Michigan Opera Theatre News

Virginia Opera is wrapping up its 35th Anniversary Season with the scorching production of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. The production, also celebrating a famous 75th Anniversary, is a brave American classic bridging the gap between Broadway and opera. The clever love story between characters Porgy and Bess explodes with a fiery tempo, amid George and Ira Gershwin's distinguished style featuring jazz, Broadway, and opera. Porgy and Bess is based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and the play of the same name he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward, which focuses on African-American life in the early 1920s in Catfish Row located in Charleston, South Carolina.

Sarahbeth Grossman and Craig Zehms today announced that they would present the Off-Broadway premiere of Martin Casella's acclaimed comedy THE IRISH CURSE at the Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street (between Avenue of the Americas & Varick Street) beginning an open-ended run on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.

With the much anticipated move by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in the fall of 2011, the 53rd Lyric Opera season will be the final one produced by the Company in the Lyric Theatre on 11th and Central streets in Kansas City, Missouri. With attendance and artistic quality at all-time highs, the Lyric Opera is already prepared for the move to the Kauffman Center in the fall of 2011.

Sarahbeth Grossman and Craig Zehms today announced that Dan Butler (best known as Bulldog on "Frasier"), Roderick Hill (Butley on Broadway opposite Nathan Lane), Scott Jaeck ("Charmed"), Brian Leahy ("The Junior League of Superheroes"), and Austin Peck ("Days of Our Lives") would star in the Off-Broadway premiere of Martin Casella's acclaimed comedy THE IRISH CURSE at the Soho Playhouse.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present Verdi's Rigoletto March 20, 24, 26, and 28, 2010.

Second Stage Theatre is pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, has extended four weeks, through December 6. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY opened on Wednesday, October 7 and was originally scheduled to run through November 8.

Due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, now playing at Second Stage Theatre, has extended a second time and will now close on January 3, 2010. The show, which is currently extended through December 6, will not be performed December 14 - 20 due to Smith's previous commitment to perform Hymn with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center.

The Mall at Partridge Creek will light up the holiday season at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 21. The Detroit Pistons celebrated drumline will help Santa - the event's Grand Marshal - tip off the mall's third-annual tree lighting ceremony.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Utah premiere of A CHRISTMAS STORY, the stage version of the classic holiday film based on the stories of Jean Shepherd.

Second Stage Theatre will host a post performance discussion with Anna Deavere Smith and three of her interview subjects from Let Me Down Easy following the Friday, November 20 performance.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

The Mall at Partridge Creek will light up the holiday season at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 21. The Detroit Pistons celebrated drumline will help Santa - the event's Grand Marshal - tip off the mall's third-annual tree lighting ceremony.

Sarahbeth Grossman and Craig Zehms today announced that they would present the Off-Broadway premiere of Martin Casella's acclaimed comedy THE IRISH CURSE at the Soho Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street (between Avenue of the Americas & Varick Street) beginning an open-ended run on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre is pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, has extended four weeks, through December 6. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY opened on Wednesday, October 7 and was originally scheduled to run through November 8.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

Following a critically acclaimed season which included the Pulitzer Prize finalist Becky Shaw and the Broadway transfer of its musical hit Next to Normal, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced three of the four plays scheduled for its upcoming 31st Season.