From the play by Edward Knoblock
Neither Aladdin nor Ali Baba ever had a day like this! In the span of twenty-four hours, Hajj the beggar manages to escape the clutches of a vengeful bandit, drown the evil Wazir of Police, catch the eye of the Wazir's voluptuous wife, serve as Emir of Baghdad, and see his daughter wed to the handsome Caliph. brbrFrom the original hit Broadway and London productions to the popular MGM film and highly successful revivals around the world, this Arabian fantasy has proven a winner with audiences time and again, thanks to its exotic setting, appealing characters and wry sense of humor, not to mention a lush score adapted from the soaring melodies of Alexander Borodin. Packed with mirth, mayhem and romance, strongKISMET/strong has enough adventure and delight to last at least 1001 Arabian nights!
Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with its last performance today, May 6th at 2:00pm.
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with performances tonight, May 3rd, May 4th and 5th at 7:30pm and May 6th at 2:00pm.
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts is proud to announce the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with performances May 3rd, 4th and 5th at 7:30pm and May 6th at 2:00pm.
According to the Associated press, Richland School District, outside of Pittsburgh, has decided to cancel a production of KISMET (a musical about a Muslim poet) because the community 'complained about the timing so soon after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.' Instead, the school will stage OKLAHOMA!
Vincente Minnelli - the late stage and film director best known for his musical films such as 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis (during which he dated and later married its star, legendary actress and singer Judy Garland), 1951's An American in Paris, 1955's Kismet, and 1958's Gigi (for which he won an Oscar) - is set to be honored by the Locarno Film Festival in August.
Hollywood icon Liza Minnelli - whose brilliant career has earned her an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and four Tony Awards - will sit down with Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Robert Osborne for PRIVATE SCREENINGS: LIZA MINNELLI, an in-depth interview special slated to premiere Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Rather than focusing on Minnelli herself, this special will take the unique approach of centering on the lives and careers of Minnelli's legendary parents, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. In conjunction with the premiere, TCM will pack two nights (Dec. 11-12) with films starring Garland, directed by Vincente Minnelli and/or starring Liza Minnelli.
Hollywood icon Liza Minnelli - whose brilliant career has earned her an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy and four Tony Awards - will sit down with Turner Classic Movies (TCM) host Robert Osborne for PRIVATE SCREENINGS: LIZA MINNELLI, an in-depth interview special slated to premiere Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Rather than focusing on Minnelli herself, this special will take the unique approach of centering on the lives and careers of Minnelli's legendary parents, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli. In conjunction with the premiere, TCM will pack two nights (Dec. 11-12) with films starring Garland, directed by Vincente Minnelli and/or starring Liza Minnelli.
Masterworks Broadway continues to explore the rich history of its unequaled Broadway and Off-Broadway catalogue with the release of three highly requested classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era - Regina, Song of Norway and Make A Wish.
Masterworks Broadway continues to explore the rich history of its unequaled Broadway and Off-Broadway catalogue with the release of three highly requested classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era - Regina, Song of Norway and Make A Wish.
Civic Light Opera wraps up their season with a production of KISMET that is fast, funny and beautifully sung.
* * * * * (OUT OF 5)
Gary Griffin - fresh from the success of his recent Broadway production, 'The Color Purple' - has returned to London (where his Donmar Warehouse production of Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' won him a richly deserved Olivier Award in 2003) to present a revival of the 1950s musical, 'Kismet' at the London Coliseum for the ENO. The show, originally staged at the Ziegfield theatre in New York in 1953, has music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from musical themes by Borodin. The original book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis has been reworked by Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Griffin's colourful, energetic and beautifully paced production, magnificently complemented by the set design by Ultz and Wolfgang Gobbel's lighting design, breathes new life into a classic.
Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, Bells are Ringing, TV's 'Spin City' and 'House') will make her London stage debut as 'Lalume' in the new English National Opera (ENO) production of Kismet at the London Coliseum.
English National Opera announces that Michael Ball will perform the role of Hajj/Poet in the new production of Robert Wright & George Forrest's KISMET. Based on themes of Alexander Borodin and the play by Edward Knoblock, the book is by Charles Lederer & Luther Davies. This is the first new West End production for almost 30 years.
Toronto Operetta Theatre's production is a feast for the ears, though the show still creaks.
* * * 1/2 (out of 5)
This musical Arabian night is more of a tired businessman show gleefully passing itself off as high art
On February 9th, the Encores! production of Kismet, starring Brian Stokes Mitchell as Hajj the Poet and Marin Mazzie as the seductive Lalume, will open to run through February 12th
Tom Aldredge, Danny Gurwin, Marcy Harriell and more will join Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie in the star-studded Encores! presentation of Kismet from February 9th through 12th
New York City Center's 2006 Encores! Season will open on February 9 with the six-time Tony Award-winning Kismet, starring Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie.
New York City Center will present the 13th season of New York City Center Encores! Great American Musicals In Concert®, opening February 9 with Kismet starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie, followed by the Kander and Ebb musical 70, Girls, 70. George and Ira Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing will end the season, playing May 11 - 14.
Frequent co-stars Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell will once again team up for the Encores! production of Kismet, which will open in February of 2006
Two of the three shows in the 'Encores!' series have been announced.
Robert Wright, whose musicals with George Forrest gave a Broadway voice to classical composers, passed away on July 27th at the age of 90
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