Jessica Fishenfeld News

OPERA America is inviting artists, administrators, trustees, and audiences to 'A Toast to 50 Years,' a celebration of opera's progress and of OPERA America's 50th Anniversary, taking place today, Friday, May 15, from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. EDT.

Here's a look at how 'Light Shall Lift Us; Singers Unite in Song' (for OPERA America), a video project featuring 107 opera singers in “a song of hope and solidarity” by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell, came together to help raise up the spirits of their communities as we deal with COVID-19. It went 'live' on May 14 at 1:30 pm EST.

There must be something in the air, with a couple of New York's small opera companies transporting 19th-century German Romantic operas by Weber and Wagner to Texas within a couple of months, in search of ways to attract new audiences. The first was Weber's DIE FREISCHUTZ from Heartbeat Opera, now On Site Opera's new production of Jim Luigs' and Scott Warrender's DAS BARBECU, complete with all the fixin's at Hill Country Barbecue Market on West 26th Street in Manhattan.  

On Site Opera, an organization dedicated to presenting site-specific opera productions in non-traditional venues throughout New York City, has announced casting for Das Barbecü at Hill Country Barbecue Market, January 26- February 11, 2020. With book and lyrics by Jim Luigs and music by Scott Warrender, Das Barbecü's songbook ranges from Broadway to Texas swing, jazz to twangy country and western with a multi-disciplinary cast to reflect the show's artistic demands.

The 28 quarterfinalists have been announced for the 27th annual American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATC), which is slated to run Feb. 17-21, 2020. The 28 talented vocalists, selected from over 100 applicants, will be competing for $40,000 in prizes, plus special performance opportunities with ATC's partner organizations, Savannah Philharmonic and Savannah VOICE Festival.

Bringing their fall programming to a close with a finish worthy of the big top, producers Circle in the Square Theatre School (Paul Libin, President; Susan Frankel, COO), Pigasus Institute, and Rachel Shuey present The Circle Series staged reading of Barnum's Bird: A Musical Extravaganza! The Story of P.T. Barnum and Jenny Lind. 

Over the past eight weeks, The Circle Series has brought the theatre community together on Monday evenings to explore developing works and celebrate the classics in a new way. Concluding their first slate of staged readings, producers Circle in the Square Theatre School (Paul Libin, President; Susan Frankel, COO), Pigasus Institute, and Rachel Shuey will present three readings of developing works in October that each explore an historical figure in their own way. The readings are held at Broadway's Circle in the Square and are open to the public. Admission is a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, with all proceeds benefiting Circle in the Square Theatre School.  

A celebration of New York City Opera's 75th Anniversary, which will also be the finale to Bryant Park Picnic Performances, presented by Bank of America, will feature NYCO chorus and soloists Lisa Chavez, Glen Seven Allen, Mark Rucker, Brandie Sutton, Won Whi Choi, Kristin Sampson, Christopher Job, Jessica Fishenfeld, Inna Dukach, and Megan Picerno, accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra, and narrated by Michael Capasso, General Director of the company. The performances will be led by a quartet of conductors: Carolyn Kuan, James Meena, Gil Rose, and James Lowe.

If there's nothing colder than yesterday's news, the Stonewall riots--that cornerstone of the gay rights movement, 50-years-old this month--should be the equivalent of a frozen Margarita. Instead, it's hot as New York in August, in Leonard Foglia's nonstop production of STONEWALL, the opera by Iain Bell and Mark Campbell that had its world premiere production by New York City Opera at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Rose Theatre, last Friday.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at STONEWAL at The New York City Opera starring Andrew Bidlack, Liz Bouk, Lisa Chavez, Michael Corvino, Jessica Fishenfeld, Mark Heller, Brian James Myer, and Jordan Weatherston Pitts. The opera has music by Iain Bell, libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Campbell, and direction by Leonard Foglia. STONEWALL opens tonight, Friday, June 21 and run for five performances only through Friday, June 28 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (in the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th Street).

BroadwayWorld has a first look at STONEWAL at The New York City Opera starring Andrew Bidlack, Liz Bouk, Lisa Chavez, Michael Corvino, Jessica Fishenfeld, Mark Heller, Brian James Myer, and Jordan Weatherston Pitts. The opera has music by Iain Bell, libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Campbell, and direction by Leonard Foglia. STONEWALL opens tonight, Friday, June 21 and run for five performances only through Friday, June 28 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (in the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th Street).

BroadwayWorld has a first look at STONEWAL at The New York City Opera starring Andrew Bidlack, Liz Bouk, Lisa Chavez, Michael Corvino, Jessica Fishenfeld, Mark Heller, Brian James Myer, and Jordan Weatherston Pitts. The opera has music by Iain Bell, libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Campbell, and direction by Leonard Foglia. STONEWALL opens tonight, Friday, June 21 and run for five performances only through Friday, June 28 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (in the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th Street).

Kim H. Kowalke, President of the Kurt Weill Foundation, has announced the finalists for the 2019 Lotte Lenya Competition. Thirteen performers will compete for top prizes of $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000.

Twenty-eight performers selected to compete for a chance to win top prizes of $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000; total prizes to exceed $75,000; an all-star team of musical theater, opera, and Kurt Weill experts to adjudicate semifinals and finals.

The New York City Opera has announced that Andrew Bidlack, Liz Bouk, Lisa Chavez, Michael Corvino, Jessica Fishenfeld, Mark Heller, Brian James Myer, and Jordan Weatherston Pitts have been cast in its world-premiere production of the new opera STONEWALL, with music by Iain Bell, libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Campbell, and direction by Leonard Foglia.   STONEWALL will open Friday, June 21 and run for five performances only through Friday, June 28 at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center (in the Time Warner Center at Broadway and 60th Street).

Twenty-eight performers selected to compete for a chance to win top prizes of $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000; total prizes to exceed $75,000; an all-star team of musical theater, opera, and Kurt Weill experts to adjudicate semifinals and finals.

Roy Hage IDEATION PRODUCTIONS is pleased to present LOVE SICK: A ROCK-OPERA, by composer/lyricist Georgia Shreve, directed by James Matthew Daniel. Love Sick: A Rock Opera is performed by seven opera singers and features the six-piece rock band, Contraband, with musical direction by William Day. Love Sick will play four performances Thursday, December 6th through Saturday, December 8th, 2018 at Brooklyn's National Sawdust (80 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249).

Palm Beach Opera presents Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly for one weekend only, January 27-29, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. One of the most popular operas in the repertoire, Madama Butterfly is filled with recognizable melodies and passionate drama.

Palm Beach Opera presents Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly for one weekend only, January 27-29, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. One of the most popular operas in the repertoire, Madama Butterfly is filled with recognizable melodies and passionate drama.

'Too Legit to Quit 4: Gender Bender Edition, a concert devoted to classic Broadway singing, is held May 31st at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City.