Today’s Highlights:
* Come From Away: The Concert!, directed by Christopher Ashley, featuring Rachel Tucker (Annette/Beverly Bass), David Thaxton (Garth/Kevin Tuerff), Clive Carter (Claude Elliot), Nathanael Campbell (Bob), Emma Salvo (Janice Mosher), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Ali/Kevin Jung), Mary Doherty (Bonnie Harris), Robert Hands (Doug/Nick Marson), Harry Morrison (Oz Fudge), Helen Hobson (Diane Gray), Cat Simmons (Hannah O’Rourke), and Jenn Boyd (Beulah Davis, opens live at London’s Phoenix Theatre.
* Tonight’s The Night, new virtual musical written & directed by Bruce Kimmel, featuring Eric Peterson and Hartley Powers, begins FREE streaming at 7 PM here.
* Virtual 2-Part Hamilton Tour – Part 1, offering history buffs the opportunity an explore the theatre district and NYC from their couches, begins streaming here. (Part 2 takes place Feb. 17).
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “Act well your part; there all the honour lies.” ~ Alexander Pope, “Pope: An Essay on Man”
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Video: Stars in the House — Black Theatre United, hosted by Lillias White, with Mathis Picard (1:02:32)
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“The History of Sketch Comedy,” with Keegan-Michael Key and John Oliver, will stream Mon. Feb. 15 at 7:30 PM ET at NYC’s 92Y.
The event is equal parts master class and personal story, detailing the fascinating creative origins of the art form and its kaleidoscopic, hilarious variations. See the duo will discuss the comedy heroes who inspired the project, the origins of landmark sketch characters, stories from behind the scenes at their own shows, and much more.
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The Educational Theatre Foundation‘s Theatre Alive! gala, streamed online last month, raised more than a record-breaking $180,000 to help support school theatre programs in need, and was watched by more than 4,000 people.
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The Blank Theatre Living Room Series will run Feb. 22 – May 17.
The Blank’s commitment to developing new work by diverse voices from both established and emerging writers. Submissions by women, playwrights of color, and other under-represented voiced are strongly encouraged. The Blank is firmly committed to supporting gender parity and diversity.
Feb. 22: The Pedo Punchers Play, by Bailey Jordan Garcia, directed by Bree Pavey
Mar. 8: Memory of Ice, by Stacey Isom Campbell, directed by Lisa Neely.
Mar. 22: 11 Seconds (Akira Kurosawa in Hell), by Karen Huie, directed by Peter Kuo.
Apr. 5: Quik-Mart, by Charles Gershman, directed by TBA.
Apr. 12: Boulevard of Bold Dreams, by LaDarrion Williams, directed by Shelli Boone.
Apr. 19: Immaculate Heart, by Matthew Riopelle, directed by TBA.
May 17: Sohni Maiwahl (or the potter’s daughter), by Simran Bal, directed by Lauren Cammpedelli.
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Video: Today’s mood lifter: Movie stars dance to “I’m So Exited”
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“Genius: Aretha” will premiere Mar. 21 at 9 PM on National Geographic over 4 consecutive nights, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day. The series is directed by Anthony Hemingway.
Cynthia Erivo (Aretha Franklin), Courtney B. Vance (C.L. Franklin), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Carolyn), and Patrice Covington (Erma), with David Cross, Steven Norfleet, Pauletta Washington, Omar J. Dorsey, Marque Richardson, Malcolm Barrett, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, and Sanai Victoria.
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First Date (2020 London virtual production), by Austin Winsberg, Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, will begin streaming Feb. 12 on BroadwayHD, directed by Dean Johnson, with music supervision by Josh Winstone.
Samantha Barks (Casey), and Simon Lipkin (Aaron), with Nicholas McLean (Man #1), Oscar Conlon-Morrey (Man #2), Rufus Kampa (Young Aaron), and Danielles Steers (Woman #1).
New York City singles Casey and Aaron have been set up by friends and family, but from the outset this first date seems to be doomed. With the help of a meddling but well-meaning waiter and a host of other characters along the way, the mismatched pair navigate a potential dating disaster in the hopes of finding something special before the check arrives.
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Josh Groban’s Valentine Day Concert – 2021 will stream Sun. Feb. 14 at 8 PM ET here.
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Video: Rachel Tucker sings “Me and the Sky” from Come From Away.
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North Hollywood’s Road Theatre Company has announced its Summer Playwrights Festival 11, to run July 20 – Aug. 16, and is seeking submissions. The theatre remains committed to their meaningful mission to produce and develop New Work for the stage, and will showcase work of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), in an effort to elevate new voices and to be more inclusive. 
Click here for submission guidelines and additional information.
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Video: “The New World,” from Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World, performed by Kate Baldwin, George Salazar, Anika Noni Rose, Branden Noel Thomas, and guitarist Ada Westfall.
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“Being the Ricardos” the Lucille Ball biopic, is currently in development, directed by Aaron Sorkin, starring Nicole Kidman (Lucy) and Javier Barden (Ricky).
Nina Arianda and J.K. Simmons are currently in talks for the roles of Ethel and Fred Mertz.
The film will be set on a week of production of “I Love Lucy” and will explore real relationship between Ball and Arnaz as they face a set of crises that could end both their careers and their marriage.
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Video: Liz Callaway sings “Like It Was” from Merrily We Roll Along.
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Douglas Lyons’ Chicken and Biscuits will premiere Sat. Feb. 27 at 8 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters (and then available on-demand through Mar. 3), directed by Zhailon Levingston. The reading is in support of The Next Wave Initiative.
Carly Hughes (Brianna), Michael Urie (Logan), Janet Hubert Devere Rogers (Kenny), Danny Johnson (Reginald), Alana Raquel Bowers (Simone), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Beverly), and Aigner Mizzelle (La’trice).
Baneatta and Beverly attempt to put their sisterly differences aside to bury their father, Bernard. All is well at the funeral until it’s revealed that Bernard had not just two daughters, but three.
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Giles Terera (Olivier Award for Aaron Burr in London’s Hamilton), has written Black Matter, a new song cycle, which will stream globally Mar. 24-31 here.
The cycle is based on Terera’s observations of the changing streets of Soho during the summer in lockdown.
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The Educational Theatre Foundation’s Theatre Alive! gala, streamed online last month, raised more than a record-breaking $180,000 to help support school theatre programs in need.
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The Musical Theatre Factory presents Unremarkable! A Melissa Li & Kit Yan Concert Special, to stream on Sun. Mar. 7 at 8 PM ET featuring the musical writing team of Melissa Li and Kit Yan, directed by Jesca Prodencio, with music direction by Cynthia Meng.
Ruthie Ann Miles, Marc delaCruz, Stephanie Hsu, Kuhoo Verma, Julia Abueva, Shannon Tyo, Gianna Yanelli, Futaba Shioda, rose Van Dyne, Zeniba Now, and Khaila Wilcoxon.
With a little help from their friends, Melissa and Kit give you a glimpse into who they are as collaborators, family and sometimes enemies in a 90-minute variety show.
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New Line Cinema is developing “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” to be directed by Nicole Kassell. Additional information TBA.
The film will have access to elements such as the Ruby Slippers from the 1939 musical, though it is not a directed by remake of the classic film starring Judy Garland.