When Gaston Leroux published THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA back in 1911, little did he realize the numerous chandeliers that would come crashing down through the decades, and I've witnessed a good number of them. First, in 1925, there was 'the Man of a Thousand Faces,' Lon Chaney, Sr., who frightened poor Mary Philbin (a well-done version, even IF the film was silent); then, for Universal in 1941, Claude Rains (Bette Davis' favorite co-star) was a more subdued vocal coach for soprano Susanna Foster (a wooden Nelson Eddy, alas, is a greater impending horror as 'Raoul'). I could go on - even Herbert Lom, the actor who was the harried police superior to Peter Sellers' 'Inspector Clousseau,' took a swing on the old light fixture. (And let us not forget diminutive Paul Williams in the slightly askew PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE.) All of these pale, of course, in comparison to the legendary interpretation by Michael Crawford in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which first brought the audience to its feet in 1986.
Refresh you musical memory with a selection of classic melodies when The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) presents That's Entertainment with the Mighty Wurlitzer at Cincinnati's Music Hall today, May 15 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The popular theatre organ concert series is presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society.
Refresh you musical memory with a selection of classic melodies when The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) presents That's Entertainment with the Mighty Wurlitzer at Cincinnati's Music Hall on Thursday, May 15 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The popular theatre organ concert series is presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society.
El Complejo Teatral de Buenos Aires y la Fundacion Cinemateca Argentina han organizado un ciclo denominadoMonstruos de la Universal, que se llevara a cabo del martes 26 de noviembre al viernes 13 de diciembre en la Sala Leopoldo Lugones del Teatro San Martin (Avenida Corrientes 1530).
El Complejo Teatral de Buenos Aires y la Fundacion Cinemateca Argentina han organizado un ciclo denominadoMonstruos de la Universal, que se llevara a cabo del martes 26 de noviembre al viernes 13 de diciembre en la Sala Leopoldo Lugones del Teatro San Martin (Avenida Corrientes 1530).
Tune in this Wednesday, October 16th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guest is legendary Broadway, television, film star, and author Kaye Ballard.
Today, September 18, the Metropolitan Opera Guild will celebrate the life and career of Rise Stevens with an evening tribute at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College in NYC that will showcase the legendary mezzo-soprano in rare performance videos not seen since the 1950s.
In the first public event of its 2013-14 season, the Metropolitan Opera Guild will pay tribute to one of the 20th century's great singing legends, Rise Stevens, who died in March at the age of 99, and whose centennial falls today, June 11. Hosted by Frederica von Stade, 'Rise: A Celebration of Rise Stevens' will take place in New York City's Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College on Wednesday, September 18, at 7:30pm.
The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday, an evening with five grand ladies of musical theatre in LADIES OF AN INDETERMINATE AGE tonight, December 10, 2012. Anne Jeffreys, Jane Kean, Pat Marshall, Patricia Morison and Charlotte Rae - join together on the same stage to sing songs from their careers, talk about their co-stars, directors and composers and stray into their wicked (or not-so-wicked) adventures in the great tradition of "No Business Like Show Business."
The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday, an evening with five grand ladies of musical theatre in LADIES OF AN INDETERMINATE AGE on December 10, 2012. Anne Jeffreys, Jane Kean, Pat Marshall, Patricia Morison and Charlotte Rae - join together on the same stage to sing songs from their careers, talk about their co-stars, directors and composers and stray into their wicked (or not-so-wicked) adventures in the great tradition of "No Business Like Show Business."
The Diva and the Baritone, stars Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos and soprano Hallie Neill. Elliot Finkel, a concert pianist with the chops of a Broadway musical director wrote the arrangements to showcase the couple's amazing vocal talents in a surprising mix of Broadway, opera and the best of the Great American songbook.
The Diva and the Baritone, stars Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos and soprano Hallie Neill. Elliot Finkel, a concert pianist with the chops of a Broadway musical director wrote the arrangements to showcase the couple's amazing vocal talents in a surprising mix of Broadway, opera and the best of the Great American songbook.
The Diva and the Baritone, stars Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos and his singing partner and wife, international operatic soprano Hallie Neill. Elliot Finkel, a concert pianist with the chops of a Broadway musical director wrote the arrangements to showcase the couple's amazing vocal talents in a charming mix of Broadway, opera and the best of the Great American songbook.
The Diva and the Baritone, stars Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos and his singing partner and wife, international operatic soprano Hallie Neill. Elliot Finkel, a concert pianist with the chops of a Broadway musical director wrote the arrangements to showcase the couple's amazing vocal talents in a charming mix of Broadway, opera and the best of the Great American songbook.
To my knowledge this is the West Coast premiere of Hollywood Arms by Carol Burnett and her daughter the late Carrie Hamilton, based on Burnett's well written best-selling memoir One More Time. There was a reading at the now Carrie Hamilton Theatre of the Pasadena Playhouse a few years back when the theatre switched names, but not a full-fledged production. The Kentwood Players do quite well in bringing the slice-of-life dramedy to life, now onstage at the Westchester Playhouse through December 17.
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman announced the recipients of the 2011 NEA Opera Honors at a meeting of the National Council on the Arts, the NEA's advisory body on Friday, June 24, 2011. Now in its fourth year, the NEA Opera Honors is the highest award our nation bestows in opera.
This year's honorees are:
Wish Opera will present the operetta Rose Marie, composed by Friml and Stothart, with lyrics by Hammerstein II. Set in the Canadian Rockies, Rose Marie La Flamme, a French-Canadian girl, falls in love with miner Jim Kenyon, an English-Canadian boy; Mounties, music and mayhem ensue!
Wish Opera will present the operetta Rose Marie, composed by Friml and Stothart, with lyrics by Hammerstein II. Set in the Canadian Rockies, Rose Marie La Flamme, a French-Canadian girl, falls in love with miner Jim Kenyon, an English-Canadian boy; Mounties, music and mayhem ensue! The charming score is full of popular melodies, including the much loved Indian Love Call - 'When I'm calling you...' These concerts mark Wish Opera debuts for both conductor Kerry Stratton and stage director Lesley Ballantyne. Starring as Rose Marie is the dynamic French-Canadian mezzo-soprano Maude Brunet; baritone Todd Delaney as Jim Kenyon; rounding out the cast are bass-baritone Olivier Laquerre; baritone Michael York; contralto Deborah Overes; mezzo-soprano Sarah Christina Steinert; actor Sundance Crowe; soprano Anne Marie Ramos; and bass Dan Mitton.
