Today’s Highlights:
The Woman in Black, adapted by Stephen Mallatratt, directed by Robin Herford, featuring Stuart Fox (Arthur Kipps) and Matthew Spencer (The Actor), re-opens at London’s Fortune Theatre.
“American Crime Story: Impeachment,” starring Beanie Feldstein, Sarah Paulson, Clive Owen, Edie Falco, Taran Killam, George Salazar, Billy Eichner, and Margo Martindale, premieres on FX.
Liz Callaway: Comin’ Around Again concert, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: If the Shoe Fits by Jim Bernhard
1. In Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the slipper lost by Cinderella at the ball is…glass…golden…platinum…wooden
2. In the song “A New Pair of Shoes” from What Makes Sammy Run?, Sammy Glick exults over his footwear that are “Argentine, gen-u-ine,,, …cowhide…alligator…deerskin…suede”
3. In Pump Boys and Dinettes, the company sings that they’re going to “head out on the highway and have me some fun” and put on what kind of shoes? dancin’…drinkin’… stompin’…party
4. The musical All Shook Up includes an Elvis Presley song about “suede shoes” that are…scuffed…Italian.…stolen…blue
5. “Boogie Shoes,” featured in the musical Saturday Night Fever, was first released in a disco album by…the Bee Gees…Donna Summer…KC and the Sunshine Band…the Village People
6. The Red Shoes was the final Broadway show of what noted composer? Irving Berlin…Cy Coleman….Jule Styne…Sergei Prokofiev
7. Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? is a musical set in…a shoe factory…a Catholic school…a ballroom…an Arthur Murray dance instruction studio
8. In L. Frank Baum’s original novel “The Wizard of Oz,” on which the musical of that name as well as The Wiz are based, Dorothy’s ruby slippers were actually …silver…diamond…leather…glass
9. Harrison Floy, the lead in High Button Shoes, is a…haberdasher…movie producer…con man…opera singer
10. In Once Upon a Mattress, the Jester sings of his father, a vaudeville performer, who appeared in “Very _____ Shoes”….shiny…soft….big….elegant
Scroll down for the answers…
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José Cruz González’s American Mariachi will run Sept. 18 – Oct. 24 at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Henry Godinez, with music direction by Victor Pichardo.
Gloria Vivica Benavides (Soyla), Gigi Cervantes (Amalia), Lucy Godínez (Boli), Ricardo Gutiérrez (Federico), Molly Hernández (Isabel), Fréndira Izguerra (Tia Carmen), Amanda Raquel Martinez (Gabby), Bobby Plasencia (Mino), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Mateo), Tiffany Solano (Lucha).
Lucha spends her days caring for her ailing mother, but longs to shake up her 1970s home life. When a forgotten record album sparks her mother’s memory, Lucha and her cousin strike upon a radical idea: to create an all-female mariachi band.
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An advance screening of “Dear Evan Hansen,” and conversation with Ben Platt, Amandla Stenberg & Stephen Chbosky, will take place Sun. Sept. 12 at 5:30 PM ET at NYC’s 92Y.
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Kyle Bass’ Baldwin vs. Buckley: The Faith of Our Fathers will run Sept. 17-18 at Syracuse Stage, directed by Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.
Peter Callender (James Baldwin), Wyn Harmon (William F. Buckley Jr.), Reynaldo Piniella (Heycock), Robbie Simpson (Burford), Simon Moody (Announcer), and Emily Hernandez (Union President).
The “intellectual prizefight,” as it has been called, between Baldwin and Buckley, took place in the Cambridge Union on Feb. 18, 1965. The motion before the overflow assembly: “The American Dream has been achieved at the expense of the American Negro.” Two Cambridge University students squared off over the topic before the main event, which lasted approximately 45 minutes. Baldwin and Buckley spoke in turn, with Baldwin earning a rare standing ovation.
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“As the Curtain Rises,” written & directed by Dori Berinstein, continues on the Broadway Podcast Network.
Lesli Margherita (Broadway Disher), Lillas White (Cheryl Philips), James Monroe Iglehart (Steve Jones), Ashley Park (Kaye), Bobby (Michael Urie), Ariana DeBose (Zoe Taylor), Sarah Stiles (Emma-Olivia), George Salazar (Maxwell Fernsby), and Andrew Barth Feldman (Andrew Barth Feldman).
The drama on stage pales in comparison to the drama behind the curtain….
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Video: Judy Garland performs “His Is the Only Music That Makes Me Dance” (1964)
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TheSt. Louis Muny announced the cancellation of the final three performances of Chicago, due to a positive COVID-19 breakthrough cases within the cast.
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Broadway’s Waitress grossed $197,878 in tickets sales on Sept. 3, breaking the previous single-performance box office record at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre held by the Daniel Craig-led production of Betrayal ($184,476).
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September concerts at NYC’s 54 Below:
Sierra Boggess (Sept. 8-11 at 7 PM ET). Details.
Susan Derry: Ingenue You When (Sept. 8 at 9:45 PM ET). Details.
Brynn Williams: Confessions of a Bubbly Broadway Baby (Sept. 10 at 9:45 PM ET). Details.
RSO (Sept. 13 at 7 PM ET), featuring the songs of Ryan Scott Olliver, with Ryan Scott Oliver, Kathryn Allison, Kerstin Anderson, Bandits on the Run, Kae Bragg, Ethan Carlson, Ben Crawford, Jackie Cox, Lillian Andrea De Leon, Caitlin Doak, Matt Doyle, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Arielle Jacobs, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Michael Lowney, Miranda Luze, Bonnie Milligan, Heath Saunders, Eleri Ward, Donté Wilder, Daniel Yearwood, and more TBA. Livestream details. In person details.
Write Out Loud: From Contest to Concert (Sept. 13 at 9:45 PM ET), directed by Benjamin Rauhala, hosted by Taylor Louderman, featuring the winning songs of Matt Copley, Ethan Carlson, Alexander Sage Oyen, Karl Amundson, Damian Barray, Ben Bennett, Natalie Brown, Stephen Coakley, Dominic Graay & Ceola Daly, Dmitry Koltunoy, Shelby Olive, Christ Ruetten, Liam Searcy, RJ Christian, and Makinley Smith, performed by Major Attaway, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Gerard Canonico, Stephen Coakley, Matt Copely, Arielle Jacobs, Hannah Kloepfer, Andrew Kober, Taylor Louderman, Carrie St. Louis, Shereen Pimentel, Presley Ryan, Caesar Samayoa, and Danielle Wade. Details.
Nicole Henry Sings Whitney Houston (Sept. 14 at 7 PM ET). directed by Will Nunziata. Details.
Give My Regards…The Best of Broadway! (Sept. 14 at 9:45 PM ET). A competition like no other! Featuring finalists D’Marreon Alexander, Chelle Denton, Tyler Evick, Natasha Hoeberigs, Caleb Mitchell, and Veronica Stern. Details.
Andy Karl & Orfeh (Sept. 15 & 16 at 7 PM ET), with music direction by Steven Jamail, and directed by Charles Randloph-Wright. Details.
Amy Jo Jackson: The Brass Menagerie (Sept. 16 at 9:45 PM ET).
A campy romp through the women of Tennessee Williams…in SONG! Details.
Beth Leavel: It’s Not About Me (Sept. 17 & 18 at 7 PM ET — available live and streaming). Details
The Pop/Broadway Song Title Mashup Show! (Sept. 18 at 9:45 PM ET), featuring Philippe Arroyo, Phoenix Best, John Clay III, Leana Concepcion, Annie Golden, Jonathan Gomolka, Tommy Kaiser, Jake Levy, Sara Lynn Marion, Nya, Henry Platt, Analise Scarpaci, Alexia Sielo, Emerson Steele, Christian Thompson, and Alyssa Wray.
Two different songs. Two different genres. One same title. Hear your all of your favorites like you’ve never heard them before. Details
Amy Spanger Sings Her Face Off (Sept. 19 at 7 PM ET), with special guests Lana Gordon. Details
Sing Street’s Musicians In: The Wrong Gig (Sept. 19 at 9:45 PM ET), featuring Gian Perez, Jakeim Hart, Sam Poon, and Anthony Genovesi (from the Broadway cast of Sing Street). Details.
Haley Swindal: Back in Business (Sept. 20 at 7 PM ET). Details.
Zack Zadek: On We Go (Sept. 20 at 9:45 PM ET), directed by Ellie Heyman. Details.
Tony Yazbek (Sept. 21-22 at 7 PM ET). Details.
Preston Max Allen: New Music, Same Mayhem (Sept. 21 at 9:45 PM ET), with special guests Edward Precht, Preston Max Allen, and Lauren Nicole Chapman. Details.
Eli Bolin Has No Friends (Sept. 22 at 9:45 PM ET), with special guests PL Adzima, Nick Blaemire, Richard Kind, Paula Pell, Larry Owens, Chrissy Pardo, Shereen Pimentel, Allison Posner, Jed Resnick, and Natalie Walker. Details.
Christine Andreas (Sept. 24-25 at 7 PM ET). Details.
Bonnie Milligan & Natalie Walker Celebrate Fifty Years of Friendship (Sept. 25 at 9:45 PM ET). Details.
Tony Awards Viewing Party (Sept. 26 at 7 PM ET). Details.
Melissa Errico Sings Her New York (Sept. 27 at 7 PM ET). Both live and livestreamed. Details.
Jane & Tucker: Stripped (Sept. 27 at 7 PM ET), featuring Jane Bruce and Tucker. Details.
Kelli O’Hara (Sept. 28 – Oct. 3 at 8:30 PM ET). Details.
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DC’s Signature Theatre has cancelled the pre-Broadway engagement of Jason Kim’s KPOP, The Musical, scheduled for Dec. – Jan. 2022.
The producing partners made the decision due to pandemic-related logistical challenges with bringing the production to D.C. at this time.
The musical is still on a firm trajectory to open on Broadway in 2022. Stay tuned…
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Win two tickets to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince In Concert, which will take place Fri. Sept. 17 at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Justin Freer. The contest ends Fri. Sept. 10 at 11:59 PM ET.
Click here to enter. Winners will be announced on Sept. 11.
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Maestro Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena Pops: 100 Years of Broadway will take place Sat. Sept. 11 at 7:30 PM PT at the LA Arboretum.
Liz Callaway and Jordan Danica
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Video: Watch the full “Wicked in Concert” (1:24:37)
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The Foundation for New American Musicals‘ Annual Benefit will take place Sun. Oct. 24 at 4 PM PT at an LA location TBA.
Marc Shaiman and Bob Klein.
Marc Shaiman, Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Marisha Wallace, Bruce Vilanch, Steven Weber, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and more TBA.
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Complete casting has been announced for Wicked, which will resume performances Sept. 15 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
Sophie Evans (Glenda), Laura Pick (Elphaba), Alistair Brammer (Fiyero), Kim Ismay (Madame Morrible), Andy Hockley (The Wizard), Simeon Truby (Doctor Dillamond), Carina Gillespie (Nessarose), Nicholas McLean (Boq), Amy Webb (Elphaba standby), and Charli Baptie (Glinda standby), with Nick Len, ELauren Brooke, Grace Chapman, Conor Crown, Joseph Fletcher, Fraser Fraser, Will Lucas, Stacey McGuire, and Samantha Thomas, Emmie Ray, and Natalie Spriggs.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: If the Shoe Fits
1. In Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the slipper lost by Cinderella at the ball is glass.
2. In the song “A New Pair of Shoes” from What Makes Sammy Run?, Sammy Glick exults over his footwear that are “Argentine, gen-u-ine alligator.”
3. In Pump Boys and Dinettes, the company sings that they’re going to “head out on the highway and have me some fun” and put on “drinkin’ shoes.”
4. The musical All Shook Up includes an Elvis Presley song about “suede shoes” that are blue.
5. “Boogie Shoes,” featured in the musical Saturday Night Fever, was first released in a disco album by KC and the Sunshine Band.
6. The Red Shoes was the final Broadway show of Jule Styne.
7. Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? is set in a Catholic school.
8. In L. Frank Baum’s original novel “The Wizard of Oz” ,Dorothy’s ruby slippers were actually silver.
9. Harrison Floy, the lead in High Button Shoes, is a con man.
10. In Once Upon a Mattress, the Jester sings of his father, a vaudeville performer, who appeared in “Very Soft Shoes.”
