From Above - 1998 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 19

Stephen Sondheim would be thrilled at this wonderful production.

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.

New government studies detail increasing economic contributions arts spending generates.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666, which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews, officially opens tonight, February 16, 2016.

Robert Falls' and Seth Bockley's world premiere adaptation of Roberto Bolaño's famed novel, 2666-which has received extraordinary audience enthusiasm during previews and officially opens tomorrow, February 16-has been extended. Four additional performances include March 17, 18 and 19 at 6:30pm and March 20 at 1pm. The 15-member all-Chicago ensemble cast remains unchanged during the added performances.

The New York premiere of the new immersive theater event MYSTERY OF THE SILVER CHALICE, written and directed by Taylor Doherty and produced by Tilted Windmills Theatricals, takes place tonight, February 16 at 6:30 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public.

The West Broadway Gallery will present an exhibition of Neil Jenney's 'Improved Picassos' from February 14-April 30, 2016. This exhibition will extend the survey of 'Improved Picassos' first seen at Gagosian Gallery on Madison Avenue in 2013 and will include two of the paintings in that exhibition. This is the first time that all of the eight paintings in the series will be exhibited together.

The OBIE-winning HERE presents CULTUREMART 2016, taking place March 2 - 12.

Just announced, Micah Sherman has joined the cast of the New York premiere of the new immersive theater event MYSTERY OF THE SILVER CHALICE, written and directed by Taylor Doherty.

Semyon Bychkov will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mahler's Symphony No. 6, tonight, February 11, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 12 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Joe's Pub at The Public will present the New York premiere of the new immersive theater event MYSTERY OF THE SILVER CHALICE, written and directed by Taylor Doherty.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Phil Geoffrey Bond, Producer of 'Simply Streisand' at NJPAC on 2/6.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for February 8-14, Jane Monheit, Birdland Jazz Party, Barbara Carroll and more!

Critically-acclaimed cabarettist Molly Pope returns to Joe's Pub for the live recording of her very first album, An Audience with Molly Pope. Drawing from a catalogue of re-contextualized pop, theater and standards, the "viscerally thrilling alto" (Time Out New York) brings a mix of favorite repertoire and new material.

The 1860s are a familiar period for Donna Murphy. In addition to winning Tonys for playing Fosca in the original Broadway production of PASSION and Anna in the 1996 revival of THE KING AND I, the actress played Mary Todd Lincoln in the television movie, THE DAY LINCOLN WAS SHOT. All three projects were set between 1862 and 1867. And, while she jokes that the 1998 film was the last time that she had worn a corset, when she read the pilot episode of PBS's Civil War medical drama MERCY STREET, premiering tonight at 10:00pm ET, she knew that she wanted to be involved.

New Jersey power pop legends THE SMITHEREENS will be bringing a string section and horn section to headline Bob's Birthday Bash, the sold-out all-star anchor event of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 of the Light of Day Foundation's 'Sweet Little 16' anniversary celebration in its global battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and the Parkinsonisms in our lifetime 'through the awesome power of music.'

The Old Globe presents the Third Annual New Voices Festival, featuring readings of new American plays by professional playwrights this weekend, January 15 - 17, 2016.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for January 11-24, 2016, including Stacy Sullivan, Merman's Apprentice, Stacey Kent, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, and more. Scroll down for details!

Semyon Bychkov will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct Mahler's Symphony No. 6, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 12 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 13 at 8:00 p.m.; and Tuesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016, where the bulk of the action will occur, is being held today, Jan. 8, through Jan. 18, 2016 at such fabled rock venues as the Paramount Theater, the Stone Pony, and the Wonder Bar, among others.

Birdland Jazz Club has just announced its January 2016 schedule, featuring Stacey Kent, Jeff Lorber Fusion, The Birdland Big Band, Musette Explosion, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Mack Avenue Superband, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!

Now that 2015 is squarely in the rearview mirror, and everyone is back to work after the holidays, it is time to take a look at some of the best films of the past year. As was the case with my Top 15 TV Shows of 2015 list, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list. I am one man, and I have not yet seen every major movie released last year. However, as I continue to work through screeners and upcoming screenings (I live in Orlando, so not all of the awards-bait has been released here yet), I will count down the top 2015 releases that I saw during the calendar year. Notable omissions are BRIDGE OF SPIES, THE REVENANT, THE DANISH GIRL, and CONCUSSION, all of which I hope to see by the end of the week.

New Jersey power pop legends THE SMITHEREENS will be bringing a string section and horn section to headline Bob's Birthday Bash, the sold-out all-star anchor event of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2016 of the Light of Day Foundation's 'Sweet Little 16' anniversary celebration in its global battle to defeat Parkinson's disease and the Parkinsonisms in our lifetime 'through the awesome power of music.'

The Old Globe today announced it will present the Third Annual New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by professional playwrights, January 15 - 17, 2016.

Birdland Jazz Club has just announced its January 2016 schedule, featuring Stacey Kent, Jeff Lorber Fusion, The Birdland Big Band, Musette Explosion, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Mack Avenue Superband, Birdland Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more. Scroll down for details!