Elizabeth Johns News

After celebrating its record-breaking 85th Anniversary Season, Jacob's Pillow announces new, expanded fall, winter, and spring programming as a main component of Vision '22, a strategic approach to the Pillow's transformation into a year-round center for dance research and development and a civic partner in our region.

Tufts University has released results of a study linking eating avocados to helping improve cognitive brain function in older adults, news especially relevant to Hispanics who have been found to have the longest life expectancy rate in the U.S. 1 Published in the journal Nutrients and supported by the USDA and the Hass Avocado Board, the research tracked how 40 healthy adults ages 50 and over who ate one fresh avocado a day for six months experienced a 25% increase in lutein levels in their eyes and significantly improved working memory and problem-solving skills.

A new dark comedy, The AmityCode tells the story of Pete, a brilliant robotics engineer, who, after being dumped by his girlfriend, builds a robot to replace her. But he may have programmed his creation too well.

The World Science Festival has announced complete programming for the  10th anniversary Festival, which will bring science to the crossroads of the world, Times Square, and to locations across the five boroughs of New York City, with more than 50 events, May 30 - June 4, 2017.

 The Canadian Opera Company Orchestra Academy returns for its fourth year on January 8, 2017, welcoming five student musicians to its annual three-week intensive training program.

Following the critical acclaim and record-breaking attendance of Festival 2016, Jacob's Pillow Dance announces its 85th Anniversary Season of exciting programming featuring world premieres, commissions, site-specific work, international artists, live music, and Pillow-exclusive engagements.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's joyous, time-honored celebration of the true meaning of the holidays, a tradition enjoyed by multiple generations of Cincinnatians each year, returns for its 26th season as U.S. Bank presents Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The beloved, iconic story will be performed Nov. 23 through Dec. 31 in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati shines a light on the reality of violence and the beauty of forgiveness with the regional premiere of brownsville song (b-side for tray), a powerful new drama by Kimber Lee. This lyrical play tells a tale of resilience in the face of tragedy when a young man's life is taken and his family is left without answers. Lee's brownsville song (b-side for tray) delivers a message of hope that will challenge and move audiences. Playing October 11-30, 2016. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati shines a light on the reality of violence and the beauty of forgiveness with the regional premiere of brownsville song (b-side for tray), a powerful new drama by Kimber Lee.

Idly Bent's world premiere of playwright Reed Arnold's ALL IS FAIR (OR OBLIVION WROUGHT) presents an intriguing perspective of a love triangle wrong on so many levels. With some judicious editing and a stronger directorial hand, this two-and-a-half-hour two-act would make a sleek, entertaining 90-minute one-act.

Idly Bent presents the World Premiere of award winning Director-Playwright Reed Arnold's new play, ALL IS FAIR (or Oblivion Wrought), at the Dorie Theatre in Hollywood, CA, opening today, April 8th for eleven performances through Sunday, April 24, 2016.

The National Touring Production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, breathes new life into the venerable hills and introduces a star-in-the-making. Vivacious and talented Kerstin Anderson captivates us from the opening strains of the title song, and her passion and energy propel the show forward. More than five decades after its Broadway premiere, the powerful message of the story and the superb Rodgers and Hammerstein score still resonate.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, the classic tale of love, music and Nazis is having its 50 year anniversary, and while it's very exciting to see this much-loved production back on the road, there are quite a few hiccups that make this production a little underwhelming to watch.  Despite amazing vocal talents among the cast, and the adorable pack of Von Trapp children, the distinct lack of chemistry between Captain Von Trapp and Maria, and Leisl and Rolf sucks a lot of the much-needed tension out of the story and leaves us with a story that's very nice, but not very compelling.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by Jack O'Brien, finds the perfect balance for Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic story, a story that can be sickeningly saccharine in the wrong hands and therefore easily dismissed. O'Brien's vision is a bit more weighty and grounded and complemented brilliantly by the performances and work of Scenic Designer Douglas W. Schmidt and Lighting Designer Natasha Katz.

There's something truly divine about THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which has become a pillar of musical theatre for over 56 years. A brand new touring production of this beloved musical waltzed into The Ohio Theatre on Tuesday night starring Kerstin Anderson as Maria, Ben Davis as Captain Von Trapp, and Ashley Brown as The Mother Abbess. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, this spirited and romantic story of Maria and the Von Trapp Family has survived generations of modern day musicals, capturing the hearts of audiences with its nostalgia and charm.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Durham Performing Arts Center

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's joyous, time-honored celebration of the true spirit of the holidays achieves the quarter-century mark this season as U.S. Bank presents Charles Dickens' iconic story A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The beloved tale, enjoyed each season by multiple generations of Cincinnatians, will be performed for its 25th year in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre from Nov. 25 through Dec. 30.

spark! Mesa's Festival of Creativity is a free, immersive event for all ages held at Mesa Arts Center. The 2015 festival weaves the elements - earth, air, fire and water - into numerous captivating and interactive experiences in celebration of the arts, innovation and creativity. Held during spring break for many Valley school districts and in the heart of Cactus League Spring Training month, spark! will offer participatory activities, delicious foods, live music, original performances, collaborative art and more.

Seventeen dancers face a bare stage in an empty theater, where casting for a new Broadway musical is almost complete. This audition offers the chance of a lifetime. Every drop of sweat, every hour of training, and every moment of dancing comes together in A Chorus Line, the musical for anyone who's ever had a dream and put it all on the line. BPA's production is directed by Steven Fogell and Joanna Hardie, with choreography by Joanna Hardie, and musical direction by Chris Kolbegger - the artistic team behind BPA's smash hits The Rocky Horror Show and Chicago.