Arthur Wood

Who among us hasn't fought for acceptance and inner peace? That alone makes Champion a winner.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2016-2017 season with the company premieres of two modern American masterworks of opera: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's Dead Man Walking, February 25-March 11, 2017 in the Opera House, and Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer's Champion, March 4- 18, 2017 in the Opera House. Both operas explore the theme of social justice which is often associated with John F. Kennedy and are presented as part of JFKC, the Kennedy Center's season-long celebration of President Kennedy's centennial. Using many of the same designers and scenic elements, the directors of each opera have worked collaboratively to create two distinct worlds in each new production to showcase the issues of Justice, Courage, and Freedom at the heart of these two compelling stories. An additional special event will continue the exploration of these themes: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will headline Justice at the Opera on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in the Opera House.

The inaugural Explorations series continues with Elvis Costello's The Juliet Letters, Jan. 28 and 29 at the Michael and Ginger Frost Production Arts Building at the Richard J. Stern Opera Center.Explorations features eclectic programs in intimate spaces, with programming that crosses musical borders and experiments with a wide range of lyrical expression.

The inaugural Explorations series continues with Elvis Costello's The Juliet Letters, Jan. 28 and 29 at the Michael and Ginger Frost Production Arts Building at the Richard J. Stern Opera Center.Explorations features eclectic programs in intimate spaces, with programming that crosses musical borders and experiments with a wide range of lyrical expression.

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler today announced that two Lyric Opera of Kansas City Resident Artists have won international awards.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City continues its 59th season with the Lyric Opera debut co-production of Mozart's masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro November 5, 9, 11 and 13 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City continues its 59th season with the Lyric Opera debut co-production of Mozart's masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro November 5, 9, 11 and 13 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The highly anticipated world premiere of The Shining - a new opera based on Stephen King's 1977 best-selling novel - by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell, was presented by the Minnesota Opera on May 7th, at the Music Theater at the Ordway in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

San Francisco's Opera Parallele and SFJAZZ will present their first collaboration: a new, fully staged production of Champion: An Opera in Jazz by Terence Blanchard, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director, with eight performances to be given tonight, February 19, through February 28, 2016 at SFJAZZ Center.  Based on the life of African-American, bisexual boxing champion Emile Griffith (1938-2013), the production marks both Opera Parallele's first foray into an operatic jazz idiom and SFJAZZ's first opera. Performances will be given at 7:30 pm Today--Sunday, February 19, 20 and 21; Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24;  Today and Saturday, February 26 and 27; and at 4 pm Sunday, February 28 and tickets are priced $30-$185. For more information, visit www.operaparallele.org and www.sfjazz.org .

San Francisco's Opera Parallele and SFJAZZ will present their first collaboration: a new, fully staged production of Champion: An Opera in Jazz by Terence Blanchard, SFJAZZ Resident Artistic Director, with eight performances to be given February 19-28, 2016 at SFJAZZ Center.  Based on the life of African-American, bisexual boxing champion Emile Griffith (1938-2013), the production marks both Opera Parallele's first foray into an operatic jazz idiom and SFJAZZ's first opera. Performances will be given at 7:30 pm Friday--Sunday, February 19, 20 and 21; Tuesday and Wednesday, February 23 and 24;  Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27; and at 4 pm Sunday, February 28 and tickets are priced $30-$185. For more information, visit www.operaparallele.org and www.sfjazz.org .

'SHOUT! The Drama of an Invisible Black Man of a Certain Age in the Last Days of Political Correctness' is a play for one man written by noted African-American playwright Henry Miller and performed by noted opera singer Arthur Woodley. Its world premiere will be presented tonight, September 12 to 20 by Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival.

'SHOUT! The Drama of an Invisible Black Man of a Certain Age in the Last Days of Political Correctness' is a play for one man written by noted African-American playwright Henry Miller and performed by noted opera singer Arthur Woodley. Its world premiere will be presented September 12 to 20 by Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival.

On Wednesday, July 9, 2014, the Police Athletic League celebrated 100 years of PAL with the opening of the 2014 Summer Playstreets Program. Hundreds of children gathered on a PAL Playstreet at West 151st in Manhattan to play classic street games including marbles, skelly, hopscotch, traditional Double Dutch jump rope, Nok Hockey and the NYPD provided a portable rock climbing wall. Children cooled off under a fire hydrant opened by PAL Chairman Robert M. Morgenthau. Scroll down for photos of new PAL board member Tony Danza and more at the event!

Seattle Opera continues its 2012/13 season next month with 10 performances of one of the most popular operas ever composed. At turns joyful and heartbreaking, Puccini's La Boheme tells an unforgettable story of impoverished young people who are rich in friendship, love, and passion. La Boheme returns to Seattle Opera tonight, February 23, running for 10 performances through March 10.

Seattle Opera continues its 2012/13 season next month with 10 performances of one of the most popular operas ever composed. At turns joyful and heartbreaking, Puccini's La Boheme tells an unforgettable story of impoverished young people who are rich in friendship, love, and passion. La Boheme returns to Seattle Opera on February 23, running for 10 performances through March 10.

Seattle Opera rings in the New Year next month with royalty, a ball, and plenty of giant rats when it stages La Cenerentola, Rossini's effervescent take on the Cinderella story. But you won't find a glass slipper, an evil stepmother, or a fairy godmother in this opera; instead, this uniquely Italian retelling features a prince in disguise, a pompous stepfather, and a wise philosopher. Love, laughter, virtue, and brilliant bel canto vocalism win out at the end of this opera by the composer of The Barber of Seville. La Cenerentola opens tonight, January 12, and runs for eight performances through January 26.

Seattle Opera rings in the New Year next month with royalty, a ball, and plenty of giant rats when it stages La Cenerentola, Rossini's effervescent take on the Cinderella story. But you won't find a glass slipper, an evil stepmother, or a fairy godmother in this opera; instead, this uniquely Italian retelling features a prince in disguise, a pompous stepfather, and a wise philosopher. Love, laughter, virtue, and brilliant bel canto vocalism win out at the end of this opera by the composer of The Barber of Seville. La Cenerentola opens on Saturday, January 12, and runs for eight performances through January 26.

American tenor Ric Furman will sing the role of Florestan in Seattle Opera's production of Beethoven's Fidelio at the matinee performance on Sunday, October 14, 2012, replacing the originally announced singer, Clifton Forbis.

Seattle Opera continues its 2012/13 season next month with Beethoven's only opera: Fidelio, the story of a devoted wife who rescues her husband, unjustly imprisoned for his political beliefs. Premiered in 1814, Fidelio's message of love and hope overcoming tyranny and oppression remains as relevant today as ever. Seattle Opera's production of Fidelio, set here and now, opens on Saturday, October 13, and runs for six performances through October 27.