Mummenschanz with the muppets and in Boston

Watch the uniquely delightful Swiss performance group Mummenschanz perform on the Muppet Show in 1976. Mummenschanz will celebrate 40 years of innovative non-verbal theatre (with toilet paper, giant blobs of felt, and squishable masks) in Boston from December 5-9th at Citi Shubert Theatre. Presented by your friendly neighborhood Celebrity Series.

Tickets

Tickets now on sale: Frank Rich and Fran Lebowitz, Oct 10, Sanders Theatre

A State of the Union Conversation:

An Evening with Frank Rich & Fran Lebowitz
Wed., October 10, 8pm
Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA

Two of our foremost cultural and political observers engage in a live,
onstage conversation around current themes of the presidential election
that will be just weeks away – discussing what is at stake and much
more.



Author, journalist and social observer, Fran Lebowitz is the subject of the HBO documentary, Public Speaking,
directed by Martin Scorsese. Former Chief Drama Critic and Op-Ed
columnist for The New York Times, Frank Rich is currently
Writer-at-Large for New York magazine.

Tickets are on sale now for this performance: Buy Tickets.

Fran Lebowitz on Jane Austen

Author and social critic Fran Lebowitz on how Jane Austen is misunderstood and famous for all the wrong reasons. Lebowitz will appear on the Celebrity Series with columnist Frank Rich at Sanders Theatre on October 10: www.celebrityseries.org.

Frank Rich on Negative Campaigning: Nuke 'em

LBJ "Daisy" ad clip from 1964

New York Magazine's Writer-at-Large, Frank Rich, hurls another molotov of political commentary this week, taking a look at negative campaigning in the upcoming presidential election and its recent predecessors: Frank Rich. Read Nuke 'Em.


Frank Rich appears with Fran Lebowitz on Wednesday, October 10 at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge.

Terry Gross interviews Jack Black

Terry Gross

Terry Gross interviews actor Jack Black on NPR's Fresh Air. Black tells Terry about his latest film, Bernie, his band Tenacious D and his obsession with vocalist Bobby McFerrin. Listen to the interview here.

Terry Gross returns to the Celebrity Series on Friday, May 10, 2013 at Sanders Theatre. Subscription tickets are on sale now.

Behind the scenes with Compagnia TPO's Farfalle (Butterflies)

Behind the scenes with Teatro di Piazza d'Occasione's stunningly beautiful Farfalle(Butterflies).

This incredible show comes to the Celebrity Series and The Black Box, Paramount Center May 10-15.

Globe: Basil Twist's Petrushka is "magic on a string"

Terry Byrne reviewed Basil Twist's Petrushka for today's Boston Globe. Here's a snippet:

"'Petrushka,' which is playing at the Paramount Theater in a joint presentation by the Celebrity Series and Arts Emerson, is a delightful melange of Stravinsky’s music, and the legendary Ballet Russes choreographer, Michel Fokine, who staged it. In the original ballet, the dancers played puppets that come to life and in this version, the puppets dance when they come to life."

Read all of Petrushka is magic on a string.

Basil Twist's Petrushka runs through November 21.

Puppet Invasion at Emerson College

 

EmComm students from Emerson College help to spread the word about Basil Twist's "Petrushka", a co-presentation by Celebrity Series of Boston and ArtsEmerson. #petrushka

Callaway sisters show, "Boom!" reviewed in the NY Times

Check out Stephen Holden's New York Times review of Ann Hampton and Liz Callaway's "Boom!" at Town Hall.

The sisters bring "Boom!" to Sanders Theatre in Cambridge on January 21 2011.

Basil Twist's Petrushka (video)

We missed this little gem when we launched our season back in April because it was posted around the same time. Hope you enjoy this tiny sample of Basil Twist's marvelous recreation of the Michel Fokine/Igor Stravinsky masterpiece, Petrushka. I, for one, am amazed at the recreation of the choreography, especially considering there are three puppeteers per dancer.

Basil Twist definitely has a one-of-a-kind creative mind.



Twist brings Petrushka to the Paramount Theatre in November.

Forum at The Boston Foundation this Thursday

Take note of this forum at The Boston
Foundation, Performance and Participation: The Art of Audience Engagement tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.

Lynn Redgrave (1943-2010)

Actress Lynn Redgrave died May 2 at her home in Connecticut.

Viewed through the lens of the Celebrity Series of Boston: Ms. Redgrave made one appearance on the Celebrity Series in March 21, 1993 when she brought her one woman play, "Shakespeare for My Father" to Symphony Hall for one performance.

We leave the more exhaustive biographical entries to the press and videographers:

The Washington Post

Los Angeles Times

The New York Times

BBC NewsConversations: Lynn Redgrave with Justin Tuck (video)

Guest appearance on The Muppet Show (video 1 of 3)

Sir Ian McKellen remembers Lynn Redgrave (video)

Announcing the Celebrity Series of Boston 2010-2011 Season

Subscription sales begin April 30

So here is our season for next year in all its 41-event glory. You can't order your subscription, yet, that starts April 30, but you can check out the artists, dates, times, venues and even programs (follow the links), request a season brochure (if you're a subscriber this season, you will already get one), and join our e-mail list and get a reminder before subscription sales begin. We're announcing a little early this season so you can begin setting your arts calendar for 2010-2011.

October 2010

Mark Morris Dance Group
Program features the world premiere of a Celebrity Series commission
October 14-17
Cutler Majestic Theatre

Chucho Valdés with The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Celebrity Series Debut
Thursday, October 28, 8pm
Berklee Performance Center

November 2010

What Makes It Great? with The Claremont Trio
Beethoven's "Archduke Trio"
Sunday, November 7, 3pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Liza Minnelli in Concert
Celebrity Series Debut
Sunday, November 7, 5pm
Symphony Hall

Basil Twist's Petrushka
Boston Debut
November 11-21
Subscription performances:

November 11-17
The Paramount Theatre

Kremerata Baltica
Gidon Kremer, violin soloist and leader
Celebrity Series Debut
Friday, November 12, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Murray Perahia, piano
Sunday, November 14, 3pm
Symphony Hall

Tokyo String Quartet with Lynn Harrell, cello
Friday, November 19, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Pinchas Zukerman, violin/viola
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Sunday, November 21, 3pm
Symphony Hall

Parker String Quartet
Bonus Subscriber Event
Monday, November 22, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

December 2010

Haochen Zhang, piano
2009 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist
Boston Debut
Friday, December 3, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Pilobolus
December 3-5
Cutler Majestic Theatre

January 2011

Christine Brewer, soprano
Celebrity Series Debut
Saturday, January 15, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, "Boom!"
Friday, January 21, 8pm
Sanders Theatre

Balé Folclórico da Bahia
Celebrity Series Debut
Saturday, January 22, 8pm
The Opera House

Philharmonia Quartett Berlin
Boston Debut
Friday, January 28, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Savion Glover, "SoLo in TiMe"
Saturday, January 29, 8pm
The Opera House

Golden Dragon Acrobats
Sunday, January 30, 3pm
Symphony Hall

February 2011

Joshua Bell, violin
Friday, February 4, 8pm
Symphony Hall

Ira Glass, "Radio Stories and Other Stories"
Saturday, February 5, 8pm
Sanders Theatre

Tierney Sutton Band
Celebrity Series Debut
Friday, February 11, 8pm
Sanders Theatre

What Makes It Great?
Excerpts from Mozart's Don Giovanni
Sunday, February 13, 3pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Takács Quartet
Friday, February 18, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
Sunday, February 27, 3pm
Symphony Hall

March 2011

Evgeny Kissin, piano
Wednesday, March 2, 8pm
Symphony Hall

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Celebrity Series Debut
March 4 & 5
Tsai Performance Center

Emerson String Quartet with Sir James Galway, flute
Friday, March 11, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Saturday, March 12, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

KODO Drummers
Sunday, March 13, 4pm
Symphony Hall

American Legacies:
The Del McCoury Band with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Saturday, March 19, 8pm
Symphony Hall

Matthew Polenzani, tenor
Boston Recital Debut
Thursday, March 24, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

John Williams, guitar
Friday, March 25, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

April 2011

Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
Friday, April 1, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

BeijingDance/LDTX
Boston Debut
April 1 & 2
Tsai Performance Center

Patti LuPone, "The Gypsy in My Soul"
Sunday, April 3, 5pm
Symphony Hall

St. Petersburg Philharmonic
Yuri Temirkanov, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello soloist
Sunday, April 10, 3pm
Symphony Hall

Dubravka Tomsic, piano
Friday, April 15, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Friday, April 29, 8pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

May 2011

Sweet Honey In The Rock
Friday, May 6, 8pm
Symphony Hall

Compagnia TPO, Farfalle
Boston Debut
May 10-15
Black Box Theatre, Paramount Center

Complexions Contemporary Ballet
May 20-22
Cutler Majestic Theatre
_________________________________

Call for a free 2010-2011 season brochure: (617) 482-2595
or visit www.celebrityseries.org.

Important Dates:

Season Subscriptions go on sale April 30, 2010

Priority Seating Deadline is Friday, June 11, 2010

Subscriptions by phone begin Monday, June 14, 2010

Individual performance sales begin Monday, September 13, 2010

"Morris on Mozart" photos on Flickr and tweets on Twitter

Mark Morris onstage at Sanders Theatre during Morris on Mozart

Check out more photos by our man Robert Torres on the Celebrity Series of Boston Flickr page.

Check out Twitter coverage of "Morris on Mozart" at Twitter hashtag: #markmorris.

And don't forget the Mark Morris Dance Group with Emmanuel Music, conductor Jane Glover and pianists Russell Sherman and Minsoo Sohn at the Boston Opera House Fri-Sun, January 29-31.

Richard Dyer interviewed for Harvard Arts Beat

Harvard University's Alicia Anstead interviewed Richard Dyer (Harvard '64) for Harvard Arts Beat in advance of Dyer's interview with Mark Morris, callend "Morris on Mozart," this Wednesday night (January 27) at Sanders Theatre on the Harvard campus.

Here is Alicia's interview with Richard Dyer.

The tickets for Morris on Mozart are free but require a reservation. Click here or call the Harvard Box Office (617) 496-2222.

This is, of course, is in advance of the Mark Morris Dance Group's "Mozart Dances" engagement at The Boston Opera House January 29-31.

"Morris on Mozart" - Mark chats with critic Richard Dyer at Sanders (Free)

Morris on Mozart

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 7pm

Sanders Theatre

45 Quincy Street, Cambridge MA



Hear celebrated choreographer Mark Morris in conversation with
journalist and classical music critic Richard Dyer. Morris, known for
his eclectic musical tastes from classical to country, will discuss music and
his work.



Admission is FREE but tickets are required. Two per person.



Available by phone only through the Harvard Box Office at Holyoke Center,
Harvard Square (Wed-Sun, 12-6pm):

617.496.222 (TTY 617.495.1642)

Tickets will also be available at the door one hour prior to event,
subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

Presented by OFA Learning From Performers, Celebrity Series of Boston and the Mark Morris Dance Group.

The Mark Morris Dance Group performs Mozart dances January 29-31 at The Boston Opera House.

Recent previews & reviews: Vega, Sondheim and the Berlin Phil

Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic at Symphony Hall on Sunday (Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

Suzanne Vega (November 6, Sanders Theatre)

The Boston Phoenix (Carrie Battan)


An Evening With Stephen Sondheim (November 14, Sanders Theatre)

The Hub Review (Thomas Garvey)

Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle, conducting (November 15, Symphony Hall)

The Boston Globe (Jeremy Eichler)

The Hub Review (Thomas Garvey)

The Boston Phoenix (Lloyd Schwartz)

The Boston Herald (Ed Symkus)

Ask Stephen Sondheim. No, really, ask Stephen Sondheim ...

Stephen Sondheim

At the close of his onstage conversation with Stephen Sondheim at
Sanders Theater on November 14, Frank Rich will include questions
submitted in advance by audience members and other Sondheim fans.

Please email your questions for Stephen Sondheim by Thursday, November 12 to:

asksondheim@gmail.com

Questions
will not be accepted after November 12. Questions may be presented in
edited form. There is no guarantee your question(s) will be selected.



During this live, unscripted conversation, Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Rich
will reminisce about Stephen Sondheim’s career including his
collaborations with Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins; his
predecessors, including his mentor Oscar Hammerstein II; the state of
American musical theater; and, in a very personal series of
reflections, his own creative process, speaking specifically on works
ranging from his early shows Gypsy and West Side Story to such later classics as Company, Follies and Sweeney Todd.

Note: Remaining tickets for this event are limited.

The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later

Page for the Boston production at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, October 12, 2009

Emerson College Laramie Project blog

Judy Shepard on Ellen