Lincoln Center Festival News

A series of symposia, screenings, and special events will complement the schedule for Lincoln Center Festival 09 which opens this Tuesday night, July 7, with the U.S. premiere of Le Theatre du Soleil's compassionate Les Éphémères, staged by Ariane Mnouchkine, and the N.Y. premiere of Ivanov by Anton Chekhov, performed by Budapest's Katona József Theatre and staged by Tamás Ascher.

Two top theater companies - France's Le Theatre du Soleil and Hungary's Katona Jozsef Theatre - share opening night honors at Lincoln Center Festival 09, which runs from July 7 through July 26, 2009 and offers 56 performances by artists and ensembles from 14 countries. The three-week Lincoln Center Festival 09--boasting 14 North American, U.S., and New York premieres and debuts-will unfold at six venues on and off the Lincoln Center campus, and Park Avenue Armory, where the Festival returns for a second summer.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces the cast for the first of three Mainstage productions of the 25th anniversary season: Ninety, by Joanna Murray-Smith, directed by Maria Mileaf, beginning performances June 30 and running through July 12, and new additions to the star-filled line-up for the 25th anniversary gala benefit, 'Silver Celebration under the Stars,' June 27.

AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS (AOP), 'known for bringing cutting-edge vocal production to the masses,' (New York) and OPERA ON TAP ('...raucous and sublime...un-elitist, imperfect, and fun...'- NY Sun) will present the second installment of its Opera Grows in Brooklyn series, an evening of all new opera scenes and songs from contemporary composers, including new music from David T. Little and the NYC premiere of Stefan Weisman's opera Fade.

Tony award-winning performer Alan Cumming has been named an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) as part of the Queen's Birthday Honour List. Other comandees include Tony award winner Jonathan Pryce, who was named a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) and veteran Film and television actor Christopher Lee, who received a knighthood.

AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS (AOP), 'known for bringing cutting-edge vocal production to the masses,' (New York) will present The Voice of Brooklyn: Opera and Song from the People's Republic, a free outdoor concert of new songs and old standards that highlight Brooklyn's influence on opera.

Lincoln Center Festival 09 proudly presents top theater companies from France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Russia, whose productions will be a special focus of this year's Festival. There will be four US and three New York production premieres.

Tony Award Winner Alan Cumming has been cast as the villian in 'Escape To Donegal'. The film is written by Chris Minori and will be directed by Jonathan Blitstein. According to comingsoon.net, the sci-fi psychological thriller is reportedly a stylized film set in a dystopian future. Cumming will play a villian named 'Stuart', but no other information is available at this time. Filming will take place in Brooklyn this fall.

The music lineup at Lincoln Center Festival 09 includes US debuts by Algerian music icon Idir and Moroccan Chaabi singer Najat Aatabou; a double bill with Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara, and Issa Bagayogo; and a tribute to celebrated New Orleans songwriter Wardell Quezergue, featuring a roster of noted musical artists from that city's annual Ponderosa Stomp music festival.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports in his column today that Tony winner Alan Cumming is being sought for the role of the villianous 'Green Goblin' in the upcoming SPIDER-MAN musical by Julie Taymor, the tuners director.

Today, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts officially launches a yearlong celebration of its 50th Anniversary with a commemorative ceremony in the Starr Theater at Alice Tully Hall. Hosted by renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw, the program pays tribute to the many achievements and contributions of Lincoln Center, from the milestones of its past half century to the transformation of its campus.

On the morning of May 11, 2009, 50 years after that momentous occasion, Lincoln Center will begin a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with a special ceremony in the newly-transformed Alice Tully Hall. New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert, acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman with alumni from The Perlman Music Program, Tony Award-winning opera star Paulo Szot, jazz icon Wynton Marsalis with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and The Juilliard Orchestra are among those scheduled to perform in a program that celebrates the past 50 years and looks to the next generation of Lincoln Center's artists and audiences. In the audience of this private event will be elected officials, performing artists, civic and community representatives, and leaders from all 12 Lincoln Center resident organizations.

Millions of arts lovers visit Lincoln Center's 16.3 acre campus each year. On their way to the thousands of opera, dance, music, and theater performances and events annually at the world's leading performing arts center, they also view an extraordinary public collection of modern and contemporary art on its outdoor plazas, within its lobbies, along its hallways, and on display in its galleries.

Scottish born actor Alan Cumming served as Grand Marshall of New York's Tartan Day Parade. On April 4th, Cumming lead the parade of bagpipers, Scottish-American organizations, dignitaries, and even Scotties and Westies, up 6th Avenue.

Scottish born actor Alan Cumming will serve as Grand Marshall of New York's Tartan Day Parade. On April 4th, Cumming will lead the parade of bagpipers, Scottish-American organizations, dignitaries, and even Scotties and Westies, up 6th Avenue.

In advance of the highly anticipated New York premiere of the Joe Goode Performance Group / Basil Twist work Wonderboy at The Joyce Theater (April 23-26), there will be a special Dance Talks with Mr. Twist on Monday, April 6 from 6:00 - 8:00pm at Joyce SoHo (155 Mercer Street, between Houston and Prince). This event, a conversation between artist and audience, illustrated with dance videos and movement demonstrations, is free and open to the public, however reservations are required and can be made by calling (646) 792-8377.

On the morning of May 11, 2009, 50 years after that momentous occasion, Lincoln Center will begin a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with a special ceremony in the newly-transformed Alice Tully Hall. New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert, acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman with alumni from The Perlman Music Program, Tony Award-winning opera star Paulo Szot, jazz icon Wynton Marsalis with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and The Juilliard Orchestra are among those scheduled to perform in a program that celebrates the past 50 years and looks to the next generation of Lincoln Center's artists and audiences. In the audience of this private event will be elected officials, performing artists, civic and community representatives, and leaders from all 12 Lincoln Center resident organizations.

It became official when, SPIDER-MAN, Turn Off the Dark, was announced to open on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Broadway's Hilton Theatre, 213 West 42nd Street (preview performances will begin Saturday, January 16, 2010). Directed by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor with 22-time Grammy Award-winning Bono and The Edge creating new music and lyrics, SPIDER-MAN will be written by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. Well 'True Believers', since that official statement, the 'webslinging' work has heated up, and the creative process is in full 'swing' (forgive us the pun, but c'mon...).

It became official when, SPIDER-MAN, Turn Off the Dark, was announced to open on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Broadway's Hilton Theatre, 213 West 42nd Street (preview performances will begin Saturday, January 16, 2010). Directed by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor with 22-time Grammy Award-winning Bono and The Edge creating new music and lyrics, SPIDER-MAN will be written by Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. Well 'True Believers', since that official statement, the 'webslinging' work has heated up, and the creative process is in full 'swing' (forgive us the pun, but c'mon...).

As Lincoln Center marks its 50th Anniversary, its renowned summer programs return featuring hundreds of performances by world-class artists, ensembles, and productions both inside its storied halls and outdoors in its public spaces.