The Beggar's Opera 1728

Opened: January 29, 1728

The Beggar's Opera - 1728 - Regional (UK) History , Info & More

At its London premiere in 1728, John Gay's rollicking Beggar's Opera caused a sensation. Lampooning the politics and public morality of the day, it became an instant hit.

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Review: THE THREEPENNY OPERA �" ADELAIDE FESTIVAL 2024 at Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
by Barry Lenny - Mar 8, 2024


An exceptionally fine group of musicians and singers.

Review: You'll experience many “Moments to Remember” if you see Plaza Theatrical's production of FOREVER PLAID at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre
by Nicholas Pontolillo - Apr 2, 2023


What did our critic think of FOREVER PLAID at Elmont Memorial Library Theatre?

Never Seen Before in Brazil, Theatro Sao Pedro Opens Weill & Brecht's THE THREEPENNY OPERA (A Opera dos Tres Vintens)
by Claudio Erlichman - Aug 30, 2022


Produced for the first time in Brazil, has the musical direction by American conductor Ira Levin, who leads the Orquestra do Theatro São Pedro, and scenic direction by Alexandre Dal Farra. Opening on September 1st, there will be seven recitals until September 11th.

WEST SIDE STORY and THE THREEPENNY OPERA Announced Among the Attractions of Theatro Sao Pedro's 2022 Season
by Claudio Erlichman - Dec 22, 2021


Theatro Sao Pedro announces its 2022 season. The lyrical series will include eleven titles: La Serva Padrona; Livietta and Tracollo; The Capulets and the Montechios, by Bellini; West Side Story; Lecture on Waterbirds; Threepenny Opera, by Weill; Ariadne in Naxos, by Strauss; Viva La Mamma, by Donizetti and El Barberillo de Lavapies, among others.

25 Theatre Books for Your Fall Reading List
by Team BWW - Nov 6, 2021


Fall has arrived and chilly weather means lots of time to snuggle under your favorite blanket with a great book. You're in luck, because this year, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind.

30 Theatre Books for Your Summer Reading List
by Team BWW - Jul 4, 2021


There is no better time than summer to relax by the pool and curl up with a great book, and you're in luck, because this year, Broadway's best have put pen to paper to turn out theatre page-turners of every kind. From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theatre history; check out our collection of 30 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's summer reading!

City Lyric Opera To Perform THREEPENNY OPERA This Fall
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 22, 2020


One of New York City's most innovative opera companies, City Lyric Opera (CLO), begins its fifth season with a never before seen live experience of power, technology, and storytelling. From October 29-November 15, 2020, CLO presents Weill and Brecht's musical comedy The Threepenny Opera in a virtual, fully produced show.

BWW Review: THE 3 PENNY OPERA at Hannah Playhouse
by Monica Moore - Jun 25, 2019


At times verging on the absurd, this production of the Threepenny Opera (in support of the Wellington Homeless Women's Trust) is thoroughly entertaining, at times unsettling and indicative of the work's continuing popularity and relevance although the purposeful crude scenes, caustic wit and dissection of the hypocrisies of the bourgeois morality may not be for everyone.

Boston Lyric Opera Announces 2017/18 Season - Elena Stikhina in TOSCA, World Premiere of THE NEFARIOUS and More!
by Christina Mancuso - Mar 9, 2017


Boston Lyric Opera's Stanford Calderwood General & Artistic Director Esther Nelson announced today an eclectic 2017/18 Season designed to please die-hard opera fans as well as newcomers to the art form.  Each of the Company's productions will be presented on a different area stage, starting October 13-22, 2017 with a new production of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca featuring the American debut of award-winning rising global star Elena Stikhina in the title role. The World Premiere of The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare (a.k.a. Burke & Hare) by composer Julian Grant and librettist Mark Campbell follows November 8-12, 2017.  From March 16-25, 2018, BLO presents Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's pivotal early-20th century work The Threepenny Opera.  BLO closes its Season in May with Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, paired with his Arias and Barcarolles, to mark the Lawrence, Mass.-born composer's centennial.

BWW Review: THE BEGGAR'S OPERA, Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 9 November 2016
by Gary Naylor - Nov 11, 2016


Gary Naylor sees a young cast attack a classic play to update for today's world, a venture that succeeds partially, and is never less than interesting.

Lazarus Theatre Company Announces the Final Company of John Gay's THE BEGGAR'S OPERA
by BWW News Desk - Oct 28, 2016


Lazarus Theatre Company are proud to announce the final company of Lazarus Season 2016, the company of John Gay's musical comedy, The Beggar's Opera.

LOVE HURTS Opera by Nicola Moro and L.S. Hilton to Premiere at Symphony Space
by BWW News Desk - Oct 28, 2016


After its world premiere last June at Milan's Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato, the Center for Contemporary Opera presents the U.S. premiere of Love Hurts, by librettist L.S. Hilton - author of the best-selling novel Maestra - and composer Nicola Moro, at Symphony Space in New York City on October 28.

LOVE HURTS Opera by Nicola Moro and L.S. Hilton to Premiere at Symphony Space
by BWW News Desk - Sep 29, 2016


After its world premiere last June at Milan's Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato, the Center for Contemporary Opera presents the U.S. premiere of Love Hurts, by librettist L.S. Hilton - author of the best-selling novel Maestra - and composer Nicola Moro, at Symphony Space in New York City on October 28.

Lazarus Theatre ends 2016 with a BANG: John Gay's Bawdy Musical, THE BEGGAR'S OPERA!
by Liz Cearns - Sep 13, 2016


?John Gay's bawdy and raucous musical, The Beggar's Opera hits the stage with a brand new score and scenes of very naughty, sexual behaviour…

Photo Flash: Theatre South Carolina's THE THREEPENNY OPERA Begins Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Oct 2, 2015


The infamous Mack the Knife is back as Theatre South Carolina presents the landmark musical masterpiece THE THREEPENNY OPERA, tonight, October 2-10 at Longstreet Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

BWW Reviews: DEAD DOG IN A SUITCASE (AND OTHER LOVE SONGS), Birmingham Rep, September 29 2015
by Jenny Ell - Sep 30, 2015


For thirty years now, Kneehigh have been creating original, innovative pieces of theatre. Over this time, they have grown to an international scale and have built a solid reputation for quality which any theatre company would be envious of. Earlier this year saw Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca being given the Kneehigh treatment and to massive acclaim. This continues to tour whilst Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs) is starting out on its UK tour.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Theatre South Carolina's THE THREEPENNY OPERA
by BWW News Desk - Sep 14, 2015


The infamous Mack the Knife is back as Theatre South Carolina presents the landmark musical masterpiece THE THREEPENNY OPERA, October 2-10 at Longstreet Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Kneehigh Returning to Birmingham Rep
by Tyler Peterson - Sep 8, 2015


This autumn Kneehigh return to Birmingham Repertory Theatre following their sell-out run of Rebecca earlier this year, with their critically acclaimed radical new reworking of the Beggar's Opera, Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs).

DEAD DOG IN A SUITCASE to Play HOME
by Nora Dominick - Jul 15, 2015


This autumn, Cornwall-based international touring company Kneehigh, with Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, begin a new tour of Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs), their critically acclaimed radical reworking of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, written by Carl Grose, with a brand new score of live musicby Charles Hazlewood, and directed by Artistic Director Mike Shepherd.

BWW Reviews: THREEPENNY OPERA at Villanova Goes Back to Brecht
by Marakay Rogers - Apr 23, 2015


Valerie Joyce and a fine cast go back to the roots of Brecht's THREEPENNY OPERA and uncover a feminist treasure trove

Clarence Brown Theatre Closes 2014-15 Season with THE THREEPENNY OPERA, Now thru 5/3
by BWW News Desk - Apr 16, 2015


A landmark in modern drama which inspired the hits 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' and which includes one of the most popular songs of the century, 'The Threepenny Opera' plays on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage tonight, April 16 through May 3, 2015.

Clarence Brown Theatre to Close 2014-15 Season with THE THREEPENNY OPERA, 4/16-5/3
by BWW News Desk - Apr 7, 2015


A landmark in modern drama which inspired the hits 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago' and which includes one of the most popular songs of the century, 'The Threepenny Opera' plays on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage April 16 through May 3, 2015.

STAGE TUBE: Natascia Diaz Sings 'Mack the Knife' in Signature Theatre's THREEPENNY OPERA
by Diana Heisroth - May 14, 2014


Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife. Scroll down to see a video of Natascia Diaz singing 'Mack The Knife' from the prodction!

STAGE TUBE: Exclusive First Look at Signature Theatre's THE THREEPENNY OPERA
by Christina Mancuso - May 5, 2014


Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic DirectorMatthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife and Natascia Diaz (Jenny; Broadway's Man of LaMancha, Signature's Brother Russia, Kiss of the Spiderwoman). BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive first look at the video below!

Photo Flash: First Look at Mitchell Jarvis, Erin Driscoll, Natascia Diaz and More in Signature Theatre's THE THREEPENNY OPERA
by BWW News Desk - Apr 28, 2014


Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife and Natascia Diaz (Jenny; Broadway's Man of LaMancha, Signature's Brother Russia, Kiss of the Spiderwoman). Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Videos