James Clark News

Houston Grand Opera's 2014–15 season, the company's 60th anniversary season, includes the world premiere of A Christmas Carol by Iain Bell—the company's 55th new commission —from award-winning Dickens authority Simon Callow; the continuation of HGO's first Ring cycle, with the American premiere of La Fura dels Baus's groundbreaking take on Die Walküre; the American premieres of Sir Nicholas Hytner's The Magic Flute and Lee Blakeley's Sweeney Todd; a 60th Anniversary Gala Concert featuring mezzo-soprano (and HGO Studio alumna) Joyce DiDonato; and a host of career-shaping role debuts that speak to Patrick Summers's gift for casting. Together with the company's first presentation of John Cox'sOtello, and the returns of Göran Järvefelt's beloved Così fan tutte and Michael Grandage's hit staging of Madame Butterfly, these rich offerings serve once again to illustrate some of the ways that HGO—still the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony—epitomizes “one model of what a forward-looking opera company could be” (Greg Sandow, Arts Journal).

Houston Grand Opera capped a financially and artistically successful 2013–14 season by presenting Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger —the Polish-Jewish composer's long-suppressed Holocaust opera—to wide acclaim at New York's Park Avenue Armory as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, July 10–13. Earlier this year, HGO gave the American premiere of the work in Houston with the same cast. There was special praise for the production and performances, conducted by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers. New York magazine described David Pountney's staging as “a multi-story set so vivid you can practically smell the machine oil and coal smoke,” while the Financial Times said: “The production, imported from Houston, is imposing in every way.” The New York Times called the cast “flawless,” adding: “The conductor, Patrick Summers, drew a surging, textured, richly detailed performance of this challenging score (lasting three hours) from the inspired musicians of the Houston Grand Opera.” WQXR's Operavore summed up the import of the performances: “The Passenger shows how a Holocaust opera can hold the stage while examining important, complex issues—and could certainly point the way for future composers to deal with such important but delicate subject matter.”

Broadway's Aaron Tveit has landed the lead role in the upcoming romantic comedy film STEREOTYPICALLY YOU, from writer-director Benjamin Cox.

Award winning composer/lyricist, Scott Evan Davis, will make his 54 Below debut on September 23rd with special guest vocalists singing new music, favorites from his debut CD, Cautiously Optimistic, and material from his upcoming musical, Indigo (with book by Tessa Derfner).

Within the courtyard of the historic Pico House in downtown LA, the Downtown Repertory Theater Company is in the midst of offering its sixth season of classical works. Led by artistic director Devon Armstrong, they have taken on Chekhov, Marlowe, Odets and numerous plays by Shakespeare, all while encouraging actors to tackle roles they might not otherwise have the opportunity to play.

The Lakewood Playhouse will present FOURTH SHOW of our 75th ANNIVERSARY SEASON: '12 ANGRY MEN' by Reginald Rose. The Play will be performed on Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Performances will be tonight, February 21st - March 16th, 2014 with Special Showings at 8:00pm on Thursday, February 20th (Pay What You Can Night) and 8:00pm on Thursday, February 27th ('Pay What You Can' Actor's Benefit). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The Lakewood Playhouse will present FOURTH SHOW of our 75th ANNIVERSARY SEASON: '12 ANGRY MEN' by Reginald Rose. The Play will be performed on Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Performances will be February 21st - March 16th, 2014 with Special Showings at 8:00pm on Thursday, February 20th (Pay What You Can Night) and 8:00pm on Thursday, February 27th ('Pay What You Can' Actor's Benefit). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The winners of the 64th annual ACE Eddie Awards were announced last night, February 7, 2014. In the category of one-hour drama for commercial TV, BREAKING BAD nearly swept the nominations, receiving four out of the five, and winning the award for Best Edited One-Hour Series. Scroll down for the full list of winners and nominees in the TV categories.

Nominations for the 64th annual ACE Eddie Awards have been announced. The Eddie Awards divide films into drama and comedy categories. Among the nods for drama were Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity' and Ethan and Joel Coen's “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

The Lakewood Playhouse will present the FOURTH SHOW of their 75th ANNIVERSARY SEASON: "12 ANGRY MEN" by Reginald Rose.

Nominations for the 64th annual ACE Eddie Awards have been announced. The Eddie Awards divide films into drama and comedy categories.

Nominations for the 64th annual ACE Eddie Awards have been announced. The Eddie Awards divide films into drama and comedy categories. Among the nods for drama were Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity' and Ethan and Joel Coen's Inside Llewyn Davis.

Author Scott Schwab shows readers how they can achieve incredible success using a secret that has been hidden in plain sight for ages, personal responsibility. "Standing Accountable: Increase Your Success by Holding Yourself Responsible" presents readers with a key to success that every great leader has had: accountability. The book is available for purchase at http://www.standingaccountable.com.

Jeremiah Among the Prophets by Jack R. Lundbom is due for release today, March 28, 2013.

Jeremiah Among the Prophets by Jack R. Lundbom is due for release on March 28, 2013.

The Atheist's Primer reinstates the importance of philosophy in the debate about God's existence. The ‘new atheism' of Richard Dawkins and others has been driven by largely Darwinian objections to God's existence, limiting the debate to a principally scientific framework. This has obscured the philosophical tradition of atheism, in which the main landmarks in the history of atheism are to be found.

We all seek salvation, claims Carlos Blanco, because we all become prisoners of negativity. Humanity desires to be saved, to overcome the negativity that so often enslaves us. But where is the saviour to be found, and where is the source of salvation?

Romero Britto, the internationally renowned Brazilian artist, will unveil his portrait of the author of The Racing Heart and philanthropist, Ava Roosevelt, during a private reception on Saturday, December 15th, 2012. The reception, hosted by Mrs. Roosevelt in her Palm Beach residence, will also serve as a 'friend-raiser' for the Education Technology & Performance Foundation (www.ETPFoundation.com), a newly founded charitable trust on which Ava serves as a member of the Advisory Board. Founded in 2012, ETP Foundation advocates the use of effective technology in education, raising funds and increasing philanthropic support for education, technology and performance in schools.

Atlanta Falcons players Justin Blalock (Offensive Guard, #63) and Michael Turner (Running Back, #33) have partnered with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to celebrate Georgia's military veterans through the Orchestra's 'Music for the Military' initiative.