Once Around the City 2001 - Articles Page 21

Just in time for the Purim season, Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre will perform its 'The Historye of Queen Esther, of King Ahasverus & of the Haughty Haman' from February 21 to March 7 at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater of the West Side Y, located on West 64th St. just West of Central Park West, Manhattan. The production features modernist marionettes and those from the Czech Puppetry repertoire and is recommended for family audiences.

Verdi's popular masterpiece Rigoletto returns to the repertory on January 24 with baritone Roberto Frontali making his Met role debut as the hunchback jester and conductor Riccardo Frizza in his company debut. They are joined by Aleksandra Kurzak as Gilda and Giuseppe Filianoti as the Duke of Mantua, both of whom are also singing their roles for the first time at the Met. Viktoria Vizin makes her Met debut as Maddalena, and Mikhail Petrenko sings his first Sparafucile with the company. Georgian bass George Gagnidze makes his Met debut on January 27 in the title role and sings the following five performances through February 12. Piotr Beczala, whose performances as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor last fall drew wide acclaim, sings the Duke on February 12. A second run of performances begins April 1 and features the first Met Gilda of Diana Damrau, who earlier this season created a sensation with her interpretation of the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor. She will be partnered with Joseph Calleja as the Duke and Roberto Frontali as Rigoletto. Frontali returns for the April performances which run through April 17. Tamara Mumford sings Maddalena and Raymond Aceto is Sparafucile in the April cast. About the performers

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) begins 2009 with the New York premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, a new play by Evan Smith (Psych and The Uneasy Chair at Playwrights Horizons, Remedial English for the Young Playwrights Festival at Playwrights Horizons, Servicemen at The New Group). This will be Mr. Smith's fourth collaboration with the theater company.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) continues its 2008/2009 Season with the New York premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, a new play by Evan Smith (Psych and The Uneasy Chair at Playwrights Horizons, Remedial English for the Young Playwrights Festival at Playwrights Horizons, Servicemen at The New Group). This will be Mr. Smith's fourth collaboration with the theater company.

Julie Taymor's hit production of Mozart's The Magic Flute returns to the Met as this season's special holiday presentation beginning December 22. The abridged, English-language version is specially priced to appeal to families and will have four matinees and one holiday evening performance, running through January 1.

Puccini's most popular work returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, December 15, at 8:00 p.m. in the visually stunning classic production by Franco Zeffirelli. Fr?d?ric Chaslin conducts the performances which run through Saturday, January 10, 2008 and feature Mexican tenor Ram?n Vargas and Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Rodolfo and Mim?. Fellow Bohemians in the cast are portrayed by Susanna Phillips as Musetta in her Met debut, Mariusz Kwiecien as the painter Marcello, Tommi Hakala as the musician Schaunard, and Oren Gradus as the philosopher Colline. Paul Plishka sings both Benoit and Alcindoro. Massimo Giordano sings Rodolfo in the final two performances.

This fall brought the 4th B'way show and 2nd child for Kevin, a journeyman performer who also writes music.

Puccini's most popular work returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Monday, December 15, at 8:00 p.m. in the visually stunning classic production by Franco Zeffirelli. Fr?d?ric Chaslin conducts the performances which run through Saturday, January 10, 2008 and feature Mexican tenor Ram?n Vargas and Latvian soprano Maija Kovalevska as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Rodolfo and Mim?. Fellow Bohemians in the cast are portrayed by Susanna Phillips as Musetta in her Met debut, Mariusz Kwiecien as the painter Marcello, Tommi Hakala as the musician Schaunard, and Oren Gradus as the philosopher Colline. Paul Plishka sings both Benoit and Alcindoro. Massimo Giordano sings Rodolfo in the final two performances.

Tap dancing is a family tradition for Kelly, who's in 'White Christmas' for the fourth straight holiday season.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, has announced its 2008-09 season: Bury the Dead, written by Irwin Shaw and directed by Joe Calarco, and Being Audrey, music and lyrics by Ellen Weiss, book by James Hindman, additional book and lyrics by Cheryl Stern, developed with Jack Cummings III and Adam R. Perlman, and directed by Jack Cummings III.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, has completed casting of its upcoming production of William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, starring Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin, directed by Kulick.

On June 30th, 2008 the Michael Weller Theater, home to many Off Broadway theater companies will close its doors for the last time as management 'looks to offer more office space'. The last show to play in the Michael Weller Theatre was presented by Broken Watch Theatre Company, The Framer by Edward Allan Baker.

New Yorkers are getting a 'Southern Treat' as the work of famed playwright Tennessee Williams is available on various stages around the city. The most recent offering being The Actors Company Theatre's long-awaited production of Tennessee Williams' The Eccentricities of a Nightingale. In honor of this production TACT will host several post-show discussions exploring the life, love and work of Williams. These discussions will take place directly after the performances at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row on West 42nd Street and are free with a purchase of a ticket to the performance. The Eccentricities of a Nightingale is directed by Jenn Thompson and opens May 5th, 2008.

NEW THIS WEEK! CSC has the BEST BET of the week! Ford's Theatre presents annual Lincoln Medals! Local benefit of Nunsense A-Men! New shows at DCT, Spotlighters and Theatre Project!

Brian, whose last job was covering the Beast and Gaston in 'Beauty and the Beast,' celebrates his Irish heritage in his 4th Broadway show.

WHO: Toby's Dinner Theatre of Baltimore WHAT: The Full Monty WHEN: Through March 25. Thurs. - Sun., with some Tues, Weds, evenings and Thurs matinees. BWW Discount 03/01, 02 and 04! Buy One, Get One!

Life imitated art on the '42nd Street' tour for Cara, who's now an expert at last-minute understudying.

Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Thomas Viertel announced today that they will present a new production of THE FANTASTICKS, the world's longest running musical, beginning preview performances on Friday, July 28, 2006 and opening on Thursday, August 17 at New York's brand new Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street at Broadway).

Mint Theater Company has announced that its premiere of Arthur Schnitzler's Der einsame Weg entitled The Lonely Way will continue through Sunday, May 1st due to critical acclaim and popular demand.