Today’s Highlights:
* Winners for The Audelco’s 2020 VIV Awards livestreamed at 7 PM ET here.
* “The Disney Holiday Singalong,” hosted by Ryan Seacrest, featuring Leslie Odom, Jr., Andrea Bocelli, BTS, Michael Bublé, Ciara, Chloe x Halle, Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert, Julianne Hough, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, P!NK, Kerry Washington, Caroline Bowman and Aisha Jackson, the number also includes Tracee Beazer, Austin Colby, Lindiwe Dlamini, Olivia Donaldson, Bongi Duma, Nicholas Edwards, April Holloway, Ben Jeffrey, Nina LaFarga, Telly Leung, Isabelle McCalla, Paul HeeSang Miller, Kyle Mitchel, Nteliseng Nkhela, Amber Owens, Adam Perry, John Riddle, Ann Sanders, Dennis Stowe, L. Steven Taylor, and Nicholas Ward, airs at 8 PM on ABC.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Second Bananas, by Jim Bernhard:
Match these couples who are secondary characters in plays and musicals.
| 1. Lorenzo | A. Hero |
| 2. Cornelius | B. Audrey |
| 3. Enoch | C. Adelaide |
| 4. Herman | D. Annie |
| 5. Will | E. Johanna |
| 6. Bill | F. Irene |
| 7. Claudio | G. Jessica |
| 8. Nathan | H. Cleo |
| 9. Anthony | I. Carrie |
| 10. Touchstone | J. Lois |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Video: “Stars in the House” presents “Best in Shows,” in support of the Humane Society, with Bill Berloni, Sierra Boggess, Lilli Cooper, Darius de Haas, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Jose Llana, Jessie Mueller, Paige Price, Kate Rockwell, Douglas Sills and Will Swenson. (1:35:40)
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Broadway on Demand presents Seasons 1 & 2 of Kate Wetherhead & Andrew Keenan Bolger’s “Submissions Only.” If you haven’t seen the series, don’t miss this opportunity!
Kate Wetherhead & Andrew Keenan Bolger, Colin Hanlon, Santino Fontana, Donna Vivino, Stephen Bienskie, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Max von Essen, Jared Gertner, and Marily Sokol, with Audra McDonald, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, James Monroe Igelhart, Condola Rashad, Annaleigh Ashford, Michael Urie, Judith Light, Joel Grey, Bobby Cannavale, Linda Lavin, Will Swenson, Rachel Dratch, Max Jenkins, Kristen Johnston, Nick Jonas, Lea Delaria, Adam Pascal, Jeremy Jordan, Malcolm Getz, Joanna Gleason, and more.
A hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the world of New York Theater, leaving what happens on the stage, out of frame.
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RIP: Dena Dietrich has died at the age of 91. Best known as Mother Nature in commercials for Chiffon Margarine from 1971-79, she also appeared on Broadway, TV, and film.
Broadway credits include Here’s Where I Belong (1968) and The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1968), as well as her Off-Broadway appearance in Cindy (1964)
On television, Dietrich appeared in “Adam’s Rib,” “Karen,” “Friends and Lovers.” “The Practice,” The Ropers,” “13 East,” “Life with Lucy,” “Life Goes On,” “NYPD Blue,” “Murphy Brown,” and “The Golden Girls.”
Film credits include “The Wild Party” (1975), “The North Avenue Irregulars” (1979), and “History of the World, Part 1 (1981).
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“The MisMatch Game Show” will stream Dec. 5 & 8, both at 8 PM PT, at LA’s LGBT Center.
Dec. 5 Special Guests: Danny Casillas (Reba Areba), Tom Lenk (Tilda Swinton), Jackie Clarke (Liz Taylor, Drew Droege (Donald Sutherland), Chris Pudlo (Stevie Nicks), and Danielle Gaither (Wendy Williams.
Dec. 12 Special Guests: Julie Brown (Melania Trump), Marc Samuel (Morgan Freeman), Felix Pire (Ricardo Montalban), Chris Pudlo (Peewee Herman), Tom Lenk (Tilda Swinton), and Danny Casillas (Reba Areba).
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Chicago Shakespeare Theatre will present a streamed production of Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure Dec. 19 – Jan. 1, directed & choreographed by Amber Mak, with music direction by Kory Danielson. The production was filmed by multiple cameras in front of a live audience.
Rengin Altay (Storyteller), Roberta Burke (Mrs. Darling/Cecco), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Nana/Bill Jukes), Sean Patrick Fawcett (Smee), Cameron Goode (John Darling), Carter Graf (Michael Darling), Christina Hall (Starkey), James Konicek (Mr. Darling/Captain Hook), Michael Kurowski (Tootles), Colin Lawrence (Curly), John Marshall Jr. (Slightly Soiled), Johnny Shea (Peter Pan), Elizabeth Stenholt (Wendy Darling), and Travis Austin Wright (Nibs).
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Donmar Warehouse will stream Looking a Lot Like Christmas on Wed. Dec. 16 at 7:30 PM ET in St. Paul’s Church, directed by Simon Evans, with music direction by Nigel Lilley. The concert will be captioned and an audio introduction will be available in partnership with Vocaleyes.
The hour-long concert will offer musical numbers, sketches and seasonal poetry.
Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Minnie Driver, Giles Terera, Rosalie Craig, and Sharon Rose, with more TBA.
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An Evening with Kelli O’Hara will take place Sat. Dec. 5 at 8 PM ET here, directed by Rod Rock, followed by a live Q&A.
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LA’s Center Theatre Group is offering its new Digital Stage for only $10/month or an annual donation of $100!
Experience beautifully live-captured Digital Stage+ performances for free, and access to an array of on-demand performances and more from the best seats in your house.
Click here for $10 Monthly Access
Click here for a $100 Annual Donation
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Carmen Cusack: Therapy will stream Dec. 29 at 6 PM PT at Las Vegas’ The Space.
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Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents A Christmas Carol — An Audio Play Dec. 1-31, adapted by Jessica Thebus, Neena Arndt & Richard Woodbury, directed by Thebus.
Asher Alcantara (Boy Scrooge/Peter Cratchit), Justin Amolsch (Musician), Kareem Bandealy (Jacob Marley), Dee Dee Batteast (Frida), Ariana Burks (Martha Cratchit/Catherine), Thomas J. Cox (Bob Cratchit), Allen Gilmore (Abe), Cindy Gold (Mrs. Fezziwig), Greg Hirte (Dick Wilkins), Susaan Jamshidi (Mrs. Cratchit), Vikram Konkimalla (Tiny Tim), Jennifer Latimore (Belle), Aurora Real De Asua (Ghost of Christmas Past), Christopher Sheard (Young Scrooge), Paris Strickland (Emily Cratchit), Bethany Thomas (Chost of Christmas Present), Penelope Walker (Mrs. Fezziwig), Andrew White (Narrator), and Larry Yando (Ebenezer Scrooge).
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Sierra Boggess and Julian Ovenden:
Video: “The Heather on the Hill” (Brigadoon)
Video: “Take Me As I Am” (Jekyll & Hyde)
Video: “One Kiss”/”Lover Come Back to Me” (New Moon)
Video: “Too Much in Love to Care” (Sunset Boulevard)
Video: “You Are Love” (Showboat)
Video: “Stranger in Paradise” (Kismet)
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Christmas on the Rocks will run Dec. 1-31 at TheatreWorks Hartford, conceived & directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production features 7 playwrights each adding their own spin to the canon of holiday traditions past.
John Cariani, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jenn Harris & Matthew Wilkas, Jacques, Lamarre, Theresa Rebeck, and Edwin Sanchez.
Harry Bouvy, JennHarris, Randy Harrison, Matthew Wilkas, and Ted Lange.
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Video: An Evening At Joe’s Fundraiser, featuring Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Maureen Lipman, Gyles Brandreth, Chita Rivera, Christopher Biggins, Lesley Joseph, Amanda Barrie, and many more. (56:33)
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Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep presents a pay-what-you-can production Meet Me in St. Louis — A Holiday Special in Song and On Screen, to run Dec. 11 – Jan. 2, adapted & directed by Charlotte Moore, with music direction by John Bell. This new digital production is an abridged version of the musical, based on the 1944 film.
Shereen Ahmed, William Bellamy, Rufus Collins, Kerry Conte, Melissa Errico, Ali Ewoldt, Kathy Fitzgerald, Ian Holcomb, Austyn Johnson, Jay Aubrey Jones, Kylie Kuioka, Ashley Robinson, and Max Von Essen.
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Audio: Shoshana Bean performs “We Still Have Christmas”
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Video: Full-length trailer for “The Prom” on Netflix.
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The Doo Wop Project: Live in Your Home for the Holidays will take place Sat. Dec. 12 at 8 PM ET here.
Charl Brown, Dwayne Cooper, John Michael Dias, Russell Fischer, Dominic Nolfi, and Sonny Paladino.
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Liz Callaway’s “Comfort and Joy – An Acoustic Christmas” is out of stock on Amazon, but you can still order the album here.
1. Merry Christmas Darling
2. Hard Candy Christmas
3. Walking in the Air (theme from “The Snowman”)
4. God Bless My Family
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Carol of the Bells
6. Love is Christmas
7. Christmas Eve (Could Not Ask for More)
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
9. O Holy Night
10. Christmas Time is Here
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Kritzerland’s annual Holiday Show will stream Sun. Dec. 13 at 5 PM PT here.
Daniel Thomas Bellusci, Klea Blackhurst, Liz Callaway, Peyton Kirkner, Liz Larsen, Kerry O’Malley, Hartley Powers, Sami Staitman, Adrienne Stiefel, Sal Viviano, Mackenzie Wrap, and Robert Yacko.
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Video: “Bohemian Rhapsody/Somebody to Love,” by Acapop! KIDS. Fabulous.
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A Little New Music will present its next Spotlight Series, focusing on composer/lyricist/playwright Drew Fornarola., on Tues. Dec. 7 at 7 PM PT.
Drew will look back on and discuss a previous favorite from the A Little New Music archives, as well as introduce a new song.
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The world premiere of John Caird & Paul Gordon’s fully produced green screen event, Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist will continue streaming through Jan. 3 at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre, directed by Caird, with music supervision by Brad Haak, and choreography by Natalie Lomonte.
Betsy Wolfe (Estella), Clifton Duncan (Philip ‘Pip’ Nicleby), Lauren Patten (Dawkins), Patrick Page (Mr. Merdle), Carolee Carmello (Maria Havisham), Danny Burstein (Ebenezer Scrooge), Megan McGinnis (Betty Cratchit), Adam Halpin (Bob Cratchit), Sarah Litzsinger (Sissy Jupe), Tom Nelis (Dedlock), Em Grosland (Smike), Phoenix Best (Charity/Mercy), David Bryant (Mr. Podsnap), Gabrielle Reid (Mrs. Pumblechook), Samuel Lee Roberts (Mr. Flopson), Michael Francis McBride (Mr. Dombey), Michele Lee (Mrs. Noggs), Kristen Faith Oei (Ms. Skiffins), Meg Gibson (Molly), William Youmans (Magwitch/Bagstock), Kevyn Morrow (Jasper Jaggers), Joziyah Jean-Felix (Young Pip), Brooklyn Shuck (Young Essy), and Willow McCarthy (Tiny Tammy).
A modern-day Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage and Estella fancies the idea of lowering the boom personally. Arriving at Harthouse on Christmas Eve, Estella discovers that the defaulting party is her childhood friend Pip Nickleby. A good and generous soul, Pip has transformed the property into a refuge for the sick, dispossessed, and homeless. A freak snowstorm forces Estella to take refuge. That night, just as it happened to her ancestor Ebenezer, she is haunted by three visitation…and, oh, what uninvited houseguests they are!
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Second Bananas
1-G. Lorenzo – Jessica (The Merchant of Venice)
2-F. Cornelius Hackl – Irene Molloy (Hello, Dolly!)
3-I. Enoch Snow – Carrie Pipperidge (Carousel)
4-H. Herman – Cleo (The Most Happy Fella)
5-D. Will Parker – Ado Annie Carnes (Oklahoma!)
6-J. Bill Calhoun – Lois Lane (Kiss Me, Kate)
7-A. Claudio – Hero (Much Ado About Nothing)
8-C. Nathan Detroit – Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls)
9-E. Anthony Hope – Johanna (Sweeney Todd)
10-B. Touchstone – Audrey (As You Like It)