Kelsey Denette - Page 492

Ovation, the only television network devoted to artists and every kind of artistic expression, will usher in the holiday season with programming celebrating theater and dance. On Thanksgiving night, Ovation will present an Ovation Original documentary special, A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS: OPENING NIGHT, which takes viewers behind- the-curtain for the Lythgoe Family's (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance) quest to bring the entertaining and cheerful British "panto" musical theater tradition to American audiences for the first time. Ovation then kicks off its sixth annual programming event, "BATTLE OF THE NUTCRACKERS," featuring stunning Nutcracker productions and a chance for viewers to vote on their favorites. The popular programming event will now air for a month on Sunday afternoons in a celebration the entire family can enjoy together.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced the return of Amanda Green to the stage. The one-night-only special event will take place on Monday, November 26 at 7pm.

Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi will lead a rare revival of Berlioz's Les Troyens beginning December 13. Francesca Zambello's production, critically acclaimed when it premiered at the Met in 2003, will star Marcello Giordani in his house role debut as Aeneas, the central character in the grand tragedy, which travels from the crumbling walls of Troy to the North African kingdom of Carthage. Deborah Voigt will reprise her performance of the Trojan prophetess Cassandra, a role she debuted in the premiere of Zambello's production, and Susan Graham will sing her first Met performances of Dido, the lovesick queen of Carthage. The cast also features Julie Boulianneas Aeneas's son, Ascanio; Karen Cargill as Dido's devoted sister, Anna; Paul Appleby as the young sailor Hylas; Eric Cutler as Dido's court poet, Iopas; Richard Bernstein as the Trojan priest Pantheus; Dwayne Croft as Cassandra's fiance, Coroebus; and Kwangchul Youn as Narbal, Dido's trusted advisor. The Saturday, January 5 matinee performance of Les Troyens will be transmitted worldwide as part of the Met's Live in HD series, which is now seen in more than 1,900 movie theaters in 64 countries around the world.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR, announce the fifth event in the series, TCG Playwrights in Conversation: Discussions and Readings-UE 92/12: 20th Anniversary Commemorative Performance. This series features TCG authors in conversation, as well as readings of their work by featured artists, presented at The Greene Space, WNYC and WQXR's innovative broadcast studio and performance venue.

This Is Forever, a new modern ballet inspired by Mildred Cram's 1935 novella Forever, will receive its television premiere on November 30 and December 2, 2012 in advance of its world premiere production at The Joyce Theatre.

Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta became the iconic on-screen lovers "Danny" and "Sandy" in Grease, but it took them until now to record together again. November 13th their holiday album "This Christmas: John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John" was released with proceeds donated to their respective charities: the Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center.

A group of 136 Stagedoor Manor students from all over the world will sing and dance the grand finale at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, marking the famed theatrical summertime training ground's fourth consecutive Parade performance. After traveling the entire parade route, the Stagedoor Manor students will arrive at Herald Square and introduce Santa Claus by performing the number "Santa By The Book" from Macy's new program Yes, Virginia The Musical. Yes, Virginia The Musical had its world premiere at Stagedoor Manor earlier this year and its original cast, made up of 28 Stagedoor Manor students ages 10-13, will accompany Santa and Mrs. Claus on their float for the entirety of the Parade route.

This December, partake in the ultimate live stocking stuffer at the GOTHAM BURLESQUE Holiday Show on Saturday, December 15 at 10PM at STAGE 72 (158 West 72nd Street).

SPACE on Ryder Farm announces its inaugural benefit - SPACE in the City - set for Monday, December 3rd from 7-10pm at Ars Nova loft at 511 W. 54th Street in New York City. The event will feature artist performance and readings from theater artists including Gabriel Ebert (4,000 Miles, Brief Encounter), Adam Rapp (Through the Yellow Hour, Red Light Winter), Teddy Bergman (Peter and the Starcatcher), Damon Daunno (Brief Encounter) and Grace McLean (www.gracemclean.com).

Gotham Chamber Opera continues its 2012-2013 Season with ELIOGABALO (1667) by Francesco Cavalli. The show will run from March 15-29, 2013 at 8pm at The Box, 189 Chrystie Street, NYC. Tickets are $30-$175 and are available on www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

When Totem Pole Playhouse Artistic Director, Ray Ficca, announced in August that if emergency funds were raised, the 62 year old summer theatre would be back in 2013 with a season like no other in Playhouse history, he wasn't kidding. An expanded regular season, an unprecedented four musicals, Tony award winning and nominated shows, a production in downtown Gettysburg, and the biggest cast sizes in over 35 years, are just a few of many 'firsts' in this comeback season for the treasured theatre in Caledonia.

The holiday season will be especially busy for opera lovers this year, as three Metropolitan Opera productions will be broadcast at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater in December.

Jeff Keller, the first American to play The Phantom on Broadway, guest stars in Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore's comedy of errors, You've Got Hate Mail, on Friday, November 30 at 7 p.m. at Stage 72 (formerly the Triad). The theater is located at 158 West 72nd St, NYC.

"I See Love" singer/songwriter Ryan Cabrera announced he will be going out on tour again, this time with "For You I Will" singer Teddy Geiger, and One Tree Hill actor Tyler Hilton.

Culture Project will welcome Broadway veteran Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America) and musical, singer-songwriter, composer Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) to the rotating cast of the 10th anniversary production of the hit award-winning play, The Exonerated, written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, for the final week of performances through December 2nd at Culture Project (45 Bleecker Street at Lafayette Street) where performances began September 15th.

Westport Country Playhouse will provide a special offer on Cyber Monday on Monday, November 26, and participate in #GivingTuesday™ on Tuesday, November 27.

The Houston Symphony hosted members of Big Brothers Big Sisters at the first Family concert of the season thanks to a sponsorship from The Rand Group, LLC. Fourteen pairs of adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles") attended "Wands & Batons: The Music of Harry Potter & More" on October 6. The morning adventure was filled with activities, including crafts and an instrument petting zoo. A lucky set of eight even got to sit on stage with the orchestra and compete in Harry Potter trivia questions in front of an audience of 1,496. After the concert, the group got to meet Associate Conductor Robert Franz, still dressed in his Hedwig the owl costume, and was treated to lunch in Jones Hall.

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF's Scarlett Johansson will appear on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' tomorrow, Wednesday, November 21 between 11:35PM-12:35AM locally on WCBS2.

Due to overwhelming demand, Lantern Theater Company announces a second extension of the Philadelphia premiere of The Liar by award-winning playwright David Ives. Playing to packed houses since its first performance on Nov. 1, Ives' "translaptation" of Pierre Corneille's comedy classic has drawn raves. The Liar will now run through Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012.

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) continues its fifteeenth anniversary season this December with a festive new take on a holiday classic with, It's A Wonderful LIfe: A Live Radio Play. This award-winning adaptation brings Bedford Falls to life by way of an on stage 1940s radio broadcast, and you're invited to be a member of the live studio audience! Since its premier in 1996 playwright Joe Landry's It's A Wonderful LIfe: A Live Radio Play has been produced hundreds of times across the US and been heralded as, 'One of the best holiday shows around.' (Chicago Sun-Times). The story, true to Frank Capra's 1946 film classic starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, is told by six actors performing dozen of characters and all the foley sound effects in traditional old-fashioned radio style.