Today’s Highlights:
* “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” the Stratford Festival film, directed by John Caird, begins streaming (FREE for Center Theatre Group members/$10 for all others) at 2 PM PT here. Available through Apr. 14.
* Haley Swindal: To New York, With Love benefit concert, directed by Will Nunziata, streams at 7 PM ET here.
* The ShowBiz Quiz, hosted by Yvette Kojic, livestreams at 8 PM ET here.
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Video: Stars in the House, celebrating Adam Guettel’s 1998 song cycle Myths and Hymns, with special guests Kelli O’Hara, Renée Fleming, Norm Lewis, Jose Llana, and Elizabeth Stanley. (1:19:25)
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The Kurt Weill Foundation has voted unanimously to establish an annual Rebecca Luker Award.
The award will be given to an outstanding performance of a selection from the Golden Age of American musical theater by a finalist in the foundation’s annual Lotte Lenya Competition. Luker was a regular judge and advocate for the program, most recently as part of the 2020 semifinals.
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater presents a benefit reading of Frances Burney’s The Woman Hater, to stream Mon. Jan. 25 at 7:30 PM ET, directed by Everett Quinton.
Bill Army, Arnie Burton, Veanne Cox, Rebecca S’Manga Frank, Cherie Corinne Rice, Matthew Saldivar, Jenne Vath, and Nick Westrate.
Sir Roderick has turned frantic misogynist for two reasons: he was jilted 17 years previously and his sister had the gall to marry his ex-fiancée’s brother. This outrageously witty comedy of manners bursts into life with the introduction of the former fiancée, Lady Smatter, who has turned into a voracious and addle-brained bookworm.
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Off-Broadway’s York Theatre will stream a discussion of the theatre’s 1989 Sweeney Todd revival on Tues. Jan. 19 at 7 PM ET here.
James Morgan, Charles Wright, Paul Libin, Susan H. Schulman, David Krane, Beba Shamash, Mary Jo Dondlinger, and Perry Cline, with cast members Bob Gunton, Beth Fowler, SuEllen Estey, Ted Keegan, Eddie Korbich, Annie McGreevey, and Jim Walton.
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Goodspeed Musicals has announced new leadership:
Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director
David B. Byrd, Managing Director
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The Education Theatre Foundation has announced its upcoming virtual gala, Theatre Alive!, to stream Thurs. Jan. 19 at 10 PM ET here.
Jennifer Hudson, Audra McDonald, Amber Riley, Tina Fey, Wayne Brady, and more.
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The 43rd Kennedy Center Honors recipients have been announced:
:
Debbie Allen
Dick Van Dyke
Joan Baez
Garth Brooks
Midori (violinist)
A medallion ceremony for the honorees and a limited audience will be hosted by the Kennedy Center during the week of May 17, and will be broadcast later on a date TBA.
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The next Write Out Loud songwriting competition has been announced. Original songs may be submitted will be accepted Jan. 15 – Mar. 1 here. The team includes Taylor Louderman, Ben Rauhala, Hannah Kleopfer, Sarah Glugatch, and Josh Collopy.
A team of adjudicators will select three songs to be recorded by a Broadway alum, and the tracks will be distributed on iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify. Winners will also have their song showcased at an NYC concert along with songs from 10 finalists once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
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North Hollywood’s Road Theatre Company has announced its Under Construction full-length play reading series, to run Jan. 22-31 (and available for 3 weeks).
Click the link above for the complete schedule of readings.
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Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced its newly created New York Arts Revival initiative, to launch on or around Feb. 4, with exact details TBA.
Hugh Jackman, Renée Fleming, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Wynton Marsalis, and many more.
Organizations: National Black Theatre, Ars Nova, Ballet Hispánico, and many more.
In addition, a pilot program will explore the creation of socially distant performances in venues with flexible seating arrangements, and a collaboration with the Mellon Foundation will provide grants to more than 1,000 artists and arts groups. New York Arts Revival is expected to culminate in both the Tribeca Film Festival and the opening of Little Island, a new outdoor space on the Hudson River, this spring.
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A Little New Music’s Spotlight Series returns on Tues. Jan. 19 at 7 PM PT here, celebrating the music of composer David Mallamud.
Click here to look back at some of Mallamud’s work.
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Off-Broadway’s New Victory Theater has announced its 2020-2021 LabWorks Artists: nicHi douglas, ChelseaDee Harrison, Nambi E. Kelley, and Christopher Rudd.
Artists, all returning for a second year in the new work development program creating theatre for young audiences. In addition to new works development resources, the artists each receive a $15,000 stipend.
Applications for the next cohort of LabWorks Artists is currently open through Feb. 17 here.
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LA’s Fountain Theatre will host L.A. Theatre Pays Tribute to Ed Krieger, a virtual memorial for the longtime theatre photographer, on Sun. Jan. 24 at 2 PM PT.
Click here to register to attend the event and to upload photos and/or testimonials.
Krieger photographed the Southern California theater scene for more than 30 years. His production stills captured the essence of live performance at such venues as the Fountain Theatre, Skylight Theatre, Boston Court, El Portal, Laguna Playhouse, Rubicon Theatre, Downey Civic Light Opera, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood Bowl and many more. His images appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Variety and the Hollywood Reporter. American Theatre magazine highlighted Krieger in its 2015 feature on nationally recognized theater photographers.
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Milwaukee Rep presents We Rise: MKE’s Celebration of Black History Month, offering 4 Facebook Live events every Monday in February at 7 PM CT.
FEB 1: To Be Young, Gifted and Black: A Celebration of Lorraine Hansberry.
FEB. 8: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize, a look at the African American artists and administrators, past and present at Milwaukee Rep
FEB. 15: It Takes a Village, providing a platform for the Milwaukee Black Theater Community to showcase their work and discuss the plethora of contributions of African American artists, administrators, and audiences.
FEB. 22: The Ground on Which I Stand, honoring the life and legacy of August Wilson.
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Video: City Center’s “Inside the Revival” of The Tap Dance Kid (1983), which includes Dulé Hill performing “Fabulous Feet.” (11:04)
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Nathan Lane will return to TV with two new shows. Release dates for both show are TBA:
“The Gilded Cage” (HBO), which also stars Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, and Kelli O’Hara. Lane will play Ward McAllister, a historical figure who often determined which families were deemed worthy of being accepted in high society in a list dubbed “The Four Hundred.”
“Only Murders” (Hulu), which also stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Lane plays a New York City grocery chain owner. The series follows three true crime-obsessed strangers.
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Video: Beth Leavel salutes rescue dog Major Biden.
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& 
Martin Luther King Day: Empathy Concert & Conversations will stream Mon. Jan. 18 at 4 PM ET here, hosted by Elliott Masie.
Telly Leung and Melinda Doolittle.
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Playwright Aleshea Harris has been awarded the 2021 Hermitage Greenfield Prize for her plays Is God Is and What to Send Up When it Goes Down.
Harris will receive a six-week residency at the Hermatiage and a $30,000 commission for a new work to be presented at Asolo Rep in 2023.
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FL’s Asolo Rep has announced its 2021 outdoor season, to be performed in its newly constructed, socially-distanced outdoor venue:
* Laura Osnes in concert (Feb. 5-6), with music direction by Fred Lassen.
* Fannie: the Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (Feb. 17 – Mar. 3), world premiere by Cheryl L. West, directed by Henry Godinez, starring E. Faye Butler. The impassioned story of the American civil rights activist.
* Camelot in concert (Mar. 17 – Apr. 1), directed by Celine Rosenthal, with new orchestrations & musical direction by Steve Orich. Casting TBA.
* Ana Isabelle & Friends in Concert: Stand Back, Sarasota (Apr. 15-24), directed by Josh Rhodes, with special guests Junior Cervila and Guadalupe.
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