Today’s Highlights:
* Holidays From the Heart FREE benefit holiday concert, featuring Judy Norton, Judy Kuhn, Daryl Roth, Laurie Metcalf, Ann Harada, Allyson Tucker-Mitchell, Deborah Tranelli, Isabella Cascarano, Devin Ilaw, N’Kenge, Shoshana Bean, and more, streams at 7 PM ET here.
* A Christmas Carol virtual reading, adapted by Theresa Rebeck & Erin Daley, directed by Rebeck, featuring Raúl Esparza (Scrooge), Mary Bacon, Abadi Bacon Leynse, Kimberly Chatterjee, W. Tré Davis, Davis Mason, Krysta Rodrigues, and Matthew Saldivar, begins streaming here ($100 on Dec. 16, and Free Dec. 17-22).
* Looking a Lot Like Christmas FREE virtual concert, directed by Simon Evans, featuring Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Minnie Driver, Giles Terera, Rosalie Craig, Sharon Rose, and more, streams at 7:30 PM ET at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
* Holiday Follies variety show, directed by Kevin Cahoon, featuring Annaleigh Ashford, Nabiyah Be, Brandy Clark, Marshall L. Davis, Jr., Jake Dupree, Bridget Everett, Lisa Stephen Friday, Addalie Burns and Luke Hawkins, Daniel and Patrick Lazour, Gian Perez, Martha Redbone and Aaron Whitby, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Adrian Stevens and Sean Snyder, Michael Urie, Bruce Vilanch, More Zmin, Michael Cerveris and Loose Cattle, and Kinder HSPVA’s Mariachi Los Pasajeros, streams at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop (and available through Dec. 20).
* Lillias White in concert, with music direction by Mathis Picard, begins streaming at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre.
* Holidaze Harmony holiday concert, starring Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall, streams at 8 PM PT at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theatre (and available through Dec. 20).
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: Acting is not a state of being — but a state of appearing to be. ~ Noël Coward
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Video: The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues of 2020
Will Arbery, Kenneth Longergan, Roger Q Mason,Matt Barbot, Beresford Bennett, Serena Berman, Jeryl Brunner, J. Julian Christopher, Mario Correa, Nikki & Landy Erlick, Lovell Holder, Lily Houghton, Ali MacLean, Natalie Margolin, Cat Miller, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Jen Silverman, and Sung Rno.
Kerry Butler and Anika Larsen, Daniel Dae-Kim, Hugh Dancy, Kelly AuCoin, Willie Garson, Amy Hargreaves, Shannon Purser, Olli Haaskivi, Daniel Kyri, Andrew Leeds, Monique Moses, Tracee Chimo Pallero, Jessica Pimentel, Lyric Ross, Mirirai Sithole, Anna Suzuki, and the trio of Will Dagger, Drew Lewis, and Rachel Sachnoff.
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A Broadway Christmas will stream Mon. Dec. 21 at 8 PM ET here.
Patrick Cassidy, Jim Caruso, Liz Callaway, Linda Lavin, Lesli Margherita, Julia Murney, and Brandy Inez Sutton.
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The Muny has announced its 2021 season, with all shows live on stage:
* Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (July 5-11), directed & choreographed by Josh Rhodes.
* Mary Poppins (July 14-22), directed by John Tartaglia, with choreography by Patrick O’Neill, and music direction by Brad Haak.
* Smokey Joe’s Cafe (July 25-31), directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, with choreography by Josh Walden, and music direction by Abdul Hamid Royal.
* The Sound of Music (Aug. 3-9), directed by Matt Kunkel with choreography by Beth Crandall, and music direction by Ben Whiteley.
* Sweeney Todd (Aug. 12-18), directed by Rob Ruggiero, with musical staging by Jessica Hartman, and music direction by James Moore.
* On Your Feet! (Aug. 21-27), directed by Maggie Burrows, with choreography by Jon Rua, and music direction by Lon Hoyt.
* Chicago (Aug. 30 – Sept. 5), directed & choreographed by Chris Bailey (Gettin’ the Band Back Together) with music direction by Charlie Alterman.
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The Theme From…Songs Written for Film continues through Dec. 31 at NYC’s 92Y.
Farah Alvin, Allison Blackwell, Nikki Renée Daniels, Brandon Victor Dixon, Katherine Henly, Jeff Kready, James T. Lane, Telly Leung, Kara Lindsay, Paul Masse, Julia Murney, Zachary Noah Piser, Zachary Prince, Pearl Sun, and Mariand Torres.
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The Actors Fund has announced its 1st Holiday Gift Fund:
* “Hooray For 2021” t-shirts, from Anna & Amanda Kloots
* Broadway Roulette Mixer: Mix online with Broadway talent.
* Broadway Wine Club
* Broadway World Theatre Shop
* “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.
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Video: “Stars in the House,” celebrating Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, a progressive voice within Judaism that welcomes LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, features Stephanie J. Block, Ann Hampton Callaway, Judy Gold, Jackie Hoffman, Marc Shaiman, Benj Pasek, and Steven Skybell. (1:31:35)
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Federico Bellone (book writer and composer TBA)’s Houdini, which recently held a cross-continental virtual developmental reading starring Ramin Karimloo (Harry Houdini), and Laura Osnes (Bess Houdini), is looking at options for a Broadway production, directed by Federico Bellone. 
here.
The musical is set during the last show of the great magician’s life in the autumn of 1926 and through a series of flashbacks, we experience his life, loves and rise to fame.
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Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre Company has announced its holiday events:
* The Elijah Rock Variety Show Christmas Special (Sun. Dec. 20 at 6 PM PT), streams live from Las Vegas, offering family entertainment, song, dance, jazz, comedy and Broadway Christmas cheer. here.
* A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas radio play, featuring live original music by Douglas Clegg, directed by Brian McDonald, featuring Teri Bibb, Louis Lotorto, Matthew Floyd Miller, Hannah Tamminen, and Peter Van Norden. here.
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In the upcoming Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 28 – Feb. 3, 2021) are two world premiere documentaries related to the theatre. The Festival will take place digitally via a feature-rich, Sundance-built online platform and in person on Satellite Screens across the country (public health permitting).
“Ailey,” directed by Jamila Wignot. The world premiere film tells the story of Alvin Ailey, a visionary artist who found salvation through dance. Told in his own words and through the creation of a dance inspired by his life, this immersive portrait follows a man who, when confronted by a world that refused to embrace him, determined to build one that would.
“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It,” directed by Mariem Pérez Riera. The film delves into the life of legendary Rita Moreno, who defied both he humble upbringing and relentless racism to become one of a select group who have won and Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Over a 70 year career, she has paved the way for Hispanic-American performers by refusing to be pigeonholed into one-dimensional stereotypes.
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Broadway’s Great American Songbook: The Holiday Gala will take place Mon. Dec. 21 at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre, hosted by Michael Feinstein, with MC Gerry McIntyre, and directed by Barry Kleinbort.
Ben Vereen, Lillias White, Klea Blackhurst, George Abud, Robert Creighton, Karen Mason, Lee Roy Reams, and Alton Fitzgerald White.
Jeremy Benton, Kylie & Kaydin Kuioka, Cheryl Stern, Haley Swindal, The Skivvies, Donna McKechnie, and Richard Maltby Jr. & David Shire.
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“Road to the North Country: Interpreting Dylan” is available to stream on Facebook.
(original Girl from the North Country Broadway cast member) Todd Almond, Jannette Bayardelle, Coltan Tyan, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, and Mare Winningham
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Audio: The cast of Hadestown sings “Sleigh Ride.”
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“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021” will begin livestreaming at 8 PM ET on ABC.
Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmie Allen, Ciara, Lucy Hale, and Jessie James Decker