Francesca Zambello News

Little House On The Prairie, The Musical, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will arrive on April 28, 2010 at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts presented by Theatre Under The Stars.

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, the new musical based on Laura Ingalls Wilder's beloved series of classic American books, is now enjoying a celebrated 26-city tour throughout the U.S. and Canada. Last week, during its two-week engagement at the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento, the cast got a special visit from some of Melissa Gilbert's co-stars from the original 'Little House' TV series.

'We are delighted to present LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL,' states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. 'This exciting new show will bring back fond memories for so many of us who loved the books and the hit television series.

The German Music Authors' Awards will honor lyricist and librettist Michael Kunze, presented on April 22 at the Axica building in Berlin. Kunze has worked extensively translating Broadway musicals, as well as the composer for Elisabeth, Tanz der Vampire, and Mozart!

A haunting tale of obsession, the internationally acclaimed Richard Jones production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades opens Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2010 spring repertory. Performances run April 16 - May 1, 2010 in the Brown Theater of the Wortham Theater Center. Opera News calls Richard Jones's production of The Queen of Spades, originally created for Welsh National Opera 'telling theatricality.' London's Observer wrote 'Once every few seasons, a production gets pretty much everything right. This is one ... dramatically spine-chilling, visually spare and coherent; it was the kind of theatrical experience which changes the way you look at life.'

The Off Broadway production of Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner's CALIGULA MAXIMUS, at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, will be extended for one additional week to meet audience demand. CALIGULA MAXIMUS begins previews at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th St, in New York on March 12th and has been extended through April 10th. Opening night is set for March 19th, with scheduled performances on Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and 10pm.

Director Joe Dowling today announced the Guthrie Theater's 2010-2011 season will begin with the world premiere of a new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman. The Master Butchers Singing Club, adapted from the novel by Minnesota author Louise Erdrich, opens on the Wurtele Thrust Stage of the Guthrie Theater in September under the direction of Francesca Zambello.

The Tony® Award-winning actress will once again be gracing the stage of The Orange County Performing Arts Center's Samueli Theater to close out this year's Broadway talent-heavy Cabaret Series from April 8 thru 11. Besides her winning performance as Ms. Adelaide in the critically-acclaimed revival of Guys and Dolls, she has been balancing a rich career in film and television with a string of iconic shows on the Great White Way, which include Tony-nominated turns in A Catered Affair, Bells Are Ringing, and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Most recently she hung up her tentacles playing the final Ursula in Disney's stage adaptation of The Little Mermaid before it closed on Broadway last year. But before she makes her triumphant cabaret return to Orange County, Ms. Prince spoke with BroadwayWorld about her upcoming show, her Tony ceremony woes, and her mission to inspire the next generation of theater actors to live out their dreams.

Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will take the stage thru March 28, 2010 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. Melissa Gilbert, who rose to fame as a child playing Laura in the hugely successful NBC television series 'Little House on the Prairie' during the 1970s, now continues her legacy 'on the prairie' by taking on the role of 'Ma.' Little House on the Prairie, The Musical will also star Steve Blanchard as 'Pa' and Kara Lindsay as Laura.

Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will take the stage March 23 - 28, 2010 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

The Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will end its spring series at the Harris Theatre on March 21st.

Washington National Opera presents the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, March 20 through April 3 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $25 to $300 and available by calling 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, or online at www.dc-opera.org.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), one of the world's premiere contemporary dance companies, will present a riveting 2010 Spring Series, which will include the World Premiere of Terence Marling's At ‘em (Atem) Adam; a Hubbard Street 2 (HS2) World Premiere performance of First Light set by HSDC's resident choreographer and dancer Alejandro Cerrudo; the Company Premiere of 27'52' by world-renowned choreographer Jirí Kylián; and a revival of Susan Marshall's Kiss. The Spring Series will take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in five performances only, March 18 - 21, 2010. The Spring Series is generously sponsored by Exelon and the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Board of Trustees of Glimmerglass Opera today announced the appointment of Francesca Zambello as General and Artistic Director commencing September 1, 2010.

Little House On The Prairie, The Musical, a new musical based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder series of classic American books, will arrive on April 28, 2010 at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts presented by Theatre Under The Stars.

Francesca Zambello will take over as the new general and artistic director of the Glimmerglass Opera after the departure of Michael MacLeod earlier this year. Zambello is currently the artistic adviser for the San Francisco Opera and has worked at a number of other operas around the world including the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Royal Opera House.

A haunting tale of obsession, the internationally acclaimed Richard Jones production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades opens Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2010 spring repertory. Performances run April 16 - May 1, 2010 in the Brown Theater of the Wortham Theater Center. Opera News calls Richard Jones's production of The Queen of Spades, originally created for Welsh National Opera 'telling theatricality.' London's Observer wrote 'Once every few seasons, a production gets pretty much everything right. This is one ... dramatically spine-chilling, visually spare and coherent; it was the kind of theatrical experience which changes the way you look at life.'

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), one of the world's premiere contemporary dance companies, will present a riveting 2010 Spring Series, which will include the World Premiere of Terence Marling's At ‘em (Atem) Adam; a Hubbard Street 2 (HS2) World Premiere performance of First Light set by HSDC's resident choreographer and dancer Alejandro Cerrudo; the Company Premiere of 27'52' by world-renowned choreographer Jirí Kylián; and a revival of Susan Marshall's Kiss. The Spring Series will take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in five performances only, March 18 - 21, 2010. The Spring Series is generously sponsored by Exelon and the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Off Broadway production of Alfred Preisser and Randy Weiner's CALIGULA MAXIMUS, at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, will be extended for one additional week to meet audience demand. CALIGULA MAXIMUS begins previews at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 E. 4th St, in New York on March 12th and has been extended through April 10th. Opening night is set for March 19th, with scheduled performances on Thursday and Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm and 10pm.

The DC area stages' theatre choices in March are dizzying! There's a new play by Terrence McNally at the Kennedy Center, and an off-Broadway gem at Signature Theatre. Adam Guettel's gorgeous Tony Award-winning harmonies will fill Arena Stage in Crystal City. Fagin and his orphans and zaftig Edna Turnblad and her daughter Tracy - will be singing and dancing at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Baltimore and Columbia, MD, and a blood-thirsty musical will be establishing roots at Ford's Theatre. With over 30 shows opening this month, come visit the DC area's 205 theatre venues, and have a monumental time!