Ann Patchett News

Symphony Space, New York's "cultural town square" on the Upper West Side, is proud to announce its 38th season of innovative programming, running from September 2016 to June 2017.

Although Kevin Newbury has directed operas by some of history's greatest composers--Donizetti and Bellini, Strauss and Mozart among them—he makes no bones about it: He prefers his composers to be living. (Librettists, too, of course)

The Midwest Literary Walk is the annual Spring afternoon event in downtown Chelsea, MI celebrating the power of books, authors, literature and poetry in everyday life.  This year's event will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 1:00 - 5:00 pm in Chelsea, MI.

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation is thrilled to announce that soprano Tamara Wilson – whose “voice of steely beauty and great power” (Houston Chronicle) has already won international accolades – has been named as winner of the 2016 Richard Tucker Award. Dubbed the “Heisman Trophy of Opera,” the Tucker Award carries the foundation's most substantial cash prize of $50,000, and is conferred each year by a panel of opera industry professionals on an American singer at the threshold of a major international career. Featuring such luminaries as Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe,Lawrence Brownlee, David Daniels, Christine Goerke and Joyce DiDonato, the list of past winners reads like a who's who of American opera.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances tonight, January 5, and January 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

Ann Patchett's best-selling novel Bel Canto took the literary world by storm. Now, in a new work curated by Lyric's creative consultant, Renée Fleming, this riveting story inspired by a real-life event becomes a powerful opera. Check out a sneak peek below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances January 5 and 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Details on the arrivals of 'Hamilton' and 'If/Then,' and Bill Pullinsi's and Michael Flatley's retirements mark the end of two eraa. 'Far From Heaven' and 'Heathers' will premiere locally, and 'Bel Canto' bows at the Lyric Opera. 'Daddy Long Legs' streams, 'Option Up!' debuts new works, and voting for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards heats up!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the eagerly awaited world premiere of Bel Canto. This is Lyric's seventh full-length operatic world premiere.  Check out a first look below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the eagerly awaited world premiere of BEL CANTO tonight, December 7. This is Lyric's seventh full-length operatic world premiere. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the eagerly awaited world premiere of Bel Canto, which opens on Monday, December 7 for seven performances. This is Lyric's seventh full-length operatic world premiere. Composer Jimmy López (music) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz(libretto) are the creators of Bel Canto. Lyric's music director Sir Andrew Daviswill conduct the new opera, which was curated by Lyric's creative consultant Renée Fleming. Bel Canto is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Ann Patchett. The production will be directed by Kevin Newbury.

The Music Hall's Writers on a New England Stage series will present bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. A self-confessed serial novelist, he is the author of several other series and has written more than 100 books. He comes to town with his with his new installment in the beloved bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, THE WOMAN WHO WALKED IN SUNSHINE.

The Old Globe opens its 2015-2016 Season with IN YOUR ARMS, a World Premiere dance-theatre musical featuring direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, Lincoln Center Theater's The King and I and South Pacific) and original music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island; two-time Oscar nominee for Anastasia). The production begins tonight, September 16, with an opening slated for September 24, and runs through October 25, 2015.

Among them, the company can claim 18 Tony Awards, 4 Pulitzer Prizes, 6 Pulitzer finalist distinctions, 3 Emmy Awards, and 2 Academy Awards; to list all their honors would take several pages.

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the re-launch of Theatre Thursdays for the 2015-2016 Chicago theatre season, featuring 12 world premiere plays by companies across the city. Each monthly event provides audiences with an inside look at the creative process behind new works, including exclusive access to artists. This collaborative initiative first launched in 2005 and was created to strengthen and diversify the Chicago theatre community by encouraging Chicagoans to explore new venues and companies.

Single tickets go on sale July 8 at 10:00am for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 61st season.

CHICAGO - American mezzo-soprano J'nai Bridges is one of 20 international finalists for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2015 competition. Bridges, a third-year member of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, is currently portraying Vlasta in Lyric's mainstage premiere of Mieczys?aw Weinberg's The Passenger.

General director Anthony Freud announced today that Lyric Opera of Chicago has extended its agreement with world-famous soprano Renee Fleming to serve as its creative consultant for the next two years.

CHICAGO - American mezzo-soprano J'nai Bridges is one of 20 international finalists for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2015 competition. Bridges, a third-year member of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, is currently portraying Vlasta in Lyric's mainstage premiere of Mieczys?aw Weinberg's The Passenger.