Broadway
Broadway is Headed to the Small Screen
Television land is drawing from some of Broadway’s biggest stars and some of it’s stars use to be on Broadway. Here is a list alphabetically of who you can see in the privacy of your home.
Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Skylar Astin (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Ground Floor), Alex Newell (Glee), Mary Steenburgen (The Last Man on Earth), Peter Gallagher (The O.C., Covert Affairs), John Clarence Stewart (Luke Cage), Carmen Cusack (Sorry for Your Loss) all star on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, on NBC. Date to be announced. Zoey Clarke is a whip-smart computer coder forging her way in San Francisco. After an unusual event she starts to hear the innermost wants and desires of the people around her through songs. At first, she questions her own sanity but soon realizes this unwanted curse may just be an incredibly wonderful gift.
When the patriarch of a mega-rich Southern family (famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network) dies in a plane crash, his wife and family are stunned to learn that he fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will. Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Gerald McRaney (This Is Us), Aubrey Dollar (Battle Creek), Corey Cott (Newsies), Mark L. Young (The Comeback), Steven Pasquale (Rescue Me) all star in Filthy Rich on Fox. This midseason replacement has yet to have released a date.
When former Princeton music professor Arthur Cochran unexpectedly stumbles into choir practice at a small-town church, he finds a group of singers that are out of tune in more ways than one. Despite the ultimate clash of sensibilities, Arthur and his newfound cohorts may just be the perfect mix of individuals to help each other reinvent and rediscover a little happiness, just when they all need it most. Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), Tymberlee Hill (Marry Me), Rizwan Manji (The Magicians), Will Greenberg (Wrecked), Geno Segers (Banshee), newcomer Spencer Allport all star in Perfect Harmony on September 26th.
Known for originating the role of Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls) Lorette Devine joins ABC ‘s series Black-ish for their sixth season. Devine will play Lynette, whose surprise engagement to Pops shocks the Johnson family.
Look for this show to premire September 24
CBS’s Bob ❤ Abishola follows Bob, a hospital patient who falls in love with his Nigerian nurse after he suffers a heart attack. Tony Award-winning Christine Ebersole plays Dottie, Bob’s mother. The cast is comprised of screen regulars including Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly) as Bob and Folake Olowofoyeku (Transparent) as Abishola, from creators Chuck Lorre (Young Sheldon), Eddie Gorodetsky (Mom), Al Higgins (Mike & Molly), and Gina Yashere (The Daily Show). Turn on the TV September 23rd to tune in.
On Tommy Edie Falco plays a former high-ranking NYPD officer becomes the first female Chief of Police for Los Angeles, she uses her unflinching honesty and hardball tactics to navigate the social, political, and national security issues that converge with enforcing the law. Michael Chernus (Patriot, Orange Is the New Black), Adelaide Clemens (Rectify), Russell G. Jones (The Americans), Joseph Lyle Taylor (Sneaky Pete), Olivia Lucy Phillip star on CBS midseason.
On August 16th the Netflix series Mindhunter starring Tony nominee Jonathan Groff as Agent Holden Ford who works with the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, the sector that attempts to understand the psychology of captured serial killers began. This year Tony winner Michael Cerveris plays the unit’s new director.
Season two of ABC’s Single Parents premiers September 24th. The show stars Hamilton alumni Taran Killam as Will Cooper, the single parent looking to rediscover who he is outside of fatherhood. Leighton Meester, Kimrie Lewis, and Brad Garrett co-star.
On September 23rd look for Tony winners Lindsay Mendez (Carousel) and Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I) in the new CBS series All Rise starring Simone Missick. This legal drama, takes an in-depth look at the lives of the workers of the court system, including judges, lawyers, clerks, bailiffs, and officers and also stars Marg Helgenberger and Ahmad Dugas.
The Roseanne spin-off The Connors, brings Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman back to the small screen. The original series was left to re-brand due to Roseanne Barr, now in it’s second year Sara Gilbert, Alicia Goranson, and Michael Fishman return on September 24th.
September 18th FX’s American Horror Story: 1984 continues with Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Cody Fern, and new faces like Pose‘s Angelica Ross, Olympic silver-medalist Gus Kenworthy, and Mathew Morrison.
The Politician is an upcoming series created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan that is set to premiere on Netflix on September 27th. The Politician is set to revolve around “the politician aspirations of Ben Platt’s character Payton Hobart, a wealthy Santa Barbarian. Every season will revolve around a different political race his character is involved in. Look for Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Lange, Zoey Deutch, Lucy Boynton, Dear Evan Hansen alum Laura Dreyfuss, with Bette Midler, Judith Light and Barbra Streisand to guest star.
On August 14th on the OWN channel David Makes Man premired.Created by Choir Boy playwright and Oscar winning writer of Moonlight Tarell Alvin McCraney, David Makes Man chronicles the life of 14-year old David as he struggles coping with grief and fitting in to his surroundings while his mother Gloria, a recovering drug addict, works to provide him the best life possible. Isaiah Johnson (The Color Purple), Tony winners Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun) and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (director Jitney) and Ade Chike Torbert (Fela!’s) star.
British theatre actor Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex), Tom Payne (The Walking Dead), Bellamy Young (Scandal), Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire), Halston Sage (The Orville), Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls), Aurora Perrineau (Chasing Life), Frank Harts (The Path, Billions) on Fox starting September. 23. Malcolm Bright knows how killers think. Why? His father was one of the best, a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business. He uses his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes, while dealing with a somewhat manipulative mother, an annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses.
Based on the Stumptown graphic novel series, the show follows Dex Parios as a strong, assertive, and sharp-witted army veteran with a complicated love life, gambling debt, and a brother to take care of in Portland, Oregon. Her military intelligence skills make her a great P.I., but her unapologetic style puts her in the firing line of hardcore criminals and not quite in alliance with the police. Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Jake Johnson (New Girl), Michael Ealy (Secrets and Lies, Almost Human), Camryn Manheim (The Practice), Adrian Martinez (No Activity), Cole Sibus, Tantoo Cardinal star on ABC September 25th.
In Uninsured young parents Dave and Rebecca are ready to reclaim their life after years of diapers and sleepless nights. However, things take an unexpected turn when Dave’s parents show up unannounced and broke. Adam Pally (Happy Endings), Abby Elliott (Saturday Night Live), Steven Weber (13 Reasons Why), Fran Drescher (The Nanny) all star. This midseason replacement has yet to have released a date.
2o days to go! Every year people panic to find the perfect gift. We at T2C have been collecting idea’s all year long to bring you the perfect gift guide at all price levels. When you’re at the end of your rope trying to find the perfect Christmas present this year, come to this guide for some great suggestions.
Chita & Patrick Pacheco at Drama Book Shop event May 15, 2023 Photo by Merle Frimark
There are a lot of books out there this year but we highly recommend Chita: A Memoir , the critically-acclaimed book is written by the legendary Broadway icon Chita Rivera with arts journalist Patrick Pacheco. Chita takes fans behind-the-scenes of all her shows and cabaret acts, she shares candid stories of her many colleagues, friends, and lovers. She speaks with empathy and hindsight of her deep associations with complicated geniuses like Fosse and Robbins, as well as with the mega-talent Liza Minnelli, with whom she co-starred in The Rink. She openly discusses her affair with Sammy Davis, Jr. as well as her marriage to Tony Mordente and her subsequent off-the-radar relationships. Chita revisits the terrible car accident that threatened to end her career as a dancer forever. Center stage to Chita’s story are John Kander and Fred Ebb, the songwriters and dear friends indelibly tied to her career through some of her most enduring work: Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Visit.
Chita’s love of performing began as a child in Washington, D.C., when her mother enrolled her in a local ballet school to channel her boundless energy. Still a teenager, she moved to New York to attend the School of American Ballet after an audition for George Balanchine himself and winning a scholarship. But Broadway beckoned, and by twenty she was appearing in the choruses of Golden Age shows like Guys and Dolls and Can-Can. In the latter, she received special encouragement from its star Gwen Verdon, forging a personal and professional friendship that would help shape her career. The groundbreaking West Side Story brought her into the orbit of Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurents, Hal Prince, and Stephen Sondheim. After Bye Bye Birdie further burnished her rising star, she reunited with Verdon and her then-husband Bob Fosse to work on the film version of Sweet Charity and the celebrated original Broadway production of Chicago.
Chita: A Memoir was published in English and Spanish and the English audio version of the Memoir was recorded by Chita. A Spanish audio version is also available.
“Chita Rivera blazed a trail where none existed so the rest of us could see a path forward. She has been part of some of the greatest musicals in the history of the form, from Anita in the trailblazing West Side Story through Claire Zachanassian in the underrated masterpiece The Visit, over 60 years later. She is a Puerto Rican Broadway icon and the original ‘triple threat.’ We’re so lucky to be alive in the same timeline as Chita Rivera.” — Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“A frank and fascinating memoir from one of the truly great artists of the American Theater. Lots of stories … Lots of insight … and quite a few caustic statements from Chita’s alter ego, Dolores. An illuminating history and a guaranteed pleasure!” — John Kander
Broadway legend and national treasure Chita Rivera, multi-Tony Award winner, Kennedy Center honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – has taken no prisoners on stage or screen for seven decades. From her trailblazing performance as the original Anita in West Side Story—for which she tapped her own Puerto Rican roots—to her haunting 2015 star turn in The Visit. Chita has proven to be much more than just a captivating dancer, singer, and actress beloved by audiences and casts alike. In her equally captivating and one-of-a-kind memoir, Written with Patrick Pacheco, the woman born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero shares an incomparable life, both on stage and behind the curtain.
By the way this Memoir has won a Gold Medal for “Best Autobiography – English” at the 2023 International Latino Book Awards. https://www.latinobookawards.org/
Click here to buy your copy.
Here is the amazing cast of Spamalot. Christopher Fitzgerald as Patsy, James Monroe Iglehart as King Arthur, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as The Lady of the Lake, Ethan Slater as The Historian/Prince Herbert, Jimmy Smagula as Sir Bedevere, Michael Urie as Sir Robin, Nik Walker as Sir Galahad andTaran Killam as Lancelot.
I was so inspired I drew the whole cast.
To read T2C’s review click here.
Art
Ahead of the Broadway Opening of Lempicka The Longacre Theatre Is Showcasing Art Work By Tamara de Lempicka
The Longacre Theatre (220 W 48th St.), soon-to-be home of the sweeping new musical, Lempicka, is showcasing a curated selection of renowned artist Tamara de Lempicka’s most famous works. Eschewing traditional theatrical front-of-house advertising, the Longacre’s façade now boasts prints, creating a museum-quality exhibition right in the heart of Times Square. The musical opens on Broadway on April 14, 2024 at the same venue.
The Longacre’s outdoor exhibition includes works of Self Portrait (Tamara in a Green Bugatti) (1929), Young Girl in Green (1927), Nu Adossé I (1925), The Red Tunic (1927), The Blue Scarf (1930), The Green Turban (1930), Portrait of Marjorie Ferry (1932), Portrait of Ira P. (1930), Portrait of Romana de la Salle (1928), and Adam and Eve (1932).
Starring Eden Espinosa and directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin, Lempicka features book, lyrics, and original concept by Carson Kreitzer, book and music by Matt Gould, and choreography by Raja Feather Kelly.
Spanning decades of political and personal turmoil and told through a thrilling, pop-infused score, Lempicka boldly explores the contradictions of a world in crisis, a woman ahead of her era, and an artist whose time has finally come.
Young Girl in Green painted by Tamara de Lempicka (1927). Oil on plywood.