Toby Newman

I must admit that I entered LoftOpera's performance of Rossini's take on OTELLO with some trepidation. Besides having a particular affection for the Verdi version, my experience with 'alternate universe' adaptations of famous operas has been iffy at best. But this OTELLO, predating Verdi by over 70 years, seemed a horse of a different color--with LoftOpera making a strong musical case for it, especially in his treatment of Desdemona, Otello's beloved, sung sensationally by soprano Cecilia Lopez.

Under the umbrella of the New York Opera Fest, The Center for Contemporary Opera presented an hour's worth of excerpts from THE WILD BEAST OF THE BUNGALOW, an episodic opera still in development by composer Rachel J. Peters and (the omnipresent) librettist Royce Vavrek. It was, frankly, spellbinding.

Now it its 19th season, Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) continues its bold new approach in presenting music that is elevating, entertaining and transforming. Opera In Paradise (July 15-26), one of four 'mini' festivals taking place during the Festival, is no exception, as some of the biggest names on the opera world, along with top-tier emerging talent through CBMF's acclaimed training program, the Crested Butte Opera Studio, join the Festival for a six-week residency.

The 18th annual Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) announces a superb lineup of performances and world-class artists for Opera In Paradise, running from today, July 12 - 27, 2014. Opera lovers will experience the power and passion of opera in intimate settings from Home Soirees in beautiful mountain residences to fully staged productions of Puccini's Suor Angelica and Verdi's Rigoletto at Center for the Arts Crested Butte.

The 18th annual Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) announces a superb lineup of performances and world-class artists for Opera In Paradise, running from July 12 - 27, 2014. Opera lovers will experience the power and passion of opera in intimate settings from Home Soirees in beautiful mountain residences to fully staged productions of Puccini's Suor Angelica and Verdi's Rigoletto at Center for the Arts Crested Butte.

Organized by the New Museum's Department of Education and Public Engagement, R&D (Research and Development) Seasons connect various projects across multiple platforms around a new organizing theme each fall and spring. The spring 2014 R&D Season theme is VOICE.

The Drama League opened it doors at their new space on May 23rd with a ribbon cutting hosted by Judith Light. The focal point of The DramaLeague Theater Center is the Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley Studio Lab, a brand-new laboratory/development space for theater artists to create and hone work for future productions. It will also act as a flexible multi-purpose space for a variety of programming including educational opportunities, audience-focused series and special events. This will allow the Drama League to better serve the entire New York theater community - directors, audience, playwrights and actors. The Drama League Theater Center will offer artist residencies, play readings, open rehearsals, developmental workshops, lectures, classes, seminars, discussions, conferences, theatre-focused social gatherings and more.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director, Roger T. Danforth) will officially dedicate its new home, The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), a new, state-of-the-art facility located on the lobby level of the historic former AT&T Building, in the heart of TriBeCa's arts district. Featuring over 100 annual public performances, workshops, classes, and more, The Drama League Theater Center and its programs bring together world-class theater artists, emerging talents, and New York theatergoers all under one roof, serving an estimated 15,000 artists and audience members each year.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director, Roger T. Danforth) will officially dedicate its new home, The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), a new, state-of-the-art facility located on the lobby level of the historic former AT&T Building, in the heart of TriBeCa's arts district. Featuring over 100 annual public performances, workshops, classes, and more, The Drama League Theater Center and its programs bring together world-class theater artists, emerging talents, and New York theatergoers all under one roof, serving an estimated 15,000 artists and audience members each year.

Based on the book of the same title by Jaap Polak and Ina Soep Polak, STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME, a new opera with music by Gerald Cohen and libretto by Deborah Brevoort, will have its premiere in Scarsdale and New York City, NY in late April, 2013. STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME is a love story set in two concentration camps during World War II. It is based on the true story of Jaap and Ina Polak, whom the composer has known for the last 25 years, and who just celebrated their 100th and 90th birthdays.

Based on the book of the same title by Jaap Polak and Ina Soep Polak, STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME, a new opera with music by Gerald Cohen and libretto by Deborah Brevoort, will have its premiere in Scarsdale and New York City, NY, beginning today, April 28. STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME is a love story set in two concentration camps during World War II. It is based on the true story of Jaap and Ina Polak, whom the composer has known for the last 25 years, and who just celebrated their 100th and 90th birthdays.

Based on the book of the same title by Jaap Polak and Ina Soep Polak, STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME will have its premiere in Scarsdale and New York City, NY this weekend. STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME is a love story set in two concentration camps during World War II. It is based on the true story of Jaap and Ina, whom Gerald has known for the last 25 years, and who just celebrated their 100th and 90th birthdays.

Based on the book of the same title by Jaap Polak and Ina Soep Polak, STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME, a new opera with music by Gerald Cohen and libretto by Deborah Brevoort, will have its premiere in Scarsdale and New York City, NY in late April, 2013. STEAL A PENCIL FOR ME is a love story set in two concentration camps during World War II. It is based on the true story of Jaap and Ina Polak, whom the composer has known for the last 25 years, and who just celebrated their 100th and 90th birthdays.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director, Roger T. Danforth) is pleased to officially announce that it will open The Drama League Theater Center, a new, state-of-the-art facility that will bring world-class theater artists, emerging talents, and New York theatergoers together under one roof.

Beginning tonight at the Gershwin Hotel, Mozart's 'Cosi Fan Tutte' receives a high-tech makeover thanks to operamission. The New York Post describes the Mozart makeover as 'part miniseries, part town meeting and part jam session.'

For its next fully staged opera, Mozart's 'Così fan tutte', St. Petersburg Opera has recruited a trio of local design and directing talents to join Maestro Mark Sforzini in bringing a school for lovers to the stage of the Palladium Theater from January 15-17, 2010.

For its next fully staged opera, Mozart's 'Così fan tutte', St. Petersburg Opera has recruited a trio of local design and directing talents to join Maestro Mark Sforzini in bringing a school for lovers to the stage of the Palladium Theater from January 15-17, 2010.

St. Petersburg Opera's popular Evenings with the Maestro series returns with a rollicking exploration of comedy in opera, presented on January 7. Using illustrations from Rossini, Bernstein, and Mozart, Maestro Mark Sforzini will discuss how the musical writing supports the comedic ideas in the story or the libretto. Many composers use clever musical devices to make the characters funny and SPO singers from the cast of the upcoming Così fan tutte will demonstrate with arias from various operas.

St. Petersburg Opera's popular Evenings with the Maestro series returns with a rollicking exploration of comedy in opera, presented on January 7. Using illustrations from Rossini, Bernstein, and Mozart, Maestro Mark Sforzini will discuss how the musical writing supports the comedic ideas in the story or the libretto. Many composers use clever musical devices to make the characters funny and SPO singers from the cast of the upcoming Così fan tutte will demonstrate with arias from various operas.