Today’s Highlights:
* The Line, world premiere by Jessica Blank & Erik Jensen, directed by Blank, featuring Santino Fontana, Arjun Gupta, John Ortiz, Alison Pill, Nicholas Pinnock, Jamey Sheridan, and Lorraine Toussaint, FREE livestream at 7:30 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater (available through Aug. 4).
* The Broadway Q&A Series, with choreographer Denis Jones, livestreamed at 1 PM ET here.
* Judy Collins in conversation with Bud Mishkin, streamed at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 92Y.
* Rubicon Theatre‘s Drive-In Hits concert, featuring Christian Hoff, Travis Cloer, and friends from Jersey Boys and Million Dollar Quartet, concludes at Ventura’s Fair Grounds.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “The most difficult character in comedy is that of the fool, and he must be no simpleton that plays that part.” ~ Miguel De Cervantes
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Broadway updates for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons:
2020-21 Season:
* David Byrne’s American Utopia: (previews Sept. 18 at the Hudson Theatre, opening TBA), concert.
* Trouble in Mind (previews Winter 2021 at the Cort Theatre), by Alice Childress, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. 
A semi-satirical play about making theatre—and racism in the theatre — makes its Broadway debut after premiering Off-Broadway in 1995.
* The Minutes (previews Mar. 1, 2021, opens Mar. 15 at the Cort Theatre), by Tracy Letts, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. The play returns after a few preview performances prior to the pandemic. A scathing new comedy about small-town politics and real-world power.
* MJ (previews Mar. 8, 2021, opens Apr. 15 at the Neil Simon Theatre), by Lynn Nottage, directed & choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, starring Ephraim Sykes as Michael Jackson.
* Plaza Suite (previews Mar. 19, 2021, opens Apr. 13 at the Hudson Theatre), by Neil Simon, directed by John Benjamin Hickey, starring Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, with Danny Bolero, Molly Ranson, and Eric Wiegand.
* American Buffalo (previews Mar. 29, 2021, opens Apr. 14 at Circle in the Square), by David Mamet, directed by Neil Pepe, featuring Laurence Fishburne, Sam Rockwell, and Darren Criss.
* Take Me Out (previews Mar. 22, 2021, opens Apr. 22 at the Helen Hayes Theatre), by Richard Greenberg, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J. Adams, Brandon J. Dirden, Julian Cihi, Hiram Delgado, Tyler Lansing Weaks, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, and Eduardo Ramos. A comedy about a the coming out of a gay baseball player.
* The Music Man (previews Apr. 7, 2021, opens May 20 at the Winter Garden Theatre), directed by Jerry Zaks, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster.
* 1776 (previews & opens Spring 2021 at the American Airlines Theatre), directed by Diane Paulus.
* Caroline, Or Change (previews & opens Spring 2021 at Studio 54), by Tony Kushner & Jeanine Tesori, directed by Michael Longhurst. Caroline is an African-American maid whose world of ’60s Louisiana changes in ways big and small.
* Flying Over Sunset (previews & opens Spring 21 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre), by Tom Kitt, Michael Korie & James Lapine, directed by Lapine, featuring Carmen Cusack, Harry Hadden-Paton, with Tony Yazbek, with Erika Henningsen, Jeremy Kushnier, Emily Pynenburg, Michele Ragusa, Robert Sella, Laura Shoop, and Atticus Ware. The musical follows 3 artists during the ’50s as they experiment with the drug LSD. At a crossroads in their lives the three come together, and under the influence of the drug, take a trip and confront the mysteries of their lives and their world.
* How I Learned to Drive (previews 2020-21 season, dates TBA), by Paula Vogel, directed by Mark Brokaw, starring Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse. Li’l Bit looks back in time in order to make sense of an uncle who impacted her past, present, and future.
* Glengarry Glen Ross (target opening – 2020-21 season), with an all-female production directed by Amy Morton,
* The Who’s Tommy (target opening – 2021), directed by Des McAnuff.
2021-22 Season:
* Birthday Candles (previews Fall 2021), by Noah Haidle, directed by Vivienne Benesch, starring Debra Messing. A woman strives for significance in her life.
In the works:
* 13 Going on 30, by Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, Alan Zachary, & Michael Weiner, directed by Andy Fickman. A gawky teenage girl uses “wishing dust” to transform herself into a glamorous adult.
* 17 Again, by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, directed by Adam Shankman. A man gets to relive his youth.
* Archie, by Adam McKay and songwriters (TBA), directed by McKay. Based on the popular teen comic books.
* Beaches, by David Austin, Iris Rainer Dart & Thom Thomas, directed by Eric Schaeffer, starring Whitney Bashor and Shoshana Bean. Based on the film.
* The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, by Carol Hall, Peter Masterson & Larry L. King, directed & choreographed by Rob Ashford.
* The Bodyguard, by Alexander Dinelaris, starring Deborah Cox.
* Bombshell, by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse.
* Born for This, by Charles Randolph-Wright, BeBe Winans & Lisa D’Amour, directed by Randolph-White.
* Broadway Vacation, A Musical, by David Rossmer & Steve Rosen. Based on the film franchise.
* Bull Durham, by Susan Werner & Ron Shelton. Based on the film.
* Camp David, by Lawrence Wright, directed by Molly Smith. A drama about President Jimmy Carter’s Nobel Prize-winning efforts to bring the leaders of Israel and Egypt to sign a peace agreement after years of war.
* Chasing Rainbows, by Marc Acito. The musical traces the early life of Judy Garland, from her small-town birth to “The Wizard of Oz.”
* Damn Yankees, directed by Kathleen Marshall.
* The Devil Wears Prada, by Elton John, Shaina Taub & Paul Rudnick. Beth Leavel (Miranda Priestley) and Taylor Iman (Andy) will star in the pre-Broadway run at Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, beginning July 13, 2021.
* Diner, by Sheryl Crow & Barry Levinson, directed by Kathleen Marshall. Based on the film.
* Dreamgirls, by Tom Eyen & Henry Krieger, directed by Casey Nicholaw.
* The Flamingo Kid, by Robert L. Freedman & Scott Frankel, directed by Darko Tresnjak, featuring Jimmy Brewer, Adam Heller, Liz Larsen, Marc Kudisch, Lesli Margherita, Samantha Massell, Lindsey Brett Carothers, Ben Fankhauser, and Alex Wyse.
* Gypsy, directed by Jonathan Kent, starring Imelda Staunton.
* Half Time (formerly Gotta Dance), by Matthew Sklar, Marvin Hamlisch, Nell Benjamin, Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin & Ester Dean, directed by Jerry Mitchell.
* The Honeymooners, by Stephen A. Weiner, Peter Mills, Dusty Kay & Bill Nuss, directed by John Rando.
* Josephine, by Ellen Weston, Mark Hampton, Stephen Dorff & John Bettis, directed & choreographed by Joey McKneely, starring Deborah Cox.
* KPOP, by Jason Lim, Helen Park & Max Verson, directed by Teddy Bergman. A musical concert set inside the world of a KPOP record label.
* Last Summer at Bluefish Cove, by Jane Chambers, directed by Cynthia Nixon. In 1980 at Bluefish Cove, a lesbian beachside haven, Lil Zalinski and her close knit group of friends take refuge here each summer to live and love freely. When a straight woman named Eva wanders unknowingly into their midst, she sends The Cove into a tailspin and knocks Lil off her feet.
* The Late Great Me: An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner, by John Lahr, directed by Susan Stroman. A musical based on the life of the lyricist.
* Magic Mike, written by TBA, directed by Trip Cullman. A stage adaptation of the film.
* Marie, Dancing Still: A New Musical, by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flherty, directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman, featuring Tiler Peck, Terrence Mann, Karen Ziemba, Louise Pitre, Dee Hoty, ns Jenny Powers. A musical about Degas and ballerina Marie.
* The Nanny, by Fran Drescher & Peter Marc Jacobson, Rachel Bloom & Adam Schlesinger, directed by Marc Bruni. Based on the 90s sitcom.
* Once Upon a One More Time, directed by Kristin Hangii, with choreography by Keone & Mari Madrid. The musical will feature the music of Britney Spears.
* Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Stroy, by Daniel Goldfarb & Bert Berns, with music direction by Steven Van Zandt
* The Preacher’s Wife, by Daniel Beaty & Tituss Burgess, directed by Michael Arden. Based on the film.
* Room Service, by Allen Boretz & John Murray, directed by Michael Pressman. A revival of the 1937 Broadway screwball comedy about a penniless Broadway producer who will do anything to stay in his hotel room so he can get a career-saving hit off the ground.
* The Scenario, by Dan Charnas (book) & multiple artists (music & lyrics). A new musical set to three decades of hip-hop.
* The Secret Garden, by Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman, directed by Warren Carlyle.
* Sideways, by Rex Pickett & Anthony Adams. Based on Pickett’s film and play.
* A Sign of the Times, by Bruce Vilanch, directed by Gabriel Barre, with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Set against the backdrop of women’s liberation, the civil rights movement, Cindy moves to New York City from the Midwest in 1965 with dreams of making a difference in the world.
* Some Like It Hot, by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman & Mathew Lopez, directed by Casey Nicholaw. Based on the film.
* Soul Train, by Dominique Morisseau (book), directed by Kamilah Forbes. The story of producer Don Cornelius, who created the long-running TV variety show.
* Top Hat, by Irving Berlin & Chad Beguelin, directed by Christopher Gattelli. The glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and the glorious, tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
* Trevor: The Musical, by Julianne Wick Davis & Dan Collins, directed by Marc Bruni. Based on the 1994 short film about a gay 13-year-old who is obsessed with Diana Ross.
* Untitled Pat Benatar Musical, by Gary Lenon, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. The personal and professional lives of Benetar and Giraldo.
* Untitled Neil Diamond Musical, by Anthony McCarten, directed by Michael Mayer. The bio-musical traces the life of the singer from Brooklyn who defied the odds to become an American icon with 10 number one hits and 130 million records sold.
* The Visitor, by Brian Yorkey & Tom Kitt. Based on the 2007 Thomas McCarthy film of the same title about a widower who befriends a Syrian immigrant in post-9/11 New York City.
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More than 13,000 family and friends have signed a petition to rename Broadway’s Longacre Theatre as the Nick Cordero Theatre.
The petition reads: “A Bronx Tale, The Musical was the last Broadway show Nick Cordero starred in. This musical set a record as the longest running musical in Longacre history. With the passing of this incredibly talented and beloved Broadway star, it is the perfect memory for him and his family legacy, to assure his name will always be in lights in the Broadway Community.”
Click here to sign the petition.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe campaign to support Amanda Kloots and Elvis.
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MA’s Barrington Stage Company and Berkshire Theatre Group have announced that they will open their doors as early as August. The decision to produce theatre for a live audience this summer was made in collaboration with Actors’ Equity Association.
* Barrington Stage Company presents David Cale’s Harry Clarke, a monologue play (Aug. 5-16), directed by Julianne Boyd, and starring Mark H. Dold.
* Berkshire Theatre Goup presents Godspell (Aug. 6 – Sept. 4) in an open air tent, with a cast of 11, directed by Alan Filderman, with music direction by Andrew Baumer, and choreography by Gerry McIntyre, featuring Nicholas Edwards at Jesus.
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The film version of “Hamilton” will not be eligible for an Academy Award. “Recorded stage productions are not eligible for consideration,” after a 1997 rule change to the documentary category which disqualified recorded theatrical performances.
However, the film will be eligible for Emmy consideration in the “Outstanding Variety Special (pre-recorded) category. Emmy rules dictate that “the principal host for variety series and the principal host/performer for variety specials are eligible to be entered with the program categories. Secondary performers are not eligible.”
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The Actors Fund presents an original cast reunion of Freeform’s “The Fosters” reading the original pilot script, on Thurs. July 16 at 8 PM ET here.
(original cast): Terri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly, David Lambert, Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Danny Nucci, and Noah Centineo.
Annie Potts, Lorraine Toussaint, Bailee Madison, Alex Saxon, Amanda Leighton, Tom Williamson, Rosie O’Donnell, and Ashely Argota, withJay Ali, Alexadnra Barreto, Madisen Beaty, Daffany Mcgaray Clark, Colby French, April Parker Jones, Adam Kang, and David Sullivan.
Video: Teaser
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Podcast: Playwrights Horizons presents the podcast series, “Soundstage,” with Kirsten Child’s The Edge of Night, directed by Awoye Timpo.
Darlesia Cearcy (Mable) and Amber Iman (KC), with Cearcy, Brandon Gill, Kevin Massey, and Jasmin Walker.
The musical follows Mrs. Annie Brown as she grapples with segregation in the 1950’s American South—which is getting in the way of watching her favorite soap opera.
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The Actors Fund and Broadway Cares have joined forces to support the senior performing arts community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations will be matched by Broadway Cares up to $100,000.
While both groups have regularly been campaigning to raise funds throughout the theatre shutdown, the money donated in the new campaign will go directly to expand The Actors Fund’s programming for seniors, which includes food service, housing assistance, medical care, and social isolation prevention.
In May, The Actors Fund announced it had already distributed over $10.5 million to those in need. Broadway Cares has hosted streamed events to fundraise, including a broadcast of Bombshell the Concert in May and the upcoming Bernadette Peters concert on Playbill July 10.
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Video: “Stars in the House” — Ben & Amy Stiller honor Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller. (1:10:49)
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Click here for 18 Documentaries for Broadway Musical fans.
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Las Vegas’ The Space continues its digital concerts with John Lloyd Young on Sat. July 25 at 6 PM PT.
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Anaïs Mitchell‘s new book, “Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown,” will be released Oct. 6 on Kindle and Paperback here.
In addition to a complete set of lyrics with notes and first drafts, “Working on a Song” includes insights into the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the journey to making the lead characters believable, the ins-and-outs of opening a show on Broadway; Mitchell’s writing room and team, and more.
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Live With Carnegie Hall has announced its upcoming digital series, hosted by Audra McDonald, with music direction by Andy Einhorn:
* Cole Porter exploration (July 7) with Michael Feinstein and special guests Storm Large and Catherine Russell.
* Musical Explorers (July 8), offering a study of traditional Greek, Malian, and Indian music.
* Learn With Carnegie Hall (July 15), offering a 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, with conductor Marin Alsop.
* Isaac Stern Centennial Celebration (July 21), with violinist Isaac Stern
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The UK’s Theatre Support Fund + has designed a reusable face mask utilizing their “The Show Must Go On!” logo.
The design is an amalgam of the iconic title treatments of 16 West End productions: & Juliet, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Hamilton, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Matilda the Musical, SIX, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, The Book of Mormon, The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked.
Click here for more info and to order. The mask costs £9.50 (or $11.93 US dollars)
Other merchandise includes a T-shirt, notebook, mug, badge, and tote bag.
