Check out photos of Ars Nova’s in-the-round staging—directed by Lee Sunday Evans.

The world premiere of composer Heather Christian‘s Oratorio for Living Things officially opens at Ars Nova @ Greenwich House March 30 for a run through April 17. Previews for the Ars Nova commission began March 15.

Lee Sunday Evans will direct the work, a fusion of music and theatre, surrounding the audience with 18 singers and instrumentalists to perform Christian’s classical oratorio, infused with blues, gospel, jazz, and soul sounds. Check out photos of the in-the-round staging below. 

“Oratorio for Living Things takes Heather’s artistry to another level, and in this critical moment when our world is at odds, I suspect her manifesto for what it means to be alive will reach deep into people’s souls and remind us of our own humanity,” says Ars Nova Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan.

The ensemble cast includes Kirstyn Cae Ballard, Fraser A. Campbell, Sean Donovan, Carla Duren, Clérida Eltime, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Brian Flores, Odetta Hartman, Quentin Oliver Lee, Angel Lozada, Barrie Lobo McLain, Ben Moss, John Murchison, Onyie Nwachukwu, Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh, Dito van Reigersberg, and Peter Wise.

The creative team features music direction by Ben Moss, scenic design by Kristen Robinson, costume design by Márion Talán de la Rosa, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and sound design by Nick Kourtides. Greg Taubman serves as Latin consultant and translator. The production stage manager is Joseph Fernandez, Jr., assistant stage manager is Kelsey Vivian, and casting is by Henry Russell Bergstein.

Oratorio for Living Things is produced in association with Rosalind Productions Inc.

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See Inside Heather Christian’s Oratorio for Living Things at Ars Nova

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The new production of the Scottish Play is directed by Tony winner Sam Gold.

Broadway’s Macbeth begins previews for its limited engagement March 29 at the Longacre Theatre March 29. Starring Daniel Craig in the title role and Ruth Negga as Lady Macbeth, the production officially opens April 28.

Also featured in the Shakespearean tragedy about ambition and murder are Tony nominees Maria Dizzia and Amber Gray, Phillip James Brannon, Grantham Coleman, Asia Kate Dillon, Emeka Guindo, Paul Lazar, Bobbi MacKenzie, Michael Patrick Thornton, and Danny Wolohan. The ensemble includes Che Ayende, Eboni Flowers, and Peter Smith. Stevie Ray Dallimore will serve as standby for the title role.

Negga, Dillon, Guindo, Lazar, Smith, and Thornton are all making Broadway debuts under the direction of Tony winner Sam Gold. The production has also partnered to lower the financial barrier for students to see the Broadway show with the Macbeth 2022: Ticket Initiative.

READ: Daniel Craig Announces Macbeth’s Free Student Ticket Initiative

Joining Gold on the creative team are scenic designer Christine Jones, costume designer Suttirat Larlarb, lighting designer Jane Cox, sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman, composer Gaelynn Lea, special effects designer Jeremy Chernick, make-up, hair, and wig designer Tommy Kurzman, and violence director David S. Leong. Michael Sexton and Ayanna Thompson serve as dramaturgs and text consultants while Dawn-Elin Fraser serves as voice coach. Movement is by Sam Pinkleton and Kevin Bertolacci is production stage manager. 101 Productions, Ltd. is the general manager and casting is by David Caparelliotis.

Macbeth is produced by Barbara Broccoli, The Shubert Organization, Michael G. Wilson, and Fred Zollo, along with Christian Anderson, Keith Anderson, Brian Carmody, Patrick Milling-Smith, No Guarantees, Brian Anthony Moreland, Annapurna Theatre, Berdel Productions, Robert Boyett, Caledonia Productions, Empire Street Productions, Jeffrey Finn, John Gore Organization, Mini Cooper, James L. Nederlander, RDR Productions, Daryl Roth, and Orin Wolf, with Patrick Daly serving as executive producer.

For tickets and more information, visit MacbethBroadway.com.

Tony winner Jason Michael Webb directed the Drama League-nominated production of the Jason Robert Brown musical.

Out of the Box Theatrics and Holmdel Theatre Company’s production of Jason Robert Brown‘s The Last Five Years, which premiered in March 2021, enjoys an encore streaming March 28-April 10.

Featuring a book, music, and lyrics by three-time Tony winner Brown (Parade, The Bridges of Madison County), the two-hander stars Nasia Thomas (Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations) and Nicholas Edwards (Frozen).

The production was nominated for a 2021 Drama League Award for Outstanding Digital Theater.

The musical, about two New Yorkers who fall in and out of love over the course of five years, features Cathy telling her story backwards, while Jamie tells his story chronologically; the two characters only interact once—at their wedding—in the middle of the show.

The creative team included Tony winner Jason Michael Webb, who directed and musically directed the streaming production, with costume design by Siene Zoë Allen, production design by Adam Honoré, makeup by Tina Scariano, associate direction by Christina Franklin, and associate music direction by Cynthia Meng.

The stage manager was Egypt Dixon, the assistant stage manager was Joshua Christensen, the co-producer/film advisor was Joanna White-Oldham, the director of photography/videographer was Brian Bon, the assistant cameraperson was Milton Guanga, and the sound operator was Nicole Maupin. The stream also had sound editing by Carin M. Ford with video editing by Dimly Wit Productions. The producing consultant was Blair Russell (Slave Play).

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The orchestra featured Cynthia Meng (keyboard), Sterling Elliott (cello), Orlando Wells (violin), Jonathan Linden (guitar), Chelton Grey (bass), and Brandon Brooks (drums).

For streaming options, click here.