Richard Eyre News

Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet returns to the Met stage for its first performances since 1897, with the powerful pairing of Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Keenlyside's acclaimed interpretation of Hamlet in Geneva, London and Barcelona finally arrives in the United States, with a performance in the Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser production that was hailed by the British press as 'magnificent . . . sheer vocal genius.' Petersen, who steps in for Natalie Dessay, brings her haunting portrayal of Ophélie to the Met; she earned praise for the role during a 2006 run of Hamlet in Düsseldorf. Louis Langrée conducts a cast that includes Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence in his Met debut as Laërte, and James Morris in the role of Claudius. Jane Archibald, in her Met debut, sings the role of Ophélie on April 5 and 9. The creative team is rounded out by Christian Fenouillat with set designs, Agostino Cavalca with costume designs, and Christophe Forey with lighting designs, all in their Met debuts. Performances run through April 9, with the March 27 matinee shown worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD

Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet returns to the Met stage for its first performances since 1897, with the powerful pairing of Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Keenlyside's acclaimed interpretation of Hamlet in Geneva, London and Barcelona finally arrives in the United States, with a performance in the Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser production that was hailed by the British press as 'magnificent . . . sheer vocal genius.' Petersen, who steps in for Natalie Dessay, brings her haunting portrayal of Ophélie to the Met; she earned praise for the role during a 2006 run of Hamlet in Düsseldorf. Louis Langrée conducts a cast that includes Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence in his Met debut as Laërte, and James Morris in the role of Claudius. Jane Archibald, in her Met debut, sings the role of Ophélie on April 5 and 9. The creative team is rounded out by Christian Fenouillat with set designs, Agostino Cavalca with costume designs, and Christophe Forey with lighting designs, all in their Met debuts. Performances run through April 9, with the March 27 matinee shown worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD

On Sunday, March 28, Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, 'Broadway Talks,' with Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actress Laura Linney. Among other topics, Roth and Linney will discuss her current role in Time Stands Still, at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street). The event will take place at 7:30pm.

Verity Hunt-Ballard from Adelaide has won the most hotly contested role in Australian theatre. She will play the world's best loved nanny in the world's Supercalifragilistic musical, MARY POPPINS, opening at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne in July.

The Denver engagement of the MARY POPPINS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR opens tonight, Friday March 5 at 7:30pm at the Buell Theatre, performing for five weeks through Sunday, April 4.

Dmitri Shostakovich's The Nose has its Metropolitan Opera premiere on March 5 at 8:00 pm, conducted by Valery Gergiev, in a visually arresting new production by artist William Kentridge that features original collage, film, sculpture, and massive projections of the artist's drawings and prints. Making his Met debut, baritone Paulo Szot performs the role of Kovalyov in the story of the Russian official who wakes one morning to discover his nose has disappeared (and taken on a higher bureaucratic rank). Based on the short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol, the opera is what Kentridge has called an exploration of "learning from the absurd." In this production, visuals include renderings of Soviet workers, snatches of newspaper, and projections of propaganda - as well as the missing appendage in adventures ranging from delivering a speech to riding a horse.

MARY POPPINS will welcome to the company Karl Kenzler as George Banks and Megan Osterhaus as Winifred Banks tonight, Monday, March 1. Kenzler and Osterhaus reprise the roles they originated in the critically-acclaimed North American touring production (currently performing in Tempe, Arizona through February 28 before opening in Denver, Colorado on March 5). Produced on Broadway by Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh, MARY POPPINS performs at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce full casting for the Denver engagement of MARY POPPINS. Denver's most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Buell Theatre on Thursday, March 4 for a limited engagement of five weeks through April 4. The opening night is Friday, March 5 at 7:30pm.

London's Finborough Theatre will present THREE SEAGULLS, three staged readings complementing the London premiere production of The Notebook of Trigorin. The three works scheduled for readings are THE SEAGULL, HIS GREATNESS, and PIETA.

The Metropolitan Opera's new production of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, conducted by Met Music Director James Levine and directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, premieres on THIRTEEN'S Great Performances at the Met series.

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce full casting for the Cincinnati engagement of MARY POPPINS. Cincinnati's most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Aronoff Center on Thursday, April 8, 2010 for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, April 25, 2010. The opening night is Friday, April 9, 2010 at 8:00pm.

Noel Coward's Private Lives comes to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre for a ten week season from February 24 2010, following a two week run at the Theatre Royal Bath (February 10 - 20). Starring Kim Cattrall and Matthew Macfadyen, and directed by Richard Eyre, Private Lives remains one of Coward's most sophisticated comedy of manners.

Franco Vassallo will sing the role of Ezio in Verdi's Attila on March 19, 22, and 27, replacing Carlos Alvarez, who is ill. Vassallo is currently appearing at the Met as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the role of his 2005 company debut. Last season the Italian baritone was Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore, and in 2007, audiences around the world saw him as Riccardo in The Met: Live in HD transmission of I Puritani, now available in DVD.

Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez star in La Fille du Régiment, Donizetti's comedy about the tough-hearted young woman who was rescued and raised by the 21st regiment of the French army, and her romance with a hapless soldier-suitor.

Noel Coward's dazzling comic masterpiece comes to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre for a ten week season from 24 February 2010, following a two week run at the Theatre Royal Bath (10 - 20 February).

Puccini's love story La Bohème returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday, February 20, with Russian soprano Anna Netrebko and Polish tenor Piotr Becza?a as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Mimì and Rodolfo.

The New York Times profiles Hollywood producer Robert Evans today, who is the subject of an upcoming Broadway play penned by television writer Jon Robin Baitz, as BroadwayWorld previously reported. The story will surround Evans real life events. In the Times article, Evans discusses how he suffered a stroke and was originally paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak. After much work, Evans has been able to return to his role of successful Hollywood producer.

As previously reported, Jon Robin Baitz is currently working on a show about producer Robert Evans. The scribe will first make his Broadway debut as a playwright, however, with LOVE AND MERCY which will take to the Broadway stage next season.

Noel Coward's dazzling comic masterpiece comes to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre for a ten week season from 24 February 2010, following a two week run at the Theatre Royal Bath (10 - 20 February). Starring Kim Cattrall and Matthew Macfadyen, and directed by Richard Eyre, Private Lives remains one of Coward's most sophisticated comedy of manners. BroadwayWorld brings you the first promotion shots!

Writer Jon Robin Baitz is currently in the works of authoring a new play about Hollywood film producer Robert Evans. Evans worked on such films as Rosemary's Baby, Love Story, The Godfather and Chinatown and was also well known for his much-publicized seven marriages. The play is expected to open during the 2010-2011 Broadway season.