Today’s Highlights:
Camelot concert, directed by Celine Rosenthal, featuring Britney Coleman (Guenevere), Nick Duckart (Arthur), Alex Joseph Grayson (Lancelot), John Rapson (Mordred/Sagramore), Joseph Torello (Dinadin), and Levin Valayil (Lionel/Dap/Tom), begins streaming at FL’s Asolo Rep.
“Exploring Falstaff with Jay O. Sanders,” conversation, streams at 7:30 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater.
“Hemingway: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick,” a 3-part, 6-hour documentary premieres at 9 PM ET on PBS.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Name, Please by Jim Bernhard
Provide the missing words, which are all surnames, in these titles:
| 1. The Last of Mrs.____, play by Frederick Lonsdale | A. Warren |
| 2. The Second Mrs. ____, play by Arthur Wing Pinero | B. Cheyney |
| 3.God Bless You, Mr. ____, musical by Howard Ashman, Dennis Green, and Alan Menken | C. Brown |
| 4. I’m Not ____, play by Herb Gardner | D. Pennypacker |
| 5. General ____, play by Ira Levin | E. Tanqueray |
| 6. The House of ____, play by Paul Green | F. Seeger |
| 7. Mrs. ____’s Profession, play by George Bernard Shaw | G. Johnson |
| 8. The Remarkable Mr.____, play by Liam O’Brien | H. Rosewater |
| 9. Too Much ____, play by William Gillette | I. Connelly |
| 10. The Great God ____, play by Eugene O’Neill | J. Rappaport |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Video: Stars in the House, offering a DIVOS! Game Night, with special guests Luis Avila, Chris Schermerhorn, Matt Steele and Marissa Jaret Winokur. (1:36:51)
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Video: Stars in the House, offering a DISASTER Broadway Victims Game Night, with special guests Paul Castree, Casey Garvin, JoAnn M. Hunter, Travis Kent, Maggie MacDowell, Jack Plotnick and Catherine Rickafort. (2:04:35)
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2021 SAG Awards winners: Click here for the complete list.
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RIP: Dramatist Arthur Kopit died Apr. 2 at the age of 83.
Kopit enjoyed a career spanning seven decades. He authored an extraordinary string of admired, acclaimed, and award-winning stage works, beginning with Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ So Sad, which Jerome Robbins directed on Broadway while Kopit was still an undergraduate at Harvard.
His other works include Indians (Tony Award Nominee, Finalist for Pulitzer Prize); Wings (Tony Nominee, Finalist for Pulitzer Prize); End of the World, with Symposium to Follow; a new translation of Ibsen’s Ghosts; the book for the musicals Nine and Phantom (both with scores by Maury Yeston); the book for the musical High Society; Road to Nirvana; BecauseHeCan (originally entitled Y2K); A Dram of Drummhicit (written with Anton Dudley); and numerous one act plays.
His most recent projects include Discovery of America, a play based on the journals of the Spanish conquistador, Cabeza de Vaca; and two new plays, Secrets of the Rich and The Incurables. He was, right up to his death, a tireless advocate for playwrights, theater makers, theater companies, and especially The Lark.
Kopit’s longtime friend and collaborator Maury Yeston said, “Arthur was one of the most uncompromisingly original writers that America ever produced. A genuine born playwright, his work possesses the kind of universality that is understood by the entire human race, across all cultures and languages. The worlds he created come to life inside the minds of every audience member who has the good fortune of attending one of his shows. But his greatest trait – even beyond his enviable brilliance – was a generosity that knew no bounds.”
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Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater has announced its Miscast21 gala, which will premiere Sun. May 16 at 8 PM ET, directed & music directed by Will Van Dyke.
Annaleigh Ashford, Robin de Jesús, Renée Elise Goldsberry, LaChanze, Kelli O’Hara, and Billy Porter, with more TBA.
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The LA STAGE Alliance has made the following statement:
“It is with deep regret that the LA STAGE Alliance (LASA) Board of Governors has unanimously decided to cease all operations, effective immediately. We have come to this conclusion with a heavy heart — our intention has always been to represent and promote the entire Los Angeles theatre community but at this time we are unable to continue.
“For the past 46 years, LASA has worked to acknowledge, support, and celebrate artists and theatres from all communities. We believe in equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels. As individuals, we are committed to continuing our support of this community which we hold so dear. We wish the entire theatre community and its stake holders continued success.”
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Bob & Tobly McSmith, Assaf Gleizner & Assaf Gleizner’s The Office! A Musical Parody will resume live performances on Fri. Apr. 9 at 7:30 PM ET at the Jerry Orbach Theater, directed & choreographed by Donald Garverick.
Emma Brock (Michael Scott), Laura Mehl (Pam), Danny Adam (Jim), Devina Sabnis (Kelly), Nathan David Smith (Dwight), Emily Qualmann (Phyllis), Gabrielle Filloux (Angela), Bob McSmith (Creed), and Kevin Bruce Harris (Stanley), with Marissa Hecker and Andy Martinez.
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A Little New Music presents its next concert in its Spotlight Series, with an evening of songs by Selda Sahin & Derek Gregor on Tues. Apr. 6 at 7 PM ET.
Keala Settle, Angelica Hale, Rebecca Black, Annaleigh Ashford, Juvenile and Billy Ray Cyrus.
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Lisa Romeo’s Sitting and Talking will stream Apr. 16 – May 2 at Laguna Playhouse, directed by James Glossman.
Dan Lauria and Wendie Malick.
The play follows a man and woman in their 60s as they navigate the vulnerable, awkward, and sometimes hilarious path to companionship via online dating during quarantine.
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Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre presents The Tasting Room, the theatre’s substitution for its annual gala, offering instead a series of virtual conversations with a host of artists who will discuss contributing to the cultural life of the country before, during, and beyond our current moment. Admission in each Zoom room will be limited to 10-15 households.
Danny Meyer and David Rockwell (May 16 at 6 PM ET), who will discuss the world of fine dining, storytelling through architecture, and their collaborations for Meyer’s restaurants.
M. Night Shyamalan and Anya Taylor-Joy (May 12 at 4 PM ET), who will reunite to discuss their experiences working together on the films “Split” and “Glass” and give an inside look at the actor-director collaboration.
Nicholas Braun, J. Smith-Cameron, and Holly Hunter (May 16 at 6 PM ET), who will discuss their experiences working together on the HBO series “Succession,” the portrayal of big media on the small screen, and their careers.
Billy Crudup and Sterling K. Brown (May 20 at 6 PM ET) who will discuss the current and evolving landscapes of American theatre, film, and television, and the process of creating characters in each medium.
KT Tunstall and Randy Rainbow (May 26 at 6 PM ET), who will chat about the process of songwriting for their respective media, their sources of inspiration and creativity, and the ways musical artists are responding to the current moment.
Michael R. Jackson and John Cameron Mitchell (June 8 at 6 PM ET), who will discuss creating shows that changed the way LGBTQIA+ stories are represented on stage and a range of other topics.
Jeremy O. Harris (with an additional guest TBA, on a date TBA), who will share their intersecting interests and the influence of art in society.
Virtual attendees will also receive gift boxes that include wine and curated provisions from Union Square businesses to support the community of The Vineyard’s location.
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Christiane Noll: Coming Alive Again will stream on demand May 9-30 at Goodspeed Musicals, directed by Rob Ruggiero, with music direction by William Waldrop.
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The world premiere of the unauthorized parody Clue-eth, written & directed by Steve Wargo, will offer both live & livestreamed performances Apr. 23-24 at 8 PM ET Long Island’s Radial Park.
Manu Narayan (Goodman, Brian Charles Rooney (Lady Larkspur), Thom Sesma (Lord Colonel Daffodil), Jordan Kai Burnett (Mistress Poppy), Victoria Huston-Elem Amee), Jillian Louis (Lady Lily), Christian Elan Ortiz (three victims), Dick Terhune (Doctor Pansy), and Stuart Williams (Master Ivy).
Writer/director Steve Wargo wrote the parody of the cult classic screenplay in iambic pentameter. The play resets the story to 1606 England and is written as though Shakespeare had originally penned the film based on a popular board game.
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Listen. “Sunday Pancakes,” in which Kelli O’Hara and Celia Keenan-Bolger discuss their friendship since The Light in the Piazza and how they were able to move through complicated and vulnerable feelings of the show.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Name, Please
1-B. The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, play by Frederick Lonsdale
2-E. The Second Mrs. Tanqueray, play by Arthur Wing Pinero
3-H. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, musical by Howard Ashman, Dennis Green, and Alan Menken
4-J. I’m Not Rappaport, play by Herb Gardner
5-F. General Seeger, play by Ira Levin
6-I. The House of Connelly, play by Paul Green
7-A. Mrs. Warren’s Profession, play by George Bernard Shaw
8-D. The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, play by Liam O’Brien
9-G. Too Much Johnson, play by William Gillette
10-C. The Great God Brown, play by Eugene O’Neill