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KINKY BOOTS Alum J. Harrison Ghee Stars In Heather Mae’s New Music Video

by | Jun 21, 2019 | New Musical News Feed

Today, Washington, DC-based alt-pop powerhouse Heather Mae unleashed ‘Be Not Afraid,’ a new single and video from her forthcoming LP GLIMMER. The video, a tribute to Pride Month, features J. Harrison Ghee, the star of Broadway musical Kinky Boots, along with other LGBTQ dancers and actors. ‘After our wedding, my wife and I came face to face with homophobia from someone close to us. I can’t explain that emotional pain,’ Mae explains of the song’s inspiration. ‘The thing that got us through was our accepting friends and family who looked at us and told us that our love is not wrong. ‘Be Not Afraid’ pays homage to the LGBTQ community and the struggles we have faced to be ourselves. LGBTQ love is so beautiful. That’s all I wanted to capture with this video,’ Mae says. ‘The beauty and bravery.’

New York City Opera Announces 75th Anniversary Season

by | Jun 21, 2019 | New Musical News Feed

New York City Opera’s 2019–2020 season will kick off September 9 at 6:30 PM with a 75th Anniversary concert in Bryant Park. The free evening, spotlighting past and present New York City Opera stars performing scenes and arias from the company’s productions, will also feature the New York City Opera orchestra and chorus.

In November New York City Opera will present a double bill at Harlem Stage: the American premiere of Juan Duran’s O Arame: A Galacian Opera and Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo, in its original 1915 version. Dates and performance schedule for this fifth installment of the Ópera en Español series will be announced at a later time.

On April 19, 2020, New York City Opera, in a co-production with Odyssey Opera, Boston, will present Anna Caterina Antonacci in a concert version of Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana. The soprano previously played the role in April 2018 in Madrid; the upcoming concert will feature an 80-piece orchestra.

Pietro Mascagni’s rarely heard Isabeau, a co-production with London’s Opera Holland Park, will follow, for two performances only May 29 and 31.

New York City Opera will close its season June 19 with the fourth installment in its Annual Pride Series, an ongoing commitment to produce operas that tell LGBTQ stories each June in commemoration of Pride Month. New York City Opera’s Pride Concert, to be curated by Tobias Picker, will star Patricia Racette along with LGBTQ members of the company and the New York City Opera orchestra and chorus.

Additional season details will be announced at a later date. Tickets to all season productions will go on sale in August.

New York City Opera is currently presenting the world premiere of Iain Bell’s Stonewall, with a libretto by Mark Campbell and direction by Leonard Foglia, through June 28.

Watch Scenes From New York City Opera’s Stonewall, Beginning Performances June 21

Go Inside Rehearsal for Stonewall at the New York City Opera

Watch Rachel Platten Perform Empowering Hit ‘Fight Song’ on Playbill’s Sing for Hope Piano

by | Jun 10, 2019 | New Musical News Feed

Playbill’s Pride-themed Sing for Hope piano returns this year for a month-long series of free concerts, taking place Thursdays throughout the month of June. Stationed just across the street from the Stonewall Inn in Christopher Park, visitors can stop by to make music of their own or catch some of the guest performers from Broadway and beyond.

READ: Join Playbill and Your Favorite Broadway Stars at Our Sing for Hope Piano Every Thursday in June

The series kicked off June 6 with the cast from Come From Away and will continue June 13 at 1 PM with Be More Chill and June 20 with The Cher Show at noon. Surprise performers will also be stopping by throughout the month.

Playbill’s Sing for Hope piano recently received a surprise visit from Emmy-winning singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, currently on tour with Pentatonix, who performed her empowering single “Fight Song.”

Watch a clip of the performance above.