Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be limited theatre news for the foreseeable future. I will continue to search for anything meaningful and/or fun to report. Stay safe and healthy.
This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, May 15
* We All Play Our Part, a FREE livestreamed benefit for the Motion Picture Theatre Fund, hosted by Yvette Nicole Brown and Tom Bergeron, featuring George Clooney, Michael Douglas, Jay Ellis, Daisy Fuentes & Richard Marx, Brad Garrett, Susanna Hoffs & Jay Roach, Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Leslie Odom Jr., Kimberly Williams Paisley & Brad Paisley, Rachel Platten, and Ray Romano, at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT here.
* Joe Iconis and Family FREE livestreamed concert, at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT here.
* Bernstein’s Mass concert, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, starring Paulo Szot, premieres at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).
* “Cats” film FREE livestream, at 2 PM ET here (available for 48 hours).
Saturday, May 16
* Charlie Rosen’s Broadway Big Band FREE livestreamed concert, at 6:30 PM ET here.
Sunday, May 17
* #LincolnCenterAtHome’s Memorial for Us All FREE livestreamed concert, offering the opportunity to heal through music, at 6 PM ET here.
* 54 Sings Grand Hotel: The 25th Anniversary Concert FREE livestreamed concert, featuring (original Broadway cast) Liliane Montevecchi, Karen Akers, Tim Jerome, Walter Willison, Brent Barrett, Ben George, David Jackson, Ken Jennings, Hal Robinson, Meg Tolin Piper, David White, Penny Worth, and Chip Zien, with Michael Choi, Bill Coyne, Joshua Dixon, Erin Marie, Nathan Meyer, Chelsie Nectow, and Jackie Washam, at 6:30 PM ET here.
* Music on the Rocks livestreamed concert, with Peter Hodgson, Caitlin Gallogly, Matt Kunkel, John Bell, Lindsay Brooks, and Josh Clayton, at 1 PM PT/ 4 PM ET here.
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The Actors Fund has announced that, as of May 13, 2020, it has distributed a record-breaking amount, over ten million dollars ($10,500,000) in just eight weeks to help provide emergency financial assistance for those in need due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
This emergency financial aid is helping the most vulnerable members of the performing arts and entertainment communities, as well as those facing financial hardship, by providing assistance for basic living expenses including essential medications, housing costs, food, and utilities.
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Frozen has decided to close now, and will not re-open later this year at the St. James Theatre. The musical had played 825 performances and 26 previews.
Even before COVID-19 upended cultural life in New York, the musical was having box office struggles. The show’s weekly grosses hovered around $1 million, a steep drop from its high of more than $2.6 million, and a disappointing result give its high production costs.
The tour, however, will continue on when it is safe to do so…
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Lincoln Center‘s new series, “Broadway Fridays” will feature free digital streams of past “Live From Lincoln Center” broadcasts, all at 8 PM:
June 5: Carousel, with Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Stephanie Blythe, Shuler Hensley, Jason Danieley, Jessie Mueller, Kate Burton, John Cullum, Robert Fairchild, and Tiler Peck.
June 12: The Nance, by Douglas Carter Beane, with Nathan Lane, Cady Huffman, Lewis J. Stadlen, Jenni Barber, Andrea Burns, and Jonny Orsini.
June 19: Act One, by Moss Hart, with Tony Shalhoub, Andrea Martin, and Santino Fontana.
…and more TBA…
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Video: Kristin Chenoweth performs “What Did I Have,” from Encores’ On a Clear Day... (2000).
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TheaterWorks Hartford (link TBA) has announced its 2020-21 season:
* The Who & The What (Sept.-Oct.), by Ayad Akhtar. A thrilling fierce funny new play about identity, religion, and the contradictions that make us who we are.
* The Sound Inside (Feb.-Mar., 2021), by Adam Rapp. Drawn together by their love of words, a professor asks her student for an unthinkable favor.
* Fun Home (Apr.-May)
* Zoey’s Perfect Wedding (June-July), by Matthew Lopez. Every bride’s worst nightmare comes to live in this hysterical commentary on commitment.
* Seared (Aug.-Sept,), by Theresa Rebeck. An egotistical chef butts heads with a savvy consultant in this high-stakes comedy about power, passion, and compromise.
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PA’s Bucks County Playhouse has cancelled its 2020 Summer season.
The revised 2021 season will include:
* Auntie Mame
* Kinky Boots
* Dames at Sea
* Evita
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LA’s Center Theatre Group has announced “Theatre Skills @ Home,” a new series of brief theatre tutorials.
Directors, designers, artists, artisans and crew will give tips on how to inject a little stage magic into the home.
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Bette Midler is personally matching donations to Broadway Cares’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, up to $100,000.
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SAG Awards has announced that 2020 films will be allowed to be released digitally without playing in theaters.
However the streamed film must have already had a planned theatrical release in 2020 to be eligible in the Oscar race.
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Video: Judy Kuhn, “What Can You Lose” (from “Dick Tracy” film)
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Video: Seth McFarlane’s “The Peacock At-Home Variety Show,” Ep. 1, with special guest Tony Shalhoub.
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Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill, including the cast & creative team, featuring performances and conversations, in support of The Actors Fund, will be livestreamed Tues. May 19 at 8 PM ET here.
Diablo Cody, Diane Paulus, Sidi Larbe Cherkaoui, and Tom Kitt, as well as the cast.
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Kings of Broadway 2020, the celebrating the music of the Jule Styne, Jerry Herman & Stephen Sondheim will premiere on Sun. May 31 at 7 PM ET here.
Liz Callway, Michael Colbourne, Deborah Crowe, Jordan Lee Davies, Louise Dearman, Janie Dee, Fra Fee, Rob Houchen, Damian Humbley, Ramin Karimloo, Claudia Kariuki, Emma Kingston, L Morgan Lee, Rebecca Lock, Nadim Naaman, Anna O’Byrne, Fiona O’Carroll, Jamie Parker, Laura Pitt-Pulford, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Lucy Schaufer, Celinde Schoenmaker, Caroline Sheen, Samantha Spiro, Laura Tebbutt, Michael Xavier, and Alex Young.
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Video: Clint Holmes, “If Not Now When?”
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Jim Caruso’s Pajama Cast Party continues every Monday night at 8 PM ET here.
May 18 performers: Elizabeth Stanley, Melissa Errico, Michael Cavanaugh, Travis Nesbitt, Brianna Davies, John Davidson, and Mary Wilson.
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Video: “Stars in the House” — Variety Thursday,” with special guests Delia Ephron, N’Kenge, Carol Kane, and the cast of PBS’ “Mass,” with Isabel Santiago, Karim Sulayman, Paulo Szot, and director Kevin Newbury. (59:10)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell & Jeff Bowen discuss the upcoming Orange County School of the Arts’ virtual production of Now. Here. This. on May 30, benefiting GenZStayHome, OCSA Foundation, and the Educational Theatre Foundation. The production was rehearsed and shot on iPhones and computers by quarantined students over six weeks. (59:05)
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Pride Plays 2020 and Off-Broadway Rattlestick Theater have offered special events in June:
Every Friday in June: Free livestreamed theatrical events from the LGBTQIA+ theatrical cannon,
* Pride Sunday Pride Spectacular Concert, featuring beloved LGBTQIA+ performers sharing messages of pride and singing songs old and new.
The celebration will culminate in a free Pride Sunday Pride Spectacular Concert on Sunday, June 28. Performers TBA.
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Broadway On Demand, a new streaming platform, has announced its first slate of programming — “30 Days of Opening Nights,” offering an array of headline events:
May 18 (8 PM ET): A Night of Covenant House Stars, a benefit concert with Morgan Freeman, Usher, and more…
May 25 (7:30 PM ET): Bandstand streaming presentation, with surprise special guests.
May 29 (7:30 PM ET): Allegiance, with George Takei, Telly Leung, and members of the cast.
Daily (1 PM ET): Tiler Peck’s class series, “Turn It Out with Tiler.”
Mondays (7 PM ET, beginning May 25): “Dream Role,” hosted by Frankie Grande. Celebrities who have always dreamed of playing a certain role can now live out that fantasy.
Tuesdays (3 PM ET, beginning May 18): “The Craftsman.” hosted by photographer Matthew Murphy, with special guest costume designer Paul Tazewell.
Wednesdays (3 PM ET): “Broadway Fanatic,” hosted by Laura Heywood
Wednesdays (7:30 PM): Acoustic Café, with special guest Adam Pascal (May 20). Well-known Broadway performers and writers sit down for an intimate acoustic concert of their own songs, classic tunes and Broadway favorites. No arrangements, orchestrations or production. Nothing but the song itself.
Series: First Look: New Musicals. Start date TBA. Composers, lyricists and book writers will let you in on their latest musical idea, share insight into their development process and share some never-before-heard songs. It’s a unique glimpse into the beginnings of a musical.
Series: Broadway Fanatic with Laura Heywood. Laura scours the internet in pursuit of the greatest and most fascinating musical theatre performances.
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Chicago’s Goodman Theatre will postpone its 4 remaining 2019-20 productions, and will reschedule them for the 2020-21 season (dates & additional information TBA)
* School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play, by Jocelyn Bioh
* Molly Sweeney, by Brian Friel
* American Mariachi, by José Cruz González
* The Outsiders, world premiere adaptation by Adam Rapp & Jamestown Revival