Verona News

America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, Music Mountain, continues its 86th anniversary season with a weekend of returning favorite musicians. The Galvanized Jazz Band plays the best of New Orleans jazz tonight, August 15th (6:30PM) and the St. Petersburg String Quartet with guest artists Stefan Milenkovich, Violin and Melvin Chen, Piano will perform Prokofiev, Ravel, and Chausson on Sunday, August 16th (3PM). Weekend concerts at Music Mountain will continue thru September 27th..

One of the capital's most beloved annual traditions, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) Free For All, and one of William Shakespeare's most beloved plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, are coming together for a major milestone: Free For All's 25th anniversary. Ethan McSweeny directs a revival of his 2012-2013 STC production, which will run September 1-13 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW).

Sometimes the battle of the sexes is not enough. The Drilling Company reads turf wars and class consciousness into its production of 'The Taming of the Shrew,' to be presented September 4 to 20 as part of Bryant Park Shakespeare, directed by Alessandro Colla.

The Public Theater announced complete casting today for the world premiere of BARBECUE, written by Obie Award winner Robert O'Hara. Directed by Kent Gash, BARBECUE begins previews on Tuesday, September 22 and runs through Sunday, November 1, with an official press opening on Thursday, October 8.

Tickets are now on sale for Temple Theaters 2015-2016 season of performances at Temple University - a spellbinding selection of timeless classics, provocative contemporary drama, and beloved musical theater. The season includes six mainstage productions: a 40th anniversary production of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange, the Cole Porter musical comedy Anything Goes, John Guare's A Free Man of Color, William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, a modern adaptation of The Odyssey by Mary Zimmerman, and Godspell, the first major musical by Stephen Schwartz. Single tickets, full season subscriptions and flex packages are available online now, via Temple Theaters' new website tfma.temple.edu. In person and phone sales begin Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Tomlinson Theater or by phone, 215-204-1122.

Sometimes the battle of the sexes is not enough.  The Drilling Company reads turf wars and class consciousness into its production of 'The Taming of the Shrew,' to be presented September 4 to 20 as part of Bryant Park Shakespeare, directed by Alessandro Colla.  In an intrepid adaptation, the popular comedy is transported to a modern New England fishing village, not unlike Martha's Vineyard, where Katherina is a member of the yachting set and Petruchio is a local fisherman. 

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the American screwball comedy His Girl Friday, John Guare's adaptation of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's original play The Front Page and the screen version His Girl Friday, now through August 30 at Barrington Stage's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. Opening night is tonight, August 12 at 7pm.

Yusif Eyvazov will make his Met debut singing the role of Calàf in the performances of Puccini's Turandot on November 7 matinee and November 12. He replaces Fabio Sartori, who has withdrawn the role from his repertory.

'Emission,' a play written by Tom Block and directed by Pitr Strait, is about love, greed and the internal human conflict that clouds reason. An absurdist farce with deeply troubling undertones, the play explores why we humans are unable to take control of our lives vis-a-vis the growing climate disaster. Using humor, a love triangle between three women and a struggle for control of an invention that makes carbon emissions visible, 'Emission' shows how greed, desire, sex and selfishness can overwhelm our ability to master our own fates. Its world premiere will be presented by Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival September 1 to 13 at Producers' Club Theaters, 358 West 44th Street.

In May of 2014, Norm Lewis made history as the first African American Phantom in 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway. This summer, this weekend, August 7 & 8 at 7:00 PM, he makes his debut in the critically acclaimed Broadway @ The Art House concert series in Provincetown, MA, hosted by SiriusXM star Seth Rudetsky at the piano.

A famous Phantom talks favorite things!

HAMILTON, the story of 'the ten-dollar Founding Father without a father,' opens tonight at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Learn more about the full company and watch clips from the musical!

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the American screwball comedy His Girl Friday, John Guare's adaptation of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's original play The Front Page and the screen version His Girl Friday, from tonight, August 6, through August 30 at Barrington Stage's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage. Opening night is Wednesday, August 12 at 7pm.

Jeffrey Harmon Smith, an escapee from the legal profession, brings his inimitable style to songs from the theatre and pop music scenes. JEFFREY HARMON SMITH! 'AUDITION SONGS' is set for The Duplex Cabaret Theater, located at 61 Christopher Street (at the corner of 7th Avenue) tonight, August 6th, 7:00PM.

Ever wonder which Broadway tunes have inspired your favorite performers? Check back every Tuesday for ON RECORD- to find out which cast recordings have made an impact on Broadway's brightest stars. In this week's edition, we hear from Arielle Jacobs, who is currently starring as 'Nessarose' in Wicked- playing at the Gershwin Theatre. Read on to find out her top five picks!

America's oldest continuing summer chamber music festival, Music Mountain, continues its 86th anniversary season with a weekend of returning favorite musicians. The Galvanized Jazz Band plays the best of New Orleans jazz on Saturday, August 15th (6:30PM) and the St. Petersburg String Quartet with guest artists Stefan Milenkovich, Violin and Melvin Chen, Piano will perform Prokofiev, Ravel, and Chausson on Sunday, August 16th (3PM). Weekend concerts at Music Mountain will continue thru September 27th..

 In May of 2014, Norm Lewis made history as the first African American Phantom in 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway. This summer, on August 7 & 8 at 7:00 PM, he makes his debut in the critically acclaimed Broadway @ The Art House concert series in Provincetown, MA, hosted by SiriusXM star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. What differentiates this concert series from any other is the seamless mix of intimate, funny and revealing behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway's biggest stars and their stellar singing of musical theatre repertoire. For tickets and information visit www.ptownarthouse.com  or call 800-838-3006.

Paper Mill Playhouse will welcome 122 of the of the region's most talented young performing artists from Paper Mill Playhouse's Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory in a fully produced, original concert on the Paper Mill mainstage titled New Voices of 2015: Hooray for Hollywood!

Jeffrey Harmon Smith, an escapee from the legal profession, brings his inimitable style to songs from the theatre and pop music scenes. JEFFREY HARMON SMITH! 'AUDITION SONGS' is set for The Duplex Cabaret Theater, located at 61 Christopher Street (at the corner of 7th Avenue) on Thursday August 6th, 7:00PM.

RUTHLESS! The Musical's leading man, Peter Land, collapsed onstage at the top of the second act on Friday evening, July 17th. EMT's arrived on the scene and Mr. Land was transported to the hospital where he received emergency surgery for a tear in the aorta. His recovery is going extremely well and he was even discharged from the hospital earlier this week. Paul Pecorino has assumed the role of Sylvia St. Croix and Mr. Land hopes to return to the show in the near future. Author Joel Paley bravely filled in for several performances in the week following the accident (triumphantly, according to all eyewitnesses).