Verona News

Impresario Peter Tiboris announced today that he has commissioned acclaimed composer Christopher Theofanidis and poet and librettist J. D. McClatchy, a 2003 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, to create an opera-oratorio based on the international bestseller 'Eleni,' about a woman's sacrifice to save her children during the Greek Civil War.

Once upon a time in 1955, a magical kingdom was built on the founding principles of dreams, American idealism, and our wildest hopes. Eight years later, a quintessential American family reeling from the loss of their King embarks on a quest for restoration and deliverance in this kingdom. 50 years later, their expedition is brought to dazzling life in an effort to understand one's place in family, the American way, and whether happiness is truly a place where dreams come true.

ACM and CMA Award winning country music star Sara Evans headlined the 4th annual CMT Next Women of Country tour last night, kicking off the series with a sold-out show at New York City's B.B. King's Blues Club! In addition to electrifying sets from Sara and special guests RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr, the packed house was treated to a special encore with the three artists performing a special rendition of the 80s anthem “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

EgoPo Classic Theater's 25th Anniversary season and its season-long John Guare Festival is heating up as Guare's Lydie Breeze Trilogy, moves to into Part II: Aipotu. EgoPo is tackling this epic piece of theater about an American family, set between the Civil War and the birth of the 20th-century, with three separate production runs of each part of the trilogy, followed by two weeks of three-day marathons and four opportunities for full day marathons.

California State University, Fullerton begins the spring 2018 season with Alan Ayckbourn's comedy, "Taking Steps." Seasoned professional Mark Ramont directs the production, which runs February 23-March 18, 2018 in the Hallberg Theatre on campus. The comedy centers around the tale of Roland, a hard-drinking, irascible tycoon who is interested in buying an old Victorian house that was once a brothel. His wife, a frustrated dancer, constantly threatening to leave him, joins in this frenetic race up and down the dark mansion's many steps in what The Evening News called 'a farce of riotous delight."  

Sony Classical Releases Debut Album of Stunning Mezzo-Soprano Anita Rachvelishvili on 3/2

California State University, Fullerton begins the spring 2018 season with Alan Ayckbourn's comedy, "Taking Steps." Seasoned professional Mark Ramont directs the production, which runs February 23-March 18, 2018 in the Hallberg Theatre on campus. The comedy centers around the tale of Roland, a hard-drinking, irascible tycoon who is interested in buying an old Victorian house that was once a brothel. His wife, a frustrated dancer, constantly threatening to leave him, joins in this frenetic race up and down the dark mansion's many steps in what The Evening News called 'a farce of riotous delight."  

The renowned Frog & Peach Theatre Company follows up their record breaking Sheen Center debut of 2017's Macbeth with A Midsummer Night's Dream. William Shakespeare's rollicking romp of romance, wizardry, and show biz. The production opened on February 1 and runs through February 25 at The Sheen Center Black Box Theatre.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 49th Anniversary at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, April 2, 2018 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award-nominated actor/singer and 2016 Rosie Award-winner Norm Lewis. Two-time Tony Award-nominee Brad Oscar will be Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Dennis DeYoung announces a special live tour celebrating the 40th Anniversary of STYX's iconic 1977 album release, THE GRAND ILLUSION. DeYoung will reflect back on more than 4 decades of musical excellence throughout the performance. This includes performing the entire Grand Illusion album plus all the greatest hits written and sung by DeYoung including - “Come Sail Away,” “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best Of Times,” and “Lady.” Other hit songs attendees may expect include fan favorites 'Renegade,' 'Blue Collar Man,' 'Suite Madame Blue' and more. 

Internationally acclaimed choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot and his mesmerizing dance company, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, prepare to make hearts ache with a passionate interpretation of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, on Tue-Wed, Feb 27-28, 7:30 pm at Northrop.

Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) has added a performance (February 8 at 9pm) to its critically lauded world premiere production of Adrienne Kennedy's He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box, directed by Evan Yionoulis. The run will conclude, as a scheduled, on February 11.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of 'Better Late,' a romantic comedy by Larry Gelbart, on Monday, February 26, at 7 p.m. Gelbart was a creator and producer of the television series 'M*A*S*H,' and a co-writer of the film 'Tootsie' and the Broadway musicals 'City of Angels' and 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'

In celebration of Black History Month, co-producers Megan Smith and Alphonso Walker Jr. present a fresh revival of Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, an emotionally charged and highly symbolic version of the Adam and Eve story. Directed by Broadway performer and director, DeMone, this production has an immersive concept, leading the audience into a recreation of the subway atmosphere and seating audience directly in the train car. The play runs February 8-11, 2018 at The Secret Theatre; tickets on sale now.

In celebration of Black History Month, co-producers Megan Smith and Alphonso Walker Jr. present a fresh revival of Dutchman by Amiri Baraka, an emotionally charged and highly symbolic version of the Adam and Eve story. Directed by Broadway performer and director, DeMone, this production has an immersive concept, leading the audience into a recreation of the subway atmosphere and seating audience directly in the train car. The play runs February 8-11, 2018 at The Secret Theatre; tickets on sale now.

A special Tuesday matinee of Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel has been scheduled for February 27 at 2pm. All tickets for this event are priced at $22.50, all seats reserved.

Witty, enchanting, and joyously self-referential, the original film version of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE fantasizes a story involving a young, virile William Shakespeare in his prime, who quells a bout of writer's block by secretly romancing an engaged lady named Viola---which apparently becomes the inspiration for the Bard's infamous star-crossed tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet.' The plot of the film remains fairly intact in Lee Hall's mostly delightful if slightly diluted stage adaptation, now continuing performances in a gorgeous-looking new regional production at Orange County's Tony Award-winning theater South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through February 10, 2018. This spunky love letter to the theater is chockfull of stagecraft-insider amusements and fun-to-find Shakespearean Easter Eggs that both aficionados and casual fans will appreciate. But, shockingly, despite the spectacular production values and the beguiling, gusto-bathed performances of its large ensemble cast, this stage adaptation somehow loses some of the inescapable romanticism that is so much more prevalent in the original film.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) announces the second staged production of its 2017-18 Winter/Spring Season, Wendy Wasserstein's satire Old Money directed by Karen MacDonald at the Sorenson Center for the Arts, Babson College, 231 Forest Street in Wellesley, MA.

The renowned Frog & Peach Theatre Company follows up their record breaking Sheen Center debut of 2017's Macbeth with A Midsummer Night's Dream. William Shakespeare's rollicking romp of romance, wizardry, and show biz runs February 1 - 25, with Opening Night slated for Saturday, February 3 at The Sheen Center Black Box Theatre.

The cast for Playhouse on Park's production of Intimate Apparel, written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, has been announced. Opening night is Friday, February 16 with a complimentary wine and cheese reception at 7pm, followed by the show at 8pm.