Co-Optimists - 1924 - West End Articles Page 1

Music Director Francisco Noya will lead the Boston Civic Symphony in works by Brahms, Stravinsky, and Beethoven, including a collaboration with Chorus pro Musica at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall.

Center Theatre Group will present Big League Productions' national tour of THE MUSIC MAN at the Ahmanson Theatre from October 27 to November 8, 2026, marking the show's first major Los Angeles engagement since 1980.

Theatre has always intersected with politics, and the presence of American presidents in Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theatre plays and musicals is a major part of this. Did you know that all of our heads of state have been featured in shows, whether as characters or as plot points that are part of the action? Dramatizing current and former leaders of our nation is a way to examine their affect on society at the time and how political events, even those of many years ago, still impact us all. 

Over the years, Broadway has seen a number of family acts sharing the stage. It’s extra special when family members team up to write a Broadway show together. The Great White Way has seen many instances of this historically, in a variety of different situations. While last week’s column focused on spouses penning shows together, this week is all about blood relatives partnering to write work. 

What better way to spend a warm summer evening than sitting in a park listening to Broadway tunes. Renaissance man Sam Jewison – an accomplished singer, jazz pianist and, surprisingly, conductor – duly delivers what the audience hankers after in a one-off performance at Opera Holland Park.

Insight Colab Theatre will present SHADOWS & SECRETS, a staged multimedia whodunit radio play by Nancy Wang, at Vintage Theatre in Aurora, CO, exploring the mysterious 1924 death of restaurateur Chin Foin in mob-era Chicago.

Opera Laguna will present a one-night-only semi-staged concert of The Student Prince on July 3 at the Laguna Playhouse. The production stars Arnold Livingston Geis and is directed by Josh Shaw.

Juilliard has revealed its 2026–27 season programming for the Music Division under its dean and director, David Serkin Ludwig, across Orchestra, Chamber Music, Vocal Arts, Jazz, and Historical Performance, students, faculty, and guest artists.

The MVP of the show is the dynamic Oqalile Tshetshe, who has a star-making role that he inhabits with complexity, depth, and grace.

BYMT will present the world premiere of PAPER STARS, a new musical exploring the early life of Mary Poppins creator P.L. Travers, at Barnfield Theatre, Exeter from August 14-16, 2026.

Read memories from George and Ira Gershwin's 101-year-old cousin as told at a private event last night featuring Michael Feinstein, and see photos from the event snapped by Stephen Sorokoff.

California Symphony, led by Artistic and Music Director Donato Cabrera and Executive Director Lisa Dell, has unveiled its 2026-2027 season, celebrating 40 years of bringing orchestral music to the Bay Area.

In 1936, 12 year old Frankie Ross Wolpin sat next to her cousin George Gershwin on his piano bench in New York City while he played the piano.  Last night (February 5th 2026) the 101 year old Frankie was seated next to Michael Feinstein on another piano bench as he played and sang Gershwin’s “Our Love Is Here To Stay”.

BYMT has announced its 2026 season lineup, which includes several new productions set to captivate audiences. The season promises a diverse range of shows catering to various tastes and interests.

Renowned director Sir Trevor Nunn returns to Arts Theatre Cambridge to direct EASY VIRTUE, featuring Alice Orr-Ewing, Michael Praed, and Greta Scacchi.

The concert DUKE IN AFRICA, exploring the influence of African music on Duke Ellington, plays through Jan. 17. We spoke with co-music director Chris Lewis about the show, which features the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Troupe has announced the full cast and creative team for its forthcoming production of Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap, reimagined by Bill Rosenfield. Learn more here!

Get ready for a booming afternoon on November 26 at the South Street Seaport Museum-a front-row preview of the iconic New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade, a day early in the Seaport!

Get ready for a booming afternoon on November 26 at the South Street Seaport Museum—a front-row preview of the iconic New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade, a day early in the Seaport!

Whether you plan to enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from the hustle and bustle of the sidewalks or the cozy comfort of your couch, we've got the full scoop on what to watch for, when to look for it, and how!

The Blue Hill Troupe has revealed its 2025 fall production: She Loves Me at the Theatre at St. Jean's. This timeless musical comedy tells the tale of sparring co-workers who are really lovelorn pen pals. Learn more!

At Teatro VillaLobos, the Broadway classic takes on a new life under the direction and choreography of Bárbara Guerra, who updates the visuals with large screens and real-time projections without losing the soul of the original, with a fine-tuned cast that delivers moving performances in numbers like 'At the Ballet' and 'What I Did for Love'. Metalinguistic and vibrant, the production celebrates the dreams, pain, and persistence of those who live to dance.

Opera Carolina - the largest professional opera company in the Carolinas - has revealed programming for its upcoming 76th season with an ambitious lineup of grand operas, special concerts, philanthropic events, and community initiatives. 

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been taped at the Ed Sullivan Theatre located on Broadway between 53rd and 54th Streets since it began in 2015. Before the Broadway-loving Colbert took over The Late Show, the host was David Letterman, who ruled late night from 1993 onward via his perch at 1697 Broadway.

UTA Theatre Arts and Dance begins the fall semester with two contemporary plays presented in repertory in the Studio Theatre. Will Powers 2018 play, Seize the King, is a contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III seen through an Afrofuturist lens. Guest director Jiles King is excited for the challenges this play will bring to UTA Acting students, particularly the plays ' combination of contemporary and poetic language.' Seize the King opens September 19th in the Studio Theatre, running for four performances.