Lynn Wyatt News

Houston Grand Opera presents SHOW BOAT, which opened January 18. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Houston Grand Opera presents SHOW BOAT, which opened January 18. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights from the show below.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO)-the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony - continues to raise the bar for American opera with next season's gripping new line-up.

With rehearsals underway this week, Houston Grand Opera welcomes Lara Teeter to the role of Cap'n Andy in the new production of SHOW BOAT opening January 18. Teeter takes on the role after Tommy Tune stepped down because he is on vocal rest.

With rave reviews for Puccini's La boheme and Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers to its credit, Houston Grand Opera's season is up and running. Starting in January, the company offers productions of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Kern and Hammerstein's classic American musical Show Boat, which bring with them the company debuts of conductor Trevor Pinnock, bass Morris Robinson, baritone Adrian Erod, Broadway legend Tommy Tune, and more. They will be followed in March by HGO's original and highly acclaimed production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna / To Cross the Face of the Moon, a mariachi opera by Jose "Pepe" Martinez and Leonard Foglia. Tickets are on sale now and moving quickly for this winter repertory period, which accounts for 14 of the season's 44 performances, a 38 percent increase from an average of 32 performances in recent seasons. This increase, as well as HGO's 34 percent growth in subscription sales and more than $112 million fundraising effort over the last five years, clearly identifies HGO as today's most successful American opera company.

On Monday, October 22, 2012, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) hosted the 30th Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City and presented 25 Awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as the Princess Grace Statue Award presented to actor Patrick Page and sound designer Darron L West. The Gala took place in the presence of TSH The Prince and Princess of Monaco.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) has just announced that the 30(th) Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala will be held on Monday, October 22, 2012 at Cipriani 42(nd) Street in New York City. The Awards ceremony will include the presentation of 25 awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film as well as Princess Grace Statue Awards to be presented to Patrick Page and Darron L West. A special honor will be presented to one of the founding Trustees, Lynn Wyatt, for her dedicated service and help in establishing the Foundation in 1982. The 30(th) Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala will take place in the presence of TSH The Prince and The Princess of Monaco. Legendary newswoman Paula Zahn will act as Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. The evening will be chaired by Renee Fleming and Tim Jessell and H.R.H. Princess Firyal of Jordan. Presenting Sponsor for the Gala is Hermes; Crown Sponsor is Lily Safra. A unique live auction will feature a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Monaco for the Grand Prix and opportunities to name a Princess Grace Award. Bringing down the gavel will be Paddle8's co-founder, Alexander Gilkes.

Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Houston's premier performing arts presenter, will host its 16th Annual Fall Luncheon today, October 10, 2012, at 11 a.m. in Jones Hall. This year's Luncheon, chaired by Lucinda Loya, with Karen Pulaski serving as the Honorary Chair, will feature guest speaker Kathryn Stockett, author of The New York Times Bestseller, The Help.

Houston Grand Opera announced today that the award-winning Broadway legend Tommy Tune and style icon Lynn Wyatt will join the cast of HGO's new production of Show Boat, January 18 - February 9, 2013.

According to the Houston Chronicle, nine-time Tony Award winner, Broadway performer, choreographer and director Tommy Tune is set to play 'Cap'n Andy Hawks' in the Houston Grand Opera production of Show Boat, opening January 18, 2013.

Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Houston's premier performing arts presenter, will host its 16th Annual Fall Luncheon on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, at 11 a.m. in Jones Hall. This year's Luncheon, chaired by Lucinda Loya, with Karen Pulaski serving as the Honorary Chair, will feature guest speaker Kathryn Stockett, author of The New York Times Bestseller, The Help.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, has announced the recipients of the 2012 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) hosted the 2011 Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City and presented 21 Awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as the Prince Rainier III Award which was presented to Julie Andrews and the Princess Grace Statue Award which was presented to Jon M. Chu, director of the highest grossing concert-themed film of all time in the U.S. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. Oscar©-nominated actress Anne Hathaway introduced the special tribute to Julie Andrews. The Gala took place in the presence of TSH The Prince and Princess of Monaco. Check out photos from the big event below!

The freezing weather did not stop the show or keep Houston opera fans away from last night's annual Concert of Arias; in fact, there was record attendance at the successful event. Eight finalists competed and two baritones, a soprano and a bass were named winners in the final round of the twenty-third annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers at the Wortham Center in downtown Houston.

Houston Grand Opera General Director and CEO Anthony Freud announced the company's 2011-2012 season today. Opening on October 21, 2011, the season offers thirty-two performances of six operas. 'We've chosen an exciting array of operas that will thrill, stimulate and entertain,' says Freud. 'From celebrated masterpieces to rarely-performed operatic gems, our 2011-12 season features world-renowned directors, beloved productions and acclaimed singers.

Lynn Wyatt, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Houston Grand Opera (HGO) and a Life Trustee of the organization, together with Anthony Freud, HGO General Director and CEO, today announced that mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato will be the Lynn Wyatt Great Artist at Houston Grand Opera for the 2011-12 season.

Lynn Wyatt, Houston Grand Opera Life Trustee and longtime member of the Board of Directors, was recently named a recipient of the 2011 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award. Sponsored by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, in partnership with Bank of America, this award honors trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies.