George Andrew News

Lyric Opera of Chicago and its general director, Anthony Freud, announced the lineup for Lyric's 2013-14 season today. Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette are among those headlining the new season's offerings. These comprise 67 performances of eight different operas, beginning October 5, 2013 and concluding March 23, 2014: new productions of Parsifal, La traviata, The Barber of Seville, and Rusalka (Lyric premiere); a revival of Otello; and new-to-Chicago stagings of Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, and La clemenza di Tito. Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will lead three operas, and guest conductors Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy and Michele Mariotti will make their house debuts. Additionally, Lyric will present a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music in the spring of 2014, continuing the company's American Musical Theater Initiative, and Davis will conduct a special Subscriber Appreciation Concert in March featuring Lyric's creative consultant - the star soprano Renee Fleming - with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season. The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 68 performances of 9 operas in the 25-week season, including 6 new-to-Chicago productions, Saturday, October 6, 2012, through Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public Wed., Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season. The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 68 performances of 9 operas in the 25-week season, including 6 new-to-Chicago productions, Saturday, October 6, 2012, through Saturday, April 6, 2013.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the NY premiere of the hit musical comedy THE HUNCHBACK VARIATIONS, based on the play by Mickle Maher, with music by Mark Messing, libretto by Mr. Maher and directed by and featuring George Andrew Wolff and Larry Adams.

Opera director David McVicar will return home to Scottish Opera for his first ever staging of Stravinsky's THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, which will play at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow on March 17-25 and at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on March 27-31.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Equity Jeff Awards, Sondheim comes to town, 'Gypsy' and 'The Sound Of Music,' stars of 'The Lawrence Welk Show,' Betty Buckley teaches and 'A Christmas Story' rehearses...and more!

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters around the world, returns for a sixth season Saturday, October 15 with the Met premiere production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena, featuring Anna Netrebko in the title role.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Gary Griffin's 'Follies,' David Cromer's 'Rent,' two productions of 'Joseph...' in November, cabaret nights at Stage 773, the 'Footloose' remake and more...

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Rain' joins 'Les Miserables' and 'Burn The Floor,' 'Guys And Dolls,' live movies at the Wilmette Theatre, 'The Sound Of Failure,' our first 'The Phantom Of The Opera,' the upcoming 'Glee' tour, more....

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the final show of its seventh season, the world premiere of 'Aftermath,' written and directed by co-artistic director Ronan Marra. Brian Jones, founder and original leader of The Rolling Stones, was perhaps most famous for his mysterious death at age 27. Jones's lasting impact on rock ‘n roll was masked behind his sexual escapades, high profile relationships and drug induced arrests. Spanning the years 1966-1969, 'Aftermath,' a drama with the actors playing live music, maps the rise and fall of a troubled genius whose legacy was overshadowed by the very band he created. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission. Marra received a Jeff nomination for Best New Work for his last new play 'Landslide' (produced by Signal in 2005).

It is not often that a production of a vintage piece of musical theatre overshadows the original production but that is precisely what happened during a magical new staging of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical A Little Night Music at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris last week. The musical was originally directed on Broadway in 1973 by the legendary Hal Prince and has been frequently staged at venues all over the world since then (most recently at the Menier Chocolate Factory, the Garrick Theatre on now on Broadway, directed by Trevor Nunn). But this incarnation, directed by Lee Blakely, is the most beautiful and stunning version of the show I have ever seen.

This holiday season, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL.

This holiday season, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL.

This holiday season, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL.

This holiday season, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE MUSICAL.

Celebrating 35 years of producing award-winning musical theater in Chicagoland, The Marriott Theatre is thrilled to present the stunningly beautiful new musical The Light in the Piazza, previewing July 22nd, opening July 29th, and running through September 20th.

Celebrating 35 years of bringing award-winning musical theater to Chicagoland, the Marriott Theatre will open its 2009 Season with the mega-hit musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Perfect for the whole family, JOSEPH previews begin February 18th ; the show opens on February 25th ; and runs through May 10th at Marriott Theatre. Multi-Jeff Award winner Marc Robin will choreograph and direct this must-see production.

The first block of tickets for the Chicago production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will go on sale on February 10th