Today’s Highlights:
* Richard II radio broadcast, directed by Saheem Ali, featuring André Holland (Richard II), Lupita Nyong’o (The Narrator), Phylicia Rashad (Duchess of Gloucester), Estelle Parsons (Duchess of York), Barzin Akhavan (Salisbury/Marshall), Sean Carvajal (Gardener’s Man/Surrey), Michael Bradley Cohen (Bushy), Sanjit De Silva (Mowbray/Exton), Biko Eisen-Martin (Fitzwater), Michael Gaston (Northumberland), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Gardener), Miriam A. Hyman (Bolingbroke), Merritt Janson (Scroop), Elijah Jones (Hotspur, Dakin Matthews (Gaunt), Jacob Ming-Trent (Carlisle), Maria Mukuka (Queen’s Lady/Servant), Okwui Okpokwasili (Willoughby/Abbot), Tom Pecinka (Aumerle), Reza Salazar (Welsh Captain), Thom Sesma (Ross/Keeper), Sathya Sridharan (Bagot), John Douglas Thompson (York), Claire van der Boom (Queen), Natalie Woolams-Torres (Green), and Ja’Siah Young (Groom), begins Part 1 of a 4-night presentation at 8 PM ET here (continues through July 16).
* “Live Panel: Show (and Tell): Storyville” FREE discussion, with Mildred Kayden, Ed Bullins, Bill Castellino, and Storyville cast members DC Anderson, Karen Burthwright, Kyle Carter, Carl Wallnau, and Zakiya Young, at 7:10 PM ET ET here.
* The Seth Rudetsky Concert Series, with special guest Audra McDonald, streams at 3 PM ET here.
* Mikaela Bennett and Alex Prakken in concert, streamed at 8: 15 PM CT at The Muny (also June 16).
* Red Bull Theater‘s “All the World’s a Stage” FREE podversation, with Stephen Spinella, streamed at 7:30 PM ET.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: All About Me by Jim Bernhard
Match these actors with the titles of their one-person autobiographical shows:
| 1. Christopher Plummer | A. Ghetto Klown |
| 2. Rita Moreno | B. Knight Out at the Lyceu |
| 3. Joy Behar | C. 700 Sundays |
| 4, Bea Arthur | D. A Word or Two |
| 5. Billy Crystal | E. At Liberty |
| 6. John Leguizamo | F. Life Without Makeup |
| 7. Lily Tomliin | G. Wishful Drinking |
| 8. Carrie Fisher | H. Me, My Mouth and I |
| 9. Ian McKellen | I. Not Playing With A Full Deck |
| 10. Elaine Stritch | J. Just Between Friends |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Amanda Kloots held a private memorial for Nick Cordero recently.
Amanda described this service: “We had a small memorial yesterday with close family and friends. I said, “Nick would have wanted this to be a celebration. Let’s try to laugh, share great stories and sing for him and to his memory.” He would have loved it. It was beautiful and perfect. His spirit was definitely there.
“We listened to the song, “I’m Here,” from The Color Purple. Nick and I saw this show on Broadway years ago and we left the theater in tears, speechless. As it was being played last night the lyrics in the second half of the song hit me hard. Truly, I am scared. Scared of my new normal, of the pain, the loss and being strong enough to get through it. But, I know Nick is up above routing for me, believing in me and hoping for me. He wants me to LIVE this new life and he wants me to be the best version of myself for our son. I promised him in the hospital that I would try to do that. So, when I heard these lyrics yesterday I thought, “Ok. When I’m doubting if I can get through this, I’m playing this song. It will be my motto.”
“This is a long journey ahead and a down road I never thought I’d be on. No one can tell me how to do it, I have to do it. I may do things right, I may do them wrong. There isn’t a perfect way. One day, one step at a time. I have faith that God is leading the way and that Nick is our angel.”
Donate to GoFundMe’s campaign to support Amanda and Elvis.
No word yet on if there will be another memorial that will be open to all.
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TDF Videos available for viewing (most are FREE):
* Carousel in Concert (New York Philharmonic 2013), starring Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Jessie Mueller, Shuler Hensley, Jason Danieley, Kate Burton, John Cullum, Robert Fairchild, and Tiler Peck, through Sept. 8 here.
* The Deep Blue Sea (London National Theatre 2016), starring Helen McCrory, through July 16 here.
* Bernadette Peters: A Special Concert (2009, in support of BC/EFA) through July 14 here.
* The Line, world premiere by Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater, starring Alison Pill, Jamey Sheridan and Lorraine Toussaint, through Aug. 4 here. 
A ripped-from-the-front-lines docudrama based on interviews with NYC healthcare workers about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
* Mood Music, Joe Penhall’s examination of the toxic pop industry, starring Ben Chaplin and Seána Kerslake, through July 14 here.
* The Mint Theatre’s Summerstock Streaming Festival, a virtual festival featuring recordings of three full-length productions from its archives: George Kelly’s domestic dramedy The Fatal Weakness, Harold Chapin’s comedy of mores The New Morality and Hazel Ellis’s suspenseful comedy Women Without Men, through July 19 here.
* The Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet, starring Yasmine Naghdi and Matthew Ball, through July 22 here.
* Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre’s Juba, through July 16 here.
* Stratford Festival’s Romeo and Juliet, through July 30 here.
* Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, through July 22 here.
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Scenes from past productions at LA’s Mark Taper Forum:
Video: The world premiere of David Henry Hwang‘s 2001 adaptation of Flower Drum Song, starring Lea Solanga.
Video: Immediate Family
Video: Until the Flood, written by & starring Dael Orlandersmith.
Video: Amélie, A New Musical, starring Phillipa Soo.
Video: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, starring Lillias White
Video: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, starring Mark Blum and Kristine Nielsen.
Video: Head of Passes, starring Phylicia Rashad.
Video: Girlfriend, by Todd Almond & Matthew Sweet (at the Kirk Douglas Theatre), starring Ryder Bach and Curt Hansen.
Video: The Trip to Bountiful, starring Cicely Tyson and Jurnee Smollett-Bell.
Video: Red, starring Alfred Molina and Jonathan Groff.
Video: Lackawanna Blues, starring Ruben Santiago-Hudson.
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ASTEP will present “The Art of Wellness: A Curated Evening of Conversation and Music” on Sun. July 19 at 7 PM ET on Facebook, hosted by Dr. Keith Bell and Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Click here to register.
Jessica Vosk, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Crystal Monee Hall, and more.
A discussion of powerful and effective techniques proven to transform stress-based emotional responses into virtues and strength for navigation these difficult times. Utlizing positive psychology, mindfulness, and creativity, the event will explore the cultivation of character strengths such as courage, humor, gratitude, and transcendence as a way of cultivating resilience.
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Video: “Stars in the House,” with guest host Andrea Burns, featuring Janet Dacal, Mandy Gonzalez, and Karen Olivo. (57:18)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” spotlighting Nebraska’s Allegro Wolf Arts Center. (57:25)
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Audio: 40 Broadway songs (scroll down a little)… or listen on Spotify.
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UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has announced that outdoor theatres, opera and music venues can reopen from 11 July – with live performances in front of outdoor, socially distanced audiences.
However, Shakespeare’s Globe will not be reopening at this time. The Globe has said that it is “not economically viable” to open to smaller audiences.
“We’re an independent charity with very limited reserves. The Government understands our situation, and we are incredibly grateful for their promised investment in our sector, as well as recognition of the contribution theatre and the arts make to people’s lives,” read a tweet from the Globe’s official Twitter account.
“We are of course looking at other ways to share our beloved spaces, including broadcasting from our playhouses, but cannot open at scale at this time within social distancing guidelines.”
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Video: Kathleen Battle & Jessye Norman perform“There is a Balm in Gilead”
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After the Disneyland Resort postponed the reopening of their theme parks and resorts, the Actors’ Equity Association released a statement urging Walt Disney World to consider doing the same as new COVID-19 cases in the state of Florida continue to break daily records. Equity, which represents about 750 park employees, said that Walt Disney World rescinded its previous decision to recall the resort’s actors after the union demanded testing.
Not only is Actors’ Equity asking for Walt Disney World to delay their reopening, but they are also looking for Disney to provide regular Coronavirus testing for Cast Members who cannot wear personal protective equipment due to the nature of their positions.
Update: Actors’ Equity Association says Walt Disney World has “locked out” its union members as a way of retaliating against Equity’s demand for coronavirus testing as a condition for returning to work, while Disney says park safety protocols have been accepted by other unions.
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Video: Follies — complete 2011 production at the Kennedy Center (2:10:45).
Bernadette Peters (Sally Durant), Jan Maxwell (Phyllis Rogers Stone), Danny Burstein (Buddy Plummer), Ron Raines (Benjamin Stone), Elaine Page (Carlotta Campion), Linda Lavin (Hattie Walker), Mary Beth Peil (Solange LaFitte), Don Correia (Theodore Whitman), Terri White (Stella Deems), Rosalind Elias (Heidi Schiller), Colleen Fitzpatrick (Dee Dee West), Michael Hayes (Roscoe), Susan Watson (Emily Whitman), Florence Lacey (Sandra Crane), David Sabin (Dimitri Weismann), Frederick Strother (Max Deems), Christian Delcroix (Young Buddy), Lora Lee Gayer (Young Sally), Kristen Scott (Young Phyllis), and Nick Verina (Young Ben).
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Video: “The Perfect Year,” with Patti LuPone, in London’s Sunset Boulevard (1993)
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Video: Ramin Karimloo, “Amazing Grace”
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: All About Me
1-D. Christopher Plummer – A Word or Two
2-F. Rita Moreno – Life Without Makeup
3-H. Joy Behar – Me, My Mouth and I
4-J. Bea Arthur – Just Between Friends
5-C. Billy Crystal – 700 Sundays
6-A. John Leguizamo –Ghetto Klown
7-I. Lily Tomlin – Not Playing With A Full Deck
8-G. Carrie Fisher – Wishful Drinking
9-B. Ian McKellen – A Knight Out at the Lyceum
10-E. Elaine Stritch – At Liberty