Today’s Highlights:
* Disenchanted virtual production, by Dennis T. Giacinio & Fiely Matias, directed by Meg Fofonoff, featuring Celia Rose Gooding (Princess Who Kissed the Frog), Diana DeGarmo (Pocahontas), Alysha Umphress (Sleeping Beauty), Micaela Diamond (Cinderella), Liisi LaFontaine (Snow White), Jaygee Macapuagay (Hua Mulan), Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Sleeping Beauty), and Gabriella Pizzolo (Announcer), streams on Broadway On Demand.
* Home for the Holidays FREE benefit concert, in support of BC/EFA, directed by Eric Ulloa, featuring Alan Cumming, André De Shields, Carolee Carmello, Lena Hall, Heather Headley, Ramin Karimloo, Karen Olivo, Remy, Conrad Ricomora, Jennifer Sanchez, and the Broadway Inspirational Voices, streams at 8 PM ET here.
* Nora Highland FREE reading, by Ryan Spahn, directed by Michael A. Shepperd, featuring Dalila Ali Rajah and Evan J. Todd, streams at 7:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Celebration Theatre.
* “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams,” with special guests Norm Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Morgan James, and Nova Y. Payton, airs at 8 PM on PBS (check local listings).
* Holiday Variety Hour, written & directed by Billy Recce, featuring Kate Baldwin & Graham Rowat, Whitney Bashor & Jared Zirilli, Nick Blaemire, Kathleen Chalfant, Jasminn Johnson, Ted Koch & Leenya Rideout, Marsha Mason, and Brenda Pressley, with Heidi Armbruster, Marc delaCruz, Chris Dwan, Kevin Kilner, Jodie Markell, Jay Mazyck, Lauren Molina, Paul Niebanck, Pamela Sabaugh, George Salazar, and Sheldon Woodley, streams for FREE at 6:30 PM ET (and available through Dec. 22) at Off-Broadway’s Keen Company.
**********************
RIP: Ann Reinking has died at the age of 71.
She studied ballet before moving to New York City at 18. A year later she made her Broadway debut in Cabaret, and also appeared in Coco and Wild and Wonderful before landing a role in Pippin.
The spotlight followed, with a breakout role in Over Here! and her first Tony nomination for playing Joan of Arc in Goodtime Charley. In a departure from her affiliation with Fosse, she stepped into the work of Michael Bennett, to replace Donna McKechnie as Cassie in A Chorus Line. She returned to Fosse with her turn as Roxie in the original Chicago production and later in his revue Dancin’, for which she earned another Tony nomination.
Though her romantic relationship with Fosse had ended, their artistic symbiosis never did, as Ms. Reinking eventually replaced Debbie Allen in the title role of the 1986 Sweet Charity revival.
She did not expect to return to the stage after that, but the allure of Fosse once again called when Ms. Reinking reprised the role of Roxie Hart for New York City Center’s Encores! production of Chicago. She had initially only signed on as choreographer to stage the Fosse numbers, but eventually agreed to star as well (alongside Bebe Neuwirth, Joel Grey, James Naughton, and Marcia Lewis). She and her co-stars all followed the production to Broadway, where it has continued to run up until the coronavirus shutdown.
Ann next returned to Broadway in Fosse, conceiving, co-directing, and co-choreographing the production. She and Richard Maltby Jr. shared a Tony nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. After this final appearance on Broadway, she co-created the revue The Look of Love.
Film credits include “All That Jazz,” “Annie,” and “Micki & Maude.”
**********************
Video: “Jim Caruso’s Pajama Cast Party” variety show, with special guests Ruby Locknar, Natalie Douglas, Gabrielle Stravelli, Julie Garnyé, Eric Bergen, Rick Hinkson, Billy Stritch, and Klea Blackhurst. (1:58:18)
**********************
A reading of Audrey Cefaly’s The Story of Walter continues streaming for 3 weeks at VA’s Signature Theatre, directed by Holly Twyford.
Chris Genebach (Walter), Maisie Ann Posner (Little Anna), Gillian Shelly (Middle Anna), Erin Weaver (Adult Anna), and Felicia Curry (Therapist/Chrissy).
Walter, a recently single father to a spunky 17-year-old daughter, struggles to navigate the world of single parenthood with dating and learning to live again.
**********************
RIP: Bob Kaliban, SAG New York Branch President and union leader, died Dec. 12 at the age of 87.
Kaliban was born in Lisbon, Iowa, and moved to Garden City, NY, 50 years ago to raise their three children while he pursued a career on Broadway. He would go on to have roles in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Ben Franklin in Paris and The Conquering Hero.
He joined SAG in 1961 and AFTRA in 1962 and in addition to stage roles, appeared in the films “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Lovers and Other Strangers,” and on television shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Tracey Ullman Show” and “Law and Order.” Kaliban was seen and heard on thousands of commercials but is perhaps best known for his long run as the “Ty-D-Bol Man,” that company’s nattily attired, nautical TV spokesman.
Kaliban devoted over half a century of service to his fellow actors. He served on the Screen Actors Guild National Board from 1968-1994 and was elected SAG New York Branch President for two terms in the 1970s. He was a member of the Board Trustees of the SAG-Producers Pension & Health Plans for forty years, and remained a Trustee of the SAG-Producers Pension Plan until his death as well as a proctor on the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Scholarship Committee.
**********************
The world premiere of Neil Bartram, Brian Hill & the Sherman Brothers’ Bedknobs and Broomsticks will open August 2021 on tour, directed by Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison, with music supervision by Tom Murray. Casting TBA. 
here.
Video: Promo
The adaptation focuses on the three children at its center, revealing more of their history and how they came to stay with Miss Price.
**********************
this week:
Tuesday, December 15
* Road To The North Country: Interpreting Dylan live panel discussion, including video performances of Bob Dylan’s words and music, with Todd Almond, Jeanette Bayardelle, Colton Ryan, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, and Mare Winningham, at 7:30 PM ET on Facebook.
Wednesday, December 16
* Holiday Follies virtual variety show, with Annaleigh Ashford, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Michel Urie, Michael Cerveris, Loose Cattle, and more, streams at 7 PM ET at NY Theatre Workshop.
* New Work Series, with livestreamed excerpts from the new musicals Garden of Starflowers (by Mai Asare) and An Incomplete List Of All The Things I’m Going To Miss When The World is No Longer (by Dante Green, Marlee Gordon & Lyell Hintz, at 7 PM ET at New York Theatre Barn.
Thursday, December 17
* The Coast of Utopia reunion discussion, with playwright Tom Stoppard and director Jack O’Brien, along with original Broadway cast members Billy Crudup, Jennifer Ehle, Ethan Hawe, Brian F. O’Byrne, and Martha Plimpton, streams at 6 PM ET on Zoom here.
* Disenchanted, a virtual production of the Off-Broadway show, featuring Celia Rose Gooding, Diana DeGarmo, Alysha Umphress, and more, streams on Broadway on Demand
* Norm Lewis: Christmastime is Here concert, streams at 8 PM ET here (and on demand through Dec. 31).
* Andrea McArdle: A Holiday Concert, available through Dec. 20 here.
* The ShowBiz Quiz, hosted by Yvette Kojic, with players able to interact with each other online, livestreams at 8 PM ET here.
Friday, December 18
* You’re a Green One, Mr. Finch FREE concert, a benefit in support of the Broadway Green Alliance, featuring Elizabeth Stanley, Idina Menzel, George Salazar, the Fates of Hadestown, and more, streams at 8 PM ET here.
* A Swinging Birdland Christmas, with Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, and Billy Stritch, streams at 7 PM ET here.
* Stage Door Sessions: Company, a livestream featuring cast members from the gender-flipped 2020 Broadway revival. Audience members can ask questions, interact with other fans, and more, streams at 8 PM ET here.
* Sweet Is the Sound: A Holiday at Home With (Chosen) Family, with the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus streams here (and available through Dec. 27).
**********************
Betsy Wolfe: A Pants Optional Holiday is available for streaming through Jan. 3 here, with special guest Jessica Vosk.
**********************
from The Actors Fund Holiday Gift Guide:
* “Hooray For 2121” t-shirts from Anna & Amanda Kloots
* Broadway Roulette Mixer: Mix online with Broadway talent.
* Broadway Wine Club
* Broadway World Theatre Shop: select designs to benefit The Actors Fund
* “Heart of Green” hoodies
* Jim Brickman’s “Brickman for Broadway Christmas” album
* Kendra Scott shopping and virtual styling event
* LE At Home unique in-home experiences
* Download Lea Salonga’s new song “Dream Again”
* MaskUpCurtainUp theatrical logo face masks
…and much more
Click here for the complete gift guide.
**********************
Kansas City Actors Theatre presents Get Us Out of These Boxes: A Zoom Christmas Carol, written by Darren Sextro and directed by Gary Heisserer, on Sat. Dec. 19 at 7:30 PM CT. Ticket revenue will help to fund Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre, the theatre company’s weekly original and vintage radio series.
Hillary Clemens, Walter Coppage, Nedra Dixon, Sidonie Garrett, Jerry Mañan, Shawna Peña-Downing, Victor Raider-Wexler, John Rensenhouse, Jan Rogge, Matt Sameck, Cinnamon Schultz, and Matt Schwader.
In this comedy, a fictional regional theatre tries to get something – ANYthing – online for their audience in the holiday season, only to find themselves trapped, not only by Zoom, but by artistic intentions, relationships, board procedure, and personal histories.
**********************
The Theatre Aspen Cabaret Series will return this winter with its 2nd annual Holiday Cabaret on Dec. 23 & 27 at 6 PM MST, directed by Lorin Lotarro, with music direction by David Dabbon & Andy Einhorn.
Kate Baldwin, Beth Malone, Charity Angél Dawson, Aaron Kaburick, J. Harrison Ghee, and Emily Britt.
A special celebration of the best of Broadway, with a uniquely-created evening featuring performances around the piano, brimming with ballads, eleven o’clock numbers and a dash of holiday cheer.
**********************
Carmen Cusack: Therapy is available for streaming through Jan. 3 here.