Verona News

Tragedians of the City make their premiere outing with an all-male version of ROMEO AND JULIET, William Shakespeare's tale of young passion, directed by Anya Saffir.

MTV and mtvU today announced that DJ Pauly D and Dev will host the 2012 mtvU WOODIE AWARDS SPECIAL premiering on Sunday, March 18 at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT. The half-hour show will spotlight the hottest performances and most unforgettable moments from the 2012 mtvU WOODIE AWARDS SPECIAL which rocked Austin, Texas earlier this week during the SXSW Music festival.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its eighteenth season with John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" in an adaptation by Frank Galati. This production features CSC Ensemble Members Justin McCombs, Sherman Fracher and Drew Fracher and is directed by Brian Isaac Phillips. "The Grapes of Wrath" opens on March 30th and runs through April 29, 2012. The production design is generously sponsored by AAA.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will launch its third annual Lend Us Your Ears play reading series on Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. with Eve of Ides, a new play by author David Blixt. The series also includes readings of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part Two on July 16 and the provocative comedy Wittenberg by David Davalos on September 24. All readings will be held at 7:00 pm at the Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. The Lend Us Your Ears discount subscription series, featuring tickets to all three readings, is $36 for adults and $24 for students. Individual tickets are $15 each for adults and $10 for students. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will launch its third annual Lend Us Your Ears play reading series on Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. with Eve of Ides, a new play by author David Blixt. The series also includes readings of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part Two on July 16 and the comedy Wittenberg by David Davalos on September 24. All readings will be held at 7:00 pm at the Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. The Lend Us Your Ears discount subscription series, featuring tickets to all three readings, is $36 for adults and $24 for students. Individual tickets are $15 each for adults and $10 for students. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Thomas Hampson will make his Met role debut as the power-hungry title character in a revival of Verdi's Macbeth opening March 15. Star soprano Nadja Michael makes her Met debut as the bloodthirsty Lady Macbeth. Adrian Noble returns to the Met to direct the first revival of his 2007 production, which will be conducted by Gianandrea Noseda for the first time at the Met. Dimitri Pittas reprises his acclaimed portrayal of Macduff, and Gunther Groissbock makes his Met role debut as the vengeful Banquo.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents Ten Chimneys by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones. The production runsMarch 9 - April 15, 2012 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. The press opening is on Friday, March 16, 2012.

Performing works by Inhyun Kim, Ashley Fu-Tsun Wang, Marco Stroppa, Kurtag, Messaien, Ligeti, Debussy, and Schumann, pianist Jenny Q. Chai makes her Carnegie Hall debut at Zankel Hall on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $30 ($15 for students) and will be available beginning February 19th at www.carnegiehall.org, at the Carnegie Hall Box office at 57th street and 7th avenue in New York City (which is also the location of the venue), or by calling 212 247 7800.

CENTERSTAGE and Westport Country Playhouse announced today casting for their co-production of Into the Woods, and Broadway fans will be excited to hear that the original Little Red Riding Hood, Danielle Ferland, is making her way back Into the Woods. The production is set to run March 7-April 15 at CENTERSTAGE before moving to Westport Country Playhouse in May. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fairy tale musical will be directed by Westport Country Playhouse's Artistic Director Mark Lamos.

The Public Theater hosted the Public Sings! benefit last night, March 5. The evening featured David Byrne, Alan Cumming, Montego Glover, Gabriel Kahane, Ethan Lipton, Kelli O'Hara, Jesse L. Martin, Benjamin Walker, Jessica Phillips and more at Joe's Pub. Check out a few production shots from the event below!

The Public Theater hosted the Public Sings! benefit last night, March 6. The evening featured Tituss Burgess, John Ellison Conlee, Lili Cooper, Matt Doyle, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Greg Hildreth, Eli James, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Justin Levine, Norm Lewis, Betsy Morgan, Jessica Phillips, Bobby Steggert, and Katie Thompson and more at Joe's Pub. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

A trio of international stars will sing the leading roles in a revival of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore, opening March 5. Juan Diego Florez will sing his first Met performances of Nemorino, the simple country boy who falls in love with the beautiful Adina, sung by Diana Damrau in her house role debut. Mariusz Kwiecien adds a new role to his Met repertory as Belcore, Adina's posturing fiance, and Alessandro Corbelli reprises his acclaimed interpretation of Dulcamara, the traveling quack whose phony love potion creates real romantic intrigue among the three characters. Donato Renzetti returns to the Met for the first time in more than 20 years to conduct this revival of John Copley's colorful 1991 production.

The Public Theater announced the return of PUBLIC SINGS! tonight March 5, 2012, an unforgettable evening that celebrates the rich history of musicals produced by The Public Theater, including HAIR, A Chorus Line, and Caroline, or Change, as well as new musicals in development like February House premiering at The Public this May. This intimate evening at Joe's Pub will welcome to the stage many popular Public Theater and Joe's Pub artists, including Laura Benanti, David Byrne, Raul Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Steven Pasquale, as well as offer a sneak peak at upcoming musicals. PUBLIC SINGS! tickets can be purchased by calling the Development Office at (212) 539-8554.

Cassie Hodges for Bloomsday in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre presents The first London production in 80 years of Autumn Fire.

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) has announced the fifth production of the company's 36th season, In the Wake.

The Broken Heart, a 1629 tragic-comic play written by John Ford (Tis Pity She's a Whore), directed by Selina Cartmell in her American debut is Theatre for a New Audience's fourth production of the 2011 - 2012 theatre season.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County presents a special two-night-only engagement showcasing the critically-acclaimed dance troupe, PILOBOLUS dance theatre. World-renowned for their innovative mix of the human imagination and corporeal dexterity, and memorable performances on widely televised programs such as the Academy Awards and "The Oprah Winfrey Show," PILOBOLUS is destined to create a wondrous dance spectacle for South Florida audiences. The troupe will make its Arsht Center debut on March 2 and 3, 2012 at 8 p.m., in the Ziff Ballet Opera House as part of the Knight Masterworks Season, Sanford and Beatrice Ziff Dance Series.

Parsons Dance and Gala Chair Linda Stocknoff announce the company's 2012 Annual spring Gala, Paint it Red, honoring Nancy Browne, Parsons Dance friend and co-commissioner of 2011 premiere work Portinari, on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Espace, 635 W. 42nd Street, NYC. The evening will begin with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and silent auction at 7:30 p.m., followed by a dinner, live auction, and performance by Parsons Dance at 8:30 p.m., then a full night of social dancing. Festive cocktail attire with a splash of red requested. Tickets begin at $700 and are available by calling 212-869-9275, by emailing sandy@parsonsdance.org, or online at www.parsonsdance.org/gala.

CENTERSTAGE and Westport Country Playhouse have announced casting for their co-production of Into the Woods, and Broadway fans will be excited to hear that the original Little Red Ridinghood, Danielle Ferland, is making her way back Into the Woods. The production is set to run March 7-April 15 at CENTERSTAGE before moving to Westport Country Playhouse in May. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fairy tale musical will be directed by Westport Country Playhouse's Artistic Director Mark Lamos, who directed A Little Night Music in 2008.