Half Time 2018 - Articles Page 25

The Celebrity Series of Boston announced its 2018-2019 season today, marking 80 years of bringing the world's greatest performing artists to Boston. In total, the 2018-2019 season will include 50 music, dance, and entertainment mainstage engagements, including a new artistic initiative to present three dance ensembles in their Boston debuts with live music at NEC's Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. The season will open on September 23 with Jazz Along the Charles, A Walkable Concert along the Charles River Esplanade featuring 25 jazz ensembles along a 2-mile loop. Neighborhood Arts will feature more than 150 workshops, classes, and concerts in schools and community venues performances across Boston.

The McCallum Theatre recently announced its new lineup as it begins its fourth decade of presenting world-class artists and entertainers for Coachella Valley audiences. The new season includes McCallum debuts, iconic superstars, family-friendly entertainment, holiday sensations, and an outstanding roster of Broadway favorites including Jersey Boys, Spamalot and Something Rotten. I had the opportunity to catch up with McCallum President and CEO, Mitch Gershenfeld, to reflect on a very successful 2017-18 season and to get his thoughts on the blockbuster season ahead. (I will say at the start, I am a big fan of Mr. Gershenfeld for consistently bringing diverse and high-quality entertainment to desert audiences and for his constant optimism and positive energy.) Here are a few excerpts from our interview:

Blackfriars Theatre is thrilled to present the 2018-2019 artistic season. The 2017-2018 season saw record growth and momentum under current Artistic & Managing Director, Danny Hoskins. Over 1500 Rochester residents attended the holiday production of Little Women, The Musical, Broadway's Rick Lyon will bring the original Broadway puppets to the theatre's upcoming production of Avenue Q, and for the first time in the theatre's 68-year history Blackfriars has added a third full time staff member.

Rafael Payare's highly anticipated inaugural concerts as San Diego Symphony's Music Director Designate take place as part of the annual January Festival. It will mark his only Jacobs Masterworks appearance this season and will feature acclaimed cellist Alisa Weilerstein and the orchestra's first-ever performance of Benjamin Britten's Symphony for Cello and Orchestra. He will also perform in a special Discovery Night concert on January 10, with all funds from this concert going to support the San Diego Symphony's Learning and Community Engagement programs.

Blue Note Hawaii, the state's premier venue for the world's most celebrated artists, announces two nights only with legendary Hawaiian duo HAPA April 29 and 30, 2018. This will be the first time in seventeen years that the original members Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i will perform together.

Portland Stage creates one-of-a-kind productions specifically selected for its community. Each season, Portland Stage Executive & Artistic Director Anita Stewart looks for a means to connect the plays with a thematic thread. For the 2018-2019 Season, audiences may find the plays are connected by the idea of borders, boundaries, and how we embrace, or wish to change them. From a runaway slave seeking to join the Union army, to the photographer striving to help an Arabic speaking boy; from a man searching for his true identity, to a woman looking to connect with spirits, each play in our upcoming season looks at how we celebrate, rebel against or embrace and understand our place in the world.

Black Button Eyes Productions is pleased to announce its 2018-19 season, kicking off late this summer with the world premiere of NIGHTMARES AND NIGHTCAPS: The Stories of John Collier, a non-musical adaption of British author and screenwriter John Collier's phantasmagoric short stories. Written and directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford, the production will feature choreography by Derek Van Barham and star Kevin Webb with additional casting to be announced.

OBERON, the American Repertory Theater's (A.R.T.) second stage and club-theater venue on the fringe of Harvard Square, announces events to be presented at OBERON during April and May 2018-including OBERON Presents, Glowberon, and usual suspects, and more.

The 2018-19 season includes Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, SWEAT; Jaclyn Backhaus's ingenious and provocative telling of 19th-century American explorers, MEN ON BOATS; Edward Albee's wildly imaginative and satirical Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, SEASCAPE; Mfoniso Udofia's achingly poignant drama, HER PORTMANTEAU; Lauren Yee's exploration of cultural identity, global politics, and basketball, THE GREAT LEAP; and Kate Hamill's rollicking new stage adaptation of William Thackeray's classic novel, VANITY FAIR.

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Announces its 2018 Summer Theater Season featuring 4 outstanding plays and the return of WHAT for Kids.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region. Single tickets, as well as subscription packages, are on sale now at www.operasaratoga.org.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced the complete casting and programming for the company's 2018 Summer Festival, which will feature new productions of four operas at The Spa Little Theater in Spa State Park, along with a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events from May 26th through July 15th at venues throughout the region. Single tickets, as well as subscription packages, are on sale now at www.operasaratoga.org.

The CUNY Dance Initiative (CDI), a residency program that welcomes NYC choreographers and dance companies to CUNY campuses across the five boroughs, announces its 2018–19 awarded artists.

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF), London's leading festival of outdoor theatre and performing arts, today announces its full programme for the 2018 festival, running from 21 June - 7 July in locations across Royal Greenwich, Royal Docks and Tower Hamlets. Audiences are invited to 'dream a little dream' over 17 midsummer days of outdoor theatre and performance, in which public spaces are transformed with more than 130 performances celebrating dreams of love, struggle, ambition and flight.

The centennial of renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein is celebrated throughout the National Philharmonic's 2018-2019 concert series at The Music Center at Strathmore. Performing compositions that influenced Bernstein, as well as some of his very own famous works, the National Philharmonic will be the only symphony orchestra dedicating most of its 2018-2019 season to the works surrounding the legendary composer. 

On May 18, Paul McCartney will release four 2018 edition catalogue reissues via MPL/Capitol: NEW, Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, Wings Greatest and Thrillington. All four titles will be issued in affordable single CD digipak and 180gram black vinyl single LP formats—and will be made available for the first time in limited edition 180gram color vinyl pressings. All vinyl LPs will include a download card.

Freeform announces its programming schedule for April 2018, which will include new episodes of the mermaid drama “Siren” (premiering Thursday, March 29), supernatural series “Shadowhunters,” and the second season premiere of fan-favorite “Famous In Love.”

GSN Heads Into Its 2018 Upfront with Continued Commitment to Core Audience

Midsommer Flight will expand programming in its 2018 season to include a free TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the parks this summer, special staged reading of RICHARD III in spring and the holiday perennial TWELFTH NIGHT. Midsommer Flight, the professional not-for-profit theatre company that has been bringing free Shakespeare to Chicago parks since 2012, will expand its programming from two to three productions for its 2018 season. Founding Artistic Director Beth Wolf made the announcement today.

American Composers Orchestra continues its commitment to the creation and development of new orchestral music with the announcement of sixteen emerging composers who will participate in its catalytic programs. Six emerging composers will participate in the 27th Annual Underwood New Music Readings on June 21-22, 2018 at a location to be announced. Ten emerging composers receive 2018 EarShot New Music Readings presented by Fort Wayne Philharmonic (February 7, 2018), Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (March 1, 2018), and Jacksonville Symphony (April 20, 2018). EarShot is a partnership between American Composers Orchestra, League of American Orchestras, American Composers Forum, and New Music USA.

Artistic Director Robert Falls announces Goodman Theatre's new 2018/2019 Season-a 14-play line-up of timely, original and inspired works curated by Falls in collaboration with his artistic associates. The new season, which begins in September and continues through July 2019, includes 10 full productions on the Goodman's stages (856-seat Albert Theatre and 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre) plus three free New Stagesdevelopmental productions, and one TBA production TBA staged as part of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance's 2018 International Latino Theater Festival. Goodman Theatre memberships, including new flexible packages, are now available for purchase.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, announces the 2018 season of performances at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association today announced updates to the Hollywood Bowl 2018 summer season, including the first-ever Norteño at the Bowl! with Los Tigres del Norte on September 15; BADBADNOTGOOD added to the bill on June 17; David Newman conducting the LA Phil in the first half of the performances on August 31, September 1 and September 2; and Bonerama with special guest Erica Falls added to the Fireworks Finale performances on September 7, 8 and 9.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera today announced its lineup for the 2018 Deer Valley Music Festival in addition to its plans to celebrate its 15th year of calling Park City, Utah its summer home. Highlights of the six-week, 17-concert music festival, which begins on June 30, 2018 and runs through August 11, 2018, include Utah Symphony performances with Emmy and Tony Award-winning Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, folk-rock singer-songwriter Amos Lee, 14-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs, and Grammy Award-winner Rick Springfield; music of John Williams with scores from some of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster movies; Broadway vocalists and show tunes honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim musicals; tributes to Swedish pop sensation ABBA, Pink Floyd and the music of the 1970s and '80s; Disney in Concert "A Silly Symphony Celebration" with scenes from some of Disney's earliest colorful cartoons playing on giant screens; and the perennial favorite, "1812 Overture" with live cannon fire on the hillside provided by Cannoneers of the Wasatch.

Blumenthal Performing Arts announces another extraordinary lineup for its upcoming 2018-19 PNC Broadway Lights season featuring eight new shows including six time 2017 Tony Award and 2018 Grammy Award winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen, Tony-winning Best Musical Revival Hello, Dolly! starring Broadway legend Betty Buckley and the hit Broadway musical Disney's Aladdin.