Portland, March 22nd, 2013. This spring, the Keller Auditorium will be awash with memories for fans of the move: Flashdance.Portland Opera’s Broadway Across American Series will feature the touring company of the musical based on the film. It’s the story of working-class girl from Pittsburgh striving to make her dreams of becoming a professional dancer a reality. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, this new musical features hits including the Academy Award-winning title track, Flashdance, What a Feeling, Maniac, I Love Rock & Roll.
Emily Padgett as Alex Owens, (Photo credit, Kyle Froman)
FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL, is playing at the Keller Auditorium April 23 – 28, 2013.
A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen.
No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations.
It’s also no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences all around the world, from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa.
Whether you’re looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you’ve seen the Academy Award®-winning film and want to experience the show live on stage or whether you’ve seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGO always delivers.
ALL ABOARD for this saucy and splendid production of Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES, winner of three 2011 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival and Choreography! Peppering this Cole Porter first-class comedy are some of musical theater’s most memorable standards, including “I Get a Kick out of You,” “You’re the Top,” and of course, “Anything Goes.” Don’t miss what the AP exclaims as, “So DELIGHTFUL, So DELICIOUS, So DE-LOVELY!”
Direct from Broadway, the smash-hit musical AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Based on Green Day’s GRAMMY Award®-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it’s never gone before. With direction by Michael Mayer (SPRING AWAKENING), choreography by Steven Hoggett (BLACK WATCH) and orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt (NEXT TO NORMAL), the result is an experience Charles Isherwood of The New York Times declares “thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway musical I’ve seen this year!”
TIM RICE and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s Tony Award®-winning musical returns at last!
Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. Adored by her people as a champion for the poor, she became one of the most powerful women in the world — while her greed, outsized ambition and fragile health made her one of the most tragic. EVITA tells Eva’s passionate and unforgettable true story, and features some of theater’s most beautiful songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” and “High Flying, Adored.” Don’t miss the stunning new production of EVITA, directed by MICHAEL GRANDAGE and choreographed by ROB ASHFORD, that Channel 4 New York calls “THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN!”
SISTER ACT is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash! The New York Post calls it “RIDICULOUSLY FUN,” and audiences are jumping to their feet in total agreement! Featuring original music by 8-time Oscar® winner ALAN MENKEN (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LITTLE MERMAID, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS), SISTER ACT tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look—a convent! Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, SISTER ACT is reason to REJOICE!
Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards® including Best Musical, ONCE is a truly original Broadway experience. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments on stage, ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights…but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance. Emotionally captivating and theatrically breathtaking, ONCE draws you in from the very first note and never lets go. It’s an unforgettable story about going for your dreams…not living in fear…and the power of music to connect all of us.
Portland, February 1st, 2013. Opening night of The Portland Opera‘s Tosca brought fans to their feet. With featured American soprano Kara Shay Thomson in the title role, the sweeping production epitomizes vibrant opera on a grand scale. Diehard opera fans and first time attendees were riveted by the production.
Here’s the story of Tosca from The Portland Opera:
When her lover, Cavaradossi, faces execution for aiding a political prisoner, Tosca must make an unthinkable choice: submit to the loathsome Baron Scarpia, chief of police … or send her true love to the firing squad. Her decision brings the opera to a breathtaking climax.
A passionate tour de force, Puccini’s thriller has been beloved by audiences since its premiere. The revival of this grand production is a Tosca to remember.
Kara Shay Thomson as Tosca, Mark Schnaible as Scarpia, (Photo credit, Portland Opera/Cory Weaver
Tosca is sung in Italian with English projections above the stage and runs 2 hours, 45 minutes. Tickets are available online, or by calling the box office at 503-241-1802 (m-f, 9-5). Performances continue through Feb 9th.
Here’s a video from the dress rehearsal of the “Vissi d’arte”. It’s the aria from act II of the opera. It is sung by Tosca as she thinks of her fate and how the life of her beloved, Mario Cavaradossi, is at the mercy of Baron Scarpia.
This is a translation of the Italian she sings:
I lived for art, I lived for love,
I never did harm to a living soul!
With a secret hand
I relieved as many misfortunes as I knew of.
Ever in true faith
My prayer
Rose to the holy shrines.
Ever in true faith
I gave flowers to the altar.
In the hour of grief
Why, why, Lord,
Why do you reward me thus?
I gave jewels for the Madonna’s mantle,
And songs for the stars, in heaven,
That shone forth with greater radiance.
In the hour of grief
Why, why, Lord,
Ah, why do you reward me thus?
Kara Shay Thomson as Tosca, (Photo credit, Portland Opera / Cory Weaver)
Portland, December 11th. The Portland Opera’s Broadway Across America is gearing for the national touring company of the Tony Award Winning musical, The Book of Mormon. Its sold-out Portland run is scheduled for January 1st – 6th at the Keller Auditorium. We’re sharing a few production photos (photo credit, Joan Marcus) and some video excepts from the Broadway show when the stars performed at the Tony Awards.
Original Broadway Cast members Rema Webb, Andrew Rannells & Josh Gad
Winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, The Book of Mormon features book, music and lyrics byTrey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q. The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winnerCasey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker. The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records. Contains explicit language.
Here are a few video excerpts from the show as seen on the Tony broadcasts from the past two years.
If you’ve got tickets, enjoy. They went mostly to season subscribers, the hit was an incentive to promote the whole series. The a the few remaining seats were snapped up in just a few minutes.
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