Today’s Highlights:
* “Stars in the House,” offering a “The Waltons” reunion, with special guests Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Kami Cotler, Judy Norton, Michael Learned, and Richard Thomas, streams at 8 PM ET here.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: Why don’t you act like you’ve got $200!
~ Arsenio Hall
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“Mischief Movie Night In” returns here Jan. 23-31 and Feb. 14.
Casting TBA.
Enjoy more hilarious improv. Interactivity is at the heart of these presentations, with audience suggestions making each movie and show unique. Those with participation passes (now sold out) are the ‘on-screen’ audience who choose the genre, title and name of the movie. Other audience members can engage with the show by sending suggestions via social media – and follow along with the fun on Twitter with #MischiefMovieNightIn.
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents a limited engagement of Scott Silven’s The Journey, to run virtually Jan. 12-24, directed by Allie Winton Butler.
This intimate, immersive, virtual theatrical event, created and performed by world-renowned illusionist, mentalist, and performance artist Scott Silven, transports 30 participants at a time from their living rooms to Silven’s own childhood home in rural Scotland — carrying on the longstanding international tradition of the acclaimed WorldStage at Chicago Shakespeare series.
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Hudson Stage Company presents A Remedy for the Pandemic Blues, offering readings from one-act plays.
Feb. 21 (3 PM ET): Title TBA, by Julie Izumi, directed by Addie Gorlin. A family event for all ages.
Mar. 20 (8 PM ET): Title TBA, by Brenda Withers, directed by Dan Foster
Apr. 17 (8 PM ET): Title TBA, writer TBA, directed by Mark Shanahan.
May 15 (8 PM ET), writer TBA, directed by Margarett Perry.
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Max Martin & David West Read’s & Juliet will resume performances May 28 at the Shaftesbury Theatre, directed by Luke Sheppard, with choreography Jennifer Weber, and music direction by Patrick Hurley. Tickets are now on sale through 2022.
Miriam-Teak Lee (Juliet), David Bedella (Lance), and Cassidy Janson (Anne), Oliver Tompsett (Shakespeare), Arun Blair-Mangat (May), Jordan Luke Gage (Romeo), Melanie La Barrie (Angelique/Nurse), Tim Mahendran (Francois), Jocasta Almgill (Lady Capulet/Sly), Rhian Duncan (Imogen), Danielle Fiamanya (Lucy), Kieran Lai (Kempe), Nathan Lorainey-Dineen (Gregory), Grace Mouat (Judith), Antoine Murray-Straughan (Augustine), Kerri Norville (Susanna), Dillon Scott-Lewis (Richard), and Kirstie Skivington (Eleanor/Benvolio), with Alex Tranter, Josh Baker, Jay Marshall, Billy Nevers, Christopher Parkinson, and Sophie Usher.
We see Juliet getting over Romeo by running off to Paris with Nurse and her best friends on a whirlwind trip of romance and self-discovery. You know, like a normal young woman! Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway may have their own ideas, but this is Juliet’s story now. So don’t tell her how it ends. & Juliet is the hilariously irreverent musical that proves when it comes to love, there’s always life after Romeo…
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West End Bares: Turned On, in support of Make a Difference Trust, will stream Sun. Jan. 10 at 8 PM GMT (3 PM ET) here, directed by Will Lucas, with choreography by jenny Legg, Aaron Jenkins, Fletcher Dobinson & David Geek.
Graham Norton, Michelle Visage, Tom Allen, Todrick Hall, Michael Auger, and Amy Hart.
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Video: Angélique Kidjo performs Ahrens & Flaherty’s “How Can I Tell You?,” from the documentary “Nasrin,” which follows Nasrin Sotoudeh, a human rights activists and political prisoner who has turned into a leading figure of Iran’s women’s rights movement.
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Article: Danny Burstein on the loss of Rebecca Luker.
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The Homebound Project, which benefits children affected by the pandemic, returns for its 6th edition Jan. 13-17. Playwrights were given the prompt “2021.” To date the project has raised over $150,000 for No Kid Hungry.
* Title TBA, by Lucy Thurber, directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, featuring Christopher Abbott and Deirdre O’Connell.
* Title TBA, by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Paul Mullins, featuring Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker.
* Title TBA, by Cece Suaz, directed by Jenna Worsham, featuring Jojo Brown.
* Title TBA, by Adam Rapp, featuring Michael Chernus.
* Title TBA, by Ren Dara Santiago, directed by Jenna Worsham, featuring Dalia Davi.
* Title TBA, by Brian Otaño, directed by Tatiana Pandiani, featuring Nicholas Gorham.
* Title TBA, by Catya McMullen, featuring Rebecca Henderson and Cristin Milioti.
* Title TBA, by Kate Cortesi, directed by Jenna Worsham, featuring Emily Kuroda.
* Title TBA, by Bekah Brunstetter, featuring Carolyn Ratteray.
* Title TBA, by Sharon Bridgforth, featuring Stacy Karen Robinson.
* Title TBA, by Brian Watkins, directed by Danya Taymor.
* Title TBA, by Colette Robert, directed by Tylor Reynolds, featuring Babak Tafti,
* Title TBA, by Julissa Contreras, featuring Daigi-Ann Thomas and Amanda Seyfried.
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Connor & Dylan MacDowell’s “DRAMA” has announced upcoming guests for their podcast on Spotify.
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Danny Qaudrino
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Richard Hough & Ben Morales Frost’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice will stream Jan. 26 – Feb. 14 at the Southwark Playhouse, directed by Charlotte Westenra, with music direction by Alan Williams, and choreography by Steven Harris.
Nicola Blackman, Dawn Hope, Mary Moore, Marc Pickering, Yazdan Qafouri, and David Thaxton, with Tom Bales Ryan Pidgen, Vicki Lee Taylor, and Kayleigh Thadani.
The musical explores the world of a sorcerer and his rebellious daughter, as she discovers the possibilities of her newfound magical powers.
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A Jan. 4 water main break at NYC’s Saint Peter’s Church, which also house the York Theatre Company, has caused extensive damage, with water pouring into the venue. The church’s organ was damaged with destruction at every level of the facility.
As for the theatre, Artistic Director James Morgan reported, “We will probably need new carpeting and new computers and maybe new ceilings—but happily our new seats seem to be fine. I spent all day there (with Hans Friedrichs and Fiona Sweeney) salvaging soggy scripts to keep them from turning into papier-mâché doorstops. Most everything above two feet is OK; below that was under water and mud for a while.”
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TheaterWorks Hartford will stream a developmental production James Anthony Tyler’s Talkin’ to this Chick Sippin’ Magic Potion Jan. 10-29, directed by Awoye Timpo.
Mateo Ferro (Rubén Zorrilla, Jr), Miriam A. Hyman (Shelba Bathson), Sheria Irving (Jornay Nelson), Julies Latimer (Tiffany Nelson), and Darius McCall (Steve Nelson).
How do you connect with love that’s lost? This heartfelt new play about mothers and daughters explores relationships, resentment, and the journey to becoming your best self. Jornay is a professional cuddler who learns that her new client Ruben needs more than her touch. Through Ruben, Jornay also learns that she must do what she can to repair her relationship with Tiffany, her 17-year-old daughter. Old wounds are re-opened when Jornay attempts to get a ticket to Tiffany’s high school graduation.
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Audio: Leslie Odom Jr. performs “Speak Now,” which he also co-wrote, from the “One Night in Miami” soundtrack.
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Upcoming 2021 film releases:
June 18: “In The Heights”
Dec. 10: “West Side Story”
Date TBA: “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”
Date TBA: “Tick, Tick… Boom!”
Films in development:
“Dear Evan Hansen”
“Little Mermaid”
“!3: The Musical”
“The Color Purple”
“Sunset Boulevard”
“Little Shop of Horrors”
“Fiddler on the Roof”
“Spamalot,” with a screenplay by Eric Idle, directed by Casey Nicholaw
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Netflix will air the film version of “Matilda,” on a date TBA, directed by Matthew Warchus. Additional information TBA.
Ralph Fiennes (Agatha Trunchbull), Lashana Lynch (Miss Honey), and more TBA.