The 2021 Tribeca Festival™, presented by AT&T, today announced its 2021 Shorts Program lineup. The upcoming program includes 46 short films striking hopeful and optimistic tones from 20 countries worldwide. World Premieres account for 70% of the competition slate, which is the highest percentage in Tribeca history. The short films will be presented in eight programs: two documentaries, two narratives, two hybrids (including both narrative and documentary), one animation, and one New York shorts program. Additionally, the Festival will feature a special curated out-of-competition Juneteenth program and a live performance by Blondie, following the screening of Blondie: Vivir En La Habana. The 2021 Tribeca Festival will run June 9-20 with live in-person events at outdoor venues across all New York City boroughs.
Despite the challenges the industry faced this past year, filmmakers, artists, and storytellers were able to create compelling, entertaining, and thought-provoking content. The selections for each of these programs exemplify the tenacity, commitment and hope of the creative community; and also reflect Tribeca’s long-standing history of selecting future award-winning films to be part of the festival.
“As we curated these in-person programs, we thought a great deal about the challenges of the past year and what our audience has been missing; travel, music, dance, and fun,” said Sharon Badal, Vice President of Filmmaker Relations and Shorts Programming. “Our programs are lighter, brighter and inspiring. They introduce unique new voices to our audience.”
International storytelling continues to be celebrated in this year’s Tribeca’s Short Film Program, with 41 percent of its selections originating from 20 different countries; including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Qatar, Sweden, Sudan, United Kingdom, the United States and Wales.
Recipients of the Tribeca Festival awards for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short will qualify for consideration in the Academy Awards’ Short Films category, provided the film complies with Academy rules. Tribeca also gives out a Student Visionary Award.
The 2020 Shorts Programs will be screened at the 2021 Festival and will include 64 short films in ten programs. The 2020 lineup is detailed here. Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind will perform after the screening of the 2020 Shorts Program Rhythm of Life at Brookfield Place New York.
Many of the films will also be available for U.S. audiences to view online the day after they premiere in person through the Tribeca at Home virtual hub.
Additional programming will be announced in the coming weeks. Follow @Tribeca on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and at tribecafilm.com/festival #Tribeca2021
Some 2021 Tribeca Festival Shorts Program highlights include:
Acting Out
True stories about rebellion and reflection.
All World Premiere Program
Virtual Voice,directed, written and produced by Suzannah Mirghani. (Sudan, Qatar) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. Suzi (Suzannah Mirghani) is the voice of her generation—the virtual voice, that is. With Suzannah Mirghani.
Radical Love, written and directed by William A. Kirkley. Produced by Caroline Waterlow. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. Radical Love explores the subversive political activism and lovesick connection of Michael and Eleanora Kennedy, a husband-and-wife legal team who represented a who’s who of the 1960s’ politically subversive class. With Michael Kennedy, Eleanora Kennedy, Anna Kennedy, Bernardine Dohrn, Bill Ayers.
Coded, directed by Ryan White. Produced by Christopher Leggett, Jessica Hargrave, Conor Fetting-Smith, Rafael Marmor. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. Coded tells the story of illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, whose legacy laid the foundation for today’s out-and-proud LGBTQ advertisements. With Jari Jones, Judy Goffman Cutler, Jennifer A. Greenhill, John T. Nash.
Miss Panama, directed by Lamar Bailey Karamañites, Pascale Boucicaut, David Felix Sutcliffe. Produced by Lamar Bailey Karamañites, Pascale Boucicaut, David Felix Sutcliffe, Melina Tupa. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. When Gloria Karamañites became Miss Panama, she didn’t just win a pageant. She made history. In English, Spanish with English subtitles.
Try to Fly, directed and produced by The Affolter Brothers, written by Simone Swan, The Affolter Brothers. (Canada) – New York Premiere, Short Animation. When a baby owl is pushed from her nest, her anxiety and self-doubt triggers an existential crisis as her hypothetical future life flashes before her eyes. With Simone Swan
Dirty Little Secret, directed by Jeff Scher, written by Graham Nash. Produced by Bonnie Siegler. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Animation. The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 is retold in song and animation.
Death and the Lady, directed, written and produced by Geoff Bailey, Lucy Struever. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Animation. On a dark and stormy night, Death pays a visit to a very old lady and her dog. In French with English subtitles.
Leaf Boat (Cwch Deilen), directed and written by Efa Blosse-Mason. Produced by Amy Morris. (Wales) – New York Premiere, Short Animation. Love can be scary, but it can also be life’s greatest adventure. With 2D animation, Leaf Boat explores what it’s like to let go and fall in love. With Sara Gregory, Catrin Stewart. In Welsh with English subtitles.
There are Bunnies on Fire in the Forest, directed and written by JLee MacKenzie. Produced by Mireia Vilanova. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Animation. A young girl (Revyn Lowe) gets in big trouble for kissing her friend (C. Craig Patterson) on the cheek at school during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Revyn Lowe, C. Craig Patterson.
Blush, directed and written by Joe Mateo. Produced by Heather Schmidt Feng Yanu. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Animation. Blush follows an astronaut’s journey after he crashes on a desolate planet. When a visitor arrives, the traveler discovers a new life and realizes the universe has delivered astonishing salvation.
Art and Soul
Music and dance shorts that will soothe your soul.
Unspoken, directed by William Armstrong. Produced by Allan Stenild. (Denmark) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. World-renowned choreographer Paul Lightfoot creates a remarkable tribute to his father who he lost during lockdown, with a piece that holds all of the words he was unable to say. With Paul Lightfoot, Sebastian Haynes.
RESIST: The Resistance Revival Chorus, directed and written by Susan O’Brien. Produced by Susan O’Brien, Dasha Kova, Jillian A. Goldstein. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. In the midst of a country divided, a diverse group of women and non-binary individuals unite through the historic power of music to create a movement ignited by song. With NYC Resistance Revival Chorus, Atlanta Resistance Revival Chorus, San Diego Resistance Revival Chorus, Riverside Resistance Revival Chorus.
Silence, directed by Tj O’Grady Peyton, written by Ivan Cush, Tj O’Grady Peyton, Kensaku Kakimoto. Produced by Yuka Nakamura, James Chamberlain, Kensaku Kakimoto. (Japan, UK) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A young man (Kai Joseph Keenan-Felix) wanders around the city, where people wearing masks come and go. One day, he finds a girl (Lauryn Bryan) dancing ballet in an abandoned building. With Kai Joseph Keenan-Felix, Lauryn Bryan, Kai Owen, Antoine Murray, Samuel Mena Garcia, Dom Bryan, Demarre King, Kijuan Whitton.
19 Seventy Free: Part 1, directed by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, written by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, Darien Dorsey. Produced by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, Taura Stinson, Darien Dorsey. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. 19 Seventy Free is a visual EP celebrating the complexities of black love and artistic freedom with music as its primary voice. With Darien Dorsey, Amina Malika, James Mario Bowen.
Thirsty, directed, written and produced by Josh Peterson. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A dried-up old seafarer (Rob Nilsson) chases a fleeting figure (Leo Harte) across an apocalyptic desert landscape in this modern parable set to Alexis Harte’s darkly rollicking song. With Rob Nilsson, Leo Harte.
Blondie: Vivir En La Habana, directed by Rob Roth. Produced by Rob Roth, Debbie Harry, Clem Burke, Chris Stein, Tommy Manzi. (United States) – North American Premiere, Short Documentary. In 2019, the legendary American rock band Blondie performed for the first time in Havana, Cuba as part of a cultural exchange through the Cuban Ministry of Culture. With Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke.
Go Big
Sports shorts with risk, reward and resilience.
Kata, directed and produced by James Latimer, written by James Latimer, Conan Amok. (Japan) – North American Premiere, Short Documentary. A fantastical and dramatic journey through the mind of 13-year-old Mahiro Takano, a long-time undefeated national kata karate form champion, who comes face-to-face with her greatest enemy yet. With Mahiro Takano, Takako Kikuchi, Kohei Mashiba. In Japanese with English subtitles.
The Queen of Basketball, directed by Ben Proudfoot. Produced by Elizabeth Brooke, Abby Lynn Kang Davis, Gabriel Berk Godoi, Ben Proudfoot, Brandon Somerhalder, Sarah Stewart. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. She is arguably the greatest living women’s basketball player. She’s won three national trophies; she played in the ‘76 Olympics; she was drafted to the NBA. But have you ever heard of Lucy Harris? With Lusia Harris.
Nando, directed and written by Alec Cutter. Produced by Igal Albala. (Brazil, United States, Chile) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. Told through the context of a poem, a young boy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil dreams to see beyond the harsh realities that surround him. With Luis Fernando Fernandes (Nando), Seu Jorge. In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Joe Buffalo, directed by Amar Chebib, written by Joe Buffalo, Amar Chebib. Produced by Hayley Morin, Mack Stannard. (Canada) – New York Premiere, Short Documentary. Joe Buffalo, an indigenous skateboard legend and Indian residential school survivor, must face his inner demons to realize his dream of turning pro. With Joe Buffalo, Quinton George, Gregory Bird JR, Avery Bear Head, Joseph Moore, Matty Moore.
Learning To Drown, directed by Ben Knight. Produced by Travis Rummel. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. Jess Kimura, considered one of the most influential female snowboarders in the world, was at the top of her career when she lost the love of her life. With Jess Kimura.
Let’s Fly Away
Miss traveling? Wander the world in these international shorts.
How to Fall in Love in a Pandemic, directed and produced by Michael-David McKernan. (Ireland) – New York Premiere, Short Documentary. A romance accelerates against the backdrop of the pandemic as two filmmakers are forced to move in together after two weeks of knowing each other.
Peninsula, directed and written by Fiona McKenzie. Produced by Scott Flyger. (New Zealand) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Trying to connect with his estranged son Toby (Jasper Sutcliffe), and confronted by a neighbor, Amber (Amber Ranson), who does things differently, Mark (Tom Trevella) is forced out of his comfort zone, and there are unexpected consequences. With Tom Trevella, Amber Ranson, Jasper Sutcliffe.
Beautiful They, directed and written by Cloudy Rhodes. Produced by Ella Millard. (Australia) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Violet (Sariah Saibu) and Blue’s (Morgan Davies) youth collide in an early morning toke that leads to the ocean where connection stirs. What results is a tender, uplifting, queer surf-romance about the nuance of gender and the refuge found in being truly seen. With Morgan Davies, Sariah Saibu.
Grottaroli, directed, written and produced by Cecilia Pignocchi, Arthur Couvat. (Italy, Netherlands) – World Premiere, Short Documentary. A unique group of fishermen living along the Adriatic coast come to terms with being the last generation. With Gilberto Giampieri, Florio Lucesoli, Sauro Marinelli, Euro Nasini. In Italian with English subtitles.
New York, New York 2021
So nice we did it twice!
All World Premiere Program.
Liza Anonymous, directed by Aubrey Smyth, written by Leah McKendrick. Produced by Katie Rosin, Danielle Beckmann, Aubrey Smyth, Daniel Ornitz. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A lonely millennial (Danielle Beckmann) addicted to support groups disguises herself in different personas while trying to fit in, leading her on a theatrical journey. With Danielle Beckmann, Daniel Fox, Rafael Sardina, Malikha Mallette, Sharon Gallardo.
Cracked, directed and written by Lin Que Ayoung. Produced by Illusionary Ends Productions (Lin Que Ayoung), The Spike Lee Production Fund. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Toya (Tatum Marilyn Hall), a feisty young girl, falls in love for the first time. After a series of disturbing events, her affection for Poochy (Meliki Hurd) compels her to face her past. With Tatum Marilyn Hall, Meliki Hurd, Kizzmett Pringle, Dwayne Grant, Paris Crayton III, Kamal Ani-Bello.
Leylak, directed by Scott Aharoni, Dennis Latos, written by Mustafa Kaymak. Produced by Scott Aharoni, Mustafa Kaymak, Dennis Latos. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. In present-day Queens, a Turkish gravedigger (Nadir Saribacak) is unable to face a shattering truth and risks losing the dearest connection left in his life. With Nadir Saribacak, Isabella Haddock, Gamze Ceylan. In English, Turkish with English subtitles.
Esther In Wonderland, directed by Stephanie Bollag, written by Stephanie Bollag, Lily Lyor Askenazi. Produced by Stephanie Bollag, Yves Kugelmann. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Drawn to the expressiveness of hip hop and breakdance, Esther (Naian González Norvind) tests the boundaries of her restricted existence as a young married woman in a Hasidic community in 1990s Crown Heights. With Naian González Norvind, Martha Bernabel, Sawandi Wilson, Pesach Eisen, Odylle Beder, Jennifer Acosta, Nadjaya Delgado, Samantha Dunn. In English, Yiddish with English subtitles.
No Longer Suitable For Use, directed and written by Julian Joslin. Produced by Mark Berger, Matt Morgan, Joe DePasquale. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. Samir (Laith Nakli), a Syrian FBI informant and single father, faces an impossible choice when he gets one final chance to avoid deportation by setting up a target in a terrorism sting. With Laith Nakli, Waleed Zuaiter, Craig muMs Grant, Ivan Martin, Michael Godere, Samir Zaim-Sassi. In Arabic, English with English subtitles.
Pursuing Happiness
Six Nights, directed and written by Robert Brogden. Produced by Robert Brogden, Kelley Zincone, Izrael Lopez. (United States) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. A restaurant dishwasher (Daniel Ruiz) is given a last-minute chance to step up as a line cook just before a busy Saturday night dinner service. With Daniel Ruiz, Adam S. Ford, Nicole Esteban, Maru Garcia, Rhianna DeVries, Matt Alvarado. In English, Spanish with English subtitles.
Magnolia Bloom, directed by Tayo Amos, written by Matt Mitchell, Joi Elaine. Produced by Julia Dillard, Matt Mitchell. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. In 1950s Las Vegas, a black singer (Lex Scott Davis) is on the verge of her big break, but she risks it all when she learns her audience won’t be integrated. With Lex Scott Davis, Wes McGee, Joseph Lloyd Lopez.
Enjoy, directed by Saul Abraham, written by Callum Cameron. Produced by Gabriele Lo Giudice, Nick Rowell. (UK) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. As Michael (Himesh Patel) seeks novel ways to halt his spiralling depression, a moment of hope arrives via an unexpected source. With Himesh Patel, Tom Sweet, Maddy Hill, Sara Stewart, Jonathan Aris, Matt Devitt.
We Do This Once, directed and written by Michael Marantz. Produced by Zach MacDonald, Michael Marantz. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A new mother (Athena Reddy) who loses her family’s home takes wildly brazen action in the hopes of giving her baby a better life. With Athena Reddy, Lance Daniels.
The Angler, directed by David Darg, written by Emily Beth Beacham, Matt Beacham, David Darg. Produced by Jannat Gargi. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A fisherman (Matt Beacham) and young mother (Emily Beth Beacham) have a chance encounter when their lines become tangled. But in this story of a mother’s desperate love, there’s more beneath the surface. With Emily Beth Beacham, Matt Beacham, Barry Price, Derek Curran, Brighton Beacham.
Shining Stars
Enjoy these shorts celebrating Juneteenth.
Waves, directed and written by Agazi Desta. Produced by Anabel Inigo. (United States) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. A Black, deaf teen (Omete Anassi) wants “Waves” for prom night, but his haircut falls into the hands of an inattentive, rookie barber (Jason Dalhouse). With Omete Anassi, Jason Dalhouse, Larry Banks, Eric Davis, Dameon Victorian, Barry Wilkins, Derrick Stephon Miller, Terrell Wilds.
Cherry Lemonade, directed and written by Aisha Ford. Produced by Jane Hare, Katie Pyne, Nadine Nadoo, Tema L. Staig, Allison Vanore, Jeff Vespa, Annika Hylmo, Uzma Xina Kang. (United States) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. On a hot summer day in the hood, a Black girl (Eris Baker) learns to take the lead on her own terms. With Eris Baker, Skylan Brooks, Chance Harlem Jr, Alexander Jones III, Skyler Priest, Meagan Harmon.
Magnolia Bloom, directed by Tayo Amos, written by Matt Mitchell, Joi Elaine. Produced by Julia Dillard, Matt Mitchell. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. In 1950s Las Vegas, a black singer (Lex Scott Davis) is on the verge of her big break, but she risks it all when she learns her audience won’t be integrated. With Lex Scott Davis, Wes McGee, Joseph Lloyd Lopez.
Silence, directed by Tj O’Grady Peyton, written by Ivan Cush, Tj O’Grady Peyton, Kensaku Kakimoto. Produced by Yuka Nakamura, James Chamberlain, Kensaku Kakimoto. (Japan, UK) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. A young man (Kai Joseph Keenan-Felix) wanders around the city, where people wearing masks come and go. One day, he finds a girl (Lauryn Bryan) dancing ballet in an abandoned building. With Kai Joseph Keenan-Felix, Lauryn Bryan, Kai Owen, Antoine Murray, Samuel Mena Garcia, Dom Bryan, Demarre King, Kijuan Whitton.
Enough, directed by Caleb Slain. (United States) – New York Premiere, Short Narrative. A dream, a nightmare, a musical. Ten years in the making, welcome to the stormy inner world of one boy growing up in America. With Nathan Nzanga, Max Losee.
19 Seventy Free: Part 1, directed by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, written by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, Darien Dorsey. Produced by Louis Bryant III, AmaYah Harrison, Taura Stinson, Darien Dorsey. (United States) – World Premiere, Short Narrative. 19 Seventy Free is a visual EP celebrating the complexities of black love and artistic freedom with music as its primary voice. With Darien Dorsey, Amina Malika, James Mario Bowen.
Special Screenings
Blondie: Vivir En La Habana, directed by Rob Roth. Produced by Rob Roth, Debbie Harry, Clem Burke, Chris Stein, Tommy Manzi. (United States) – North American Premiere, Short Documentary. In 2019, the legendary American rock band Blondie performed for the first time in Havana, Cuba as part of a cultural exchange through the Cuban Ministry of Culture. With Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke. The film is also screening as part of the Art & Soul shorts program.
After the Movie: A live performance by Blondie
The countdown is on and the winners of the 2022/2023 season will be announced in a live televised ceremony on Sunday, June 11.
Here is who we think will win and who should.
Best Scenic Design of a Play
The Nominees
Miriam Buether, Prima Facie
Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, Life of Pi
Rachel Hauck, Good Night, Oscar
Richard Hudson, Leopoldstadt
Dane Laffrey & Lucy Mackinnon, A Christmas Carol
Most if the technical awards will and should go to this amazing visual production
Will win: Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding
Should win: Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
The Nominees
Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York
Mimi Lien, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Michael Yeargan & 59 Productions, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Scott Pask, Shucked
Scott Pask, Some Like It Hot
The theatre community is going to want to honor New York, New York in some way, but it is Sweeney Todd that has our vote.
Will win: Beowulf Boritt
Should win:Mimi Lien
Cast of Broadway’s ‘Ain’t No Mo’ Photo by Joan Marcus
Best Costume Design of a Play
The Nominees
Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, Life of Pi
Dominique Fawn Hill, Fat Ham
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Leopoldstadt
Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’
Emilio Sosa, Good Night, Oscar
Emilio Sosa is up for two nominations but will win for Ain’t No Mo’ in order to honor this show.
Will win: Emilio Sosa
Should win:Emilio Sosa
Best Costume Design of a Musical
The Nominees
Gregg Barnes, Some Like It Hot
Susan Hilferty, Parade
Jennifer Moeller, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, KPOP
Paloma Young, & Juliet
Donna Zakowska, New York, New York
Hands down this is Gregg Barnes. His costumes are spectacular and make you want to go shopping on that set.
Will win: Gregg Barnes
Should win:Gregg Barnes
Best Lighting Design of a Play
The Nominees
Neil Austin, Leopoldstadt
Natasha Chivers, Prima Facie
Jon Clark, A Doll’s House
Bradley King, Fat Ham
Tim Lutkin, Life of Pi
Jen Schriever, Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Ben Stanton, A Christmas Carol
Most if the technical awards will and should go to this amazing visual production
Will win: Tim Lutkin
Should win: Tim Lutkin
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
The Nominees
Ken Billington, New York, New York
Lap Chi Chu, Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Heather Gilbert, Parade
Howard Hudson, & Juliet
Natasha Katz, Some Like It Hot
Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Natasha Katz is up for two nominations but will win for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in order to honor this show.
Will win: Natasha Katz
Should win:Natasha Katz
photo credit achristmascarollive.com
Best Sound Design of a Play
The Nominees
Jonathan Deans & Taylor Williams, Ain’t No Mo’
Carolyn Downing, Life of Pi
Joshua D. Reid, A Christmas Carol
Ben & Max Ringham, A Doll’s House
Ben & Max Ringham, Prima Facie
The sound design in this show by Joshua D. Reid was spectacular and made the show.
Will win: Joshua D. Reid
Should win: Joshua D. Reid
Joshua Henry, Gavin Creel Into the Woods Photo credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Best Sound Design of a Musical
The Nominees
Kai Harada, New York, New York
John Shivers, Shucked
Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, Into the Woods
Gareth Owen, & Juliet
Nevin Steinberg, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Will win: Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann
Should win:Nevin Steinberg
G.H. Harding
MORNING GLORY — (Via Deadline) Jennifer Aniston is teasing the new season of The Morning Show ahead of its Apple TV+ premiere this fall.
The Friends alum plays a morning show anchor named Alex Levy on the Jay Carson-created drama and is opening up about what to expect in Season 3.
“It’s a good, juicy one,” Aniston told People. “Everybody’s getting in trouble. Everybody has a secret. And everyone’s just walking the line. It’s a lot more sensual this year.”
Aniston shares the screen with Reese Witherspoon and they both executive produce the series. With Season 3 not even airing yet, the stars have already secured a fourth season When the show returns this fall to the streamer, it’ll pick up right after Season 2 ended and as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the fictional network UBA.
While making an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this year, Aniston teased the new season of The Morning Show and talked about Jon Hamm joining the show.
“Everybody has a secret. We’re revealing a lot of secrets. There’s definitely romance,” Aniston said. “Mr. Jon Hamm is a big one. We were very excited to get him. Isn’t he the nicest guy? He’s this very handsome leading man and then he’s got this funny and… it’s just so fabulous.”
The cast of the show also includes Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Néstor Carbonell, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Desean Terry, Nicole Beharie, and many more. Steve Carell was also part of the show in its two first seasons.
Season 1 of the show was just sensational with Steve Carrel turning in a great performance. Season 2 was rather awful and because of that I was surprised it was even renewed at all. Aniston and Witherspoon are fantastic; terrific chemistry, but the real stars, at least for me, are Billy Crudup and Mark Duplass. Somehow, Crudup’s character was not given the same attention in Season 2 and that was a huge mistake IMO.
I’m a big Jon Hamm fan as well, so, I’m ready. Bring it on.
Ronnie Wood and Micky Dolenz
SHORT TAKES — Micky Dolenz performed “I’m A Believer,” “Randy Scouse Git” and “Daydream Believer” at last weekend’s James Burton and Friends in London at the Palladium. Also there: Brian May; Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter; Ronnie Wood; and Albert Lee. Here’s Wood and Dolenz …
Donnie Kehr and Lou Christie at Cutting Room
Broadway’s Donnie Kehr delivered a superb show Sunday night at Steve Walter’s Cutting Room in NYC. He performed his current album Beautiful Strange in its entirety. With a top-notch band, it was just sensational. Seen there were: Cori Gardner; Benny Harrison; the China Club’s Danny Fried with daughter Gabriella and Lou Christie. Kehr’s pr-man David Salidor was also on hand. Kehr and his band even performed “Running Back” which was a hit 35 years ago when Kehr was in a rock-ensemble called Urgent. Stellar night …
Surrender/Jann Klose
Jann Klose was at Philadelphia’s Sellersville Theater a week back and Annie Haslam (Renaissance) was on for several songs. His new album Surrender is out and just an excellent work … The long-awaited movie The Flash is out next week and the first reviews are in and they’re sensational. Even Deadline’s moribund Pete Hammond, whose reviews are usually a snore-and-a-bore loved it. He event cited Michael Keaton’s return as Batman as brilliant. Check it out here: https://deadline.com/2023/06/the-flash-review-ezra-miller-michael-keaton-in-brilliant-return-batman-1235409735/ …
Robert Miller
I hear there’s a new Project Grand Slam album out? One of Robert Miller’s former PR-persons (and there have been many) tipped us off about it. Congrats Mr. Miller … HBO, in their infinite wisdom, just cancelled Perry Mason after two seasons. Sad, but not surprising as it was a terrific show that had not only great writing, but great acting. Matthew Rhys and Juliet Rylance were sensational. Their second season was definitely harder to get through than their debut season, but still well written and performed. Sad … NBC’s Carson Daly just previewed what Spotify believes could be the songs of the summer. Taylor Swift; Jack Harlow; Rema with Selena Gomez were all picks; the only thing is, they all sounded the same … CNN’s Chris Licht – supposedly the savior to the network’s failing fortunes was fired Wednesday by David Zaslav after a disastrous article in The Atlantic. From our spies at CNN, this was no surprise and a most welcomed development. Zaz The Butcher should bring Jeff Zucker back … 
Comic-legend Pat Cooper passed yesterday. Anthony Pomes from Square One Publishing said: “Pat was a mighty American comedy legend. He was brash, brave, and fearlessly original in his presentation of all his life’s truths. We (Square One) feel honored to have published his memoir. Having accompanied Pat to several shows and such for PR and to sell his book, I came to see the pussycat behind the scowly owl front. If he yelled at you, that meant that he LIKED you. Godspeed, Mr. Caputo – you were a great one” … And, RIP George Winston and Astrud Gilberto.
NAMES IN THE NEWS — Benny Harrison; Steve Walter; Tony Sachs; Barry Fisch; Eppy; Peter Shendell; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Lush Ice; Joe Cocker; Kent Denmark; Kim Garner; Elizabeth Warner; Andrew Sandoval; Jason Elzy; Irving Azoff; Anthony Pomes; Anthony Noto; Robert Funaro; Joel Diamond; Vinny Rich; Benny Harrison; The Smith; Sasha Prendes; and ZIGGY!
Off Broadway
Meet The Playwrights of The NY Summer Theater Festival: Dan Brown Brings His Profound Sense of Writing of The Human Condition To Life
Dan Brown is a writer/director from NYC. In 2013 he released the documentary film- John Cori Warned You. In 2020, Dan published a collection of fiction writing- The Sometimes Why. In ’21 he directed the theatre production-Tales From the Sometimes Why. In January ’23 he debuted the stage show; The Eleven Story Drop. His play- The Mollies was selected to the Queens Short Play Festival.
In Sunshine Unlimited a 14 minute play at The New York Festival we meet Martin who was promoted to management. He is the first African American to be elevated to an executive position, but it seems not just , fanfare within the company is linked to the promotion. Months later when his hiring is still being celebrated, Martin experiences doubts about his boss, and himself. Is racism still wrong when the perpetrators have good intentions. Is one truly a victim when racism come with a raise and window view?
Tony nominee Paul Gordon’s new musical The Gospel According to Heather will premiere Off-Broadway this summer at Theatre 555, with performances beginning June 14 ahead of a June 22 opening night. The limited run will continue through July 9.
On Monday the cast premiered a few of the numbers and talked to the press. In this video meet Brittany Nicole Williams (The Prom), Maria Habeeb, Carlos Alcala, Lauren Elder (Hair), Carson Stewart, Donna Trikoff the artistic producer of Amas Musical Theatre, Katey Sagal (The Connors, Sons of Anarchy, Married with Children) as “Agatha,” Jeremy Kushnier (Atomic, Footloose) and composer, lyricist and book writer Paul Gordon.
In The Gospel According to Heather, Heather Krebs wants a boyfriend, but how can she navigate her way through high school if she might be the new Messiah? A small town in Ohio grapples with politics, religion, and teenage romance in the pop musical featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Tony nominee Gordon (Jane Eyre).
The Gospel According to Heather is being presented by Amas Musical Theatre in association with Jim Kierstead, Broadway Factor, Linda Karn and David Bryant.
All video’s by Magda Katz
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