Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Edo de Waart is joined by the MSO Women's Chorus in Holst's The Planets and Mahler's Symphony No. 3. Joseph Kalichstein (piano), Jaime Laredo (violin), and Sharon Robinson (cello) join Edo de Waart and the MSO to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto in March. Premiers: The season will include seven MSO premiers of works by Tausky, Corigliano, Schoenberg, Escher, Messiaen, Ran, and Jabert. List of Repertoire Sept. 17, 18 + 20, 2016 The Marriage of Figaro Edo de Waart conductor Robin Guarino director Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Sept. 23 + 24, 2016 Emanuel Ax plays Brahms Edo de Waart conductor Emanuel Ax piano Rachel Willis-Sørenson soprano Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks Strauss Four Last Songs Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 Nov. 4 + 5, 2016 Elgar's Enigma David Danzmayr conductor Todd Levy clarinet Tausky Coventry Finzi Concerto for Clarinet Elgar Enigma Variations Nov. 11 + 12, 2016 Romeo & Juliet Cristian Macelaru conductor Frank Almond violin Haydn Symphony No. 96 Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1 Prokofiev Selections from Romeo & Juliet Nov. 19 + 20, 2016 De Waart conducts Beethoven Edo de Waart conductor Christina Naughton piano Michelle Naughton piano Britten Simple Symphony Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments Beethoven Symphony No. 4 Jan. 13 + 14, 2017 Scheherazade JoAnn Falletta conductor Zuill Bailey cello Corigliano Phantasmagoria on The Ghosts of Versailles Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Jan. 21 + 22, 2017 Shostakovich Triumphant Carlos Kalmar conductor Elina Vähälä violin Britten Violin Concerto Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 Jan. 27 + 28, 2017 Tchaikovsky's Fourth Asher Fisch conductor Amanda Majeski soprano Schoenberg Chamber Symphony No. 1 Wagner Wesendonck Lieder Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 Feb. 11 + 12, 2017 Poulenc's Gloria Christoph König conductor MSO Chorus Respighi Belfagor Overture Poulenc Gloria Schumann Symphony No. 4 Feb. 24-26, 2017 The Planets Edo de Waart conductor MSO Women's Chorus Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Escher Musique pour l'esprit en deuil Holst The Planets Mar. 3 + 4, 2017 Beethoven Triple Concerto Edo de Waart conductor Joseph Kalichstein piano Jaime Laredo violin Sharon Robinson cello Bach-Schoenberg Chorales Beethoven Triple Concerto Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish” Mar. 10 + 11, 2017 Jeremy Denk plays Mozart Karina Canellakis conductor Jeremy Denk piano Messiaen Hymn du Saint Sacrament Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19 Franck Le chasseur maudit Beethoven Symphony No. 8 Apr. 7-9, 2017 Rachmaninoff + Beethoven Anu Tali conductor Behzod Abduraimov piano Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Beethoven Symphony No. 5 May 12 + 13, 2017 Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Edo de Waart conductor Ronald Brautigam piano Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Elgar Symphony No. 1 May 19 + 20, 2017 Majestic Bruckner Edo de Waart conductor Susan Babini cello Bloch Schelomo Bruckner Symphony No. 7 May 26-28, 2017 Mahler Symphony No. 3: Edo de Waart's Finale Edo de Waart conductor MSO Women's Chorus Mahler Symphony No. 3 June 16 + 17, 2017 Barber's Violin Concerto Larry Rachleff conductor Ilana Setapen violin Dvorak Carnival Overture Barber Violin Concerto Pierre Jalbert New Work Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra Classical Special Sep. 27, 2016 Itzhak Perlman Edo de Waart conductor Itzhak Perlman violin Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Brahms Symphony No. 3 Basilica Series Oct. 22 + 23, 2016 The Glory of the Basilica Yaniv Dinur conductor MSO Chorus Bång Hav Wagner Prelude to Act 1 of Parsifal Braun Chapter 3from Song of Songs Brahms Nänie John Luther Adams Become Ocean Mar. 31 – April 2, 2017 Mozart's Requiem Matthew Halls conductor MSO Chorus Mozart Requiem Biographies Edo de Waart The 2016.17 season will be Edo de Waart's eighth as the sixth music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The 2016.17 season marks Maestro de Waart's valedictory season as music director; at the end of the season he will become music director laureate for seasons to follow. He is also chief conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic and conductor laureate of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Guest conducting highlights include performances with the San Francisco Symphony, NHK Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Washington's National Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As an opera conductor, Mr. de Waart has conducted at Nikikai Opera, Geneva Opera, Opera de Bastille, Santa Fe Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera. Semi-staged and concert opera performances include Der Rosenkavalier (The Metropolitan Opera), Bluebeard's Castle (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra), and The Rake's Progress (Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra). Each season, he conducts an opera with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic as part of the Concertgebouw's Zaterdag Matinee series. Edo de Waart's extensive catalogue encompasses releases for Philips, Virgin, EMI, Telarc, and RCA. With the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, he has recorded all the orchestral works of Rachmaninoff, the overtures of Wagner for Octavia/Exton and, most recently, a Wagner series for Challenge Classics. Born in Holland, he studied oboe, piano, and conducting at the Music Lyceum in Amsterdam and upon graduating took up the position of associate principal oboe of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Two years later, at the age of 23, he won the Dimitri Mitropoulos Conducting Competition in New York which resulted in his appointment as assistant conductor to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic. On his return to Holland, he was appointed assistant conductor to Bernard Haitink at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In 1967, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra appointed him guest conductor and, six years later, chief conductor and artistic director. Since then, Edo de Waart has also been music director of the San Francisco Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra, chief conductor and artistic director of the Sydney Symphony, and chief conductor of De Nederlandse Opera. In December 2004, he was made a Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion, and in 2005, he was appointed an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. YANIV DINUR Born in Jerusalem in 1981, Yaniv Dinur has performed with orchestras in Israel, Europe, the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He is a winner of numerous conducting awards, among them the 2nd Prize at the 2009 Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico, and the Yuri Ahronovitch 1st Prize in the 2005 Aviv Conducting Competitions in Israel. He was chosen by the League of American Orchestras to be a featured conductor in the 2011 Bruno Walter Conducting Preview, and he is a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Zubin Mehta Scholarship Endowment. In September of 2015 Dinur was names assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Dinur started his conducting career at the age of 19, performing with the Israel Camerata, making him the youngest conductor ever to conduct an orchestra in Israel. Since then, he also conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, New World Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan, Solisti di Perugia, Torino Philharmonic, Portugal Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Festival Orchestra, State Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM in Mexico, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. GUEST CONDUCTORS David Danzmayr (Nov. 4 + 5) has been described by ´The Herald´ as “extremely good, concise, clear, incisive and expressive” and is regarded as one of the most exciting and talented European conductors of the younger generation. Having served for three years as assistant conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Danzmayr has conducted this ensemble in more than 70 concerts, performing in all the major Scottish concert halls and in the prestigious, Orkney based, St Magnus Festival. Danzmayr makes regular appearances as a guest conductor for other internationally renowned orchestras. Danzmayr is a prize-winner of the prestigious International Malko Conducting Competition and was the only European conductor to reach the final of the prestigious Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti competition. Cristian Macelaru (Nov. 11 + 12) has established an exciting and highly regarded presence through his thoughtful interpretations, poise and energetic conviction on the podium. Associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Macelaru began his tenure at the Philadelphia Orchestra as assistant conductor in September 2011; in recognition of his artistic contributions to the orchestra, his title was elevated to associate conductor in November 2012. In addition to continuing to assist Yannick Nézet-Séguin and leading several non-subscription performances, Macelaru conducted his own subscription week in the 2013.14 season, after having stepped in on an unexpected subscription debut in April 2013 in place of Jaap van Zweden. Macelaru recently made two overwhelmingly successful appearances with the Chicago Symphony on subscription programs two seasons in a row as a replacement for Pierre Boulez. JoAnn Falletta (Jan. 13 + 14) is internationally celebrated as a vibrant ambassador for music, an inspiring artistic leader, and a champion of American symphonic music. She serves as the music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Brevard Music Center. Recent appearances include return engagements with the Warsaw, Detroit, Phoenix, Krakow, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestras and debuts with the Gothenburg Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall, and a 13-city US tour with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and soloist James Galway. Falletta has held the positions of artistic advisor to the Honolulu Symphony, music director of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, associate conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, and music director of the Denver Chamber Orchestra, the Queens Philharmonic and the Women's Philharmonic. Carlos Kalmar (Jan. 21 + 22) is in his thirteenth season as music director of the Oregon Symphony. He is also chief conductor and artistic director of the Spanish Radio/Television Orchestra and Choir in Madrid, and artistic director and principal conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. A regular guest conductor with major orchestras in America, Europe and Asia, Kalmar recently made his subscription series debuts with three of America's most prestigious orchestras: those of Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Past engagements have seen him on the podium with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra and the New World Symphony, as well as the orchestras of Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Milwaukee, Nashville, Seattle and St. Louis. Asher Fisch (Jan. 27 + 28) A seasoned conductor in both the operatic and symphonic worlds, Asher Fisch is especially celebrated for his interpretative command of core German and Italian repertoire of the Romantic and post-Romantic era, in particular Wagner, Brahms, Strauss, and Verdi. Fisch also conducts a wide variety of other repertoire from Gluck to contemporary works, and serves as an advocate of living composers such as Avner Dorman and others. In 2014, Fisch became the principal conductor and artistic advisor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO). His former posts include principal guest conductor of the Seattle Opera (2007-2013), where he concluded his tenure conducting the opera's quadrennial Wagner Ring Cycle in summer 2013, music director of the New Israeli Opera (1998-2008), and the Wiener Volksoper (1995-2000). Christoph König (Feb. 11 + 12) is a conductor of deep intelligence and musicality. His conducting is marked by an energetic and serious approach to musical collaboration and a commitment to thoughtful and stimulating programming. He currently holds the position of principal conductor and music director of the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. Since his debut in the US in 2010 he has conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and Colorado Symphony Orchestras. Karina Canellakis (Mar. 10 + 11) is currently entering her second season as Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony. Canellakis has rapidly gained international recognition as one of the most dynamic and exciting young American conductors. She recently made her European conducting debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the Styriarte Festival in Graz, Austria, filling in for Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Earlier in the season, she also made headlines filling in last minute for Jaap Van Zweden in two subscription concerts with the Dallas Symphony, conducting Shostakovich's 8th Symphony and Mozart K449 with soloist Emanuel Ax, earning rave reviews. In the 2015.16 season, Ms. Canellakis makes her debuts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and at the renowned Grand Tetons Music Festival in summer 2016. Matthew Halls (Mar. 31 – Apr. 2) is in his second season as artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival, having succeeded founding director Helmuth Rilling the previous year. Summer 2015 saw the Oregon Bach Festival launch the Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance under his leadership, a new national training program for advanced students. Increasingly in demand by North American symphony orchestras, Halls has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, and the Utah Symphony in repertoire from Bach and Handel to Beethoven, Kernis, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, and Tippett. Anu Tali (Apr. 7 – 9) assumed the position of music director of the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida in August 2013. Additionally, she continues in her role of the chief conductor at the Nordic Symphony Orchestra, which Anu and sister Kadri Tali founded in 1997. Highlights of the 2014.15 season included her debut with the Finnish National Opera and re-engagements with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Bochumer and Duisburger Symphonikern. Last season featured invitations to the Ruhrtriennale and Ensemble Modern. Larry Rachleff (Jun. 16 + 17) serves as music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and has also been music director of the San Antonio Symphony. “A take-charge maestro who invests everything he conducts with deep musical understanding” (Chicago Tribune), Mr. Rachleff is in constant demand as a guest conductor. Recent and upcoming engagements include the Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, and Toledo Symphony among many others. Summer festival engagements include Tanglewood, Aspen, Interlochen, Chautauqua, Brevard Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy, and the Grand Teton Music Festival. In 1993, he was selected as one of four American conductors to lead the Cleveland Orchestra at Carnegie Hall under the mentorship of Pierre Boulez. GUEST ARTISTS (PIANO) Emanuel Ax (Sept. 23 + 24) was born in Lvov, Poland and moved to Winnipeg, Canada, with his family when he was a young boy. His studies at the Juilliard School were supported by the sponsorship of the Epstein Scholarship Program of the Boys Clubs of America, and he subsequently won the Young Concert Artists Award. Additionally, he attended Columbia University where he majored in French. Ax captured public attention in 1974 when he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists followed four years later by the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. Christina and Michelle Naughton (Nov. 19 + 20) have been hailed by the San Francisco Examiner for their “stellar musicianship, technical mastery, and awe-inspiring artistry”. The Naughtons made their European debut at Herkulesaal in Munich, and their Asian debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. An appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra led the Philadelphia Inquirer to characterize their playing as “paired to perfection,” while the Saarbrücker Zeitung exclaimed “this double star could soon prove to be a supernova.” They have captivated audiences throughout the globe with the unity created by their mystical musical communication, as featured by the Wall Street Journal in their own words “There are times I forget we are two people playing together”. The sisters recently signed an exclusive recording contract with Warner Classics which will release their second album, Visions, in March 2016. Jeremy Denk (Mar. 10 + 11) is one of America's foremost pianists—an artist The New York Times hails as someone “you want to hear no matter what her performs”. Winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America's 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year award, he recently appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, San Fransisco, and London. Behzod Abduraimov (Apr. 7 – 9) captivating performances are rapidly establishing him as one of the forerunners of his generation. In recent seasons Behzod has worked with leading orchestras including Los Angeles Philharmonic with conductor James Gaffigan, Boston Symphony Orchestra with conductor Charles Dutoit, London Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor David Zinman, NHK Symphony Orchestra with conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Jirí Belohlávek. Ronald Brautigam (May 12 + 13), a student of the legendary Rudolf Serkin, performs regularly with leading orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw, London Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Sydney Symphony. He has perfomed alongside a number of distinguished conductors including Riccardo Chailly, Charles Dutoit, Bernard Haitink, Frans Brüggen, Christpher Hogwood, Marek Janowski, Sir Roger Norrington, Marin Alsop, Ivor Bolton, Sir Simon Rattle and Ivan Fisher. GUEST ARTIST (VIOLIN, CELLO, TRIO) Elina Vähälä (Jan. 21 + 22) was born in the US and raised in Finland. She made her orchestra debut with Sinfonia Lahti at the age of 12 and was later chosen by Osmo Vänskä as the orchestra's “young master soloist”. Since then, her career continues to expand the international stage, winning praise from audiences and musicians alike as “a fluent, stylish, and gifted musicians whose brilliant technique is matched by an abundant spirit, sensitivity, and imagination” (Chicago Tribune). Zuill Bailey (Jan. 13 + 14) is a distinguished soloist, recitalist, artistic director, and teacher. His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought after and active cellists today. A consummate concerto soloist, Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras worldwide, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Louisville, Honolulu, Milwaukee, Nashville, Toronto, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Israel, Cape Town, and the Bruchner Orchestra in Linz, Austria. He has collaborated with such conductors as Itzhak Perlman, Alan Gilbert, Andrew Litton, James DePriest, Jun Markl, Carlos Kalmar, Andrey Boreyko, Krzysztof Urbanski, Jacques Lacombe, Grant Llewellyn, and Stanislav Skrowaczewski. He also has been featured with musical luminaries Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell, and Janos Starker. Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio (Mar. 3 + 4) After 38 years of success the world over, including many award-winning recordings and newly commissioned works, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio continues to dazzle audiences and critics alike with its performances. Since making their debut at the White House for President Carter's Inauguration in January 1977, pianist Joseph Kalichstein, violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson have set the standard for performances of the piano trio literature. As one of the only long-lived ensembles with all of its original members, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robsinson Trio balances the careers of three internationally-acclaimed soloists while making annual appearances at many of the world's major concert halls, commissioning spectacular new works, and maintaining an active recording agenda. TICKETS & PRICING Ticket prices for the 2016.17 season remain unchanged. For information about subscriptions, please call 414.291.7605 or visit mso.org. Single tickets will go on sale in July 2016. All programs, artists, and venues subject to change. ABOUT THE MSO The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Edo de Waart, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Now in his sixth season with the MSO, Maestro de Waart has led sold-out concerts, elicited critical acclaim, and conducted a celebrated performance at Carnegie Hall on May 11, 2012. The MSO's full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.

We Players (Artistic Director, Ava Roy; Managing Director, Lauren D. Chavez), will present Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet at the historic Rancho Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park in Sonoma County throughout August/September 2016. A milestone season, it's both We Players' Sweet Sixteen and Shakespeare 400 when companies around the world commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 1616. We Players honors both occasions with a return to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, it's own very first production in 2000. We Players will celebrate with a season of Romeo & Juliet inspired events. Prior to the full-scale production of the play at this California State Park, We Players will present the elaborate prelude and elegant masquerade ball - The Capulet Ball - at several unique and stunning venues throughout the greater Bay Area. The Capulet Ball is conceived as a performance integrated party where guests are invited to the Capulet's home for a masquerade ball complete with delicious drinks, edibles, live music, and dancing. Guests are invited to bring their own masks, or be decked out by We Players, and join the Capulet family (along with the masquerade crashing Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo) on the dance floor. Attire is festive and fabulous!

Berkeley Rep announced today it will present the world premiere of John Leguizamo: Latin History for Dummies. Written and performed by Leguizamo and directed by Berkeley Rep's Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, this limited engagement will run Friday, July 1-Sunday, August 14 in the newly renovated Peet's Theatre. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 6 to the general public at berkeleyrep.org or by calling 510-647-2949.

Artistic and Executive Director of the Watermill Paul Hart opened his new production of Romeo and Juliet earlier this week, the first of his inaugural season at The Watermill Theatre. 

Hot off the heels of last month's first-ever SUPERCINEMA inspired by Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet, The McKittrick Hotel (530 W 27th Street, New York, NY), home of SLEEP NO MORE, will present its second edition of the one-of-a-kind party, this time an ode to the evocative world of Ian Fleming's James Bond 007. 

According to an Equity casting notice, Las Vegas is about to get a taste of Baz Luhrmann. Auditions will begin soon for BAZ: STAR CROSSED LOVE, with direction by Anderson Davis, and musical direction by Jesse Vargas. Performances will begin on June 25, 2016.

The jewel in the crown of the Birmingham Royal Ballet's Shakespeare season (perhaps aside from David Bintley's new Tempest), this production of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo & Juliet has been a hotly anticipated production for many months. Although many choreographers have tackled Prokoviev's delicious, sweeping score, few, if any, others have achieved the dramatic sublimity of Macmillan's work.

'Brilliant', 'riveting' and 'astonishing' are only a few words our contributing writers have used to describe the local theatre scene.  This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature the top 10 stories in Central PA, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. Check out our featured list, which includes a 'brilliant' OTHER DESERT CITIES in Central PA, The Ordway's A CHORUS LINE, and a 'riveting' immersive ROMEO + JULIET in Seattle, just to name a few. 

I'll be honest, there were several elements that gave me trepidation before seeing Seattle Immersive Theatre's current production of “Romeo + Juliet” the other night. The immersive nature of it (seems to be the resurging trend and not always done well), the idea of tromping around an abandoned storefront, and the fact that while I love Shakespeare's “Romeo + Juliet” I've never actually seen a production I truly liked just to name a few. But all my fears were soon dashed as I entered a superbly crafted realm housing the best production of the play I have ever seen and culminating in a theatrical experience I'll remember for years to come.

Shakespeare's iambic pentameter, the rhythm of his words, echo the human heartbeat: ba-BUM, ba-BUM. But Synetic Theater gets to the beating heart of ROMEO AND JULIET without a single utterance of any of the Bard's famed words. In its innovative merging of drama and movement, Synetic's silent exploration of the classic work is an extraordinary vision of wonder and passion.

The Hypocrites will conclude its 2015-16 Season with the world premiere of JOHANNA FAUSTUS, co-adapted by Emily Casey and Artistic Director Sean Graney from Christopher Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus and directed by Graney. JOHANNA FAUSTUS will play a limited engagement May 20 - 29, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at www.the-hypocrites.com.  The press opening is Friday, May 20 at 8 pm.

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this March with a free three-week tour to the five boroughs of Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET, directed by Lear deBessonet. As part of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis' 10th Anniversary season, the free Mobile Unit tour (March 18 - April 9) will bring Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts by visiting correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and other community venues. Following the free tour, ROMEO & JULIET will have a sit-down run at The Public Theater from Monday, April 11 through Sunday, May 1, with an official press opening on Friday, April 15.

Hartford Stage presents William Shakespeare's most popular play, ROMEO & JULIET, directed by Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak, who previously helmed the critically acclaimed productions of HAMLET, MACBETH, TWELFTH NIGHT and THE TEMPEST. The tragic romance will play from tonight, February 11, through March 20 only.

Artes de la Rosa is proud to announce BIG FISH: The Musical 12 Chairs Version will receive its first North Texas staging this March. The cast features 12 Artes de la Rosa stage debuts for this new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Motion Picture directed by Tim Burton. Artistic Director Adam Adolfo directs the production. He reunites with Award Winning Musical Director Kristin Spires, who previously collaborated on the North Texas premiere of In the Heights, as well as productions of Into the Woods and Man of La Mancha. Serving as Choreographer is Austin Ray Beck whose work was last seen at the Rose Marine Theatre, Artes de la Rosa's home, in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. The production team also includes Kyle Harris as Lighting Designer, Mark Howard as Sound Designer, and Costume Design by Bentleigh Nesbit and Rodney Hudson. 

The Texas Repertory Theatre Co., Houston's Uptown Classic Theatre, continues its 11th Anniversary 'Emerging Visions' Season with a new staging of Shakespeare's classic romance Romeo & Juliet, playing Thursday through Sundays, now through February 21st. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the performance below!

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, January 31, 2016 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!