Rona Figueroa News

One night only! 'Broadway on Main Street' returns to Landmark on Saturday, January 6 at 8 PM.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of Wild Goose Dreams, by Hansol Jung, directed by Leigh Silverman, running September 5 - October 1 (press opening: Sunday, September 10) in the Mandell Weiss Forum.

Ali Ewoldt, currently starring as Christine in Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera, was luminous and enchanting in her sold-out Feinstein's/54 Below solo debut, helmed by Alan Muraoka and featuring musical direction by Gary Adler on March 12th. Scroll down to see the photos!

Over the years, as we all orbit in the same Broadway Asian community, I got to know Ali Ewoldt and see her perform various roles, including Carrie in CAROUSEL, Tuptim in THE KING AND I, and Luisa in THE FANTASTICKS. Always happy to be supporting part of the Tribe and seeing someone who looked like me starring in these iconic shows, it became evident that Ewoldt possesses one of the most pristine soprano voices out there today. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before her next big Broadway break, and that brings us to today. She stars as Christine in the long-running mega-hit THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and will be making her solo debut at Feinstein's/54 Below with FROM PHANTOM TO PHANTOM on March 12. Ahead of the show, Ewoldt was kind enough to take time to answer a few questions for us.

It's an all-new event created exclusively for the Jeanne Rimsky Theater. Producer Stephen DeAngelis brings five of Broadway's finest vocalists to recreate their signature musical moments from their long-running roles in the Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals you know and love. They'll also share backstage stories and take questions from the audience.

Under the direction of Lee Blakeley at Lyric Opera (who originally staged this production for Paris's Theatre du Chatelet in 2014), Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical THE KING AND I is heightened to the lavish and beautiful spectacle it deserves. This story of British school teacher Anna Leonowens who arrives in Siam to instruct the many children of the King has moments of sweeping grandiosity but also many of emotional intimacy-the Lyric's production makes the full emotional arc a delight to watch. Visually, the creative team captures every inch of the musical's opulence. Sue Blane's costume designs are breathtakingly elaborate and incorporate an inspiring display of color; Anna's magnificent hoop skirts are definitely a highlight. Jean-March Puissant's set design also captures the grandiosity of a royal palace with many intricate details, while also giving the performers the space they need to execute Peggy Hickey's choreography, and Rick Fisher's lighting adds to the decadent atmosphere.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a stunning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway starsKate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Lyric Opera's The King and I runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30), with 25 performances at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $29 and are available at lyricopera.org/king or at 312-827-5600. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Audio of a performance of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'The King and I', starring Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban, will be broadcast on WFMT on Sunday 1 May, 7:00pm (CDT). Listen online here: http://www.wfmt.com/listen/

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwinand Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Additional Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang) join the cast, along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister(Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga (Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.  In the video, cast members talk about the show.  Check it out below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago released today new behind-the-scenes rehearsal images from its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. The production runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today an all-Chicagoland children's ensemble for its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam, runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Check out a first look at the pair in costume below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today casting for the remaining principal roles in its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Additional Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang) join the cast, along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister (Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga (Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, WATERFALL, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. The production officially opens tonight, October 15.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June. Check out a first look below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June.  Check out a first look at highlights below!

Rehearsals start this week at The 5th Avenue Theatre for the sweeping new musical, Waterfall, featuring Laura Griffith (Broadway: Sweet Smell of Success, The Light in the Piazza), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai pop superstar Bie Sukrit. This epic new Broadway-bound musical love story features a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Seattle is the second of two locales where this unique and exciting musical is being developed after completing a popular and critically successful run at the Pasadena Playhouse in June. 

WATERFALL, the epic new Broadway bound musical love story, which had its world premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director, Sheldon Epps) on June 7, 2015, will play its final performance on Sunday, June 28. The production will next play Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre October 1-25, 2015.

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in welcoming Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit lead the cast of the world premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20. Check out a first look at highlights below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre joins with producing partner Pasadena Playhouse in welcoming Emily Padgett (Broadway: Side Show, Rock of Ages), Thom Sesma (Broadway: The Times They are A-Changin', Man of La Mancha), J. Elaine Marcos (Broadway: Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and Thai superstar Bie Sukrit lead the cast of the world premiere of WATERFALL, an epic new Broadway bound musical love story, featuring a distinguished international creative team and a cast of 20.  Check out a first look below!