Over the festival's seventy-nine days there will be over one hundred and twenty operas, ballets and concerts. In its 225th year, the theatre will pay tribute to great composers and performers of the Petersburg-Petrograd-Leningrad, all those illustrious, talented artists whose names are firmly fixed in the history of the Mariinsky Theatre and world music.

For Capital of Culture Year, the Everyman continues its reputation for producing powerful and moving new writing with a world premiere by Esther Wilson, one of the writers of the award-winning Unprotected. TEN TINY TOES is an uncompromising and heartbreaking story of mothers and families and what happens when a distant war comes home. Directed by Polly Teale (Shared Experience) this potent new play is at the Liverpool Everyman through Saturday 5 July 2008.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company concludes its 2007-2008 season with Moliere's The Imaginary Invalid, adapted by Alan Drury. Rene Auberjonois, the Tony Award winning actor best known for his roles on Boston Legal, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Benson, makes his STC debut as Argan. Keith Baxter returns to direct the production at the Company's Lansburgh Theatre through July 27, 2008.

Fifteen young actors from across the Bay Area join musicians from San Francisco's Bird School of Music for the world premiere of the A.C.T. Young Conservatory's I'm Still Standing: A Celebration of the Music of Elton John, created and directed by A.C.T. Young Conservatory (YC) director Craig Slaight. This dynamic musical tribute features hit songs popularized by the famed Grammy, Academy, and Tony Award winner and plays at Zeum Theater, located at Yerba Buena Gardens (Fourth and Howard streets), through June 21.

Nickelodeon and Broadway Across America announce a brand-new, national touring production of The Backyardigans Live! Tale Of The Mighty Knights. The Backyardigans Live! will be making a stop in New Brunswick on June 23-24 for four performances. The Backyardigans Live! is sponsored by PNC Bank. Tickets range from $15-45 (group discounts apply).

Arden Theatre Company presents the 2007/08 Arden Professional Apprentices' spring showcase: Trial by Fire... in Old City. Every season the Arden hires a group of committed individuals to train in every aspect of managing a theatre company. At the end of the season, the apprentices are challenged to develop a night of theatre, producing every facet from the ground up.

McCallum Theatre Institute's Summer Session Festival 2008 presents four performances to educate, entertain and enthrall audiences of all ages during the week of June 16-20 at McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts in Palm Desert.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's sparkling family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat explodes into life at Blackpool's Grand Theatre from Monday 7th July now starring I'd Do Anything's Tara Bethan as the Narrator.

The gloves are off! Join the legendary Ricky Hatton at Blackpool's Grand Theatre on Sunday 10th August for a fun evening of sporting anecdotes and a look back at his incredible career – which is far from over…

Blues master Kent DuChaine brings his sizzling slide guitar skills to Blackpool's Grand Theatre on Friday 27th June for Studio Blues 2008.

Blackpool's Grand Theatre is looking to the future with an innovative new brochure developed specifically to encourage young people to experience the world of arts and entertainment.

Brilliant observational comic Laurence Clark brings his wickedly witty new show 12% Evil to Blackpool's Grand Theatre on Friday 6th June at 8pm.