Michigan Opera Theatre News

In light of the recent recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the State of Michigan, the University Musical Society (UMS) announces that the upcoming performances by American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and the Chineke! Orchestra with Sheku Kanneh-Mason have been canceled to support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. UMS was originally scheduled to present ABT at the Detroit Opera House April 16-19 in partnership with Michigan Opera Theatre, and the Chineke! Orchestra was to perform at Hill Auditorium on April 23. With these two cancellations, UMS's 2019/20 season has concluded.

In response to the University of Michigan's prohibition on campus events that would convene 100 people or more through April 21, the University Musical Society (UMS) will cancel almost all remaining events in the 2019-20 season to support efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Black, Brown, Beige and Every Other Shade Renowned author, journalist, and singer Celeste Headlee joins Opera on Tap's New Brew at Barbes in an evening of classical song by a diverse array of composers of color.

Young ballet students in Flint are about to have what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a chance to learn from the esteemed dancers from the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Full cast and crew have been announced for Artemisia's world premiere production of EVERY WAITING HEART. The drama will be performed at The Den in June 2020 and directed by Artemisia Founding Artistic Director Julie Proudfoot.

Broadway veteran, Edward Watts will star as El Gallo in The Link Theatre's inaugural production of Tom Jonesand Harvey Schmidt's The Fantasticks. Watts previously played the role for more than 1,000 performances in the Off-Broadway production in New York City. The first professional theatre company in Northeast Arkansas, The Link is a new non-profit theater company located in Jonesboro, AR. Broadway veteran Matt Cavenaugh will direct the musical, which will play for three nights only starting Friday, March 6, 2020 at The Glass Factory (313 W Huntington Avenue, Jonesboro, AR). Watts replaces the previously announced Ben Davis who had to exit the production due to conflicts with his shooting schedule.

OPERA America is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2020 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards. Now in their 13th year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership and generosity on behalf of their respective organizations. OPERA America's Professional Company Members are invited each year to nominate one of their trustees for this award. 

San Diego Opera has announced addition to its 2019-2020 season with the Bel Canto Trio for one-night-only on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:30 PM at The Conrad Preby Performing Arts Center in the Baker-Baum Concert Hall (7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037). In 1947 Columbia Artist Management created The Bel Canto Trio, featuring tenor Mario Lanza, soprano Frances Yeend, and bass-baritone George London.

OPERA America is pleased to announce the 15 participants from the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America who have been selected for its 2020 Leadership Intensive program. These future industry leaders were chosen from a pool of 44 candidates through a competitive selection process focusing on candidates' potential to make significant contributions to the opera field. The program was generously established with the continued support of the American Express Foundation. 

The Auditorium Theatre's signature production Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah celebrates 15 years in Chicago, and is one of the first performances to kick off the Year of Chicago Music, on January 18 and 19, 2020, in addition to a special Student Matinee performance on January 17. The jazz-gospel twist on George Frideric Handel's classic Messiah oratorio premiered at the Auditorium in 2006, and has been inspiring and uplifting audiences ever since.

Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) and the University Musical Society (UMS) have announced the cast for American Ballet Theatre's (ABT) production of a?oeSwan Lake,a?? presented at the Detroit Opera House April 16-19. Starring in the role of Odette/Odile will be ABT Principal dancers Devon Teuchser, Isabella Boylston, Christine Shevchenko, Hee Seo and Gillian Murphy. Cory Stearns, Joo Won Ahn, Thomas Forster, Aran Bell and James Whiteside will alternate the male lead of Prince Siegfried.

The Crossing has received an extremely generous $200,000 gift from long-time friend, advocate, and supporter Thomas Kasdorf of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The extraordinary unrestricted funding will support The Crossing's 2019-2020 season, with commissions of Edie Hill, Tawnie Olsen, Gavin Bryars, Daniel Felsenfeld, Aaron Helgeson, Gabriel Jackson, and Michael Gordon at venues such as Crane Arts Icebox, the Met Cloisters, the Hal Prince Theater and Zellerbach Theaters at the Annenberg Center, Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, and at The Crossing's home, the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill.

San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 season continues with a special one-night-only event on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 7:30 PM when soprano Ailyn Pérez and tenor Joshua Guerrero perform in concert at the Balboa Theatre. They will be accompanied by pianist Abdiel Vázquez. Ailyn Pérez is no stranger to San Diego Opera, having made her Company debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in 2010, returning to sing Marguerite in Faust in 2011, and in recital in 2014. In demand at all the major opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, and Opéra National de Paris, Ms. Pérez is the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award, the 15th annual Plácido Domingo Award, and the 14th annual Opera News Award. 

The Auditorium Theatre's signature production Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah celebrates 15 years in Chicago, and is one of the first performances to kick off the Year of Chicago Music, on January 18 and 19, 2020, in addition to a special Student Matinee performance on January 17. The jazz-gospel twist on George Frideric Handel's classic Messiah oratorio premiered at the Auditorium in 2006, and has been inspiring and uplifting audiences ever since.

You oughtta know that Jagged Little Pill is officially in preview son Broadway!  The new musical is inspired by the themes and raw emotions laid bare in Alanis Morissette's seminal album of the same name. The Healys appear to be a picture-perfect suburban family - but looks can be deceiving. When the cracks beneath the surface begin to show, they must choose between maintaining the status quo or facing harsh truths about themselves, their community, and the world around them.

This December, escape to a magical world of fantasy and illusion with National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's The Sorceress, running December 8 - 29, 2019. A fairytale-like story of a pure-hearted young woman who triumphs over her tormentors, a scheming stepmother, and a wicked witch.

Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT) announced today the election of Ethan Davidson as Chairman of its Board of Directors and Trustees. Davidson succeeds Rick Williams, who has served as Chairman for the past 17 years. Williams announced earlier this year that he would not stand for re-election. The transition, which will include a restructuring of the board, will take effect at the upcoming Annual Meeting Nov. 14.

San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 season continues with a special one-night-only event on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 7:30 PM when soprano Ailyn Pérez and tenor Joshua Guerrero perform in concert at the Balboa Theatre.

Almost a year to the day of ending his Tony Award-nominated run as Billy Bigelow in the 2018 revival of Carousel, Joshua Henry is returning to the stage on Sept. 18. He'll star as the title character in multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ross Golan's new musical The Wrong Man, Off-Broadway, at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space.