Vincent Paterson

In a rehearsal studio at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, tenor Rolando Villazon and soprano Anna Netrebko are working through the tragic finale of Jules Massenet's opera "Manon," the scene that Villazon's character (Des Grieux) believes to be a joyous reunion but Netrebko's (the title role) knows is only a bittersweet interlude before her death.

In a rehearsal studio at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, tenor Rolando Villazon and soprano Anna Netrebko are working through the tragic finale of Jules Massenet's opera "Manon," the scene that Villazon's character (Des Grieux) believes to be a joyous reunion but Netrebko's (the title role) knows is only a bittersweet interlude before her death.

New Steps for Madonna: Madonna has named a new choreographer for her spring concert tour, replacing New York pal Karole Armitage with L.A.-based Vincent Paterson, who designed Madonna's moves for a controversial Pepsi commercial last year. Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said Armitage was "initially hired as consultant," not as a choreographer. In an interview with The Times last month, Armitage identified herself as the sole choreographer for the tour to begin in April in Japan.

A behind-the-scenes look at Los Angeles Opera's critically acclaimed production of Massenet's "Manon" -- starring opera's couple du jour, Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon -- is now available via podcast. The company's new podcast series, "Behind the Curtain," explores the making of "Manon" through the eyes of Netrebko, Villazon, director-choreographer Vincent Paterson, costume designer Susan Hilferty and others. The four-episode series is available on the company website, www.laopera.

Having Their Say: Choreographers who have created production numbers for the Academy Awards since 1970 complained Tuesday about mistreatment by the show's producing organization, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Winners of the fourth annual Bob Fosse Awards, honoring choreographic excellence in the entertainment industry, were announced Sunday at a gala benefit dinner and celebration at the Palace in Hollywood. Proceeds of the event supported Arnold Schwarzenegger's Inner City Games plus the Michael Peters and Bob Fosse scholarship programs.

Theodor Geisel, better known to millions as Dr. Seuss, was a unique artist, a comic genius whose signature drawings and rhythmic language reflected a deeply felt social conscience. "In Search of Dr. Seuss," a delightfully quirky, celebrity-studded mix of documentary and family entertainment airing Sunday on TNT, captures the life and art of the man who found his inspiration and his sense of humor by "looking at life through the wrong end of the telescope." The show, written by Keith R.

IT'S the 1950s -- but like no decade you've ever seen before. Susan Hilferty, costume designer for "Manon," says she and director / choreographer Vincent Paterson updated Jules Massenet's 1884 opera because the progression of fashion in the '50s parallels Manon's transformation from innocent gamine to jaded socialite. But the designer, winner of a 2004 Tony Award for "Wicked," says the opera's 400-plus costumes represent the "dream '50s," a deliberately heightened reality.

With the laudable purpose of raising money to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), eight local choreographers collaborated in "Lifeleap: A Celebration of Life Through Dance" at the Wilshire Ebell Theater on Friday. Under the circumstances, one expected works of the deepest honesty, probity and soul-searching. What one got too often were works devoted to the body beautiful and flashy, vacuous, high-energy choreography, not all that securely danced.

"Kiss of the Spider Woman," the big Broadway musical about torture and death, opened at the Ahmanson Theatre on Saturday night. Adapted by Terrence McNally from Manuel Puig's novel, the show tells the story of an unlikely friendship in a brutal Argentine prison. Valentin (Dorian Harewood) is a revolutionary who learns begrudging respect and love for his seemingly trivial cellmate, a gay window dresser named Molina (Juan Chioran), who in turn learns courage and grace.

Amid the excitement and glamour at the Seventh Annual American Choreography Awards show Sunday at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, one theme kept bringing everyone back to earth. "It's always about giving back to the masters," choreographer Brian "Footwork" Green said in accepting the first hip-hop-style video award. Green won for the Mya music video "Free," sharing honors in this division with Tina Landon for her choreography for another Mya video, "Case of the Ex."