Steven White News

Austin Opera continues to make great progress in its reinvention as one of the most innovative opera companies in the country. In review of its landmark 2018a?'2019 Season, it is proud to report elevated artistic excellence, exceptional ticket sales and fundraising, increased audience development, strengthened community partnerships, expanded education programming, and growth in its board of trusteesa?'all pointing to a bright future for opera in Central Texas. 

The Riverside Opera Company (ROC), under the direction of award-winning conductor Maestro Alan Aurelia, presents: Superstars! on Saturday, October 19, 8 p.m. at St. Teresa's Church, 1634 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY. ROC held city-wide auditions and the  winners  are the featured performers in Superstars! Gina Hanzlick, soprano; Chantelle Grant, mezzo soprano; Hyunho Cho, tenor and Joseph Gansert, baritone are accompanied by a 57 piece orchestra conducted by Maestro Alan Aurelia as they perform operatic favorites.

There's only one transformative, artist-packed weekend left of Opera Omaha's ONE Festival, to include the Opera Omaha debut of acclaimed theatre director Lileana Blain-Cruz as she directs the world stage premiere of a new performance edition of Gounod's Faust. 

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth has announced the programming, initial casting, and creative teams for the company's 2019-20 season, which comprises four opera productions at the newly renovated Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Featuring improved seating and sightlines on the orchestra level, the theatre reopens after a six-month closure for the company's season-opening production of Verdi's La traviata in October 2019. The season continues with composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell's Silent Night in January 2020, Rossini's The Barber of Seville in March 2020, and Massenet's Tha s in May 2020. Silent Night is presented as part of Utah Opera's American Opera Initiative, through which the company champions and commissions American contributions to the art form. Both Silent Night and Tha s are Utah Opera premieres.

Artistic Director Christopher McBeth today announced the programming, initial casting, and creative teams for Utah Opera's 2019-20 season, sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Dor Eccles Foundation. In its upcoming season, Utah Opera produces four operas at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre: Verdi's La traviata in October 2019, Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's Silent Night in January 2020, Rossini's The Barber of Seville in March 2020, and Massenet's Tha s in May 2020. Both Silent Night and Tha s are company premieres. Season subscriptions are on sale now by calling (801) 533-6683 or visiting utahopera.org. Single-opera tickets go on sale to the general public on June 14, 2019 through Utah Opera and ArtTix outlets.

The San Diego Opera's opening-night production of Verdi's Rigoletto featured the powerful voice and convincing acting of baritone Stephen Powell in a title role he has sung often. In contrast, it was soprano Alisa Jordheim's debut as Rigoletto's naive ill-fated daughter Gilda. Her fresh innocent appeal and Powell's veteran portrayal of cynical darkness were perfect for their respective roles. Jordheim has an agile voice with a deliciously silky tone, and commendable projection. She delivered coloratura passages of perfect clarity, hit the role's highest note with startling volume and purity, and held it. This won't be her last production of Rigoletto, nor the last major role in her promising career. Tenor Scott Quinn was the more than reprehensible duke who takes advantage of Gilda. The pair's youthful voices and appearance make them unusually well suited for Verdi's marvelous music and Francesco Maria Piave's tragedy-soaked libretto.

Coloratura Alisa Jordheim will be debuting in the role of Gilda with baritone Stephen Powell in a San Diego Opera production of Verdi's Rigoletto. This is the fifth time he's sung the lead. The first time was in a Cincinnati Opera production in which Jordheim had only a few lines as a page. 'I feel like I've graduated. That was in 2011, and I was a graduate student at CCM (the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music). It was a wonderful experience for me just to soak up everything in the rehearsal process. One of my favorite singers, Sarah Coburn, was the Gilda. Just getting to see her portray that character and to work with Stephen was a master class.'

Tenri Cultural Institute proudly presents The Chamber Music of Dana Dimitri Richardson on Sunday, October 14th at 3pm. The program features world premieres and recent works performed by pianists Craig Ketter, Simon Mulligan, and Cathy Callis, soprano Jacqueline Milena Thompson, saxophonist Mark Engebretson, and Canta Libre Chamber Ensemble.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, RAGTIME, and More!

Austin Opera never fails to dazzle, but their current production of LA TRAVIATA is so incredibly stellar, superlatives fail to describe its glittering pageantry.

There is a real pleasure in enjoying amazing voices telling a story in a language you do not know, and be able to understand the emotion conveyed by singers of exceptional skill. Opera Birmingham provided such wonder in 'Romeo and Juliet.'

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust today announced that Pulitzer-prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar and 2017 Tony Award-nominated playwright Lucas Hnath are the recipients of 2017 Steinberg Playwright Awards.

Arizona Opera is proud to present the first Mainstage production of its 2017/18 Season, Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, one of the most exciting and dramatic operas of all time.

Set on a stage draped with rich burgundy fabrics and bathed in the burnt orange glow of an Italian sunset, BalletMet artistic director Edwaard Liang's 'Romeo and Juliet' closed out the Columbus-based company's 2016-17 season with an inspiring interpretation of William Shakespeare's tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers.

See 'A Lion in Winter' at Two River Theater through December 4th. Written by James Goldman, the play features superb direction by Tyne Rafaeli and an outstanding cast. This is an ideal show to herald the holiday season.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, directed by Tyne Rafaeli. The production will run now through December 4, 2016, with the opening night tonight, November 18 at 8pm. The lead production sponsor for The Lion in Winter is Monmouth University.

Two River Theater presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, directed by Tyne Rafaeli. The press opening is Friday, November 18 at 8pm. Performances will continue through Sunday, December 4 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. BroadwayWorld has a look at the starry company in action below!

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the cast and creative team for its production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, directed by Tyne Rafaeli.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the cast and creative team for its production of James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, directed by Tyne Rafaeli.

With his win at this weekend's 2016 New York Bull Burger Battle, Montvale, NJ resident Dana Reed has secured a spot on Team Bull at this year's World Food Championships.