John Alexander News

Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, is celebrating the 2017 Chinese New Year with the Southern California community by offering a number of unique and multi-faceted events. First, all are invited to the inaugural concert, "Chinese New Year: A Love Feast," which offers a joyous mix of Eastern and Western music and dance, today, Jan. 28, 2017 at 8 p.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Experience Verdi's impeccable musical genius at its most voluptuous when Pacific Symphony delivers the concert opera, "Aida, " recounting the doomed love triangle of an Egyptian princess, a young Nubian slave girl and the soldier they both love! For three grand nights, the orchestra comes out of the pit and onto the stage for this semi-staged presentation of Verdi's most popular and heartbreaking opera.

Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, is celebrating the 2017 Chinese New Year with the Southern California community by offering a number of unique and multi-faceted events. First, all are invited to the inaugural concert, "Chinese New Year: A Love Feast," which offers a joyous mix of Eastern and Western music and dance, on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at 8 p.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Red Crescendo Theatre Company presents their inaugural production of Stephen Schwartz and John Michael Tebelak's timeless classic GODSPELL (2012 VERSION) performing December 10th - 18th, Saturdays and Sundays @ 2pm as well as Thursday December 15th @ 7pm, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647. Tickets are $12; to purchase tickets call 773-598-4549 or visit gorillatangotheatre.com.

Langston Hughes' "Gospel Song-Play" chronicles and celebrates the birth of Jesus and the unique cultural identity and heritage of Black Americans. This joyous musical compels us to look inward and find the wonder in life. This performance is recommended for audiences of all ages.

President and Founder of The Hollywood Museum, Donelle Dadigan, hosted a very special Lobby Exhibit unveiling, featuring items and from the career of Tippi Hedren (including items worn in the film 'The Birds,' Edith Head's dress form designed to Tippi's exact measurements, her Golden Globe and a personal gift presented by Alfred Hitchcock when he and his wife, Alma, informed her that she had been chosen to portray Melanie Daniels in 'The Birds).

Full of exciting choral writing, thundering timpani and blazing trumpets, “Handel's Glorious Messiah” energizes its audience and leaves them singing, “Hallelujah!” This beloved holiday tradition of Handel's celebrated oratorio provides the perfect respite during the busy season to experience joy, reflection and renewal. Rejoicing in the inspired melodies and theatrical mastery each year, Pacific Symphony performs the Baroque masterpiece as a festive prelude to Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth. Loved across the world, “Messiah” has been performed for almost 275 years, but with each performance, it becomes a fresh and newly invigorating experience. This year, conductor George Hanson takes the reins to lead the orchestra along with Pacific Chorale (John Alexander, artistic director) and a quartet of globally distinguished soloists—soprano Shannon Mercer, mezzo-soprano Renée Tatum, tenor John Bellemer and baritone Stephen Bryant.

Full of exciting choral writing, thundering timpani and blazing trumpets,"Handel's Glorious Messiah" energizes its audience and leaves them singing, "Hallelujah!" This beloved holiday tradition of Handel's celebrated oratorio provides the perfect respite during the busy season to experience joy, reflection and renewal. Rejoicing in the inspired melodies and theatrical mastery each year, Pacific Symphony performs the Baroque masterpiece as afestive prelude to Christmas and the celebration of Christ's birth. Loved across the world, "Messiah" has been performed for almost 275 years, but with each performance, it becomes a fresh and newly invigorating experience.

Indian Summers returns with Season 2, airing in ten enthralling new episodes, Sundays, September 11 - October 2 and October 16 - November 20, 2016 at 10pm ET on PBS.

Indian Summers returns with Season 2, airing in ten enthralling new episodes, Sundays, September 11 - October 2 and October 16 - November 20, 2016 at 10pm ET on PBS.

Perhaps the most epic choral work ever composed, Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, which includes the famous last movement, “Ode to Joy,” has filled concert venues around the world for close to two centuries, yet has never lost its ability to thrill. A musical wonder considered by many to be Beethoven's greatest work, his massive and majestic Ninth fills Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre with pure radiance during Pacific Symphony's second concert of Summer Festival 2016. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, this crown jewel of the season boasts a huge orchestra, full chorus and a spine-tingling vocal quartet. The heart-welling program also includes a number of other beloved and moving pieces including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Samuel Barber's “Adagio for Strings,” John Williams' “Liberty Fanfare” and his “Hymn to the Fallen” from the film “Saving Private Ryan.”

Perhaps the most epic choral work ever composed, Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, which includes the famous last movement, “Ode to Joy,” has filled concert venues around the world for close to two centuries, yet has never lost its ability to thrill. A musical wonder considered by many to be Beethoven's greatest work, his massive and majestic Ninth fills Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre with pure radiance during Pacific Symphony's second concert of Summer Festival 2016. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, this crown jewel of the season boasts a huge orchestra, full chorus and a spine-tingling vocal quartet. The heart-welling program also includes a number of other beloved and moving pieces including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Samuel Barber's “Adagio for Strings,” John Williams' “Liberty Fanfare” and his “Hymn to the Fallen” from the film “Saving Private Ryan.”

After selling out its initial run, I'LL SAY SHE IS, the legendary musical comedy that was the Broadway debut of the Marx Brothers, will extend its historic revival at The Connelly Theater through July 3.

Artistic Director John Alexander and the 140-voice Pacific Chorale will be transforming the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall into a resounding cathedral with a concert of music for choir and organ on June 12, in anticipation of their summer 2016 tour to Budapest and Vienna. The brilliant young Hungarian organist Andras Gabor Viragh, Titular Organist of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, joins Pacific Chorale from the console of the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ, in a program that interweaves European and American works, including some of his own compositions.

I'LL SAY SHE IS, the legendary musical comedy that was the Broadway debut of the Marx Brothers, begins previews at the The Connelly Theater today, May 28. Opening is slated for June 2.

I'LL SAY SHE IS, the legendary musical comedy that was the Broadway debut of the Marx Brothers, originally opened 92 years ago today -- on May 19, 1924 at the 875-seat Casino Theatre on Broadway at 39th Street. It played for 313 performances before being lost to history. Thanks to Grouch Marx enthusiast Noah Diamond, I'LL SAY SHE IS will return to the stage in a historic new production at The Connelly Theater beginning previews May 28.

Pacific Chorale will be closing its season on June 12 with a bang - featuring an evening full of music to fit all tastes.