Mark Campbell News

It has been great to watch actors Jordan Phelps and Kevin Webb, along with musical director Robert Ollis, work their magic with the excellent material in this musical. With lyrics by Mark Campbell, and music by 18 different writers, each song is a journey... full of humor, sorrow, joy, and love. We could not be prouder of the work of director and choreographer Derek Van Barham, our pre-show entertainers Jonas Davidow and Tommy Thurston, and the entire production team.

There will be special presentations of Easter Mysteries a theatrical oratorio for a modern audience by John O'Boyle this Friday &Saturday, April 11 & 12 at 8pm; and on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 7pm at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street (at West End Ave.) NYC.

It was announced today that Michael Scott (110 in the Shade, Follies), Trisha Rapier (Sister Act, The Boy From Oz), Chelsie Nectow, and Eileen Aurelia have joined the cast of Easter Mysteries.

It was announced today that Ken Robinson (Memphis, Baby It's You), Ali Ewoldt (Les Miserables), and Mark Campbell (Mama Mia) will lead in Easter Mysteries. Joining them are J. B. Adams (Far From Heaven, Parade), Michael Andrako (Fiddler on the Roof), Eileen Aurelia, Stella Boonshoft, A. J. Cedeno, Sarah Charles, Alma Cuervo (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Caberet), Michael Deleget (Goodspeed's The Most Happy Fella), Jazmin Gorsline (My Fair Lady), Jessica Kahkoska, Laura Kaldis, Paul Louis Lessard, Michael Pesce, Spencer Plachy (Romeo and Juliet, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), A. J. Shively (La Cage aux Folles), Tony-nominee Walter Willison (Two by Two, Pippin). The performances are set for church of St. Paul and St. Andrew on April 11-12 at 8:00pm, and April 13 at 7:00pm.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce the first round of recipients of its new program: Opera Grants for Female Composers, made possible through the generosity of The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. From among the 112 eligible applicants, an independent adjudication panel selected eight composers. The recipients have each been awarded $12,500 to support the development of their compositions listed below.

Tonight, April 1 at 7:30pm at Opera America's National Opera Center, New York Festival of Song concludes its 2013-14 edition of NYFOS Next-the series for new song in which composers curate and host an hour of contemporary song-with celebrated composer HAROLD MELTZER.

Pride Films & Plays' next mainstage show is the Chicago premiere of Mark Campbell's musical revue Songs from an Unmade Bed, a love letter to gay men living in the city. Songs From An Unmade Bed is performed by Kevin Webb* and Jordan Phelps*, joined by understudies Jonas Davidow and Tommy Thurston on percussion, and is directed by Derek Van Barham*, under the music direction of Robert Ollis*. Scroll down for a look at the cast!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats' and 'Les Miserables' open in major suburban productions, a world premiere from Hershey Felder, a Chicago premiere from Pride Films And Plays, 'Carnival' spins, Harms and Scrofano feted, season announcements from Porchlight, Williams Street and Milwaukee Skylight, and more!

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group has announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

New York Festival of Song marks its sixth annual residency at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts with PORTS OF CALL: AN ITINERARY OF SONG, to be performed tonight, March 18 and Wednesday March 19, 2014 at 7:00PM at Opera America's National Opera Center in New York, NY.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Sara Cooper (lyricist/bookwriter) & Zach Redler (composer), receiving $12,500 and the Running Deer Residency; and Shaina Taub (composer/lyricist), receiving $12,500. The prestigious grants, totaling $15,000 more than last year's grants, will be presented on Monday, April 7, 2014 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

New York Festival of Song announces 'Remembering Lenny', A Gala Celebration of Leonard Bernstein (Founding Advisor NYFOS). NYFOS Artistic Directors and pianists STEVEN BLIER and MICHAEL BARRETT host an extraordinary lineup of special guests.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG announces its star-studded 2014 spring gala, Remembering Lenny, celebrating the life of Leonard Bernstein with a performance on Monday, April 28 at 6:30PM at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, followed by supper at the '21' Club.

Marc Summers, legendary host of Nickelodeon's Double Dare and current Food Network star is coming to Chicago to host IMPROVISED DOUBLE DARE, an improvised comedy homage to the popular 1980s game show on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at The ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W Belmont Ave. Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the show begins at 7:00pm.

On Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30pm at Opera America's National Opera Center, New York Festival of Song concludes its 2013-14 edition of NYFOS Next-the series for new song in which composers curate and host an hour of contemporary song-with celebrated composer HAROLD MELTZER.

Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, today announced its 2014-2015 season. It includes the company premiere of Daniel Catán's Spanish-language Florencia in the Amazon, a brand-new production of Puccini's classic La bohème, the company premiere of Rachel Portman's family opera The Little Prince, an English-language production of Poulenc's 20th-century drama Dialogues of the Carmelites, a revival of Wagner's epic The Flying Dutchman, and an acclaimed new-to- Washington staging of Rossini's Cinderella. A third season of the American Opera Initiative, including the world premiere of Penny by two alumni of the program, continues WNO's efforts to commission new works and expand the American repertory. Highlights from the 2014-2015 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

New York Festival of Song celebrates one of its oldest and closest friends with a special evening on its forward-looking NYFOS Next series: The Music of John Musto tonight, March 4, 2014, at 7:30pm at Opera America's National Opera Center.

Minnesota Opera announces its 2014–2015 season, which presents a world premiere, a company premiere, two masterpieces not seen at Minnesota Opera in nearly three decades and a new production of an operatic blockbuster. All five productions are new to Minnesota audiences.

New York Festival of Song marks its sixth annual residency at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts with PORTS OF CALL: AN ITINERARY OF SONG, to be performed on Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday March 19, 2014 at 7:00PM at Opera America's National Opera Center in New York, NY.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (Steven Blier, Artistic Director • Michael Barrett, Associate Artistic Director) concludes its 2013-14 Mainstage series at Merkin Concert Hall, Kaufman Music Center with WARSAW SERENADE.