W. H. Auden News

This year British Youth Opera (BYO) will showcase the next generation of opera stars and celebrate Benjamin Britten's centenary with the only performance in England of Paul Bunyan. A week of BYO performances will take place at the Sadler's Wells' Peacock Theatre from today 7 - 14 September.

Fueled by love, anger, hope and pride, a circle of friends struggles to contain a mysterious disease ravaging New York's gay community. Simon Levy directs the exclusive Los Angeles revival of Larry Kramer's groundbreaking drama about public and private indifference to the onset of the AIDS crisis, and one man's fight to awaken the world to its urgency. The Normal Heart opens Sept. 21 at the Fountain Theatre.

This year British Youth Opera (BYO) will showcase the next generation of opera stars and celebrate Benjamin Britten's centenary with the only performance in England of Paul Bunyan. A week of BYO performances will take place at the Sadler's Wells' Peacock Theatre from 7 – 14 September.

Actor A. J. Shively stars in the new Off-Broaddway musical UNLOCK'D and talks about the show, his career and the people whe's worked with.

Tonight, October 16 brings one of Symphony Space's starriest presentations of the season: "Crazy for…Gershwin!," headlined by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. They're accompanied by one of New York's most dynamic young music collectives: Le Train Bleu, conducted by Ransom Wilson. It all takes place at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharpe Theatre.

Members of The original cast of The Public Theater's critically-acclaimed musical February House will reunite at Joe's Pub tonight, October 16th at 7:00pm for an evening of song, and to celebrate the release of the official February House original cast recording (StorySound, 10.16) produced by Gabriel Kahane and Ted Sperling.

Tuesday, October 16 brings one of Symphony Space's starriest presentations of the season: "Crazy for…Gershwin!," headlined by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. They're accompanied by one of New York's most dynamic young music collectives: Le Train Bleu, conducted by Ransom Wilson. It all takes place at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharpe Theatre.

Members of the original cast of The Public Theater's critically-acclaimed musical February House will reunite at Joe's Pub on October 16th at 7:00pm for an evening of song, and to celebrate the release of the official February House original cast recording (StorySound, 10.16) produced by Gabriel Kahane and Ted Sperling.

GabrielKahane will return to Carnegie Hall on April 27, 2013, this time in Stern Auditorium. It will be another world premiere: a concerto for himself and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, with which he has served as composer-in-residence for two seasons.

After successful runs at both New York's Public and New Haven's Long Wharf theaters, February House will have an original cast recording on October 16, 2012 on StorySound.

The Public Theater just announced today that it will extend the critically acclaimed new musical FEBRUARY HOUSE by one additional week through Sunday, June 17. With music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, FEBRUARY HOUSE, currently playing in The Public's Martinson Theater, opened on Tuesday, May 22 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, June 10. Single tickets, beginning at $80, are on sale now.

The Public Theater's world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, opened last night, May 22, at The Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night with Alan Alda, Mo Rocca, Kristen Sieh, Stephanie Hayes, A.J. Shively, Kacie Sheik, Stanley Bahorek Oskar Eustis and more. Check out the photos below!

The Public Theater's world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, is currently in previews at The Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening tonight, Tuesday, May 22. BroadwayWorld brings you just released production shots below!

The Public Theater's world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, is currently in previews at the Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening on Tuesday, May 22. BroadwayWorld brings you perfomance highlights below!

The Public Theater will begin previews for the world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, on Tuesday, May 8 in The Public's Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening on Tuesday, May 22. Tickets are on sale now at (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at The Public Theater box office.

The Public Theater will premiere of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, beginning on Tuesday, May 8 in The Public's Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening on Tuesday, May 22. Single tickets, beginning at $80, are on sale now.

The Studio Theatre follows up its 2008 hit production of The History Boys with Alan Bennett's next play, The Habit of Art. Deep in the bowels of London's National Theatre, rehearsals for a new play go apace: Benjamin Britten is having trouble with his latest opera and seeks out his collaborator, poet W. H. Auden, after a twenty-five year separation. Between visits by a rent boy and a biographer-whom Auden briefly mistakes for the rent boy-these aging artists wrestle with their desires, their jealousies, the ephemeral connection between creativity and inspiration, and all the reasons their friendship fell apart.

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

The Studio Theatre follows up its 2008 hit production of The History Boys with Alan Bennett's next play, The Habit of Art. Deep in the bowels of London's National Theatre, rehearsals for a new play go apace: Benjamin Britten is having trouble with his latest opera and seeks out his collaborator, poet W. H. Auden, after a twenty-five year separation. Between visits by a rent boy and a biographer-whom Auden briefly mistakes for the rent boy-these aging artists wrestle with their desires, their jealousies, the ephemeral connection between creativity and inspiration, and all the reasons their friendship fell apart.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater concludes its 16th season with the world premiere of Carson McCullers Talks About Love, a theater piece with music written and performed by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Suzanne Vega ("Tom's Diner," "Luka") with music by Ms. Vega and Tony Award-winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening).