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What To Watch August 12th To Take Away The Blues

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10am: A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical Starring theater favorites Jessica Keenan-Wynn as Detective Case, Michael James Scott as Varthur McArthur, Krystina Alabado as Lily Wright, Carolee Carmello as Justine Case, Drew Gehling as Cameron Mitchelljohn, Jackie Burns as Joan McArthur, Laura Osnes as Vivika Orsonwelles, Jarrod Spector as George Murderer, Alex Newell as Shea Crescendo, Miguel Cervantes as Clarke Staples and Jeremy Jordan as…Jeremy Jordan,this hilarious and irreverent send-up of the classic Murder Mystery features an all-star creative team that includes Jason Howland (Music), Nathan Tysen (Lyrics), Kait Kerrigan (Book), Marc Bruni (Direction), Bobby Pearce (Costume Design), Billy Jay Stein (Music Producer) and HMS Media (Video Post-Production). 

1pm: The Broadway Q&A Series: Joshua Bergasse Tony-nominated Broadway choreographer will answer questions about Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryGigi, On The Town,and more. 

3pm and 8pm: Love, Noel Irish Rep. The songs and letters of Noel Coward, performed by Steve Ross and KT Sullivan transform into some of the many characters that made up Coward’s unique life…Gertrude Lawrence, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Elaine Stritch, Lynn Fontanne, Virginia Woolf, Edna Ferber, the Queen Mother, and, of course, The Master himself, Noël Coward.

3pm: LAO at Home: Learn at Home (Grown-Up Edition) By LA Opera Bass-baritone (and self-described opera obsessive) Nicholas Brownlee hosts Il TRIVIAtore, a lively quiz game for opera fans of all stripes, from eager newcomers to seasoned aficionados. This week’s travel-themed quiz takes players all around the world of opera. This program is generously supported by the Tourist Office of Spain. 

3pm: The Show Must Go Online: Hamlet  British actor and director Robert Myles launched The Show Must Go Online, a weekly online reading group working through Shakespeare’s plays in the order they were written.

3pm: The Early Night Show with Joshua Turchin is available across all social media platforms with full videos on YouTube, Facebook Watch and www.theearlynightshow.com released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3pm EST.

4pm: Why We Do It: Director and Playwright, Brandon Victor Dixon actor, singer and theatrical producer. Known for his Tony-nominated Broadway performances in The Color Purple and Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed. He originated roles in Motown: The Musical, The Scottsboro Boys and Hamilton.  He earned two Grammy nominations for Best Musical Theater Album.

As a producer, he was a part of the Broadway revivals Of Mice and Men and Hedwig and the Angry Inch; the latter won the 2014 Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for best revival of a musical.

Dixon portrayed Judas Iscariot in NBC’s live concert Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

4pm–9:30pm: Marie’s Crisis Virtual Piano Bar Tonight’s scheduled pianists are James Merillat (@James-Merillat-2) and Franca Vercelloni (@Franca-Vercelloni).

5pm: Metropolitan Opera: La Fanciulla del West Puccini’s musical vision of the American West is vividly brought to life in Giancarlo Del Monaco’s atmospheric production. Deborah Voigt is Minnie, the girl of the title and owner of a bar in a Californian mining camp. Marcello Giordani sings Dick Johnson, the bandit-turned-lover hunted by the cynical sheriff Jack Rance (Lucio Gallo), who wants Minnie for himself. Complete with whiskey-drinking cowboys, gunplay, a poker game, and a snowstorm, La Fanciulla del West is Puccini at his most colorful.

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5pm: Watch Me Work: Suzan Lori Parks She’s back. A meditation on the artistic process, and an actual work session, featuring Suzan-Lori Parks working on her newest writing project. Traditionally hosted on the mezzanine of The Public Theater Lobby, this new version will bring the program to your home via Zoom sessions and HowlRound livestreams.

7pm: New Works: Tyrants and Songs for Slutty Girls Tyrants has music and lyrics by Alexander Sage Oyen (Outlaws) and a book by Nora Brigid Monahan (Diva: Live From Hell). In the wake of the Lincoln assassination, Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes Booth, goes from being the most famous actor in America to the most scorned. The lines between the past and the present begin to blur as Edwin remembers and revises his own life story, trying desperately to ascertain his own responsibility for his brother’s crime. Featuring live performances performed by the writers.

With book, music and lyrics by Kailey Marshall, Songs For Slutty Girls is about smashing the male gaze and finding your place on the path toward sexual liberation. The musical is an interactive diary entry that examines the ecstasy, pain, and hilarity of sex through a year in the life of one woman, who is represented by four aspects of her personality: Tramp, Skank, Whore, and Slut. The pop/rock score gives voice to the sexual moments in our lives that define us. Songs for Slutty Girls is directed by Dana Greenfield, with music direction by Macy Schmidt (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical), and features performances by Sydney Kane, Lauren Robinson, Monica Rosenblatt, and Elyce West.

7pmBrave New World Rep: The Plantation Brooklyn’s acclaimed Brave New World Repertory Theatre presents a bold new adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard set in 1870 Virginia after emancipation and the civil war, but before the onset of Jim Crow. The fully staged, site-specific production took place on Governors Island. The Plantation was designed specifically for the Commanding Officer’s House on Governors Island, migrating from locations in front, behind and inside the stunning pre-Civil War house in the historic Nolan Park section of the island.

Set in 1870, the year African American freedmen got the vote, Chekhov’s original story is universal in its humanity and humor, says adapter/director Claire Beckman, co-founder of Brave New World Rep. “As re-imagined in this context, the story has important historical significance for an American audience. The Plantation seeks to explore the root causes of some of America’s most pressing social issues with both humor and heart, while telling a story about Race in America.”

7pm: Babbling by the Brook Paper Mill Playhouse’s Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, a star-studded roster of performers, writers, directors, and more theatrical denizens.

7pm: Crumbs From the Table of Joy By Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse. A live stream reading of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage to benefit the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

The cast of the 2016 Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse production reunites in this coming-of-age story, including Dria Brown, Lawrence Evans, Danielle Hopkins, Elijah Jones, Abigail Rose Solomon, and Nikki E. Walker. Adrienne D. Williams returns to direct.

Set in 1950, the play focuses on Ernestine Crump and her family as they begin their new life in Brooklyn. Nottage (Ruined, Sweat) premiered the play at Off-Broadway’s Second Stage Theater; subsequent productions played South Coast Repertory, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, and more.

7:30pmVerdi’s Rigoletto A Victor Hugo play, haunting and scandalous, provided the inspiration for Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece about a vengeful but misguided court jester, out to rescue his deflowered daughter from a duke’s licentious clutches. None of it ends well, but along the way, the composer introduces several of his most iconic arias and duets—as well as an 11th-hour quartet that counts among the finest moments in opera.

7:30pmThe Cooper Union: The Concert for Cooper This one-night-only benefit concert to support the school’s commitment to return to free tuition for all undergraduate students! The show features musical performances, celebrity readings, and “shout outs” from distinguished guests, which together tell the story of The Cooper Union—from the history of civic engagement in the Great Hall to the outsized impact of Cooper innovation in New York and beyond.

The concert features appearances by outstanding musicians as well as renowned actors from theater, television, and film—winners of Golden Globe, Tony, Emmy, Obie, and Drama Desk awards. Kathleen Chalfant • Margaret Cho • Tokala Clifford • Alan Cumming • Kimberly Guerrero • Michael Kelly • Jody Long • Brian Stokes Mitchell • Arian Moayed • Tracey Ullman • Alfre Woodard

And musical guests The Broadcast (psychedelic soul rock) • Amy Engelhardt (Bridge and Tunnel Baby) • Ben Folds(performing his hit song Landed) • Jen Malenke (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory )• KImberly Marable (Hadestown) • Doña Oxford (Together) • David Wain with Bobby Cannavale (performing Sisters and Brothers) • Aléna Watters (Mrs. Doubtfire)

With Cooper Union alumni guests Akshay Anantapadmanabhan EE’10, MEE’11, acclaimed Mridangam artist based in Chennai, India • The Coopertones (acapella)• Patty Jenkins • Daniel Arsham • Julian LaVerdiere • Dick Schwartz • Lee Skolnick

8pm: The Know Theatre: Feast Perhaps the way to honor our dead 
Is to eat them. You are cordially invited to break bread, virtually, with one of the seminal monsters of literature: Grendel’s Mother, from the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf. Share in her hard won victories and shattering griefs. Turn your collective gaze upon the wreckage of the 21st century, and find what it takes to maybe build a better world. And have a little treat. You deserve it.

Spend a few dollars more, and order tickets at least one week in advance, to receive a special Party Favor.

8pm: Stars in the House:  The 3 “Chers” from The Cher Show: Stephanie J. Block, Micaela Diamond, and Teal Wicks. Cancelled from yesterday

10pm: The Groundlings: The Crazy Uncle Joe Show A special ONLINE version of your favorite long-form improv show! Watch as The Groundlings Players begin with suggestions given by you, and then proceed to weave the stories together, traveling back and forth through time, playing different characters in many different situations. AND, they keep it up for an uncanny 60 minutes straight!

This Event will be run through ZOOM WEBINAR. All participants will receive a link prior to the event, which will require ZOOM registration. Please make sure you are registered and logged in 5 mins before the show to guarantee full access.

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Broadway

Events For December

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Cabaret, Talks and Concerts For December

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Tis the season to be entertained. Here are picks:

92 Street Y: 1395 Lexington Ave. 12/2 – 4: Lyrics & Lyricists In the Key of Life: The Genius of Stevie Wonder. Led by Broadway’s Darius de Haas; 12/5: Recanati-Kaplan Talks Death, Let Me Do My Show: Rachel Bloom in Conversation and 12/14: Sharon Stone and Jerry Saltz Talk About Art.

Birdland Jazz: 315 West 44 St. Every Monday at 5:30 Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks and 9:30pm Jim Caruso’s Cast Party; Every Tuesday at 8:30pm The Lineup with Susie Mosher; Every Saturday at 7pm Eric Comstock with Sean Smith (Bass) & special guest Barbara Fasano (Voice); 12/11: Karen Mason for her annual Christmas show “Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!”; 12/12 – 16 Stacy Kent; 12/18: James Barbour returns to Birdland with his annual Holiday Concert: 12/21 – 25: “A Swinging Birdland Christmas” starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch and 12/28 – 31: Marilyn Maye.

Sutton Foster

Cafe Carlyle: 35 E 76th St. 12/1 – 9: Sutton Foster; 12/12 – 16: Gavin DeGraw and 12/19 – 31: Michael Feinstein.

Michael W Smith and Amy Grant

Carnegie Hall: 881 7th Ave at 57th St. 12/5: Christmas with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith; 12/6: Dee Dee Bridgewater with Sean Jones and the NYO Jazz All-Star Big Band; 12/13: Michael Feinstein and Jean-Yves Thibaudet and 12/22 – 23: The New York Pops The Best Christmas of All with Norm Lewis

Steven Reineke by Michael Tammaro, Norm Lewis by Peter Hurley

Chelsea Table + Stage: Hilton Fashion District Hotel, 152 W 26th St. 12/8: Mariann Meringolo and 12/9: A Christmas Special Robert Bannon.

Don’t Tell Mama: 343 W. 46 St.

Dizzys Club Coca Cola: Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60th Street.

The DJango: 2 Avenue of the Americas. 12/28: Lee Taylor

Christine Ebersole with Billy Stritch
7:00pm

54 Below: 254 West 54 St. 12/3: The Cast of Sweeney Todd, feat. Gaten Matarazzo, Maria Bilbao, & more! 12/4: Brandon Victor Dixon: Soul of Broadway; 12/5: We Love the Winter Weather: Songs of the Season with KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, & Todd Murray; 12/5 and 29: Christine Pedi: Snow Bizness; 12/8 – 10: The 13th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Extravaganza, feat. Annie Golden & more!; 12/12 – 17: Christine Ebersole with Billy Stritch: I’ll Be Home For Christmas ; 12/19 – 20: Lisa Howard’s Holiday Special!; 12/21 – 23: A Very Countess Christmas with Luann de Lesseps; 12/24, 26 – 30: Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway: Yuletide Revelry! and 12/31: New Year’s Eve with Aaron Tveit!

The Green Room 42: 570 10th Ave. 12/2: Sally Mayes; 12/11: Mamie Paris; 12/13: Danny Bacher and Dawn Derow.

José Feliciano

Sony Hall: 235 W. 46th St. 12/22: José Feliciano

Theatre at the West Bank Café: 407 West 42 St. 9/28: Alison Angrim

The Triad: 158 W. 72 St. 12/2 and 5: White Christmas at the Triad: A Celebration of Irving Berlin;


The Town Hall:
 123 West 43rd Street. 12/18: The 43rd John Lennon Annual Tribute starring Graham Nash, who will receive the 2023 John Lennon Real Love Award and play some of his favorite John Lennon and Beatles classics. Nash will be joined by a stellar line-up including Rosanne Cash, Judy Collins, Marc Cohn and Bettye LaVette; 12/5: A Very Darren Crissmas Meet & Greet Experience and 12/22: Rufus and Martha Wainwright’s Nöel Nights.
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Cabaret

Alec Wilder Tribute 

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Devotees of the Great American Songbook have another reason to love living in New York.  Yes, cabaret shows of the music of Porter, Rodgers et al abound here of course, but once a year there is a loving tribute to a lesser-known composer.  Some of us may have even passed him on West 44th Street as he was leaving his home in the Algonquin Hotel.  This dapper gentleman was Alec Wilder, a musician who wrote classical pieces as well as songs.  He wrote words and music, and sometimes let the likes of Marshall Barer, Fran Landesman and even Johnny Mercer supply lyrics.  There are a few of these titans who can have one foot in Tin Pan Alley and the other in Carnegie Hall.  George Gershwin comes to mind immediately; Cole Porter dabbled but reverted to what he could do best.  Wilder also wrote American Popular Song/The Great Innovators 1900-1950, a volume respected by those who love the music of that era.  

The Friends of Alec Wilder presented their 38th Annual Concert for an audience of seriously devoted fans of Wilder on November 11th at 54 Below. 

Mark Walter, FOAW Board Member and son of noted pianist and friend of Wilder’s Cy Walter, introduced Honorary Host Steve Ross, who along with the ever-amiable Eric Comstock interspersed the music with anecdotes about Wilder which rounded out the portrait of the gentleman being painted so effectively by the rest of the cast.    

Barbara Fasano, Eric Comstock

The afternoon began with one of Wilder’s chamber works, presented lovingly by The Wilderness Trio. Eric Comstock followed, summing up Wilder by saying that his music never went out of vogue because it was never in vogue. Wilder is like that secret ingredient that once having tasted it, one yearns for it thereafter. Eric sang four songs, infusing I’ll Wait with his ineffable sass and charm before being joined by his wife, the spunky and gorgeous Barbara Fasano, who made each lyric come to life in ways Wilder would have appreciated. Sean Smith provided bass support, and the trio which has been a mainstay at Birdland illuminated Wilder’s deep emotional grasp of the human condition.   

Jason Henderson photo credit Van Craig

The Wildebeest Wind Quintet followed with the Alice in Wonderland Suite, which showed Wilder at his classically playful best.  Jason Henderson carried some of that lightheartedness into his segment, with two songs that benefited from his natural charm and enthusiasm. Steve Ross made the heart ache a bit with his rendition of the plaintive Did You Ever Cross Over to Sneden’s? before closing the program by encouraging everyone to join him in singing I’ll Be Around, perhaps the best known of Wilder’s songs. 

If your interest in Alec Wilder has been piqued, visit alecwildermusicandlife.com. 

 

 

 

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Ken Fallin’s Broadway: Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara With The NY Pops

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One Night Only: An Evening with Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara with the NY Pops is happening Friday 8pm, at Carnegie Hall. This unique program by NY Pops conductor Steven Reineke, pays homage to earlier icons of stage and screen who teamed up for memorable concerts.

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Cabaret

T2C Talks To Paul Iacono, Unfiltered

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Actor and writer Paul Iacono, best known for the films Fame, G.B.F., and MTV’s “The Hard Times Of RJ Berger,” returns to The Green Room 42 in “Paul Iacono, Unfiltered,” His bawdy evening of excess and exposé happens tonight Friday, November 17 at 9:30 PM. T2C had a chance to talk to this 3 decade seasoned performer.

Paul Iacono, is best known for his portrayal of the title character on MTV’s “The Hard Times of RJ Berger.” Paul was first featured on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” at age eight, after she discovered his unique talents for impersonating Frank Sinatra and Ethel Merman Favorite stage credits include Mercury Fur (The New Group), Bridget Everett’s Rock Bottom (Joe’s Pub), Noël Coward’s Sail Away with Elaine Stritch (Carnegie Hall), John Guare’s Landscape of the Body with Lili Taylor and Sherie Rene Scott (Signature Theater), and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs with Donna Lynne Champlin and Michele Pawk (Transport Group). Favorite film credits include MGM’s remake of Fame, Drew Barrymore’s Animal, Darren Stein’s G.B.F., Extracurricular Activities, and Dating My Mother with Kathy Najimy. Iacono’s play Prince/Elizabeth premiered at The Teatro LATEA Theater co-starring Sofia Black D’Elia and Peter Vack, and The Last Great Dame (loosely inspired by his relationship with Elaine Stritch) at Jane Friedman’s HOWL! Happening Gallery. His cabaret “Where’s the Fucking Kid?” premiered at 54 Below, with “Psychedelic Hedonism” following at Joe’s Pub (New York Magazine “Critic’s Pick”), and “Psychedelic Playhouse” at The Green Room 42.

Join Paul for a surreal vaudevillian celebration through the highs, lows, and misadventures from his past five years out of the spotlight. Directed by Eric Gilliland and written by Iacono, Paul weaves insanely personal and wildly hilarious moments from Hollywood to 42nd Street and beyond, accompanied onstage by music director Drew Wutke, with music consulting and arrangements by Peter Saxe.

Paul Iacono, Unfiltered on Friday, November 17 at 9:30 PM at The Green Room 42 (570 Tenth Avenue at 42nd Street, on the 4th Floor of Yotel).

Video by Magda Katz

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