Rae Smith News

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opens its 2016 winter repertory on January 22with an inventive staging by multiple-award-winning theater director Michael Grandage of Mozart's genial farce, The Marriage of Figaro. Performances continue through February 7. Co-produced by HGO and the Glyndebourne Festival and premiered at Glyndebourne in 2012, this production, set in 1970s Spain with sets and costumes by award-winning designer Christopher Oram, was hailed for its beauty and for affirming “Mozart's comic masterpiece as both of its time and perennially modern” (Sunday Times). HGO is delighted to bring this elegant staging to Houston under the direction of Ian Rutherford, who worked with Grandage and toured the production following its Glyndebourne run.   

The Marlowe Theatre has been chosen as the launch venue for a major new UK tour of WAR HORSE.

The timeless drama and storytelling of Shakespeare's plays have inspired generations of theatregoers across the globe for hundreds of years. In 2016, Birmingham Royal Ballet commemorates 400 years since the death of arguably the world's most prolific playwright with a rare and exceptional season of seven works including a brand-new one-act ballet from Jessica Lang, a world premiere by David Bintley plus two pieces new to the Company inspired by Shakespeare's stories, characters and prose.

Houston, January 6, 2016— Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opens its 2016 winter repertory on January 22with an inventive staging by multiple-award-winning theater director Michael Grandage of Mozart's genial farce, The Marriage of Figaro. Performances continue through February 7. Co-produced by HGO and the Glyndebourne Festival and premiered at Glyndebourne in 2012, this production, set in 1970s Spain with sets and costumes by award-winning designer Christopher Oram, was hailed for its beauty and for affirming “Mozart's comic masterpiece as both of its time and perennially modern” (Sunday Times). HGO is delighted to bring this elegant staging to Houston under the direction of Ian Rutherford, who worked with Grandage and toured the production following its Glyndebourne run.   

Carly Bawden will go virtual as 'Alice' in Damon Albarn (music) and Moira Buffini's (book & lyrics) WONDER.LAND, helmed by Rufus Norris at the National Theatre this autumn. 

After eight record breaking years, the National Theatre has announced the final extension of its West End run of WAR HORSE, with a last performance at the New London Theatre scheduled for 12 March 2016. 

It was 'out with the old, in with the new' for another of the Franco Zeffirelli productions that were once the Metropolitan Opera's bread and butter, designed for audiences to cheer for the scenery even when the cast might not have been top drawer. This time, the victims of changing times (and administrations) were the twin bill of Mascagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI.

Broadway In Chicago has announced the twenty-four finalists for the fourth annual Illinois High School Musical Theater Awards.

Casting is today announced for the Manchester International Festival run of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll's iconic Alice in Wonderland, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Handbagged), directed by National Theatre Director Rufus Norris.

Casting is today announced for the Manchester International Festival run of wonder.land, a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll's iconic Alice in Wonderland, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Handbagged), directed by National Theatre Director Rufus Norris.

Don't have the time or money to visit galleries in New York City? Canton Museum of Art (CMA) will save you the expense with 'Allied Artists of America: 100 Years,' an exhibition featuring over 60 extraordinary works in contemporary American art, opening April 24, 2015 and on view through July 19. A special Opening Night Party for Museum members will be hosted on Thursday, April 23, from 6:00 - 8:00pm at CMA. Members can make reservations for the opening by calling 330.453.7666, ext. 104. A limited number of tickets are available for non-members at $10/person and can be reserved by calling the Museum.

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD Series presents Mascagni's CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA & Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre at 12:30 pm on April 25, 2015.

Going to London's National Theatre, New York's Metropolitan Opera or Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet to see world-class productions is as easy as going to The Ridgefield Playhouse! Incomparable performances captured live on stage are coming to the Playhouse on the big screen in HD! On Saturday, April 4, at 4 p.m., The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow will present Romeo and Juliet. From London's National Theatre on Saturday, April 11, at 12 noon, comes family entertainment -- Treasure Island, which is suitable for 10+ years. Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana/Leoncavallo's Pagliacci is a double bill starring Marcelo Álvarez from the Met on Saturday, April 25, at 12:30 p.m. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the productions!

At the New London Theatre, the proud home of Michael Morpurgo's much celebrated War Horse, the National Theatre's acclaimed stage production recently extended bookings for the West End production to 13 February 2016. In its eighth year, and having now been seen by over 6 million worldwide, a new cast of 26 actors and 12 puppeteers joined the company this month led by the show's equine star Joey.

The Fleur du Cap nominations are out! Here are some thoughts about the nominees in each of the categories.

Going to London's National Theatre and New York's Metropolitan Opera to see world-class productions is as easy as going to The Ridgefield Playhouse. On Thursday, April 16, at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. on the big screen simulcast Live in HD, the award-winning play by Tom Stoppard, The Hard Problem, will expose the troubling question of where psychology and biology meet. Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana/Leoncavallo's Pagliacci is a double bill starring Marcelo Álvarez on Saturday, April 25, at 12:30 p.m.

The nominees for the prestigious 50th annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, to be presented at a glamorous function on Sunday 15 March at 18:00 at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town, have been announced in Stellenbosch today.

At the New London Theatre, the proud home of Michael Morpurgo's much celebrated War Horse, the National Theatre's acclaimed stage production today (2 February) releases over 150,000 new tickets for sale taking bookings for the West End production to 13 February 2016. In its eighth year, and having now been seen by over 6 million worldwide, a new cast of 26 actors and 12 puppeteers join the company on 16 March 2015 led by the show's equine star Joey. War Horse recently completed sell-out dates in South Africa visiting Johannesburg and Cape Town and has now returned to the UK where it will complete a record-breaking national tour in Bristol next month.

wonder.land is a new musical inspired by Lewis Carroll's iconic Alice in Wonderland, with music by Damon Albarn and book and lyrics by Moira Buffini (Tamara Drewe, Handbagged). Directed by the National Theatre's incoming Director Rufus Norris.

There's 36 hours to go until voting closes in this year's BWW:UK Awards - but can Miss Saigon hang on to the lead in all its categories?