http://www.voanews.com Voice of America is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.voanews.com/img/voa/rssLogo_VOA.gif http://www.voanews.com en-US 2012 - VOA 60 Fri, 24 May 2013 11:57:47 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA The Phantom of the Opera recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, making it the longest-running Broadway musical ever.  Hugh Panaro, who plays the phantom, has a unique perspective. His first stint with the show was 22 years ago, when he played the young lover Raoul. Over the years, Panaro left the show to do other roles, but has returned several times, portraying the phantom in more than 1,700 performances.  Part of what keeps things fresh for him is playing opposite different ... http://www.voanews.com/content/longrunning-broadway-shows-keep-it-fresh/1636998.html http://www.voanews.com/content/longrunning-broadway-shows-keep-it-fresh/1636998.html Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:22:52 -0400 Arts & Entertainment Jeff Lunden http://www.voanews.com/content/longrunning-broadway-shows-keep-it-fresh/1636998.html#relatedInfoContainer Tom Hanks makes his Broadway debut in Lucky Guy, the final play written by the late Nora Ephron. Ephron was best known for movies she wrote and directed, like When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail. She died of cancer in January. Her final work opened on Broadway April 1. Several years ago, when Ephron handed Hanks an early draft of her play about tabloid journalist Mike McAlary, he had a pretty strong reaction. "I said 'Well, that guy’s sure a jerk.' And she laughed ... http://www.voanews.com/content/ephrons-final-play-pays-tribute-to-journalism/1635518.html http://www.voanews.com/content/ephrons-final-play-pays-tribute-to-journalism/1635518.html Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:07:55 -0400 Arts & Entertainment Jeff Lunden http://www.voanews.com/content/ephrons-final-play-pays-tribute-to-journalism/1635518.html#relatedInfoContainer LENOX, Massachusetts — For over 50 years, John Williams' music has taken us to galaxies far, far away with the "Star Wars" theme, or on rollicking adventures around the world with the Indiana Jones movies.            His scores make us feel giddy with joy and occasionally scare us to death as with the music from "Jaws," which foreshadowed the impending appearance of the giant man-eating shark. Starting ... http://www.voanews.com/content/writer-of-americas-soundtrack-turns-80/1493757.html http://www.voanews.com/content/writer-of-americas-soundtrack-turns-80/1493757.html Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:19:51 -0400 Arts & Entertainment Jeff Lunden http://www.voanews.com/content/writer-of-americas-soundtrack-turns-80/1493757.html#relatedInfoContainer NEW YORK CITY — The Delacorte Theater, an outdoor venue in New York's Central Park which is home to the beloved summer tradition, "Shakespeare in the Park," is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In June, actors Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline led an all-star cast in a staged reading of "Romeo and Juliet." When Kevin Kline was still a student at the Juilliard School for aspiring actors and musicians, he made his professional debut at the Delacorte Theater. "My ... http://www.voanews.com/content/free-nyc-outdoor-theater-celebrates-50-years/1441854.html http://www.voanews.com/content/free-nyc-outdoor-theater-celebrates-50-years/1441854.html Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:48:51 -0400 Arts & Entertainment Jeff Lunden LENOX, Massachusetts — Open-air classical music concerts are now a summer tradition in the United States. However, that wasn't the case 75 years ago, when the Boston Symphony first performed on a former estate called Tanglewood in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts. Since then, Tanglewood has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony. When Serge Koussevitzy, the Russian-born conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, opened Tanglewood in 1937, he chose an all-Beethoven ... http://www.voanews.com/content/boston-symphony-makes-music-in-the-mountains/1419005.html http://www.voanews.com/content/boston-symphony-makes-music-in-the-mountains/1419005.html Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:30:36 -0400 Arts & Entertainment Jeff Lunden