Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be limited theatre news for the foreseeable future. I will continue to search for anything meaningful and/or fun to report. Stay safe and healthy.
Today’s Highlights:
* London’s National Theatre production of A Streetcar Named Desire (2013), directed by Benedict Andrews, starring Gillian Anderson (Blanche), Ben Foster (Stanley), and Vanessa Kirby (Stella), livestreamed at 2 PM ET here (and available for 7 days).
* LA’s Blank Theatre‘s Nixon on Nixon FREE reading, by Sean Waldron, directed by Bree Pavey, starring Rob Nagle (Richard Nixon), livestreamed at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET.
* Musical Theatre Audition MasterClass, with instructors Debbie Gravitte & Michael Orland, special guests Stuart Marland, Jess LeProtto, and Ariana DeBose, and singers Amanda Kruger, Camilo Gonzalez, Malia Ryan, Christina Samanie, Daniella Snyders-Block, and Amanda-Rae Cross, livestreamed at 1 PM PT/4 PM ET on Zoom (ID: 663 981-0058, no password required).
* Daddy Long Legs virtual reunion benefit, featuring Megan McGinnis, Adam Halpin, Paul Alexander Nolan, John Caird, Paul Gordon, and Michael Jackowtiz, ET here. And look who’s gonna be there! Megan McGinnis (Jerusha Abbott), Adam Halpin (Jervis Pendleton), Paul Alexander Nolan (Jervis Pendleton), John Caird (Book & Director), Paul Gordon (Music & Lyrics), Michael Jackowitz (Producer), with host Ken Davenport, livestreamed here at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
**********************
Broadway On Demand and TonyAwards.com will host a celebration of the Broadway community on Sun. June 7 at 6 PM ET, on what would have been the 2020 Tony Awards, written by Karey Kirkpatric, Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Kate Wetherhead & Lauren Yee, directed by Lonny Price, with music direction by Jason Howland, and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby.
TBA
The event will be specially created, never-before-seen celebration of the Broadway community, and will serve as a fundraiser for the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League.
**********************
Show of Shows: Broadway.com Salutes the Tonys, an all-star toast to Broadway’s biggest night, will take place Sun. June 7 at 6 PM ET here, in support of The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League.
Participants and additional information TBA.
**********************
“Smash” is being adapted for Broadway!!!
Although the show was not a critical or ratings winner, it is now being adapted for Broadway, with lead producers Neil Meron and Robert Greenblatt, and a book by Bob Martin and Rick Elice.
Additional details TBA.
**********************
“Harry Potter at Home,” a collection of free initiatives designed to help bring the magic of J.K. Rowling’s popular series to children and parents in quarantine, has enlisted performers to read chapters from the first book, “Harry Potter and the Sourcerer’s Stone” on Audible (FREE with 30d-ay trial)>
(for this week): Jamie Parker, James Snyder, Paul Thornley, Diane Davis, Brady Dalton Richard, James Romney, Nadia Brown, and more.
The Harry Potter at Home project is an initiative developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes an open license to teachers allowing them to post recordings of themselves reading the Harry Potter stories onto educational platforms and networks, a dedicated hub of information and activities.
**********************
Video: “Plays in the House,” with a reading of Shaw’s Candida, directed by David Staller, featuring Andréa Burns, Santino Fontana, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Jay O. Sanders, and Michael Benjamin Washington. (1:54:50)
**********************
LA’s Celebration Theatre presents a reading of Patricia Loughrey’s Dear Harvey on Fri. May 22 at 5 PM PT.
Amy Pietz, Brittney S Wheeler, Bruce Vilanch, Calpurnia Addams, Caroline Stephanie Clay, David Tran, Lindsey Horvath (Mayor of LA), Reggie Lee, and Robin DeJesus.
A documentary-style ensemble play recounting the life and lasting impact of Harvey Milk, as told by the people who knew him best.
**********************
Video: Jerry Zaks on how to make songs funny. (57:42)
*********************
Video: “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” with Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole. Lovely.
**********************
New York State’s Caramoor Summer Music Festival will present its adjusted Summer 20/2.0 season:
Live stream performances:
* Pianist Inon Barnatan (July 2)
* Tom-Tom (July 9), 1923 opera by Shirley Graham Du Bois
* Decoda classical ensemble (July 12)
* Calidore String Quarte (July 12)
* The Knights orchestra (July 23)
* An evening of music with Caramoor’s young-artist mentoring program (July 30)
Live Concerts:
* Chris Thile, mandolinist of Nickel Creek and Punch Brothers (July 18)
* Rachael Price & Vilray (July 25)
* Charles Turner and Uptown Swing (Aug. 1)
* Flor de Toloache, all-female mariachi group (Aug. 18)
**********************
Video: Rob McClure’s “Conductor’s Cam” series. Scroll down.
**********************
Beginning today, Choreographer Camille A. Brown will present a new series, Social Dance for Social Distance, which consists of free dance classed and lectures online in which Brown will teach choreography from some of her most acclaimed pieces. The classes will be streamed every day at 2 PM ET on Instagram.
Schedule:
May 21: Chloe Davis, Jesus Christ Superstar class
May 22: Cat Foster, class
May 27: Maija Garcia, lecture
May 28: Winston Dynamite Brown, dancer chat about the creative process
June 1: Beatrice Capote, afro-cuban class
June 3: Dexter Jones, lindy hop class
June 4: Yusha-Marie Sorzano and Maleek Washington, dancer chat “Black Love”
June 5: Beatrice Capote, afro-cuban class
June 8: Tim Edwards, class
June 9: Courtney Ross and Jay Staten, dancer chat “Mask Off”
June 12: Adesola Osakalumi, hip hop class
June 15: Yusha-Marie Sorzano, class “Balance duet from ink”
June 18 Tim Edwards & Maleek Washingon, dancer chat “Turf Talk”
June 22: Juel D. Lane class
June 25: Beatrice Capote & Chloe Davis, dancer chat “Mirror Talk”
June 26: Dormeshia, tap class
June 29: Maleek Washington, class
**********************
Video: Tyne Daly and Lewis Cleale, “You’re Just in Love,” from Encores! Call Me Madam (1995). Scroll down…
**********************
Betsy Wolfe & Adam Krauthamer have welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Poppy.
**********************
Video: The May 19 edition of the 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues — Directors’ Cut, is now available. Scroll down…
**********************
Alan Menken & Glenn Slater will compose the songs for a new animated feature, “Spellbound.”
A timeline, casting, and additional information TBA.
The film, directed by Vicky Jenson, tells the story of a young girl who is on a mission to break a spell that has torn her kingdom apart.
**********************
Video: If you missed last night’s Bombshell in Concert, here it is. (2:03:49)
**********************
Video: During this stressful time, Tony Blair joins Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein for a conversation about civic responsibility and our opportunity to build a better world. (11:56)