Today’s Highlights:
* George Gershwin: Bidin’ My Time virtual concert, narrated by Beth Malone, featuring Farah Alvin, Allison Blackwell, James T. Lane, Kara Lindsay, and Zachary Prince, streams at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 92Y.
* “In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo’ — Special Presidential Election Edition” FREE discussion, with Josh Ellis and Peter Filichia, hosted by 13-year-old Charles Kirsch, livestreams at 7 PM ET here.
* The Seth Concert Series, with special guest LaChanze, streams at 3 PM ET here.
* Keen After Hours FREE conversation, with special guests John-Andrew Morrison & Jasminn Johnson, who will discuss their careers, their artistic process, and take questions from the audience, streams at 6:30 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Keen Company.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Merry Widows, by Jim Bernhard
Match these notable widows with the plays and musicals in which they appear:
| 1. Widow Douglas | A. Call Me Madam |
| 2. Widow Quin | B. Raisin in the Sun |
| 3. Widow Corney | C. Milk and Honey |
| 4. Hanna Glawari | D. Big River |
| 5. Clara Weiss | E. The King and I |
| 6. Queen Margaret | F. Oliver! |
| 7. Mrs. Helen Alving | G. The Merry Widow |
| 8. Sally Adams | H. Richard III |
| 9. Anna Leonowens | I. he Playboy of the Western World |
| 10. Lena Younger | J. Ghosts |
Scroll down for the answers…
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2020 Olivier Award winners:
Click here for the complete list of winners.
Video: Watch the complete ceremony. (1:24:28)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” offering a “Mean Girls Day Eve,” with Erika Henningsen, Kate Rockwell, Grey Henson and Taylor Louderman. (1:25:35)
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Video: “Stars in the House,” offering “We the People: America Rocks,” by Joe Iconis, Eli Bolin, Douglas Lyons, and special guests. (1:08:25)
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Off-Broadway’s LAByrinth Theatre will present The Metamorphosis Project, an evening of new short plays and monologues, using the theme of metamorphosis posed to them by producer Angela Lewis, which will stream on Fri. Oct. 30 at 7 PM ET.
The event will take a deep dive into what LAB members are learning right now — in light of the socio-political push forward, propelled by the Black Lives Matter movement, the slow down/sit still effects of COVID-19, and the myriad tradedies / wake-upcalls / unexpected blessings that 2020 has sprinkled on top and all in between. This project is meant to amplify unsung voices, share, mourn, and celebrate what we have learned thus far. We are forever changed!
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The Brett Loudermilk Halloween Special will stream Thurs. Oct. 29 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT here.
Gilbert Gottried (Dracula), Elvira, Mistress of the Dar, and Puddles Pity Party.
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Video: Episode 7 of DC’s Signature Theatre’s The Signature Show, directed by Matthew Gardiner, featuring Ben Cherington, Natascia Diaz, Hailey Rebecca Ibberson, Vincent Kempski, Michael J. Mainwaring, Kathleen Marsall, Derek McLane, Katie Mariko Murray, Inès, Nassara, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Nora Palka, Solomon Parker III, Nia Savoy, David Schlumpf, Greg Watkins, Sean Watkinson, Chani Wereley, and Kanysha Williams. (26:30)
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Jerad Bortz & Steven Skeel’s “An Album for Jerad Bortz: The Thankful Project,” offering songs from their recent video series, is now available on iTunes. A portion of proceeds will go to The Actors Fund and Canine Companions for Independence.
Video: Annaleigh Ashford sings “Livin’ in a Fishbowl”
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Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit, written & directed by Luis Valdez, streams through Dec. 20 at LA Theatre Works (scroll down).
Marco Rodrigues (El Pachuco), Kinan Valdez (Henry Reyna), Daniel Valdez (Enrique Reyna), Alma Martinez (Delores Reyna), Primavera Flor-Valdez (Lupe Reyna), Lakin Valdez (Rudy Ryna/Sergeant Smith/Baliff/Bosun’s Mate), Gregory Itzin (Geroge Shearer), Xochiquetzal Cadelaris (Alice Bloomfield), Estrella Esparza (Della Barrios), Ruben C. Gonzalez (Smiley Torres/Rafas/Swabie), Raul Cardona (Joey Castro/Marine), Daniel Chacón (Tommy Roberts/Cub Reporter/Sailor), Datrina Valdez (Bertha Villareal/Newboy), Seth Millwood (Lt. Edwards/Guard/Shore Patrol), Spencer Garrett (The Press), and Al Ruscio (Judge F.W. Charles).
Be transported back to the hustle and bustle of 1940s Los Angeles to the scene of the Sleepy Lagoon murder case.
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RIP: Broadway set designer Ming Cho Lee has died at age 90.
One of the foremost theater designers of the past 50 years, he taught full-time at the Yale School of Drama for 48 years and served as chair or co-chair of the design department for 34 years. He is the recipient of the National Medal of the Arts. In addition to his three Henry Hewes Design Awards, he has won two Tony Awards, an Outer Critics Circle award, Drama Desk Awards, and the TCG Practitioner Award. He holds five honorary degrees, and is a member of the Theater Hall of Fame.
Lee has designed more than 300 shows worldwide, including Broadway and Off-Broadway, and dance and opera productions. His designs have been shown in retrospectives at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and Yale School of Architecture. In 2014, TCG published “Ming Cho Lee: A Life in Design” featuring his work.
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Video: Broadway Sings for Biden concert, featuring Kate Rockwell, Jessica Vosk, Kyle Taylor Parker, Keri René Fulle, Tamika Lawrence, Dee Roscioli, Mary Kate Morrissey, Corey Mach, and Raena White, an more. (39:55)
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“Maury Sings Yeston: The Demos,” featuring 40 tracks, is now available on iTunes, and will be released on hard copy on Fri. Dec. 11 here.
The 40 tracks feature Yeston singing and playing early versions of his Tony-winning songs from Titanic and Nine, as well as Death Takes a Holiday, Queen of Basin Street, Goya‘, and more.
These demos are my personal, private notes,” Yeston said in a statement. “They’re first drafts. Those who are familiar with the final versions of a number of these selections as they ultimately appeared in shows may find it interesting to see what remains and what changed in these early drafts. I have spent a lifetime teaching musical theatre composition with the same watchword as a core principle: The art of writing is the art of rewriting. I hope these drafts will inspire every new writer to persist.”
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Video: “Super Heroes” music video, with The Skivvies (Lauren Molina & Nick Cearley), and Rob Morrison.
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“Sunset Boulevard,” the musical film adaptation, is in development. Due to COVID-19, the production is waiting for a green light in early 2021 to begin production, which will be directed by Rob Ashford, with a screenplay by Tom MacRae.
According to Glenn Close, “We have a fantastic script. I used to think I needed to play Albert Nobbs before I died, but now I think I need to do this. I can’t really put Norma to rest until I’ve explored her on film, so I hope that that happens.”
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Video: Teaser for “The Prom” on Netflix, directed by Ryan Murphy, which premieres Dec. 11, starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Jo Ellen Pellman, Keegan-Michael Key, Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Logan Riley, Nico Greetham, Sofia Deler, and Nathaniel J. Potvin.
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Berkley Rep’s It Can’t Happen Here (2016), by Tony Taccone & S. Cohen, directed by Lisa Peterson, streams through Nov. 8 here. (each of the 4 episodes automatically plays).
Elijah Alexander (General Edgeways/Bishop Prang/Lee Sarason), Danforth Comins (Philip Jessup), Scott Coopwood (Shad Ledue), William Thomas Hodgson (Dr. Fowler Greenhill), Anna Ishida (Mary Jessup Greenhill), David Kelly (Buzz Windrip), Sharon Lockwood (Emma Jessup/Adelaide Tarr Gimmitch), Eddie Lopez (David Green/Mr. Dimick), Alex Laydon (Julian Falck), Tom Nelis (Buck Titus), Greta Oglesby (Lorinda Pike), Charles Shaw Robinson (Frank Tasbrough/Effingham Swan), Gerardo Rodriguez (Karl Pascal), Carolina Sanchez (Sissy Jessup), Mark Kenneth Smaltz (R.C. Crowley/John Pollikop), and David Strathairn (Doremus Jessup)
Written in 1935 during the rise of fascism in Europe, Lewis’ darkly satirical radio series follows the ascent of a demagogue who becomes president of the United Stages by promising to return the country to greatness.
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Video: Angela Lansbury talks about her 70+ year career with her niece, Felicia Lansbury Meyer (12:56 — starts at 3:55)
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An audio production of Treasure Island will stream Nov. 27 & 28 at 8 PM ET here.
Rob McClure (Long John Silver), Maggie Lakis (Jim Hawkins), and more TBA.
Inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson novel and Orson Welles’s 1938 radio play, and adapted by Resounding creative director Steve Wargo, the show will be performed live using new, proprietary technology to create a 360-degree soundscape complete with the crash of waves, the roar of cannon fire, swashbuckling and derring-do as only Resounding can deliver.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Merry Widdows
1-D. Widow Douglas – Big River
2-I. Widow Quin – The Playboy of the Western World
3-F. Widow Corney – Oliver!
4-G. Hanna Glawari – The Merry Widow
5-C. Clara Weiss – Milk and Honey
6-H. Queen Margaret – Richard III
7-J. Mrs. Helen Alving – Ghosts
8-A. Sally Adams – Call Me Madam
9-E. Anna Leonowens – The King and I
10-B. Lena Younger – Raisin in the Sun