Arthur Kopit News

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you…hear it, feel it secretly possess you… Three powerhouse voices from Broadway's longest-running musical, "The Phantom of the Opera," join Pacific Symphony to deliver a revue of Broadway favorites for "The Three Phantoms-Broadway's Biggest Hits!," the second concert of the Symphony's Summer Festival 2012, sponsored by Hoag. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra accompanies Craig Schulman, Ted Keegan and Gary Mauer -three extraordinary performers who have all played the title role of the Phantom-in the soaring melodies from Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenon, plus blockbusters from other shows that made them stars. Singing songs from the golden age of Broadway to the musical spectaculars of today, the Phantoms perform classics from "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Guys and Dolls," "Kiss Me Kate," "My Fair Lady," "Les Miserables," "Jekyll & Hyde," "Man of La Mancha," "Most Happy Fella" and more-all backed by the lush and expansive sounds of the full symphony orchestra.

The world premiere of the musical "Los Otros" officially opened last night, June 3 at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, Los Otros' performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk plays the role of Woman and Julio Monge plays the role of Man. See photos from the starry opening night party below, including Monge and Pawk, along with composer Michael John LaChiusa, Julie Tolivar, FOLLIES Becky Elizabeth Stout, actor Kurtwood Smith and more!

The world premiere of the beautifully crafted musical "Los Otros" begins previews tonight, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, "Los Otros" opens on June 3, 2012; performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

Playwrights of New York (PoNY) and the Lark Play Development Center today announced that Dominique Morisseau will be the recipient of the 2012-13 PoNY Fellowship.

The world premiere of the beautifully crafted musical "Los Otros" begins previews Wednesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, "Los Otros" opens on June 3, 2012; performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

To celebrate the centennial year of the Authors League, The Dramatists Guild of America unveils archived audio unheard by the public since its initial recording. Over the next year, In the Room will host some of the most celebrated playwrights, composers and lyricists in the American theatre discussing craft while sharing their influences and experiences creating some of their most celebrated work. Currently featured is a session with Tina Howe and Sarah Ruhl, originally recorded in 2007.

To celebrate the centennial year of the Authors League, The Dramatists Guild of America invites you to join us as we unveil archived audio unheard by the public since their initial recording. Over the next year, In the Room will host some of the most celebrated playwrights, composers and lyricists in the American theatre discussing craft while sharing their influences and experiences creating some of their most celebrated work. Currently featured is a session with Tina Howe and Sarah Ruhl, originally recorded in 2007.

The Live-Stream of Lark Play Development Center's grand opening begins tonight, April 26 @ 6:30pm (EST). Go to www.larktheatre.org/GO.html to follow along with the festivies, or follow Lark on Twitter with the hashtag #LarkGO.

The Lark today announced the grand opening of the Lark Play Development Center, located at 311 West 43rd Street.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today four musicals to be developed at its 2012 National Music Theater Conference (NMTC).

Jose Rivera, the Obie Award-winning playwright and Academy Award nominee (The Motorcycle Diaries) will move from the page to the stage when he joins the cast of his play Massacre (Sing to Your Children), having its world premiere at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place - off Seventh Avenue South, between Perry & West 11th Streets), it was announced today.

Today in 2003, the first Broadway revival of Nine opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 283 performances. Nine is a musical with a book by Arthur Kopit, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The story is based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8½. It focuses on film director Guido Contini, who is dreading his imminent 40th birthday and is facing a midlife crisis, which is blocking his creative impulses and entangling him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice. The original Broadway production opened in 1982 and ran for 729 performances, starring Raul Julia. The musical won five Tony Awards, including best musical, and has enjoyed a number of revivals.

The cast has been set for the world premiere of the chamber musical LOS OTROS, with book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa. LOS OTROS will run May 23 through July 1, 2012, with the opening scheduled for June 3. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

The Lark, founded in 1994 as a laboratory for new voices and new ideas, is proud to announce the grand opening of the Lark Play Development Center, located at 311 West 43rd Street. To celebrate the addition of this new artistic center to the theater district, a Grand Opening event, organized by award-winning producer Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Milk), will take place on Thursday, April 26, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Philadelphia Theatre Company today announced two selections in their 2012-2013 mainstage season- Seminar by Theresa Rebeck and The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The remainder of the season will be announced shortly.

The Hartt School has announced the following upcoming events.

'Nine', presented by the BroadHollow Theatre Company, proved to be a great incarnation of a Broadway favorite. The cast, directed by Jason Allyn, sounded excellent, the set was fantastic, and the costumes were beautiful. Now playing through March 11th at BayWay in Islip, this production will also be presented at their Elmont location starting March 17th.

The delightful romantic comedy based on 'The Philadelphia Story' and set to the music of Cole Porter.

The Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) today announced of the lineup of playwrights and directors for its Seventh Annual Colorado New Play Summit. Over three days, February 10 -12, 2012 in downtown Denver, DCTC will present multiple showings of four play readings, a multimedia workshop and two fully-produced main stage plays, including new works by Pulitzer nominee Lisa Loomer, 2011 Obie winner Samuel D. Hunter, and direction by Broadway veterans Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime) and Sam Buntrock (Sunday in the Park with George).

The Hermitage Artist Retreat and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art have announced that two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and three-time Tony Award nominee Arthur Kopit will share stories about his life in the theater, read from his work and speak about new projects during "Conversations with Arthur Kopit" on Thursday, February 2 at 7:30 pm in the Historic Asolo Theater.