Verona News

Signature Theatre presents Elmer Gantry, a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. This will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre today, October 7 - November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006.

This just in! Previously announced Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will be joined by Tony Award winner Roger Rees, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse, and Don Stephenson in The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event from November 6 - 16, 2014 at City Center. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Rogue Machine presents the World Premiere of NICE THINGS by Vince Melocchi opening tonight, October 4, 2014 with reception to follow 8pm Fridays and Todays, 3pm on Sundays through November 23, 2014 5041 W. Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90019

Angels in America by Tony Kushner will be revived by Toneelgroep Amsterdam an directed by Ivo van Hove at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave) on October 23 & 24 at 7 p.m. and October 25 at 6 p.m. The production will feature set and light design by Jan Versweyveld, costume design by Wojciech Dziedzic, video design by Tal Yarden and music by Wim Selles. In Dutch with English titles.

The Public Theater announced a four-week extension for the world premiere musical HAMILTON, with book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Inspired by the book 'Alexander Hamilton' by Ron Chernow and directed by Thomas Kail, HAMILTON begins performances on Tuesday, January 20 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, February 22. The musical will now run an additional four weeks to Sunday, March 22, with an official press opening on Tuesday, February 17.

On Saturday, October 18, noted arranger Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook showmanship to the Schimmel Center at Pace University in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Cy Coleman.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will open their 2014-15 season with Olives and Blood at the Nafe Katter Theatre today, October 2nd - 12th. Written by Michael Bradford, this new play stars Martin Sola as Juan Luis Trescante Medina, the aging fascist who claims responsibility for the murder of poet-playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, played by Nicholas Urda.

An all-star, award-winning cast comes together to celebrate Israeli Stage's Fourth Birthday on November 2nd in Hanoch Levin's Make My Heart Flutter, directed by Israeli Stage's Founder Guy Ben-Aharon. The public performance will be followed by a 5PM private performance that will be held as a part of Israeli Stage's Inaugural Sabra Award Benefit honoring Arts Philanthropist Ted Cutler and President Lee Pelton of Emerson College.

Quintessence Theatre Group launches its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with an all-male Shakespeare repertory: AS YOU LIKE IT presented in rotating repertory with RICHARD II. Bringing together the best professional actors and designers from Philadelphia and across the country, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads this collective of artists on a mission to ignite the classics through visceral, actor-focused and text-driven productions. AS YOU LIKE IT will begin previews today, October 1 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 4 at 8pm. RICHARD II will begin previews on Thursday, October 9 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 18 at 8pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, PA.

Bizet's Carmen will open at the Met September 30 with Anita Rachvelishvili, the Georgian mezzo-soprano who has performed the role to acclaim around the world, reprising her interpretation of the title role. Spanish maestro Pablo Heras-Casado conducts the first eight performances of the run, which will also star Aleksandrs Antonenko as Don José, Anita Hartig as Micaëla, and Massimo Cavalletti and Ildar Abdrazakov as the swaggering toreador Escamillo. The production is by Richard Eyre, who also directed the Met's season-opening new staging of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. The November 1 matinee performance of Carmen will be transmitted worldwide as part of the Met's Live in HD series, which now reaches more than 2,000 movie theaters in 69 countries around the world.

Shipwrecked romantics get washed ashore in Seattle Shakespeare Company's sparkling comedy Twelfth Night directed by Jon Kretzu at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.? Performances are October 21-November 16, 2014 (Previews October 21-23, Opening Night Friday October 24). Performance times: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM with selected Saturdays at 2PM and selected Sundays at 2PM and 7:30PM

Die Wiener Staatsoper und das Wiener Staatsballett trauern um Prof. Richard Nowotny, ehemaliger Solota?nzer und Ballettmeister des Wiener Staatsopernballetts, der am 24. September 2014 im Alter von 88 Jahren verstorben ist.

On September 15, 2014, Mine is Yours officially announced their upcoming production of R&J, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, edited and gender-reversed by Hannah Pell, and directed by the bold and brilliant Abby Craden*.

As part of its 2014 Blueprint Series play development program, Brimmer Street Theatre Company has announced public readings of three new plays. Judy Presley on a Binge by Chelsea Sutton will be presented on Tuesday, October 7 at 8pm; Madame by Michelle Meyers will be presented on Sunday, November 9 at 7:30pm; and Gentlemen by David Jette will be presented on Sunday, November 16 at 7:30pm. Judy Presley on a Binge will be at the 2nd Stage Theatre in Hollywood; Madame and Gentlemen will be at Studio A Dance in Silver Lake. Following each presentation, audiences will be invited to engage in brief discussions with the playwrights and participating artists. Admission is free and no reservations are required.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, opens its 2014-2015 mainstage season with William Shakespeare's romantic comedyAs You Like It, directed by Michael Attenborough in his American regional directing debut. As You Like It will play at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) from October 28-December 7, 2014.

Jacob Langfelder in association with Burt Rock and Broadway the Hardway present DEARLY BELOVED... A 30th Anniversary Concert Tribute to His Purple Majesty, Monday, October 13th at 8pm at the new 42West (514 West 42nd Street).

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Ricky Saunders 'In A World of His Own' tonight September 24th, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Utah Opera begins the 2014-15 season on October 11 at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theater with opulent costumes and enchanting music in Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly, featuring conductor Robert Tweten and director Garnett Bruce.

For One Night Only today 18 September over 250 cinemas in the UK and Ireland including Cineworld, Odeon and Vue theatres will screen one of the world's most spectacular opera events, giving cinema audiences an exciting opportunity to see a world-class production from the other side of the globe. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour makes a welcome return to cinema screens with a modern retelling of Puccini's tale of love and honour, Madama Butterfly, captured live from the waters of the Sydney Harbour on a magnificent floating stage.

The Geffen Playhouse announces its production of The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord. Written by Scott Carter, executive producer and writer for Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect and Real Time, this whip-smart philosophical comedy features Larry Cedar (Deadwood, PBS's Square One TV), David Melville (Travel Channel Lawrence of America, film Ironclad) and Armin Shimerman (Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Associate Artistic Director at The Antaeus Company) and will be again helmed by director, Matt August (Broadway How the Grinch Stole Christmas). Discord begins previews on October 7 with the press opening on October 15. The closing date is currently scheduled for November 16.