Christine Brewer News

Over three days of preliminary auditions on February 17-19, 2014, 90 of the best young American and Canadian opera singers will compete to reach the final round of the 43rd annual George London Foundation Awards Competition.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Sondheim shows 'Gypsy,' 'Road Show,' 'Passion' and 'Waltz,' plus Gambatese in Lyric's 'SOM,' NBC's follow-up, Lamont Dozier's show, Bailiwick's Casting Auction results, Chris and Aaron start a monthly variety show, and more!

Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director Anthony Freud announced today that two major Broadway and TV performers – Jenn Gambatese and Edward Hibbert – have been cast in the new production and company premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic The Sound of Music, to be presented at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, in Chicago, this spring.

Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director Anthony Freud announced today that two major Broadway and TV performers - Jenn Gambatese and Edward Hibbert - have been cast in the new production and company premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic The Sound of Music, to be presented at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, in Chicago, this spring.

Carnegie Hall has announced its April 2014 calendar. Scroll down for details!

The Old Opera House rarely cancels a performance due to the weather, but in the interest of safety, they have annonced that they are cancelling today's performance of SHREK the musical and the auditions for The Love List this evening due to negative weather forecast.

Directed by Steven Brewer, musically directed by Alison Shafer and choreographed by Ashley Snow, Shrek: The Musical will open this weekend at the Old Opera House in Charles Town, West Virginia. Shrek: The Musical follows the story of the well-known 2001 movie almost identically. Shrek (Edgar Conn) is a misjudged ogre who lives alone in a swamp.....until tyrannical ruler Lord Farquaad (Shawn Nakia) evicts all of the 'reject' fairy tale creatures in the kingdom of Duloc (including the Three Bears, the Three Pigs, Pinocchio and many others) onto Shrek's muddy home. In order to win back his land, Shrek must rescue the not so typical damsel-in-distress, Princess Fiona (Karilee Grossnickle), from a dragon guarded castle, with the help of his wise-cracking donkey (Andrew McClain).

In the New York Philharmonic's concerts this week celebrating the centennial of English composer, conductor, and pianist Benjamin Britten, conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, tenors Dominic Armstrong, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Michael Slattery will replace Paul Appleby, who has withdrawn due to illness. On November 21-22, 2013, Michael Slattery will make his Philharmonic debut in Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, and tenor Dominic Armstrong will make his Philharmonic debut in Britten's Spring Symphony. The concert on November 23 will feature tenor Anthony Dean Griffey in both works, and he will sing the Serenade on November 26 on a program that also includes Mozart's Symphonies Nos. 39 and 41, Jupiter.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, SHREK the Musical brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to the stage! Join Shrek and his loyal steed Donkey, as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona. Add the diminutive Lord Farquaad, a gang of fairytale misfits and a cookie with attitude, and you've got this year's must-see new musical comedy!

For its 2014 season, the Oregon Bach Festival has just announced the appointment of organist Paul Jacobs to lead a newly-created Organ Institute. It is arguably the first major festival to add a component devoted exclusively to the study and performance of the organ, which figured so prominently in the compositions and performance life of J. S. Bach.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting and the producers of the documentary film, Robert Shaw: Man of Many Voices, will host "Stars Shine on Shaw" - a musical tribute celebrating the life and legacy of former ASO Music Director Robert Shaw - on Sunday, November 10, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Yannick conducts the Orchestra, massed choirs, and soloists (including award-winner Shenyang) in Beethoven's Ninth and a mass by Muhly

Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore today announce the 2013-14 season of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Tenor Matthew Polenzani, who has been praised as "perhaps the finest tenor voice of his generation" (Boston Phoenix), and fast-rising young star soprano Corinne Winters will launch the 2013-14 season of events of The George London Foundation for Singers with a recital at The Morgan Library and Museum on Sunday, October 20, 2013, at 4:30 PM. The George London Foundation Recital Series presents pairs of outstanding opera singers, many of whom were winners of a George London prize early in their careers or are recent George London Award recipients. Mr. Polenzani is a 1998 George London Award winner, and Ms. Winters won a George London Award in 2012 (watch Corinne Winters's George London Award-winning performance of Meyerbeer's "Robert, toi que j'aime"here).

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Announces 2013-14 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. BIC's Summer Concert, Lyric casts 'Sound Of Music,' Munster's 'Godspell,' youth productions of 'Ragtime' and 'Legally Blonde,' '48 Hour Musicals,' the world premiere musical 'The Lockout,' the Dramatists Guild conference and more!

Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director Anthony Freud announced today that two internationally acclaimed opera singers, American sopranos Christine Brewer and Elizabeth Futral, have been cast for the new production and company premiere of The Sound of Music, to be presented next spring.

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced the 2013 Blossom Music Festival season. The Orchestra will present 19 concerts at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Valley National Park from today, July 3 - September 1.

The Old Opera House has announced the winners of the 13th Annual New Voice Play Festival. Scroll down for photos of the winning casts!

The New Voice Play Festival, opening today, June 21, provides the opportunity for audiences to witness completely new and original plays from playwrights all across the nation and vote on which play is their favorite. The 13th Annual New Voice Play Festival seeks to showcase four new, rarely performed original one act plays. Plays are submitted year-round to the Old Opera House for consideration. All of the submitted plays are judged by a selection committee during the winter months. Out of the hundreds of shows submitted, four plays are chosen for performance.