Today’s Highlights:
Red Bull Theater‘s RemarkaBULL Podversation, “To sing a song that old was sung” with special guest Raphael Nash Thomposon, livestreams for FREE at 7:30 PM ET.
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Reviews for SIX at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre:
NY Times (Jesse Green): …In Six, the queenhood-is-powerful pageant about the wives of Henry VIII that took a bow — finally! — at the Brooks Atkinson Theater on Sunday evening, Tudor London is the place to be if you’re looking for a sextet of truly empowered, empowering megastars… How can a show formatted as a Tudors Got Talent belt-off among six sassy divas also be a thoughtful experiment in reverse victimology? And how can history be teased, ignored and glorified all at once? Yet somehow Six, by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, isn’t a philosophically incoherent jumble; it’s a rollicking, reverberant blast from the past… I also mean that though gleefully anachronistic, mixing 16th-century marital politics with 21st-century selfies and shade, it suggests a surprising, disturbing and ultimately hopeful commonality. Which shouldn’t work, but does…
Broadway News (Charles Isherwood): Theatergoers thirsty for something festive, fresh and funny — which is to say, just about all lovers of theater who have endured the drought of the past 18 months — will find much to delight in at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre… The format of the show is, to be honest, not all that fresh, …But in a clever and funny twist, the competitors in this show are singing their strife in order to allow the audience to vote to determine who has suffered the most, who has endured the worst. Given that three of the contestants died prematurely — and two lost their heads, literally — the competition is fierce… each performer shines in their own way… I confidently expect and indeed hope, be a long-running hit, playing to audiences on Broadway and elsewhere for longer than most of that wretched king’s marriages lasted.
Variety (Frank Rizzo): Strutting strong, arms akimbo and ready for a royal rumble, the sextet of cheeky spouses of King Henry VIII take to the stage in triumph… But these ladies have been waiting for centuries even, ready to give some perspective and personality to their reductive footnote in history… You can now add “gloriously revived” thanks to this Brit import that has gathered passionate followers… this show…is as sharp and shiny as a sequined stiletto heel, and couldn’t have come at a better time. There’s the spirit-lifting energy of an arena concert, the humor and sass of a special sisterhood, and a ton of biographical exposition easily received in rap and snap — and which might evoke another recent historical musical… Six is a solid “10” for joy.
Daily News (Chris Jones): …Some musicals move the formative bar of the art form, others have riveting story lines, a few have scores of aching beauty. This is not one of any of those musicals… The Snapchat-friendly Six, is a fine example of a resilient subgenre of populist musicals you might think of as really-clever-idea shows… Marlow and Moss (who share credit for book, music and lyrics) took the six wives of history’s lousiest husband and made a gamble that their various, mostly terrible fates (variously divorced, beheaded, died and survived, as you likely know) were far enough in the past that people could now find their life and times fun, especially if the women themselves were given voice and allowed to make their cases for their places in “herstory” from beyond the grave… In general, the music has a sampling gestalt that blends hip hop, K-pop, EDM, R&B and trad pop show tunes.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: It’s Magic! by Jim Bernhard
1. The Broadway musical The Magic Show starred …Doug Henning…David Copperfield…Ricky Jay…Penn and Teller
2. Merlyn, the magician in Camelot, has the unusual feature of…possessing three eyes…living backward through time…being nine feet tall…speaking only in hand signals
3. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puck magically transforms Bottom’s head into that of…a fairy…a dragon…an ass…Queen Elizabeth I
4. Pippin’s opening number is “Magic…Tonight…In the Moonlight…On My Mind…To Do”
5. In Aladdin, the Genie offers three wishes to Aladdin, who agrees to use his third wish…to bring peace to the world…to go to Disneyland…to free the Genie from the lamp that imprisons him…to find a bride for the Genie
6. In The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee, William Barfée describes how he spells words with his Magic….Pencil…Dictionary…Finger…Foot
7. In Cats the “original conjuring cat” is “Magical” Mister ….Mistoffelees…Macavity…Munkustrap…Skimbleshanks
8. In the song “Maybe They’re Magic” in Into the Woods, the “They” referred to are…wands…potions…beans…words
9. “That Old Black Magic” by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer was among the songs interpolated into the musical Mr. Wonderful to showcase its star….Frank Sinatra…Sammy Davis Jr….Dean Martin…Ben Vereen
10. San Francisco’s Magic Theatre premiered several plays by its resident playwright…Sam Shepard…David Mamet…Lynn Nottage…Lorraine Hansberry
Scroll down for the answers…
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The Broadway League has announced that all 41 Broadway theatres in New York City will continue to require vaccinations for audience members, as well as performers, backstage crew, and theatre staff, for all performances through the end of the year.
Masks will also be required for audiences inside the theatre, except while actively eating or drinking in designated locations.
Under the policy, guests over the age of 12 will need to be Fully Vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine AND present a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport.
“Fully vaccinated” means on the date of the performance a guest is at least 14 days after their second dose of a two dose COVID-19 vaccine OR at least 14 days after their single dose of an approved single dose COVID-19 vaccine. Limited exceptions allowing for testing and masking are being made for people with a medical condition that prevents vaccination. Theatregoers may find more information on mask and vaccine policies here.
Guests 12-18 may use a government-issued ID or school ID (no photo required).
Guests under 12 will need proof of ONE of the following instead of proof of vaccination and must be accompanied by an adult that meets our Theatres’ vaccination requirements:
* negative COVID-19 PCR test performed by a medical provider within 72 hours of the performance start time. The test results must clearly show the date and time of the test. ……OR……
* A negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time. The test results must clearly show the date and time of the test.
For performances starting Jan. 3, 2022 and beyond, theatre owners anticipate a review of policies will be determined by Dec. 1 of this year.
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Aladdin remains canceled at least through Oct. 10 at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, due to new company COVID-19 breakouts.
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Kevin Barry’s Autumn Royal will run Oct. 8 – Nov. 21 (opening Oct. 18) at Irish Rep, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.
Maeve Higgins and John Keating
May and Timothy are looking after the father who has long since taken to bed. Their own lives are on hold and they’re not getting any younger. Should they stay and help? Or is it time for them to move on?
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Samantha Barks‘ new album, “Into The Unknown,“ will be released Nov. 12.
1. “Into The Unkown” (from “Frozen 2”)
2. “Hear of Stone” (from Six)
3. “Never Enough (from “The Greatest Showman)
4. “How Far I’ll Go (from “Moana)
5. “Reflection” (from “Mulan”)
6. “Waving Through a Window” (from Dear Evan Hansen)
7. “Only Us (Ramin Karimloo) (from Dear Evan Hansen)
8. “I’d Rather be Me” (from Mean Girls)
9. “With You” (from “Ghost”)
10. “Let Me Be Your Star,” (with Stephanie McKeon) (from “Smash”)
11. “Falling Slowly” (from Once)
12. “Mary Jane” (from Jagged Little Pill)
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A film adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s book, “Red, White & Royal Blue” is in the works, written & directed by Matthew López.
Casting, timeline, and additional information TBA.
What happens when America’s Prince falls in love with an actual prince? The film follows Alex Claremont-Diaz who, upon his mother’s election as president, was promptly cast as the American equivalent of the young royal. Handsome, charismatic, brilliant ― his image is pure millennial-marketing golf for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a long-running feud with his royal counterpart across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S.-British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instagram-able friendship grows into something mor meaningful than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could complicate his mother’s re-election campaign, upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all?
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Video: Dick Van Dyke in Conversation with Chita Rivera (30:42)
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“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It” will air Oct. 5 at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).
Explore Moreno’s 70-year career, discover how she defied her humble upbringing and racism to become one of the select few individuals ever to be an EGOT winner.
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Rodgers & Hart’s Pal Joey will be revived during the 2022-23 season, with a new book by Richard LaGravenese, directed by Tony Goldwyn & Savion Glover, and with choreography by Glover.
The adaptation will now take place in a South Side Chicago nightclub in the 1940s, and the character of Linda will be changed from a stenographer/clerk to an aspiring singer.
Casting, dates, and additional information TBA.
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The national tour of The Prom will officially launch Nov. 2-21 at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square.
Kaden Kearney (Emma), Kalyn West (Alyssa Greene), Courtney Balan (Dee Dee Allen), Patrick Wetzel (Barry Glickman), Emily Borromeo (Angie Dickinson), Bud Weber (Trent Oliver), Sinclair Mitchell (Mr. Hawkins), Ashanti J’Aria (Mrs. Greene), and Shavey Brown (Sheldon Saperstein), with Jordan Alexander, Gabrielle Beckford, Ashley Bruce, Olivia Rose Cece, Maurice Dawkins, Jordan De Leon, Shawn Alynda Fisher, James Caleb Grice, Megan Grosso, Chloe Rae Kehm, Braden Allen King, Brandon J. Large, Christopher McCrewell, Adriana Negron, Lexie Plath, Brittany Nicole Williams, Thad Turner Wilson, and Josh Zacher.
Click here for the complete tour schedule.
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Joseph Leo Bwarie, Lori Marshall & Rachael Lawrence’s The Root Beer Bandits – A Rootin ‘Tootin’ Wild West Musicale continues through Oct. 31 at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theatre.
Kelly Brandenburg, Tiffany Daniels, Josey Montana McCoy, Clayton Snyder, and Cloie Wyatt Taylor.
This here’s the story of a woman with big dreams, who happens to be the only gal to ever ride for the Pony Express way back in 1860. Her name is Pollyanna Peppercorn. Her adventure is just beginning.
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Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie will run Apr. 15 – June 18, 2022 (opening Apr. 27) at the Harold Pinter Theatre, directed by Justin Martin.
Jodie Comer.
Tessa is a barrister who loves to win. After working her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game, an unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof, and morals diverge.
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If you missed The Tony Awards Present Broadway’s Back concert, here it is in its entirety, in individual clips.
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& 
25Chicago25 will take place, both in person & streaming, on Wed. Nov. 17 at 7 PM ET at 54 Below (see below for ticket links).
David Sabella, with special guests Jana Robbins and Haley Swindal.
A celebration of the 25th anniversary of Chicago, with a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s creation and Sabella’s long history with it.
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As You Like It, with songs from the Beatles, adapted & directed by Daryl Cloran, will run Oct. 6 – Nov. 21 at Chicago Shakespeare.
Melanie Brezill (Celia), Adam Wesley Brown (Forest Lord/Hymen/Danny O’Leary), Tony Carter (Oliver), Michael Daniel Dashefsky (Silvius/Forest Lord/Assassin), Austin Eckert (Charles/Amiens), Lachrisa Grandberry (Audrey/Mother Russia), Kevin Gudahl (Duke Senior/Duke Frederick), Deborah Hay (Jaques/Le Beau), Heifi Ketternring (Phoebe/Eleanor Rigby), Kayvon Khoshkam (Touchstone), Kieran McCabe (Forest Lord/William/Jaques de Boys), Steven Pringle (Adam/Martext), Liam Quealy (Orlando), Lakeisha Renee (Rosalind), Kurt Schweitz (Forest Lord/Assassin), and Nancy Voigts (Corin/Duke Frederick’s Assistant), with Bridget Adams-King, David Corlew, Jodi Gage, Conor Jordan, Michael Kurowski, Jeff Kurysz, Jeff Parker, Tom Ochocinski, and Janelle Villas.
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“Sister Act 3,” directed by Tim Federle, starring Whoopie Goldberg, is currently in development.
Casting, release date, and additional information TBA.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: It’s Magic!
1. The musical The Magic Show starred Doug Henning.
2. Merlyn, the magician in Camelot, has the unusual feature of living backward through time.
3. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puck magically transforms Bottom’s head into that of an ass.
4. Pippin’s opening number is “Magic To Do.”
5. In Aladdin, Aladdin agrees to use his third wish to free the Genie from the lamp that imprisons him.
6. In The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee, William Barfée describes how he spells words with his Magic Foot.
7. In Cats the “original conjuring cat” is “Magical” Mister Mistoffelees.
8. In the song “Maybe They’re Magic” in Into the Woods, “They” are beans.
9. “That Old Black Magic” was among the songs interpolated into the musical Mr. Wonderful to showcase its star Sammy Davis Jr.
10. San Francisco’s Magic Theatre premiered several plays by its resident playwright Sam Shepard.