Meghan Picerno News

This week Broadwaysted is thrilled for this purrrrrfect opportunity to welcome the oldest cat on Broadway, otherwise-ingenue Eloise Kropp! We pour out all sorts of spirits into fancy tin cups and Eloise shares her road to becoming (as Bryan calls her) Ja-nay-nay-dots and dancing in a (as Bryan calls it) 'one-i-tard' in the original revival cast of CATS! Eloise spills about how she's actually a dog person, her whirlwind experience in DAMES AT SEA on Broadway (those commercials!), and her odd job cold-calling people.

When I saw that New York City Opera was doing Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE at the same time as New York's Prototype Festival--with Missy Mazzoli's BREAKING THE WAVES opening the festival of opera-theatre and music-theatre on the same night—I thought that it was great counter-programming. After all, what could be further from Mazzoli's brilliant but grim gem than Bernstein's comic masterpiece--proving there's more than one way to skin a music theatre piece?

In this SPECIAL Broadwaysted episode, we're celebrating the opening night of the New York City Opera's CANDIDE (directed by Hal Prince) with the brilliant leads, Broadway favorite Jay Armstrong Johnson and classical soprano Meghan Picerno!

Last night Leonard Bernstein's Candide, directed by legend Broadway visionary Harold Prince was presented by the New York City Opera and BroadwayWorld was at the opening night festivities.

Star of both stage and screen, Jay Armstrong Johnson has had a busy year, between his 54 Below shows, his album, and his roles on QUANTICO and 'My Gay Roommate.' He's finally making his return to the stage after dancing his way into our hearts in ON THE TOWN, by starring as the titular role in New York City Opera's production of Leonard Berstein's CANDIDE.

This month, the legendary Broadway visionary Harold Prince returns to New York City Opera to direct a new production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide.

Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE has had more lives than that proverbial cat--the latest being New York City Opera's new take on it, opening on January 6 for a ten-performance run at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre. It is, once again, helmed by director Hal Prince and choreographer Pat Birch, who were responsible--with librettist Hugh Wheeler and conductor John Mauceri--for the resuscitation and renovation of the once-considered unproducible work, more than 40 years ago.

This January, the legendary Broadway visionary Harold Prince returns to New York City Opera to direct a new production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. The production, choreographed by Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated choreographer Patricia Birch, brings together a versatile cast of Broadway veterans and rising opera stars to tell the story of Candide's adventures and tribulations in the "best of all possible worlds."

This January, the legendary Broadway visionary Harold Prince returns to New York City Opera to direct a new production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. The production, choreographed by Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated choreographer Patricia Birch, brings together a versatile cast of Broadway veterans and rising opera stars to tell the story of Candide's adventures and tribulations in the "best of all possible worlds." 

New York City Opera has announced the cast for its January 2017 production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide directed by legendary Broadway visionary Harold Prince and choreographed by Patricia Birch.

On the surface, LoftOpera and Regina Opera couldn't be more different--the former turning away hipsters in East Williamsburg (call it Bushwick), the latter providing a matinees-only environment for a family audience. But these two Brooklyn institutions do have one important thing in common: They respect the classics (TOSCA and LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, respectively)--do them up simply and well, and reach their audiences without gimmicks (or high prices). And, I found, their performances were more enjoyable than recent big-name outings of the same titles in New York, with performers who stood up well against better known singers.

Regina Opera presents “Lucia di Lammermoor” with Orchestra, Sat. March 5 and 12;  Sun. March 6 and 13, 2016 - 3 PM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help auditorium,  Brooklyn, 5902 6th Avenue, Brooklyn (between 59th and 60th Streets).  Tickets Price:  $25 - General Admission; $20 - Seniors / College students under 25; Teens - $5; Children - Free