Jorge Cousineau News

BalletX, Philadelphia's Premier Contemporary Ballet Company, will celebrate its 15th Anniversary in the 2020-2021 Season with 15 short and feature dance films by choreographers from around the world, streaming virtually only with the company's new digital subscription series, BalletX Beyond.

The Wilma Theater in Philadelphia has put considerable thought into how they can bring their next season (beginning in late 2020 or early 2021) to audience members, all while ensuring that the health and safety of both patrons and artists remain a top priority.

Like so many facets of our society brought to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic, the theatre industry currently finds itself at this terrifying impasse. Despite steep reservations and an unclear understanding of what constitutes risk for employees and audiences alike, many arts institutions have begun weighing their options when it comes to how and when to resume operations.

On May 22, 2020, Opera Philadelphia presented the digital world premiere of composer Lembit Beecher and librettist Hannah Moscovitch's opera Sky on Swings. The company gave the opera's world premiere on Sept. 20, 2018, during its Festival O.

Over the last five years, Opera Philadelphia has presented an impressive group of new operas it has commissioned, along with some classics from the standard rep. Starting tomorrow, we'll get a look at some of the best of them, with the company's Digital Festival running through May 29, available on YouTube and the company's website.

The Annenberg Center presents the world premiere of acclaimed multi-disciplinary theatre artist and filmmaker Nikki Appino's, The White Lama: The Improbable Legacy of Theos Bernard, March 13 and 14, closing its three-week #GLASSFEST. Major support for The White Lama has been provided to Nikki Appino by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. The White Lama is co-commissioned by the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and The Days and Nights Festival.

1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 14 years, This Is The Week That Is delivers sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is will play from November 29th through January 5th. Opening Night will be Wednesday, December 4th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City.

BalletX, America's premier contemporary ballet led by Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, kicks off its 2019-2020 Season with Fall Series 2019 at The Wilma Theater, a limited engagement of 13 performances running Dec. 4-15. The company, named “among America's best” by The New York Times, and recently featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, will perform two world premiere ballets: one by the creative team of choreographer Matthew Neenan with composers Rosie Langabeer and Tara Middleton, and a second by choreographer Jo Strømgren.

Theatre Philadelphia, the non-profit organization that promotes and celebrates theatre across the Philadelphia region, has announced this year's nominees for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. 

In the Field; Conceiving Satire: The Making of This Is The Week That Is, a special documentary commissioned by American Theatre Wing to document the creative process behind 1812 Productions' hit political satire This Is The Week That Is has been nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award for Arts Program/Special. Filmed over the course of three months in 2018, In the Field; Conceiving Satire: The Making of This Is The Week That Is followed the cast and creative team of This Is The Week That Is from their initial roundtable conversations through a fully realized production, exploring the show's history and  the role of theatre and comedy in American politics.

One heck of a blast was had at 'RENNIE HARRIS FUNKEDIFIED,' a funk-filled celebration of breakers, lockers, poppers, and kick-ass musicians doin' their thing, outside at the Ford Theatre, under the moonlight on a gorgeous summer eve up against the hills of Hollywood as the backdrop. This particular performance was also a Benefit Fundraiser for the Ford Theatre Foundation, and is part of the IGNITE @ THE FORD series, bringing contemporary artists whose work is thought-provoking and reflective of today's world to L A Theatre goers. What an energized evening! The Director/Choreographer/Writer/Creator Lorenzo Rennie Harris assembled a fantastic group of stylized entertainers, from the incredible RHF Band: Dave Levy, trumpet, Osei Kweku, Bass, Nicholas Marks, piano and Samir Zarif, saxophone, The Versa-Style Dance Company and so many other guest artists, to give an all-out visual motif of the '70s and all the funk and fantasticness it produced.

Might children appear to be called maggots or miracles? What type of question could that possibly be? The famous British young adult author, Roald Dahl, fills his pages with chill and thrill inducing scenes that empower children to take themselves seriously and asks that very question of his readers. On the first May weekend, Minneapolis' Children's Theatre Company (CTC) opened a production that began in London and then travelled to Broadway in their opening of Matilda the Musical, an adaptation of Roald Dahl's famous 1988 young adult novel.

Children's Theatre Company presents Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, running April 28 through June 23, 2019, written by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and directed by Peter C. Brosius.

Azuka Theatre presents the world premiere of Boycott Esther by Philadelphia playwright Emily Acker. In an urgent response to the #metoo movement, Acker's new work chronicles the aftermath of a young woman's career once her boss, a Hollywood mogul, becomes enmeshed in a workplace sexual misconduct scandal. In a world where information is spread and opinions are formed in the click of a mouse, this hilarious drama begs the pressing question, what is our collective capacity for forgiveness? Boycott Esther is directed by Azuka Artistic Associate Maura Krause and stars Alison Ormsby (Esther), Alexandra Espinoza (Mary) and Steven Rishard (Barry Bloom). This new work runs from May 1 to May 19, with opening night set for Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 7:00pm. Azuka continues its pay-what-you-decide model for this show where audiences are invited to experience the art on stage and pay based on the value of their experience after. For reservations, visit azukatheatre.org. Boycott Esther runs 90 minutes with no intermission and is recommended for audiences 13+.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is proud to announce the production of Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, running April 28 through June 23, 2019, written by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and directed by Peter C. Brosius.

The Denver Center Theatre Company is proud to announce full casting and creative team for the world premieres of Donnetta Lavinia Grays' Last Night and the Night Before and Itamar Moses' The Whistleblower.

Bold choices. Beautiful staging. This is Arden Theatre Company's production of A Doll's House Part 2.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Today, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Friday, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Today, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.

American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards* (Philadelphia, PA) 1812 Productions is pleased to present its annual political comedy, and a Philadelphia favorite, This Is The Week That Is. A staple of the Philadelphia theatre season for the past 13 years, This Is The Week That Is brings to the stage sharp satire and content that changes with the headlines. This Is The Week That Is opens Wednesday, November 28th at 7pm at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Place, in Center City. Preview performances begin Friday, November 23rd. The production has been extended and will play through Saturday, January 5th, 2019. Tickets and information are available at www.1812productions.org or at 215-592-9560.