Today’s Highlights:
A Zoom with a View, a program of original 15-minute plays, in support of The Actors Fund, featuring Stephen Bradbury, Marylouise Burke, Veanne Cox, Amelia Fowler, Holly Hepp-Galvan, Jason Guy, Brian Hargrove, Alvin Ing, Melissa Hurst, Jon Krupp, Darrie Lawrence, April Matthis, Jed Peterson, Amanda Salazr, Deborah Savadge, Pearl Sun, and Laura Woyasz. begins FREE streaming here.
SongLabs: Space Dogs, written & performed by Van Hughes and Nick Blaemire, begins FREE streaming at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
Lauren Patton in concert, at 7:30 PM ET outdoors at NYC’s Tavern on the Green.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Murder, They Said! by Jim Bernhard
1. In Arsenic and Old Lace, Abby and Martha murder their victims by…. smothering them with old lace doilies…rapping them on the head with a silver hammer…poisoning them with elderberry wine laced with arsenic…sprinkling them with arsenic while they sleep
2. Little Murders was written by the well-known cartoonist…Al Hirschfeld…Charles Addams…Jules Feiffer…Edward Gorey
3. In Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, Leonard Vole is accused of murdering…a wealthy heiress who leaves him a fortune…his unfaithful wife…the Prime Minister…the detective Hercule Poirot
4. In Othello, Othello murders Desdemona because…she is a witness to other murders he has committed…he is in love with another woman……he believes she has been unfaithful to him with a young officer…she borrowed his favorite handkerchief and used it to wipe off her makeup
5. Howard Lindsay’s playwriting collaborator on A Slight Case of Murder was…Russel Crouse…Clare Boothe Luce…Damon Runyon…Tennessee Williams
6. Moose Murders is remembered because…it closed on opening night…its star, Eve Arden, left the show after the first preview…the director cast his wealthy wife, who bankrolled the show, in a major role…New York Times critic Frank Rich called it “the season’s most stupefying flop.”
7. The British author Frederick Knott is known for Wait Until Dark and what other suspenseful play?… Sleuth…Dial “M” for Murder…The Mousetrap…The Man
8. Murder in the Cathedral is based on the historical murder of…St. Thomas More…St. Thomas Aquinas…St. Thomas the Apostle…St. Thomas Becket
9. In Deathtrap, the sequence of murderous events is explained in the final scene by Helga ten Dorp, who is…a private detective…a psychic…a chorus girl…a psychiatrist
10. In Hamlet, The Murder of Gonzagois a play-within-the-play that is also known as…The Murder of Polonius…The Spanish Tragedy…Deathtrap…The Mousetrap
Scroll down for the answers…
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Douglas Lyon’s Chicken & Biscuits will run Sept. 23 – Jan. 2, 2022 (opening Oct. 10) at Circle in the Square, directed by Zhailon Levingston.
Michael Urie (Logan), Norm Lewis (Reginald), and more TBA.
The Jenkins family is coming together to celebrate the life of their father – hopefully without killing each other. But any hopes for a peaceful reunion unravel when a family secret shows up at the funeral… “Favorite daughter, Beverly, would rather honor her daddy dressed to show the entire congregation what she’s been “blessed with,” Teenage granddaughter, La’trice, can’t mind her own business if it was on a leash. Not far behind comes grandson Kenny and his very Jewish boyfriend Logan who is maybe, sort of, ok definitely afraid of Baneatta. But Baneatta’s hopes unravel when a family secret shows up at the funeral.
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Musical Theatre West will present Forever Plaid: The 30th Annual Reunion Concert, to run Aug. 5-8 at Long Beach’s Blair Field.
David Engel, Jason Graae, Larry Raben, and Stan Chandler.
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NYC’s Gracie Mansion Conservancy will present its 2021 Gala: Raising the Curtain – Theatre is Back benefit gala on Wed. June 30 at 6 PM ET, hosted by Deena Jones & Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Keenan Scott II, Steve H. Broadnax III, and performers from Thoughts of a Colored Man – David Henry Hwang, Bobby Conte Thornton, Jessical Phillips, John Gallagher Jr., and Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Off-Broadway’s Theater Resources Unlimited has announced its upcoming virtual reading series:
Golden Wings (available through July 1), by Coolidge Harris II, directed by Rain Pryor, featuring Lillias White, Scotch Ellis Loring, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Jerome Preston Bates, Dan Saunders, Crystal Starr, Sherman Edwards, Aliria Johnson, and Kamryn Neill. The play explores the complexities of love, loyal, and the sanctity of marriage. When the line is crossed in the Pinkins family, it is revealed that the truth can bring you out of the darkness and into a whole new light.
No Once Cries for the Blacksmith (July 11-15), by Lloyd Khaner, directed by Tonya Pinkins, starring Chuck Cooper and Robert Cuccioli. The play follows a hope-filled NYC cab driver and his confident marketing executive passengers on the best, the worst, and possible the last day of their lives.
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Lincoln Center Theater‘s production of Antoinette Chinonye’s Nwandu’s Pass Over will begin previews Aug. 4 and open Sept. 12 at the August Wilson Theatre, directed by Danya Taymor.
Jon Michael Hill, Namir Smallwood, and Gabriel Ebert.
Drawing inspiration from Waiting for Godot and the Exodus story, is placed on a street corner. Moses and Kitch stand around – talking shit, passing time, and hoping that maybe today will be different. As they dream of their promise land, a stranger wanders into their space and disrupts their plans. The play crafts everyday profanities into poetic and humorous riffs, illuminating the unquestionable human spirit of young men looking for a way out.
The box office will open early for two days only – June 30 and July 1 – and offer a special walk-up for ticket buyers who can provide proof of vaccination, with Orchestra seats for $75 and Mezzanine seats for $55. The box office hours are 10 AM – 6 PM.
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Video: Rena Strober & Gavin Stevens perform “All I Ask of You.” Not to be missed……
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Dorothy Lyman’s We Have to Hurry will stream July 10-11 on Broadway on Demand (link TBA), directed by Patricia Vanstone.
JoeBeth Williams and Harris Yulin.
A pair of mature people are forced to commune from across a balcony due to new isolation protocols. When Gil notices the secret love of his life, Margaret, growing increasing frustrated with the situation, he takes action to make every moment left count.
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The world premiere of Diane Warren, Louisette Geiss, & Howard Kagan’s The Right Girl will run Oct. 13 – Nov. 10 at Schenectady’s Proctors, directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman.
Casting TBA.
Is she The right Girl? Eleanor Stark’s entire life has been leading up to this moment: her first day as Chief Creative Officer of the legendary movie studio, Ambrosia Productions. As Eleanor rises to the top of her game working side by side for years with the industry’s most respected men, we learn that one of them has been abusing women all a long. What role does she play in the story of Hollywood’s most fiercely guarded secret?
Writer Louisette Geiss says that her screenwriting career ended in 2008 when she was sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein. Since 2007 when media began to report on the stunning accounts of harassment in Hollywood, she has been a leader in the movement to bring abusers to account and to empower all survivors to tell their stories, seek justice, and change the culture.
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Long Beach Opera has created desert in, an 8-part operatic mini-series, which is now available. This new art form is created by Artistic Director James Darrah, Ellen Reid, and christopher oscar peña.
Told in 8 episodes ranging from 10-20 minutes each, the opera revolves around two couples: Cass and Sunny, the innkeepers at a remote motor lodge called Desert Inn, who are celebrating a milestone anniversary; and new guests Ion and Rufus, who are celebrating their honeymoon. Cass and Ion harbor secrets from their lovers, and money exchanges hands to ensure everyone’s happiness.
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As the U.K. theatre industry suffers a blow due to capacity restrictions being extended into July, industry bigwigs are pressuring their government, through legal action, to release data that could aid in a full re-opening.
Among the group suing are Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cameron Mackintosh, and Sonia Friedman – all three of whom have been adamant about the economic necessity of re-opening at full capacity.
The BBC reports that data was expected to be made available the week of June 14. ERP (Events Resource Program) says the results will be published sometime before the U.K. enters Step 4, which would effectively lift all remaining coronavirus restrictions for theatres and other live venues.
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Video: New trailer for “Schmigadoon,” to premiere July 16 on Apple+ TV.
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Michael Childers’ One Night Only “Back to the 70s” will take place Wed. Nov. 10 at 6 PM PT at Palm Desert’s McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts (link TBA), in support of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, directed by Scott Coulter, with music direction by Todd Schroeder. Tickets will go on sale Sept. 7.
Brent Barrett, Klea Blackhurst, Debby Boone, Carole j. Bufford, David Burnham, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Scott Coulter, Laura Dickinson, Julie Garnyé, Jason Graae, Sam Harris, Aaron Lazar, Liisi LaFontaine, Sky LaFontaine, Amanda McBroom, Gary Shaw, Jake Simpson, James Snyder, Kevin Spirtas, Nita Whitaker, Karen Ziemba, and Lily Tomlin.
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A reading of Gary Kaskel’s Another Gin Game will take place Sun. July 18 at 7 PM PT at LA’s Theatre 40.
Ed Asner, Ruta Lee, and Donté Ahson Green.
A witty, sharp-tongues gossip fest between two former show biz greats in the twilight years facing their pasts, presents, and futures.
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Video: Trailer for “Schmigadoon,” featuring Kristin Chenowith, Aaron Tveit, Ariana DeBose, and more.
The first 2 episodes will be released July 16 on Apple+.
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Cleaveland Play House has announced its 2021-22 season:
Where Did We Sit on the Bus (Oct. 23 – Nov. 14), by Brian Quijada, directed by Matt Dickson. During a third grade lesson the Civil Right movement and Rosa Parks, a Latino boy raises his hand to ask, “Where did we sit on the bus?” His teacher can’t answer the question. This solo show follows that kid from his childhood to adulthood as he explores his family’s history, his identity as a first generation American, and what the world will be like for his future children.
Light It Up! (Nov. 27 – Dec. 22), world premiere by Jason Michael Webb and Lelund Durond Thompson, directed by Christopher Windom. When the annual downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes an unexpected turn, an array of Clevelanders step forward to keep the spirit of the season alive.
The Three Musketeers (Feb. 5-27, 2022), adapted by Catherine Bush and directed by Laura Kepley.
Antigone (Mar 5-27), freely adapted by Emily Mann, directed by Lauren Keating. In a dystopian near future, a war-torn nation struggles for peace and unity. The newly appointed leader, Crean, stands for law and order. But her niece Antigone kneels for justice. Neither will yield and a fatal battle of wills rages. Pushed to extremes, who will bend and who will break?
I’m Back Now (Apr. 30 – May 22), world premiere by Charly Evon Simpson, with a director TBA. A loving and tender family drama that transcends time and space. Sara journeys to Cleveland to meet her birth mother, Elle, and discovers that they are descendants of Sara Lucy Bagby, the last person every prosecuted under the Fugitive Slave Act.
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The Wizard of Oz will run July 8-10 at Pittsburgh CLO, directed by Glenn Casale, with choreography by Jerry McIntyre, and music direction by James Cunningham.
Jessica Grové (Dorothy), Dan DeLuca (Scarecrow), Evan Ruggiero (Tin Man). Drew Leigh Williams (Lion), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Wicked Witch), Melissie Clark (Aunty Em/Gelinda), Jeffrey Howell (Oz), LaTrea Rembert (Uncle Henry), Sophie Aknin, Mike Baerga, Jamary Gil, Tamrin Goldber, Jeff Gorti, Jessica Ice, Jerreme Rodriguez, and Davis Wayne.
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time will return to the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre for a limited run Nov. 20 – Jan. 9, 2022.
Casting TBA.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz Answers: Murder, They Said!
1. In Arsenic and Old Lace, Abby and Martha murder their victims by poisoning them with elderberry wine laced with arsenic.
2. Little Murders was written by the well-known cartoonist Jules Feiffer.
3. In Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution, Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a wealthy heiress who leaves him a fortune.
4. In Othello, Othello murders Desdemona because he believes she has been unfaithful to him with a young officer.
5. Howard Lindsay’s playwriting collaborator on A Slight Case of Murder was Damon Runyon.
6. Moose Murders is remembered for all of those reasons: it closed on opening night; its star, Eve Arden, left the show after the first preview; the director cast his wealthy wife, who bankrolled the show, in a major role; New York Times critic Frank Rich called it “the season’s most stupefying flop.”
7. The British author Frederick Knott is known for Wait Until Dark and Dial “M” for Murder.
8. Murder in the Cathedral is based on the historical murder of St. Thomas Becket.
9. In Deathtrap, the sequence of murderous events is explained in the final scene by Helga ten Dorp, who is a psychic.
10. In Hamlet, The Murder of Gonzago is a play-within-the-play that is also known as The Mousetrap.