Dick Johnson News

The last time the Met did Puccini's LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST--GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST--it was such a dispiriting affair that I was ready to write it off as past its expiration date. New York City Opera to the rescue!, opening its season with a lively revival of the Italian master's work about the California Gold Rush and the tough-babe-with-a-heart-of-marshmallow who runs the saloon.

The Acme Jazz Quartet kicks off an exciting new season of live music at THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin's theater, music and event venue, on Friday, September 15 at 8 p.m. The Quartet features Kenny Hadley (drums), Mark White (guitar), Mark Poniatowski (bass) and Arnie Krakowsky (saxophone), four world-class musicians whose performance resumes include a long list of music royalty. A suburban hub for great music, THE BLACK BOX presents wide-ranging music entertainment, slated to include a Big Band Brunch, classical concert, cabaret performances, New England Artist Series events and more this fall. The home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 West Central Street.

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST will play at the Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre until September 12. The Italian opera by Puccini animates the passion and adventure of the California Gold Rush in the mid 1800s. Let's see what the critics had to say!

For the third performance in the ongoing Bryant Park Presents New York City Opera series, New York City Opera will present a free preview of its upcoming production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West today, August 22 at 6 p.m.

After a critically acclaimed 2016/2017 season, New York City Opera is again at the forefront of New York's cultural season, opening its 2017/2018 season on September 6, 2017 at 7:30PM with a new production of Puccini's La fanciulla del West directed by Ivan Stefanutti with James Meena conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Soprano Kristin Sampson returns to City Opera to sing the role of Minnie, joined by tenor Jonathan Burton as Dick Johnson in his City Opera debut, and bass-baritone Kevin Short as Jack Rance.

For the third performance in the ongoing Bryant Park Presents New York City Opera series, New York City Opera will present a free preview of its upcoming production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West on Tuesday, August 22 at 6 p.m.

The Sarasota Ballet announces the 2017 - 2018 Executive Officers for the Board of Directors: Hillary Steele, Chair; Judy Cahn, Vice Chair; Pat Kenny, Treasurer; Dick Johnson, Secretary; Rich Segall, Governance Officer; Jean Weidner Goldstein, Chair Emeritus; and Sydney Goldstein, Chair Emerita.

Excitement is building as Florida Grand Opera (FGO) prepares to open its production of one of Verdi's greatest works, Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), a searing drama of royal intrigue and the conflict between duty and following one's heart. Long considered one of the ultimate challenges for the world's greatest singers of the Italian repertoire, including Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, and Plácido Domingo, Un ballo in maschera comes to Florida Grand Opera for the first time since 2005, with a cast of some of the finest singers available on the international opera scene.

Last performed by the company in 2011 at bergenPAC, Verismo Opera announces tenor Raúl Melo, a guest artist at the Metropolitan Opera for nine seasons, will premiere with the company and perform the role of Radames.

When Puccini's The Girl of the West premieres in Charlotte, it will be the culmination of a nearly two-year partnership between Opera Carolina, New York City Opera, Teatro Lirico in Cagliari, Sardenia and the Teatro di Giglio in Lucca, Italy - Puccini's hometown, with additional performances in Pisa, Livorno and Modena, Italy

The McCallum Theatre presents "Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall" on Monday, March 6, at 8:00pm. The performance features the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra with 18 of the country's top musicians, conducted by Terry Myers, and with Special Guest Vocalist Nancy Osborne. Relive the legendary concert that made Benny Goodman the most celebrated jazz bandleader of his day. Leading a band of musicians including Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges and Count Basie, Benny Goodman played music ranging from "Honeysuckle Rose" to "Sing, Sing, Sing." We re-create that night in 1938 with today's best musicians. 

Apotheosis Opera presents its second production, a fully-staged English-language production of GIACOMO PUCCINI'S masterpiece LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (The Girl of the Golden West), tonight, July 22 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, July 24, at 3pm at the theatre of El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Avenue). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2016, at 6:30pm at Conejo Players Theatre -- located at 351 South Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91361. There will be a champagne dessert reception immediately following; additionally, guests are encouraged to stay for that evening's hilarious Conejo Improv Players performance at 8:00pm.

The spirit of Dick Johnson lives on after his death, and at his wake Dick is able to re-animate his corpse, grab a bottle of his beloved booze and enlighten attendees about the nature of the spirit world he's been visiting.

APOTHEOSIS OPERA has announced their second production will be a fully-staged English-language production of GIACOMO PUCCINI'S masterpiece LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST (The Girl of the Golden West) on Friday July 22 at 7:30pm and Sunday July 24 at 3pm at the theatre of El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Avenue).

Opera North has announced the principal roles for Tosca, one of its three 2016 mainstage productions. Soprano Sandra Lopez will play the title role of Tosca, while baritones Jeff Gwaltney and Aleksey Bogdanov will play Cavaradossi and Scarpia, respectively. All three are Opera North alumni and have extensive international experience.

Puccini's opera set in ancient China, TURANDOT, will return to the Metropolitan Opera for 16 performances beginning tonight, September 23.

Puccini's opera set in ancient China, TURANDOT, will return to the Metropolitan Opera for 16 performances beginning September 23.

Conejo Players Theatre's inaugural Arts Advocate Awards was a heartfelt ceremony that honored and highlighted the amazing work of local theatre champions Richard 'Dick' Johnson; Corey Fogelmanis of Disney Channel's Girl Meets World; and the City of Thousand Oaks.

Conejo Players Theatre invites you to their inaugural Arts Advocate Awards, honoring outstanding local theatre champions including; Richard 'Dick' Johnson; Corey Fogelmanis of Disney Channel's Girl Meets World; and the City of Thousand Oaks.