Today’s Highlights:
* SOLDIERGIRLS FREE Zoom benefit concert presentation, by Em Weinstein & Emily Johnson-Erday, featuring Jenn Colella, Lilli Cooper, Chilina Kennedy, Ezra Menas, Melanie Field, Jessie Shelton, Anna Crivelli, Danielle Chaves, Hannah Van Sciver, and Madeleine Barker, streams at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.
* The Theatre Will Survive benefit video presentation, followed by a Q&A with Christine Andreas, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Christina Bianco, Chuck Cooper, Robert Cuccioli, Marc De La Cruz, George Dvorsky, Anita Gillette, Jason Graae, Ann Harada, Leah Hocking, Richard Jay-Alexander, Judy Kaye, Jeff Keller, Eddie Korbich, Michael McCormick, N’Kenge, Barry Pearl, Gabriella Pizzolo, Stephanie Pope, Faith Prince, Courtney Reed, T. Oliver Reid, Steve Rosen, Jennifer Sanchez, Analise Scarpaci, Tony Sheldon, Ryan Silverman and Paulo Szot, livestreams at 7 PM ET here.
*The Seth Concert Series, with special guest Sierra Boggess, streams at 3 PM ET here.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: “Heck, I’d Even Play the Maid” by Jim Bernhard
Match these domestic servants (maids, valets, housekeepers, etc.) with their employers:
| 1. Louise (maid) | A. Henry Higgins |
| 2. Solange and Claire (maids) | B. The Count (father of Miss Julie) |
| 3. Sabina (maid) | C. Anne Egerman |
| 4. Mrs. Pearce (housekeeper) | D. The Sycamore family |
| 5. Mrs. Pearce (housekeeper) | E. Countess Olivia |
| 6. Jean (valet) | F. Amanda Prynne |
| 7. Maria (chambermaid) | G. Mona Stangley |
| 8. Petra (maid) | H. The Antrobus family |
| 9. Rheba (maid/cook) | I. The Smith family |
| 10. Jewel (housekeeper/maid) | J. Madame |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Video: “Stars in the House” Regional Spotlight: Uptown Players, hosted by B. J. Cleveland with Walter Lee, Janelle Lutz, Linda Leonard and Alex Ross. (1:04:52)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” a Daisy & Violet Hilton Reunion, with Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley. (1:16:05)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” offering Social Justice Songs, with Shaina Taub, Johnny Butler, and Peter Shane. (1:04:20)
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The Tony Awards administration committee met on Aug. 27 for the final time to confirm the eligibility status of three Broadway productions for the 2020 Tony Awards:
* Elizabeth Strout & Rona Munro will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Play category for their work as co-authors on My Name is Lucy Barton.
* Laura Linney will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play category for her performance in My Name is Lucy Barton.
* Bob Crowley & Luke Halls will be considered jointly eligible in the Best Scenic Design of a Play category for their work on My Name is Lucy Barton.
* David Alan Grier will be considered eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play category for his performance in A Soldier’s Play.
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Happy Birthday, Doug, written & performed by Drew Droege, will stream on BroadwayHD (link TBA) beginning Sept. 24, directed by Tom DeTrinis. The show ran earlier this year at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse, but was cut short due to Covid-19.
The play takes place in a wine bar as the title character celebrates his 41st birthday. Droege portrays a handful of gay men in attendance: friends, nightmares, exes, and even a ghost. Droege portrays a handful of gay men in attendance: friends, nightmares, exes, and even a ghost.
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Video: Liz Callway performs David Shire’s “The Morning After.” If you love Liz as much as I do, just let a series of her songs play after this one is over.
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RIP: Chadwick Boseman has died at the age of 43 after battling colon cancer for four years. He never spoken publicly about his diagnosis. In addition to his film career, Boseman was extremely committed to the theatre.
After graduating from Howard University with a degree in directing, he taught acting to students in the Schomburg Junior Scholars Program, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. He immersed himself in the hip-hop theater scene, working with Howard classmate Kamilah Forbes to create the play with music Rhyme Deferred, which toured the United States and appears in the Hip Hop Theatre Anthology The Fire This Time. He wrote and directed the play Hieroglyphic Graffiti, which was produced at Negro Playwright’s Theatre, Kuntu Repertory, the National Black Theatre Festival, and the Hip Hop Theatre Festival.
Boseman’s most well-known play is titled Deep Azure, which was commissioned and produced by the Congo Square Theatre Company. It earned him a 2006 Jeff Award nomination for Best New Play.
A 2000 Drama League Directing Fellow, Boseman has directed plays including Dutchman and The Colored Museum, and appeared on stage in productions of Zooman and the Sign, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and more. He won an AUDELCO Award for his supporting role in Ron Milner’s Urban Transitions, directed by Woodie King Jr. at the New Federal Theatre. He had workshopped the leading role in the musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, but chose the role of James Brown in the biopic “Get On Up instead of coming to Broadway.”
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Video: Amber Riley‘s touching tribute to “Glee” co-star Nya Rivera.
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Video: Applause stars Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, and Lee Roy Reams, along with NYU students, celebrate Charles Strouse’s birthday.
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The Broadway League’s iViva Broadway! Hear Our Voices, in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, and in support of BC/EFA, directed & choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, and hosted by Andréa Burns, will stream Thurs. Oct. 1 at 8 PM ET here. (and available through Oct. 5 at 8 PM ET)
Lucie Arnaz, Gloria Estefan, John Leguizamo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Luis Miranda, Chita Rivera, Thalía, Melissa Barrera, Jaime Camil, Florencia Cuenca, Ariana DeBose, Raúl Esparza, Raúl Gonzalez, Ivan Hernandez, Mauricio Martinez, Bianca Marroquín, Shereen Pimentel, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Philippa Stefani, Angélica Vale, and Ana Villafañe
The event will salute the vibrant, lasting legacy that Latinx artists have contributed and continue to give to Broadway and the entire theatre community while showcasing Latinx talent in an effort to continue to increase representation throughout the industry.
* Reunion of original In the Heights cast members, including Karen Olivo, Andréa Burns, Janet Dacal, Robin De Jesús, Mandy Gonzalez, Olga Merediz, Carlos Gomez, Eliseo Roman, Luis Salgado, and Seth Stewart
* Exclusive numbers from Broadway-bound musicals & new works: John Leguizamo’s Kiss My Aztec; Arrabal; Passing Through; and a look at the first Spanish-language production of A Chorus Line from Antonio Banderas, written by Eric Ulloa, and features arrangements and music direction by Jaime Lozano.
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Video: Liz Callaway performs “Tell Me on a Sunday”
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Additional casting has been announced for the “Dear Evan Hansen” film. Timeline, release date and additional information TBA.
Previously announced: Ben Platt (Evan Hansen), Amandla Stenberg (Alana Beck), Colton Ryan (Connor Murphy), Nik Dodani (Jared Kleinman), and Kaitlyn Dever (Zoe Murphy)
Newly announced: Amy Adams (Cynthia Murphy) and Danny Pino (Larry Murphy),
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Video: Jim Caruso’s Virtual Halston variety show, with special guest Linda Lavin (1:10:24)
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Video: Andrea McArdle performs “As Long As He Needs Me” (2012)
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GRACE NOTES Quiz Answers: “Heck, I’d Even Play the Maid”
1-F. Louise (maid) – Amanda Prynne in Private Lives
2-J. Solange and Claire (maids) – Madame in The Maids
3-H. Sabina (maid) – the Antrobus family in The Skin of Our Teeth
4-A. Mrs. Pearce (housekeeper) – Henry Higgins in Pygmalion and My Fair Lady
5-I. Katie (maid/cook) – the Smith family in Meet Me In St. Louis
6-B. Jean (valet) – The Count (father of Miss Julie) in Miss Julie
7-E. Maria (chambermaid) – Countess Olivia in Twelfth Night
8-C. Petra (maid) – Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music
9-D. Rheba (maid/cook) – the Sycamore family in You Can’t Take It With You
10-G. Jewel (housekeeper/maid) – Mona Stangley in The Best Little Whorehouise in Texas