Rusty Magee News

Ardea Arts is pleased to announce that Hunter Opera Theater (HOT) will present the New York Theater Premiere of Fireworks, an American opera buffa by composer Kitty Brazelton and writer-librettist Billy Aronson, commissioned and developed by Family Opera Initiative.

Ardea Arts has announced that Hunter Opera Theater (HOT) will present the New York Theater Premiere of Fireworks, an American opera buffa by composer Kitty Brazelton and writer-librettist Billy Aronson, commissioned and developed by Family Opera Initiative.

Ardea Arts is proud to announce that it has been awarded The Opera Fund: Audience Development Grant from OPERA America for BOUNCE The Basketball Opera (in partnership with University of Kentucky Opera Theatre), composed by Glen Roven, Tomas Doncker and Ansel Elgort, written by Charles R. Smith Jr., concept and direction by Grethe Barrett Holby.

LEWIS BLACK has announced live dates for 2017, including a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) on Today, February 3 at 8P.

Ardea Arts in partnership with The Garden State Philharmonic presents the World Concert Premiere of ANIMAL TALES at The Jay & Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College (1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754) on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 7pm.

Ardea Arts in partnership with The Garden State Philharmonic presents the World Concert Premiere of ANIMAL TALES at The Jay & Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College (1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754) on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 7pm. For more information, visit: www.ardeaarts.com/animal-tales.

Ardea Arts in partnership with The Garden State Philharmonic presents the World Concert Premiere of ANIMAL TALES at The Jay & Linda Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College (1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754) on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 7pm. For more information, visit: www.ardeaarts.com/animal-tales.

LEWIS BLACK has announced live dates for 2017, including a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) on Friday, February 3 at 8P.

'We are the storytellers; we are the musicmakers; we are the dreamers of dreams.' With these words the cast of Frank McCourt's The Irish and How They Got That Way brings to a close a spellbinding evening of story and song that has the audience clapping, foot-tapping, weeping, and laughing in one of the most vibrant theatrical experiences in recent memory. The co-production of Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt's 1997 play with music marks a stunningly successful collaboration between Maine State Music Theatre and Portland Stage and promises to be a major hit for its brief four-week engagement. McCourt's one-hundred-minute drama tells the story of several centuries of the Irish experience on both sides of the Atlantic. No mere history lesson, however, as much knowledge as the play does impart, rather The Irish is a poetic, saucy, irreverent, and exquisitely beautiful tapestry of music, language, narrative, peopled with colorful characters and showcased in compelling song and dance.

Ardea Arts announces BOUNCE The Basketball Opera, their latest project in development. Showcase performances will take place at Paerdegat Park in East Flatbush, Brooklyn Saturday-Monday June 25-27, 2016 at 6pm. BOUNCE is a free, non-ticketed event, open to the public. For more information, visit www.ardeaarts.com/bounce/.

'We are all Irish. Everyone loves the free, spirited, easy come-easy go air of the Irish, and this show makes everyone want to be Irish all the time - not just on St. Patrick's Day.' There is a twinkle in his eye, as Maine State Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Curt Dale Clark, utters those words. Immediately his sentiments are seconded by the show's director/choreographer, Marc Robin, and Portland Stage's Artistic Director, Anita Stewart, all three of whom will be joining forces to create Frank McCourt's play with music, The Irish and How They Got That Way, from August 16- September 4, 2016, at Portland Stage.

From August 16 - September 4 this summer, two of greater Portland's leading theatre companies will combine forces in an exciting and news-making endeavor that is sure to enrich Maine's arts landscape. Both prestigious Equity companies, Maine State Music Theatre and Portland Stage Company, have announced a co-production of Frank McCourt's runaway hit, The Irish and How They Got That Way, at Portland Stage in the weeks following MSMT's regular summer season in Brunswick and before the opening of Portland Stage's 2016-2017 season in late September. The 1997 play with music chronicles the emotional and spiritual journey of the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic and features melodies, originally arranged by Rusty Magee, that range from traditional Celtic folk tunes to Thomas Moore ballads, George M. Cohen favorites, and the more contemporary sounds of U-2.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, presents DOCTOR FAUSTUS, adapted by David Bridel and Andrei Belgrader from the play by Christopher Marlowe, starring Chris Noth ('Law & Order,' 'Sex and the City,' 'The Good Wife'), and directed by Andrei Belgrader (CSC's production of The Cherry Orchard). Previews will began June 2 with an official opening tonight, June 18 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Performances have been extended through Sunday, July 12.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, has announced that its upcoming production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS, adapted by David Bridel and Andrei Belgrader from the play by Christopher Marlowe, starring Chris Noth ("Law & Order," "Sex and the City," "The Good Wife"), directed by Andrei Belgrader (CSC's production of The Cherry Orchard) will extend through Sunday, July 12.  Previews will now begin Tuesday, June 2 with an official opening Thursday, June 18 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).   Joining Noth in the cast are Tony Award nominee and "The Good Wife" co-star Zach Grenier as Mephistopheles, Jeffrey Binder, Ken Cheeseman, Carmen M. Herlihy, Walker Jones, Marina Lazzaretto, Geoffrey Owens and Lucas Caleb Rooney. 

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced the 2nd ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, this weekend, April 24-26. THE READINGS ARE FREE, WITH DONATIONS REQUESTED. Tickets FOR THE PANEL DISCUSSION ON SATURDAY EVENING are available online at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

The Hamptons theatre scene will be getting the Summer started early this year as Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre will be holding their Second Annual New Works Festival. Being held this weekend, April 24th through 26th, preparations are in full swing for some exciting new works to be displayed in a theme of 'Rediscovery'. Artistic Director Scott Schwartz took time to speak with me today about the festival.

It's not exactly a secret that cabaret has for decades been a world dominated by female entertainers. Sylvia Syms, Julie Wilson, Margaret Whiting, Karen Akers, KT Sullivan, Karen Mason and myriad others have assumed the top notches of the art form. But, perhaps, men might be taking their place among the front lines and a perfect example this past week were the shows from cabaret veterans Kevin Dozier and Frank Torren.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced the 2nd ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, April 24-26. THE READINGS ARE FREE, WITH DONATIONS REQUESTED. Tickets FOR THE PANEL DISCUSSION ON SATURDAY EVENING are available online at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

Moliere's boisterous romp Scapin hits the New York stage this summer in a visionary revival helmed by Scott Ripley. The show runs today, May 28 - June 8 at Theatre Row and is produced by Adele Domo/Varano Produzioni.

Moliere's boisterous romp Scapin hits the New York stage this summer in a visionary revival helmed by Scott Ripley. The show runs May 28 - June 8 at Theatre Row and is produced by Adele Domo/Varano Produzioni.