Peter Hall News

Lyric's fabulous 2013-14 season is about to begin! To help audiences make the most of their opera experience, Lyric Opera of Chicago offers an array of lectures, tours, galas, and other special events during its 59th season, September through May. Please take note of these highlights for your season-preview coverage and calendar listings.

On Saturday, October 5, elegantly dressed guests will make their red-carpet entrances amidst the paparazzi and onlookers at the Civic Opera House. It's the opening night of Giuseppe Verdi'sOtello, which launches Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season. Doors open at 4pm and the performance begins at 5pm, concluding shortly after 8pm.

Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer will star in a Center Theatre Group special event, 'A Word or Two,' written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season.

Due to overwhelming demand, the Barrymore Theatre box office (243 West 47th Street) will open early, for one week only, on Monday, July 29 at 10:00 am through Sunday, August 4 at 6:00 pm, for tickets to Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Rafe Spall, and directed by ten-time Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols. The box office will be open July 29-August 3 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, and August 4 from Noon to 6:00 pm. After August 4, the box office at the Barrymore will reopen on Tuesday, September 3.

Direct Arts presents a workshop production of DISPOSSESSED, a bittersweet story about finding and losing home in the Lower East Side, created and performed by actress and award-winning producer Victoria Linchong. Performances will take place today, July 19-21 at HERE Arts Center in the Dorothy B. Williams Theater as part of the SubletSeries@HERE.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Peter Hall's stunning adaptation of Animal Farm, George Orwell's acclaimed novel. Animal Farmopens tonight, July 19th and will be performed by Raleigh Little Theatre's own Teens on Stage in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre.

Tickets for Harold Pinter's Betrayal, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Rafe Spall, and directed by ten-time Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, have only been available for a week, and according to the New York Post, the show has alredy reached $5 million in sales. Michael Riedel writes that the play 'will likely be sold out by the time it plays its first performance Oct. 1.'

Billy Budd is the new show from the creators of the Offie-nominated The Illusion and Ladybird. Director Seb Harcombe has assembled a cast of emerging talent - seven fine young actors, the next generation of stage talent. They are joined by two well-known faces from stage and screen for the production, which will run from today, 17 July - 10 August.

Peter Hall's adaptation of George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, opens on July 19th for a two-week run in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre at Raleigh Little Theatre. Presented by RLT's Teens on Stage (TOS) and Teens Backstage (TBS), Animal Farm tells the story of the animals of Manor Farm's revolution gone wrong as power-hungry pigs corrupt the societal system of justice and equality.

Tickets for Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Rafe Spall, and directed by ten-time Tony Award-winner Mike Nichols, are set to go on sale tonight at 12:01 AM. Tickets will be available at www.telecharge.com or by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200.

Jagged Fence in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre will present DUSA, FISH, STAS AND V by Pam Gems, and directed by Helen Eastman, beginning today, 9 July - Saturday, 3 August 2013.

Direct Arts presents a workshop production of DISPOSSESSED, a bittersweet story about finding and losing home in the Lower East Side, created and performed by actress and award-winning producer Victoria Linchong. Performances will take place July 19-21 at HERE Arts Center in the Dorothy B. Williams Theater as part of the SubletSeries@HERE.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Peter Hall's stunning adaptation of Animal Farm, George Orwell's acclaimed novel. Animal Farmopens on July 19th and will be performed by Raleigh Little Theatre's own Teens on Stage in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre.

BILLY BUDD is the new show from the creators of the Offie-nominated The Illusion and Ladybird. Director Seb Harcombe has assembled a cast of emerging talent - seven fine young actors, the next generation of stage talent. They are joined by two well-known faces from stage and screen for the production, which will run from 17 July - 10 August.

Celebrating the 80th birthday of playwright and novelist David Storey, the first London production in over 30 years - and the first production in London since the original National Theatre production- David Storey's Early Days plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Today and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from tonight, 16 June 2013 (Press Night: Monday 17 June 2013 at 7.30pm).

Jagged Fence in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre will present DUSA, FISH, STAS AND V by Pam Gems, and directed by Helen Eastman, beginning Tuesday, 9 July - Saturday, 3 August 2013.

59E59 Theaters welcomes the Finborough Theatre production of J.B. Priestley's CORNELIUS, directed by Sam Yates, to Brits Off Broadway. Produced by Jagged Fence, Handsome Dog and 31 Productions, CORNELIUS began performances on Saturday, June 1 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 30. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

WaterTower Theatre presents Black Tie, running tonight, May 31 - June 23, 2013 at the Addison Theatre Centre on the Main Stage. The cast includes Stan Graner as Curtis, John S. Davies as Curtis' Father, Marcia Carroll as Mimi, Katherine Bourne as Elsie, Jordon Brodess as Teddy and Jake Buchanan understudying the role of Teddy.

The Denver Center Theatre Company's (DCTC) world premiere production of SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL, with book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow and music by Neal Hampton, is being staged by director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge, whose recent Broadway revival of Ragtime received seven Tony Award nominations. SENSE & SENSIBILITY THE MUSICAL is currently running in its world premiere production through tonight, May 26, 2013. Starring in the pivotal sister roles are Stephanie Rothenberg as Elinor and Mary Michael Patterson as Marianne. Cast member Robert Petkoff photographed the entire cast and crew from the production, and was kind enough to allow BroadwayWorld to post them below!