McDonald News

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with super sponsor Dr. Thomas Ratliff, is proud to present the musical adaptation of an American masterpiece.

Williamstown Theatre Festival announces that the 2019 WTF Gala in New York City honoring Board ChairmanMatt Harris for his visionary leadership will be held on Monday, February 11, 2019, and will feature an evening of performance by Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winner and two-time Festival star, Audra McDonald.

The festival supports the development of practice and presents exciting new work by internationally acclaimed and emerging disabled artists.

Following their sold-out debut in July, VANJARI is thrilled to return to Don't Tell Mama for two more dates in September! In their new and unique show, Evangeline and Ariana take the audience on a generational romp from the Blues to Blondie, Kander & Ebb to the Cure, with a dash of Grey Gardens, because…the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree!

This little musical that could is now playing at the Titusville Playhouse through Sept. 9, and though on a more modest scale, maintains the intoxicating charm and heart of the original. Directed by Steven J. Heron, the dramatically fictionalized story of the real-life 1899 Newsboys Strike carries an unexpected power thanks to its earnest sentiment and prescient politics.

The Ensemble Theatre elevates the arts featuring an all-female cast in Trey Anthony's 'da Kink in My Hair," music composed by Michael McElroy, Carol Malliard, E'Marcus Harper, and S. Renee Clark; directed by Ensemble Artistic Director Eileen J. Morris; and musical direction by Melanie Bivens.

 Carnegie Hall's 2018-2019 season is fast approaching, and we are looking forward to exciting new projects and outstanding concerts! Highlights below include Carnegie Hall's Opening Night Gala with the San Francisco Symphony led by Michael Tilson Thomas as he embarks on his season-long Perspectives series; the launch of pianist Yuja Wang's Perspectives series; concerts curated and performed by Chris Thile, holder of the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair; the debut of Decoda, featuring alumni of Ensemble Connect; concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the New York String Orchestra and the 90th birthday of pianist Leon Fleisher; and, coming in spring 2019: a citywide festival-Migrations: The Making of America.

Cultural Revolution era China, an iconic Irish fiddle player, the centenary celebrations of the Republic of Estonia, and a link between architecture and mortality are among the inspirations for the new season of contemporary dance and performance at Tramway.

Branded Content Will Set You Free will hold its final New York City performance on August 29, 2018, sources confirmed. The powerhouse sketch show, which takes place in a dystopian future where all content is branded, began its run at the UCB Theatre in Hell's Kitchen in February 2018 and quickly became one the fledgling location's hallmark attractions; however, the production ruffled some feathers when it announced that BCWSYF mainstay Gianmarco Soresi would be replaced by Alexis Pereira, an E-Learning Supervising Technician at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, following the former's departure to Less Than 50%, currently running at 59E59.

Rehearsals for Theater Latte Da's Once are underway. Winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Once features a book by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Theater Latte Da Artistic Director Peter Rothstein directs the production with Music Director Jason Hansen and choreography by Kelli Foster Warder. Performances begin September 12 at the Ritz Theater (345 13th Avenue NE in Minneapolis). Single tickets and season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at latteda.org or by calling 612-339-3003.

The BERNSTEIN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT TANGLEWOOD concert was one of the largest and most significant performances taking place worldwide in recognition of what would have been Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday. The unprecedented and unparalleled event marked the climax of Tanglewood's season-long celebration of the Bernstein Centennial.

Producer Mark Cortale has announced a star-studded lineup for the sixth season of his celebrated Broadway @ NOCCA concert series in New Orleans. Three of Broadway's biggest names will share the marquee with one of opera's premiere stars in 2018-19.

Celebrating the 100 years of the American Theatre Wing, their centennial book released today, American Theatre Wing, an Oral History: 100 Years, 100 Voices, 100 Million Miracles (Graphic Arts Books; edited by Patrick Pacheco), is a fascinating cornucopia of untold lore and never-before-seen photos as prismatic and unexpected as the theater itself.

R.R.R.E.D., with music and lyrics by Katie Thompson and a book by Adam Jackman, Katie Thompson and Patrick Livingston, will play its final performance on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, coinciding with Thompson's final scheduled performance.

PBS announced today, as part of its co-production partnership with the BBC, that a new three-part live event, AUTUMNWATCH - NEW ENGLAND, will air Wednesday-Thursday, October 17-18, 2018, at 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET and Friday, October 19, 2018 at 8:30-9:30 p.m. ET. 

The Watermill Theatre will transfer two productions to London this autumn. Following the success of its run at The Watermill and its UK and international tour last year, The Watermill Ensemble will revive TWELFTH NIGHT at Wilton's Music Hall from 12 to 22 September. Renowned for its bold, progressive and collaborative approach to Shakespeare, The Watermill Ensemble, re-imagines TWELFTH NIGHT in the hedonistic 1920s, where prohibition is rife. Fused with innovative staging and actor-musicianship, the radical spirit of Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald collides with the contemporary influence of Postmodern Jukebox to create a dizzying and beautiful version of Shakespeare's perfect play.

Daniel Schumann, Lee Dean and Cambridge Arts Theatre in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre today announce the full cast for Rebus: Long Shadows.. Dani Heron (Angela), Eleanor House (Heather/Maggie) and Neil McKinven (Mordaunt) join Charles Lawson (John Rebus), John Stahl (Big Ger Cafferty) and Cathy Tyson (Siobhan Clarke) to complete the company.

Music Mountain, America's longest running summer chamber music festival, continues its 89th season with two first time guests! The brilliant American String Quartet offers a program featuring Haydn, Shostakovich, and Dvorak on Sunday, September 16 (3pm). The Roxy Coss Quintet, an inspiring jazz ensemble with a soulful, unique and progressive sound, plays their original compositions on Saturday, September 15 (6:30pm). Concerts are scheduled through September 23.

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and five-time Grammy Award winner Michael McDonald is set for the October 12 release of Season of Peace: The Christmas Collection on BMG. The album compiles McDonald's most beloved Christmas recordings including “White Christmas/Winter Wonderland” (feat. Jonny Lang), “Oh Holy Night,” “Christmas on the Bayou” and “Children Go Where I Send Thee” (feat. Twinkie Clark), as well as a new version of “Winter Wonderland” featuring special guest Jake Shimabukuro. The album art hails from an original painting by McDonald himself; see below for a complete track list.