This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday December 4
* Hurt Village FREE virtual benefit reading, in support of The Actors Fund, by Katori Hall, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, featuring Snoop Dogg (Tony C.), r Loretta Devine (Big Mama), Joaquina Kalukango (Crank), Priah Ferguson (Cookie), Alphonse Nicholson (Buggy), Stori Ayers (Narrator), Gail Bean (Toiya), Cecil Blutcher (Skillet), Eric B. Robinson Jr. (Cornbread), and Bertram Williams (Ebony), begins streaming here.
* Ars Nova Forever Telethon, featuring Tina Fey, Ziwe, Ashley Park, Phillipa Soo, Amber Gray, Rachel Chavkin, Sakina Jaffrey, Dave Malloy, Isaac Oliver, Larry Owens, and Natalie Walker, streams for FREE beginning at 6 PM ET here.
* 42nd Street (the recent West End production), in support of BC/EFA, featuring Tom Lister (Julian Marsh), Philip Bertioli (Billy Lawlor), Clare Halse (Peggy Sawyer), Bonnie Langford (Dorothy Brock), Jasna Ivir (Maggie Jones), Christopher Howell (Bert Barry), Matthew Goodgame (Pat Denning), Graeme Henderson (Andy Lee), Bruce Montague (Abner Dillon), Mark McKerracher (Mac/Doc/Thug), Emma Caffrey (Annie), Ella Martine (Lorraine), Clare Rickard (Phyllis), and Paul Knight (Oscar), streams for FREE at 2 PM ET (and available through Dec. 6) here.
* “Anyone Can Whistle” (1964) first complete cast recording, by Stephen Sondheim & Arthur Laurents, featuring Arthur Laurents (Narrator), Julia McKenzie (Cora Hoover Hooper), Maria Friedman (Fay Apple/Dr. Jane Borden Osgood), John Barrowman (J. Bowden Hapgood), Shezwae Powell (Mrs. Schroeder), Ian Burford (Treasurer Cooley), Matt Zimmerman (Dr. L. Sidney Detmold), Stuart Pendred (Chief Magruder/Sargent), Catherine Porter (June), Marcus Alan Cooper (George), Paul Manuel (John), Tee Jaye (Martin — Black Jew), Tinuke Olafimihan (Solo Soprano Voice), and Sophie Marchant (Old Lady), with Stephen Barlow, Danielle Carson, Dominic Curtis, Geoffrey Dallamore, Philip Day, Robert Fardell, Jane Faulkner, Lori Haley Fox, Liz Greenaway, Philip Griffiths, Michael Gyngell, Julia Howson, Claire=Louise Lucas, Valerie Macfarlane, Tom Marandola, Simon Masterson-Smith, Michael McLean, Catherine Mikic, Tinuke Olafinmihan, Bruce Ogston, Rebecca Pedlow, Jane Powell, and Denise Silvey, released on CD here.
* Liz Callaway‘s new holiday album, “Comfort and Joy – An Acoustic Christmas” released on all platforms. 
Order here.
Saturday, December 5
* Les Misérables — The Staged Concert, featuring Michael Ball (Javert), Alfie Boe (Jean Valjean), Carrie Hope Fletcher (Fantine), and Matt Lucas (Thénardier), and John Owen-Jones (Jean Valjean at certain performances), re-opens at London’s socially distanced Sondheim Theatre.
* This is Who I Am livestreamed production, by Amir Nizar Zuabi, directed by Evren Odcikin, featuring Ramsey Faragallah (Dad) and Yousof Sultani (Son), opens at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
* An Evening with Kelli O’ Hara concert, followed by a Q&A with Kelli and director Rod Rock, livestreams at 8 PM ET here.
* Ute Lemper: Rendezvous With Marlene concert streams at 2 PM ET here.
* Fifth Avenue Theatre‘s Live from the West Side concert, featuring Vanessa Williams, livestreams at 5 PM PT.
* “The MisMatch Game Show,” with special guests Danny Casillas (Reba Areba), Tom Lenk (Tilda Swinton), Jackie Clarke (Elizabeth Taylor), Drew Droege (Donald Sutherland), Chris Pudlo (Peewee Herman), and Daniele Gaither (Wendy Williams), streams at 8 PM PT at LA’s LGBT Center.
* Ben Vereen and Klea Blackhurst in concert, with music direction by Gary Adler & Deniz Cordell, concludes streaming at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre.
Sunday, December 6
* Tosca (1978), starring Shirley Verrett and Luciano Pavarotti, streams at the Metropolitan Opera.
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United in Song: Celebrating the Resilience of America, which was filmed in front of a small, socially distanced audience at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Kennedy Center, will premiere Fri. Dec. 31 at 8 PM ET and again at 9:30 PM ET on PBS, followed by an interview with the performers.
Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Renée Fleming, Anna Deavere Smith, Josh Groban, Morgan James, Jamie Barton, Joshua Bell, Denyce Graves, Soloman Howard, Juanes, Patti LaBelle, Yo-Yo Ma, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet, along with The American Pops Orchestra (conducted by Maestro Luke Frazier), and the National Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Maestra JoAnn Falletta).
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The Off-Broadway League‘s annual Toy Drive will take place virtually, in support of the NYC Department of Homeless Services’ family shelter in Times Square.
The goal is to raise 125 presents for 125 kids, aged six months to 12 years. Toys can be donated by purchasing on any online retailer and shipping directly to The Theater Center (210 West 50th Street, 4th floor, New York, New York, 10019).
Those who donate a new, unwrapped toy worth $10 or more will receive a voucher for a free ticket to a participating Off-Broadway show of their choice once theatres reopen. Those donating through an online company (such as Amazon or Wal-Mart) should e-mail the confirmation to offbroadwaytoydrive@gmail.com; in return, a voucher for one free ticket to any participating Off-Broadway show will be sent. Participating theatres will be announced when reopening dates become clearer. Vouchers will have no expiration date.
The Theater Center will also accept in-person drop offs Mondays – Fridays and Sundays between 10 AM – 1 PM. Only one person at a time will be allowed to drop off and must adhere to all safety protocols in place.
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A (Virtual) Sleigh Ride Through the Great American Songbook, starring Shana Farr and Steve Ross, will take place Thurs. Dec. 14 at 7:30 PM ET here.
There is limited seating (32 seats) for In-Person audience members at NYC’s St. John’s in The Village. If you would like to attend (1-2 people per seating), please email Shana@ShanaFarr.com. 
$20 at the door.
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RIP: Actor Warren Berlinger has died at the age of 83.
His career began during his childhood, playing “Little Boy” in the original Broadway production of Annie Get Your Gun, starring Ethel Merman. He continued to work steadily throughout his life, appearing on Broadway in The Happy Time, Bernadine, Take a Giant Step, Anniversary Waltz, A Roomful of Roses, Blue Denim, Come Blow Your Horn, and A Broadway Musical.
In the West End, Warren appeared in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Film credits include “Teenage Rebel,” “Blue Denim,” “Thunder Alley,” “The Long Goodbye,” The Cannonball Run,” “The World According to Garp,” “Ten Little Indians,” and “That Thing You Do!”
Warren was most active on television, with guest spots on “Charlie’s Angel,” “That Girl,” “Operation Petticoat,” Friends,” “Columbo,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Happy Days,” and “The Physical.”
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The film adaptation of “In the Heights” will premiere on June 18, 2021 on HBO Max and in theaters, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Anthony Ramos (Usnavi), Corey Hawkings (Benny), Melissa Barrera (Vanessa), Leslie Grace (Nina), Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Daniela), Jimmy Smits (Kevin Rosario), and Lin Manuel Miranda (Piragua Guy).
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater presents a benefit reading of Beaumont & Fletcher’s A King and No King on Mon. Dec. 14 at 7:30 PM ET, directed by José Zayas.
Rajesh Bose, Robert Cuccioli, Edmund Donovan, Franchelle Stewart Dorn, Topher Embrey, Chukwudi Iwuji, Teresa Avia Lim, Cara Ricketts, Socorro Santiago, Reagan Tankersley, Craig Wallace, and CJ Wilson.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely in this delicious Jacobean tragicomedy. Arbaces, the King of Iberia, conquers Tigranes, King of Armenia, and offers him noble treatment — and his sister for a wife. But it’s been awhile since Arbaces has seen his sister. When he does, he is seived with incestuous passion. Arbaces resists this no forbidden love with all his might — until she professes she loves him too! But now, what to do about Tigranes?
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Video: “The Walter Project,” was created to commemorate World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), inspired by the AIDS Quilt. Walter’s speech at the end of the first of Matthew López’s The Inheritance was divided into 33 sections. (14:52)
John Lithgow, Lena Waithe, Ashley Park, John-Andrew Morrison, Connor Jessup, Marisa Tomei, Jordan E. Cooper, Andrea Martin, John Cameron Mitchell, Austin Smith, Aya Cash, Raúl Castillo, Michael Zegen, AnnaSophia Robb, Tituss Burgess, Russell Tovey, Nathan Lane, Judith Light, Mandy Gonzalez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Denée Benton, Bill Irwin, Wilson Cruz, Robert Fairchild, Cynthia Erivo, Michael Urie, Leslie Odom, Jr., Maulik Pancholy, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Glenn Close, Jocelyn Bioh, Lucas Hedges, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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New York Theatre Workshop‘s Holiday Follies, by Victor I. Cazares, will stream on Wed. Dec. 16 at 7 PM ET, directed by Kevin Cahoon. The evening will include festive holiday classics, dance—both nice and naughty!—and some Follies fun to bring folks together for some laughs this season.
Annaleigh Ashford, Nabiyah Be, Brandy Clark, Marshall L. Davis Jr., Jake Dupree, Bridget Everett, Lisa Stephen Friday, Addalie Burns & Luke Hawkins, Daniel & Patrick Lazour, Gian Perez, Martha Redbone & Aaron Whitby, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Adrian Stevens & Sean Snyder, Michael Urie, Bruce Vilanch, More Zmin, Michael Cerveris & Loose Cattle, Mariachi Los Pasajeros, and many more.
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The 5th Annual Broadway BEE… the Virtual Edition will take place Thurs. Dec. 10 at 7 PM ET here, in support of Broadway Bound Kids.
Sasha Hutchings, Paige Davis, Brita Filter, Seth Rudetsky, Michael Park, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Kim Exum, Susie Carroll, Afra Hines, Lee Aaron Rosen, and Patrick Page.
This hilarious adult spelling bee features Broadway performers. Cheer on your favorite cast member while they raise funds to provide equitable arts education access to your all across the glove. The more funds each team raises before and during the event, the more lifelines or “cheats” they earn to help them with the coveted Bee trophy.
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Video: Highlights from The 24 Hour Plays Broadway Gala (which streamed on Dec. 1, and will available through Dec. 5), in support of the theatre staple that challenges writers directors, and performers to come up with new works in just one day.
Rachel Axler, David Lindsay-Abaire, J. Holtham, christopher oscar peña, Jonathan Marc Sherman, and Lauren Yee.
Carolyn Cantor, Gordon Greenberg, Victor Maog, Patricia McGregor, and Taylor Reynolds.
Solea Pfeiffer, Hugh Dancy, Merle Dandridge, Michael Zegen, Matt Lauria, Bebe Neuwirth, Laura Benanti, Jason Robert Brown, Rachel Dratch, Jesse Eisenberg, and Noah Galvin
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Alan Menken, Glenn Slater & James Graham’s adaptation of Animal Farm is in development, with a workshop is scheduled for Spring 2021. A director and additional creative team TBA.
Additional information TBA.
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Audio: Melissa Lyons Caldretti performs “Perfect” by Tom Kitt
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Video: Trailer for “One Night Only: The Best of Broadway,” hosted by Tina Fey, to air Thurs. Dec. 10 at 8 PM on NBC.
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Two By Two: The 50th Anniversary Virtual Concert, in support of The Actors Fund, will stream Dec. 25-28 here, directed by Walter Willison, with music direction by Fred Barton, and an introduction by Ted Chapin.
Original Broadway cast members Walter Willison & Karen Ziemba, along with Nikita Burshteyn, Frank Calamaro, Marcy DeGonge Manfredi, N’Kenge, Michael Notartonato, and Sophia Tzougros.