In partnership with Great Lakes Theater Festival, the PlayhouseSquare Arts Education Department is hosting the Cleveland Branch Finals of the annual English-Speaking Union's (ESU) National Shakespeare Competition on Saturday, February 28. Students from 37 Northeast Ohio schools are participating. Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman will deliver the event's keynote address at 9:00 a.m.
'We are so pleased to be partnering with PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater Festival on this project,' stated John Rampe, president of the Cleveland Branch of the English-Speaking Union.
Profiles Theatre continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the acclaimed new dark comedy The Wonderful World of Dissocia by Anthony Neilson, directed by Profiles Associate Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production runs March 26 - May 10, 2009, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. The press opening is Thursday, March 26, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, today announced casting for the world premiere production of the musical Giant by composer Michael John LaChiusa and playwright Sybille Pearson.
The Philharmonic begins the Winter U.S. Tour 2009 with performances in Atlanta and West Palm Beach led by Lorin Maazel, who is making his final tour with the Orchestra as Music Director. The trip, which will take the musicians to 10 cities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and will include 13 concerts, marks the first American tour under the aegis of Credit Suisse, the Global Sponsor of the New York Philharmonic.
It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Caf? announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Caf? is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue. For reservations, please call 212.695.6909.
Lorin Maazel will make his valedictory tour as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic featuring 13 concerts in 9 cities in the United States and Puerto Rico, February 21-March 9, 2009.
The Metropolitan Opera presents a free open dress rehearsal on February 27 of Mary Zimmerman's new production of Bellini's La Sonnambula, starring Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Fl?rez.
The third in a series of open rehearsals this season supported by Agnes Varis, a managing director of the Met's Board of Directors, and her husband, Karl Leichtman, the dress rehearsal begins Friday, February 27 at 11:00 am; the doors will open at 10:00am.
Adamanto Production and The Lillian Theater with Electric Pear Productions / Melanie Sylvan, Liebman Entertainment and Veronique Ory, Alex Zoppa, Cheryl Bianchi present the West Coast Premiere of STITCHING by award-winning and Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson (Royal Court Theatre's Relocated and Best Fringe Play 1997, The Censor).
Desire Under the Elms has just announced that it will transfer from Chicago's Goodman Theatre to Broadway's St. James Theater. Previews will begin on April 14, with opening night set for April 27th.
Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Fl?rez, who created a sensation last season in La Fille du R?giment, star in a new production of Bellini's La Sonnambula opening March 2, directed by Mary Zimmerman and conducted by Evelino Pid?. Dessay takes the role of the sleepwalker Amina, with Fl?rez as her betrothed Elvino, and Michele Pertusi as the Count who almost ruins their wedding. Performances run through April 3, with Barry Banks singing Elvino at the final performance. Zimmerman returns with the creative team that collaborated on her hit production of Lucia di Lammermoor, which opened the 2007-08 season: Daniel Ostling, set designer; Mara Blumenfeld, costume designer; T.J. Gerckens, lighting designer; and Daniel Pelzig, choreographer.
This spring, the Metropolitan Opera will present The Audition, a documentary film about the intense challenges and pressures young opera singers face as they try to become opera stars. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, The Audition will be shown on 400 screens across the country on April 19 at 3pm EST (and in Canada on June 6 at 1pm EST) as part of the Metropolitan Opera's series of high definition presentations in movie theaters and performing arts centers.
The Audition is a suspenseful competition narrative that provides a revealing behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make it as an opera star. The feature-length film documents the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the storied Met stage-and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.
The film focuses on the final week of the competition, as judges narrow the field down from 22 semi-finalists to11 finalists while the stakes get higher and the pressure grows more intense. The documentary crew was given unprecedented access to the singers, judges, and events backstage at the Met.
THE STORY OF MY LIFE, starring Will Chase and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets will be Broadway's first new musical of 2009 when it begins performances this February at the Booth Theatre. Tony Award winner and Broadway veteran Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance) directs this original story about friendship, success and the choices we make at the turning points in our lives. THE STORY OF MY LIFE is written by Broadway newcomers Neil Bartram (score) and Brian Hill (book). Previews begin Tuesday, February 3rd with opening night set for Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.
Kansas City opera fans have been waiting 10 years for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to produce the audience favorite, La Traviata. On March 14, 16, 18, 20, & 22, 2009 the Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present Verdi's spellbinding tragedy, La Traviata at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Kansas City.
Under the spell of one exquisite party, Violetta is tempted - and eventually swayed - to abandon her life of endless immoral pleasure to join lovesick Alfredo in the love affair of a lifetime despite Violetta's secret terminal disease. Violetta's colored past proves to be a hurdle for Alfredo's father, who persuades her to leave Alfredo for his own good. The pair is only reunited for the final moments of Violetta's life.
A cast of internationally most acclaimed Verdi singers is showcased in the Met's new production of the Italian master's melodic tour de force, Il Trovatore, which opens February 16. Renowned director David McVicar makes his Met debut, and Gianandrea Noseda conducts a cast that includes Marcelo ?lvarez in his first Met performances of the heroic title role, and three singers who are celebrated interpreters of their parts: Sondra Radvanovsky as Leonora, Dolora Zajick as Azucena, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna. Kwangchul Youn makes his Met role debut as Ferrando. In later performances, Marco Berti is Manrico; Hasmik Papian is Leonora; Luciana D'Intino is Azucena, ?eljko Lučić is di Luna, and Burak Bilgili is Ferrando, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Performances run through May 8.
The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.
A cast of internationally most acclaimed Verdi singers is showcased in the Met's new production of the Italian master's melodic tour de force, Il Trovatore, which opens February 16. Renowned director David McVicar makes his Met debut, and Gianandrea Noseda conducts a cast that includes Marcelo ?lvarez in his first Met performances of the heroic title role, and three singers who are celebrated interpreters of their parts: Sondra Radvanovsky as Leonora, Dolora Zajick as Azucena, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna. Kwangchul Youn makes his Met role debut as Ferrando. In later performances, Marco Berti is Manrico; Hasmik Papian is Leonora; Luciana D'Intino is Azucena, ?eljko Lučić is di Luna, and Burak Bilgili is Ferrando, conducted by Riccardo Frizza. Performances run through May 8.
The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) announced the winners of the 2009 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, and videogame writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.
The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East today announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, radio, news, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2008 season to be honored at the upcoming 2009 Writers Guild Awards on February 7, 2009, in Los Angeles and New York.
Maria Guleghina and Pl?cido Domingo star in Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, which opens at the Metropolitan Opera on February 6 with Domingo returning to sing the role of his Met debut 40 years ago. Guleghina sings Adriana, the famous actress in love with the military hero Maurizio, sung by Domingo. Olga Borodina sings the Principessa di Bouillon, Adriana's rival for Maurizio's affections, and Roberto Frontali is Adriana's faithful friend Michonnet. Marco Armiliato conducts all performances, and Marcello Giordani sings the role of Maurizio on February 17. All the principal singers other than Domingo are performing their roles for the first time at the Met. Mark Lamos stages this revival, with set designs by C.M. Cristini after sketches by Camillo Paravicini and costume designs by Ray Diffen with additional costumes by Jane Greenwood. Lighting design is by Duane Schuler and choreography by Sergei Gritsai.
THE STORY OF MY LIFE, starring Will Chase and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets will be Broadway's first new musical of 2009 when it begins performances this February at the Booth Theatre. Tony Award winner and Broadway veteran Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance) directs this original story about friendship, success and the choices we make at the turning points in our lives. THE STORY OF MY LIFE is written by Broadway newcomers Neil Bartram (score) and Brian Hill (book). Previews begin Tuesday, February 3rd with opening night set for Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.
