Michelle Johnson News

Bill Fayne's "Legendary Ladies of Song" will showcase world-famous hits of legendary musicians throughout the decades on Saturday, May 13.

Last Chance to see Dialogues des Carmelites at the Sarasota Opera House

Opera Columbus today announced its most collaborative season to date for the 2017-18 season, showcasing the artists of Juilliard, the Columbus Symphony, Against the Grain Theatre, and Company XIV in a not-to-be-missed trilogy of timeless operatic repertoire presented in what has become Opera Columbus' signature forward-thinking style.

Thrilling music, exciting new voices, and compelling theater will launch Sarasota Opera into its 58th Winter Festival Season on Saturday, February 11th, 2017. This will be the company's first season in 28 years to not include any operas by Giuseppe Verdi.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

Conducted by CSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, this passionate and spectacular piece touches every emotion from stark terror to soothing beauty to an uplifting sense of spirituality. Although composed as a sacred work, its deep theatricality has led to it being frequently described as "Verdi's greatest opera." To adequately convey the breadth of his vision, Verdi called for the combined forces of a full orchestra, chorus, and four solo vocalists. As such, the Columbus Symphony will be joined by the Columbus Symphony Chorus, soprano Michelle Johnson, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Evan Johnson, and bass Burak Bilgili.

Marissa Wolf, Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Director of New Works, today announced additional programing and dates for KC Rep's new play festival, Origin KC. Origin KC offers audiences a unique experience to engage with the process of creating theater, and gives emerging and established writers the resources to develop plays for future seasons at KC Rep and beyond.

A who's-who of entertainers and personalities will join Mark Shunock, star of 'Rock of Ages' at The Venetian Las Vegas and creator/producer of Mondays Dark, for the Mondays Dark two-year anniversary celebration taking place on Monday, Dec. 14 (doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.) at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

The Fringe Festival returns to Kansas City from July 16 through July 26. The festival will be held at 20 venues in the metropolitan area, including the Arts Asylum, Unicorn Theatre, and Union Station among others. Over 116 performing groups, many returning from the 2014 Fringe Festival, will produce the over 480 shows during the two week span. The Grand Hall of Union Station and the Blue Galley in Aquarius/Vulcan's Forge will host the festivals visual artists.

Tonight, May 6 at 7 pm, Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) principal bassoonist Brad Balliett will give a presentation on reed making for wind instruments, giving patrons a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the facets of the lives of double-reed wind players. The free event is offered by the PSO in partnership with the Princeton Public Library, and will be held in the library's community room.

On Sunday, May 17, at 4 pm at Richardson Auditorium, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents Viva Verdi!, an opera extravaganza featuring excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi's most popular works and spotlighting gifted young opera stars Michelle Johnson, soprano; Margaret Lattimore, mezzo; Zach Borichevsky, tenor; and Hugh Russell, baritone. Conducted by PSO Music Director Rossen Milanov, the afternoon's selections from Il Trovatore's complicated story of war, revenge and love, La Traviata's portrayal of a soul-searching courtesan, and Aida's tale of impossible love in an exotic setting will serve as a fitting encore to last season's bicentennial celebration of Verdi's birth.

On Wednesday, May 6 at 7 pm, Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) principal bassoonist Brad Balliett will give a presentation on reed making for wind instruments, giving patrons a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the facets of the lives of double-reed wind players. The free event is offered by the PSO in partnership with the Princeton Public Library, and will be held in the library's community room.

Over the past few years, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch have been taking Cast Party, their 'extreme' open mic, all over the country. This past week, they took the Party to Las Vegas for the sixth time. The venue, once again, was the glorious Smith Center, a half-billion dollar performing arts center that has become a vital force in the Las Vegas musical and theatrical community. Scroll down for photos!

Single tickets go on sale at the Sarasota Opera Box Office (61 N. Pineapple Avenue) Today, September 2nd for Sarasota Opera's 2014-2015 Fall and Winter Season, one of the grandest seasons in the company's history. Box office hours are Mondaythrough Friday, 10am - 4pm, and is located at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue in the Pavilion Building at the Sarasota Opera House. Visitwww.sarasotaopera.org for more information.

Single tickets go on sale at the Sarasota Opera Box Office (61 N. Pineapple Avenue) Today, September 2nd for Sarasota Opera's 2014-2015 Fall and Winter Season, one of the grandest seasons in the company's history. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10am to 4pm, and is located at 61 N. Pineapple Avenue in the Pavilion Building at the Sarasota Opera House. Visit www.sarasotaopera.org for more information.

Celebrity Series of Boston will present jazz pianist Jason Moran in Fats Waller Dance Party today, April 4, 2014 at 8:00pm at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. Tickets start at $44, and are available online at www.celebrityseries.org, by calling CelebrityCharge at (617) 482-6661 Monday-Today 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., or at the Berklee Performance Center Box Office, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. Sponsored by Donna and Mike Egan.

Celebrity Series of Boston will present jazz pianist Jason Moran in Fats Waller Dance Party on Friday, April 4, 2014 at 8:00pm at Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. Tickets start at $44, and are available online at www.celebrityseries.org, by calling CelebrityCharge at (617) 482-6661 Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., or at the Berklee Performance Center Box Office, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. Sponsored by Donna and Mike Egan.

The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild tonight announced winners of its Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists awards in 14 categories of film, television, commercials and live theater during the black-tie ceremony at the Paramount Studios Theatre. MAC Cosmetics was the Official Cocktail Reception Sponsor. The awards took place before an audience of more than 500, including guild members, industry executives and press. The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild's President Sue Cabral-Ebert presided over the awards ceremony with actor/comedian Tom Arnold serving as host.

Based on the legends of Don Juan, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's DON GIOVANNI is a true staple in the operatic repertoire and is the tenth most-performed opera worldwide. The opera is often considered to be a dramma giocoso, which means that it mixes serious drama with comedy to create a melodramatic plot; however, Mozart catalogued the work as an opera buffa, or comic opera. Houston's Opera in the Heights production highlights the humor of the piece and thrills with skillful performances.

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre (NRACT) will present Andrew Lippa's 'The Wild Party,' based on Joseph Moncure March's controversial poem about the Roaring '20s, for nine performances, March 7-23.