Jon Morrell News

The Almeida will broadcast Artistic Director Rupert Goold's production of RICHARD III, with Ralph Fiennes as Shakespeare's most notorious villain and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Margaret, live to cinemas in the UK and around the world on 21 July.

Every other show on Broadway seems to be an adaptation of a movie. So the question is, which ones will be next? Our wonderful readers weighed in, as they did last week, and came up with some great suggestions!

Casting for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's 2015 production of J.M Barrie's Peter Pan has today been announced, with lead casting for The Seagull and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers also confirmed. The season opens for previews on 15 May.

After wowing crowds and the Olivier Award judges, Top Hat is touring the country bringing its infectious enthusiasm and the spirit of Fred Astaire around the country. Manchester's Opera House theatre hosted the latest leg of this affectionate adaption of irving Berlin's 1935 film staring Astaire and his long time collaborator Ginger Rogers.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Richard Wagner's majesticTannhauser conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in a new-to-Chicago production byTim Albery. It opens on Monday, February 9 with seven performances through Friday, March 6. Performance dates are Feb. 9, 14, 18, 26, Mar. 2, and 6 at 6pm; and Feb. 22 at 1pm. (Note earlier curtain times.) Tannhauser will be sung in German with projected English translations.

According to an Equity casting notice, Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is set to helm an upcoming NYC developmental lab of Top Hat. This version of the show features the classic music and lyrics of Irving Berlin and a new book by Chad Beguelin. The lab is set to be held May 18 through June 19.

Toronto – The world premiere of a new Canadian work was one of the many operatic highlights revealed today at the public launch of the Canadian Opera Company's 2015/2016season at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The COC's 65th season is once again comprised entirely of company productions, four of which are new to Toronto audiences, and features the COC's first mainstage world premiere since 1999, COC premieres of opera rarities and the revival of classic masterpieces.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Richard Wagner's majestic Tannhäuser conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in a new-to-Chicago production by Tim Albery. It opens on Monday, February 9 with seven performances through Friday, March 6. Performance dates are Feb. 9, 14, 18, 26, Mar. 2, and 6 at 6pm; and Feb. 22 at 1pm. (Note earlier curtain times.) Tannhäuser will be sung in German with projected English translations.

Let's Face the Music and Dance with Top Hat at the Theatre Royal until Saturday 13 December. Stepping into the tap dancing shoes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, are Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch, who both return to Top Hat having previously performed these roles in the West End.

Top Hat - winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations - is enjoying an epic 47-week UK tour, visiting 24 theatres nationwide. From Tuesday 2 December Top Hat will be Puttin' on the Ritz at the Theatre Royal Glasgow.

San Francisco Opera presents the Company premiere of George Frideric Handel's comedy Partenope in six performances October 15-November 2, 2014 at the War Memorial Opera House. Winner of London's 2009 Olivier Award for 'Best New Production,' this production is directed by Christopher Alden with sets designed by Andrew Lieberman. Set in 1920s Paris, the production's surrealist aesthetic is inspired by the artwork of Dadaist Man Ray. Lyric soprano and baroque specialist Danielle de Niese stars in the title role opposite leading countertenor David Daniels, who thrilled audiences in 2011's Xerxes, as her suitor Arsace. Argentinean mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack is the crafty Rosmira, Arsace's scorned lover who attempts to use a cross-dressing disguise to enact her revenge. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo makes his Company debut as another of Partenope's admirers, Armindo, and tenor Alek Shrader is Emilio. Grammy-nominated American conductor Julian Wachner makes his San Francisco Opera debut with these performances.

The production previously held a lab in NYC in March of this year.

San Francisco Opera presents the Company premiere of George Frideric Handel's comedy Partenope in six performances October 15-November 2, 2014 at the War Memorial Opera House.

TOP HAT, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', embarks on a 47-week UK tour, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 21 Oct - Sat 1 Nov 2014.

At a time when things seem challenging for opera, the Santa Fe Opera holds strong. Santa Fe is among the oldest opera festivals in America and is the largest and most important. It has made its reputation as a distinctive company with a flair for the unusual. This summer they presented operas such as “Dr. Sun Yat-Sen” by Huang Ruo, and Beethoven's “Fidelio.”

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations, and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', returns to London to open its new tour at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 12 August where it will run for two weeks until Saturday 23 August. The production then embarks on a major 47-week tour visiting theatres throughout the UK and in Ireland, until 25 July 2015.

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography' and 'Best Costume Design' from a total of seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', is setting off on an epic 47-week UK tour, visiting 24 theatres nationwide. Opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 12 August 2014 the production will tour until Saturday 25 July 2015.

The Green Room Awards are Melbourne's performing arts awards and recognise the world-class Cabaret, Dance, Musical Theatre, Opera, Theatre and Alternative and Hybrid Performance productions that grace Melbourne's stages each year. From artistic excellence to technical innovation, a Green Room Award is the most revered accolade an artist can receive in Australia's cultural capital.

According to an Equity casting notice, Top Hat, which won Best New Musical at the 2013 Olivier Awards, will get a New York City developmental lab March 7-20. Tony-winner Christopher Gatelli is set to helm the project as director and choreographer.

TOP HAT at the Aldwych Theatre, and will close today, October 26, to make room for Andrew Lloyd Webber's new STEPHEN WARD musical, which is set to open in November 2013. Thare are plans for a UK tour in 2014-15.