George Abbott...A Celebration - 1976 - Broadway Articles Page 11

MINNEAPOLIS (January 26, 2015) – Minnesota Opera Music Director Michael Christie leads the world premiere performances of The Manchurian Candidate, March 7–15, 2015in the Ordway Music Theater. Christie is recognized as “ … a top-notch conductor of new works …” by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Based on the novel by Richard Condon and directed by Kevin Newbury, The Manchurian Candidate traces the mysterious story of an American soldier decorated during the Korean War who is brainwashed into becoming an unwitting assassin in a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. This taut and suspenseful thriller is the highly anticipated second opera by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, creators of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night.

Music Director Andres Orozco-Estrada and Executive Director and CEO Mark C. Hanson today announced the Houston Symphony's 102nd Season, comprised of a full slate of classical, POPS, family, community, education and multimedia performances, as well as recordings, collaborations, international partnerships and an expanded global presence.

New Brunswick's George Street Playhouse celebrates the end of another successful season on Sunday, May 3 with their Annual Gala Benefit, themed 'A Starry Night.' As part of the celebration, the Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award will be conferred upon Stephen K. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson Health System by the former Governor himself. The first award was given to Governor Kean in 1990 and thereafter, named in his honor to pay tribute to an individual, corporation or foundation whose dedication to the arts enhances the cultural life of the citizens of New Jersey. In addition, this year the Playhouse established The Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement, to be conferred upon an outstanding individual that reflects Mr. Laurents' high artistic standard. The recipient will be announced at a later date.

American filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen have accepted the invitation from President Pierre Lescure and General Delegate Thierry Frémaux to become the Presidents of the 68th edition of the Festival.

With the release of multi-platinum Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Rush's self-titled 1974 debut this past April, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) kicked off its own celebration of the legendary Canadian prog-rock band's 40th anniversary since that first album. I

Today in 1981, Merrily We Roll Along closed at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre), where it ran for 16 performances. Merrily We Roll Along is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Furth and Sondheim retained the basic structure and overall theme of the play but updated it to encompass the period from 1957 to 1976. The story revolves around Franklin Shepard who, having once been a talented composer of Broadway musicals, has now abandoned his friends and his songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood flicks. Like the play, the musical begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Frank's life that shaped the man that he is today.

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

American Ballet Theatre's 2015 season at the Metropolitan Opera House was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. The season will be highlighted by the New York Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's all-new production of The Sleeping Beauty, a revival of Lar Lubovitch's Othello and repertory programs featuring historic works in celebration of the Company's 75th Anniversary Season.

In celebration of this season's ON THE TOWN, we've collected 10 of our favorite dance musicals. From classics like ANYTHING GOES, 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE and WEST SIDE STORY to modern marvels such as NEWSIES and STRICTLY BALLROOM, the way choreography is used to tell a story continues to evolve and inspire.

CONAN's George Harrison Week wrapped up last night with Norah Jones performing Harrison's classic song 'Behind That Locked Door' from his 1970 album 'All Things Must Pass.' Watch the performance below!

George Harrison Week continues on TBS's CONAN as Paul Simon performs the timeless classic, 'Here Comes The Sun.' Check out the appearance below!

CONAN's George Harrison Week kicked off last night with Beck performing Harrison's 1970 hit 'Wah-Wah.' Watch the performance below!

Paul Simon has joined the week-long celebration of George Harrison on TBS's late-night show CONAN. The celebration, which begins tonight, also features previously announced performances of Harrison songs by Beck, Norah Jones, Dhani Harrison & Friends.

TBS's late-night show Conan is set to honor George Harrison with a week of performances by some of the biggest names in music.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX), the world's largest regional theme park company, today announced thrilling new offerings for each of its 18 parks for 2015. The upcoming season will include unique, one-of-a-kind attractions, sophisticated new interactive dark rides and, in signature Six Flags fashion, a selection of world-record-breaking rides from coast to coast.

Jim Brickman is the most charted Billboard Adult Contemporary artist in music. How's that for a cool credential? Brickman celebrates his two decades of musical chart busters the only way he knows how - with his fans - with Jim Brickman: The Platinum Tour 'Celebrating 20 Years,'one-night-only at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m.

The World Premiere of David Fincher's GONE GIRL will open the New York Film Festival, the Film Society of Lincoln Center said Thursday.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announces the 2014/15 season programming for its acclaimed MusicNOW contemporary music series—dedicated to showcasing contemporary music through an innovative concert experience. Uniquely curated by CSO Mead Composers-In-Residence Mason Bates and Anna Clyne, the annual, four-concert series in 2014/15 presents a range of work from major musical figures such as Pierre Boulez and established contemporary talents such as John Luther Adams and Michael Gordon. Programs are performed by members of the CSO and guest artists led by MusicNOW principal conductor Cliff Colnot and guest conductors, which this year includes James Feddeck, winner of the 2013 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

A two-hour primetime ABC special highlighting her illustrious, unparalleled career will air today, May 16, 9:00-11:00 p.m. 

For two weeks in April, television audiences will be treated to an unprecedented collection of inspirational movies and mini-series when UP once again presents 'The Greatest Stories of The Bible' in honor of the Easter season. America's favorite network for uplifting entertainment will mark the holiday for a second year with an Unforgettable programming schedule. Starting today, April 7 and continuing through Easter, Sunday, April 20, UP will air 21 classic stories from the New and Old Testaments (11 never-before-seen on UP), plus one all-new UP Original Movie during prime time, totaling more than 123 hours of programming.

Today in 1976, the first Broadway revival of My Fair Lady opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 377 performances. My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well born lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals.

For two weeks in April, television audiences will be treated to an unprecedented collection of inspirational movies and mini-series when UP once again presents “The Greatest Stories of The Bible” in honor of the Easter season.

'This broadcast and webcast event was the perfect way to spread the word about Andres' Inaugural Season to an even broader audience and build upon the momentum generated from our Centennial Season,' said Houston Symphony Executive Director and CEO Mark C. Hanson. 'It symbolizes our commitment to innovation, community partnerships, and becoming more relevant to even more Houstonians. We're grateful to Houston Public Media for collaborating on this important and exciting announcement.'

Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce will take a star turn together when they co-host the Ninth Annual Opera News Awards, set to take place on Sunday, April 13, 2014, in the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel in New York City. They will be joined by a distinguished line-up of presenters – Luca Pisaroni, Susan Graham, Renata Scotto, Eva Wagner-Pasquier and Francesca Zambello – who will pay tribute to five superb artists who have made an invaluable contribution to the art form: the late director Patrice Chéreau, tenor Juan Diego Flórez, mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig,bass-baritone James Morris, and soprano Nina Stemme. First introduced in 2005, the Opera News Awards gala dinner, which features the hosts and presenters speaking about the awardees and introducing video performance clips, has become one of the most anticipated opera events of the season: an evening of celebration, appreciation, reuniting and celebrity-spotting that is without parallel in the industry.

The holidays are upon us with plenty to celebrate at the Kimmel Center's campus of events and performances.