J. D. McClatchy News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the world premiere of FUN HOME on Monday, September 30, directed by Sam Gold. Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics byLisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel book, FUN HOME will run through Sunday, November 3, with an official press opening on Tuesday, October 22.

Washington National Opera (WNO) opens its 2013-2014 season with a production honoring the 200th birthday of one of opera's most renowned composers: Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, today, September 15 through the 27th in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This epic romantic drama stars Deborah Voigt as Isolde and Ian Storey and Clifton Forbis as Tristan, and will be seen in a production new to Washington directed by Neil Armfield in his WNO debut. WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting some of Wagner's most passionate and powerful music.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with a new production honoring the 200th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi, one of opera's most legendary composers: The Force of Destiny, October 12-26 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Verdi's epic romantic and political drama, which hasn't been seen in Washington in nearly 25 years, will be presented in a daring and visually striking new production directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello. Conductor Xian Zhang, in her WNO debut, leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting some of Verdi's most beautiful melodies.

Last night, we reported that San Francisco Opera has replaced Mezzo-Soprano Dolora Zajick with Patricia Racette (for the first four performances), then Catherine Cook (in the final two) in the World Premiere 'Dolores Claiborne', premiering September 18-October 4, 2013.

Washington National Opera (WNO) opens its 2013-2014 season with a production honoring the 200th birthday of one of opera's most renowned composers: Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, September 15-27 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This epic romantic drama stars Deborah Voigt as Isolde and Ian Storey and Clifton Forbis as Tristan, and will be seen in a production new to Washington directed by Neil Armfield in his WNO debut. WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting some of Wagner's most passionate and powerful music.

New York Live Arts is set to present several Re: Awakenings performances as part of the inaugural Live Ideas festival. New York Live Arts' newest program initiative, Live Ideas is an annual humanities festival that will explore a different theme each year over several days. The inaugural festival, The Worlds of Oliver Sacks, will take place from today, April 17 through 21, 2013 and is comprised of more than 20 events, including performances, films and discussions that showcase works of art and spark conversations that engage the prevalent themes in the acclaimed neurologist's works.

New York Live Arts is set to present several Re: Awakenings performances as part of the inaugural Live Ideas festival. New York Live Arts' newest program initiative, Live Ideas is an annual humanities festival that will explore a different theme each year over several days. The inaugural festival, The Worlds of Oliver Sacks, will take place from April 17 through 21, 2013 and is comprised of more than 20 events, including performances, films and discussions that showcase works of art and spark conversations that engage the prevalent themes in the acclaimed neurologist's works.

The 2013-2014 season of Washington National Opera (WNO) has just been announced by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello. The season includes Tristan and Isolde, a new production of The Force of Destiny, the East Coast premiere of Moby-Dick, The Elixir of Love, and a new production of The Magic Flute. WNO will also present the world premiere of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, a holiday-themed family opera commissioned by WNO and written by acclaimed American composer Jeanine Tesori. A second season of the American Opera Initiative will continue WNO's efforts to commission new American works.

The San Francisco Opera celebrates its 90th year since it was founded by Gaetano Merola in 1923. Currently the second largest opera company in North America, the San Francisco Opera has grown from one production presented for two weeks to 75 performances of ten different operas running from September to July.

The Met presents an all-new holiday presentation: an abridged, English-language version of Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville. Check out scenes from the production below!

What a delight to go to the opera house among so many children, each bustling with excitement for what I can only imagine was the first time for many. The Metropolitan Opera's new and abridged version of Rossini's comic opera The Barber of Seville - sung in the English-language is guaranteed fun for the whole family. Not only is the opera comic and sung in English, it is also cut down to only two hours, including the intermission. All of this combined makes for great holiday entertainment for anyone on your list.

This December, the Met will present an all-new holiday presentation: an abridged, English-language version of Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville. Bartlett Sher returns to direct this adaptation of his hit 2006 production, which will have a running time of approximately two hours. Yves Abel conducts a cast led by Isabel Leonard as the feisty heroine Rosina, Alek Shrader as the handsome Count Almaviva, Rodion Pogossov as the local jack-of-all-trades Figaro, John Del Carlo as the wicked Dr. Bartolo, and Jordan Bisch as the music teacher Don Basilio. The new English-language libretto is by J. D. McClatchy, the American poet who also provided the translation for the Met's holiday production of Mozart's The Magic Flute. In keeping with the Met's recent tradition of family-oriented holiday programming, The Barber of Seville will feature sharply discounted tickets and a special weekday matinee performance.

On Wednesday, November 7, from 5:00 - 6:00pm, Sarasota Opera will host a special 'Meet the Artists' panel discussion focusing on the creation of Sarasota Opera's upcoming world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland at the Sarasota Opera House. Maestro Victor DeRenzi will moderate the discussion. The panel will include the opera's composer Daron Hagen, librettist J.D. McClatchy, stage director Martha Collins and scenic designer Michael Schweikardt.

Sarasota Youth Opera will present the world premiere of a brand new work, Little Nemo in Slumberland, with music by Daron Hagen and words by J.D. McClatchy, commissioned by the Sarasota Opera Association. This will mark the Sarasota Youth Opera and Sarasota Opera Association's 5th commission since the programs inception in 1984. The child principal roles will be performed by members of the Sarasota Youth Opera program and the adult principal roles will be performed by members of the Sarasota Opera Apprentice and Studio Artists Program. In addition, singers and performers from Booker High School, Out of Door Academy and Sailor Circus will help to round out the cast making for a total of 107 Sarasota young people on the stage of the Sarasota Opera House.

Sarasota Opera joins opera organizations nationwide to celebrate NATIONAL OPERA WEEK (October 26 - November 4), coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Saturday, October 27, from 4:30pm - 5:30pm, Ringling College and Sarasota Opera will host a panel discussion on the works of Windsor McCay and the creation of the new opera Little Nemo in Slumberland at the Selby Gallery located on the campus of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Maestro Victor DeRenzi will moderate the discussion and the panel will include composer Daron Hagen, librettist J.D. McClatchy, and members of both the artistic team and cast of Little Nemo in Slumberland.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

Single tickets go on sale online at www.sarasotaopera.org to the general public Wednesday, August 1st, 2012 for Sarasota Opera's 2012-2013 Fall and Winter Festival seasons, the company's 54th consecutive season. Sarasota Opera continues its tradition of assembling casts of international talent to perform a mixture of classic favorites paired with rarely performed works of artistic excellence in the beautiful historic Sarasota Opera House.