Mario News

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

Más de 2.000 candidatos han presentado su solicitud para las audiciones del musical EL HOMBRE DE LA MANCHA, próximo proyecto de la productora Stage Entertainment. Esta mañana hemos estado en una de las pruebas de canto en el Círculo de Baile de Madrid.

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) continues its 2016 schedule with its second trip to the Alliant Energy Center at Wizard World Madison, April 8-10.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts announces its spring 2016 season of Pop-Up Concerts. Bring a friend, grab a drink, and join some of today's most interesting performers onstage at Miller Theatre on select Tuesday evenings.

Abingdon Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tony Speciale, presents the world premiere of A ROOM OF MY OWN, written and and directed by Charles Messina. Currently in previews, and set to open Thursday, February 25 in Abingdon's June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street), this new comedy features Mario Cantone and Ralph Macchio, with Nico Bustamante, Kendra Jain, Johnny Tammaro, Joli Trubuzio and Liza Vann. Off-Broadway performances continue through March 13. Check out a first look below!

 From March 12 to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's 'Damascus II,' adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer. This is the second installment of the three-part work in which Strindberg first introduced true surrealism to the stage in the theatrical representation of the dream. Strindberg's tale of life in decadent artists' circles of 1890s Sweden will be brought to life in 1960s California and its leading character, an alienated writer, has been re-envisioned as an author modeled on Amiri Baraka.

This year, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk', Taylor Swift's 1989, Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud' and Meghan Trainor topped the 2016 honorees. Scroll down for all the winners!

From March 12 to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's DAMASCUS II, adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer.

Now that we are a full two weeks removed from Fox's first foray into the world of live, televised musicals, I think it is time to look back at the lessons learned from GREASE: LIVE. Though I hailed it as a rousing success in my review, on Broadway Radio's 'This Week on Broadway,' and on BWW's 'Some Like it Pop' podcast, there are a fair number of critics and viewers that had perfectly reasonable hesitations. Whether it was occasional sound issues, too strict a reliance on the film for inspiration, the wonky new song, or uneven performances, I am fine with acknowledging those shortcomings; but to me, there are three things that made GREASE: LIVE the most entertaining and artistically satisfying live musical of this recently reinvigorated phenomenon.

The expectations continue to build as Univision Network's “Premio Lo Nuestro a la Música Latina” (PLN) announces two new musical performances for its Thursday, February 18th broadcast starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central) LIVE from the American Airlines Arena.

32 Actors, 8 Writers, and 8 Directors will gather at Abingdon Theatre Company for an entire weekend of pure creativity to produce FETE 24.

The Off-Broadway smash, RUTHLESS! The Musical, marked its 100th performance on January 30th and the company celebrated after the show at Lattanzi with celebrity attendees Lynn Cohen, Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon.

THE WIZ LIVE director Kenny Leon texted his running critique to GREASE: LIVE helmer Thomas Kail!

After playing husbands in Mark Gerrard's STEVE, the pair just finished a one-nighter for Lincoln Center's American Songbook.

?Sierra Stages opens its 2016 season with the enchanting, dark comedy "THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN". Written by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, "THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN" plays at the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City from March 3-19. The play is directed by Sharon Winegar, with set design by Pamela Hodges, lighting design by Erin Beatie, and costume design by Paulette Gilbert. The cast includes local actors Alice Beloved, Chase Coney, Kim Ewing, Lois Ewing, John Gardiner, Ben Hedenland, Damiian Mario Lang, Ariana Rampy, and Robert Rossman.

?Due to popular demand, A Red Orchid Theatre has extended its critically-acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams' The Mutilated, directed by Ensemble Member Dado. The Mutilated will now run through March 13, 2016. The Mutilated features Ensemble Members Lance Baker, Jennifer Engstrom, Mierka Girten, Steve Haggard, Shade Murray, Doug Vickers and Natalie West with Ciera Dawn, Jennifer Glasse, Roy Gonzalez, Mario Hernandez, Morgan Maher, Lauren Vogel and Dominque Worsley. A Red Orchid Theatre is located at 1531 N Wells.

Abingdon Theatre Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tony Speciale, has added two performances to its world-premiere run of A ROOM OF MY OWN, written and directed by Charles Messina, on Sundays, February 21 and March 13 at 7pm. Off-Broadway previews are set to begin Saturday, February 13 in the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is set for Thursday, February 25, with performances through Sunday, March 13.

Ralph Macchio, Mario Cantone 'Bringing Italian-Americans Back To Theatre' in A ROOM OF MY OWN

The DVD may be pre-ordered here on Amazon.com for $21.99. The musical is also available in a digital HD version on iTunes for $9.99. Click here to purchase.

Rehearsals begin Monday, February 8 for the spring Broadway production of Waitress, following its sold-out limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.