Broadway
Hadestown Where the Music is Lush and Hope Eternal
“It’s a sad song, but we sing it anyway.” Hermes
Eva Noblezada, Andre De Shields, Reeve Carney Photo by Matthew Murphy
Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812) has done it again with the wonderfully directed Hadestown. Starting Off-Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop, onto Canada, and across the seas to London this spectacular production is worth the ride. The heavenly score and book by Anaïs Mitchell are a treasure of earthly delights.
This woeful tale about Orpheus (Reeve Carney) and his love, Eurydice (Eva Noblezada), who descended into Hades, is told with wit by a suave Hermes (André De Shields). Causing agitation along the way with perfect harmonious vocals are The Fates (Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer and Kay Trinidad). The hotter-than-hot Hades (Patrick Page), the God of the underworld, and his dazzling goddess, Persephone (Amber Gray), rule this myth, as we go from a depressed version of New Orleans to an industrial Hell.
This cast is beyond talented, starting with the romantic lead, Reeve Carney. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, his desperation in his eyes, and his vocals sliding up and down the guitar like an otherworldly angel misplaced in a world he does not understand, he steals our hearts. Eva Noblezada has a voice that is boundless, with perfect placement and a yearning that longs to be recognized. André De Shields brings that timeless, ancient quality that makes him a Broadway treasure. Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer and Kay Trinidad are gorgeous, captivating, and give out killer harmonies. Patrick Page sings lower than low and makes you cringe and come hither. And Amber Gray is a glorious jazz diva; loving, wanting and giving it her all.
I seriously want this CD with songs like the infectious “Livin’ It Up on Top”, the longing and haunting “Wait For Me”, the seductive “Hey, Little Songbird,” to the political “Why We Build The Wall”. Each number is so smart and infused with a distinct musical styling, wrapped up in jazz, blues and Zydeco.
The band is also a musical nirvana with a trombonist that wails and a violinist that sinks under your skin.
The choreography by David Neuman is hot, sweaty, and the use of his “Workers Chorus” is exceptional. Every element of this show hits the mark from the electrifying costume designs by Michael Krass which incorporate every world and status, to the set by Rachel Hauck which will astound, as will Bradley King’s lighting which is glaring and haunting.
The collaboration between Chavkin and Mitchell is intelligent, moving, and resulted in one of the best nights I have had in theatre. This is a show that is right up my alley.
The loss of light, joy, and connection is a never-ending story, yet hope always keeps us striving to redeem ourselves. Hadestown is a must for anyone who still has a glimmer of hope.
Hadestown: Walter Kerr Theater, 219 W 48th St.
On Tuesday the New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon was held at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, Broadway ballroom 6th floor.
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Tony® Honor recipient and the nation’s premier playwright development laboratory, was honored with its 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award at their 71st Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute
Kenny Leon photo by Michael Hull
Tony Award winner, Kenny Leon, director of Parks’ recent revival of Topdog/Underdog lead the tributes.
photo by Michael Hull
In Attendance were:
Ben Platt (Parade) photo by Michael Hull
Annaleigh Ashford (Sweeney Todd) photo by Michael Hull
Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt) photo by Michael Hull
J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull
Kevin Cahoon (Shucked) photo by Michael Hull
Natasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull
Wayne Cilento (Dancin’) photo by Michael Hull
Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) and Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella) photo by Michael Hull
Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Ben Platt (Parade) and Colton Ryan (New York, New York) photo by Michael Hull
Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Suzan-Lori Parks, Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo) and Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo) at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Also Artistic Director Emily Morse and Executive Director Joel Ruark,
Executive Director Joel Ruark photo by Michael Hull
Jeannie Tessori photo by Michael Hull
Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi), Betsy Aidem (Leopoldstadt), Steven Boyer (Kimberly Akimbo), Faye Castelow (Leopoldstadt), Rashad Chambers (Topdog/Underdog), Ben Davis (New York, New York), Eisa Davis (New York, New York), Micaela Diamond (Parade), Delia Ephron (Love Loss & What I Wore), Corey Hawkins (Topdog/Underdog), Jessica Hecht (Summer, 1976), Amy Herzog (A Doll’s House), Robert Horn (Shucked), Mark Jacoby (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), LaChanze (Here Lies Love, Kimberly Akimbo), event co-chair Caissie Levy (Leopoldstadt), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities), David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo), Neil Meron (Some Like It Hot), Alli Mauzey (Kimberly Akimbo), Lauren Mitchell (A Bronx Tale), Arian Moayed (A Doll’s House), Casey Nicholaw (Some Like It Hot), Linda Powell (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots), Sarah Ruhl (in The Next Room), Stark Sands (& Juliet), Miriam Silverman (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window), Marcel Spears (Fat Ham), Katy Sullivan (Cost of Living), David Stone (Wicked), Jeanine Tesori (Kimberly Akimbo), Paula Vogel (How I Learned To Drive), Sharon Washington (New York, New York), Scott WIttman (Some Like It Hot), Kara Young (Cost of Living), David Zayas (Cost of Living).
Performing were:
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Daniel Fulton, Orville Mendoza, Suzan-Lori-Parks, Lauren Molina and Leland Fowler photo by Michael Hull
Brandon and Jason Dirden photo by Michael Hull
New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks and New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Tony Kushner photo by Michael Hull
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Stay tuned for our interviews.
On Tuesday the New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon was held at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, Broadway ballroom 6th floor.
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Tony® Honor recipient and the nation’s premier playwright development laboratory, was honored with its 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award at their 71st Annual Spring Luncheon Tribute
Kenny Leon photo by Michael Hull
Tony Award winner, Kenny Leon, director of Parks’ recent revival of Topdog/Underdog lead the tributes.
photo by Michael Hull
In Attendance were:
Ben Platt (Parade) photo by Michael Hull
Annaleigh Ashford (Sweeney Todd) photo by Michael Hull
Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt) photo by Michael Hull
J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull
Kevin Cahoon (Shucked) photo by Michael Hull
Natasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot) photo by Michael Hull
Wayne Cilento (Dancin’) photo by Michael Hull
Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) and Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella) photo by Michael Hull
Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Ben Platt (Parade) and Colton Ryan (New York, New York) photo by Michael Hull
Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Suzan-Lori Parks, Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo) and Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo) at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Also Artistic Director Emily Morse and Executive Director Joel Ruark,
Executive Director Joel Ruark photo by Michael Hull
Jeannie Tessori photo by Michael Hull
Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi), Betsy Aidem (Leopoldstadt), Steven Boyer (Kimberly Akimbo), Faye Castelow (Leopoldstadt), Rashad Chambers (Topdog/Underdog), Ben Davis (New York, New York), Eisa Davis (New York, New York), Micaela Diamond (Parade), Delia Ephron (Love Loss & What I Wore), Corey Hawkins (Topdog/Underdog), Jessica Hecht (Summer, 1976), Amy Herzog (A Doll’s House), Robert Horn (Shucked), Mark Jacoby (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), LaChanze (Here Lies Love, Kimberly Akimbo), event co-chair Caissie Levy (Leopoldstadt), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities), David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo), Neil Meron (Some Like It Hot), Alli Mauzey (Kimberly Akimbo), Lauren Mitchell (A Bronx Tale), Arian Moayed (A Doll’s House), Casey Nicholaw (Some Like It Hot), Linda Powell (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical), Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots), Sarah Ruhl (in The Next Room), Stark Sands (& Juliet), Miriam Silverman (The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window), Marcel Spears (Fat Ham), Katy Sullivan (Cost of Living), David Stone (Wicked), Jeanine Tesori (Kimberly Akimbo), Paula Vogel (How I Learned To Drive), Sharon Washington (New York, New York), Scott WIttman (Some Like It Hot), Kara Young (Cost of Living), David Zayas (Cost of Living).
Performing were:
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Daniel Fulton, Orville Mendoza, Suzan-Lori-Parks, Lauren Molina and Leland Fowler photo by Michael Hull
Brandon and Jason Dirden photo by Michael Hull
New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks and New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks New Dramatists resident playwrights at The New Dramatists Spring Luncheon. photo by Michael Hull
Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Tony Kushner photo by Michael Hull
NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, Suzan-Lori-Parks photo by Michael Hull
Stay tuned for our interviews.
The 2023 67th Drama Desk Awards, honoring artistic excellence on Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway, will take place on June 6 at Sardi’s Restaurant. Today the winners were announced.
Outstanding Play: “Leopoldstadt,” by Tom Stoppard
Outstanding Musical: “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Revival of a Play: “The Piano Lesson”
Outstanding Revival of a Musical: “Parade”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play: Jessica Chastain, “A Doll’s House” and Sean Hayes, “Good Night, Oscar”
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical: Annaleigh Ashford, “Sweeney Todd”
and J. Harrison Ghee, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play: Miriam Silverman, “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” Brooklyn Academy of Music and Brandon Uranowitz, “Leopoldstadt”
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical: Kevin Del Aguila, “Some Like it Hot” and Alex Newell, “Shucked”
Outstanding Direction of a Play: Max Webster, “Life of Pi”
Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Thomas Kail, “Sweeney Todd”
Outstanding Choreography: Casey Nicholaw, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Music: Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, “Shucked”
Outstanding Lyrics: Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Book of a Musical: Matthew López and Amber Ruffin, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Orchestrations: Charlie Rosen and Bryan Carter, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Music in a Play: Suzan-Lori Parks, “Plays for the Plague Year,” The Public Theater
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play: Tim Hatley, “Life of Pi”
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical: Beowulf Boritt, “New York, New York”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play: Emilio Sosa, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes, “Some Like it Hot”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play: Natasha Chivers and Willie Williams (video), “Prima Facie”
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical: Natasha Katz, “Sweeney Todd”
Outstanding Projection and Video Design: Andrzej Goulding, “Life of Pi”
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play: Ben & Max Ringham, “A Doll’s House”
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical: Scott Lehrer and Alex Neumann, “Into the Woods”
Outstanding Wig and Hair: Mia M. Neal, “Ain’t No Mo’”
Outstanding Solo Performance: Jodie Comer, “Prima Facie”
Unique Theatrical Experience: “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”
Outstanding Fight Choreography: B.H. Barry, “Camelot”
Outstanding Adaptation: “A Doll’s House,” by Amy Herzog
Outstanding Puppetry: Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, “Life of Pi”
Shows with multiple wins
Some Like It Hot: 8
Life of Pi: 4
A Doll’s House: 3
Sweeney Todd: 3
Ain’t No Mo’: 2
Leopoldstadt: 2
Prima Facie: 2
Shucked: 2
Special Awards
Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award
Stephen McKinley Henderson has been bringing in-depth, gripping portrayals of memorable characters to the stage for over four decades. With his return to Broadway this season as Pops in “Between Riverside and Crazy,” which the Drama Desk previously nominated in 2015, this year’s Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award marks Henderson’s role in this powerful production as a celebration of his brilliant career.
Ensemble Award
The cast of Soho Rep’s “Public Obscenities” – Tashnuva Anan, Abrar Haque, Golam Sarwar Harun, Gargi Mukherjee, NaFis, Jakeem Dante Powell, and Debashis Roy Chowdhury – embodied the transnational world of Shayok Misha Chowdhury’s bilingual play with memorable authenticity, remarkable specificity, and extraordinary warmth.
Sam Norkin Off-Broadway Award
From his standout performance in american (tele)visions, to writing and performing the autobiographical “Dark Disabled Stories,” Ryan J. Haddad’s work this season has expanded on and interrogated what the idea of “accessibility” really means. Whether riding a shopping cart like a throne, or relating his experiences on a “gay, pink bus,” Haddad shared with audiences an unabashed queer fabulosity that was both unforgettable and deeply human.
On Sunday look for a brand new charcuterie of Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd.. I loved the new production, and it’s two leads.
The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW) will hold its 10th Annual “Women Stage the World March” — a Suffragette-inspired project to educate the public about the role of women in the theatre industry — on Saturday, June 17. The march will begin at noon, at Shubert Alley and weave through Times Square and the Broadway Theatre District, wrapping up at about 2 p.m.
“The event is FREE and LPTW invites all theatre women and allies to join us as we increase awareness, lift our voices, and advocate for more opportunities for women in theatre,” said Ludovica Villar-Hauser, Co-President of LPTW.
“The Women Stage the World March is designed to educate the public about the role women play in creating theatre and the barriers they face as men continue to outnumber women by 4 to 1 in key roles such as playwright, director and designers. Women buy 67% of the tickets and represent 65% of the audience, yet 80% of the storytelling on stage is shaped by men’s voices,” said Katrin Hilbe, Co-President of LPTW.
Handouts during the March will prompt ticket-buyers to ask three questions as they make buying decisions: (1) Who wrote, directed and designed this play? (2) What is this theatre’s track record in giving opportunities to women? (3) How can you spread the word and promote women’s voices?
“All participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite historical theatre woman, or dress all in white. March participants will gather at Shubert Alley starting at 11:30 AM, in preparation for the start of the march at noon. Women Stage the World sashes and signs will be provided, as supplies last,” noted Penelope Deen, LPTW member and organizer of the event. Those interested in participating in the event please R.S.V.P. at: https://www.theatrewomen.org/women-stage-the-world or contact Penelope Deen at: Womenstagetheworld@Theatrewomen.org
LPTW Co-President Ludovica Villar-Hauser added: “The League of Professional Theatre Women stands alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA) as they demand fair wages and take action to ensure more protections for artists. We encourage LPTW members to find a time to join the WGA on the picket lines this month as the strike continues. Women writers are the future of the film and television industry, just as they lead the way in theatre. LPTW supports the women on the frontlines of this movement as they call for long overdue change. We are stronger together.”
For the past 10 years LPTW members, affiliated union members, theatre artists and their allies have hit the streets in a March reminiscent of the Suffragette parades of the early 20th Century, with some marchers dressed in traditional suffrage garb and colors. Like the Suffragettes before them, participants in the Women Stage the World March empower women and men to become aware, take action and influence others.
The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW) is a membership organization championing women in theatre and advocating for increased equity and access for all theatre women. Our programs and initiatives create community, cultivate leadership, and increase opportunities and recognition for women working in theatre. The organization provides support, networking and collaboration mechanisms for members, and offers professional development and educational opportunities for all theatre women and the general public. LPTW celebrates the historic contributions and contemporary achievements of women in theatre, both nationally and around the globe, and advocates for parity in employment, compensation and recognition for women theatre practitioners through industry-wide initiatives and public policy proposals. LPTW is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2023.
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