GRACE NOTES: Thursday, July 2, 2020

 

Today’s Highlights:

* Les Blancs, by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Joi Gresham, featuring Danny Sapani, Gary Beadle, and Tunji Kasim, Sheila Atim, Sidney Cole, Elliot Cowan, and James Fleet, Clive Francis, Anna Madeley, Roger Jean Nsengiyumva, Siân Phillips, and Xhanti Mbonzongwana, with Anna-Maria Nabirye, Daniel Francis-Swaby, Mark Theodore, with the Matriarchs & Singers (Ngqoko Cultural Group, played by Nofenishala Mvotyo, Nogcinile Yekani Nomaqobiso, and Mpahleni Madosini Latoz, streamed at 2 PM ET here (and available through July 29).

* Rubicon Theatre‘s Voices of America FREE event, featuring Noel Paul Stookey and Paul Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Voices of Service,Lauren Patten, and many more, livestreamed at 5:30 PT.

* Standing Zoom Only FREE concert, with Diane Vincent & Sam Kriger, at 6 PM PT on Zoom.

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  Video: “Stars in the House,” with special guests Actors Fund President and CEO Joseph Benincasa, BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola, Christopher Gattelli, and Vasthy Mompoint.  (1:04:08)

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   2econd Stage‘s Take Me Out, by Richard Greenberg, will now begin previews on Mar.22, 2021 and open Apr. 22 at the Helen Hayes Theater, directed by Scott Ellis.

Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J. Adams, Julian Cihi, Hiram Delgado, Brandon J. Dirden, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos, and Tyler Lansing Weaks.

When Darren Lemming, the star center fielder for the Empires, comes out of the closet, the reception off the field reveals a barrage of long-held unspoken prejudices. Facing some hostile teammates and fraught friendships, Darren is forced to contend with the challenges of being a gay person of color within the confines of a classic American institution. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties, and the price of victory.

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Audio: Eric Ulloa‘s new 10-episode podcast series, “Do Your Hear the People Sing” is a theater person’s guide to saving the democracy, with special guest Javier Muñoz.  Listen to Ep. 1 here (scroll down).

“Theater people possess stronger activism powers than most. This series will harness those powers to help listeners get involved in defeating Donald Trump and winning the election in November, while finding the activists within themselves. This new posdcast aims to be the most informative guidebook for anyone in the theater world who has ever asked, “How do I get started?,” and to inspire a new generation to jump into action for the the 2020 election — and beyond.”

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  The 8th annual Night of A Thousand Judys, a Pride concert in support of the Ali Forney Center, will stream Tues. July 14 at 8 PM ET here, written & hosted by Justin Sayre.

Lena Hall, Natalie Douglas, Eva Noblezada, Nathan Lee Graham, Adam Pascal, Beth Malone, Alice Ripley, George Salazar, Ann Harada, T. Oliver Reid, Jessica Vosk, Spencer Day, and Bright Light Bright Light.

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  Audio: Saturday Night Seder benefit concert (which took place in April) has released two singles.

“When You Believe,” with Cynthis Erivo and Shoshana Bean
“Next Year,” with Shaina Taub and Skylar Astin

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Pittsburgh CLO presents “So You Want to Write a Musical,” with Kooman & Diamond, to take place M-F July 27-31 (10 AM – Noon ET).

Click here for the complete Summer Online Series of classes.

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  Video: Cast of the world premiere Native American Musical Distant Thunder (at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma), performs “Hold On.”  Lovely.

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  Jason Robert Brown’s Songs For A New World will be streamed July 23-25 at London’s The Other Palace – Digital Venue, filmed entirely in isolation, directed by Séimí Campbell, with music supervision by Adam Hoskins.

Rachel John, Ramin Karimloo, Cedric Neal, and Rachel Tucker

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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater presents its next RemarkaBull Podversation, “I Am I,” on Mon. July 6 at 7:30 PM ET.

  Matthew Rauch and Nathan Winkelstein will discuss Shakespeare’s first great villain, Richard III.

  Click here if you would like to ask a question (deadline: July 6 at 10 AM ET)

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  Video“America Sings” ride at Disneyland, circa 1987 (19:30)

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  MCC Theater will present a special benefit reading & discussion of Peter Hedges’ Good As New on Thurs. July 16 at 7 PM ET, directed by Hedges. The reading will be followed by a talkback.

Julianne Moore and Kaitlyn Dever

  A brutal one-act comedy about a learning-to-drive daughter who comes face-to-face with the mother she thinks as let her down.

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  Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company has announced upcoming guest artists for its Creators Cut Series, which offers a watch party of past Atlantic productions featuring commentary by the artists, every Friday at 4 PM ET.

Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jeanine Tesori, Eboni Booth, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Joshua Hamon, Susan Birkenhead, Sam Gold, Lynne Nottage, and Duncan Sheik.

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  Long Island’s Bay Street Theater has announced its 8-part interview series, “Backstage with MMD: Random Notes & Anecdotes From Productions Directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodgeall of which will take place from 7-8 PM ET:


July 13: Randy Graff and Robby Sella, from Fit to Print

July 20: Max von Essen and Alan H. Green, from Hair

July 27: Mark Shanahan and Jen Waldman, from West End Horror

Aug. 3: Kenita Miller and Alan H. Green from Once On This Island

Aug. 10: Euan Morton and Liz Pearce, from The Who’s Tommy

Aug. 17: James Alexander, Jim Weaver Smith, and Aurelia Williams, from Ain’t Misbehavin’

Aug. 23: Peter Scolari and Terry Lavel, from A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum

Aug. 21: Julie Andrews and Emma Walton, from Simeon’s Gift

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  The Public Theater has announced selected playwrights for its 2020-22 Emerging Writers Group:

Nissy Aya, Aya Aziz, Francisca Da Silveira, Katie Do, Timothy DuWhite, Ying Ying Li, Julián Mesri, AriDy Nox, Jacob Marx Rice, and Else Went.

An ongoing initiative that targets playwrights at the earliest stages of their career, creating an artistic home and offering support and resources for a remarkable group of up-and-coming playwrights.

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  Video: “My Favorite Things,” with Austin Scott and Alexa Cepeda on “R&H Goes Live”

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  “The Fourth in America” will air Sat. July 4 at 8 PM ET on CNN, hosted by Don Lemon and Dana Bash.

The casts of Broadway’s Girl From the North Country and Ain’t Too Proud, as well as Jewel, Barry Manilow, Martina McBride, Kenny Loggins, Andy Grammer, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, CeCe Winans, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, The O’Jays, Don McLean, Jesse Colin Young and Little Kids Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Burt Bacharach and musicians from the Berklee College of Music, Harlem Gospel Choir, The New York Philharmonic, and the San Francisco, Colorado, Houston, Chicago, and New York Youth symphonies.

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  John McDaniel’s Sunday Tea With John McD will take place every month, premiering Sun. July 5 at 3 PM ET on Facebook.

McDaniel will serenade audiences and share stories from his life and career on Broadway, concert tours, and his days as the band leader on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,”

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Article:  Update on Nick Cordero

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  Divos!, directed by Ryan Patrick Bartley, will be available to stream July 14 on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Cable and Satellite On Demand.

Matt Steele (Ricky), Nicole Sullivan (Candy), Timothy Brundidge (Josh), Marissa Jaret Winokur (Sister Hartt), Jason Bernard (Mr. Aubrey, Jason Stuart (Barry), and Jake Busey (Mr. Kelly)

The story of what happens when egos collide as a self-proclaimed “Broadway legend” Ricky is forced to share the spotlight with the school’s star athlete, Josh, in the high school musical.

  Video: Trailer

 

 

 


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