McDonald News

In 2019, San Francisco's acclaimed Merola Opera Program will present the first opera commissioned in the Program's history, the world premiere of If I Were You, by distinguished American composer Jake Heggie and noted librettist Gene Scheer. This ground-breaking work will be presented August 1 - 6, 2019, at San Francisco's Herbst Theatre. Today it was announced the opera will be conducted by Nicole Paiement and directed by Keturah Stickann. Information is available at www.merola.org. Tickets will go on sale in Spring 2019.

Two of the three remaining Certified Guitar Players (an honor bestowed by Chet Atkins)--TOMMY EMMANUEL and JOHN KNOWLES--have announcedFriday, January 11 as the release date for their new collaborative instrumental album, HEART SONGS, via CGP Sounds/Thirty Tigers.

It's been more than 30 years since the world fell in love with Jennifer Beals' bad-ass welder turned dancer, Alex Owens, in the iconic dance movie 'Flashdance'. In the musical adaptation it is just as easy to fall in love with Heidi Ruud Ellingsens's portrayel of the character.

After thousands of sold out shows, it's clear - Bon Jovi = One Wild Night. One of the planet's biggest rock bands, Bon Jovi announce their return to the UK, continuing a triumphant world tour that has visited the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Chile and will hit Japan and Australia later in 2018.  A huge year of 80 shows and counting has also seen them inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Their This House Is Not For Sale European Tour is set to be another blockbuster. Tickets go on sale on 02 November at 9am at LiveNation.co.uk.

Yellow Sound Label has announced that 77th Street, the compelling and heartfelt debut solo album from MARGO SEIBERT - the performer who has taken Broadway by storm in musicals such as Rocky and In Transit - is now available on CD online and in stores Friday, October 26.

Multiple award-winning artists are joining forces to release a new bilingual children's album. Singing You Home - Children's Songs for Family Reunification, to be released digitally on Friday, October 26. Get a preview below as Audra McDonald sings 'Singing You Home' by Jason Robert Brown!

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A BRONX TALE, and More!

This year's Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) Masquerade Ball and After Party, an annual benefit gala in support of the 54-year-old arts organization, surpassed expectations once again by raising over a million dollars, for the second year in a row. The event was held at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, and was hosted by Fox 5's very own, Lori Stokes who shared the podium with co-host, 9-year-oldJayden Hairston, one of HSA's outstanding student ambassadors.

The internationally acclaimed Broadway @ concert series hosted and music directed by SiriusXM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky is finally landing smack dab in the middle of Broadway itself this fall. kicking-off with legendary Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner Audra McDonald on November 12.  

There are many plays that evoke feelings and entertain and do everything that an admirable piece of theater is meant to; I cannot say, though, that these plays are as poignant or as tragically beautiful as Emma and Max: the show I was fortunate to see on its closing night. I can't remember the last time I not only stepped out of a theater in awe of what was just seen, but then brought with me the thoughts and questions that were constantly forming like a never-ending chain; this was to the moment I walked through my front door. It is so hard to come up with the perfect form of praise for everything this show is, without also thinking of how the show affects me, compares to my life and makes me question every decision made in the last twenty-four hours.

Book-It Repertory Theatre continues its 29th season with the enchanting My Ántonia by Willa Cather. Annie Lareau, who adapted the novel and starred as Ántonia in Book-It's original 2008 production, returns to direct the 2018 production.

As a centerpiece to its yearlong Ailey Ascending 60th Anniversary celebration and a kickoff to its five-week holiday season, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will host a star-studded gala benefit on Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm, complete with a performance for the ages at New York City Center and party at the New York Hilton Midtown Grand Ballroom. The Honorary Chairs for the evening are screen icons Angela Bassett and Cicely Tyson. Bassett, a Golden Globe Award winner, stars in the hit television series 9-1-1, and was most recently featured in the 2018 blockbusters Black Panther and Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Tyson - known for a myriad of roles across television and film, including Roots, Fried Green Tomatoes, and most recently How to Get Away With Murder - has received three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and on November 18th will make history as the first black woman to receive an Honorary Academy Award.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the recipients of the second and third rounds of the 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $1,114,000 allow 27 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, hoping to extend the life of the world premiere play after its first run.

No Bully®, the leading antibullying nonprofit, announced today the launch of I Have A Voice, a national singing competition for middle and high school students to raise awareness about bullying and encourage student empathy. Global play and entertainment company Hasbro, a No Bully partner, is sponsoring the competition as part of its own BE FEARLESS BE KIND philanthropic initiative to inspire kids to have the compassion, empathy and courage to stand up for others.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra announced the November 9 release of its latest album, American Originals: 1918, under the direction of Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. The recording is inspired by America's cultural awakening at the end of the First World War one hundred years ago and the distinctly American musical styles that reflect the country's diversity. This album celebrates and reimagines popular songs of this era that remain fresh and relevant today with acclaimed musical collaborators including Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers and Pokey LaFarge. The 95th Cincinnati Pops album was recorded live at Cincinnati Music Hall November 10- 12, 2017, and is being released on the Orchestra's label, Fanfare Cincinnati.

Save the Date! The Theatre World Awards announced today the landmark 75th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday evening, June 3, 2019 beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The Royal Opera presents a stunning new production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel - the perfect operatic treat for the festive period. This exquisite adaptation of the well-known Brothers Grimm fairytale is staged by director and designer Antony McDonald, who crafts a picture-book production to bring this darkly enchanting story to vivid life.

A critically acclaimed singer-songwriter with one of the world's most distinctive voices, Michael McDonald makes his Cafe Carlyle debut October 23-November 3. With a career that encompasses five Grammys, numerous chart successes and personal and professional accolades, as well as collaborations with some of the world's most prominent artists, Michael McDonald remains an enduring force in popular music.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is pleased to announce the participation of several outstanding singers in the Renee Fleming 25th Anniversary Concert & Gala*, to honor and celebrate American soprano Renee Fleming's extraordinary commitment to Chicago and her unparalleled contributions to our art form.

Up In Arms, in association with Pleasance and Ellie Keel, today announce the world premiere of Annie Jenkins' In Lipstick - a new play about the power and powerlessness of youth. The production, directed by Alice Hamilton, opens at Pleasance, Islington on 11 January, with previews from 9 January, and runs until 26 January.