Today’s Highlights:
2:22 – A Ghost Story, by Danny Robins, directed by Matthew Dunster, featuring Lily Allen (Jenny), Hadley Fraser (Sam), Julia Chan (Lauren), and Jake Wood (Ben), opens at London’s Noël Coward Theatre.
Ute Lemper NYC Rooftop Concert: All That Jazz livestreams at 8 PM ET here.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “They search for ages for the wrong word, which, to give them credit, they eventually find.” ~ Peter Ustinov on critics
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Video: Stars in the House, offering Georgians on My Mind, with guest host Cicily Primous, and special guests Maya Bowles, Jono Davis, Tony Galde, Beau Harmon, Michael Provost, and Jake Smith. (2:10:47)
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The Lion King will resume performances on Sept. 14 at the Minskoff Theatre.
Stephen Carlile (Scar), L. Steven Taylor (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Cameron Pow (Zazu), Ben Jeffery (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Adrienne Walker (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Robb Sapp (Ed), Brandon A. McCall (Simba), Vince Ermita (Young Simba alternate), Corey J. (Young Simba alternate), Alayna Martus (Young Nala alternate), and Sydney Elise Russell (Young Nala alternate), with Keith Alexander, Cameron Amandus, Leanne Antonio, Andrew Arrington, India Bolds Browne, Lindiwe Dlamini, Zinhle Dube, Bongi Duma, Angelica Edwards, Jim Ferris, Rosie Lani Feldman, Daniel Gaymon, Pia Hamilton, Daniel Harder, Michael Alexander Henry, Michael Hollick, Pearl Khwezi, Lindsey Jackson, Lisa Lewis, Mduduzi Madela, Jaysin McCollum, Ray Mercer, S’bu Ngema, Nhlanhla Ngobeni, Nteliseng Nkhela, Jacqueline René, Kaylin Seckel, Kellen Stencil, Housso, Semon, Derrick Spear, Michael Stiggers Jr., Jamie J. Thompson, Bravita Threatt, Natalie Turner, Donna Michelle Vaughn, Nicholas Ward, and Stephen Scott Wormley.
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Plays On Podcasts presents its next Play On Shakespeare with Jeffrey Whitty’s new adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Catherine Eaton. Click here to listen to Episode 1.
Manila Luzon, David Furr, Alexanra Henrikson, Amari Cheatom, Michelle Beck, Christopher Livingston, Gopal Divan, Jamie Ann Romero, Jenn Harris, Armando McClain, Cedric Lamar, Jeena Yi, and Daisuke Tsuji.
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The productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Be More Chill have both canceled performances due to a single member of each production testing positive for COVID-19.
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A TV adaptation of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out, which premieres Spring 2022 on Broadway, is in the works.
The limited series, adapted by playwright Greenberg, and directed by Broadway director Scott Ellis, will star Jesse Williams (who also stars in the Broadway run). Additional casting TBA.
The play follows Darren Lemming, the star center fielder for the Empires, who comes out of the closet, revealing a tradition of long-held unspoken prejudices off the field. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fan begin to question the old ways, their loyalties, and the price of victory.
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The film version of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, the hit London musical, will premiere Sept. 17 on Amazon Prime, directed by Jonathan Butterell, with choreography by Kate Prince.
Max Harwood (Jamie), Richard E. Grant (Hugo/Loco Chanelle), Sharon Horgan (Miss Hedge), Adeel Akhtar (Iman Masood), Samuel Bottomley (Dean Paxton), and Sarah Lancashire (Margaret New).
From the classroom to the stage, Jamie has big dreams of being a drag queen — and a chance encounter might make them all come true.
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Sara Lazarus & Alex Rybeck‘s Musical Performance Workshop will take place Sat. Aug. 21 & Sun. Aug. 22 in NYC.
* All safety protocols will be followed.
* The workshop will focus on both theatre auditions and cabaret performances.
* Saturday will take place in a rehearsal studio, and Sunday in a cabaret room, both in the heart of the Broadway area.
* Register for one or both days. Auditors will be welcome for a small fee.
For additional information, and to register, contact Sara:
Email: saralazarus@comcast.net
Cell: 917-701-3284
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“Red Pill,” written, directed by & starring Tonya Pinkins, will screen Fri. Aug. 13 at 8:30 PM ET at NCY’s 10th Annual Image Nation Outdoor Festival at NYC’s St. Nicholas Park. 
here.
Kathryn Erbe, Luba Mason, Jake O’Flaherty, Adesola Osakalumi, Rubén Blades, and Colby Minifie.
A talkback will follow, with cast members Kathryn Erbe, Luba Mason, Jake O’Flaherty, and Adesola Osakalumi.
Six liberal activists travel to a red state on the evening of the 2020 election.
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Complete casting has been announced for the Sept. 28 return of Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Shoba Narayan (Jasmine) Zach Bencal (Babkak), Frank Viveros, Michael James Scott (Genie), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Don Darryl Rivero (Iago), Milo Alosi (Kassim), Brad Weinstock (Omar), JC Montgomery (Sultan), (Genie/Sultan/Babkak standby), Dennis Stowe (Jafar/Sultan standby), and Juwan Crawley (Genie/Sultan standby), with Tia Altinay, Mary Antonini, Netanel, Bellaishe, Michael Callahan, Mike Cannon, Matthew deGuzman, Jacob Dickey, Mark DiConzo, Olivia Donalson, Josh Drake, Samantha Farrow, Jacob Gutierrez, Heather Makalani, Stanley Martin, Paul HeeSang Miller, April Holloway, Amber Owens, Jamie Kasey Patterson, Bobby Pestka, Ariel Reid, Tyler Roberts, Jaz Sealey, Charles South, Angelo Soriano, and Katie Terza.
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Founded in 2016 by Nathaniel Hill, Broadway Plus quickly gained the attention and support of the theatre and concierge-travel industries as a much-needed link between the two. Since its launch, the company has offered one-stop-shopping for a myriad of fans to connect with Broadway “beyond the ticket,” both virtually and live in NYC.
At the start of the Broadway shutdown, Broadway Plus made a swift pivot to virtual programming, which led to significant growth in reach and revenue. The staff increased to 20+ professionals, then relocated its headquarters to a location above the new Drama Bookshop, and became a licensed Group Sales Agent. To date, the company has booked thousands of experiences for fans around the world, and paid out over $1 million to Broadway artists.
Broadway actor Alex Brightman reports, “They work with you to ensure your experiences, be it lessons, master classes, Q&As, or even something niche like collaborating ad designing a fan’s tattoo, and all well-handled, expertly managed, and a breeze. You show up, do your thing, and they do theirs.”
Prior to the pandemic, Broadway Plus offered a wide variety of in-person experiences in partnership with the Broadway productions of Chicago, Wicked, Kinky boots, Rock of Ages, and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, as well as meet-and-greets with many Broadway stars, and so much more.
During the pandemic, Broadway Polus pivoted their in-person concierge platform to ffer online engagement opportunities, including one-on-one experiences, meet-and-greets, Q&As, private coaching sessions, master classes, career-building workshops, and much more.
As Broadway performances resume, Broadway Polus will move forward with a hybrid in-person and virtual business model for all experiences and resuming exclusive opportunities to connect with Broadway artists under COVID-safe conditions.
Click here for additional information.
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Complete casting has been announced for Lynn Nottage’s MJ, to begin previews Dec. 6 and open Feb. 1, 2022 at the Neil Simon Theatre, directed & choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, with music direction by Jason Michael Webb.
Myles Frost (Michael Jackson), Quentin Earl Darrington (Joseph Jackson/Rob), Whitney Bashor (Rachel), Gabriel Ruiz (Alejandro), Antoine l. Smith (Berry Gordy)/Nick), Joey Sorge (Dave), John Edwards (Jackie Jackson), Ayana George (Katherine Jackson), Apollo Levine (Quincy Jones/Tito Jackson), Tavon Olds-Sample (Michael), Lamont Walker II (Jermain Jackson), and Zelig Williams (Marlon Jackson), withRaymond Baynard, Kali May Grinder, Oyoyo Joi, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Renni Anthony Magee, Aaron James McKenzie, Aramie Payton, Kamille Upshaw, Ryan VanDenBoom, and Darius Wright.
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Martin Scorsese & Eric Roth’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” is currently in development, directed by Scorsese. No word yet on a release date.
John Lithgow, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Jesse Plemons.
The film explores the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation during the 1920s.
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Cambridge’s A.R.T. has announced its 2021-22 season:
The Arboretum Experience (begins Aug. 21) is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are not required. An outdoor, self-guided journey that features audio plays, movement experience, and pop-up performances.
Ayodele Casel: Chasing Magic (Sept. 25 – Oct. 9). The piece explores the magic of tap dance and everyday life.
Macbeth In Stride (Oct. 23 – Nov. 14), created by artist Whitney White. piece examines what it means to be an ambitious Black woman through the lens of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters.
Phoenix Rising (Nov. 19-21). Information TBA.
WILD: A Musical Becoming (Dec. 5 – Jan. 9, 2022), by Just Tranter, Caroline Pennell, and V. A single mother struggles to hold on to her family farm and connect with her teenage daughter, whos determination to save the planet endows her and her friends with powers they never knew they had.
Ocean Filibuster (Feb. 18 – Mar. 13), by Lisa D’Amour & Sxip Shirey, directed by Katie Pearl, featuring Jennifer Kidwell. Inside the Senate chamber of a global governing body, Mr. Majority introduces an “End of Ocean Bill” designed to shrink Earth’s oceans into a more manageable (and marketable) collection of inland seas. When the floor is open for debate, the Ocean arrives to speak in its own defense…and so begins an epic Human-Ocean showdown.
1776 (Mar 15 – July 24), directed by Jeffrey L. Page & Diane Paulus, with choreography by Page.
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Video: Josh Groban, Sierra Boggess, Adrienne Warren, Ariana DeBose, Shereen Pimentel, Ali Ewoldt, and more., perform at the Aug. 9 film premiere of the documentary “The Show Must Go On.”