Houston Grand Opera News

Producer Randie Levine-Miller will launch a new celebrity luncheon series to benefit The Actors Fund. The first in this series is in honor of Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis, musical theater stars, co-starring in this season's hit musical, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. Both have been nominated for multiple theater awards for their outstanding performances, including the 2012 Tony Awards®.

The world premiere of the musical "Los Otros" officially opened last night, June 3 at Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, Los Otros' performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk plays the role of Woman and Julio Monge plays the role of Man. See photos from the starry opening night party below, including Monge and Pawk, along with composer Michael John LaChiusa, Julie Tolivar, FOLLIES Becky Elizabeth Stout, actor Kurtwood Smith and more!

Summer along the Gulf Coast in Texas is certainly here, but Jatson Williams is hard at work preparing a highly anticipated new one-man show, Camping With Gasoline. On the morning of Saturday, June 2, 2012, he gave me a little bit of his time and opened up about the Greater Tuna series, his family, being a father, his writing process, and his new show.

Professional singer and music professor Dr. P tries to shake hands with a parking meter and describes a rose as'a convoluted red form with a linear green attachment.' A man who sees, but does not see, Dr. P suffers from visual agnosia. Unable to recognize objects and faces (including his wife's), he finds a way to make sense of his world through music. LBO goes site-specific again with four performances of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat between June 16 and June 24, 2012 at the EXPO Warehouse in Long Beach, CA.

Spanish conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos returns to the New York Philharmonic to conduct music from two secular cantatas: selections from Falla's Atlantida, and Orff's complete Carmina burana - which the Orchestra has not performed since 1995 - tonight, May 31, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, at 8:00 p.m. The international cast that Mr. Fru?hbeck has assembled for these performances features American soprano Erin Morley, American tenor Nicholas Phan (in his Philharmonic debut), South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo (debut), the Spanish chorus Orpheo?n Pamplone?s, Igor Ijurra Ferna?ndez, director (debut), and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun, director.

Houston Grand Opera today announced a new commission, New Arrivals. Based on the real life story of Houstonian Yani Rose Keo, who escaped certain death by the guerilla group, Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the libretto is by renowned playwright, Catherine Filloux and score is by American composer, John Glover.

The world premiere of the beautifully crafted musical "Los Otros" begins previews tonight, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, "Los Otros" opens on June 3, 2012; performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

The Glimmerglass Festival, the Central New York summer opera and musical company, has announced its full schedule for the 2012 season, including concert performances by Eric Owens, Deborah Voigt and Dolora Zajick.

The world premiere of the beautifully crafted musical "Los Otros" begins previews Wednesday, May 23 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. With book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, "Los Otros" opens on June 3, 2012; performances continue through July 1. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

As previously reported, Julian Ovenden will star in a new musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City closes its 54th season with Rossini's The Barber of Seville, presented at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, through tonight, April 29, 2012. The production will be the final opera performed in the Luskin/Holmquist era at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Today, the still Broadway-bound production has released an official statement noting that "The PRINCE OF BROADWAY company and creative team has been informed that production on the show will continue without Dancap's involvement. Further details will follow shortly."

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City closes its 54th season with Rossini's The Barber of Seville, presented at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, April 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 2012. The production will be the final opera performed in the Luskin/Holmquist era at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Spanish conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos returns to the New York Philharmonic to conduct music from two secular cantatas: selections from Falla's Atlantida, and Orff's complete Carmina burana - which the Orchestra has not performed since 1995 - Thursday, May 31, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, at 8:00 p.m. The international cast that Mr. Fru?hbeck has assembled for these performances features American soprano Erin Morley, American tenor Nicholas Phan (in his Philharmonic debut), South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo (debut), the Spanish chorus Orpheo?n Pamplone?s, Igor Ijurra Ferna?ndez, director (debut), and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun, director.

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation today announced that lyric soprano Ailyn Pérez is the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award.

The Glimmerglass Festival will hold GLIMMERATA!, the 2012 Spring Gala, on April 10 at The Metropolitan Club in Manhattan to benefit the company's Young Artists and Summer Internshipprograms. The evening will feature music, dinner and dancing, as well as performances by 2012 Glimmerglass Artist in Residence Eric Owens, David Daniels, Dwayne Croft, Sean Panikkar, Elizabeth Futral, Young Artist Dominick Rodriguez and more.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

The Daily Mail UK reports that Julian Ovenden will star in a musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johhny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

The cast has been set for the world premiere of the chamber musical LOS OTROS, with book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa. LOS OTROS will run May 23 through July 1, 2012, with the opening scheduled for June 3. Tony Award-winner Michele Pawk has been cast to play the role of Woman and Julio Monge will play the role of Man.

Houston Grand Opera announced today that it has commissioned its newest Song of Houston project, an extended song cycle in celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Andrea White - noted author and wife of the former Mayor of Houston, the Honorable Bill White- has been invited to create the texts that will be set to music by selected students from the University of Houston Moores School of Music.