Jones Beach and Darien Lake have announced Barbie The Movie: In Concert sees the stage this August. The shows are a part of the Barbie In Concert 2024 Summer Tour, led by Macy Schmidt and the Barbie Land Sinfonietta.
Fans across North America will have the opportunity to be transported to Barbie Land this summer and experience Barbie like never before. The tour will include an all-women orchestra which will accompany the record-smashing film’s display on a giant LED screen. The tour sees 37 dates across the United States.
âWe canât wait for fans of all ages to join us in this immersive experience, celebrating the biggest movie of 2023 and bringing the magic of Barbie to life like never before. The incredible talents of Macy Schmidt and The Barbie Land Sinfonietta guarantee an unparalleled and unforgettable adventure.â
Josh Silverman, Chief Franchise Officer at Mattel
Shows span from July 2 to August 18, where the tour closes out at the Jones Beach Amphitheater in Long Island. Barbie The Movie: In Concert showcases the talent of The Barbie Land Sinfonietta. The orchestra is conducted by Tony Award winning producer Macy Schmidt. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Schmidt recently became the first woman of color orchestrator in Broadway history.
For more information on Barbie The Movie: In Concert at Darien Lake, Jones Beach and elsewhere, click here. Presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, March 8 at 10 am via ticketmaster.com.
Barbie: The Movie In Concert Dates:
DateCityVenue
July 2 Tampa, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 3 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 5 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park
July 6 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 7 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
July 8 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
July 9 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
July 10 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
July 12 Milwaukee, WI American Family Insurance Amphitheatre
July 13 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL
July 14 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
July 15 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theater
July 17 Denver, CO Fiddlerâs Green Amphitheatre
July 18 Salt Lake City, UT Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 20 Ridgefield, WA RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
July 21 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
July 25 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 26 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheater
July 27 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
July 28 Chula Vista, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 30 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
July 31 Albuquerque, NM Isleta Amphitheater
August 2 Houston, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 3 Dallas, TX Dos Equis Pavilion
August 4 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
August 6 Birmingham, AL Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
August 7 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
August 8 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
August 9 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
August 10 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
August 11 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
August 12 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
August 14 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater
August 15 Hartford, CT The XFINITY Theatre
August 16 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
August 17 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
August 18 Wantagh, NY Northwell Health at Jones Beach
Playbill and the Times Square Alliance have announced they will partner for the third annual Pride in Times Square celebration of free events on June 28 and 29, 2024.
Last year’s Pride in Times Square included top stage and screen celebrities, talent from Broadway/Off-Broadway productions, local Times Square business promotions, Pride Piano Bar sessions, live DJ sets, the return of The Big Broadway Disco, and more.
Founded in 1992, the Times Square Alliance works to improve and promote Times Square, cultivating the creativity, energy, and edge that have made the area an icon of entertainment, culture, and urban life for over a century. It keeps the neighborhood safe and clean, promotes local businesses, manages area improvements, and produces major annual events, like Pride in Times Square. Founded in 1884, Playbill is an internationally known trademark synonymous with theatre and is a symbol of the arts. Playbill Magazine is distributed to every Broadway theatre, most Off-Broadway theaters, regional theaters, and fine arts institutions in over 24 cities across the country.
Pride in Times Square2024 promises to be another exciting event and a great addition to New York City’s celebration of Pride at the Crossroads of the World. On Sunday, June 30, the Playbill Pride Float returns to the NYC Pride March, supporting their partner Heritage of Pride (Pride NYC). Customized double-decker buses from some of the event’s sponsors will also join the Pride March, rounding out an amazing weekend of diversity, equity, education, and celebration.
Past Pride in Times Square events have attracted nearly 800,000 attendees and social media coverage garnering over 1.05 million social impressions. The third day, centered on one of the world’s largest Pride marches, had an attendance at 2023 Pride March of 2.4 million people.
“Playbill is extremely proud to take part in our third annual Pride celebration in the heart of New York City with our fantastic partner, the Times Square Alliance,” said Alex Birsh, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Playbill. “For ten years, we have been honored to change our iconic yellow design to recognize the Pride Flag colors, celebrating this expansive and important community. And this year, we are even prouder to celebrate with another activation that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies in Times Square. Playbill aims to be a leader in our community, and we look to this event to continue our tradition of standing with and behind our LGBTQIA+ friends, family, and allies. Here’s to an amazing celebration with our partners, sponsors, and the entire Broadway community.”
For more information about the Times Square Alliance, and to find more Pride events happening around the city this June, visit here.
The Sembrich has announced its 2024 summer festival “A Century of Sembrich,” celebrating 100 years of Marcella Sembrich’s musical legacy on Lake George. The festival features a spectacular line-up of today’s acclaimed concert artists and works by composers in Sembrich’s artistic circle.
Experience music, history, and nature at The Sembrich in Bolton Landing, featuring museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, and a free film series. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Sembrich was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her storied legacy, including over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music.
“When Marcella Sembrich had a boathouse on her summer estate rebuilt as a teaching studio, she brought music to the shores of Lake George. We’re proud to continue that tradition of music on the lake and to celebrate our centennial with an exciting lineup of concerts, films, and special events,” says Richard Wargo, The Sembrich’s Artistic Director and Composer-in-Residence. “As ever, Marcella Sembrich remains our guiding star – a spirit of excellence that we strive to uphold.”
Marcella Sembrich (I.C. Mackeown. Date Unknown). From The Sembrich Collection.
The 2024 festival begins on June 5 and runs through August 31.
On opening night at 7 p.m., Opera Saratoga brings festival artists to the Sembrich. Includes an evening of standards from Cosi fan tutte and Guys and Dolls – provided by one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious opera training programs. Opera Saratoga serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack, and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, year-round activities, extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera.
Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. features the Young Writers Showcase, celebrating the region’s most promising young artists with an afternoon of vocal and instrumental music, in both classical and popular styles. June 15 at 2 p.m. brings a member appreciation event to the Sembrich; a conversation with the host of Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall Vincent Caruso, discussing his journey through classical music and radio. Also features a guest performance by Joel Brown and the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet.
“A Century at Sembrich” continues with a Juneteenth celebration featuring Pulitzer prize-winning composer Anthony Davis. Soprano Christine Jobson, bass-baritone Carl DuPont, and pianist Alan Johnson perform excerpts from Davis’s acclaimed operas, X – The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Amistad, Tania, and The Central Park Five, all portraying momentous actions and engagements crucial to black Americans. Davis will also treat the audience to a piano improvisation and discuss his works.
Composer Anthony Davis. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The 2024 festival features the acclaimed Sembrich film series, with The Magic Flute on June 24, The Opera House on July 8, Fitzcarraldo on July 28, the US premiere of Lost Voice on Aug. 12, and Falling for Figaro on Aug. 26. All films start at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The Seagle Festival presents a sampling of the festival’s exciting 2024 lineup: Brigadoon, DonGiovanni, Cold Mountain, and Sweeney Todd. Now in its 109th anniversary season, it is the premier opera and music theater-producing organization in the Adirondack region and the oldest summer vocal training program in the United States.
Featuring some of the finest concert artists on the classical music scene, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in Marcella Sembrich’s artistic circle. On July 6 at 7 p.m., “Classical Splendor” features violinist Ruben Rengel and pianist Ahmed Alom performing Brahms, Lizst, Stravinsky, and more.
Violinist Ruben Rengel. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The Mastwork Series continues on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. with “Composers Sembrich Knew” – an evening of chamber music by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including works by Puccini, Brahms, and Kreisler. The final performance on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., “Violinist Kinga Augustyn,” brings the acclaimed violinist back to Bolton Landing for an evening of masterworks, including the de Beriot concerto performed by Marcella Sembrich at the Metropolitan Opera in 1884.
For one night only on July 11, literary dramatist Betty Spinelli and members of The Sembrich Board and Staff will offer an exclusive glimpse into the Gilded Age life of Marcella Sembrich by showcasing a selection of her treasured and rarely displayed possessions, including a diamond bracelet from the Czar of Russia, a silver tribute from Enrico Caruso, and the famous Queen of the Night costume from the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Sembrich’s 2024 festival features the Promenade Series, perfect for a casual evening or date night on the lakeshore. This year’s series features the Zeger – Pesaturo accordion/violin duo (July 13 – 7:00 p.m.), the cutting-edge woodwind quintet WindSync (July 27 – 7:00 p.m.), and acclaimed guitar/violin duo ArcoStrum (August 21 – 7:00 p.m.).
WindSync Woodwind Quintet. Photo by Carlin Ma.
The Sembrich’s popular lakeside matinee series celebrating music from around the globe – World Music Wednesdays – returns this summer. This year’s events include “Harmonia Ensemble” (July 17 – 2:00 p.m.) highlighting music from Marcella Sembrich’s homeland in Eastern Europe, “Jomion and The Uklos” (August 7 – 2:00 p.m.) exploring unique traditions from West Africa, and “Cantrip” (August 28 – 2:00 p.m.) closing the series with beloved Celtic tunes.
The Sembrich doesn’t forget the family, with two family fun-packed events. “Interstellar Cinderella” performed by WindSync (July 25 at Rogers Park) is a delightful performance for the entire family, introducing five wind instruments of the orchestra, complete with costumes and choreography. “Dragon’s Breath” performed by emerging artists from Seagle Festival (August 1 at The Sembrich) is a charming original children’s opera by Evan Mack, with a libretto by Joshua McGuire, exploring themes of coping with anger and other difficulties. Follow young Alan as he gains wisdom in dealing with his own emotions.
Violinist Kinga Augustyn, performing at the Masterworks Series. Photo by Dale Jabagat.
On Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. is the World Premiere of At That Hour, a James Joyce-inspired chamber opera written expressly for The Sembrich studio. Also on the program, works by Haydn and Beethoven. Commissioned for The Sembrich’s 2024 centennial celebration in partnership with The American Center for New Works Development at Seagle Festival, this new work by Composer-in-Residence Richard Wargo will be performed by artists from Seagle Festival and the Hyperion String Quartet.
The Sembrich brings down the curtain on its centennial summer with an elegant candlelit evening featuring music by one of the world’s most beloved composers, Frédéric Chopin on Aug. 31. Piano virtuoso Christopher Johnson performs some of the most enduring works by this “Poet of the Piano,” exploring the master’s full range of expression. Johnson will pay tribute to Marcella Sembrich with a delightful paraphrase by Franz Liszt of the soprano’s signature song, Chopin’s “The Maiden’s Wish.” The performance will be followed by a Parisian-style lakeside reception, accompanied by the string duo of Amanda and Jonathan Brin.
Tickets and the full-season schedule are available here.
The Sembrich’s 2024 Summer Festival Schedule
June 5, 7:00 PM – Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga June 9, 2:00 PM – 2024 Young Performers Showcase June 15, 2:00 PM – An Afternoon with Vincent Caruso June 19, 7:00 PM – A Juneteenth Celebration with Anthony Davis June 24, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Magic Flute (1975) June 26, 2:00 PM – Seagle Festival Season Preview
July 6, 7:00 PM – Classical Splendor July 8, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Opera House (2017) July 11, 7:00 PM – A Night at the Museum July 13, 7:00 PM – Leah Seger – Cory Pesaturo Duo July 17, 2:00 PM – Harmonia Ensemble July 25, 11:00 AM – Interstellar Cinderella by WindSync July 27, 7:00 PM – WindSync Woodwind Quintet July 28, 7:30 PM – FILM: Fitzcarraldo (1983)
August 1, 10:00 AM – Seagle Festival: Dragon’s Breath (Children’s Opera) August 4, 7:00 PM – Composers Sembrich Knew August 7, 2:00 PM – Jomion and The Uklos August 12, 7:30 PM – FILM: Lost Voice, The Story of Marcella Sembrich (2024) August 17, 7:00 PM – Violinist Kinga Augustyn August 21, 7:00 PM – ArcoStrum August 24, 7:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (World Premiere) August 25, 2:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (Encore Matinee) August 26, 7:30 PM – FILM: Falling for Figaro (2021) August 28, 2:00 PM – Cantrip August 31, 6:00 PM – Chopin by Candlelight
The Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra have announced it is time for “Animaniacs- IN CONCERT.” The show takes place February 24, 8pm, at MainStage at Proctors.
Animaniacs is an iconic, animated, Warner Bros series from the early 90s. The show includes the classic, energetic hits of the show’s soundtrack coupled with the wonderful, majestic talent of the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra.
This tour stop of Animaniacs: In Concert stars the show’s original Emmy-Winning composer, Randy Rogel, on piano and the voice talents of Emmy winner Rob Paulsen.
Fans of all ages will experience “Animaniacs” like never before-especially those who grew up watching the series. The show is for adults and kids alike.
Voice Actor Rob Paulsen
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AtProctors.org.
Even if they can’t name the tune, most people will recognize the iconic clarinet intro of the famed composition, “Rhapsody in Blue,” by George Gershwin. That song, now a timeless masterpiece, made its debut 100 years ago on February 14, 1924. The origins of the song are as wild a ride as the composition itself; and almost all of it traces back to the influence of New York City.
Composer George Gershwin (1925) – Photo from Encyclopedia Britannica
It was in Brooklyn, New York, that George Gershwin was born in the late 1800s, as Jacob Gershwin, a son of Russian Jewish Immigrants. From an early age he exhibited fantastic musical abilities on the piano and was tutored by the notable Charles Hambitzer, who saw greatness in Gershwin.
At age 15, Gershwin dropped out of school and began playing piano in various nightclubs around New York City. It was in Tin Pan Alley that Gershwin worked as a song-plugger and honed his craft. And it was on Broadway that Gershwin worked as pianist for rehearsals and performances of theater productions. Both experiences stirred Gershwin’s penchant for jazz and popular music. In 1916, he released his first published song “When You Want ’Em You Can’t Get ’Em (When You’ve Got ’Em You Don’t Want ’Em)”
In the following years, Gershwin’s work was commissioned by broadway composers and performed by popular singers and entertainers. His song “Swanee” (1919) was performed Al Jolson in the musical Sinbad and went on to sell more than two million recordings and a million copies of sheet music.
The start of Rhapsody in Blue began in the years 1920-1924. Gershwin, composed for an annual production put on by musician Paul White. In 1922, Gershwin pushed to have a one-act opera titled “Blue Monday.” The reception was lackluster in a time period where Jazz was not accepted by the mainstream. Still, the bandleader Paul Whiteman, (who like Gershwin, wanted to see jazz gain respectability) later decided to commission Gershwin to write a jazz piece for a concert in 1923.
As the story goes, Gershwin completely forgot about the show until he read about it in the paper, only a few weeks before the concert date. It was in this mad scramble that he created the faed, “Rhapsody in Blue.” Once again, the soundscape of New York would have its hands in this composition.
Gershwin later recalled that it was on a train from New York to Boston that he was hit with the inspiration for the song.
“It was on a train…that I suddenly heard–and even saw on paper–the complete construction of the Rhapsody in Blue, from beginning to end. I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America–of our vast melting pot, of our unduplicated national pep, of our metropolitan madness. By the time I reached Boston, I had a definite plot of the piece, as distinguished from its actual substance.”
When the piece made its debut it was slightly different from what would appear in the published recording which came after the fact . While the band’s parts were ready in time for the show, Gershwin reportedly improvised much of the piano solo which existed only in his mind. The show was performed at the Aeolian Hall in New York City on February 14th, 1924. Composer Ferde Grofé completed a score for piano and full symphony orchestra in 1926.
In later years, Gershwin would go on to compose hits such as “Embraceable You” and the Broadway adaptation of Porgy and Bess. Gershwin died in 1937 while undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. While he was only 38, Gershwin made an indelible impact on jazz compositions and music as a whole.
In a final nod to the big apple, “Rhapsody in Blue” reached new heights when Woody Allen introduced the composition to a new generation in his 1979 film titled Manhattan – 42 years after Gershwin’s death.
The producers of the newly reimagined Broadway production of The Who’s TOMMY have announced full principal casting for the upcoming run at the Nederlander Theatre, with previews beginning March 8 and opening night slated for March 28.
Producers Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman have selected a handful of actors who will reprise their roles from the Goodman Theatre production in Chicago. Among them are Alison Luff as Mrs. Walker, Adam Jacobs as Captain Walker, John Ambrosino as Uncle Ernie, Bobby Conte as Cousin Kevin, and Christina Sajous as The Acid Queen. The actors join previously announced Ali Louis Bourzgui starring as Tommy Walker, who is reprising his Jeff Award-winning role from the Goodman. Additional casting for The Who’s TOMMY on Broadway will be announced soon.
Completing the cast areHaley Gustafson, Jeremiah Alsop, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Mike Cannon, Tyler James Eisenreich, Sheldon Henry, Afra Hines, Aliah James, David Paul Kidder, Tassy Kirbas, Lily Kren, Quinten Kusheba, Reese Levine, Brett Michael Lockley, Nathan Lucrezio, Alexandra Matteo, Mark Mitrano, Reagan Pender, Cecilia Ann Popp, Daniel Quadrino, Olive Ross-Kline, Jenna Nicole Shoen, Dee Tomasetta, and Andrew Tufano.
The new production of The Who’s TOMMY premiered this past Summer at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago where Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune named TOMMY as #1 in the Best of Chicago Theater list for 2023, saying, “Tommy explodes with life – it’s a truly ready-for prime-time stunner. Broadway has nothing else like this wizardry going on.”
The Chicago production of The Who’s TOMMY won 9 Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” Awards, the most for any show this season, including Best Director for Des McAnuff and Best Production.
Three decades after the epic pop-culture musical theatre sensation first bowed on Broadway, original Tony Award®-winning creators Pete Townshend (music, lyrics, book) and Des McAnuff (book, direction) have reunited to bring the story of Tommy Walker to today’s audiences.
Myth and spectacle combine in The Who’s exhilarating 1969 rock opera, TOMMY—including the unforgettable anthems “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation” and “Pinball Wizard.” After witnessing his father shoot his rival, the young Tommy Walker is lost in the universe, endlessly and obsessively staring into the mirror. An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior.
The Who’s TOMMY creative team includes choreographer Lorin Latarro (Into the Woods, Mrs. Doubtfire and Waitress); music supervision and additional arrangements by Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys on Broadway, London and National Tour); musical direction and additional orchestrations by Rick Fox (Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar); set design by David Korins (Hamilton, Beetlejuice, Here Lies Love ); projection design by Peter Nigrini (Here Lies Love,MJ and Dear Evan Hansen); costume design by Sarafina Bush (for colored girls…, Pass Over on Broadway); lighting design by Amanda Zieve (Broadway associate on Escape to Margaritaville and Allegiance); sound design by Gareth Owen (Back to the Future, & Juliet and MJ); and wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe (Hamilton, Beautiful). Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting/Merri Sugarman, CSA. Additional Chicago Casting by Lauren Port, CSA and Rachael Jimenez, CSA. Tripp Phillips is the Production Stage Manager and Bespoke Theatricals is General Manager.
Pete Townshend’s prior awards for The Who’s TOMMY include a Grammy Award (1993) for the Original Broadway Cast Recording, Tony Award for Best Score (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997). For directing The Who’s TOMMY, Des McAnuff received previously, the Tony and Drama Desk Awards (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997).
Tickets to The Who’s TOMMY at the Nederlander Theatre are now on sale at TommyTheMusical.com.
