Today’s Highlights:
The Lorax, by David Greig & Charlie Fink, directed by Max Webster, featuring Audrey Brisson, Richard Katz, Melanie La Barrie, David Ricardo-Pearce, Ben Thompson, Jamael Westman, and Silas Wyatt-Barke, begins livestreaming on Zoom at London’s Old Vic.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the week: “No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.” ~ W. H. Auden
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Video: Stars in the House, with guest host Brenda Braxton, featuring her co-stars from the off-Broadway show Cougar: The Musical — Dustin Cross, Donna Moore, Mary Mossberg, and Babs Winn. (1:05:37)
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Robin Gerber’s The Shot will stream Sat. Apr. 24 at 5 PM PT at LA’s Skylight Theatre, directed by Michelle Joyner. A Q&A will follow.
Sharon Lawrence.
The story reveals the well-kept secrets of American icon Katherine Graham, who, before becoming the publisher of The Washington Post, endured the physical and emotional abuse of Phil Graham, the husband she loved and admired.
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Broadway Alive at Ellen’s Stardust Diner will stream Apr. 18 at 7 PM ET here, hosted by Matt DeAngelis and Emily McNamara.
(all Ellen’s Stardust Diner alumni) Kayleigh Brennan, Danny Brooks, Dana Costello, Matt DeAngelis, Christine Dwyer, Gabrielle Elisabeth, Brandon Ellis, Nathan Lucrezio, Emily McNamara, Zak Resnick, Marrick Smith, Morgan Billings Smith, Anne Fraser Thomas, and Alysha Umphress.
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RIP: Robert Fletcher, the prolific costume designer for both stage and screen, died peacefully on Apr. 5 at the age of 98. He is best known for his work on the first four “Star Trek” films.
Fletcher enjoyed a varied career in which he designed sets and costumes for Lincoln Kirstein’s ballet and opera projects, worked with Jerome Robbins on musicals, designed the costumes for the original Broadway productions of the musicals How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Walking Happy and designed the costumes for and played the role of Edgar in Orson Welles’s 1956 New York City Center production of Shakespeare’s King Lear.
Fletcher received three Tony Award nominations for his work on Little Me (1963), High Spirits (1964), for which he was a co-producer, scenic and costume designer, and Hadrian VII (1969).
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South Coast Rep has announced its Pacific Playwrights Festival 2021:
Covenant (Apr. 26 – May 2), by York Walker, directed by Tamilla Woodard. When he returns home to his small Georgia town, rumors fly that blues guitarist Johnny “Honeycomb” James may have sold his soul to the devil to attain his musical genius. But in this twisty folk-horror drama, jealousy, distrust and superstition determine Honeycomb’s fate—even if the devil does play a part.
Coleman ’72 (May 10-16), by Charlie Oh, directed by David Ivers. A Korean American family piles into the Buick for an all-American road-trip: open plains, rickety camper-trailer, kimchi and banchan. But Korean parents and American kids hold conflicting ideas of what they’re looking for when the real purpose of their journey comes to light.
Park-e Laleh (May 24-30), by Shayan Lotfi, directed by Mike Donahue. Aimir seeks asylum in the UK after fleeing persecution in his native Iran, but he’s haunted by what he’s left behind. Now he’s attempting to settle in a city full of strangers—looking for anything or anyone that might allow him to finally feel at home.
Clean (May 31 – June 6), by Christine Quintana, directed by Lisa Portes. Two women from different worlds meet in the fake paradise of a Mexican resort: Adriana, who works at the hotel, and Sarah, who’s there for her sister’s wedding. Torrential rain, a father’s death and the mistakes of a night bring them together … but whatever they have in common, many cultural borders separate them.
Harold & Lillian (June 21-27), by Dan Collins & Julianne Wick Davis, directed by Michael Greif. A musical about the Hollywood romance of storyboard artist Harold Michelson and film researcher Lillian Michelson. Beginning with their elopement after Harold came home from World War II, their marriage spanned six decades—during which they overcame daunting personal challenges and made surprising movie magic.
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RWQuarantunes, the 5-hour, invitation-only virtual fundraising concert held on Apr. 11, in support of BC/EFA, featuring by Kristin Chenoweth, Deborah Cox, Robert Cuccioli, Loretta Devine, Lena Hall, Joshua Henry, Jennifer Holliday, James Monroe Iglehart, Christopher Jackson, Nathan Lane, Stephanie Mills, Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and more, raised $1,309,970.
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LA’s Ahmanson Theatre has announced its 2022 season:
A Christmas Carol (Nov. 30, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022), adapted by Jack Thorne, directed by Matthew Warchus.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Jan. 16 – Feb. 20), by Dan Gillespie Sells & Tom MacRae, directed by Jonathan Butterell. Jamie New is sixteen and lives in public housing in Sheffield, England. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in, he’s terrified about the future and he’s going to be a sensation. Inspired by a true story, Supported by his loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.
The Lehman Trilogy (Mar. 3 – Apr. 10), by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power, directed by Sam Mendes.
Hadestown (Apr. 26 – May 29), by Anaïs Mitchell & Rachel Chavkin, directed by Chavkin.
Come From Away (May 31 – June 12)
Dear Evan Hansen (June 29 – July 31)
The Prom (Aug. 9 – Sept. 11)
Oklahoma (Sept. 31 – Oct. 13)
The previously announced production of 1776 has been postponed to a future season.
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Additional casting has been announced for Eric Rockwell & Joanne Bogart’s The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)… and More!, which will stream Sun. Apr.18 at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre, directed by Tom D’Angora & Michael D’Angora, with music direction by Deniz Cordell.
(previously announced): Christy Altomare, Colleen Ballinger, Betty Buckley, André De Shields, Richard Kind, kevin Smith Kirkwood, Telly Leun, Jose Llana, Kelvin Moon Loh, Patti LuPone, Lesli Margherita, Andrea McArdle, Brad Oscar, Christine pedi, Randy Rainbow, Jelani Remi, Chita Rivera, Soara-Joye Ross, Jackie Sanders, Ethan Slater, Michael West, and Lillias White.
(newly announced): Alexandra Billings, Charles Busch, Robert Creighton, Ana Gasteyer, Beth Leavel, Lauren Molina, and Sara Stiles.
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Perfect Crime will begin previews Apr. 17 and re-open Apr. 18 at Off-Broadway’s The Theater Center, and is the first show to open with an Equity-approved cast in NYC since the shutdown.
Catherine Russell (who has performed in the show since its first preview in 1987), Patrick Ryan Sullivan, David Butler, Charles Geyer, and Patrick Robustelli.
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Broadway Acts for Women 2021 will livestream Sun. May 2 at 8 PM ET at 54 Below, hosted by Martha Plimpton. An online event and virtual auction performed LIVE.
Ariana Debose, Eden Espinosa, Kathryn Brody, Danny Burstein, Ever Carradine, Garret Dillahunt, Eden Espinosa, Jessy Tyler Ferguson, Sara Bareilles, , Kelli O’Hara, Michelle Hurd, Howard McGillin, Mandy Patinkin, Annabella Sciorra, Cecily Strong, Jessica Vosk, Shannon Woodward, and more TBA.
CELEBRITY PRIZE PACKAGES:
Turn your living room into Madison Square Garden for the night as you enjoy a private 3-song Zoom Concert with a Grammy Award Winning and Tony Nominated Superstar
Cooking Class & Dinner Party with a Drama Desk & SAG Award Winning, multi-Emmy Nominated Sitcom Star! “A is For” will send you all the ingredients ahead of time.
Private Voice Lesson with a Tony Award Winning and Emmy Nominated Star!
“History of Television” Webinar for you and a few of your friends taught by a Golden Globe, Peabody, and GLAAD Award Winning Television Producer and Writer!
Broadway Acts for Women raises critical funds and awareness about reproductive justice. Over the years this event has raised 6 figures for independent abortion clinics and the organizations who support them.
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The Kennedy Center has announced its 2021-22 theater season:
Hadestown (Oct. 13-31)
Ain’t Too Proud (Dec. 14 – Jan. 16, 2022)
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Dec. 14 – Jan. 22)
The Prom (Jan. 4-16)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Feb. 22 – Mar. 13)
Riverdance – The 25th Anniversary Show (Mar. 15-27)
Mean Girls (Apr. 5-24)
Oklahoma! (Apr. 5-10)
Freestyle Love Supreme (May 10-15)
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Off-Broadway’s Abingdon Theatre Company will screen the short film “Empress Mei Li Lotus Blossom” on Thurs. May 27 at 7 PM ET, written & directed by Christine Toy Johnson. A talkback will follow with Johson and the cast.
Rin Allen, Deborah Lew, and Rebecca Hirota
A Teaneck-born Asian American actress poses as a exotic Hong Kong movie star so she can get her shot at Broadway.
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NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama will present live cabaret performances every Tuesday, beginning with Seth Bisen-Hersh’s Seth’s Talent Showcase on May 4 at 7 PM ET.
Sarah Grace, Lily Lewinter, Jessica McCuish, Jim Reilly, Jr, Mikaela Salcedo, and Sklenny Senat.
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Musical Theatre West presents A Live Outdoor Concert with David Burnham on Sat. Apr. 24 at 7:30 PM at Long Beach’s The Grand.