Today’s Highlights:
Our Town benefit reading, directed by Mia Katigbak, featuring Amy Hill (Stage Manager), Yumi Iwama (Mrs. Webb), and Midori Francis Iwama (Emily), with Cindy Cheung, Kassandra Cordova, Autumn Domingo, Connor Domingo, Ron Domingo, John D. Haggerty, Midori Francis Iwama, Yumi Iwama, Paul Juhn, Peter Kim, Glenn Kubota, Clara Haru Mulligan, Olivia Oguma, Trevor Salter, Jon Norman Schneider, Alok Tewari, CJ Uy, Izaac Wang, and Rita Wolf, streams at 8 PM ET at NAATCO.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: I am far from sure when I am acting and when I am not, or, should I mean more frankly, put it, when I am lying and when I am not. For what is acting but living and what is good acting but convincing lying? ~ Laurence Olivier
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Video: Stars in the House, with guest host Jessica Kirson, and special guests Wendy Leibman, Judy Gold, and Carmen Lynch. (1:01:51)
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Tickets are now on sale here for Lynn Nottage’s MJ, inspired by the life of Michael Jackson, directed & choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, with music direction by Jason Michael Webb. Previews begin Dec. 6 at the Neil Simon Theatre, with an opening set for Feb. 1, 2022.
Casting TBA.
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A concert version of Sunset Boulevard will take place Sun. June 13 at 3 & 7 PM GMT at the Alexandra Palace Theatre to a socially distanced audience of 300 people, conducted by Alex Parker.
Mazz Murray (Norma Desmond), Ramin Karimloo (Joe Gillis), Zizi Strallen (Betty Schaefer), Sharif Afifi (Artie Green), Christopher Howell (Manfred/Sheldrake), and David Shawparker (Cecil B. DeMille), with Jack Harrison-Cooper, Jordan Lee Davies, Momar Diagne, Chloe Hart, Aimee Hodnett, Sefal Keshwala, Anelisa Lamola, Evie Rose Lane, Cameron Sharp, and Bleu Woodward.
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“Disenchanted,” the sequel to “Enchanted,” directed by Adam Shankmanm is currently shooting in Ireland. The film is expected to debut exclusively on Disney+ in 2022, and will feature new songs from Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz.
Amy Adams (Giselle), Patrick Dempsey (Robert Philip), James Marsden (Prince Edward), Idina Menzel (Nancy Tremaine), Maya Rudolph (Malvina), Kolten Steward (Malvina’s son), Yvette Nicole Brown (Rosalyn), Jayma Mays (Ruby), Oscar Nunez (Edgar), and Gabriella Baldacchino (Morgan).
Ten years after Giselle, Robert, and Morgan have moved from New York to the suburbs, Giselle begins to question her happily ever after, she begins to wish her life was more like a perfect fairytale. However, her wish turns both her real life and her animated home of Andalasia upside down.
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Pam Gem’s Piaf will run July 2-17 at Nottingham Playhouse, with one streamed performance on July 14, directed by Adam Penford.
Jenna Russell, and more TBA.
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NY’s Forestburgh Playhouse has announced its 2021 Summer Season:
Forestburg Under the Stars concert series, with Morgan James (June 4), Alysha Umphress (June 5), Elizabeth Stanley (June 11), Karen Mason (June 12), The Skivvies (June 18), Kyle Taylor Parker (June 19), Kate Baldwin & Graham Rowat (June 25), Nicholas Rodriguez (July 2), and Kathryn Allison (July 3).
The Diamond Anniversary Revue (July 6-11), celebrating 75 years, directed by Chaz Wolcott.
In rep: Altar Boyz and Beehive (July 13-25), directed by Chaz Wolcott.
The World Goes ‘Round (July 27 – Aug. 8), directed by Valerie Wright.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Aug. 10-15), directed by Anthony C. Daniel.
Buyer & Cellar (Aug. 17-22). Director TBA.
Babes in Arms (Aug. 24 – Sept. 5), a new version written & directed by Douglas Carter Beane.
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The 23rd annual Broadway Barks and 2nd Broadway Barks Across America, in support of BC/EFA, will stream Sun. May 23 at 7 PM ET here, hosted by Bernadette Peters.
Alec Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Victoria Clark, Glenn Close, Ariana DeBose, Harvey Fierstein, Josh Groban, Allison Janney, Sebastian Arcelus, Annaleigh Ashford, Bill Berloni, Stephanie J. Block, Carol Burnett, Lily Collins, Harry Connick Jr., Sheryl Crow, Jason Danieley, Ted Danson, Daveed Diggs, Gloria Estefan, Calista Flockhart, Whoopi Goldberg, Kathryn Grody, Emmylou Harris, Megan Hilty, James Monroe Iglehart, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Jackson, Nathan Lane, bob Mackie, Audra McDonald, Charlie McDowell, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Mandy Patinkin, David Hyde Pierce, Randy Rainbow, Kelli Ripa, Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga, Phillipa Soo, Mary Steenburgen, and Will Swenson.
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NYC’s 54 Below will re-open this Spring:
JUNE:
* Joe Iconis & George Salazar: Two Player Game (June 17-24)
* Shakina Nayfack (June 17)
* Michael Kushner (June 17)
* Larry Owens (June 19, July 9 & 31)
* Our New York Renaissance! A Celebration in Song! (June 20)
* Beth Malone (June 21)
* Alexis Michelle (June 21)
* Britton Smith & The Sing (June 22-23)
* Robbie Rozelle (June 24)
* Scott Coulter & Friends: From Dolly Parton to David Bowie (June 27)
* Nicole Henry (June 27)
* Lee Roy Reams: Remembering Jerry Herman (June 28)
* I Wish: The Role That Could Have Been (June 28), hosted by Alexandra Silber
* Derrick Baskin (Jun 29 – July 3)
JULY:
* Ryan Scott Oliver (July 6)
* Storm Large (July 6-7)
* Blaine Alden Krauss (July 8-15)
* Charlie Rosen and his Roaring 20s Sextet (July 10-13)
* Marilu Henner (July 14)
* L Morgan Lee (July 14)
* Andy Karl and Orfeh (July 15-17)
* Taylor Sorice (July 16)
* Sally Wilfert (July 18-20)
* Beth Leavel (July 22-23)
* Christy Altomare (July 22)
* Joe Gulla (July 23)
* Joe Iconis (July 24-26)
* Jelani Remy (July 27)
* Emily Skinner (July 29-31)
* Robert Bannon (July 30)
* Sondheim Unplugged (July 25), performers TBA
AUGUST:
* André De Shields (Aug. 2-7)
* Maria-Christina Oliveras (Aug. 6)
* Liz Callaway (Aug. 8-9)
* Vasthy Mompoint (Aug. 8)
* Amber Iman (Aug. 10-14)
* Tom McGovern (Aug. 10)
* Zack Zadek (Aug. 14)
* Emerson Mae Smith and Murphy Taylor Smith (Aug. 17)
* Bonnie Milligan (Aug. 18-19)
* Alice Ripley (Aug. 23)
* Michael Feinstein (Aug. 24 – Sept. 5)
* Your Birthday Show! from Scott Siegel (Aug. 25)
* Todd Buonopane (Aug. 26)
* Helen Park (Aug. 27)
* Adam Gwon (Aug. 28)
* Michael R. Jackson (Aug. 31)
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The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will stream WIRED on Thurs. June 24 at 6 PM PT.
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The world premiere of Tom Dugan’s Tevye in New York! will run June 23 – July 25 at Beverly Hills’ The Wallis outdoor performance space, directed by Dugan & Michael Vale.
Tom Dugan.
This one-man show, based on the beloved characters of Sholem Aleichem, imagines the life of Tevye and his family after the curtain comes down in Fiddler on the Roof. Set in 1914, the play follows as he vies for his piece of the American dream, from his journey with his daughters across the Atlantic Ocean, through Ellis Island, pas “the big green lady,” and into the crowded streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side..
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A concept recording of Philip David Stern’s Stone Crossed will be released May 21 here.
Krystina Alabado, Alex Boniello, Gabi Campo, Antonio Cipriano, Will Connolly, Telly Leung, Elli McLemore, Celia Rose Gooding, John Rua, Samantha Williams, and more.
The story of two young lovers whose lives are changed forever when they inadvertently cross the divide. Falling instantly in love, Stoney and Jewel discover that they are more the same than they are different, despite what they had been taught to believe and start to question what has been painted in stone.
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Video: In case you missed Miscast 21, here it is in its entirety. (2:26:18)
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Off-Broadway’s Transport Group‘s “While We’re Home: Extended Cut” video series, is now available here, and will feature monthly installments.
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Show of Titles will stream Tues. June 8 at 5 PM PT at LA’s Center Theatre Group, and remain available on demand for 96 hours thereafter, directed by Lonnie Price, with music direct by Jason Howland.
Annaleigh Ashford, Glenn Close, Len Cariou, Darren Criss, Santino Fontana, Kelsey Grammar, David Alan Grier, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Henry, Isabelle Huppert, Norm Lewis, Patti LuPone, Rob McClure, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melba Moore, Jessie Mueller, Eva Noblezada, Kelli O’Hara, Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale, Michael Rupert, Ernie Sabella, Lea Salonga, Phillipa Soo, Will Swenson, Aaron Tveit, Leslie Uggams, Vanessa Williams, Patrick Wilson, Broadway Inspirational Voices, Candice Bergen, Danny Burstein, Bryan Cranston, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Angela Lansbury, John Lithgow, Lindsay Mendez, Phylicia Rashad, Ben Vereen, BD Wong, and Florian Zeller.
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Video: First trailer the “Dear Evan Hansen” film, which will be released Sept. 24.
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NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse has announced its 2021-22 season:
Songs for a New World (Oct. 13 – Nov. 7), by Jason Robert Brown, directed by Carolyn Cantor.
A Jolly Holiday With Disney on Broadway (Dec. 1 – Jan. 2, 2022), featuring songs from Disney shows.
Clue (Jan. 26 – Feb. 20), by Tom Chiodo & Peter DiPeitro, directed by Casey Hushion.
The Wanderer (Mar. 24 – Apr. 24), world premiere by Charels Messina, directed by Kenneth Ferrone, with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby. Based on the life of Dion DiMucci, the cast features Michael Wartella, Christy Altomare, and Joey McIntyre.
Sister Act (June 1-26), directed by Steven Beckler, with choreography by Janet Rothermel.
