August Wilson`s ”The Piano Lesson,” which played Goodman Theatre early this year, has received the American Theatre Critics Association`s $1,000 prize for the best new American play originally produced in a theater outside New York City in the 1988-89 season.
The play, about a black family`s conflict over its troubled heritage, symbolized by an old piano handed down from generation to generation, originated in late 1988 at the Yale (University) Repertory Theatre and has since played several resident nonprofit theaters. This is the second such award given Wilson, who also won for his earlier drama, ”Fences.”
OPERA BOOM IN MINNESOTA
Despite a season peppered with avant-garde works, the Minnesota Opera has been hearing sweet sounds at the box office.
The company has finished its 1988-89 in the black:
– Season tickets sales were up from the previous year by 20 percent.
– The company reached a new box-office record selling 50,000 tickets for its summer musical, ”Oklahoma!”
– Contributions to the company`s annual campaign were up 20 percent, with contributions now totaling more than $1.3 million.
This despite (or because of?) three world premieres by its New Music Theater Ensemble.
”The 1988-89 season was a year of tremendous artistic and financial growth,” said Minnesota Opera general director Kevin Smith.
”The goal of the season was to continue the artistic development of the musical and vocal aspects of our productions, with special emphasis on improving the visual quality of our shows.
”We built seven of the season`s eight productions in our scenic and costume shops, which enabled us to realize dramatic growth in the total artistic quality of the season. Consistently favorable reviews and capacity audiences are a testament to this artistic success.”
MUSIC WORLD SALUTES ANDERSON
The details are in on the Marian Anderson Celebration to be held next month at the Charles Ives Center for the Performing Arts in Danbury, Conn.
Soprano Jessye Norman, violinist Isaac Stern and conductor Julius Rudel will appear with the Ives Symphony Orchestra on Aug. 12 in honor of contralto Anderson.
Norman will sing songs of Richard Strauss and a selection of spirituals;
Stern will play Mozart`s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Major; and Rudel will lead the orchestra in excerpts from Wagner`s ”Tannhauser” and
”Lohengrin.”
The event will honor Anderson, who`s universally credited with breaking the color barrier in American opera and recital.
Anderson is scheduled to attend the performance.
HAPPY 70TH TO CINCINNATI
Cincinnati Opera will celebrate its 70th anniversary next summer with the following lineup:
Verdi`s ”Aida” will open the season on June 21, with Carol Neblett as the title character and Ruben Dominguez as Radames.
Donizetti`s ”Lucia di Lammermoor” will be staged June 28 and 30, with Christine Weidinger as Lucia.
Mozart`s ”Don Giovanni” will play July 5-7, with Brian Schexnayder and Carolann Page.
The season closes with Guonod`s ”Faust,” on July 12 and 14, featuring Arthur Davies and Pamela South.
