Ann Patchett News

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that the company is reporting a breakeven operating performance for fiscal year 2012. Lyric has operated in the black for 24 of the past 25 years-a record among the country's major not-for-profit music and performing-arts companies.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, today announced details of its new world premiere. Bel Canto, by the gifted young Peruvian composer Jimmy Lopez, with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, is based on the best-selling novel by Ann Patchett. To premiere in Lyric's 2015-16 season, the new opera, commissioned as part of Lyric's Renee Fleming Initiative, will be conducted by Lyric music director Sir Andrew Davis and directed by Stephen Wadsworth.

People.com reports that funnyman Stephen Colbert will be returning to his TV show THE COLBERT REPORT today after taking a short hiatus last week reportedly to be with his 91-year-old mother, Lorna, who was facing a health crisis.

Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, today announced the Festival's 2011 programs. The fifth edition of Luminato's annual multi-disciplinary celebration of theatre, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, fashion, film, and more takes place from June 10-19, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

'Truth and Beauty,' a world premiere adaptation of Ann Patchett's 2004 memoir, distills the 272-page novel into a visceral multimedia performance for the Fertile Ground Festival featuring Betsy Cross and Jessica Wallenfels.

The New York Times Third Annual 'Great Read' takes place Sunday, October 14 with two events: The Great Children's Read featuring Julie Andrews and Emma Walton, Mariska Hargitay, 'Johnny & The Sprites,' Sonia Manzano, Ashley Brown, Jennifer Simard and Christine Quinn.