Donald Eastman News

Here in Hartford, it's worth the trip for the excellent, humorous play and a stellar performance turned in by Royce Johnson as Ralph.

TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford opens its 2011-2012 Season with the United States Regional Theater Premiere of the comic smash, The Motherf----r with the Hat, by Stephen Adly Guirgis.

In her smart comedy The Book Club Play, D.C.-area playwright Karen Zacarías examines the intricacies of book clubs, with their unspoken rules, high-spirited debates and strong bonds formed when least expected. With an ensemble cast featuring Fred Arsenault, Ashlie Atkinson, Rachael Holmes, Eric Messner, Kate Eastwood Norris and Tom Story, this is Zacarías' second collaboration with Director Molly Smith at Arena Stage and is the first work of a Resident Playwright to be produced as part of their three-year residencies through the American Voices New Play Institute. The Book Club Play runs October 7-November 6, 2011 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

RACE, by David Mamet. Multiple Award-winning playwright David Mamet tackles America's most controversial topic in a provocative new tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations.

RACE, by David Mamet. Multiple Award-winning playwright David Mamet tackles America's most controversial topic in a provocative new tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations.

La MaMa E.T.C. will present the World Premiere of HOW AND WHY I ROBBED MY FIRST CHEESE STORE by Mike Gorman. Directed by Dave Bennett featuring video, photography, cheese and a life-size taxidermy horse, previews begin May 19. Opening night is slated for Thursday, May 26.

La MaMa E.T.C. will present the World Premiere of HOW AND WHY I ROBBED MY FIRST CHEESE STORE by Mike Gorman. Directed by Dave Bennett featuring video, photography, cheese and a life-size taxidermy horse, previews begin May 19. Opening night is slated for Thursday, May 26.

La MaMa E.T.C. will present the World Premiere of HOW AND WHY I ROBBED MY FIRST CHEESE STORE by Mike Gorman. Directed by Dave Bennett featuring video, photography, cheese and a life-size taxidermy horse, previews begin May 19. Opening night is slated for Thursday, May 26.

RACE, by David Mamet. Multiple Award-winning playwright David Mamet tackles America's most controversial topic in a provocative new tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations.

Seattle Opera's 2010/11 Young Artists Program returns to Bellevue's Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in April with Mozart's Don Giovanni. Featuring eight Seattle Opera Young Artists and one Guest Artist, this fully staged production is directed by Young Artists Program Artistic Director Peter Kazaras and conducted by the program's music director, Brian Garman. Don Giovanni runs for four performances: April 1, 3, 7, and 9, 2011. Sets and lights are designed by Donald Eastman and Connie Yun respectively, who recently collaborated on Seattle Opera's premiere of Don Quichotte. Working with Seattle Opera for the first time is Costume Designer Candace Frank, who trained at the University of Washington and has previously worked with several Seattle-area theaters. Unforgettable characters, true-to-life emotions, and dazzling arias and ensembles make Don Giovanni the perfect showcase for Seattle Opera's up-and-coming singers. Described by many as the perfect opera, Don Giovanni blends comedy and drama to tell the tale of a womanizing nobleman who pays the ultimate price for his misdeeds. Says Kazaras: "Our production, which sets the action in and around the world of a small cafe-cinema in southern Europe, explores Don Giovanni's transformation into an iconic, mythic figure." This production follows Mozart's revision of the score, which was first performed in Vienna six months after the Prague premiere. The Vienna version features the seldom-performed duet, "Per queste tue manine," sung by Zerlina and Leporello. (Mozart cut the aria "Il mio tesoro" for the Vienna performances and added "Dalla sua pace" and "Mi tradi.") Baritone David Krohn is Don Giovanni on opening night and April 9, while Daniel Scofield takes on the role on April 3 and 7. Also double-cast is the role of Don Ottavio, which will be handled by tenor Andrew Stenson on April 1 and 9, and by Eric Neuville on April 3 and 7. Both tenors made their mainstage debuts in last fall's production of Lucia di Lammermoor, Stenson as Arturo and Neuville as Normanno. Don Giovanni also features soprano Marcy Stonikas as Donna Anna, soprano Amanda Opuszynski as Donna Elvira, bass Erik Anstine as Leporello, and bass-baritone Adrian Rosas as both the Commendatore and Masetto (roles that were also performed by the same artist in Mozart's day). Rosas and Scofield made their mainstage debuts in Seattle Opera's Barber of Seville, Rosas as the Sergeant and Scofield as Fiorello. Stonikas, Neuville, and Anstine will all appear in Seattle Opera's production of The Magic Flute in May. Joining this talented group of Young Artists is Guest Artist Jacqueline Bezek, who plays Zerlina. More than 600 singers applied for the 2010/11 season of Seattle Opera's prestigious Young Artists Program. The program is geared toward singers who have recently completed their college training and are embarking on professional singing careers. Former Young Artists have gone on to perform on Seattle Opera's mainstage and at companies around the world. The intimate nature of the 400-seat Theatre at Meydenbauer Center allows audiences to experience this opera-and its exciting young cast-in a way not possible in conventional opera houses. Tickets for Don Giovanni are $50 for adults and $20 for students, and can be purchased online at seattleopera.org/yapgiovanni, by calling the box office at 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. For more information about the Young Artists Program visit seattleopera.org/yap.

Kyle Fabel and Aaron Roman Weiner are set to join TheatreWorks Hartford's A STEADY RAIN. The production will play March 25-May 8 and will feature direction by Tazewell Thompson.

Seattle Opera's 2010/11 Young Artists Program returns to Bellevue's Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in April with Mozart's Don Giovanni. Featuring eight Seattle Opera Young Artists and one Guest Artist, this fully staged production is directed by Young Artists Program Artistic Director Peter Kazaras and conducted by the program's music director, Brian Garman. Don Giovanni runs for four performances: April 1, 3, 7, and 9, 2011. Sets and lights are designed by Donald Eastman and Connie Yun respectively, who recently collaborated on Seattle Opera's premiere of Don Quichotte. Working with Seattle Opera for the first time is Costume Designer Candace Frank, who trained at the University of Washington and has previously worked with several Seattle-area theaters. Unforgettable characters, true-to-life emotions, and dazzling arias and ensembles make Don Giovanni the perfect showcase for Seattle Opera's up-and-coming singers. Described by many as the perfect opera, Don Giovanni blends comedy and drama to tell the tale of a womanizing nobleman who pays the ultimate price for his misdeeds. Says Kazaras: "Our production, which sets the action in and around the world of a small cafe-cinema in southern Europe, explores Don Giovanni's transformation into an iconic, mythic figure." This production follows Mozart's revision of the score, which was first performed in Vienna six months after the Prague premiere. The Vienna version features the seldom-performed duet, "Per queste tue manine," sung by Zerlina and Leporello. (Mozart cut the aria "Il mio tesoro" for the Vienna performances and added "Dalla sua pace" and "Mi tradi.") Baritone David Krohn is Don Giovanni on opening night and April 9, while Daniel Scofield takes on the role on April 3 and 7. Also double-cast is the role of Don Ottavio, which will be handled by tenor Andrew Stenson on April 1 and 9, and by Eric Neuville on April 3 and 7. Both tenors made their mainstage debuts in last fall's production of Lucia di Lammermoor, Stenson as Arturo and Neuville as Normanno. Don Giovanni also features soprano Marcy Stonikas as Donna Anna, soprano Amanda Opuszynski as Donna Elvira, bass Erik Anstine as Leporello, and bass-baritone Adrian Rosas as both the Commendatore and Masetto (roles that were also performed by the same artist in Mozart's day). Rosas and Scofield made their mainstage debuts in Seattle Opera's Barber of Seville, Rosas as the Sergeant and Scofield as Fiorello. Stonikas, Neuville, and Anstine will all appear in Seattle Opera's production of The Magic Flute in May. Joining this talented group of Young Artists is Guest Artist Jacqueline Bezek, who plays Zerlina. More than 600 singers applied for the 2010/11 season of Seattle Opera's prestigious Young Artists Program. The program is geared toward singers who have recently completed their college training and are embarking on professional singing careers. Former Young Artists have gone on to perform on Seattle Opera's mainstage and at companies around the world. The intimate nature of the 400-seat Theatre at Meydenbauer Center allows audiences to experience this opera-and its exciting young cast-in a way not possible in conventional opera houses. Tickets for Don Giovanni are $50 for adults and $20 for students, and can be purchased online at seattleopera.org/yapgiovanni, by calling the box office at 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. For more information about the Young Artists Program visit seattleopera.org/yap.

One of literature's most memorable characters comes to life in Seattle Opera's premiere of Jules Massenet's Don Quichotte, opening on February 26, 2011, and running for eight performances through March 12.

Kyle Fabel and Aaron Roman Weiner are set to join TheatreWorks Hartford's A STEADY RAIN. The production will play March 25-May 8 and will feature direction by Tazewell Thompson.

One of literature's most memorable characters comes to life in Seattle Opera's premiere of Jules Massenet's Don Quichotte, opening on February 26, 2011, and running for eight performances through March 12.

Glimmerglass Opera's 2010 Festival continues this weekend with the opening performances of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and the U.S. professionally staged premiere of Handel's Tolomeo on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Glimmerglass Opera's 2010 Festival continues this weekend with the opening performances of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and the U.S. professionally staged premiere of Handel's Tolomeo on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Glimmerglass Opera's 2010 Festival opens this weekend with Puccini's Tosca on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Aaron Copland's The Tender Land on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Glimmerglass Opera's 2010 Festival opens this weekend with Puccini's Tosca on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Aaron Copland's The Tender Land on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 21 at 8:00pm conductor Anne Manson will lead the Juilliard Orchestra and Vocal Artists in Francis Poulenc's highly emotive Dialogues of the Carmelites, the final production of The Juilliard Opera Center season, directed by Fabrizio Melano.