The Combine News

The Oratorio Society of New York (OSNY), New York's standard for grand choral performance, will mark its 2016-17 season with performances of symphonic choral masterworks of Handel, Mozart, Bruckner, and Britten, ending with Bach's monumental Mass in B Minor. Leading the OSNY for its 144th season will be Kent Tritle, in his 12th year as Music Director.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues their 2016-2017 mainstage season with Shakespeare's beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing, playing November 18- December 10, 2016.  This production is directed by CSC Artistic Associate Sara Clark and features the entire Cincinnati Shakespeare Resident Ensemble including Jeremy Dubin, Miranda McGee, Geoffrey Barnes, and Billy Chace. This production is sponsored by Frost Brown Todd and Messer.

Ben Rimalower brings back his acclaimed long-running solo plays, PATTI ISSUES (about his obsession with Broadway diva Patti LuPone and his relationship with his troubled gay father) and BAD WITH MONEY (about how an addiction to spending beyond his means has driven him to extreme lengths all his life) at The Duplex (61 Christopher Street at Seventh Avenue) on Saturday, November 19th and Monday, December 19th. 

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

Moya Doherty is proud to announce the international Irish dance phenomenon is back by popular demand with Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour, which is celebrating an extraordinary milestone for an incredible show, as it makes stops in over 60 North American cities. The Edinburgh Evening News raves about Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour, "As for the flaws? Well, there simply aren't any. Here's to another 20 years!"

This year's World Ballet Day, the third, broke the record for the longest Facebook Live stream to date, reaching over 315,000 people and an additional 272,000 people watching on Ballet TV, powered by video streaming provider Ooyala (a subsidiary of Telstra). The combined reach makes it The Australian Ballet's most successful World Ballet Day yet. With 727,151 watching the 20-hour stream worldwide, it shows the global appetite for dance is undiminished.

The Woodruff Arts Center announces the unveiling of its second public piano, provided by Play Me Again Pianos, which will take place in a public celebration on Callaway Plaza on Sunday, October 16, at 2 PM.

The Warner Theatre will welcome The Temptations and The Four Tops as they perform together on the Main Stage on Friday, March 3 at 8:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, October 7 at 10:00 am.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) has received a $5 million gift from Roberta and David Elliott to endow the Festival's Artistic Opportunity Fund (AOF). The AOF allows the Festival to pursue significant artistic opportunities.            

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) presents Jon Klein's howlingly funny Bunnicula, based on the successful book series by James and Deborah Howe. Directed by Ensemble Company member Matt Lee who shares one reason for his love of directing for kids, "Theatre is a unique opportunity to directly engage our youth in the art of storytelling.  I am thrilled to be bringing one of my favorite children's books to life onstage for families to enjoy." The play will run at MET for four weeks beginning September 24.       

Led by Music Director Peter Oundjian, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) opens its 95th season today, September 21 at Roy Thomson Hall with a sumptuous performance by the radiant soprano Renee Fleming.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) presents Josh Harman's runaway NY hit Bad Jews as its 2016-2017 Season Opener. Directed by MET Associate Artistic Director, Gene Fouche fresh off her direction of METs hit production of Superior Donuts, with Assistant Director Bethanie Herman. The play will run at MET for four weeks beginning September 16.

BalletX, Philadelphia's Premier Contemporary Ballet, unveils its 2016-17 Season. Following a decade of world premiere work in Philadelphia, paired with consistent national touring, which most recently included residencies at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Vail International Dance Festival, and The Joyce Theater, BalletX has emerged as 'a place of choreographic innovation,' according to The New Yorker, and 'one of the country's primary producers of new ballet,' as stated in The Denver Post. The 2016-17 Season includes four series in Philadelphia, three at The Wilma Theater - Fall Series 2016 (Nov. 16-20), Winter Series 2017 (Feb. 10-19), Spring Series 2017 (Apr. 26-30) - and Summer Series 2017 (July 12-16) at the Prince Theater, while the Wilma undergoes renovations in July of 2017.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) presents Jon Klein's howlingly funny Bunnicula, based on the successful book series by James and Deborah Howe. Directed by Ensemble Company member Matt Lee who shares one reason for his love of directing for kids, "Theatre is a unique opportunity to directly engage our youth in the art of storytelling.  I am thrilled to be bringing one of my favorite children's books to life onstage for families to enjoy." The play will run at MET for four weeks beginning September 24.       

Four real estate agents in dogged pursuit of success are driven to criminal measures as they struggle to emerge from under a bleak market and unscrupulous management.

As the 77th season is launched for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), President and Music Director Louis Scaglione is pleased to announce that Philadelphia Youth Orchestra is one of the recipients of The Philadelphia CulturalFund' 2016 Youth Arts Enrichment Grant. The Youth Arts Enrichment Grant Program supports specific programming that uses the artsto enrich the lives of Philadelphia's young people both in and out of school.

The Public Theater kicks off the 2016-17 season this month with a free Public Works musical adaptation of TWELFTH NIGHT, conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub.

There's a warming winter line-up at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph Theatre this year, including a brand new play by Alan Ayckbourn and the Scarborough directorial debut of the theatre's new Artistic Director, Paul Robinson.

Led by Music Director Peter Oundjian, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) opens its 95th season on Wednesday, September 21 at Roy Thomson Hall with a sumptuous performance by the radiant soprano Renee Fleming.