Twyla Tharp News

Today in 1985, Singin' in the Rain opened at the George Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 367 performances. Singin' in the Rain is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown. Adapted from the 1952 movie of the same name, the plot closely adheres to the original. Set in Hollywood in the waning days of the silent screen era, it focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood's leading lady Lina Lamont, whose less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in talking pictures. Directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, the cast included Don Correia as Don, Mary D'Arcy as Kathy, Peter Slutsker as Cosmo, and Faye Grant as Lina.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

The World Premiere of The Tempest by Alexei Ratmansky will highlight American Ballet Theatre's inaugural Fall season at the David H. Koch Theater, October 30-November 10, 2013. The Fall 2013 season, announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, will also feature revivals of Bach Partita by Twyla Tharp, Les Sylphides by Michel Fokine, Gong by Mark Morris and Clear by Stanton Welch.

The New York Philharmonic will present A Dancer's Dream: Two Works by Stravinsky, a multidisciplinary, theatrical reimagining of the ballets The Fairy's Kiss and Petrushka, created by Giants Are Small. Sara Mearns, New York City Ballet principal dancer, will star in the production, which will be conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert, directed and designed by Doug Fitch, choreographed by Karole Armitage, and produced by Edouard Getaz - tonight, June 27, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 28 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Casting for Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's international hit musical Sunset Boulevard , has been announced by MTW Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman and Director Larry Raben. The 1950 Oscar-winning motion picture of the same title first starred screen legends Gloria Swanson (as Norma Desmond) and William Holden (as Joe Gillis) before it opened as a musical in London's West End starring Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson at the Adelphi Theatre July 12, 1993 where it ultimately ran for 1529 performances.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing tonight, June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013.

Part of the world class 20th Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation, for one evening only, Dance Innovators in Performance features a critical mass of exciting artists who have been dancing everywhere but in the mainstream. The evening features all-star SFDI faculty John Jasperse, Sara Shelton Mann, Chris Aiken, Heidi Henderson, Stephanie Skura, Shelley Senter, Michael Schumacher, Karen Nelson, Louis Gervais, Jill Sigman, Salt Horse, Tonya Lockyer, John Dixon, Andrew Wass, Eric Nordstrom and Michal Lahav at Broadway Performance Hall.

American Ballet Theatre has named Keith Roberts, former Principal Dancer with ABT, to the post of Ballet Master. The appointment, which was announced yesterday by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie, becomes effective September 2013.

Marni Nixon, who dubbed the singing role for Natalie Wood, along with Bert Michaels (Snowboy), Eddie Verso (Juano) and Harvey Evans (Mouth Piece), will participate in a roundtable discussion about WEST SIDE STORY at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall tonight, June 14 from 7 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. Jonathan Palevsky, program director of WBJC 91.5 FM radio and host of 'Cinema Sundays' at The Charles Theater, will moderate. Please see below for complete program details.

Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, opens its 2013-2014 season with New Dances PLUS: Edition 2013, Wednesday, December 11 through Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater and features Juilliard alumna Pina Bausch's Wind von West (Wind from the West) performed by the Senior Class, plus three world premiere commissions created for each of the classes of Juilliard's Dance Division. Next season's innovative choreographers are Juilliard alumnus Takehiro Ueyama (1st Year Dancers); Brian Brooks (2nd Year Dancers); and Juilliard alumnus Darrell Grand Moultrie (3rdYear Dancers).

American Repertory Ballet Artistic Director Douglas Martin is please to announce its 2013-2014 Company Dancers, including the addition of Company Dancer Nanako Yamamoto and the promotion of dancers Andrea D'Annunzio and Mattia Pallozzi from Trainee to full Company Dancer. Yamamoto, D'Annunzio, and Pallozzi will join returning dancers: Cameron Auble-Branigan, Euphrosyne Avery, Stephen Campanella, Alice Cao, Alexander Dutko, Shaye Firer, Monica Giragosian, Samantha Gullace, Joshua Kurtzberg, Karen Leslie Moscato, Marc St-Pierre, Edward Urwin, and Claire van Bever. The 2013-2014 Season will be Auble-Branigan's and Firer's second season with ARB. It will be the third season for Avery, Cao, Giragosian, and van Bever. Campanella, Gullace, Moscato, St-Pierre, and Urwin are entering their fourth season, Dutko his fifth, and Kurtzberg is entering his sixth season with ARB.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), will present the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, previewing June 19, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m., and running through July 21, 2013. This wondrous new version of the timeless Shakespearean folk tale has been moved to Civil War Appalachia and includes 10 original songs featuring beautiful bluegrass melodies. SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC is adapted by First Folio Theatre's Executive Director and Jeff Award-nominee, David Rice, with Music and Lyrics by Rice and Michael Keefe (First Folio's Resident Composer). Michael Goldberg (The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio Theatre) directs the "Shakespeare Under the Stars" production, which concludes First Folio Theatre's smash hit 2013 season. It will appear on the outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate.

Marni Nixon, who dubbed the singing role for Natalie Wood, along with Bert Michaels (Snowboy), Eddie Verso (Juano) and Harvey Evans (Mouth Piece), will participate in a roundtable discussion about WEST SIDE STORY at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on June 14 from 7 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. Jonathan Palevsky, program director of WBJC 91.5 FM radio and host of "Cinema Sundays" at The Charles Theater, will moderate.

William Ivey Long has won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN's CINDERELLA.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the world's premier contemporary dance companies, together with event Co-Chairs Meg Siegler Callahan, Elizabeth Yntema Ferguson, Sara Albrecht and Jane Strauss, hosted the 35th Anniversary Spotlight Ball on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park and the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. The event was a major success for the organization, raising more than $1.1 million for Hubbard Street's educational, community and artistic programming.

The Town Hall is proud to announce the season finale of Broadway by the Year featuring The Broadway Musicals of 1988, includingThe Phantom of the Opera, Chess, Legs Diamond, Romance Romance, Carrie, and More! Scott Siegel, the creator, writer, and host of Broadway by the Year has selected a half dozen performers to star in the concert, including Howard McGillin, who holds the record for playing 'The Phantom' longer than any other actor in Broadway history. He will be joined by one of his Christines, Jennifer Hope Wills. Drama Desk Nominees Farah Alvin (The Marvelous Wonderettes) and Kevin Earley (Death Takes a Holiday) return toBroadway by the Year. Lisa Brescia, who starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp's The Times They Are A-Changin', as Elphaba in Wicked, and as Donna in Mamma Mia! makes her Broadway by the Year debut and favorite Scott Coulter will direct and star in the concert. The cast will be joined by the Broadway by the Year Chorus.

The Chicago Dancing Festival has announced the programming schedule for its seventh season. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, this 'Free-to-All' Festival is set to take place August 20 - 24, featuring top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country.

Opera Colorado announced today that it has appointed conductor Ari Pelto as Artistic Advisor. Pelto's role will commence with the Company's 2014 season, working hand-in-hand with General Director Greg Carpenter and conducting one opera per season beginning in the fall of 2014. Pelto made his Opera Colorado debut earlier this year, conducting the company's highly-acclaimed production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in March 2013. Known for presenting contemporary and rarely performed works as well as more traditional productions of classic opera repertoire, Opera Colorado is the preeminent grand opera company in the Rocky Mountain region and a vital presence in Denver's cultural ecology.

Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.