Mary Johnson News

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to present the Chicago premiere of Fellow Travelers, the critically acclaimedopera based on the 2007 landmark novel of the same title by Thomas Mallon. With music by Gregory Spears and libretto by Greg Pierce, the opera reflects the tension between two men's professional and public lives, and their private, forbidden longings during the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington, D.C. Daniela Candillari (Lyric debut) will conduct the 17-piece orchestra and Kevin Newbury will direct.

Even if it were just for its history lesson about the lavender scare of the '50s-- the witch hunt and the mass firings of gay men and women from the federal government during the McCarthy era--FELLOW TRAVELERS by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce would be well worth seeing. But there's so much more to the opera, which had its local debut at the New York PROTOTYPE 2018 this past weekend, directed by Kevin Newbury, at the Gerald Lynch Theatre--including some of the most gorgeous opera music in recent memory.

Mary Cantoni Johnson will reprise her acclaimed portrayal of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice when 'One Night with Fanny Brice,' in which Johnson long starred in New York City, opens at the Square Foot Theater in Wallingford, CT, on November 10th.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will present Glory Denied, the story of an American family during the turbulent Vietnam War era, on Monday, November 6 and Thursday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum Hangar at Hobby Airport.

Cincinnati Opera releases the live audio recording of the world premiere production of Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce's ravishing new opera, Fellow Travelers, directed by Kevin Newbury and featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Gibson (out September 15 (digital) and September 29 (physical) on Fanfare Cincinnati).

Cincinnati Opera releases the live audio recording of the world premiere production of Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce's ravishing new opera, Fellow Travelers, directed by Kevin Newbury and featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Gibson (out September 15 (digital) and September 29 (physical) on Fanfare Cincinnati).

American Composers Orchestra (ACO) announces its complete 2017-2018 season, Dreamscapes, under the leadership of Artistic Director Derek Bermel, Music Director George Manahan, and President Edward Yim, featuring ten world, U.S., and New York premieres by a diverse set of composers. ACO continues its concerts at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall (December 8, 2017 and April 6, 2018) while expanding its presence in New York to include performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center (November 7, 2017) and as part of the 2018 PROTOTYPE Festival (January 12-14, 2018). ACO continues to take its commitment to fostering new work beyond the stage in its annual Underwood New Music Readings (June 21 and 22, 2018) for emerging composers, now in its 27th year, and through EarShot, the National Orchestra Composition Discovery Network, which brings the Readings experience to orchestras across the country.

Lyric Unlimited has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of Fellow Travelers. Tenor Jonas Hacker and baritone Joseph Lattanzi will sing the lead roles of Timothy Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller, two men who fall in love during the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington D.C. Devon Guthrie will sing the role of Mary Johnson, Hawkins's assistant and Timothy's confidante.

SUNSET BOULEVARD leading lady Glenn Close continues to make headlines and waves across social media this week, following her apology for being too ill to perform on Mother's Day via an open letter the entire Broadway community has dubbed 'classy.'

The Amarillo Symphony, (www.amarillosymphony.org), the leader of orchestral music in the Texas Panhandle since 1924, kicks of the 2016-2017 season with Opera Highlights with Mary Jane Johnson. 

The Amarillo Symphony, (www.amarillosymphony.org), the leader of orchestral music in the Texas Panhandle since 1924, kicks of the 2016-2017 season with Opera Highlights with Mary Jane Johnson. 

Although Kevin Newbury has directed operas by some of history's greatest composers--Donizetti and Bellini, Strauss and Mozart among them—he makes no bones about it: He prefers his composers to be living. (Librettists, too, of course)

Just like the Virgin Mary who said yes to God more than two thousand years ago, debut author Mary A Johnson also said yes to being an instrument in sharing God's goodness. Her debut publication, 'Mary the Seventh Girl,' (published by Xlibris) chronicles her experiences that provides proof to the many miracles she enjoyed when she decided to live her life with God in the center of it.

Up until now, author Roselyn Jewell had written almost exclusively romance/erotica. However, in a surprising turn of events, she has released her first YA novel. This novel is unique for a few reasons. One, it's very different from her usual genre. Two, it is the first book in a series and Roselyn has never done a series before. Third and lastly, Ms. Jewell did not come up with the title for this book, a reader did! A contest was held during February where readers got to submit possible titles based on a summary of the book. One lucky reader, Mary Johnson, won the contest with the title, 'unFocused.' The series is called 'The Roving' and it takes place in a dystopian type society, where the government controls everything from where you'll live to who you're expected to marry. In return, housing, healthcare, food, etc. are all provided by the government. The Roving is the name for a condition that the majority of the population have. It is similar to ADHD and causes people to have trouble focusing, hence the title. This series will deal with a lot of controversial issues such as homosexuality, government corruption, and the black market. You can find unFocused for sale at multiple venues, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Google Play. The retail price is $2.99 but there will be discounts from time to time. Currently, unFocused is being offered as an ebook only, but will be offered as a print book at some point.

?Over 100 beautifully decorated wreaths showcasing the creative talents and generosity of Addison County merchants and artists are on display and up for silent auction at the Town Hall Theater as part of the 27th Annual Festival of Wreaths.

The Warner Stage Company's 2014-15 season continues with a holiday family favorite - A Charlie Brown Christmas - in the Warner's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre, December 6-14.

Wreaths are part of the holiday tradition, but in Middlebury they're also a sign of its amazing community spirit. For 22 years businesses and individuals all over town have transformed blank wreaths into amazing works of art, all to benefit the Mary Johnson Children's Center.

Signature Theatre has announced the continuation of the "World of the Play" series with a panel of experts discussing Women Prisoners and America's Incarceration Crisis. This event is presented in conjunction with the U.S. Premiere of AND I AND SILENCE by Naomi Wallace, directed by Caitlin McLeod, and will take place on Saturday, September 13 at 4:15 p.m. in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The event is free and open to the general public (no reservations required).

Lamb's Players Theatre Presents 100 Hours of Stories from 6pm Thursday May 8 non-stop thru 10pm Monday May 12 at Lamb's Players Theatre, Coronado. They are breaking the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for Longest Consecutive Theatrical Performance. There will be 100 Actors reading and singing through 50 different plays and musicals Non-Stop for 100 Hours!

Tonight, news from across the state, guest-anchored by Mary Alice Williams including (subject to change): The state of Newark; snow day makeups; the economics of marijuana