Kate Smith News

Chopin Theatre, the multidisciplinary arts center in the heart of Wicker Park, 1543 W. Division, turns 100 in 2018. To mark the centennial anniversary, owners Lela Headd Dyrkacz and Zygmunt Dyrkacz are hosting a celebration on Oct 29 from 5 p.m. to Midnight, providing a sneak peek of the forthcoming book on Nov. 5 during the "All Souls Jazz Festival" and releasing the book "Around Chopin Theatre: A Century in Pictures & Stories"on Nov. 24. The Oct. 29 celebration is free for past artists associated with Chopin Theatre and general admission tickets are $30. For more information and to RSVP visit www.ChopinTheatre.com

I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the premiere of The Great Canadian Theatre Company's production of Kate Hennig's The Virgin Trial, directed by Eric Coates. Although this production is the sequel to Hennig's The Last Wife, the play stands on its own so no prior knowledge is needed. The play is set in modern times, but the characters and events are from the Tudor era. English history buffs will particularly enjoy the story as it is partially based on factual events with some speculation thrown in, which makes for a fascinating crime drama.

With recent events related to the #metoo movement within the dance world, notably at New York City Ballet (NYCB), the voice of women in a setting such as this felt sacred. Among art forms, dance is the ultimate challenge to the agency of the female body, which is often at the direction and control of male directors, choreographers, and partners.

Opera Philadelphia – “one of the most creative and ambitious companies in this country” (New York Times) – is set to take the opera world by storm once again, as it looks forward to O18, the second installment of its pioneering Festival O, with the “spirit ... not to follow taste but to lead it” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Festival 018comprises five operatic happenings – two world premieres, two new productions, and a three-part cabaret event – at multiple venues across the city from September 20-30, and features two superstar opera divas: coloratura soprano Brenda Rae and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, co-stars of Opera Philadelphia's acclaimed spring 2017 production of Rossini's Tancredi. Rae headlines a new production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor from celebrated director and designer Laurent Pelly that anchors both the O18 festival and the company's year-round Opera at the Academy series. Blythe (aka Blythely Oratonio) takes the stage at Philadelphia's Theatre of Living Arts (TLA) for a three-night, three-part cabaret takeover titled Queens of the Night, along with self-described “drag queen king” Dito van Reigersberg (aka Martha Graham Cracker). It all leads up to a reprise performance of Dito & Aeneas: Two Queens, One Night, Opera Philadelphia's 2017 cabaret-play spectacular, which was hailed as “smart and bubbly in all the right places” (Philadelphia Inquirer). The two divas even perform together on the TLA stage, when Rae makes a special guest appearance opposite Blythe, comedically echoing the tragic lovers of Tancredi. 

Opera Philadelphia is set to take the opera world by storm once again, as it looks forward to O18, the second installment of its pioneering Festival O.

Broadway Musical Theatre legend Patti LuPone shared an intimate night of memories and marvellous music in her concert DON'T MONKEY WITH BROADWAY.

Come one! Come all! We'll make it a ball! There's a Cat with a Hat and Who Named Cindy Lou! 'Seussical' is a fantastical family musical based on the books of Dr.Seuss. Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude Mcfuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and Jojo-a little boy with a big imagination, are brought to life by Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

To a rousing ovation, the cast of the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen performed a curtain call tribute in honor of the patriotic song "God Bless America," which this year is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, on the eve of Mr. Berlin's 130th birthday. Dear Evan Hansen is playing on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre which was built by Mr. Berlin and his business partner Sam H. Harris and opened in 1921 to house his famed Music Box Revues.  The Shubert Organization currently owns and operates the Music Box.

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will hold its annual Spring Gala at New York's Metropolitan Club (1 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022) on Thursday evening, April 5, 2018, starting at 6:00 pm. The organization will honor renowned opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe with the NYCHORAL Music Excellence Award for her contributions to the musical profession, as well as Sylvia R. Hoisington who is celebrating her 50th season with the chorus. Produced in partnership with the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, the evening's showcase performance will feature soprano Amanda Majeski and tenor Ben Bliss, both of whom will be participating in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Cosi fan tutte from March 15 to April 9, 2018. Members of the NYCHORAL Chamber Ensemble will also perform. The evening will feature a silent auction of unique items and experiences. The program is as follows:

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) will hold its annual Spring Gala at New York's Metropolitan Club (1 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022) on Thursday evening, April 5, 2018, starting at 6:00 pm.

NBC kicked off the holidays with the lighting of the iconic tree in the heart of New York City with CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER last night. Check out photos below!

NBC kicks off the holidays with the lighting of the iconic tree in the heart of New York City with CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER tonight, Nov. 29 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).

Harry Connick Jr., Auli'i Cravalho, from the new NBC series Rise, Seal and Train will celebrate the holidays with incredible performances on CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER live on Wednesday, Nov. 29

NBC kicks off the holidays with the lighting of the iconic tree in the heart of New York City with CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER on Wednesday, Nov. 29 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT).

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston will present Remembering the 40's, a musical tribute to the men and women of the war generation, for three performances only April 22-23, 2017. 

Now playing in Florida Rep's ArtStage Studio Theatre, 'Shear Madness' will extend its nearly sold out run to April 2nd, setting an 11-week record for the theatre. And for its final week, Florida Rep welcomes Lisa McMillan to the cast, who is currently appearing in the New York production.

???????Look out! Here comes HORRIBLE HARRIET. She's wicked, wild and wonderful!

St. George Theatre is pleased to announce the guest appearance of Academy Award nominee Lesley Ann Warren to the cast of Dance to the Movies along with Dancing With The Stars celebrity pros Anna Trebunskaya, Dmitry Chaplin, Chelsie Hightower, and more on Saturday, April 8th at 8:00PM.

Florida Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce that 'Shear Madness', the longest running non-musical in American theatre history, will play in the ArtStage Studio Theatre Jan. 17 to Mar. 12. Still playing in Boston and Washington, D.C. after more than thirty years, 'Shear Madness' is America's favorite comic whodunit that's been seen by over 11 million people worldwide.