New York City Opera News

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City opens its 54th season and its inaugural season at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts through October 9 with a new production of Puccini's Turandot.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

On Thursday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, the Carnegie Hall Notables-a membership and ticket program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s-will host Love Letters, a performance of contemporary American playwright A. R. Gurney's work. Celebrated soprano Renée Fleming and award-winning actor Alec Baldwin will perform the piece as directed by Mark Lamos with executive producer Susan Q. Gallin. After the exclusive event, the Notables will gather at Providence for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, with music by Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky.

Fifty years after its release, the MGM re-mastered film returns to the big screen in high definition with its original vocals and dialog intact. Experience this classic romantic tragedy and the bitter battle between the Jets and the Sharks as Leonard Bernstein's seminal score, featuring the much loved ‘America', ‘Somewhere' and ‘Tonight', is dramatically brought to life on stage by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Jayce Ogren.

On Thursday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall, the Carnegie Hall Notables-a membership and ticket program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s-will host Love Letters, a performance of contemporary American playwright A. R. Gurney's work.

Broadway luminaries Carolee Carmello, Judy Kaye, and Roz Ryan will grace The 5th Avenue Theatre stage under the direction of David Armstrong in the West Coast premiere of Saving Aimee, a soul-stirring new musical with book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford, and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman.

War, Muslim Relations, Xenophobia and the struggles of disenfranchised youth are among the contemporary themes highlighted in Les Enfants de Paris, a world premiere musical premiering October 3rd as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Donna Drake directs a cast of seven including, Adam Halpin (Glory Days), Nadine Malouf , Sevan Greene (Aftermath, Betrayed), Megan Reinking (Million Dollar Quartet, Hair, Boardwalk Empire), Jed Resnick (Avenue Q), Dan Kohler (Blue Man Group), and Blake Segal. Seven performances will be held at the TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor, NYC 10018 beginning October 3, 2011.

Today, New York City Opera announced additional casting, creative team, and production details for the company's 2011/12 season.

Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts Theaterfest is pleased to present the American Premiere of My Fairytale, a musical about Hans Christian Andersen. The musical is composed by Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composer of Godspell, Pippin and Wicked, and will be presented in time for the 2011 centennial celebration of Solvang, CA as a Danish-American community. This exclusive engagement will preview in Santa Maria's Marian Theatre August 12 - 19, 2011, then open under the stars in the Solvang Festival Theater August 26, playing through September 25, 2011.

Award-winning composer, musical director, pianist, and accompanist Andrew Gerle shares the secrets from the piano bench in a free masterclass on musical theater audition techniques.

Re-discover both new and classic musical theater numbers as they are turned upside down in Un-Type Cast, a cabaret show performed at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret from October 3-24, 2011. Reservations can be placed at www.davenportspianobar.com.

Chichester's Festival 2011 closes with Sweeney Todd, the musical commonly acknowledged to be Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, in a cast led by distinguished musical performer Michael Ball and Oscar-nominated actress Imelda Staunton.

Following on from Sunday in the Park with George, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles, A Little Night Music and Sweet Charity, the Menier Chocolate Factory is delighted to announce that its Christmas musical will be Pippin - music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson.

BoHo Theatre kicks off its 2011/2012 Season with Pippin, Stephen Schwartz (composer of Wicked and Godspell) and Roger O. Hirson's musical experience about the search for meaning, significance, and love.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the director of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Interim Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Ain't Misbehavin' on the Mainstage from Oct. 26 through Nov. 20.

NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation Competition is returning for its sixth year and will take place at New World Stages on three subsequent Saturdays - September 17th, September 24th, and October 1st.

Cabaret favorite Marianne Challis, winner of MAC and Bistro Awards, will celebrate WINE, WOMEN AND SONG: An evening of Wine and Cabaret, at Astor Center on Monday, September 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

American Opera Projects and Opera on Tap, in association with the Brooklyn Book Festival, present Opera Grows in BOOKlyn! Music based on the works of contemporary Brooklyn writers

A glittering and intimate journey into the life of charismatic Leonard Bernstein kicks off the 2011 season at Copland House at Merestead on Saturday evening, September 17, 8pm with Late Night with Leonard Bernstein, a sold-out smash at Lincoln Center last year.

Welcome back to BroadwayWorld's newest feature, and first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH RICHARD RIDGE. Follow Richard as he visits Broadway's best and brightest in their Broadway dressing rooms to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In this week's installment, Richard sits with the UK's First Lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige - still here and still going strong. Paige is back on Broadway for the second time in her career as the fearless Carlotta Campion in FOLLIES at the Marquis Theatre.