The First 1981 - Articles Page 28

Internationally renowned recording artist, music icon, actress and humanitarian, Sarah Brightman, is forced to cancel her August 10 appearance at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage. Brightman is the world's biggest selling soprano, an international superstar as beloved for her staggering vocal range (over three full octaves) as for her impassioned film and stage performances. Over a three-decade career, she's sold over thirty million records worldwide, is the first artist to have been invited twice to perform the theme songs at the Olympic Games, and is frequently credited with pioneering the Classical Crossover genre, allowing music once reserved for conservatories and concert halls to seep onto the pop charts.

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey will present Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx Thursday, July 10th at 8PM. Be sure to reserve tickets for this spectacular show at www.ticketmaster.com or Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Artist Public Domain's Cinema Conservancy, a New York-based non-profit production and distribution company is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Stations of the Elevated

San Francisco Playhouse (Artistic Director Bill English & Producing Director Susi Damilano) concludes its provocative eleventh season with Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine (book). The production runs June 24th to September 6th, 2014, with an official opening set for June 28.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO's THE NORMAL HEART premiered to over 1.4 million viewers on Sunday, May 25, with the first airing drawing nearly 1 million, and 434,000 tuning in for the second later that night.

Now through June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center.

Orchestra Seattle and the Seattle Chamber Singers (OSSCS) closes their 2013-2014 season with Reflection and Wonder at the First Free Methodist Church in Queen Anne. Clinton Smith conducts the following pieces for the final concert of his inaugural season as music director.

From May 22 - June 1, 2014 Houston Ballet offers up a mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers entitled Modern Masters. The program features the company premiere of Jir?i? Kylia?n's comic and delightful Sechs Ta?nze (Six Dances), along with revivals of his playful and sexy work Petite Mort, William Forsythe's explosive In the middle, somewhat elevated and George Balanchine's complex and inventive The Four Temperaments. Houston Ballet will give six performances of the program in the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center. Tickets start at $19, and may be purchased at www.houstonballet.org or by calling Houston Ballet box office at 713-227-2787, or 1-800-828-2787.

Orchestra Seattle and the Seattle Chamber Singers (OSSCS) closes their 2013-2014 season with Reflection and Wonder at the First Free Methodist Church in Queen Anne. Clinton Smith conducts the following pieces for the final concert of his inaugural season as music director.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

This weekend, March 21 and 22, Utopia Opera presents the rarely-performed German operatic gem, Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). One of the first operas of the German romantic tradition, the fully staged production will be performed with a 20-piece orchestra at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College (695 Park Avenue). Utopia founder and artistic director, William Remmers, conducts and directs both shows.

Jacaranda will perform 'The Knee Plays' by David Byrne, the famed driving force of the 'art rock' band the Talking Heads. This program of 1980s film, theater and ceremonial music is part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's citywide 'Minimalist Jukebox' (March 16-May 4). Robert Wilson's ambitious, unfinished opera 'the CIVIL warS' was intended for the 1984 Olympics Arts Festival in Los Angeles. 'The Knee Plays' was conceived as a set of 14 short interludes between sections of the opera to span an entire day. Jacaranda's offering of the entire set, which Byrne toured widely and recorded, will complement the L.A. Phil's two performances of the opera's 'Rome Section' by Philip Glass. Together, they constitute the only two completed parts of 'the CIVIL warS' - united in Los Angeles for the first time ever. 'The Knee Plays' tour ended in 1988.

On March 21 and 22, Utopia Opera presents the rarely-performed German operatic gem, Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). One of the first operas of the German romantic tradition, the fully staged production will be performed with a 20-piece orchestra at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College (695 Park Avenue). Utopia founder and artistic director, William Remmers, conducts and directs both shows.

20th Century Fox has released the first international TV spot for the highly anticipated X MEN DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The film hits theaters on May 23, 2014. Get a first look below!

The Museum of the Moving Image's popular series See It Big! will turn its focus to the movie musical with a fourteen-film celebration of the genre, from today, January 24 through February 28, 2014. Musicals are, by their very nature, filled with spectacle. They are heightened forms of storytelling, in which the narrative is amplified by song and dance, where characters express their innermost feelings in the most extravagant ways imaginable. It is a genre that celebrates excess and stylization, and the best examples of the form can only be truly enjoyed... big!

Jim Sarafin has finally decided to utilize the three spiral notebooks of incidents and dairy-like entries from his time in a General Motors metal casting plant in western New York.

The Museum of the Moving Image's popular series See It Big! will turn its focus to the movie musical with a fourteen-film celebration of the genre, from January 24 through February 28, 2014. Musicals are, by their very nature, filled with spectacle. They are heightened forms of storytelling, in which the narrative is amplified by song and dance, where characters express their innermost feelings in the most extravagant ways imaginable. It is a genre that celebrates excess and stylization, and the best examples of the form can only be truly enjoyed… big!

The first volume of this book was essentially an 'enhanced' memoir-and a revisionist history-mostly based on author George E. Lowe's personal observations, knowledge and 'specialized information' from his extensive academic studies in History, Naval Air Intelligence & Foreign Service duty in Japan, Pentagon & Paris Embassy. Stalking the Antichrists: and Their False Nuclear Prophets, Nuclear Gladiators, and 'Spirit Warriors (1965-2012) Volume 2 is the reinforcement of his revelations as a Revisionist Historian Lowe continues to dissect and reveal more of the truth about the 'Antichrists' [The American Presidents] and the hostile, provocative stratagem created by their 'defense intellectuals' and their political-military advisors on nuclear strategy -1945-2012 .

Segerstrom Center's 2013 – 2014 Chamber Music Series comes to a thrilling conclusion with the esteemed Philharmonia Chamber Players performing an effervescent evening of master baroque music on March 16 at Samueli Theater. The inspired program emphasizes both diversity and unity found in the genre through works by Telemann, Marcello, Vivaldi, Handel and two selections by J.S. Bach, including his Wedding Cantata. This will be the first cantata ever performed in the intimate setting of Samueli Theater and will feature soprano Sherezade Panthaki. San Francisco Classical Voice states, 'Sherezade Panthaki was the most moving singer of the evening for me, displaying consummate musicianship and a fully invested expressivity.'

The 2013-2014 season marks the 40th anniversary of the performance career of the internationally celebrated Canadian dance artist Margie Gillis. In celebration, Montreal's Margie Gillis Dance Foundation launches a cross-Canada tour marking the illustrious four-decade career of the iconic dancer and choreographer, one of the country's most honoured artists.

Celebrated in her home country and throughout Europe, but little-known in America, the Norwegian filmmaker Anja Breien makes feminist, politically aware fiction and documentary films. From tonight, November 1 through 9, 2013, Museum of the Moving Image will present Anja Breien: Games of Love and Loneliness, the first U.S. retrospective of Breien's work, featuring six features and a program of shorts, with the director in person for select screenings and for an opening reception.

The Production Company rounded off its 2013 season last night with Gilbert and Sullivan's classic operetta The Pirates of Penzance. There was, however, little reference to the classic that was first performed in 1879. There have been many adaptations of the original, with this production centering on the 1981 Broadway production. This show is undoubtedly fun. In fact, that is the most apt word to describe this production. It's light and fluffy in all the right places, however, its biggest strength is also its ultimate undoing. For while director Dean Bryant has tapped into the light pantomime frolics that make Pirates so enjoyable, there is little variation to the over flamboyance presented on opening night. This show fails to find the truth in moments that call for it. Any honest point is made light of or brushed over with seemingly little regard. The show fights against itself, leaving us partially satisfied but never fully satisfied.

Celebrated in her home country and throughout Europe, but little-known in America, the Norwegian filmmaker Anja Breien makes feminist, politically aware fiction and documentary films. From November 1 through 9, 2013, Museum of the Moving Image will present Anja Breien: Games of Love and Loneliness, the first U.S. retrospective of Breien's work, featuring six features and a program of shorts, with the director in person for select screenings and for an opening reception.

We don't know why it took soooo long to hit the web, but we don't care as a blooper reel from the FIRST Star Wars movie hit the web today, after being shown at Comic-Con in San Diego earlier this year. Watch Peter Cushing, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and the rest of the cast goofing around, making mistakes and having an intergalatic good 'ole time.

The first teaser for X MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST has just been released - check it out, in all of its 6-second glory, below!