Kelsey Grammer to Star in LA Opera's CANDIDE

Kelsey Grammer will make his LA Opera debut in the company's 2018 production of Candide, composer Leonard Bernstein's 1956 Broadway classic. In dual leading roles, Mr. Grammer will portray Voltaire, author of the 1759 satirical novel upon which the stage work is based, as well Dr. Pangloss, mentor of the title character.

Mr. Grammer joins a cast that includes tenor Jack Swanson in the title role and soprano Erin Morley as Cunegonde, in a production conducted by Music Director James Conlon and directed by Francesca Zambello. There will be six performances of Candide from January 27 through February 18, 2018, taking place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

Tickets to Candide are currently available only as part of subscription packages. Single tickets to Candide and to all other productions in LA Opera's 2017/18 season will go on sale on Sunday, June 18. Tickets can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012). For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or send an email to LAOpera.org@LAOpera.org.

About Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer has excelled at the highest level in theater, television and film as an actor, producer and director. An initial role as Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers developed into the cornerstone of the Juilliard-trained actor's career. Mr. Grammer played the celebrated character in three different television series (Cheers, Wings and Frasier) over a span of 20 years, tying the record for longest-running television character. Mr. Grammer has won six Emmys, three Golden Globes and a SAG Award and has received an unparalleled 16 Emmy nominations, eight Golden Globe nominations, 16 SAG nominations and one Tony nomination.

In 2012, Mr. Grammer was honored with his most recent Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Mayor Tom Kane in the Starz drama Boss, in which he starred and was executive producer. He starred in La Cage aux Folles on Broadway in 2010, earning a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. In 2015 he returned to the Broadway stage to star in Finding Neverland, produced by Harvey Weinstein and directed by Diane Paulus.

Mr. Grammer has played the iconic character Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons since 1990, for which he won an Emmy in 2006. He can currently be heard lending his voice to the character Blinky in the Netflix animated series Trollhunters, created by Guillermo Del Toro. He most recently completed filming Arclight Films' live action Guardians of the Tomb, currently in post-production. He will next be seen starring in the highly anticipated Amazon series The Last Tycoon alongside Matt Bomer and Lilly Collins, available for streaming on July 28, 2017.

Additional 2017/18 Season Updates
Several noteworthy changes to LA Opera's 2017/18 season have been made since the season was originally unveiled in January.

Carmen (September 9 through October 1, 2017)
The role of Don José in Carmen will be shared by tenors Riccardo Massi (September 9, 14, 17) and Brandon Jovanovich (September 20, 23; October 1). Mr. Massi will be making his company debut. Mr. Jovanovich most recently appeared with LA Opera as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly in 2016, and previously portrayed Don José in Los Angeles in 2013.

Originally announced as a production new to Los Angeles, Carmen will now be a revival of a staging last seen in Los Angeles in 2013. The 2017 production will be newly directed by Ron Daniels, who made his company debut with the acclaimed 2010 world premiere of Daniel Catán's Il Postino, and choreographed by Nuria Castejón.

Crossing (May 26, 2018):
Tenor Brenton Ryan will perform the leading role of John Wormley in this concert performance of Matthew Aucoin's new opera (which stars Rod Gilfry as Walt Whitman). An alumnus of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, Mr. Ryan most recently appeared with the company as Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio earlier this year.

Rigoletto (May 12 through June 3, 2018)
Mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson will make her LA Opera debut as Maddalena.

Usher House / The Canterville Ghost (June 22 and 24, 2018)
Complete casting has been announced for this double-bill; click the title for details. Tenor Dominic Armstrong will appear as Edgar Allen Poe in Usher House. Bass-baritone Matthew Burns will perform the title role in The Canterville Ghost. Soprano Summer Hassan, an alumnus of the company's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, will perform the roles of Madeline Usher in Usher House and Virginia Otis in The Canterville Ghost.

For up to date details on all upcoming LA Opera performances, please visit LAOpera.org.