THEATER

It’s still hard to believe for fans of musical theater, but Broadway icon and legend Stephen Sondheim passed away over the weekend at the age of 91.

DETROIT – When one thinks of the opera, images of a parking garage are unlikely to come to mind, but some unexpected creativity during the pandemic allowed people to experience the opera from their vehicle. This proves it: When you can’t pack people into a theater, you find another way to perform. Michigan Opera Theatre opened its season in late December this way. Each act performed on a different level of the opera house garage. Watch nextREAD: Michigan Opera Theatre names Yuval Sharon new artistic director

ROANOKE, Va. – The show must go on at Mill Mountain Theatre with some adjustments due to the COVID-19. After cancelling this year’s performances in September due to the pandemic, Mill Mountain Theatre will return in the new year with some new shows. The 345-seat theater will be marked with signs limiting the available seating to only 40 percent. But with that said, all of these decisions for these particular shows in 2021 are very strategic,” said Ginger Poole, the producing artistic director at Mill Mountain Theatre. In-person events will start late summer, but virtual performances will continue.

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2012 file photo, actor Ian Holm appears at the premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" in London. Holm, the acclaimed British actor whose long career included roles in Chariots of Fire and The Lord of the Rings has died, his agent said Friday. Holm died peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by his family and carer, his agent, Alex Irwin, said in a statement. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP, File)LONDON Ian Holm, an acclaimed British actor whose long career included roles in Chariots of Fire and The Lord of the Rings has died. Holm died peacefully Friday morning in a hospital, surrounded by his family and carer, his agent, Alex Irwin, said in a statement.

Lizzo performs "Truth Hurts" at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 23, 2019. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)Taylor Swift performing at the American Music Awards, the fabulous reaction Phoebe Waller-Bridge gave when winning a trophy at the Emmy Awards and the time Spike Lee gleefully jumped into the arms of Samuel L. Jackson at the Oscars are among the top entertainment moments of 2019. The list includes the emotional moments when Ali Stroker won a Tony Award and when Kane Brown broke down as he accepted the Artist of the Year Award at the CMT Awards. Other images that made an impression include Jennifer Lopez strutting down a runway in Milan, Elle Fanning posing at the Cannes film festival and a dynamic shot of Maggie Rogers performing at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival . Other musicians who were captured include Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, the Jonas Brothers, Kacey Musgraves and Lizzo.