NYC-ARTS Goes Behind the Scenes of the Metropolitan Opera's Production of THE MERRY WIDO Tonight

The next edition of NYC-ARTS, THIRTEEN's weekly arts and culture multi-platform showcase for the tri-state area, will feature a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Franz Lehar's operetta The Merry Widow. Staged by five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman, in her Metropolitan Opera debut, the segment will air tonight, December 18 at 8 p.m. on THIRTEEN, and will be available for streaming on NYC-ARTS.org.

This new production of The Merry Widow, starring celebrated soprano Renée Fleming in the title role (Hanna Glawari)and co-star baritone Nathan Gunn as Daniloand Broadway star Kelli O'Hara as Valencienne, is set to premiere as the Metropolitan Opera's New Year's Eve Gala performance. NYC-ARTS was granted exclusive access to film the first week of rehearsals.

NYC-ARTS takes viewers to intimate scene blockings with Stroman, her team and the cast. Rehearsal footage includes O'Hara singing and dancing with can-can dancers; Gunn performing "Who Can Tell What the Hell Women Are," an all-male ensemble number; and Fleming and Gunn together in a romantic duet and waltz.

Costume designer William Ivey Long also takes viewers through the Metropolitan Opera costume shop for a look at the fabulous hats and sumptuous costumes of Paris at the turn of the 19th Century.

NYC-ARTS is a production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers.

Executive Producer: David Horn. Editorial Director: Joan Hershey. Supervising Producer: Mitch Owgang. Senior Producer: Bob Morris. For the digital platforms, General Manager: Dan Greenberg. Director of Digital Strategy: Joe Harrell.

NYC-ARTS is made possible in part by First Republic Bank. Funding for NYC-ARTSis also made possible by Rosalind P. Walter, Elise Jaffe and Jeffrey Brown, Jody and John Arnhold, Joyce B. Cowin, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, and Elroy and Terry Krumholz Foundation. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding provided by members of THIRTEEN.

Visit the NYC-ARTS Web site at NYC-ARTS.org for additional information.

About WNET
As New York's flagship public media provider and the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series asNature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah!and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore App where users can stream PBS content for free.

About NYC-ARTS

NYC-ARTS aims to increase awareness of New York City's nonprofit cultural organizations, whose offerings greatly benefit residents and visitors-from children to adults, and teenagers to senior citizens. NYC-ARTS promotes cultural groups' activities and events to tri-state, national and international audiences through nonprint media, using new technologies as they develop. Through television, Web sites, mobile applications and social media, NYC-ARTS nurtures New York City's position as a thriving cultural capital of the world, one that has both world-renowned institutions and those that are focused on local communities.