Richard Stafford News

New York City Opera continues its 2017-18 Chamber Opera Series with a unique double bill of Donizetti's Il Pigmalione and Rameau's Pigmalion, the first time these one-act gems will be presented on the same program. The production also marks the New York premiere of Donizetti's first opera. This double bill will be directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, with Gil Rose conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Two performances of Il Pigmalione/Pigmalion will be presented at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater on Saturday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 25 at 4:00 p.m.

This Delightful Holiday Musical is a true celebration of the Season. All the splendor of Christmas is brought to life in a magical journey through Yuletides past. The holiday songs we all know and love are wrapped up in a heartwarming celebration of spirit that will delight audiences of all ages.

Westchester Broadway Theatre will present THE CHRISTMAS VOYAGER, A Holiday Musical Adventure by Bob Fitzsimmons, running November 22 - December 23, 2017, with direction and choreography by Richard Stafford and musical direction by Shane Parus. Get a sneak peek with photos from WBT's past production below!

With a catalog full of hits like JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and CATS, Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musicals seem to polarize musical theatre fans into those who either love him or those who feel like he is a no-substance sellout. And, although I occasionally find his lyrics a tad trite, I'm a self-confessed sucker for larger-than-life females with big, sassy vibrato. So, despite a few structural defects, the thrilling score of EVITA is an epic win. And, with Casa's talented team at the helm, the current production packs a whole lot of punch.

Casa Ma ana Theatre continues its 2017-18 Broadway Season presented by Frank Kent Cadillac with Evita, November 4-12. Tickets are on sale now.

Casa Ma ana Theatre continues its 2017-18 Broadway Season presented by Frank Kent Cadillac with Evita, November 4-12. Tickets are on sale now.

Westchester Broadway Theatre will present THE CHRISTMAS VOYAGER, A Holiday Musical Adventure by Bob Fitzsimmons, running November 22 - December 23, 2017, with direction and choreography by Richard Stafford and musical direction by Shane Parus. Get a sneak peek with photos from WBT's past production below!

This Delightful Holiday Musical is a true celebration of the Season. All the splendor of Christmas is brought to life in a magical journey through Yuletides past. The holiday songs we all know and love are wrapped up in a heartwarming celebration of spirit that will delight audiences of all ages.

Casa Ma ana Theatre continues its 2017-18 Broadway Season presented by Frank Kent Cadillac with Evita, November 4-12. Tickets are on sale now.

What a treat to be in the audience at Westchester Broadway Theatre's new production of Annie Get Your Gun, written and composed by Irving Berlin.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, with music & lyrics by Irving Berlin and book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields, directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, with musical direction by Shane Parus, running now through November 26, 2017 and December 28, 2017 - January 28, 2018. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Annie Get Your Gun, the musical, is a fictionalized version of the life of  Annie Oakley. Annie's (Devon Perry) ability as a sharpshooter wins her a job in Buffalo Bill's (Gary Lynch) Wild West show. Her brilliant shooting offends the masculinity of the show's star marksman, handsome baritone Frank Butler (Gregg Goodbrod), and makes a romance between the pair impossible. A happy ending only arrives when wise old Sitting Bull (Marshall Factora) gently demonstrates to the naive Oakley that she can easily win the insecure Butler by intentionally losing a shooting competition. The rousing, sure-fire finale hit's the mark every time. With songs such as "There's No Business Like Show Business", "The Girl That I Marry" and "Anything You Can Do" this wonderful Irving Berlin score will score a hit for all of us!

The Bee Gees won 5 Grammys, including Album of the Year in the late '70's with the album SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. The brothers three, along with Donna Summer, ushered in the disco era, and 'Stayin' Alive' became its anthem.

The image of John Travolta, his white suit and that disco stance is "burned, baby burn" into your brain.

Walnut Street Theatre concludes its landmark 208th season with an exciting musical inspired by the 1977 film that became a cultural phenomenon, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, this high energy musical begins previews on May 16th, opens on May 24th and runs through July 16th on the WST Mainstage.

Last June, New York City Opera inaugurated its Opera en Español series with the long-awaited New York premiere of Daniel Catàn's Florencia en el Amazonas. This May, following the critical success of the company's modern day revival of Respighi's rarely heard La Campana Sommersa, New York City Opera will present the second installment in its Opera en Español series with the American premiere of Antonio Literes's circa 1713 Spanish Baroque opera, Los Elementos. Richard Stafford will direct and choreograph the compact, one-hour work with sets by John Farrell, costumes by Janet O'Neill, lighting by Susan Roth and hair and makeup by Georgianna Eberhard. Sopranos Samarie Alicea and Chelsea Bonagura and mezzo-sopranos Melanie Ashkar and Kelsey Robertson will make their City Opera debuts as the four elements: Air (El Ayre), Water (El Agua), Earth (La Tierra), and Fire (El Fuego). City Opera veteran baritone Marco Nisticó returns to portray Time (El Tiempo) and mezzo-soprano Magda Gartner is featured as the Dawn (La Aurora). Pacien Mazzagatti, New York City Opera's Principal Conductor, will lead the New York City Opera Orchestra in Literes's evocative and atmospheric score.

The revival of Miss Saigon marks the fifth Broadway show for Julius Sermonia. It's also the first time he's been hired for a swing position-- one that covers potentially nineteen roles. Considering the sheer size of the forty-plus member cast, it's no surprise he was called to suit up for two roles soon after previews began.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, ends the 2016-2017 Season with the exciting musical, Saturday Night Fever. Performing on the Stark Stage from April 11 - 30, 2017, Saturday Night Fever is sponsored by Linda & Mel Teetz and Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers Group. Saturday Night Fever is produced in association with the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present Broadway's longest-running American musical, Chicago, which performs on the Stark Stage from January 3 - 22, 2017.