It’s hard to believe that it was over six years ago that I and some ex-TV-Squaders started CliqueClack. We had some pretty high hopes at the time, that we could go out on our own and show AOL what it really meant to be writer-fans of television. It was an incredibly ambitious goal that we never came close to, but we quickly learned that that didn’t matter to us. What did matter was that we had an outlet to write what we wanted, when we wanted, for people who continued to engage in discussion with us.

It’s pained me all these years to never have earned enough with ads and Amazon referrals to pay our writers regularly. We’ve certainly lost some great folks because of it, and I don’t blame them at all. Some have gone on to continue writing for paying gigs, full-time, and that’s been awesome. With the declining frequency of posts comes declining traffic, which results in declining ad revenue … you get the picture. Maybe that’s a bit TMI, but I thought being up-front about where we were at was something I owed you.

This will likely be the final post here at CliqueClack, but there is a silver lining.

For quite some time now, Chuck Duncan and Ivey West had been heading up editing duties for the site. Chuck, I know, very much wants to continue writing. I didn’t want to simply hand over CliqueClack to someone else, though, partly because I’m just not ready to give it away and, primarily, I thought it made more sense to let Chuck have something that was truly his own. That’s just what he’s done.

Friday, April 3, Chuck launches his own site, Hotchka.com, to continue where CliqueClack left off. You’ll see some new and familiar faces there, writing about movies, TV, pop culture, and anything else Chuck might want to throw into the mix. He and his partner, Carl, have already done a fantastic job putting the site together, and I think you’re really going to dig it.

• Check out the site at www.hotchka.com.
• Follow them on Twitter @hotchka
• Facebook
• Google+
• Tumblr
• YouTube

As for CliqueClack, my plan is to keep all of our 11,000+ posts around for as long as I’m possibly able, even if they are thrown in straight HTML and image files in a searchable archive somewhere. I think it’s criminal when sites decide to completely wipe away all traces of past content when they shutter, and dammit I’m going to do my best to make sure that never happens here.

Thank you so much to the writers and, of course, to all of you readers who’ve stuck with us all these years.

“All That Jazz.” “Cell Block Tango.” “When You’re Good to Mama.” “Mr. Cellophane.” “Razzle Dazzle.” If you’re a fan of Broadway musicals — or movie musicals — you know that those songs all came from the Broadway hit Chicago. Chicago first hit Broadway in 1975 under the guidance of the incomparable Bob Fosse. The show ran for 936 performances and was revived in 1996 and is still playing today. That makes it the longest running Broadway revival in Broadway history, and the second longest running Broadway musical behind Phantom of the Opera.

The Broadway show has been sustained by the familiarity of the music and the dancing, and has had a revolving door of big name stars taking on the roles of Roxy Hart, Velma Kelly and Billy Flynn. Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles is currently treading the boards on Broadway, while a new tour is crossing the country with John O’Hurley taking on the role of Billy Flynn in select cities (luckily, Baltimore was one of them). But if you’ve already seen the Oscar-winning movie, is it worth the time to see the show live on stage? In a word … yes!

If you’re not familiar with the story, Chicago takes place in the 1920s during the Jazz Age at a time when the public was fascinated by crimes committed by women. We first meet Velma Kelly (Terra MacLeod), who opens the show with “All That Jazz.” She’s become a manufactured celebrity with hopes of hitting the vaudeville circuit after lawyer Billy Flynn manipulates a jury into finding her not guilty. But another wannabe star enters the prison, Roxy Hart (Bianca Marroquin), and takes the spotlight off of Velma thanks to Billy. But how long will Roxy’s star shine before the next big crime makes headlines?

If you’ve seen the movie version of Chicago, the stage version is a completely different animal. The movie had sets, costumes, and set most of the musical numbers as fantasy sequences in the mind of Roxy. The stage show is a bit more abstract. The only set is a large, three-tiered bandstand with the orchestra on stage (the conductor even has interaction with the cast and dialog of his own). Everyone else is dressed in black (or a tux in the case of Billy) and never change costumes even when they’re playing various characters. I know some people are turned off by shows that don’t have flashy sets and costumes, but Chicago is about the music and the dance.

And on that front, the cast (and the orchestra) delivers in spades. Both MacLeod and Marroquin have powerful voices, but while MacLeod’s Velma is the more seasoned and mature of the two, Marroquin gets to have a lot of fun with the younger Roxy, particularly with her mugging and making funny noises when she’s getting bored with all of the legal drama around her. One of the show’s stand-out numbers is “We Both Reached For the Gun” as Billy plays Roxy’s puppet master, literally, in front of the press. Both women also handle the Fosse-inspired choreography with panache.

O’Hurley is perfectly cast as Billy Flynn, using that persona he’s honed so well over the years, the self-important, over-blown ego on full display. He doesn’t have to do much dancing, but he’s got a very nice, powerful voice to make up for that. Another member of the touring cast has a notable claim to fame: Roz Ryan has played Matron “Mama” Morton on stage, Broadway and touring, longer than any other actor. She clearly relishes the role and while she doesn’t dance, she has the voice and stage presence to make you forget all about that. While all the numbers are outstanding, there is one major showstopper in Act 2 when Jacob Keith Watson, as Roxy’s husband Amos, takes the spotlight to sing “Mr. Cellophane.” The song is about how no one ever takes notice of Amos, even when they’re standing right next to him, but Watson brings such emotion to the number with his amazing singing voice (which really isn’t heard until this point) that you can’t help but take notice.

Overall, even if the show feels a bit uneven with very little dialog to drive the plot in Act 1 (which feels almost like a cabaret presentation of the music of Chicago), the cast’s singing and dancing, the more than outstanding support from the dance company (who are all impossibly sexy in their curve-hugging costumes), and the beautiful, familiar music provided by the orchestra makes a trip to Chicago well worth your time. Chicago is currently in Baltimore at the Hippodrome Theatre through March 8, with stops in Ontario, Virgina, New York, Texas, Arizona, Kansas and California to come. You can find out more information about the tour by clicking the banner below.

Now this is a Broadway musical in every sense of the word. And who would have ever thought that Disney’s flop musical movie from 1992 — starring an 18-year-old Christian Bale in only his fourth theatrical film — would have developed such a cult following that the studio saw enough potential in it to bring it to the stage? Adding music by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, who wrote six new songs for the show while keeping several from the movie, and a book by Harvey Fierstein helped shape the film into the stage extravaganza that has wowed audiences since its Broadway debut (the show was intended to run for only 101 performances, but demand kept it going for 1005).

The story of Newsies is based on an actual event: the “Newsboy Strike of 1899″ which saw a band of orphans and runaway newsies (the kids who sold newspapers on the streets for the major publishers) go on a two week strike against publishing giants Pulitzer, Hearst and others in New York City. The show tells the story of the fictional Jack Kelly, the leader of the ragtag group of newsies, who dreams of a better life in Santa Fe. When Joseph Pulitzer raised the distribution prices on the newsboys in order to sell more papers, Jack rallies the newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right … even when romance, double-crosses and a sweet deal get in the way.

The moment the orchestra hits its first note, you know this is what a big Broadway musical is all about, and when the massive cast of “newsies” takes to the stage and raises their voices together in perfect harmony, it is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. Add to that the acrobatic choreography by Christopher Gattelli and you have something magical taking place before your eyes.

And the cast is massive, led by Dan DeLuca as Jack. DeLuca can put on a tough exterior when dealing with the newspaper people, but he shows us his heart too when he’s trying to look out for his boys. He has a real soft spot for Crutchie (Zachary Sayle), and you believe their brotherly relationship. DeLuca also has a wonderfully unique voice full of emotion and power, depending on the situation. Sayle, whose character sadly disappears for much of the second act, is the show’s bit of comic relief as he has to navigate the stage dragging his leg and hobbling with a crutch (hence his name). But when he’s attacked, we also feel for him because he can’t defend himself. That’s the proof of a good performance.

But it’s not all men on stage all the time. Stephanie Styles, as a girl reporter who butts heads with Jack and then begins to fall for him, has the perfect pluckiness for the part and a powerful voice as well. Angela Grovey, as cabaret owner Medda Larkin, pretty much steals any scene she’s in (unfortunately, not many) and her one musical number, “That’s Rich,” is a showstopper. Steve Blanchard also stands out as Pulitzer with his deep, powerful voice whether speaking or singing.

Towering over everyone is a wondrous set consisting of three 24-feet towers with three levels that are fully automated and can move 14 feet up and down the stage, rotate 350 degrees and reconfigure to create tenement fire escapes, a theatre’s backstage, the Brooklyn Bridge and the basement of Pulitzer’s building. The towers also have screens which raise and lower for the lighting and special projections that help set the scenes. The 33 cast members run up and down the stairs to perform on any and all of the three levels throughout the show, making this one of the most physical productions I’ve ever seen. It really is a wonder they’re all not exhausted by the end of the first act.

If you like your Broadway musicals big and flashy, then Newsies is the show for you. Great story, great performances, great singing and dancing, great production all around, this is the show to see when it comes to your town. Newsies is at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre through Sunday, December 7 (it will be in Washington, D.C. June 9-21) and will hit major cities across the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas and more (alas, not Santa Fe). To get more details about the show and ticket information, click on the banner below.

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CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events to offer readers in Los Angeles and Washington, DC an opportunity to attend a special presentation of Billy Elliot: The Musical: Live from the West End.

Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy Elliot is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever.

This unique cinema event will feature the return of Liam Mower, the first boy ever to play the role of Billy on stage, in the role of Older Billy. PLUS, as a special treat, 25 past and present Billy actors will reunite for a very special mash-up finale!

A very limited number of passes are available for the following presentations:

• Saturday, November 15, 12:55 PM, Citywalk Stadium 19, Universal City, CA
• Saturday, November 15, 12:55 PM, Regal Cinema Ballston, Arlington, VA ALL TICKETS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED
• Tuesday, November 18, 7:00 PM, Regal Cinema Ballston, Arlington, VA ALL TICKETS HAVE BEEN CLAIMED

Tickets are for regular paid screenings. Seats are guaranteed for these events. Additional tickets may be purchased by clicking on the poster.

To be eligible for the free tickets, please read and follow the directions CAREFULLY. There will be no exceptions.

• Comment on this post ONLY either CITYWALK, REGAL SATURDAY or REGAL TUESDAY. Please do not include any other information in the comment box. If you make a mistake, do not edit your comment because it will not register. You must submit a new comment.
• Include your FULL NAME (First and Last) and email address on the entry form (NOT in the comment box!). Double check your email address before submitting. If your email address is misspelled, we will not be able to contact you.
• ONE entry per person or couple will be accepted. Each winner will be contacted by email with further instructions. Tickets will be mailed directly to the winners.
• CliqueClack has the right to discard any duplicates or comments that appear to be duplicates. Multiple comments from a single person will result in complete disqualification. As this is not a random drawing, only one person per couple needs to comment. Keep these offers fair for everyone!
• Check your calendar before commenting. If you have no intention of using the passes, please don’t leave a comment. Please be considerate!

Deadline to submit comments for Los Angeles is 6:00 PM (Pacific), Saturday, November 8. Deadline for DC area is Noon (Eastern), Sunday, November 9.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsQFjHmrR5Y

Step back in time to 1950-something, to the beginning of the Golden Age of Television, step into the theater which is now a TV studio, specifically Desilu Studios and enjoy the “filming” of two episodes of the classic TV comedy I Love Lucy.

If you’re a fan of Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel, then you’ll want to make sure to snap up some tickets to the hit touring production I Love Lucy Live On Stage, now in its “second season.” This production is currently at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre through October 26. What can audiences expect from something that’s probably so familiar to so many? A really fun evening!

The show transports the audience back in time to Desilu Studios where two episode of I Love Lucy will be filmed back-to-back. While we’re watching the show, we’re actually participants as well, clapping when the Applause sign lights up, enjoying commercial breaks and all the busy-ness that goes on between set-ups, and even a “flubbed” line which has to be “re-shot.” It’s not as technical as a real TV shoot, but it is entertaining enough to make you feel like you’re really there with the cast and crew.

In addition to being a part of the “live studio audience,” a cast member or two may wander through the audience chatting up other real audience members before the show starts (Birdie Mae Figg from Oklahoma introduced herself to me as she was looking for her seat), and between episodes there is a trivia game with one audience member and Birdie Mae which adds to the fun.

While the commercials and behind-the-scenes moments are entertaining, the reason for the show is the re-enactment of the two episodes, “The Benefit” and “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined.” In the first, Ethel wants Ricky to perform at her ladies’ club show but Lucy wants to be in the act as well. In the second, Ricky brings a Broadway producer home for dinner and Lucy and the Mertzes want to audition for him. He agrees, but the next day Lucy has an eye exam which renders her nearly blind, and hilarity ensues as she can barely see her jitterbug partner.

These episodes probably aren’t the most well-known in the I Love Lucy canon, but they are certainly the easiest to reproduce on a stage with only the Ricardos’ living room and Ricky’s nightclub needed as sets, and a healthy dose of music and dancing. As a die-hard fan, I can’t say that the Tropicana is accurate to the show, but it does the job. The apartment living room is very well reproduced from the show, right down to the figurines on the mantle but there is one glaring error – “The Benefit” is from season one when the apartment did not have a window while “Lucy Has Her Eyes Examined” is from season three when there was a window. This set has the window, but curiously enough, the first touring production used the first season apartment. It doesn’t detract from the show in any way, but for hardcore fans it does nag at you a bit.

On the plus side, the ensemble cast is amazing, taking on various parts from crooners to commercial jingle singers and actors, right down to Speedy Alka Seltzer, and “Dinah Beach” singing the Chevrolet song. Kevin Remington and Lori Hammel play Fred and Ethel, and while they get to sing and dance a bit, I really would have liked to have seen more of that interaction they had on TV with Lucy and Ricky. Euriamis Losada is excellent as Ricky. He’s got the voice, the accent, and all the mannerisms down pat. He may not look exactly like Desi Arnaz, but if you squint a little and just listen to him speak or sing, you’d swear Desi was on stage (and the audience loved when he finally told Lucy she had some ‘splainin’ to do).

Of course, besides Ricky the toughest act to pull off is Lucy. With her distinctive voice and showgirl beauty (Lucy came to Hollywood as a Goldwyn Girl), it’s almost impossible for anyone to do a good Lucy Ricardo without becoming a caricature (Lucy impersonator Diane Vincent is one of the best). So you have to give it to Thea Brooks for even attempting to take on such an iconic role. She doesn’t sound like Lucy, but she does the character very well indeed, right down to the over-the-top crying, off-key singing, and her signature “spider voice” that she used when one of her hair-brained plans went off the rails. Brooks is pretty terrific in a daunting role, even more impressive as this is her first lead role in her second touring production.

Overall, the sets, costumes and lighting design are marvelous, the interaction with the audience makes this more than just a night out at the theatre, and the cast work their magic as they transport you back in time to see a classic TV show brought back to life before your very eyes. I Love Lucy Live On Stage should be a must-see for any Lucy fan, or for anyone who just wants to escape today’s worries and woes for a couple of hours.

I Love Lucy Live On Stage heads to San Francisco from Baltimore, and will visit many cities across the country including Colorado Springs, Chicago, Madison, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids, Hershey, Providence, Worcester, Macon, Jacksonville, Clearwater, St. Louis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Orlando and many more. Click on the banner for tickets and more information.

THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED. COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.

Just in time for Halloween, Re-Animator­™ The Musical has been … re-animated for a limited Hollywood run from October 17 – November 2 at The Steve Allen Theatre. But two lucky CliqueClack readers can win a pair of tickets to one of two preview performances on October 10 or October 11!

Re-Animator­™ The Musical is based on the cult horror film Re-Animator and tells the story of Herbert West, a brilliant young medical student who has created a glowing green serum that can bring the dead back to life. What should be a medical breakthrough results in hideous monstrosities and ghastly consequences. “I guess he just wasn’t fresh enough,” is West’s constant refrain in his quest for fresh subjects. Graham Skipper, who won a Best New Performer Award at the New York Musical Theater Festival for his crowd-pleasing turn, returns as the demented young genius. And operatic Jesse Merlin is back as Dr. Carl Hill, who loses his head for Meg, the dean’s beautiful daughter, only to actually lose it at the hands of Herbert West. But thanks to the glowing re-agent, Dr. Hill is still able to take his curtain call with his head tucked underneath his arm.

To be eligible for the random drawing, please read and follow the instructions below.

• Comment on this post with your choice of date: OCTOBER 10 or OCTOBER 11
• Enter your full name and correct email address into the appropriate spaces, not in the comment box! Full name (first and last) is required.

Entry period will run until Thursday, October 9. One winner will be selected for each night and notified by email, and tickets will be available at Will Call at The Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA.

If you don’t win, tickets will be available for both preview performances and the four-week run from Trepany House.

Have a look at the trailer below, and then tell us which night you’d like to see the show. Good luck!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_w21ET0GlM

In 2006, a small Irish movie made some big waves, becoming a sleeper hit and earning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. That movie was Once, the tale of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant who meet, discover a common ground with music and begin writing songs together that express their growing relationship. While the plot may have been a bit thin, the movie succeeded on the back of the music by film’s stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, including the Oscar winning “Falling Slowly.”

The film seemed an unlikely choice to be transformed into a Broadway musical, but writer Enda Walsh and director John Carney (who also directed the film) found something magical about the music and created a show that went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Now Once is touring the North America and has made its second stop (of thirty-three engagements) at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre.

Unnamed Guy (Stuart Ward) is a struggling musician who fixes vacuum cleaners in his dad’s shop while pining away for the girl who got away … far away to New York, leaving Guy ready to ditch his music because it all reminds him of her. A chance encounter with Girl (Dani de Waal), a Czech immigrant with a young child and marital issues, ignites the musical spark in Guy once again as they become collaborators with the dream of producing a CD. Girl keeps pushing Guy to take off for New York to find his lost love, but Guy’s feelings for Girl are deepening, causing complications for them both.

I didn’t know what to expect from the show – not having seen the movie – and the TV commercials made it seem like a melancholy love story, but I was pleasantly surprised by how funny the show really is. In fact, the audience is a part of the show upon entering the theatre as members are welcomed on stage to mingle with the cast, have a drink from the on stage bar, and enjoy a few musical numbers before the actual show begins. You actually feel like you’re a part of the story by the time the lights dim and the actual story gets started.

The show works around a single set that become many different locations through the movement of the cast, various props and lighting. One minute it’s a music shop, the next it’s Guy’s bedroom and then a recording studio. The production is brilliantly designed to move from place to place as smoothly and quickly as possible without ever actually moving anything more than a few chairs or tables.

Contributing to the show’s many charms is the company of actor/musicians who rarely leave the stage, usually lined up and seated on either side of the stage when they’re not part of a scene, but also contributing to the music when needed. Each of them also has a specific character as well, so they all get a pretty good workout with acting, dancing and playing an instrument (in some cases, several different instruments).

But the stars of the show are Ward and de Waal. Ward is perfectly angsty and angry as the show begins but he never goes into a caricature. He is a real person with real feelings and frustrations over his situation. He also has a magnificently raw and powerful voice that can deliver the sweetest melodies and powerful, aggressive vocals sometimes in the same song. He gives Guy a lot of heart and we as an audience want to see him succeed. De Waal is absolutely charming with her Czech accent and dry humor (“I’m always serious. I’m Czech.”). Her Girl is almost like an angel sent to give Guy the kick in the butt he needs, and even without saying as much, we can tell she’s falling in love with him as he is with her. De Waal has a solo late in the second act that will just make your heart ache as she privately expresses her feelings in song. It’s a remarkable performance all around.

I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to not fall in love with Guy and Girl by the end of the show. The music is terrific, the performances are magnetic, and the production just draws you in to this world of love and music. The story uses the film’s framework as a starting point, but giving Guy the lost love as the impetus to create his music is a bit stronger for storytelling than the movie’s Guy who just doesn’t have the confidence to perform his songs. Overall, Once is just a lovely show to savor if it comes to a venue near you.

Once runs through September 14 in Baltimore, then heads across the country with stops in Nashville, Charlotte, Madison, Memphis, Cincinnati, Dallas, Tulsa, Detroit, Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Tucson, Sacramento and more, concluding at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in July 2015. Visit the show’s official website for more details.

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This offer is closed. Please follow CliqueClack on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Tumblr for contest alerts, reviews and breaking news.

CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events and Picturehouse Entertainment to give readers in the Los Angeles, CA and Germantown, MD areas an opportunity to win free tickets to the theatrical screening of Month Python Live (mostly) on Sunday, July 20th. Tickets will also be available for the rebroadcast screenings on July 23 and 24 for the Germantown screening only.

For the first time in over three decades, comedy legends Monty Python will be performing live on stage together at London’s famed O2 Arena. At a combined age of just 361, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin will once again perform some of their greatest hits, with modern, topical, Python-esque twists.

Monty Python are rightfully regarded as among the world’s finest-ever comedians. They influenced a generation and revolutionized comedy. Their eagerly awaited reunion promises to be among the biggest live events of 2014. Unless you are one of the lucky few with tickets, Fathom will provide the ONLY, and likely last, chance for Monty Python fans to see the group perform together live.

A very limited number of passes are available for each screening on a first come, first served basis. The screenings will take place at the following locations:

• Galleria at Tyler 16, 3775 Tyler Avenue, Riverside, CA
• Regal Cinemas Germantown Stadium 14, 20000 Century Blvd, Germantown, MD

To be eligible for passes, you must comment on this post with the following (copy and paste for best results)

• RIVERSIDE, JULY 20 ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED FOR THIS SCREENING
• GERMANTOWN, JULY 20
• GERMANTOWN, JULY 23 ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED FOR THIS SCREENING
• GERMANTOWN, JULY 24 ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED FOR THIS SCREENING

You must include your full name and email address in the appropriate spaces (not in the comment box). We will accept a request for ONE PAIR of passes! You will be contacted by email to provide your complete mailing address so that the tickets can be sent directly to you. This offer will be good until Saturday, July 12.

This is a limited offer so don’t dilly-dally! Comment today!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBcYuwlWFRM

CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events to offer readers in the Maryland/DC area an opportunity to attend special encore screenings of The Met: Live in HD. The Metropolitan Opera and Fathom events will once again present Summer HD Encores, a series of choice encore performances from the groundbreaking Live in HD series. Patrons will have the chance to see these shows in a theatre that will bring it to life in a very unique setting.

We have five pairs of passes available for each screening which take place on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, June 25th – July 16th. Screenings will be held at the Regal Cinemas Bowie Stadium 14, 15200 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD. To get your free pair of passes, you must comment below with the name of the performance you wish to see. A description of each performance is listed below.

La Rondine — Wednesday, June 25th, 2014
Program Length: 2 hours
Puccini’s achingly beautiful score charmingly conveys the plight of Magda (the “swallow” of the title), who unexpectedly finds true love with the handsome young Ruggero. But their idyllic life comes to a premature end as she is haunted by the fear that her checkered past will ruin his future. Opera stars Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna portray Puccini’s star-crossed lovers. Nicholas Joël’s production features elegant and sophisticated art-deco sets that contribute to the dazzling stage picture.

Otello — Wednesday, July 9th, 2014
Program Length: 2 hours 50 min
In Verdi’s retelling of Shakespeare’s towering tragedy, Renée Fleming gives a captivating performance as the innocent Desdemona, a role long considered one of her calling cards. As the title hero, Johan Botha, delivers an imposing portrayal of a proud warrior brought down by jealousy, and Falk Struckmann is thrilling as the villainous Iago.

The Enchanted Island — Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
Program Length: 3 hours 15 min
A contemporary take on the 18th-century genre of the pastiche, this delightful Baroque fantasy brings together some of the greatest arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell, and other composers, with a new English libretto by Jeremy Sams, inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The all-star cast is headed by David Daniels as Prospero, Joyce DiDonato as Sycorax, Danielle de Niese as Ariel, Luca Pisaroni as Caliban, and the legendary Plácido Domingo as Neptune. William Christie conducts this dazzling world-premiere production.

Please include your full name and email address on the submission form. Winners will be notified by email with further instructions. Don’t delay, comment today!

CliqueClack has partnered with Fathom Events to offer readers in Los Angeles an opportunity to attend special encore screenings of The Met: Live in HD. The Metropolitan Opera and Fathom events will once again present Summer HD Encores, a series of choice encore performances from the groundbreaking Live in HD series. Patrons will have the chance to see these shows in a theatre that will bring it to life in a very unique setting.

We have five pairs of passes available for each screening which take place on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM, June 18th – July 16th. Screenings will be held at the Promenade 16 with IMAX, 21801 Oxnard St, Woodland Hills, CA. To get your free pair of passes, you must comment below with the name of the performance you wish to see. A description of each performance is listed below.

Rigoletto — Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
Program Length: 2 hours 30 min
Michael Mayer’s acclaimed production, the talk of the opera world when it premiered in 2013, sets the action of Verdi’s masterpiece in 1960 Las Vegas — a neon-lit world ruled by money and ruthless, powerful men. In this bold new vision, Piotr Beczala is the Duke, a popular entertainer and casino owner. Željko Lučić sings Rigoletto, a comedian and the Duke’s sidekick, and Diana Damrau is Rigoletto’s innocent daughter, Gilda. When she is seduced by the Duke, Rigoletto sets out on a tragic course of murderous revenge.

La Rondine — Wednesday, June 25th, 2014
Program Length: 2 hours
Puccini’s achingly beautiful score charmingly conveys the plight of Magda (the “swallow” of the title), who unexpectedly finds true love with the handsome young Ruggero. But their idyllic life comes to a premature end as she is haunted by the fear that her checkered past will ruin his future. Opera stars Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna portray Puccini’s star-crossed lovers. Nicholas Joël’s production features elegant and sophisticated art-deco sets that contribute to the dazzling stage picture.

Otello — Wednesday, July 9th, 2014
Program Length: 2 hours 50 min
In Verdi’s retelling of Shakespeare’s towering tragedy, Renée Fleming gives a captivating performance as the innocent Desdemona, a role long considered one of her calling cards. As the title hero, Johan Botha, delivers an imposing portrayal of a proud warrior brought down by jealousy, and Falk Struckmann is thrilling as the villainous Iago.

The Enchanted Island — Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
Program Length: 3 hours 15 min
A contemporary take on the 18th-century genre of the pastiche, this delightful Baroque fantasy brings together some of the greatest arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell, and other composers, with a new English libretto by Jeremy Sams, inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The all-star cast is headed by David Daniels as Prospero, Joyce DiDonato as Sycorax, Danielle de Niese as Ariel, Luca Pisaroni as Caliban, and the legendary Plácido Domingo as Neptune. William Christie conducts this dazzling world-premiere production.

Please include your full name and email address on the submission form. Winners will be notified by email with further instructions. Have a look at the trailer below, and tell us which performance you’d like to see!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaHArRASguY