Alfred Lunt News

'I tried to tell a simple story about droughts that happen to people, and about faith,' wrote N. Richard Nash (1913-2000) in regards to his own profoundly beautiful play, 'The Rainmaker.'

Every year, since 2009, The Ten Chimneys Foundation, which facilitates the Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, brings together just ten of the nation's top regional theatre actors to work with a world-renowned Master Teacher. This year, PCPA's Kitty Balay was selected to join leading actors and acting teachers who were chosen from an exclusive list of only ten national theatres. The actors will participate in a week of master classes headed by distinguished actress Tyne Daly from July 14 - 20, 2019. The intensive master class will take place at the estate of theatre legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin. This is a life-altering opportunity for the selected theatre actors to expand their creative and mentoring abilities.

Ten Chimneys Foundation announces Tyne Daly as the 2019 Master Teacher for the nationally acclaimed Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at the Historic National Landmark, Ten Chimneys.

Another op'nin, another show! This time it's a battle of the sexes and a Golden Age musical by Cole Porter. Inspired by the real-life backstage bickering of famous husband-and-wife actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Kiss Me Kate is both based on real-life events as well as Shakespeare's controversial Taming of the Shrew.

What makes a Broadway theatre? Technically any venue with 500 seats or more, located along Broadway in New York City's Theatre District is a Broadway theatre, and the art that is produced in these special places is widely considered the highest form of theatrical entertainment in the world. Today, forty-one theatres are technically Broadway houses, each with their own rich history. Below, we're giving you the scoop on the life of every one of them!

Skylight Music Theatre today announced the full cast and creative team for Kiss Me, Kate, plus a one-week extension. The musical will now run Friday,

Buried amongst the over twenty names receiving the smallest-sized billing for their contributions to Roundabout Theatre Company's hot new revival of Cole Porter and Sam & Bella Spewack's masterpiece of kick-back musical comedy entertainment, Kiss Me, Kate, is the credit 'Additional Material' with the name of the accomplished Broadway lyricist Amanda Green written below.

In honor of Kiss Me, Kate's opening on Broadway tonight, we're breaking down some of Broadway's biggest hits influenced by theatre's biggest playwright: William Shakespeare! The Bard's work is as pervasive as ever and unstoppable even in song.

Crafting a musical theater hit is a lot like alchemy - the ancient study focused primarily on creating gold from baser elements - and oftentimes no matter the ingredients, directors never quite achieve the outcome for which they strive. But in the case of director/choreographer Everett Tarlton's production of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate (now onstage at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre through March 7), he has crafted something so special that it essentially defines the theatrical gold standard.

Love is in the air this Valentine's Day, and Skylight Music Theatre is celebrating by announcing the leads for Kiss Me, Kate, running May 17 June 9, 2019. The cast will be led by R na Roman playing Kate/Lilli Vanessi and Andrew Varela as Petruchio/Fred Graham. Kiss Me, Kate sizzles with onstage romance and backstage passion. It won the very first Tony Award for Best Musical and features such unforgettable songs as So in Love, Another Op'nin', Another Show, Why Can't You Behave? and Too Darn Hot. Blending the irreverent humor of William Shakespeare and Cole Porter, this brilliant battle of the sexes follows a tempestuous couple as they struggle to present a musical version of Taming of the Shrew. Roman was last seen at Skylight as Yum-Yum in Hot Mikado and Nina in In The Heights. Varela was most recently seen at Skylight as Sweeney in Sweeney Todd and Daddy Warbucks in Annie.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director) today announced the cast for a rare reading of Ferenc Molnar's Liliom which will be presented for one night only, onMonday, June 11 at 7pm at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).  Liliom was turned into the musical Carousel by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II which is now enjoying a successful revival on Broadway.

Ten Chimneys Foundation is proud to announce Stephen McKinley Henderson as the 2018 Master Teacher for the nationally acclaimed Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program at the Historic National Landmark, Ten Chimneys.

Santa Fe Opera's General Director Charles MacKay and General Director Designate Robert Meya announced today the repertory, principal singers, conductors, directors, and designers for the company's 63rd season in 2019, along with updates to the 2018 season, which opens June 29. Joining MacKay and Meya were Santa Fe Opera Board of Directors President Susan G. Marineau, and Director of Education and Community Programs Andrea Fellows Walters.

See brand new footage from 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Kiss Me, Kate. Kiss Me, Kate, a significant work in the canon of great musical theater, features a dynamic cast including the previously announced Cayman Ilika as Lilli Vanessi/Kate,Ben Davis as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Clyde Alves as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Robyn Hurder as Lois Lane/Bianca. Joining them is an acclaimed local lineup of 5th Avenue Theatre favorites including Allen Fitzpatrick as General Howell, Allen Galli as Second Man, Sarah Russell as Hattie, Jeff Steitzer as Harry/Batista, Ty Willis as Paul and Richard Ziman as First Man.

See brand new footage of the number 'Too Darn Hot' from 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Kiss Me, Kate. Kiss Me, Kate, a significant work in the canon of great musical theater, features a dynamic cast including the previously announced Cayman Ilika as Lilli Vanessi/Kate,Ben Davis as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Clyde Alves as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Robyn Hurder as Lois Lane/Bianca. Joining them is an acclaimed local lineup of 5th Avenue Theatre favorites including Allen Fitzpatrick as General Howell, Allen Galli as Second Man, Sarah Russell as Hattie, Jeff Steitzer as Harry/Batista, Ty Willis as Paul and Richard Ziman as First Man.

When you think the classic era of Broadway Musicals, many lean toward Rodgers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe but for my money I always go right to Cole Porter. Maybe not as prolific when it comes to hit shows as the others but you can't dismiss the undeniable genius of "Anything Goes" and of course "Kiss Me, Kate" (my personal favorite), currently playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre. And the folks at the 5th have not only done right by this classic tuner by packing it to the brim with the best singers, dancers and comedians they could find but the production is a love letter to the predecessors of the production, most notably the visual style which is so reminiscent of the 1953 film version, making this far more than a killer show, but an homage.

Check out photos from the 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Kiss Me, Kate. Kiss Me, Kate, a significant work in the canon of great musical theater, features a dynamic cast including the previously announced Cayman Ilika as Lilli Vanessi/Kate,Ben Davis as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Clyde Alves as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Robyn Hurder as Lois Lane/Bianca.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Producing Artistic Director) will present a rare reading of Ferenc Molnar's Liliom for one night only, on Monday, June 11 at 7pm at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).

See brand new footage of the number 'Wundebar' from 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Kiss Me, Kate. Kiss Me, Kate, a significant work in the canon of great musical theater, features a dynamic cast including the previously announced Cayman Ilika as Lilli Vanessi/Kate,Ben Davis as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Clyde Alves as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Robyn Hurder as Lois Lane/Bianca. Joining them is an acclaimed local lineup of 5th Avenue Theatre favorites including Allen Fitzpatrick as General Howell, Allen Galli as Second Man, Sarah Russell as Hattie, Jeff Steitzer as Harry/Batista, Ty Willis as Paul and Richard Ziman as First Man.

See brand new footage from 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Kiss Me, Kate. Kiss Me, Kate, a significant work in the canon of great musical theater, features a dynamic cast including the previously announced Cayman Ilika as Lilli Vanessi/Kate,Ben Davis as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Clyde Alves as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and Robyn Hurder as Lois Lane/Bianca. Joining them is an acclaimed local lineup of 5th Avenue Theatrefavorites including Allen Fitzpatrick as General Howell, Allen Galli as Second Man, Sarah Russell as Hattie, Jeff Steitzer as Harry/Batista, Ty Willis as Paul andRichard Ziman as First Man.