Opera Saratoga has announced a new festival model for large scale summer performances in 2022. The season will include big performances of the Barber of Seville, Petite Messe Solennelle, Sky on Swings, Sweeney Todd, and many more.
The performances will take place across June and July across multiple venues throughout the region. Opera Saratoga summer season plans on embracing partnerships with the Proctors in Schenectady; The Egg in Albany; Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs; The Round Lake Auditorium in Round Lake Village; The Barn at French Mountain in Lake George Village; and The Mansion Inn in Rock City Falls.
Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson spoke on the new season model saying,
We began asking, with so many remarkable theaters in our region, might we be able to better serve our mission by reconceiving our Summer Festival in a way that doesn’t limit us to a single venue? While we remain committed to producing in Saratoga Springs, as the opera company of the Capital Region, our goal is to provide access to our Summer Festival programming in the same way we are able to do with our year-round programs. We are incredibly excited by the opportunities of this expanded Festival model, and grateful for the opportunity to partner with so many like-minded organizations across the region to make it possible.
Lawrence Edelson
The summer season will start with Petite Messe Solennelle on June 2 and June 3 at 7:30PM. The show will be presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Round Lake Auditorium featuring music by Gioachino Rossini. The season will wrap up with The Barber of Seville – IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA on JULY 8 at 7:30PM and JULY 10 at 2PM. The show will be produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors featuring music by Gioachino Rossin.
Tickets for the 2022 Summer Festival will be available through Festival Passes and Single Tickets. Festival Passes, which provide a 20% discount on single ticket prices and priority seating for all productions and events, will be available beginning February 1, 2022. Single Tickets will go on sale March 15, 2022. Audience members will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for all performances, and masks will be required based on prevailing conditions at the time of the Festival. All policies may be adjusted in response to changing conditions, and based on the specific requirements of each venue.
For more information on the Opera Saratoga’s new festival model visit their website.
The full lineup for Opera Saratoga Summer 2022 is listed below:
PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE
June 2 and June 3 @ 7:30pm
Presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Round Lake Auditorium
Music by Gioachino Rossini
A BROADWAY CABARET
June 12 @ 2pm and 7pm
Presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Mansion Inn
A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH SIDNEY OUTLAW
JUNE 19 @ 2:30pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors
SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET A MUSICAL THRILLER
JUNE 29 and JUNE 30 @ 7:30pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
SKY ON SWINGS
JULY 7 @ 7:30pm and JULY 9 @ 2pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with The Egg
Music by Lembit Beecher
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE – IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
JULY 8 @ 7:30pm and JULY 10 @ 2pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors
Amid cancellations and postponements, David Byrne has announced he will put on a special run of “American Utopia” shows back at the St. James Theatre on Broadway from Dec 28-30, 2021 and Jan 1-2, 2022.
Making this decision was not a light one, but comes after several company members of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show tested positive for COVID-19. Byrne announcing there would be a few changes as a result of this, but the good news is the inclusion of new “Unchained” versions of songs from the show.
Fortunately, the vaccinated band members and crew who have tested positive don’t have severe symptoms and are staying home following the CDC guidelines. Unfortunately, they can’t come to the theatre for the next week or so, which means we’ve chosen to make some creative changes to enable us to put on a show.
David Byrne
Performances of American Utopia will feature songs from the Talking Heads as well as some of the solo catalog of David Byrne and will be supplemented by songs already in the show that cannot be performed without the missing company members. Byrne continued, saying “I know it’s going to be a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ experience, that will only be seen for a few performances. We are ready to have a good time!” wrote Byrne.
Tickets for American Utopia are on sale through April 3, 2022 here. Read more on American Utopia here, with the schedule for the special run of shows is as follows:
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 8PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 8PM
Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 5PM and 9PM
Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 5PM
Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 3PM
For information on what’s playing every day on Broadway, visit bwaytoday.com.
The Rockettes have cancelled the rest of their 2021 performances due to COVID-19 outbreaks across NYC and within the Rockettes team themselves. The announcement was made on December 17, 2021 with COVID cases stemming from the omicron variant reaching daily highs continuing on didn’t seem like the most responsible decision to the Rockettes team.
The “Christmas Spectacular” stars the well known Radio City Rockettes who are an American precision dance company. The show takes place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City which is owned by MSG Entertainment. Last year the show was cancelled in its entirety due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic raging throughout the world and the United States. Unfortunately it seems that COVID-19 is raising it’s head again and forcing the “Christmas Spectacular” show to shut down early. The Radio City staple says they just can’t continue their Christmas Spectacular due to “increasing challenges from the pandemic.” Those challenges include a COVID outbreak among the production team, plus musicians in the orchestra. Breakthrough cases are piling up in the Rockettes team.
With the omicron variant, which is more contagious and spreads faster than previous variants, becomes more widespread it seems the entertainment industry could start shutting down again. Things were seeming to be getting back to normal in the entertainment industry with events, games, and tours coming back across the globe but now events are getting scrapped left and right.
The Rockettes say refunds will be issued to anyone who bought tickets to their canceled 2021 shows. They are looking forward to hopefully hosting performances again in 2022. For more information visit their website.
The outbreak comes as a string of Broadway shows, among them Company, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Ain’t Too Proud, Mrs. Doubtfire, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and Freestyle Love Supreme, each of which have temporarily shut down this past week due to COVID concerns.
The electronic rock band LCD Soundsystem, on the tail end of a 20-gig residency at Brooklyn Steel, have now also cancelled the remaining three shows due to the recent omicron outbreak. This decision came after the band initially left it up to potential attendees as to whether they wanted to attend or request refunds, even going so far as to advise, “Us playing the shows is in no way an indicator that it’s safe to attend.” But due to the fan response and the aforementioned circumstances, the remainder of the residency is now cancelled.
The band released an official announcement on their Instagram page earlier today:
You all have spoken. The last three shows are cancelled.You good people who want to return your tickets and try again another time have spoken, but so has the new info, the hospital capacity, and those of us in the band, crew, and venue...We tried. We really did. We were heartened to see so many more masks at the last show. We were incredibly thankful for everyone who wanted to make it work. But it will have to wait, again, until we find out what this new wave means to us all. Thank you for again listening, trying, etc. Please be safe.
LCD Soundsytem
The shows were scheduled to take place on December 19, 20 and 21. All tickets purchased via AXS will be automatically refunded – there is no action required if tickets were purchased via AXS online or by phone. The band also recently announced an upcoming holiday special which will air on December 22 at 9 PM Eastern via Amazon Music, Prime Video and Amazon’s Twitch Channel.
Updated on December 21, 2021: “Jagged Little Pill’ joins the many performances closing down on Broadway due to the omicron variant. The rock musical announced this on December 21, 2021. The musical was fueled by Alanis Morissette and focused a with a variety of topics including contemporary social issues. It has become the first big Broadway show to fall by the resurgent coronavirus pandemic.
City Winery also announced on December 19, 2021 that people attending shows at the venue will be required to have both proof of full vaccination as well as a negative Covid-19 test due to the surge of Covid-19 due to the omicron variant. They are one of the first venues to require both measures, due to fast transmission of the Omicron variant which has made it so that full vaccination isn’t enough of a defense against the highly contagious strain.
Flushing Town Fall jumped on the bandwagon for it’s Mini-Global Mashups announcing postponing them until a later date due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in New York City. It made this announcement on December 21, 2021 and will offer anyone who purchased tickets to these event a full refund or exchange. The first Mini-Global Mashups was suppose to take place on January 9, 2022.
Updated on December 23, 2021: More bands jump ship on live shows due to the omicron variant. On December 23, 2021 Phish announced postponing their MSG shows until April due to COVID-19 sweeping through NYC. Phish will honor all tickets for the December 29-January 1 shows at MSG on the rescheduled dates of April 20-23, marking the first time Phish has played New York City in April since 1994 at the Beacon Theatre.
On December 23, 2021 Pink Talking Phish announced postponing their New Years Eve show at Gramercy show to an undetermined date via their facebook page due to COVID-19 sweeping through NYC putting the health of their fans, friends, and family first.
Updated on December 26, 2021: Warren Haynes announced on December 24 that due to the omicron variant he will be postponing his new years run. For the health and safety of their fans, crew and all involved in making these shows happen is always their top priority. The following dates have been rescheduled: April 8 Beacon Theatre New York, NY (12/30/2021 Tickets Honored), April 9 Beacon Theatre New York, NY (12/31/2021 Tickets Honored), April 14 The Met Philadelphia, PA(12/29/2021 Tickets Honored).
Updated on December 28, 2021: On December 27, 2021 SoulShine: An Allman Brothers Experience announced that it will perform at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre on Dec. 31 in celebration of New Year’s Eve but only a with 50 percent capacity due to the COVID-19 cases soaring.
Soulive announced on December 27, 2021 they have rescheduled their run of shows set for New Year’s at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn to July 7, 8 and 9 of 2022 and will celebrate Brooklyn Bowl’s thirteenth anniversary. All tickets for the New Year’s shows will be honored at the July dates.
Dark Star Orchestra announced on December 27, 2021 the postponement of their upcoming New Year’s Eve run of concerts in New York scheduled for The Paramount in Huntington on December 29 and 30 and the Palace Theatre in Albany on December 31 (New Year’s Eve) and January 1 (New Year’s Day). The decision comes after members of DSO’s touring party tested positive for COVID-19 and in the wake of rising COVID cases due to the omicron variant.
Transmission New Year’s Eve Dance Party also announced on December 27, 2021 they were cancelling due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.
A New Year’s Eve celebration has been announced at Universal Preservation Hall and will be featuring Zachary James and Laurie Rogers. The festive concert will take place at 7PM on December 31, 2021 and is presented by Opera Saratoga and Proctors Collaborative. The concert will feature a variety of popular, Broadway, and classical favorites. It will also culminate in Opera Saratoga’s much anticipated announcement of its 2022 Summer Festival Programming.
Zachary James is well known to local audiences for his remarkable portrayal of the title role in Opera Saratoga’s production of Man of La Mancha this past summer on the SPAC Amphitheater Stage. He also starred on Broadway as Lurch in The Addams Family and has also appeared in South Pacific and Coram Boy. His Off-Broadway credits include The Most Happy Fella, Irma La Douce, Sweeney Todd, and The Pirates of Penzance. His work on the opera stage includes the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, Teatro Real, Opera Philadelphia, LA Opera, Opera Queensland, Arizona Opera, Virginia Opera, Nashville Opera, Anchorage Opera, Central City Opera, and more. Zachary has recorded multiple solo albums including his most recent Christmas release, Wonder and Joy.
Laurie Rogers who has been the Opera Saratoga’s Head of Music Staff and Director of the company’s Young Artist Program for the past ten years will be performing alongside Zachary James on piano. Laurie has served as Associate Conductor with LA Opera and has prepared productions for San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, the Canadian Opera Company, Minnesota Opera, American Lyric Theater, Wolf Trap Opera, Utah Opera, Arizona Opera, and Washington National Opera, among many others. In addition to her role at Opera Saratoga, she currently serves as the Music Director for Opera at The Peabody Institute, and conducts and concertizes nationally.
Philip Morris who is the CEO of Proctors Collaborative spoke on the upcoming event saying, “We are the Proctors Collaborative because we love to partner with our neighbor cultural organizations. This is a great way to open the New Year and restart what we hope will be an ever-expanding relationship with Opera Saratoga,”
Tickets are available online at www.operasaratoga.org or www.universalpreservationhall.org. Tickets are free, but seating is limited, and advance reservations are highly recommended. All attendees will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to enter UPH and must remain masked at all times in the venue.
For more information on the New Year’s Eve celebration featuring Zachary James and Laurie Rogers visit Opera Saratoga’s websiteor Universal Preservation Hall’s website.
Stephen Sondheim, one of the most iconic figures in musical theatre history, has died in his home at the age of 91. Lawyer and friend F. Richard Pappas confirmed his passing to the New York Times on Friday, November 26. Sondheim was both a composer and lyricist for Broadway plays including Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods, and also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
Stephen Sondheim | CREDIT: DOUGLAS ELBINGER/GETTY IMAGES
Sondheim won many awards throughout his career, including nine Tonys, eight Grammys, an Oscar and a Pulitzer Prize. In 2015, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama. For his 90th birthday in 2020, a virtual concert titled Take Me to the World streamed on the Broadway.com YouTube channel in his honor. The title song comes from Evening Primrose, a musical film Sondheim wrote the lyrics and music for in 1966.
As a composer and lyricist, Sondheim was in a league of his own. Most major composers don’t write the lyrics to their scores, and vice versa; others on the list include Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Jerry Herman and Noël Coward. While many of Sondheim’s plays have gone down in theatre history, they were often more successful critically than commercially. They had a reputation for being dark, serious and experimental, a sharp contrast to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Disney’s later crowd-pleasers.
Several of Sondheim’s plays have received Hollywood film adaptations, with the most recent one, a West Side Story remake helmed by Steven Spielberg, out this December. His 1970 musical Company is also returning to Broadway in December. It was set to open on Sondheim’s 90th birthday in March 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before his passing, Sondheim was able to attend the November 15 preview.
Many actors and musicians have paid their respects on social media, sharing stories of how Sondheim’s work has inspired them. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who previously worked with Sondheim, compared him to William Shakespeare:
Future historians: Stephen Sondheim was real. Yes, he wrote Tony & Maria AND Sweeney Todd AND Bobby AND George & Dot AND Fosca AND countless more. Some may theorize Shakespeare's works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him
MasterVoices has announced its 2021-22 season celebrating the chorus’ 80th season. The 2021-22 season opens on December 6, 2021 and will wrap up in June of 2022.
The First event will take place on December 6, 2021 at Carnegie Hall with A Joyful Noise,a return to performing before an audience after a two-year absence, featuring music to mark the holiday season as well as the perseverance of the human spirit after a long hiatus. Featured works include Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Thomas A. Dorsey’s If We Ever Needed the Lord Before (We Sure Do Need Him Now), traditional songs, and music by Adam Guettel, John Rutter and Randall Thompson. Joining MasterVoices are soprano Mikaela Bennett, the Northwell Health Nurse Choir and Take 6. MasterVoices will also provide some free tickets to a few hundred essential and frontline workers to this concert to thank them for their personal sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic during this event.
The second concert of the season will take place on March 10, 2022 at Carnegie Hall. The performance will be a semi-staged production of the cult-favorite musical,Stephen Sondheim’s and Arthur Laurents’ Anyone Can Whistle, starring Vanessa Williams. Written in 1964, the ahead-of-its-time satire shows early signs of Sondheim’s rebel genius as it skewers many targets, revealing what can happen when a community puts its faith in an unreliable leader. It has not been seen in New York since 2010, when it was presented by the Encores! series at City Center.
The season will wrap up in June with an outdoor concert, Songs for a Summer Night. The exact date and venue of the event haven’t been determined yet. All of the pieces chosen for this program evoke the sounds, smells and emotions of summer, in their own fashion. It will feature several new arrangements conceived for the program. The concert includes the world premiere of a newly commissioned piece by Tariq Al-Sabir, inspired by the sounds of a New York City summer, as well as music by Barber, Berlioz, Gordon, Mendelssohn, Schwartz and Sondheim, among others. Joining MasterVoices are guests Shereen Pimentel, Tariq Al-Sabir, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
The central project of MasterVoices’ 2020-2021 season was the virtual rollout of award-winning composer Adam Guettel’s 1998 theatrical song cycle, Myths and Hymns, in an online staging conceived by Ted Sperling. The concert will be reprised this fall in a full-length broadcast version distributed by ALL ARTS, which will premiere nationwide on November 10 at 8 PM EST on the free ALL ARTS app and allarts.org, and in the New York metro area on the ALL ARTS TV channel. The ALL ARTS special will include an introduction by Ted Sperling.
For more information on the upcoming season on MasterVoices’s website.
On Saturday, October 23, Ithaca’s Hangar Theater will host a fall day to remember. Broadway Jazz Star Julie Benko will headline the day’s festivities. She was awarded the Gold Metal and Johnny Mercer award at the 2017 American Tradition vocal Competition as well as the Wilde Award for best leading actress in a musical as Girl in Once. Julie Benko said “I think this is for everyone to enjoy ,it draws from the entertainment of the Broadway world, the vibrancy of the hot jazz tradition and the emotional vulnerability of theater.
The music will be handled by accompanist Jeff Theiss, with a very appropriate October vibe as Jeff was the musical director for the romantic story of “Ghost the Musical” at The Merry-go Round Playhouse on Owasco Lake. Julie’s voice, who has been part of the 85th Academy Awards and the 70th Academy Award ceremonies, will carry soft across Cayuga Lake next Saturday evening. She just welcomed a new cat into her family named Thelonius Monk. Musical chameleon Benko said “I want the listener to know exactly where they are and feel like they have been dropped in the middle of a scene”.
The scene at The Hangar Theater on October 23 will be fitting for you to win best costume by dressing as your favorite musical character. On July 11, 1975, the Hangar Theatre opened with Man of La Mancha, thanks to more than a decade’s effort by impassioned citizens in Ithaca. So this week put the same craft in planning your Saturday nights look. You will have chances to win many getaway evenings at Williams Henry Miller Inn, Firelight Camps, and Cayuga Lake Cottage. You can board the Cayuga Lake Boat Cruise. A pair of tickets to a show at The Hangar and State Theater will also be experienced in “Gorges” Ithaca and more.
The show will be held on the heated outdoor stage for one more Saturday night October 23rd 2021. Arrive by 3PM to begin with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. 3:30 will be the Hangar news welcome. Julie Benko will perform songs from beloved musicals, classic and contemporary performances from 4:00 to 4:40. By 5 PM the evening’s best musical costume winner shall be crowned and Summer 2022 special announcements.
Hangar artistic director Shirley Serotsky said “We hope to have your support in increasing access to arts education programming for all young people, allowing them the opportunity to express their most authentic and joyful selves through theatre, storytelling and movement. The funds we raise will help enhance the experiences of young artists and their ability to pursue their best paths”
Get tickets to the event on Saturday October 23rd at the Hangar Theater, starting at 3 PM, here
On Sunday, September 26, 2021 the Tony Awards returned for the first time in two years to shine a light on the best of Broadway. Hosted by Audra McDonald at The Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, the two-hour awards ceremony streamed on Paramount+, followed by Leslie Odom Jr. hosting “The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s Back!,” a two-hour live concert event featuring Broadway entertainers. Group performances included scenes from “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical,” “Jagged Little Pill” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”
The big winner of the night was “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” receiving 10 awards, including best musical, best choreography and best direction of a musical. Aaron Tveit won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical, and was uniquely the only actor nominated in the category.
“A Christmas Carol” had the second most awards with five, many for technical categories. Adapted by Jack Thorne from the Charles Dickens classic, the play starred Campbell Scott as Scrooge and won the 2021 Tony Awards for scenic design, costume design, lighting and sound design for a play, and took the award for Best Original Score. Although it had 12 nominations, “Slave Play” was shut out of the awards.
photo by Joan Marcus
Performers at the 74th Annual Tony Awards included Jennifer Nettles and Tony Award winners Jennifer Holliday and Ali Stroker. The evening also featured a reunion of the cast of “Hairspray,” including Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, Matthew Morrison, Kerry Butler, Chester Gregory and Darlene Love.
The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.
Keybank Rochester Fringe Festival is back in swing this year, with more than 400 in-person and online performances between September 14 and September 25. The 10th anniversary features the return of fan favorites such as the Silent Disco, Cirque Du Fringe, Fringe Street Beat dance off, and Pedestrian Drive-In.
For the first time, organizers have curated a mini music festival, called Smokestacks, to mark the finale. The free outdoor event takes place starting at 4pm on September 25 at Parcel 5 on Main Street, and features live performances by Cammy Enaharo, Mikaela Davis, Kopps, Spencer, Cannons, and Joywave.
For safety, COVID protocols are in place. All indoor events require masking and proof of vaccination. Attendees ages 12 and up who are unvaccinated must be masked at all times, even for outdoor events. Protocols may be subject to change. Prior to attending, check for updates online.
“After 18 months of closure that have devestated the performing arts, we’re thrilled to play our part in getting them back on their feet. Nearly 90% of our shows are live and in person, which wouldn’t be possible without our absolute commitment to keeping performers and attendees safe.”
– Erica Fee, Founding Festival Producer
A plethora of entertainment is available – from theater and dance to spoken word and comedy. And of course, music. Some Ska Band will heat things up with irresistible ska and reggae beats at the JCC canalside (outdoor) stage on opening night, September 14 at 7:30pm (get your tickets here). Gospel Sunday takes place on September 19 at 2pm, led by Reverend Rickey Harvey of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at One Fringe Place (free). And the Taiko Japanese Drumming Performance makes a reprise at The Little on September 25 at 3:15pm (also free). And don’t forget about Smokestacks on September 25 at Parcel 5, where you can catch rising singer/songwriter Cammy Enaharo, the eclectic talent of Mikaela Davis, and of course Rochester’s own Joywave.
The complete lineup of events at Rochester Fringe is available online at RochesterFringe.com.
The Stanley Theatre in Utica is looking for additional volunteers to help out with their 2021-22 show season. The season begins in mid-August and is an amazing opportunity for anyone above the age of 16 to gain experience in the live music industry.
The Stanley Theatre operates as a not-for-profit organization run by the Central New York Community Arts Council. For nearly a century, the theatre has brought great live concerts, Broadway shows, and musicals to central New York. The 2021-22 season features shows put on by The Stanley Theatre, Broadway Theatre League, and independent promoters as well. Due to the theatre being closed for a year, the 2021-22 season is anticipated to be the busiest Utica has seen to date. Packed seats are expected, and the energy will be more contagious than ever. That being said, the theatre is hoping to take on more volunteers than years previous to make the shows run as smoothly as possible.
Volunteers for the Stanley Theatre are like family. This is a chance to learn about responsibility, the importance of working with a team, and will improve your communication skills. Volunteering is an important requirement for both high school and college-aged individuals, and this is a fun and welcoming environment to get in your volunteer hours. The best part of volunteering is, of course, being able to listen to and watch spectacular performances at the theatre.
If you are interested in taking part in this opportunity, please contact The Stanley Theatre by either calling at (315)-724-4000, or by emailing them at thestanleytheatre@gmail.com. Spread the word and join in on the amazing community at The Stanley Theatre!
