James Noone News

Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Founder and Artistic Director | Jim Bredeson, Managing Director) presents the New York Premiere of David Ives's The Metromaniacs, adapted from Alexis Piron's La Metromanie and directed by Michael Kahn. Performances continue through Sunday May 20th only.

Is Hamlet mad or sane? Should Denmark be ruled by the melancholy Dane, or by Claudius? Ted Pappas's production bravely casts all accepted answers into uncertainty.

Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Founder and Artistic Director | Jim Bredeson, Managing Director) presents the New York Premiere of David Ives's The Metromaniacs, adapted from Alexis Piron's La Metromanie and directed by Michael Kahn opening Sundayevening (7pm). Previews now!

When you think the classic era of Broadway Musicals, many lean toward Rodgers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe but for my money I always go right to Cole Porter. Maybe not as prolific when it comes to hit shows as the others but you can't dismiss the undeniable genius of "Anything Goes" and of course "Kiss Me, Kate" (my personal favorite), currently playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre. And the folks at the 5th have not only done right by this classic tuner by packing it to the brim with the best singers, dancers and comedians they could find but the production is a love letter to the predecessors of the production, most notably the visual style which is so reminiscent of the 1953 film version, making this far more than a killer show, but an homage.

To complete his illustrious career leading Pittsburgh Public Theater, Ted Pappas has chosen William Shakespeare's Hamlet as the final play he will direct as the company's Producing Artistic Director. His cast of 21 actors will be led by Indiana, PA native Matthew Amendt. Hamlet runs April 19 - May 20, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. Hamlet is presented by Highmark.

Washington National Opera concludes its 2017-2018 season with the company premiere of Leonard Bernstein's biting satire Candide, May 5-26, 2018, in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Candide is one of Bernstein's most popular and enduring works, blurring the lines between opera and musical theater. Heading the all-American cast are three powerhouses from the world of opera: tenor Alek Shrader in his WNO debut in the title role, soprano Kathryn Lewek as his forlorn love interest Cunegonde, and WNO audience favorite and local legend Denyce Graves as the Old Lady. This new-to-Washington production, the centerpiece of the Kennedy Center's season-long Leonard Bernstein at 100 celebration, is directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Nicole Paiement.

Rehearsals are in full swing for The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Kiss Me, Kate, which begins performances next Friday, April 6.

Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Founder and Artistic Director) Jim Bredeson, Managing Director) today announced the cast for their next mainstage production, the New York premiere of David Ives's The Metromaniacs, directed by Michael Kahn:Noah Averbach-Katz (The Bachelors - Williamstown Theater Festival, Othello =Dir. Pam MacKinnon); Christian Conn (RBT: The School for Scandal, Desire Under the Elms -Broadway, The Liar -CSC); Adam Green (RBT: The Witch of Edmonton,  two Helen Hayes nominations for Midsummer Night's Dream and the world premiere of The Liar - Shakespeare Theatre of DC); Peter Kybart (Broadway: Awake and Sing, The Diary of Anne Frank, Judgment at Nuremberg; Off-Broadway: Beckett-Albee, Andorra, Cymbeline); Adam LeFevre (Bway: Devil's Disciple; Our Country's Good; Summer & Smoke; Footloose; Mamma Mia; Guys and Dolls; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; The Liar - CSC, Marriage of Bette and Boo - Roundabout); Amelia Pedlow(RBT: 'Tis Pity She's a Whore; Pride and Prejudice - Primary Stages; The Liar, The Heir Apparent - CSC); and Dina Thomas (Tribes, Clever Little Lies  - Off-Broadway).

LA Opera will present its premiere of Candide, Leonard Bernstein's 1956 musical comedy classic. Music Director James Conlon will conduct a cast led by Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony winner Christine Ebersole, both making their company debuts. Performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

On January 27, 2018, Los Angeles Opera presented the Bernstein work at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with a cast that included Emmy-winning television star Kelsey Grammer. He is best remembered for his two-decade-long portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the situation comedies Cheers, Wings, and Frasier. As Voltaire and Pangloss, Grammer had a huge speaking role that he acquitted with a commanding personality and considerable wit. Surprisingly, he sang quite well, too.

From the moment the amazing James Conlon-conducted orchestra began their crisp, lively 'Overture' to 'Quartet Finale,' the close of Act One; this remarkable production of CANDIDE entranced the Dorothy Chandler audience. Then after a short intermission, these talented performers and musicians had the audience right back in the palms of their skilled hands, beyond the tears-inducing finale 'Make Our Garden Grow,' to the extended and most deserved standing ovation for the cast, orchestra, and creatives.

General Director Pl cido Domingo has announced final details about LA Opera's company premiere of Candide, Leonard Bernstein's 1956 musical comedy classic. Music Director James Conlon will conduct a cast led by Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony winner Christine Ebersole, both making their company debuts. Performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

Pittsburgh Public Theater continues Ted Pappas' grand finale season with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This riotous musical comedy features music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart, and direction & choreography by Ted Pappas. Forum runs January 25 February 25, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. The production is Presented by PNC.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents The Pajama Game, directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adlerand Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. Featuring Musical Direction by James Cunningham and Choreography by Parker Esse, The Pajama Game runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. Check out a brand-new trailer for the show below!

Some musicals from the golden age of Broadway are done to death. Let's face it, how many productions of Guys and Dolls and Fiddler on the Roof can you take? Anytime a theater chooses to produce a show that isn't seen as often as the aforementioned ones I get very excited. When they are presented well, my musical theater geekiness goes into overdrive. Arena Stage has put my geekiness into overdrive with its current production of the 1954 tuner The Pajama Game. With the exception of a production at Roundabout Theatre Company a few years back, this show really isn't performed very often professionally anymore.

Irish Repertory Theatre announced today extensions of both of their current productions, the New York premiere of Brian Friel's THE HOME PLACE, and the world premiere of OFF THE METER, ON THE RECORD, written and performed by John McDonagh (Producer of 'Radio Free Eireann').

Peter Shaffer's genre-busting psychodrama gets a bracing production, featuring a revelatory change of pace by Daniel Krell.

Irish Repertory Theatre the New York Premiere of Brian Friel's The Home Place. Directed by Charlotte Moore (Finian's Rainbow), The Home Place begins tonight, September 27, 2017, and opens on Sunday October 8, 2017 for a limited run through November 19, 2017 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage at Irish Rep Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents The Pajama Game, directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. Featuring Musical Direction by James Cunningham and Choreography by Parker Esse, The Pajama Game runs October 27-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company at their first rehearsal below!

Pittsburgh Public Theater begins its 43rd season with Peter Shaffer's sensational drama, Equus. The play is directed by Pittsburgh Public Theater's Producing Artistic Director, Ted Pappas, as part of his Grand Finale Season. Mr. Pappas will leave the company in August, 2018. Equus runs September 28 - October 29, 2017 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.