Richard Paul News

Houston, January 6, 2016— Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opens its 2016 winter repertory on January 22with an inventive staging by multiple-award-winning theater director Michael Grandage of Mozart's genial farce, The Marriage of Figaro. Performances continue through February 7. Co-produced by HGO and the Glyndebourne Festival and premiered at Glyndebourne in 2012, this production, set in 1970s Spain with sets and costumes by award-winning designer Christopher Oram, was hailed for its beauty and for affirming “Mozart's comic masterpiece as both of its time and perennially modern” (Sunday Times). HGO is delighted to bring this elegant staging to Houston under the direction of Ian Rutherford, who worked with Grandage and toured the production following its Glyndebourne run.   

Appomattox is being presented as a world premiere of a revised version. For those unaware, the opera started out as an opera in 2007, was transformed into a play and now is an opera again. After Saturday night's opening, it would appear that more rewrites are needed.

WNO's season continues with the world premiere of the newly revised version of Appomattox, the first opera WNO has presented by the iconic American composer Philip Glass, with a libretto by the Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton, November 14-22 in the Opera House. In the first act, we eavesdrop on history as the Civil War comes to its final resolution at the courthouse in Appomattox. Then, in the newly composed second act, we fast- forward 100 years to the time of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the struggle for civil rights continues.  BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

Houston, August 17, 2015—Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2015–16 season showcases the vibrant and diverse artistic mix that marks HGO as a leading 21st-century American opera company: Wagner's Siegfried, the third installment of La Fura dels Baus's imaginative Ring cycle featuring a new generation of Wagnerians; the world premiere of Prince of Players by eminent American composer Carlisle Floyd, the Lynn Wyatt Great Artist for 2015–16; Dvoák's fairy tale rarity Rusalka; a holiday revival of family favorite The Little Prince from the award-winning composer Rachel Portman and librettist Nicholas Wright; a new production of The Marriage of Figaro; a new-to-Houston Eugene Onegin; a beloved core production, Tosca; and the Houston debut of Broadway sensation Rob Ashford's take on the classic musical Carousel. Through its community collaboration program HGOco, the company will present two additional world premieres: O Columbia, a chamber opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Royce Vavrek that examines the past, present, and future of the American spirit of exploration; and The Root of the Wind is Water, a chamber opera by composer David Hanlon and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann about the impact of hurricanes on the Texas Gulf coast.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (BPF)'s Play Development Workshop Readings continue today, March 14 at Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 South Ann Street.

The Baltimore Playwrights Festival (BPF)'s Play Development Workshop Readings continue on Saturday, March 14 at Fells Point Corner Theatre, 251 South Ann Street.

(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, today announced its 60th anniversary season, one that highlights classic, contemporary, and American works. The 2015-2016 season includes a new-to-Washington staging of Bizet's Carmen, the world premiere of a newly revised version of Appomattox by composer Philip Glass and librettist Christopher Hampton, a revival of WNO's charming holiday production of Hansel and Gretel, the company premiere of Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars in a gripping production from Cape Town Opera, and WNO's first complete staging of Wagner's extraordinary four-part Ring Cycle, with a world-class cast under the direction of Francesca Zambello and featuring the WNO Orchestra conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. Highlights from the 2015-2016 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 6 p.m. as part of the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

Houston, January 29, 2015-Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2015-16 season showcases the vibrant and diverse artistic mix that marks HGO as a leading 21st-century American opera company: Wagner's Siegfried, the third installment of La Fura dels Baus's imaginative Ring cycle featuring a new generation of Wagnerians; the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players; Dvo?ak's fairy tale rarity Rusalka; a holiday revival of family favorite The Little Prince from the award-winning composer Rachel Portman and librettist Nicholas Wright; a new production of The Marriage of Figaro and a new-to-Houston Eugene Onegin; a beloved core production, Tosca; and the Houston debut of Broadway sensation Rob Ashford's take on the classic musical Carousel. Through its community collaboration program HGOco, the company will present two additional world premieres: O Columbia, a chamber opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Royce Vavrek that examines the past, present, and future of the American spirit of exploration; and another chamber opera, by composer David Hanlon and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, about the impact of hurricanes on the Texas Gulf coast.

Amazon today announced it has added the Steven Soderbergh (Behind the Candelabra) produced and David Gordon Green (Eastbound & Down) directed comedy Red Oaks to its third pilot season, which will debut later this year on Amazon Instant Video.

Since there's no end-all-be-all 'best seller' list, BWW Books has rounded up both The New York Times' top sellers as well as Amazon's - providing you with your one-stop look at this week's top reads!

Now that the San Diego Opera has been saved, they present their 50th Anniversary Season. In the 2015 Season they offer 3-opera subscriptions including La bohème, Don Giovanni and Nixon in China, as well as two very special 50th Anniversary Celebration Concerts. More events are being planned so stay tuned for more exciting offerings. For subscriptions and more information, visit: http://www.sdopera.com/Operas

FOX has cancelled its freshman drama series ALMOST HUMAN.

Variety reports that FOX has not renewed its freshman sci-fi drama ALMOST HUMAN for a second season.

David Richard Gallery will present recent gestural abstract paintings by New Mexico-based New York artist Paul Pascarella. The exhibition, 'New Moon West', will be presented tonight, February 28 - April 12, 2014, with an opening reception on Friday, February 28, 5:00-7:00 PM and a private in-gallery dinner and reception with Paul Pascarella on Saturday, March 22, 6:00-9:00 PM as a fundraiser to benefit www.ArtMattersSantaFe.org (call to purchase tickets) all at the gallery located on 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, phone 505-983-9555 in the Santa Fe Railyard Arts District.

David Richard Gallery will present recent gestural abstract paintings by New Mexico-based New York artist Paul Pascarella. The exhibition, 'New Moon West', will be presented February 28 - April 12, 2014, with an opening reception on Friday, February 28, 5:00-7:00 PM and a private in-gallery dinner and reception with Paul Pascarella on Saturday, March 22, 6:00-9:00 PM as a fundraiser to benefit http://www.ArtMattersSantaFe.org (call to purchase tickets) all at the gallery located on 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, phone 505-983-9555 in the Santa Fe Railyard Arts District.

The Indianapolis Opera will premiere Giacomo Puccini's The Girl of the Golden West at Clowes Memorial Hall on the campus of Butler University for two performances only on Friday, Mar. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday Mar. 23 at 2 p.m.

On the next episode of FOX's ALMOST HUMAN entitled "Perception", when Det. Kennex and Dorian investigate the simultaneous and sudden deaths of two genetically-enhanced - or 'chrome' - children, a fatal dose of the perfect designer drug appears to be the cause.

Gina Carano guest stars in the next episode of FOX's ALMOST HUMAN, airing in three weeks, February 3rd on FOX.