new york – The 700-seat amphitheater at Little Island, a Manhattan park built above the Hudson River on a series of tulip-shaped concrete columns, opens June 6 and features the choreographer's first full-length work, Twyla. Tharp's “How Long Blues'' will be performed. 10 years.
Countertenor Anthony Ross Costanzo will sing all the principal roles in the 90-minute remix of Mozart's “The Marriage of Figaro,'' which will run from August 30th to September 22nd. This work is part of a summer schedule that includes: There have been 9 world premieres.
Zach Winokur, a 35-year-old director, choreographer and dancer, was announced Monday as producing artistic director. The announcement was made by media executive Barry Diller. He was the driving force behind the park, along with designer Diane von Furstenberg, and provided most of the funding for its construction.
The 2.4-acre (0.97-hectare) park will open in West Chelsea in 2021, and the amphitheater will be the third new large-scale performance space to open in Manhattan in five years. The Shed began in April 2019 at Hudson Yards on the Far West Side, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center began showing at the World Trade Center grounds downtown last September.
“We're all happily moving in different directions,” Winokur said of the new venue. “You shouldn't do what everyone else is doing.”
The maximum ticket price is $25. The second space, his 200-seat venue called The Glade, hosts free programs Wednesday through Sunday in July and August, featuring a different curator each week. These include Susan-Lori Parks, Cecile McLorin Salvan, and Justin Vivian Bond.
“On any given night in July and August, you can stumble across this gorgeous park, an iconic architectural swimming island with a botanical garden, enjoy beer and food while watching a sublime sunset. You can watch a free show at The Glade,'' Winokur said.
There is no rain date and it is not yet clear how long the start time can be postponed until the bad weather improves.
“How Long Blues,” a collaboration between Tharp, T Bone Burnett and David Mansfield, will be in previews starting June 1st.
Costanzo, who took over as CEO of Opera Philadelphia last month, will take on “Figaro'' with a new arrangement by Dan Schlossberg and costume design by Emily Bode, directed by Dustin Wills.
Winochle will direct “Robson,'' which stars bass-baritone Davaughn Tynes and arranges the music of Paul Robeson, telling the story of his life, with music by John Bitoy and Carly Lucas.
Directed by Henry Hawke, Open Throat is a mostly spoken word film with shadow puppetry, based on a novella about a strange mountain lion that lives under the Hollywood sign.
“Mama” was written and produced by Britton Smith and his funk liberation band, The Sting, and choreographed by Ebony Williams.
The “Day for Night” dance, choreographed by Pam Tanowitz, takes place around sunset.
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