Marc Blitzstein News

There will be several productions and exhibits presented in New York City in September.

Michael Barrett, General Director of Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, has announced the second annual Caramoor Fall Festival, headlined by such luminaries as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Broadway legend Patti LuPone, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and The Knights Chamber Orchestra conducted by Eric Jacobson.

Seattle Shakespeare Company announced today its plans to produce The Threepenny Opera at the Intiman Theatre. The Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill musical satire about the dapper criminal, Mac the Knife, and the denizens of his seedy underworld will run February 16 through March 6, 2011 for 15 performances only.

Today we are taking a listen to the new Sony Masterworks & Arkiv Music re-release of Marc Blitzstein's half-musical/half-opera REGINA, based on THE LITTLE FOXES by Lillian Hellman. A little bit like Adam Guettel's THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA or Michael John LaChiusa's MARIE CHRISTINE in that it defies any traditional definition or classification, it is a true masterpiece and a marvel of craftsmanship and creativity, whatever it is. Leonard Bernstein once called REGINA his favorite theatre score of all time and perhaps no other score of the period comes closest to the classical aspirations - actual accomplishment, actually - as much as Bernstein's own CANDIDE which he wrote with Lillian Hellman and John LaTouche seven years later, inspired by this show. This score virtually has it all: opera, jazz, Dixieland, blues, gospel spirituals, Victorian parlour songs, stirring symphonic sequences, stunning arias, glorious choral swell-ups, biting satirical anthems, cakewalks, recitative and some serious - seriously innovative - dialogue/song centerpiece scenes to all three acts of this operamusical. Whatever you want to call it: a triple-decker treat awaits!

Masterworks Broadway continues to explore the rich history of its unequaled Broadway and Off-Broadway catalogue with the release of three highly requested classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era - Regina, Song of Norway and Make A Wish.

Masterworks Broadway continues to explore the rich history of its unequaled Broadway and Off-Broadway catalogue with the release of three highly requested classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era - Regina, Song of Norway and Make A Wish.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory proudly presents the world premiere of Beautiful Child: The Music of Rufus Wainwright, featuring a book written by Craig Slaight, direction by A.C.T. Associate Artist Domenique Lozano, musical direction by Jane Hammett, and choreography by Christine Mattison. The 'disarmingly beautiful' (The New York Times) music of Rufus Wainwright takes center stage as A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory continues its exploration of modern composers in this theatrical tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory proudly presents the world premiere of Beautiful Child: The Music of Rufus Wainwright, featuring a book written by Craig Slaight, direction by A.C.T. Associate Artist Domenique Lozano, musical direction by Jane Hammett, and choreography by Christine Mattison. The 'disarmingly beautiful' (The New York Times) music of Rufus Wainwright takes center stage as A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory continues its exploration of modern composers in this theatrical tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory proudly presents the world premiere of Beautiful Child: The Music of Rufus Wainwright, featuring a book written by Craig Slaight, direction by A.C.T. Associate Artist Domenique Lozano, musical direction by Jane Hammett, and choreography by Christine Mattison. The 'disarmingly beautiful' (The New York Times) music of Rufus Wainwright takes center stage as A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory continues its exploration of modern composers in this theatrical tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

The Little Orchestra Society, with Dino Anagnost as Conductor, plays April 26, 2010 at 7:30pm at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.

Join The Little Orchestra Society April 26 as we explore the majesty of flight from the early Greeks, the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart through NASA's missions to the moon, our solar system, and beyond. American composers have long been fascinated with humanity's dream of flight, and it has inspired such musical giants as Marc Blitzstein (The Airborne Symphony), Samuel Barber (Symphony No.2), Aaron Jay Kernis (Musica Celestis), Gardner Read (Night Flight) and Kurt Weill (The Lindbergh Flight).

The Little Orchestra Society, with Dino Anagnost as Conductor, plays April 26, 2010 at 7:30pm at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.

The A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program and Young Conservatory present the world premiere production of Riot, celebrated Irish playwright Ursula Rani Sarma's hard-hitting play, in the newest commission from A.C.T.'s international partnership with Britain's Theatre Royal Bath. Directed by Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight and featuring young actors from the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program and Young Conservatory, Riot follows the story of a young man who lands in a residency clinic for emotionally disturbed teens following an unexpected act of violence. Riot weaves Max's relationships with his fellow patients, his doctor, and his nurses into a moving portrait of the deep human need for connection. The show plays April 1-17, 2010, at Zeum Theater, located at Yerba Buena Gardens (Fourth and Howard streets). Tickets are $15.50-$20.50 and are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

Join The Little Orchestra Society April 26 as we explore the majesty of flight from the early Greeks, the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart through NASA's missions to the moon, our solar system, and beyond. American composers have long been fascinated with humanity's dream of flight, and it has inspired such musical giants as Marc Blitzstein (The Airborne Symphony), Samuel Barber (Symphony No.2), Aaron Jay Kernis (Musica Celestis), Gardner Read (Night Flight) and Kurt Weill (The Lindbergh Flight).

Patti LuPone who gave fans the chance to name her upcoming book has chosen the winning title, 'Patti LuPone: A Memoir'. The title was submitted by Precilla Ng of Toronto, Ontario.

The A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program and Young Conservatory present the world premiere production of Riot, celebrated Irish playwright Ursula Rani Sarma's hard-hitting play, in the newest commission from A.C.T.'s international partnership with Britain's Theatre Royal Bath. Directed by Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight and featuring young actors from the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program and Young Conservatory, Riot follows the story of a young man who lands in a residency clinic for emotionally disturbed teens following an unexpected act of violence. Riot weaves Max's relationships with his fellow patients, his doctor, and his nurses into a moving portrait of the deep human need for connection. The show plays April 1-17, 2010, at Zeum Theater, located at Yerba Buena Gardens (Fourth and Howard streets). Tickets are $15.50-$20.50 and are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.

Appearing together again after their Tony Award® winning performances in Evita, Patti LuPone joins Mandy Patinkin onstage for An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. These Broadway legends will bring their critically acclaimed theatre concert to the Joe R. and Theresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts for one performance only on Thursday, March 25th, 2010 at 8 p.m.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts Program presents Glen Berger's inventive play O Lovely Glowworm, or Scenes of Great Beauty, directed by Alex Harvey.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.

Theater Ten Ten presents its winter 2010 production, a fully staged production run of Marc Blitzstein's riveting political musical comedy THE CRADLE WILL ROCK. The show will play its final performance on Sunday, March 14th, 2010.