Joseph Alessi News

The New York Philharmonic has launched the podcast Listening Through Time, an intimate conversation about how performances have evolved from one generation of Philharmonic players to the next. In each episode, a Philharmonic musician (current or retired) joins Philharmonic Archivist / Historian Barbara Haws in listening to and comparing the Orchestra's perfor mances from different eras.

The Old Vic today announced full casting for Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, which returns to The Old Vic stage for a limited run opening on Tuesday 24 October, with previews from Sunday 15 October 2017, prior to international dates in Canada and the USA.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), one of the nation's premier orchestras as well as a leader in presenting wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissions, appoints David Grossman as Principal Bass and Michael Thornton as Principal Horn, announces LACO's Executive Director Scott Harrison.  Both begin their new posts immediately and will also continue in their current positions.  Grossman is Bass with the New York Philharmonic, which he joined as its youngest member in 2000, and Thornton is Principal Horn of the Colorado Symphony.

Ocean Grove's ever-popular 'Summer Stars Classical Series' kicks off on today, July 6, 2017 with the renowned IMPERIAL BRASS, the NJ-based, 28-piece brass ensemble founded in 1991 by Rutgers University alumni.

Limiting access initially to a small group of university and conservatory students, New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy (NWS), now launches its online MUSAIC platform to the general public, in partnership with nine leading universities and conservatories (http://musaic.nws.edu/). Catering to a wide demographic from high-school students and college music majors to young professional musicians and serious amateurs, MUSAIC offers 24/7 access to an extensive video catalog of classical musical instruction, advice, and insight. Among the musicians to contribute content are Michael Tilson Thomas, Thomas Hampson, Yo-Yo Ma, Paula Robison, and Gil Shaham, as well as current and former members of some of the world's leading orchestras and educational institutions.

Fatherland (Original Music from the Stage Show) is a collection of recordings by Underworld's Karl Hyde and producer/artist Matthew Herbert. The songs are based on extracts from the script for Fatherland, a play conceived and written in collaboration by Karl, playwright Simon Stephens (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Punk Rock) and Frantic Assembly's Scott Graham. Premiering at Manchester International Festival this July.

The cast for Scott Graham, Karl Hyde and Simon Stephens' new production Fatherland has today been announced. The world premiere of this intensely physical production will be performed by a 13-strong cast, transforming the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, from 1st July.

 The Music Academy of the West launches its 70th anniversary season on June 12. To celebrate this major milestone anniversary, the Festival will launch three important new initiatives - the Commissions and Premieres program, the Enterprise Awards program for alumni, and the Steinway Competition and tour - besides presenting the inaugural Evolution/Revolution Conference and the largest classical music event in the history of Santa Barbara, California, for which Alan Gilbert will lead the New York Philharmonic in the final performance of his eight-year tenure with the orchestra. This year's four Mosher Guest Artists, Matthew Aucoin, David Daniels, Renee Fleming, and Stephen Hough, will take part in major Academy performances and share their expertise through masterclasses. Taking place from June 12 through August 5, 2017, the 70th Season Festival will comprise more than 200 masterclasses, recitals, performances, and events in Santa Barbara, many of which are free to the public. Festival events will feature the Summer School's 137 fellows, drawn from 22 states and eight countries, as well as nearly 70 faculty and guest artists.

Arcola Theatre has just announced their 2017 spring/summer season.

The 33rd season of the New York Philharmonic Ensembles series, chamber concerts showcasing Musicians from the Orchestra performing classical masterpieces and modern compositions in an intimate setting, will continue on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. at Merkin Concert Hall.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in the World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis's The Jungle (Symphony No. 4), commissioned by the Philharmonic as the first of The New York Commissions, with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; William Bolcom's Trombone Concerto with Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi as soloist; and Copland's Quiet City, featuring Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin and English horn player Grace Shryock in her Philharmonic solo debut.

Following the critically acclaimed opening of the UK premiere of the hit Off Broadway musical Adding Machine: A Musical, composed by Joshua Schmidt, with libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt, and based on the classic play by Elmer Rice, two further matinee performances have been added to the sell-out run - on 12 and 19 November at 3pm. Josh Seymour directs Joseph Alessi (Mr Zero), Kate Milner-Evans (Mrs Zero), Joanna Kirkland (Daisy Dorothea Devore) and Edd Campbell Bird (Shrdlu), with James Dinsmore (Mr One and as cast), Helen Walsh (Mrs One and as cast), George Rae (Mr Two and as cast), and Sue Appleby (Mrs Two and as cast).

Gary Naylor sees an award-winning musical that provides few catchy tunes, but revels in a marriage of music and vocals that lays feelings bare and says much about life today.

Ever feel like killing your boss? The UK premiere of the hit Off Broadway musical Adding Machine: A Musical, composed by Joshua Schmidt, with libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt, and based on the classic play by Elmer Rice, opens at the Finborough Theatre tonight Wednesday 28 September 2016 (Press Nights: Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October 2016 at 7.30pm). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

One could say that the Machine chose me first, then I chose it. Adapting Elmer Rice's 1923 expressionist juggernaut was the long-time dream of librettist Jason Loewith. Apparently he had approached other composers with the project to no avail. When he finally inquired as to my interest in the project in January of 2004, I was working as a sound designer on a show he was producing at the Next Theatre Company in Evanston, Illinois, where he served as Artistic Director. Up to that point, I had never written a musical, nor did envision myself writing one and I had never read, seen or even heard of Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine.

Ever feel like killing your boss? The UK premiere of the hit Off Broadway musical Adding Machine: A Musical, composed by Joshua Schmidt, with libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt, and based on the classic play by Elmer Rice, opens at the Finborough Theatre on Wednesday 28 September 2016 (Press Nights: Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October 2016 at 7.30pm). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Full casting is announced today for the UK premiere of the hit Off Broadway musical ADDING MACHINE: A MUSICAL, composed by Joshua Schmidt, with libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt, and based on the classic play by Elmer Rice. Josh Seymour directs Joseph Alessi (Mr Zero), Kate Milner-Evans (Mrs Zero), Joanna Kirkland (Daisy Dorothea Devore) and Edd Campbell Bird (Shrdlu), with James Dinsmore (Mr One and as cast), Helen Walsh (Mrs One and as cast), George Rae (Mr Two and as cast), and Sue Appleby (Mrs Two and as cast). The production opens at the Finborough Theatre on Wednesday 28 September 2016 (Press Nights: Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October 2016 at 7.30pm).

The New York Philharmonic's box office opens today, August 9, 2016, for the 2016-17 season.

With its UK premiere earlier this year at The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth's fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers Monster Raving Loony brings its party fun and punkish anarchy to Soho Theatre next month.  Opening tonight 17 May, Monster Raving Loony by James Graham will run until 18 June.

Simon Stokes, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Plymouth, today announces full cast for the London run of Monster Raving Loony. Samuel James reprises his role as Screaming Lord Sutch, alongside original cast members including Joseph Alessi, Joanna Brookes, Jack Brown, and composer/musician Tom Attwood and they are joined by Vivienne Acheampong who completes the cast for the London run. Set & Costume Design is by Bob Bailey with lighting design by Chahine Yavroyan, audio visual design by Duncan McLean and sound design by Gregory Clarke.  Guest Director is Cal McCrystal (with a trademark bravura farce contribution).