Today’s Highlights:
* The Woman Hater benefit reading, by Frances Burney, directed by Everett Quinton, featuring Bill Army, Arnie Burton, Veanne Cox, Rebecca S’Manga Frank, Cherie Corinne Rice, Matthew Saldivar, Jenne Vath, and Nick Westrate, livestreams at 7:30 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater.
* Hard on Love reading, by Scott Barry, directed by Jonathan Stuart Cerullo, featuring Rob Nagle and Jesse Hayea, streams at 8 PM PT here (and available through Jan. 25).
* Broadway’s Black Voices of the Future FREE concert, with new songs by Zhailon Levingston, Nik Alexander, Nehemiah Luckett, Tracey Conyer Lee, Sissi Liu, Kirya Traber, Alex Hare, Derrick Byars, Tia DeShazor, AriDy Nox, and Brandon Webster, performed by Nik Alexander, Kirya Traber, Tracey Conyer Lee, Nehemiah Luckett, Avionce Hoyles, Matthew Greer, John Carlin, Amara Brady, Richard Baskin, Tonilyn Sideco, Missy Wise, Jeannette Bayardelle, Kayla Davion, Kevin R. Free, Denise Manning, Carla R. Stewart, Ashley Jenkins, Nattalyee Randall, Ashley Jenkins, Ashanti J’Aria, Ck Edwards, Desiree Murphy, Renee Reid, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Alaina Newell, Corey Barrow, Hk Wall, Tayler Harris, Marthaluz Veliz, Tyler McKenzie, Caleb Spainhour, and Max Morter, streams at 5:30 PM ET here.
* “Idol Chat: Jim Morgan schmoozes with Lee Roy Reams” conversation, streams at 8 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz – Talk of the Town by Jim Bernhard
Match these fictional towns with the plays and musicals that are set there:
| 1. Grover’s Corners, NH | A. It’s A Bird…It’s A Plane…It’s Superman |
| 2. River City, IA | B. Paint Your Wagon |
| 3. Rainbow Valley, Missitucky | C. The Visit |
| 4. Rumson, CA | D. The Man Who Came to Dinner |
| 5. Bird-in-Hand, PA | E. The Music Man |
| 6. Güllen | F. Plain and Fancy |
| 7. Metropolis | G. Bye Bye Birdie |
| 8. Bottleneck | H. Our Town |
| 9. Mesalia, OH | I. Finian’s Rainbow |
| 10. Sweet Apple, OH | J. Destry Rides Again |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Video: Stars in the House, celebrating Chita Rivera’s birthday, with special guests Raymond Del Barrio, Richard Amaro, Lloyd Culbreath, Robert Montano, Jon LaPook, Javier Muñoz, Andrea Burns, George Dvorsky, Michael Orland, Andy Karl, Jason Alexander, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch. (1:43:30)
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Video: Stars in the House, offering Concert for America, with special guests Jessie Mueller, Bebe Neuwirth, Keala Settle, Lisa Mordente, and more. (2:12:45)
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RIP: Bob Avian, choreography, producer, and director, died Jan. 21 from cardiac arrest in Ft. Lauderdale at the age of 83.
Bob began his career as a dancer, appearing in the original Broadway production of West Side Story, as well as Nowhere to Go But Up, Funny Girl, Café Crown, and Henry, Sweet Henry.
He was the assistant stage manager for I Do! I Do! (1966), and co-choreographed Promises, Promises with Michael Bennett. For the next 2 decades, Mr. Avian was an integral part of every Bennett production, including Coco, Company, Follies, Twigs, Seesaw, and God’s Favorite.
In 1976 he won his first Tony Award for c0-choreographer (with Bennett) for A Chorus Line. His second Tony for Best Choreography (also with Bennet), was in 1979 for Ballroom, for which Bob also served as Producer.
Mr. Avian was also a lead producer for Dreamgirls (1981), directed & choreographed by Bennett, and also served as the Production Supervisor for the musical’s revival.
In addition, Mr. Avia choreographed the London premiere of Follies, as well as the London and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon (Tony nomination for Best Choreography).
Back on Broadway, Bob received the 1995 Best Choreography Tony Award for Sunset Boulevard, which had premiered in London. He received an Olivier Award for Martin Guerre, and also choreographed the London premiere of The Witches of Eastwick.
Off-Broadway credits include Putting It Together, starring Julie Andrews, for Manhattan Theatre Club, and the 1999 Broadway production of the show, starring Carol Burnett.
In 2006, Mr. Avian directed the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, and appeared in the musical’s documentary, “Every Little Step.” In 2013 he directed the London revival of A Chorus Line at the Palladium, followed by productions at the Hollywood Bowl and the New York City Center (2018). His final Broadway credit was the 2017 revival of Miss Saigon (for which he provided choreography and musical staging).
Mr. Avian’s memoir, “Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey,” co-written with Tom Santopietro, was published in 2020, available on Kindle and Hardcover here.
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The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Youth Pride Chorus, and Tonewall’s annual Valentine’s Day-themed benefit concert, Harmony, will stream Sat. Feb. 13 at 8 PM ET here, as part of Stars in the House.
Nick Adams, Frenchie Davis, Sidney DuPont, Henry Gottfried, Ann Harada, Jessica Hendy, Davin Ilaw, DJ Lady Bunny, Marla Louissaint, John Tartaglia, Vishal Vaidya, and Tyler Whitman.
Viewers can also expect celebrity interviews, silent auction prizes, musical memories, and more.
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Video: Ivy Beach performs a monologue from The Seagull here.
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Pittsburgh CLO will release one “Songs for a New Year” video every week for 5 weeks, through Feb. 18. As part of its New Works initiative, the theatre reached out to five writing teams to invite them to respond to the turning of the New Year in a commissioned song. Soon after, choreographers were invited to take the writing teams’ work and create a commissioned dance, visual, or movement piece scored by one of the songs.
Jan. 21: “Resolutions,” by Sarah Taylor Ellis & Meghan Brown, with choreography by Stephanie Klemons.
Jan. 28: “A Cynic and an Optimist,” by Matt Schatz, choreographed by LaTrea Derome.
Feb. 4: “I Remembered,” by Kasaun Henry & Jillian Walker.
Feb. 11: “12 Grapes,” by Austin Dean Ashford & Brian Quijada, with choreography by Juel D. Lane.
Feb. 18: “No More Soggy Bottoms,” by Rona Siddiqui, with choreography by James Washington Manning.
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A re-worked concert version of London’s The Color Purple, filmed at the Curve in Leicester, will stream Feb. 16 – Mar. 7, directed by Tinuke Craig, with music direction by Alex Parker.
T’Shan Williams (Celie), Karen Mavundukure (Sofia), Carly Mercedes Dyer (Shug Avery), Danielle Fiamanya (Nettie), Ako Mitchell (Mister), and Simon Anthony Rohen (Harpo), along with Geoff Aymer, KM Drew Boateng, Owen Chaponda, Perola Congo, Danielle Kassarate, Anelisa Lamola, Rosemary Annabella Nkrumah, Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy, Landi Oshinowo, and Jo Servi.
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* Jamie Dornan and Eddie Redmayne here.
* Ben Affleck and Sacha Baron Cohen here.
* George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer here.
* Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins here.
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LA Opera continues to stream digital operas:
* The West is a Land of Infinite (through Jan. 29), by Missy Mazzoli & Royce Vavrek, directed by James Darrah. The ghostly Sodbuster who haunts the mind of a farmer strives to survive in extreme conditions. 
watch here.
* p r i s m (Jan. 26 – Feb. 8), by Ellen Reid & Roxie Perkins. A mother and daughter lock themselves away from the outside world following a traumatic event. What happens to memories when you try to change them. watch here.
* Lumee’s Dream (Jan. 29 – Feb. 11), a digital short by by Ellen Reid & Roxie Perkins, directed by James Darrah. Taken from a pivotal moment in the opera where a mother questions her past choices and their effect on her vulnerable teenage daughter, plunging viewers into a psychedelic dreamscape. watch here.
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The new revival of Anything Goes will begin performances June 5 at the Barbicon Theatre, directed & choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.
Megan Mullally (Reno Sweeney), Robert Lindsay (Moonface Martin), Felicity Kendall (Evangeline Harcourt), Gary Wilmot (Elisha Whitney), and more TBA.
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LA’s Broad Stage presents Breathing Free, to stream Feb. 10 & 13, both at 7 PM PT. Each screening will be followed by a live panel discussion with artists and advocates highlighting themes in the presentation.
An ambitious filmed song cycle dedicated to the celebration of Black artistic voices, featuring 9 interconnected music videos with music from Beethoven’s Fidelis, Negro spirituals, and works by Harry T. Burleigh, Florence Price, Langston Hughes, Anthony Davis, and Thulani Davis.
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A reading of Billy Porter’s While I Yet Live will stream Sat. Feb. 6 at 7 PM ET here, directed by Sheryl Kaller, in support of The Actors Fund.
(Original Off-Broadway): Lillias White, S. Epatha Merkerson, Elain Graham, Sheria Irving, Kevyn Morrow, Larry Powell, and Sharon Washington.
Porter’s semi-autobiographical play follows a young man in Pittsburgh coming of age among a bevy of fascinating and strong-willed women.
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The upcoming “Cinderella” film, written & directed by Kay Cannon, will now be released July 16 (instead of Feb. 5), due to the pandemic. More here.
Camila Cabello (Cinderella), Nicholas Galitzine (Prince), Billy Porter (Fairy Godmother), Idina Menzel (Stepmother), Minnie Driver (Queen Beatrice), Pierce Bosnan (King Rowan), Maddie Baillio & Charlotte Spencer (Stepsisters), Fra Free (Hench), James Corden, John Mulaney & Romesh Ranganathan (Mice/Footmen).
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers – Talk of the Town
1-H. Grover’s Corners, NH – Our Town
2-E. River City, IA – The Music Man
3-I. Rainbow Valley, Missitucky – Finian’s Rainbow
4-B. Rumson, CA – Paint Your Wagon
5-F. Bird-in-Hand, PA – Plain and Fancy
6-C. Güllen – The Visit
7-A. Metropolis – It’s A Bird…It’s A Plane…It’s Superman
8-J. Bottleneck – Destry Rides Again
9-D. Mesalia, OH – The Man Who Came to Dinner
10-G. Sweet Apple, OH – Bye Bye Birdie