Music-Theatre Group News

Gotham Chamber Opera together with Opera Philadelphia and Music-Theatre Group is proud to announce the third track in the nation's first comprehensive, operatic Composer In Residence program. Funded initially by a $1.4 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the program has received an additional $330,000 from the foundation to provide a third professional development path for one of today's most promising opera composers, selected on a competitive basis. Applications are being accepted from June 20-July 18, 2013.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 22 years. This year the beloved tradition launches the Company's 2013-2014 Season by reviving Much Ado About Nothing, initially presented during the 2011-2012 Season with original direction by Ethan McSweeny. Much Ado About Nothing will run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

The Metropolitan Opera announced that 'An Evening with Nico Muhly, Two Boys, and other works' will be available for live video streaming on both NPR Music (www.npr.org/music) and WQXR's Q2 Music online contemporary classical station (www.wqxr.org/q2music) this Tuesday, May 14, beginning at 10 p.m. The concert, which takes place at Le Poisson Rouge, is curated by Muhly, who will appear as host and performer. Metropolitan Opera singers Jennifer Zetlan and Paul Appleby will be joined by the composer on piano. Muhly will also perform selections for piano and viola with featured artist Nadia Sirota, his frequent collaborator. Special guests will include violin duo Angela and Jennifer Chun.

Richard B. Worley, chairman of The Philadelphia Orchestra, joined Opera Philadelphia Chairman Daniel K. Meyer today to announce plans for a first-ever artistic collaboration in the 2013-14 season-a theatrically-inspired production of Richard Strauss's compelling and provocative masterpiece, Salome. The performances, set to take place on Thursday, May 8, and Saturday, May 10, 2014, in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall, will be led by Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. With this initial collaboration, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia reinforce their strong commitment to delivering more diverse offerings to audiences in Philadelphia and beyond through groundbreaking performances and innovative collaborations. This new partnership leverages Opera Philadelphia's reputation as a dynamic producer of theatrical opera, and The Philadelphia Orchestra's standing as one of the preeminent orchestras in the world.

Can we practice goodness and create a world to sustain it? This question, posed by Shen Tei, the good-hearted, penniless and cross-dressing prostitute of Bertolt Brecht's Good Person of Szechwan, is central to the work of The Foundry Theatre. The play's concerns, and the earmarks of the Foundry's new production, make it an ideal offering from the company, which is celebrated for creating memorable theatrical events while pursuing civic inquiry and social justice. The show, starring the singular Taylor Mac as Shen Tei, is directed by Lear deBessonet and features original live music by 'indie rock vaudevillians' (SPIN) Cesar Alvarez and The Lisps.

Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP) has been opening its doors since 1975 when it committed itself to delivering outstanding productions of both traditional repertoire and new operatic works. The company assembles the finest international artists to educate, deepen and diversify the opera audience in the greater Philadelphia area. The company produces both large scale and more intimate chamber performances at the Academy of Music and in the Perelman Theater respectively. In addition to these two spaces the company frequently performs throughout the community. The OCP is so committed to new works that the General Directors David B Devan, OCP launched in 2011 the American Repertoire Program to produce a new American work in each of the next ten seasons as well as the nation's first collaborative Composer In Residence Program with New York's Gotham Chamber Opera and Music-Theatre Group.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, has announced that it has awarded grants to 10 opera companies and four teams of artists through two funding programs: The Opera Fund: Repertoire Development and the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase. These grants support the production of new North American opera and help develop the careers of promising directors and designers, respectively.

Can we practice goodness and create a world to sustain it? This question, posed by Shen Tei, the good-hearted, penniless and cross-dressing prostitute of Bertolt Brecht's Good Person of Szechwan, is central to the work of The Foundry Theatre. The play's concerns, and the earmarks of the Foundry's new production, make it an ideal offering from the company, which is celebrated for creating memorable theatrical events while pursuing civic inquiry and social justice. The show, starring the singular Taylor Mac as Shen Tei, is directed by Lear deBessonet and features original live music by 'indie rock vaudevillians' (SPIN) César Alvarez and The Lisps.

Fort Worth Opera revealed today the names of the composers whose works have been selected for participation in the first season of the company's exciting, annual new works program, Frontiers, making its debut May 6 - 11, 2013. The showcase will present eight unpublished works by composers from the Americas during the last week of the 2013 Opera Festival in the McDavid Studio across from Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth.

Affirming its place as an emerging leader in the development of new operatic works, the Opera Company of Philadelphia announced today that Nathan Gunn, internationally-renowned baritone, has been appointed as the director of its newly-formed American Repertoire Council.

Cortland Repertory Theatre has announced that the previously undisclosed show for the 2012 season is Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical "CATS", which will run from tonight, July 11 through July 28.

The Opera Company of Philadelphia, in collaboration with Gotham Chamber Opera and Music-Theatre Group in New York, announces that composer Missy Mazzoli has been selected as its second Composer In Residence (CIR).

Music-Theatre Group held a special interview with Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) on June 7th at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music (450 W. 37th Street between 9th and 10th) at 7:30 p.m.

Music-Theatre Group previously announced a special interview with Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, to be moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) tonight, June 7th at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music (450 W. 37th Street between 9th and 10th) at 7:30 p.m.

La MaMa's popular series MONDAY NIGHTS AT LA MAMA -- featuring La MaMa artists in discussions about their careers and their work at La MaMa -- will conclude tonight, Monday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. with the Tony-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Julie Taymor at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.)

La MaMa's popular series MONDAY NIGHTS AT LA MAMA -- featuring La MaMa artists in discussions about their careers and their work at La MaMa -- will conclude on Monday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. with the Tony-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Julie Taymor at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.)

Music-Theatre Group has announced a special interview with Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner, to be moderated by Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) on Thursday, June 7th at the Dimenna Center for Classical Music (450 W. 37th Street between 9th and 10th) at 7:30 p.m.