Julie Taymor News

Daniel Barenboim Makes his Met Debut conducting Tristan and Isolde on November 28 Katarina Dalayman and Peter Seiffert sing the title roles for the first time at the Met, and René Pape reprises his acclaimed portrayal of King Marke

Young singers from around the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico will compete for $15,000 cash prizes and the chance to perform in the Grand Finals Concert on the nation's most prestigious opera stage when the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions launches its 55th annual auditions program this fall.

Noted director Robert Lepage makes his Met debut with a technologically innovative new production of Hector Berlioz's masterpiece, La Damnation de Faust, opening on November 7. Music Director James Levine will conduct the first staging of the work at the Met since 1906, with Marcello Giordani in the title role, Susan Graham as Marguerite, and John Relyea as Méphistophélès.

On Monday, November 3, the Broadway company of the record-The breaking worldwide musical smash CHICAGO is pleased to welcome back two-time Tony Award nominee Charlotte d'Amboise as merry murderess Roxie Hart. The production will also welcome Broadway favorite and Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt in the role of 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' the slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

The former child performer and reigning 'best dancer on Broadway' takes a dramatic non-human role.

The producers of WEST SIDE STORY have confirmed full casting for the new Broadway production.

Parsons Dance presents the World Premiere of an all-new, as-yet-untitled collaboration with the lead vocalists of East Village Opera Company (EVOC), featuring the music of the acclaimed rock opera band.

After an absence of more than 15 years, maestro Seiji Ozawa returns to the Met to conduct six performances of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades, from November 21 to December 13, 2008.

The Met's acclaimed production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, directed by the late Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella, returns to the stage for twelve performances beginning Friday, October 24, 2008. Reprising their portrayals in the production this season are sopranos Patricia Racette and Cristina Gallardo-Domâs in the title role, tenors Roberto Aronica and Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton, and baritone Dwayne Croft as Sharpless. Patrick Summers conducts the opera for the first time at Met.

It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.

Noted director Robert Lepage makes his Met debut with a technologically innovative new production of Hector Berlioz's masterpiece, La Damnation de Faust, opening on November 7. Music Director James Levine will conduct the first staging of the work at the Met since 1906, with Marcello Giordani in the title role, Susan Graham as Marguerite, and John Relyea as Méphistophélès.

Beginning Monday, November 3, the Broadway company of the international musical smash CHICAGO is pleased to welcome Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt in the role of 'that silver-tongued prince of the courtroom,' the slick criminal lawyer Billy Flynn.

The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be' opens on Broadway tonight, Tuesday October 14th.

Disney Editions announced today that they will release an updated edition of How Does the Show Go On?, Broadway producer Thomas Schumacher's introduction to the theater for young people.

The Met's acclaimed production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, directed by the late Academy Award-winning film director Anthony Minghella, returns to the stage for twelve performances beginning Friday, October 24, 2008. Reprising their portrayals in the production this season are sopranos Patricia Racette and Cristina Gallardo-Domâs in the title role, tenors Roberto Aronica and Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton, and baritone Dwayne Croft as Sharpless. Patrick Summers conducts the opera for the first time at Met.

Stage star and Oscar Winner Helen Mirren will take on the revised role of 'Prospera' in Julie Taymor's upcoming film version of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, according to the entertainment trade paper The Hollywood Reporter

Thanks to the generosity of one of its board members, the Metropolitan Opera announced today that a number of prime orchestra seats, usually $175 - $220, will be available for $30 for all nine performances of John Adams's Doctor Atomic. Agnes Varis, a managing director of the Met board, and her husband Karl Leichtman, have purchased $500,000 worth of some of the best orchestra seats for Doctor Atomic, so that they can be redistributed at this lower price.

Franco Zeffirelli's lavish production of Verdi's poignant masterpiece about love and sacrifice, La Traviata, returns to the Metropolitan Opera stage on October 20 for nine performances through November 20, 2008. Anja Harteros sings the title role for the first time at the Met.

Tony nominated actor and dance chart sensation Orfeh announced yesterday on Fox Business Channel's 'Happy Hour' that she will be releasing a new solo pop album entitled WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME on Sh-K-Boom Records on September 30, 2008. Orfeh, a multi-octave talent, is currently starring in Legally Blonde on Broadway and was formerly the front woman of the pop/dance super group Or-N-More.

Tony nominated actor and dance chart sensation Orfeh's new solo pop album, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME on Sh-K-Boom Records, hits stores everywhere tomorrow, Tuesday, September 30. Orfeh, a multi-octave talent, is currently starring in Legally Blonde on Broadway and was formerly the front woman of the pop/dance super group Or-N-More.