Doug Varone News

Hot on the heels of its 27th Fall Season, Zenon Dance Company (zenondance.org) returns to the Ritz Theater with a holiday favorite for all ages: 'The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose.' Zenon Dance Company, a professional modern- and jazz-dance company, blends nursery rhymes with Tchaikovsky in this witty, madcap holiday romp with a significant pedigree.

Yale School of Drama (James Bundy, Dean; Victoria Nolan, Deputy Dean) will offer a new concentration in Projection Design under Wendall Harrington, within the Design Department (Ming Cho Lee, Stephen Strawbridge, Co-Chairs) beginning in the fall of 2010, the first such course of graduate theatre training in the United States.

The Hartt School, the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford, is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Pier as Interim Director of the Dance Division.

Lauded by Out Magazine, The New York Times, CBS News on LOGO and The Village Voice, the Fire Island Dance Festival returns to Fire Island Pines for a trio of outdoor party/performances on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19, 2009. Now in its 15th year, the Fire Island Dance Festival is the premier cultural event on Fire Island and is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Joyce 2009 season kicks off on February 3 with Buglisi Dance Theatre presenting two different programs that will include three NYC premieres and one world premiere. Ronald K. Brown's Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company returns to The Joyce this year with an exciting NYC premiere, and Doug Varone and Dancers - back for its 10th Joyce season - also will feature a NYC premiere. Following them is the audience favorite Savion Glover, for a three-week season of electrifying tap set to Flamenco music. Then Ballet-Tech, under the Artistic Direction of Joyce founder Eliot Feld, will present two programs of post-classicism work with its 'Mandance Project.'

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLN?R, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLN?R, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

Pittsburgh Opera recently announced the world premiere of the revised version of 'The Grapes of Wrath,' a new opera based on John Steinbeck's novel, by Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie. Taking place at the Benedum Center for the Peforming Arts, 'The Grapes of Wrath' will be performed on Saturday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m..

Live at the Hudson Theatre NYC, a benefit evening celebration for acclaimed modern dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, with the legendary icon of Broadway, film and television, Betty Buckley, accompanied by the renowned American Jazz pianist, Kenny Werner. The evening will take place at the historic Hudson Theatre in the Millennium Hotel, located in the heart of Times Square.

Live at the Hudson Theatre NYC, a benefit evening celebration for acclaimed modern dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, with the legendary icon of Broadway, film and television, Betty Buckley, accompanied by the renowned American Jazz pianist, Kenny Werner. The evening will take place at the historic Hudson Theatre in the Millennium Hotel, located in the heart of Times Square.

Soprano Karita Mattila, who electrified Met audiences in the title role of Richard Strauss's Salome in 2004, returns as the voluptuous Judean princess this season, beginning September 23.

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester launches its first full season on Saturday, September 20th, with a bona fide Broadway Baby, Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley in concert with her quartet. Headed by long-time collaborator, renowned jazz pianist Kenny Werner, they will be joined by Tony Marino on bass, Billy Drewes on reeds, and drummer Anthony Pinciotti in a program featuring selections from Ms. Buckley's two recent CD releases, as well as songs she is known for from the Great White Way. The Hanover's 2008-2009 calendar will feature touring productions of Movin' Out, Cats, Annie, and Chicago, as well as an eclectic mix of music, comedy, dance, and special attractions for the whole family.

Soprano Karita Mattila, who electrified Met audiences in the title role of Richard Strauss's Salome in 2004, returns as the voluptuous Judean princess this season, beginning September 23.

The OBIE-winning HERE Arts Center's annual CULTUREMART festival will take place January 4 - 21, 2008.

Zenon Dance Company launches its 25th Anniversary Season on the Guthrie Theater's McGuire Proscenium Stage.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie's adaptation of the classic John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath.