Today’s Highlights:
Joshua Henry (Dr. Pomatter) and Tyrone Davis Jr. (Ogie), begin their runs in Waitress at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Candlelight, world premiere by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Lori Kee, featuring John Cencio Burgos, Alfredo Diaz, Ivette Dumeng, Marc Reign, Darlene Tejeiro, and Christina Toth, with Taylor Grace and Randall Rodriguez, opens at Off Broadway’s New Ohio Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Of ‘The’ I Sing by Jim Bernhard
Provide the missing words following “the” in these titles and characters:
1. Elizabeth the____, play by Maxwell Anderson.
2. Billy the ____, play by Walter Woods and Joseph Santley or ballet by Aaron Copland and Eugene Loring.
3. Edward the____, play by Christopher Marlowe.
4. Harry the ____, character in Guys and Dolls.
5. John the____, play by Hermann Sudermann.
6. Mack the ____, character in The Threepenny Opera.
7. Ivan the____, play by Alexei Tolstoy.
8. Bob and Ray – the____, special show by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding.
9. Flora, the____, musical by George Abbott, Robert Russell, John Kander and Fred Ebb.
10. Irma la ____, musical by Marguerite Monnot, Monty Norman, Alexander Breffort, Julian More, David Henneke.
Scroll down for the answers…
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Second Stage’s Clyde’s at Broadway’s Hayes Theatre:
NY Times (Jesse Green): … Nottage’s delightful new play, Clyde’s… dares to flip the paradigm. Though it’s still about dark things, including prison, drugs, homelessness and poverty, it somehow turns them into bright comedy. In Kate Whoriskey’s brisk and thoroughly satisfying production for Second Stage Theater, we learn that, unlike Oedipus and his mom, people who may have little else nevertheless have choices. Which is not to say the choices are easy…[Uzo] Aduba’s hilarious and scalding performance… Sometimes, there’s a good reason you can’t stand the heat. When that happens, get out of the kitchen!
Broadway News (Charles Isherwood): When is a sandwich more than a sandwich? When it becomes a symbol of redemption, aspiration and hope, as in Lynn Nottage’s latest play, Clyde’s, a lively and funny if sometimes ham-handed — or should I say ham-on-rye-handed? — comedy-drama… the performances are impeccable… For the most part Nottage establishes her characters and their troubled pasts and uncertain futures economically and with compassionate nuance. But Clyde’s nevertheless also feels schematic… They have collectively and individually come to realize that they need to make a decision: either live under her oppressive regime indefinitely, or come up with a new recipe for their futures.
Variety (Naveen Kumar): A sandwich has always been a kind of vehicle, ingredients riding between sliced bread. Lynn Nottage improbably turns the lunchtime staple into the storytelling engine of Clyde’s, her deceptively simple flavor-bomb of a new comedy about survival, second chances and digesting whatever life serves up… Director Kate Whoriskey amps up the energy to 11, in answer to the monotony of visible action that actually goes into sandwich-making… Clyde’s might also be considered a subversion of familiar genres, including drawing room comedy and workplace drama, and the value judgments conventionally inherent to them…
NY Daily News (Chris Jones): Working in the kitchen at Clyde’s, a roadside sandwich joint in Berks County, Pa., is no fun whatsoever… And yet, Clyde’s is a dark Broadway comedy, replete with a terrifyingly funny performance from Uzo Aduba (”Orange is the New Black”) as the titular boss from hell… And, to my mind, this is a very clever, multi-layered and deliciously self-aware allegory from the writer Lynn Nottage that deftly shrouds its true intent between two pieces of bread… Nottage, a very skilled political provocateur and intellectual moralist, has found a way to write about something she wanted to write about (Broadway abuses of workers), while not actually writing about it and also writing a different commercial play at the same time.
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Steven Sondheim tributes yesterday in Times Square:
Video: Introduction by Lin Manuel Miranda.
Video: Remembering a musical titan.
Video: “Sunday,” from Sunday in the Park with George.
Video: NY1 piece
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“Something’s Coming: West Side Story — A Special Edition of 20/20,” celebrating the Dec. 10 release of the film, will air Sun. Dec. 5 at 7 PM on ABC.
Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), and Ariana DeBose (Anita), Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Tony Kushner (who wrote the film’s adaptation), Cindy Tolan (Casting Director), and Puerto Rican historians who consulted on the film.
Stephen Spielberg will reflect on his fascination with the original cast recording of the 1957 Broadway musical, and how it inspired his career. He will also share his hesitancy to direct a film musical and how he has adapted the classic film for a new generation.
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Article: Angela Lansbury remembers Stephen Sondheim.
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Kahil Gibran, Nadim Naaman & Dana Al Fardan’s Broken Wings will run Jan. 21 – Mar. 6, 2022 (opening Jan. 26) at the Charing Cross Theatre, directed by Bronagh Lagan.
Casting TBA.
New York City, 1923. New York City, 1923. Through exquisite poetry and enchanting music, an ageing Gibran narrates our tale, transporting us back two decades and across continents, to turn-of-the-century Beirut. Gibran meets Selma; their connection is instant and their love affair, fated. However, their journey to happiness is soon thrown off course, as the pair face obstacles that shake the delicate foundation of their partnership. Will their love win out or will their dream of a life together be torn apart?
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Complete casting has been announced for Timothy Allen McDonald, Christopher Gatelli & Paul Williams’ Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, to run Dec. 10 – Jan. 2 at the New Victory Theatre, directed & choreographed by Gatelli.
Colin Trudell (Emmet Otter), Cass Morgan (Ma Otter. Jordan Brownlee (Tiny Squirrel/Doc Bullfrog), Kevin Covert (Mayor Fox), LaVon Fisher-Wilson ),Mrs. Mink/Hetty Muskrat), Matt Furtado (Skippy Squirrel/Yancy Woodchuck/Stan Weasel), Jakeim Hart (Harvey), Steven Huynh (Wendell/Weasel), Maggie Lakis (Mrs. Fox), Anney Ozar (Nutella Squirrel/Old Lady Possum), J. Antonio Rodriguez (Charlie/Will Possum), and James Silson (Jiffy Squirrel/Fred Lizard).
Emmet and Ma Otter enter a Christmas Eve talent contest hoping to win price money to buy each other holiday gifts.
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Sheldon Epps’ Blues in the Night will run Jan. 15 – Feb. 27 (opening Jan. 20) at Chicago’s Porchlight Theatre, directed & choreographed by Kenny Ingram, with music direction by David Fiorello.
Felicia P. Fields (The Lady from the Road), Donica Lynn (The Woman of the World), Clare Kennedy (The Girl with a Date), Evan Tyrone Martin (The Man in the Saloon), and Terrell Armstrong (The Dancing Man).
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RIP: Playwright Edward Allan Baker died Nov. 20 in Bridgeport, CT at the age of 71. A memorial service will be announced soon.
Born in Providence in 1950, Ed devoted over 50 years to the theatre. He was a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre, a recipient of The 25th Anniversary Award For Theatrical Excellence by E.S.T, and was a lifelong member of The Dramatist Guild. He taught playwrighting at the University of Hartford and Sarah Lawrence College, and joined the Actors Studio Drama Schoot at Pace University in 20006, where created and led the hugely successful Playwriting Program.
He wrote more than 30 plays, included his popular Dolores, North of Providence, and Rosemary with Ginger, as well as scripts for HBO and Showtime.
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Disney Princess: The Concert, will open Jan. 30, 2022 at Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre, with music direction by Benjamin Rauhala.
Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Susan Egan, Syndee Winters, Courtney Reed, Christy Altomoare, Arielle Jacobs and Anneliese van der Pol, along with their prince Adam J. Levy.
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NYC’s Angelina Bakery (1675 Broadway) has created a special Broadway Bombalone featuring their motto “I Heart The Arts” in colorful sugar.
All sales of this special treat will be donated to The Actors Fund.
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The Q Brothers Collective’s Q Brothers Christmas Carol will run Dec. 7-23 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater,, with choreography by Anacron.
GQ (Scrooge), Marley/Belle/Present/Lil’ Tim), Jackson Doran (Fred/Dick Wilkins/Mamma Cratchit), Postell Pringle (Bob Cratchit/Past/Martha Cratchit), and Clayton Stamper (DJ).
A remix of the popular classic, mashing up musical styles ranging from reggae and dancehall music, to dubstep and epic rock ballads.
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Danny Robbins’ 2:22 – A Ghost Story will run Dec. 4 – Feb. 12, 2022 at the Gielgud Theatre, directed by Matthew Dunster.
Stephanie Beatriz, James Buckley, Elliot Cowan, and Giovanna Fletcher.
In this supernatural thriller, Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. they argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner. Belief and skepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know.
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Make Your Own Party: The Songs of Marcy Heisler & Zena Goldrich, with surprise guests, will take place Thurs. Dec. 30 at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.
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Audio: “Save the City,” from Rogers: The Musical!, by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, featuring Adam Pascal, Ty Taylor, Rory Donovan, Derek Klena, Bonnie Milligan, Christopher Seiber, and Shayna Steele.
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Video: Liz Callaway performs John Bucchino’s “Grateful”
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A Musical Christmas Carol will run Dec. 17-23 at the Pittsburgh CLO, directed by Scott Evans.
Richard Thomas (Ebenezer Scrooge), Emmett Kent (Tiny Tim), Jerreme Rodriguez (Bob Cratchit), Allison Cahill (Ghost of Christmas Past), Ben Cherington (Young Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Justin Fortunado (Fred), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Mrs. Cratchit), Kat Harkins (Martha Cratchit), Tim Hartman (Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present), Daniel Krell (Marley’s Ghost/Young Marley), Alex Manalo (Alice), Benjamin Kent Pimentel (Pater Cratchit/Dick Wilkins), Allan Snyder (Tom Watkins), Erika Strasburg (Belle/Bess), and Terry Wickline (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig), with Kiara Lee, Billy Mason, J. Alex Noble, Susana Wickstrom, Nick Cortazzo, Zoey Johnson, and Jason Shavers.
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Tanya Ronder, Rufus Norris & Jim Fortune’s Hex will run Dec. 4 – Jan. 22, 2022 (opening Dec. 15) at the Olivier Theatre, directed by Norris.
Rosalie Craig, Delroy Atkinson, Tamsin Carroll, Michael Elcock, Eleanor Kane, Daisy Maywood, Kat Ronney, Shaq Taylor, and Sargon Yelda.
Deep in the wood, a lonely fairy longs for someone to bless. When she is summoned to the palace to help the princess sleep, her dream turns into a nightmare and her blessing becomes a curse. Soon, she is plunged into a frantic, hundred-year quest to somehow make everything right.
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The Ilene Graff Holiday Show will take place Thurs. Dec. 9 at 8:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, with music direction by Ben Lanzarone.
Todd Graff, Glenn Rosenblum, and Harlan Boll.
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Video: New teaser for Joel Coen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” which opens Dec. 25 in theaters and Jan. 14 on Apple TV+
Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling and Brendan Gleeson.
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RIP: Casting Director Geoffrey Johnson died Nov. 26 of respiratory failure at the age of 91.
It was Noël Coward who gave Johnson an early break, selecting him to be a stage manager for the Broadway production of Sail Away in 1961. But it was casting for plays and musicals in the 1970s – 90s that Johnson forged his most enduring legacy. Along with his partner, Vincent Liff, they created the casting agency Johnson-Liff, which cast some of the longest running Broadway shows in history, including Cats, Les Miserable, and The Phantom of the Opera, as well as The Producers, The Wiz, The Elephant Man, Dreamgirls, Miss Saigon, and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
“I used a lot of the stuff I used in my acting classes when I was trying to find the right actor to show the director,” Johnson said as part of an oral history project conducted by Primary Stages. “I don’t think I was the best actor…but I do know, and his may sound very conceited,, I really have good taste.”
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Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tom Kitt, Jeff Whitty & Amanda Green’s Bring It On will run Dec. 8 – Jan. 22, 2022 at the Southbank Theatre, directed by Guy Unsworth.
Vanessa Fisher, Amber Davies, Louis Smith, Alicia Belgarde, Georgia Bradshaw, Ayden Morgan, Samuel Wilson-Freeman, Chloe Pole, Frances Dee, and Marvyn Charles.
Two squads, one mission: claim the title at the National Cheerleading Championships. The challenge: competition between the two teams is nothing compared to the competition inside them…and these girls can bring it.
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Chicago’s Goodman Theatre has announced its 17th annual New Stages Festival, a free celebration of new works by some of the country’s finest established and emerging playwrights, to run Dec. 1-19.
Nightwatch, by Max Yu, directed by Chay Yew
Layalin, by Martin Yousif Zebari, directed by Sivan Battat
Fires, Ohio, by Beth Hyland, directed by Marti Lyons
Your Name Means Dream, by José Rivera, directed by Audrey Francis
Watching the Watcher, by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller
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Video: Watch Stephen Sondheim win his first 2 Tony Awards, and 11 other memorable TV moments.
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Article. Interesting piece on Sondheim … with videos
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Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind will run Dec. 2 – Jan. 29, 2022 (opening Dec. 9) at the National Theatre, directed by Nancy Medina.
Daniel Adeosun, Naana Agyei-Ampadu, Joe Bannister, Emma Canning, John Hollingworth, Rory Keenan, Gary Lilburn, Tanya Moodie, and Cyril Nri.
Wilette Mayer, an African American actress of a certain age, has spent her career playing stereotypes, trapped on a merry-go-round of mammies, maids, and other menials. The curtain rises on the first day of rehearsal for Chaos in Bellville, a Broadway-bound play that tackles the harsh truths of racism in America. But when those truths spill out of the play and into the rehearsal hall, will Wiletta’s insistence on her dignity cost her the work she desperately needs?
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Conversations with Stephen Sondheim:
Video 1: A 2020 conversation with Stephen Sondheim and Patti LuPone on “CBS Sunday Morning,”
Video 2: “Stephen Sondheim – 1994 Actors Studio Interview” punctuated by some wonderful Liz Callaway and Jim Walton performances. (1 hour)
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Of ‘The’ I Sing
1. Elizabeth the Queen, play by Maxwell Anderson.
2. Billy the Kid, play by Walter Woods and Joseph Santley or ballet by Aaron Copland and Eugene Loring.
3. Edward the Second, play, by Christopher Marlowe.
4. Harry the Horse, character in Guys and Dolls.
5. John the Baptist, play by Hermann Sudermann.
6. Mack the Knife, character in The Threepenny Opera.
7. Ivan the Terrible, play by Alexei Tolstoy.
8. Bob and Ray – the Two and Only, special show by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding.
9. Flora, the Red Menace, musical by George Abbott, Robert Russell, John Kander and Fred Ebb.
10. Irma la Douce, musical by Marguerite Monnot, Monty Norman, Alexander Breffort, Julian More, David Henneker.