Mark Campbell News

At its annual meeting today, Minnesota Opera announced the completion of the New Works Initiative fundraising campaign, one year ahead of schedule.

Legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade has performed many of opera's greatest roles in her storied career that began in 1970. In June, she makes her Opera Philadelphia debut in an incredible new role written just for her, in the East Coast Premiere of A Coffin in Egypt by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist/director Leonard Foglia.

Wexford Festival Opera has announced the casting for the internationally renowned Festival, which this year will run for 12 days, from 22 October to 2 November.

Opera Philadelphia, in collaboration with Gotham Chamber Opera and Music-Theatre Group in New York, is proud to announce that composer David T. Little has been selected as its fourth Composer in Residence (CIR). Little was chosen from over 100 applicants for the position and now has the opportunity to follow a personalized development track focused on the advancement of his skills as an operatic composer.

Opera Philadelphia, in collaboration with Gotham Chamber Opera and Music-Theatre Group in New York, is proud to announce that composer David T. Little has been selected as its fourth Composer in Residence (CIR). Little was chosen from over 100 applicants for the position and now has the opportunity to follow a personalized development track focused on the advancement of his skills as an operatic composer.

Legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade has performed many of opera's greatest roles in her storied career that began in 1970. In June, she makes her Opera Philadelphia debut in an incredible new role written just for her, in the East Coast Premiere of A Coffin in Egypt by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist/director Leonard Foglia.

Fort Worth Opera (FWOpera) revealed today the names of the eight composer and librettist teams from the Americas whose works have been selected for participation in the second season of the company's critically-acclaimed, annual new works program, Frontiers, taking place tonight and tomorrow, May 8 - 9, 2014, during the last week of the 2014 Opera Festival.

Minnesota Opera is pleased to announce it will present Cold Mountain, a new opera by the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner in music, Jennifer Higdon. This co-commission and co-produced opera with The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia is based on the eponymous bestselling novel by Charles Frazier. Cold Mountain is the powerful account of one soldier, W. P. Inman, who deserts the Confederate Army as the war is coming to an end and makes his way back to his home on Cold Mountain. The novel won the 1997 National Book Award and was made into a film in 2003, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards. The Santa Fe Opera will present the world premiere in the summer of 2015, which marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

Pride Films and Plays has announced that an extra performance of the hit musical Songs From An Unmade Bed has been added for Sunday, April 27 at 3:00. The final performance is still scheduled for that same day at 7:30.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced today that American Lyric Theater (ALT) is one of 886 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. ALT is recommended for a $35,000 grant to support the Composer Librettist Development Program - the only full time professional mentorship initiative for emerging operatic writers in the country.

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.