Ed Strong News

Today, at its Annual Meeting, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra celebrated the significant artistic achievements and community impact of its 2016/2017 season.

Canadian Opera Company General Director Alexander Neef has signed a new contract with the COC that extends his tenure as General Director through the 2025/2026 season.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is not a typical Disney stage creation. It is a dark, brooding musical and probably not appropriate for children. While the first act is rather slow, the second act is strong. It is well worth seeing.

Theatre Verite Collective presents the world premiere of one of the most controversial plays in recent years, the World Premiere of Phelim McAleer's FERGUSON, directed by Jerry Dixon at the 30th Street Theatre (259 W 30 Street). A friendly reminder that the strictly limited run will begin October 19 and run through November 5, 2017, celebrating its opening night on Monday, October 23 at 7:30pm.

On Sunday November 12, cult-hit Brooklyn rockers Sky-Pony will gallop onto stage at NYC's Mercury Lounge.

All rise. This November, Academy Award and Tony winner Denzel Washington is Roman J. Israel, Esq. Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, the dramatic thriller also stars Colin Farrell.

A capacity crowd of more than 25,000 gathered at Elder Park, with thousands more on the Riverbank Footbridge and outside Adelaide Oval on Sunday 1 October to enjoy Moon Lantern Festival.

Theatre Verite Collective announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of one of the most controversial plays in recent years, the World Premiere of Phelim McAleer's FERGUSON, directed by Jerry Dixon at the 30th Street Theatre (259 W 30 Street).

Ripple Effect Artists will reprise its 2017 production SHE HAS A NAME, the critically-acclaimed play by Andrew Kooman about human trafficking at the Sargent Theatre from October 26 thru November 5 for eight performances.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its 25th Anniversary Season, marking a pivotal moment in the organization's history with the 25th Anniversary Season Opening Weekend: Beethoven's Ninth on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, October 1 at 2 p.m. at Bob Carr Theater, located at 401 W. Livingston St.

Theatre Verite Collective will present the world premiere of one of the most controversial plays in recent years, the World Premiere of Phelim McAleer's FERGUSON, directed by Jerry Dixon at the 30th Street Theatre (259 W 30 Street).

True, it's only Tuesday, but today's early-in-the-week edition of Friday 5 (+1) is so packed with interesting information and reasons for you to make reservations to see Million Dollar Quartet at Arts Center of Cannon County, we just couldn't control ourselves! And we're guessing you'll need the extra time to secure your tickets to see what director Darryl Deason promises will be one of the best shows of the year. May we suggest, therefore, that you read on in anticipation of Friday's opening night performance

On September 2, The Studio Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives. In 1990 the New York Times described the show as hilarity spun from words. It is just as true today as it was then.

Underground Railway Theater will present Nick Payne's Constellations from September 7 - October 8, 2017. Constellations is directed by Scott Edmiston.

On September 2, The Studio Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives. In 1990 the New York Times described the show as hilarity spun from words. It is just as true today as it was then.

Ars Lyrica Houston, the Grammy nominated early music ensemble, opens its 2017/18 season: Artful Women: Muse, Heroine, Musician, and Patron with Sweet Philomela on September 22, 2017 at 7:30p.m. in Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The opening concert features exotic musical works inspired by Philomela, mythical princess of Athens, whose transformation into a nightingale has fascinated poets and musicians for centuries. Soprano Sherezade Panthaki returns to the Zilkha Hall stage for evocative arias from Handel's L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato and Johann Adolph Hasse's lyric cantata L'Armonica, while Dennis James makes his Ars Lyrica debut on the glass harmonica which he describes the program as "the most challenging technically to perform while reigning as the most beautiful in the entire glass music repertoire." The ensemble of strings and winds soar with one of C. P. E. Bach's vibrant symphonies for twelve obbligato instruments. This season highlights Houston's own artful women by honoring leading female philanthropists and longtime members of the Ars Lyrica family for their tireless advocacy and generous support, at each concert with an exclusive dinner and program package experience.

I have been active in the Louisville theater arena for right at twenty years, having gotten started in the chorus of a musical in Anchorage way back in 1997. Since then I've played dream roles and bit parts in more shows than I can count and I've been in four feature films. As a director, I've been able to put my personal stamp on both classic and lesser known plays. I've developed strong relationships with more local theater companies than I can name, served on the board of directors for three of them, and have been writing theater reviews for over ten years (including for Arts-Louisville.com). I've even recently become part of a sketch comedy group. All of this with no special training, no theater degree, and no real qualifications beyond a love of the stage.

The Central Works Rolling World Premiere of WINTER by Julie Jensen  has extended and must close August 20 (originally scheduled to close August 13). WINTER was described at it's premiere as "thought-provoking with a sense of urgency, and determination …" and "played brilliantly by Phoebe Moyer, vulnerable and steely-eyed strong." WINTER has an "inspired serious focus is on the right to die with dignity."

Midland Cultural Centre is thrilled to present Mary Black for the ONLY Canadian date on her final North American concert tour! Considered Ireland's premiere female vocalist, Mary Black will be performing songs that span her lifelong career during this concert. Black has released 11 studio albums, all of which have achieved platinum sales status and have included countless hits. She has shared stages, TV shows and recording studios with some of the most revered performers of our time. She has also played a frontline role in bringing Irish music, and particularly its wealth of talented songwriters, to an increasingly appreciative and ever-growing global audience 

???????Mary Black, Ireland's premiere female singer, has tried to retire from touring since she announced her "Last Call" tour in 2014.  Since that time, she's performed all over the world-the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and her native Ireland-but there are places that keep calling her back one more time.  Such is the case with the U.S., which embraced her ground-breaking international hit album NO FRONTIERS back in 1989 and established Mary Black as a major concert attraction in America and beyond.