As You Like It - 1919 - Broadway Articles Page 8

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

It is with sadness that the Stratford Festival bids farewell to the man who was Canada's oldest working actor. William Needles died January 12, at the age of 97, surrounded by his family, at a hospice in Alliston, Ontario. Just days earlier, he had left his adopted hometown of Stratford, after suffering a massive heart attack on December 19.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre is excited to announce the third show in our Revelations Season: the witty and provocative MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION by George Bernard Shaw, the playwright of Pygmalion and Major Barbara.

The New York Philharmonic will present Rachmaninoff: A Philharmonic Festival, tonight, November 10-28, 2015, featuring 24-year-old Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov performing three of the composer's piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini over the course of three consecutive all-Rachmaninoff programs, each led by a different conductor: Cristian Macelaru (in his Philharmonic debut), Neeme Jarvi, and Ludovic Morlot.

'Eric Bentley's Brecht-Eisler Songbook,' the debut CD from soprano actress Karyn Levitt, will be available from Roven Records today, October 30.

The New York Philharmonic will present Rachmaninoff: A Philharmonic Festival, November 10-28, 2015, featuring 24-year-old Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov performing three of the composer's piano concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini over the course of three consecutive all-Rachmaninoff programs, each led by a different conductor: Cristian Macelaru (in his Philharmonic debut), Neeme Jarvi, and Ludovic Morlot.

Rock to the music of The Beatles in an interactive concert experience where the audience creates the playlist for the night... EVERY NIGHT! 'Yesterday and Today' returns to the Des Moines Community Playhouse for four shows only, this weekend, Oct. 15-18, 2015. Tickets are now on sale online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, and at the Playhouse ticket office. 'Yesterday and Today' is sponsored by Voya Financial.

Each October, the Merchant's House Museum opens its doors for a series of 'spirited' events thematically built around its unusual reputation.

Rock to the music of The Beatles in an interactive concert experience where the audience creates the playlist for the night... EVERY NIGHT! 'Yesterday and Today' returns to the Des Moines Community Playhouse for four shows only, Oct. 15-18, 2015. Tickets are now on sale online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, and at the Playhouse ticket office. 'Yesterday and Today' is sponsored by Voya Financial.

Each October, the Merchant's House Museum opens its doors for a series of 'spirited' events thematically built around its unusual reputation.

A WORLD premiere at the OId Mill Theatre this September explores what happens when three soldiers meet a year after World War I ends.

'Eric Bentley's Brecht-Eisler Songbook,' the debut CD from soprano actress Karyn Levitt, will be available from Roven Records on October 30.

The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter, begins tonight, July 1, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The complete cast and creative team have been announced for The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter.

Don;t let April showers rain on your parade over to Dutch Apple for one of America's favorite musicals.

Artistic Director Bryan Renaud is proud to announce the launch of Random Acts Theatre Company and its debut production of All Our Twilight, a world premiere written by Renaud and Emily Schmidt. The musical parody, directed by Renaud, will play at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N Milwaukee Ave, tonight, March 7th, 14th, 22nd, 29th all at 7:00PM.

Artistic Director Bryan Renaud is proud to announce the launch of Random Acts Theatre Company and its debut production of All Our Twilight, a world premiere written by Renaud and Emily Schmidt. The musical parody, directed by Renaud, will play at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N Milwaukee Ave, March 7th, 14th, 22nd, 29th all at 7:00PM.

On February 23 and 24, 2015, the pilot episode of composer Lisa Bielawa's serial opera Vireo: The Spiritual Biography of a Witch's Accuser will be videotaped at The Yost Theater in Santa Ana (307 North Spurgeon St.). Two taping sessions, each of a different scene from the opera, will be open to the public, free of charge, at 7pm on February 23 and 5pm on February 24 (limited availability, online RSVPs are required at http://bit.ly/RSVPVireo).Vireo's 25-minute pilot episode will air on March 31, 2015, and will feature the Kronos Quartet, mezzo-sopranoLaurie Rubin, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, the Orange County School of the Arts Middle School Choir, mezzo-soprano Maria Lazarova, baritone Gregory Purnhagen, drummer Matthias Bossi, and in the title role ofVireo, 16-year-old soprano Rowen Sabala.

In the epic conclusion of Gorilla Tango Burlesque's (GTB) sexy Star Wars parody saga, the risque Rebel Alliance confronts the evil Galactic Empire for once and all. Keep calm and yub nub on as we gather to celebrate those brave souls who led the Rebellion to victory: The Mighty Ewoks!

As the world reflects on the centennial of World War I, Horizon Theatre Rep presents 'Culture Shock 1911-1922,' an evening of German Expressionist plays that were born of the age that gave birth to it. The production, conceived and directed by Rafael De Mussa, includes 'Sancta Susanna' (1911) by August Stramm, translated by Henry Marx; 'The Guardian of the Tomb' (1916) by Franz Kafka (Kafka's only play), translated by J. M. Ritchie; 'The Transfiguration' (1919) by Ernst Toller, translated by Edward Crankshaw; 'Ithaka' (1914) by Gottfried Benn, translated by J.M. Ritchie and 'Crucifixion' (1920) by Lothar Schreyer, translated by Mel Gordon. Performances will be today, September 4 to 21 (opens September 7) at Access Theater, 380 Broadway in TriBeCa.

In the epic conclusion of Gorilla Tango Burlesque's (GTB) sexy Star Wars parody saga, the risque Rebel Alliance confronts the evil Galactic Empire for once and all. Keep calm and yub nub on as we gather to celebrate those brave souls who led the Rebellion to victory: The Mighty Ewoks!

Now that the world premier of 'Zorro!' has opened and is enjoying ever-growing and receptive audiences of all ages, the adaptor of this famous swashbuckling tale, James Rana, had time to answer a few questions. This is the third world premiere in three years written by Rana, and produced by the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, with its artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, directing.

As the world reflects on the centennial of World War I, Horizon Theatre Rep presents 'Culture Shock 1911-1922,' an evening of German Expressionist plays that were born of the age that gave birth to it. The production, conceived and directed by Rafael De Mussa, includes 'Sancta Susanna' (1911) by August Stramm, translated by Henry Marx; 'The Guardian of the Tomb' (1916) by Franz Kafka (Kafka's only play), translated by J. M. Ritchie; 'The Transfiguration' (1919) by Ernst Toller, translated by Edward Crankshaw; 'Ithaka' (1914) by Gottfried Benn, translated by J.M. Ritchie and 'Crucifixion' (1920) by Lothar Schreyer, translated by Mel Gordon. Performances will be September 4 to 21 (opens September 7) at Access Theater, 380 Broadway in TriBeCa.

Houston Grand Opera capped a financially and artistically successful 2013–14 season by presenting Mieczyslaw Weinberg's The Passenger —the Polish-Jewish composer's long-suppressed Holocaust opera—to wide acclaim at New York's Park Avenue Armory as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, July 10–13. Earlier this year, HGO gave the American premiere of the work in Houston with the same cast. There was special praise for the production and performances, conducted by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers. New York magazine described David Pountney's staging as “a multi-story set so vivid you can practically smell the machine oil and coal smoke,” while the Financial Times said: “The production, imported from Houston, is imposing in every way.” The New York Times called the cast “flawless,” adding: “The conductor, Patrick Summers, drew a surging, textured, richly detailed performance of this challenging score (lasting three hours) from the inspired musicians of the Houston Grand Opera.” WQXR's Operavore summed up the import of the performances: “The Passenger shows how a Holocaust opera can hold the stage while examining important, complex issues—and could certainly point the way for future composers to deal with such important but delicate subject matter.”