Chicago – “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way … “ And there is no more appropriate way to lyrically pay tribute to a classic staging of the Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim musical, “West Side Story.” There is a new staging currently at Lyric Opera of Chicago, which runs through June 2nd, 2019. Click here for more details and tickets.
Play Rating: 4.5/5.0
The musical first opened in 1957, and its message of fearing the “other” – by adapting the universality of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” – will resonate as long as people suffer through their bigotry. Two rival gangs, girl-from-one-side-guy-from-another then meet/fall in love, tragedy ensues, and along the way are one of the greatest collections of songs/lyrics in one musical, so standard that they are practically in everyone’s DNA. It’s “West Side Story,” babies, and this latest adaptation at the Lyric Opera of Chicago is spot on entertaining.
Play Rating: 4.5/5.0
The musical first opened in 1957, and its message of fearing the “other” – by adapting the universality of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” – will resonate as long as people suffer through their bigotry. Two rival gangs, girl-from-one-side-guy-from-another then meet/fall in love, tragedy ensues, and along the way are one of the greatest collections of songs/lyrics in one musical, so standard that they are practically in everyone’s DNA. It’s “West Side Story,” babies, and this latest adaptation at the Lyric Opera of Chicago is spot on entertaining.
- 5/15/2019
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Rising Alternative today announced that San Francisco Opera's critically acclaimed production of Show Boat will be screened in movie theatres across the country this summer. San Francisco Opera's production of the Broadway classic, which features music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, opened in June of 2014, and is directed by theater and opera director Francesca Zambello.
- 4/8/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
There was a seismic event and emotional roller coaster onstage Thursday night at the 92nd Street Y, in the Kaufmann Concert Hall theatre. Her name is Debbie ..... Deborah Voit. It was the first performance in New York City of a piece called Voigt Lessons. The piece was co-created by Voight, Terrence McNally and Francesca Zambello, years ago, at Glimmerglass and the diva told us that it has been performed 'very few times, let alone in New York City.' The crowd proceeded to go crazy. The piece- so simple, yet brilliantly calibrated.
- 2/28/2015
- by BWW Special Coverage
- BroadwayWorld.com
92Y presents the New York City premiere of Voigt Lessons, starring internationally beloved opera starDeborah Voigt, on Thursday, February 26. In this one-woman show co-created with Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and acclaimed opera and theater director Francesca Zambello Voigt performs arias, pop songs, standards and spirituals of deep personal significance, along with anecdotes and backstage stories describing her astonishing rise to operatic heights, despite her private challenges. Voigt Lessons, an evening imbued with Voigt's trademark warmth, candor and sense of humor, premiered at Glimmerglass in 2011 to rave reviews. The New York Times hailed it as chatty, witty, and sometimes painfully poignant, andToronto's Globe and Mail called it an absolute gem.
- 2/24/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens San Francisco Opera's Summer Season, running now through July 2, 2014. A watershed of American musical theater, Show Boat receives its company premiere in director Francesca Zambello's new grand-scale 'beautifully sung, smartly staged and handsomely designed Chicago Tribune' production. Scroll down to watch a sneak peek at Tony winner Bill Irwin as 'Captain Andy'...
- 6/5/2014
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens San Francisco Opera's Summer Season on June 1 with nine subsequent performances through July 2, 2014. A watershed of American musical theater, Show Boat receives its Company premiere in director Francesca Zambello's new grand-scale beautifully sung, smartly staged and handsomely designed Chicago Tribune production. A beloved story of life on the Mississippi in the 1880s, Show Boat is both a poignant love story and a powerful reminder of America's bitter legacy of racism. The score is filled with unforgettable songs such as Ol' Man River and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man, and the dazzling production features large, colorful sets, sumptuous costumes and exhilarating dance numbers. Of recent performances at Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Chronicle wrote This is a towering work. . . there's a magnificence in its music, its narrative sweep, its deep awareness of something bigger than ourselves.
- 5/15/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Winding up a yearlong celebration of Benjamin Britten’s centennial, L.A. Opera presents the composer’s most ambitious opera, Billy Budd, featuring definitive staging by Francesca Zambello from her 1995 Covent Garden production. It stars Liam Bonner in the lead role, and is conducted by the company’s own James Conlon, with performances Feb. 22 through March 16. When it was composed in 1951, Billy Budd was Britten’s most daring work, addressing homosexual themes that were taboo at the time. Today, such themes are less challenging than the production’s technical logistics, including a levitating stage that gives audiences a view of the action above
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- 2/21/2014
- by Jordan Riefe
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Out goes Stella and in goes Rebecca, the new musical based on the Daphne du Maurier novel and Oscar-winning Alfred Hitchcock film. The production, which tells the story of an English country estate haunted by an aristocrat’s dead wife, has set its opening night on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre–the current home of the limited run of A Streetcar Named Desire–on November 18, 2012.
Another version of the show had its world premiere in 2006 in Vienna (and played for more than three years), but the revised musical has finally slated a Broadway debut, after postponing its opening earlier this season.
Another version of the show had its world premiere in 2006 in Vienna (and played for more than three years), but the revised musical has finally slated a Broadway debut, after postponing its opening earlier this season.
- 5/3/2012
- by Marc Snetiker
- EW.com - PopWatch
Like the 3D version of Dial M for Murder that Alfred Hitchcock made in 1954, this movie of Francesca Zambello's Covent Garden production of Carmen uses 3D to emphasise the theatrical space of the Royal Opera House stage to capture the experience of being there in a good seat.
The director, Julian Napier, deploys his camera unfussily to make a faithful record of a decent, unpretentious staging of Bizet's opera, with an earthily alluring Carmen from Christine Rice. I do, however, prefer Francesco Rosi's realistic film treatment of the opera, starring Julia Migenes-Johnson and Placido Domingo on authentic Spanish locations (1984).
MusicalOperaPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
The director, Julian Napier, deploys his camera unfussily to make a faithful record of a decent, unpretentious staging of Bizet's opera, with an earthily alluring Carmen from Christine Rice. I do, however, prefer Francesco Rosi's realistic film treatment of the opera, starring Julia Migenes-Johnson and Placido Domingo on authentic Spanish locations (1984).
MusicalOperaPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds...
- 3/6/2011
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
It may seem cruel to be giving one of the most well known operas (and one that was well received during its run at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House) such a poor review. However, the central problem of Carmen 3D (2011) isn't the opera; the performances are predominantly very good, with a fantastic cast including Christine Rice as Carmen and Bryan Hymel as the jealous Don Jose. The real issue with Carmen 3D is the 3D.
The question of 3D cinema is becoming a bit of a tired debate now, with traditionalists saying it will never catch on whilst the studios plug more and more cash into 3D films. This review is not intended to give a long winded opinion on the technology's merits and faults, but simply asks, “Do we need 3D opera?”.
I would suggest (quite strongly) that we don’t. The main argument that is levied by...
The question of 3D cinema is becoming a bit of a tired debate now, with traditionalists saying it will never catch on whilst the studios plug more and more cash into 3D films. This review is not intended to give a long winded opinion on the technology's merits and faults, but simply asks, “Do we need 3D opera?”.
I would suggest (quite strongly) that we don’t. The main argument that is levied by...
- 3/4/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
The only opera I’ve ever seen was Dario Argento’s 1987 classic. That was called Opera, or Terror At The Opera, depending where you live. Actually, that’s not quite correct. I did see Benoit Jacquot’s version of Tosca back in 2002.
Any-hoo, Carmen, Bizet’s famous opera, is coming to UK screens from 5th March to wow us all in 3D. So along with the awesome singing, sets and costumes you’ll be treated to the spectacle in a dimensionalised format. Check out the trailer, which isn’t in 3D, and if you fancy a bit of culture and the experience of opera in 3D. Could this cinematic experiment unleash other such ventures? West End musicals in 3D anybody? Go and see it and check out the official website for showing times, etc, etc: www.Carmen3D.com
Synopsis:
Georges Bizet’s Carmen has been captivating audiences since its...
Any-hoo, Carmen, Bizet’s famous opera, is coming to UK screens from 5th March to wow us all in 3D. So along with the awesome singing, sets and costumes you’ll be treated to the spectacle in a dimensionalised format. Check out the trailer, which isn’t in 3D, and if you fancy a bit of culture and the experience of opera in 3D. Could this cinematic experiment unleash other such ventures? West End musicals in 3D anybody? Go and see it and check out the official website for showing times, etc, etc: www.Carmen3D.com
Synopsis:
Georges Bizet’s Carmen has been captivating audiences since its...
- 2/17/2011
- by Martyn Conterio
- FilmShaft.com
Mozart's tale of dissolution and retribution is brought to life in this engrossing Francesca Zambello production. Simon Keenlyside plays the philandering Don in the Royal Opera House’s lavish staging, which also stars Marina Poplavskaya. The story follows young, arrogant, and sexually prolific nobleman Don Giovanni as he abuses and outrages all those around him, until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit.
- 1/21/2011
- Sky TV
Even the presence of Melissa Gilbert - who so memorably played "Half-Pint" in the Little House TV series of the 1970s and '80s and now is cast as Caroline Ingalls - can't save this musical from mediocrity. Try as they might, Gilbert and her castmates unfortunately just can't get past Sheinkin's overly earnest and plodding book, Portman's completely unmemorable score or Di Novelli's clumsily crafted lyrics. Sheinkin's book does offer some glimmer of hope: There are some lovely moments to be found in the script, but they are too few and far between. Portman's score fares worse, since there is not one melody that can be recalled and all the musical numbers sound alike. Di Novelli's lyrics are even worse. When "I'm sick with wind sickness" is the only lyric you can remember, you know the show's in trouble. And, clearly, the material is not served well by director...
- 10/29/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Tony-winner Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein, Oklahoma), Broadway, television and film star Malcolm Gets (The Story of My Life, Amour), acclaimed director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid, Little House on the Prairie) Lisa Brescia (Wicked, Aida) The Lion King's Nathaniel Stampley, and Billy Elliot's Joel Hatch are all scheduled to appear in The Sky Is Not Falli¬Ng a benefit concert for the Skylight Opera Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Monday, October 5th, 2009 at St. Luke's Theatre at 308 W. 46th Street (off 8th Avenue).
- 9/15/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
The First Wives Club - A New Musical has extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.
- 7/30/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.
- 7/29/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Recording and stage star Sma Harris has revealed via his 'vlog' that he has joined the workshop for the upcoming musical version of the hit film The First Wives Club. he'll be playing a new character not found in the movie, he begins rehearsals this week in NYC for the reading. He also hinted that after the Old Globe run of the musical the production team was aiming for an October 2009 bow on Broadway. Sam Harris first shot into the public eye as the "Star Search" icon and has found success as a Tony-nominated Broadway star for The Life and also as an acclaimed replacement in The Producers, a multi-million selling recording artist, a concert touring sell-out in venues all over the country including Carnegie Hall and on television in last years CBS series, "The Class," where he was touted by Liz Smith as "the comedy breakout character of the television season.
- 1/27/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
Jurors for The New York Musical Theatre Festival (Nymf) for the 2009 Next Link Project will include lyricist Susan Birkenhead, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, producer Robyn Goodman, and director Francesca Zambello. The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 ? October 18, 2009. Twelve of the Festival?s full production slots are reserved for participants in The Next Link Project, Nymf?s primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from mere readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street,...
- 1/15/2009
- BroadwayWorld.com
NEW YORK - Patrick Swayze and Melissa Gilbert will star as Pa and Ma in an April workshop presentation of Prairie, a musical version of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie.
Gilbert played middle daughter Laura Ingalls in the long-running NBC television series from 1974-83. She was recently president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Beth Henley, who won a Pulitzer for Crimes of the Heart, wrote the book, Donna DiNovelli wrote the lyrics and Oscar winner Rachel Portman (Emma) composed the music. Francesca Zambello will direct.
The workshop will run April 16-17 in New York and be closed to the public. The producers are hoping for a national tour in spring 2008 before it lands in New York.
Gilbert played middle daughter Laura Ingalls in the long-running NBC television series from 1974-83. She was recently president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Beth Henley, who won a Pulitzer for Crimes of the Heart, wrote the book, Donna DiNovelli wrote the lyrics and Oscar winner Rachel Portman (Emma) composed the music. Francesca Zambello will direct.
The workshop will run April 16-17 in New York and be closed to the public. The producers are hoping for a national tour in spring 2008 before it lands in New York.
- 3/17/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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