Karen Almond News

Ella of Frell is turning the traditional Cinderella story upside down! At birth, she was given the 'gift' of obedience which forces her to do anything people command:whether that's hopping on one foot all day or telling her best friend to just go away! As a teenager, strong-willed Ella chooses to reject this lifestyle asher fate and embarks on a quest to break the curse forever. Along the way,feisty Ella must outwit her evil stepsisters, escape hungry ogres, and save the prince before she can claim her real voice. In this fun and spirited musical extravaganza that stays true to the Newbery Honor book, children will discover the power of words while laughing, singing, and dancing out loud.

Los Angeles Opera presented the premiere performance of HANSEL AND GRETEL. The opera's original libretto is steeped in nineteenth century culture but Richard Sparks' translation, originally for the 2006 LA presentation of the opera, brought the text up to date and made it most appealing to contemporary children.

I caught up with rising star bass-baritone Christian Van Horn the other day, to find out what the devil was going on with his starring role in the Met's first performance of Arrigo Boito's MEFISTOFELE in almost 20 years. Were you nervous as hell (pun intended) on the first night, I asked Van Horn, winner of this year's prestigious Richard Tucker Award, in your role as the Devil?

The Met is offering Robert Carsen's 1999 production of Arrigo Boito's MEFISTOFELE to show us what bass-baritone Christian Van Horn--winner of this year's Richard Tucker Award--could do in his first starring role at the house and the answer was: plenty.

Magic Tree House, the #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time comes to life in a brand new spectacular just perfect for the season. This premiere of Magic Tree House's Holiday Musical: A GHOST TALE FOR MR. DICKENS features a large-scale cast donned in festive attire and celebrating the joy of giving. It also marks the first time it will be produced by any professional TYA (Theater for Young Audiences) company in the country.  Dallas audiences will be the first to see brother and sister duo, Jack and Annie, whisked back in time aboard their magical tree house to the foggy streets of Victorian England to help Charles Dickens write what will ultimately become a treasured tale. Holiday magic is in the air at DCT this season as Magic Tree House's Holiday Musical: A GHOST TALE FOR MR. DICKENS runs from November 16 - December 23, 2018 at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts.

Set sail on one of the biggest adventures ever taken by Dallas Children's Theater (DCT) with the bold world premiere of TREASURE ISLAND Reimagined! Friendship, betrayal, and adventure are front and center as audiences find themselves shoulder to shoulder with ghastly pirates in this immersive adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale. DCT opens its 35th anniversary season with TREASURE ISLAND Reimagined!, at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts from September 23 - October 21, 2018.

Who knew, in 1988, when John Waters debuted his film HAIRSPRAY about life in 1962 Baltimore, that his themes of equal rights acceptance would feel just as urgent in the political and social climate 30 long years later? Fortunately, the hit Broadway musical based on the film, has been belted and blasted at audiences loud and clear since it hit the stage in 2003. Now onstage at Winspear Opera House, Dallas Theatre Center's spirited production reminds us not only of how far we come, but how far we've got left to go.

The AT&T Performing Arts Center and Dallas Theater Center present the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY!

Single (non-subscription) tickets are now on sale for San Francisco Opera's 96th Season. Tickets for each of the eight productions featured at the War Memorial Opera House during the 2018-19 Season may be purchased online at sfopera.com; in-person at the San Francisco Opera Box Office, located at 301 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco; and by phone at (415) 864-3330 during Box Office hours. Full Series subscriptions of 6, 7 or 8 operas and Half Series packages of 3 or 4 operas are also available.

The Dallas Opera has been awarded a second consecutive $500,000 matching grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of the company's successful program to advance the careers of exceptionally talented women: "The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera."The Mellon Foundation decision renews an original $500,000 grant awarded to TDO in 2015.

Ahoy matey! Sail off on a swashbuckling excursion with Jeremy Jacob and his pirate friends, as the cast of Dallas Children's Theater's (DCT) National Touring Production of HOW I BECAME A PIRATE returns to the city for a summer run. Based on the book by Melinda Long, this joyful family musical is sure to leave all budding pirates singing and dancing in the aisles. HOW I BECAME A PIRATE runs from June 15 - July 8 at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts.

Aaron Loeb's new play The Trials of Sam Houston directed by Kevin Moriarty seeks to rediscover the narrative of one of this period's most notorious figures.

Dallas Children's Theater (DCT) is proud to be part of the national effort to use the power of visual creativity to introduce more toddler-friendly theater experiences that teach valuable lessons. BLUE, is a beautiful story of what happens when new and different colors enters one's life. This all-new show introduces young audience members to themes of acceptance and dealing with change in a humorous, whimsical way. BLUE runs at DCT's Rosewood Center for Family Arts from April 21 - May 6, 2018.

It is the story of a brilliant leader, masterful negotiator, and egotistical political figure who presided over the United States during a period of incredible transformation.

When Christine Goerke took on the title role in the Met's revival of Richard Strauss's masterwork ELEKTRA--the final work of director Patrice Chereau--she wasn't so much competing with Nina Stemme, who sang the premiere of the production last spring, but with herself. Six months before this version first came to Lincoln Center, Goerke performed the role in concert with the Boston Symphony at Carnegie Hall and blew the roof off. She was a transfixing, sensational presence that you just couldn't keep your eyes off.

2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award Recipient Dallas Theater Center (DTC), in association with the Theatre Division of Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (SMU), presents Frankenstein at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. Directed by DTC's Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell, Frankenstein begins on Feb. 2 and runs through March 4. A Pay-What-You-Can performance will be Sunday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.

THE GREAT SOCIETY does not match the power of its predecessor. But ALL THE WAY is hard to match. And THE GREAT SOCIETY is a fine play in its own right.

With the price of tickets at soaring heights, only providing young professionals more fuel for their ill-conceived notion of opera's inaccessibility, the Metropolitan Opera has crafted an exciting counter argument - Fridays Under 40. The event's carefully themed details feature the repertoire slated for performance, creating an immersive evening experience. When I was fortunate enough to attended, Il Trovatore was on the docket.

There have been starrier casts heading up Donizetti's L'ELISIR D'AMORE at the Met--put the opera's name in the NY Times search engine and the first one that shows up is the debut of the famed tenor Tito Schipa in 1932, with bass Ezio Pinza as the quack snake-oil salesman Dulcamara. But this year's principals, soprano Pretty Yende and tenor Matthew Polenzani, gave more than enough pleasure (and then some) to send the audience out cheering.

As the Christmas holiday approaches, people turn to family, friends and traditions. One tradition that continues to connect generations is A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, and you can now see it come to life onstage at Dallas Children's Theater.