Xanadu rolls across the country

Following a special engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse, the national tour of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical Xanadu officially kicks off tonight in Chicago before heading across the country...soon to a theater near you perhaps.

Playbill has some details here.

An Arts Czar for the U.S.?

The idea of a Cabinet-level official for the arts has gotten some buzz lately. A current petition is being circulated in support of the idea and has generated over 100,000 signatures to date. Many other countries have ministers of culture. High-profile artists such as Quincy Jones think it's necessary in the U.S., but not everyone agrees.

Listen to a story from NPR's Morning Edition or read about it in the Washington Post.

Blue Note 7 Mosaic on sale now

If you can't wait until January 24 and 25 (when you can check out the Blue Note 7 live in Samueli Theater), you can get the new release of Mosaic now.

The release commemorates the legendary record label's 70th anniversary. You can listen to sample tracks here.

Debuts at New York City Ballet show great promise

The new season at New York City Ballet is offering many opportunities for its dancers to debut new roles. These performances are, once again, demonstrating the tremendous talent that runs throughout this great ballet company. Read the review in the New York Times

Blue Note Records at 70 on National Public Radio

Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan discussed the history and legacy of the Blue Note Record label with record producer Michael Cuscuna, Blue Note CEO Bruce Lundvall and pianist Bill Charlap, who records for Blue Note. Charlap also heads the Blue Note 7 who make their way to Samueli Theater as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration.

Check out the story at NPR
Listen to "Idle Moments" from Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records

Learn more about the upcoming Center performances here

Cats Makeover - see it on KOCE-TV tonight

"Real Orange's" Maria Hall-Brown had reason to meow and purr on her visit to the Center today. She was transformed into one of the felines from the smash-hit muscial Cats, which plays here through Dec. 21. The make-up magic was done by castmember Eva Kosmowski who has been with the touring show for two years. Eva along with the rest of the cast put on their own make-up every night in addition to dancing, singing and acting - now that's talent! Be sure to check out the makeover and interview on KOCE-TV tonight at 6:30 p.m. (it replays at 8 a.m. on Thursday morming). To see Cats while it's in Orange County, click here .

Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion honored in Russia

Prima ballerina Diana Vishneva has been nominated for Russia’s prestigious Golden Mask Award as Best Ballerina for her performance in Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion, which was also nominated as Best Ballet Event of the Season. Beauty in Motion is a co-production of Orange County Performing Arts Center and Ardani Artists in association with the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg. Beauty in Motion received its world premiere at the Center in February before going to New York's City Center and the Stanislavsky Musical Theatre in Moscow. Beauty in Motion will be presented in March, 2009 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

The Golden Mask was founded in 1994 as the Russian National Theater Award to honor acclaimed productions in all genres of theatre art: drama, opera, ballet, operetta and musical. The Golden Mask celebration also includes an Festival featuring the most significant performances from all over Russia. (Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion will be featured in the 2009 Festival and Award Ceremony.) The culmination of the Golden Mask Festival is the Award Ceremony, which takes place on one of Moscow’s most famous stages and is broadcast by the national television channel.