Broadway

What To Watch October 18th To Take Away The Blues

Published

3 years ago

October 17, 2020

3pm: Give Me Your Hand By Irish Repertory Theatre In this special engagement, two of Ireland’s finest actors, Dearbhla Molloy and Dermot Crowley, take audiences on a virtual stroll through London’s National Gallery, discovering afresh the Museum’s masterpieces from Van Gogh and Van Eyck, to Rubens and Gainsborough. With humor and grace, Crowley and Molloy breathe fresh life into each painting’s subjects with poetic stories from renowned Irish poet Paul Durcan.

4pm: Marie’s Crisis Virtual Piano Bar scheduled pianists are Adam Michael Tilford (@Adam-Tilford-1) and Dan Daly (@DanDalyMusic).

7pm: The Broadway Potluck By Broadway Cares The Broadway Potluck is a variety performance of Broadway hopefuls from all over the U.S., singing Broadway songs from their homes. The presentation benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Broadway Potluck benefit presentation is the brainchild of Dallas highschool student, Kayla Rutner and LA-based producer Todd Shotz, and is edited by college student, Kate Franklin. The performers are Zoey Blackman, Skylar Crown, Sophia Grey Delucchi, Kacie Endsley, Bre Furman, Jake Horlitz, Aldana Pavicich, Annabel Poinsette, and Kayla Rutner.

The Broadway Potluck also features celebrity guest speakers Liz Callaway, Kevin Chamberlin, Joanna Gleason, Joel Grey, Ann Harada, Adam Pascal, Tonya Pinkins, Jonah Platt, Donna Vivino, and Rachel York

7pm: Heidi Chronicles Playbill.com The third of the three plays by Wendy Wasserstein honoring what would have been her 70th birthday, to benefit TDF’s Wendy Wasserstein Project, which brings high school students to theater. This Tony and Pulitzer-winning play tracks Heidi Holland from high school in the 1960s to her career as a successful art historian more than 20 years later. From small meetings to mobilize to the feminist cause to lunches with these same ladies years on, The Heidi Chronicles exposed the internal battle many women feel as they balance desires for careers, friendships, and families.

7:30: Circle Jerk Fake Friends Broadcast live from MITU580 in Gowanus, Brooklyn, for six live-streamed performances, October 18–23, followed by a rebroadcast available for on-demand viewing from October 24 – November 7,.

Billed as a queer comedy about white gay supremacy, this multi-camera, live-streamed performance investigates digital life and its white supremacist discontents. A homopessimist hybrid of Ridiculous theater and internet culture, it tells the story of gay right-wing trolls and the algorithms they invent to spread their agenda.

7:30pm: Jamie deRoy & friends presents Treasures From the Archives Airing Sunday, October 11, 2020 at 7:30.

This episode starts off with rare archival footage of Jamie deRoy at Upstairs at Greene Street. On February 7, 1985, Sylvia Miles brought her filmmaker friend Nelson Sullivan(March 5 1948- July 4, 1989) who asked if he could film the performance. Not only did he capture her entire performance, a rarity in 1985, but one of Jamie’s favorite ad libs, that was said prior to her singing Weeden and Finkle’s song: I Don’t Have to Know How Rotten You Are To Love You!

You will be also treated to performances by Paul Balfour at Steve McGraw’s from May 31, 1990, David Campbell at Don’t Tell Mama from the show on November 20, 1998 and Mary Bond Davis at The Metropolitan Room filmed on June 28, 2006.

Also an appearance by Jim Gaffigan, early in his career from Laurie Beechman Theater on November 19, 1999. Since then Jim has gone on to become a top name in comedy with numerous TV Specials, movies and correspondent on CBS SUNDAY MORNING. Jamie always had an eye for talent!

And last but certainly not least, on December 4, 2000, Tony Award WinnerDaisy Eagan brought along her friend Clarke Thorell to accompany her at the West Bank Café’s Laurie Beechman Theater singing Lucy Simon’s Wynken, Blynken and Nod, that she had recorded for Jamie’s CD The Child in Me, Volume 2.

The musical directors on this episode include: Rod Hausen, Paul Balfour, Christopher Denny, Lanny Meyers and Clarke Thorell. The performances were filmed over many years starting in 1985 at Upstairs at Greene Street, Steve McGraw’s, Don’t Tell Mama, Metropolitan Room and Laurie Beechman Theater.

Jamie deRoy & friends is directed by Barry Kleinbort and videotaped by Russell Bouthiller.

Jamie deRoy & friends will air on Spectrum Channel 56, RCN Channel 83, and Verizon FIOS Channel 34, as well as on East Hampton LTV Channel 20 later on multiple dates.

7:30pm: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center: Moving People, Moving Mountains 15^th Anniversary Virtual Party featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell, Roseanne Cash, Michael Feinstein, Paul Taylor Dance Co, John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, Jason Danieley and many more. Appearances by Annette Bening, Judy Collins, Beanie Feldstein, Chris Noth, Bernadette Peters, Yo-Yo Ma . . . honoring founder Lola Jaffe. Produced, directed by Jeremy Handleman. The event is Free.

7:30: Donizetti’s Don Pasquale A runaway success since its premiere in 1843, Donizetti’s boisterous comedy charts a buffoonish old man’s marriage to a clever young widow who outsmarts him at every turn. The opera, a touchstone of the bel canto style, showcases many of the composer’s most charming melodies, and has also become a particular favorite of bass singers, who are handed a deliciously hammy and expansive title role.

8pm: What Else? A reading of a new play by Donald Wollner, benefiting New Dramatists! When Matt and Sam, two 60-something standup comics, meet for their weekly brunch the zingers fly. But when Matt interjects a surprise into the proceedings, he puts the brunch and the whole relationship at risk. Starring Mark Linn-Baker and Lee Wilkof

8pm: The Seth Concert Series hosts Keala Settle Keala Settle received world-wide attention for portraying Lettie Lutz, a bearded lady, in 2017’s musical film The Greatest Showman, alongside stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya. The song “This Is Me” from the film, principally sung by Settle, won the 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Keala originated the role of Norma Valverde in Hands on a Hardbody, which ran on Broadway in 2013, and was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was also awarded the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut performance during the 2012-13 theatrical season. She has also been featured on Broadway as Madame Thenardier in the 2014 revival of Les Misérables, and originated the role of Becky in the 2016 musical Waitress, after premiering with the original cast at the American Repertory Theater in 2015. She made her Broadway debut in 2011’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as Shirley and in the ensemble. Keala performed in the 2013 Encores! concert staging of Violet with Sutton Foster, but did not move on to the Broadway revival due to taking the role Madame Thénardier in the revival of Les Misérables. She played the role of Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of Hairspray, and appeared in the national tour of the Lincoln Center production of South Pacific as Bloody Mary. Other notable roles include Mrs. Fezziwig in the Pioneer Theatre Company production of the musical A Christmas Carol, the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

Keala was born in Hawaii, and is a graduate of Kahuku High School, and an alumna of Southern Utah University. She began her singing career as a studio vocalist and one time backup singer for Gladys Knight in Las Vegas. The same week as The Greatest Showman film’s U.S. release in December 2017, Settle released her debut EP as Keala, titled “Chapter One,” a set of contemporary R&B-infused covers which landed on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. The follow-up, Chapter Two, arrived shortly thereafter in March 2018. NBC used “This Is Me” as an anthem for their 2018 Winter Olympics coverage.

Seth Rudetsky’s internationally acclaimed Broadway concert series that first began in Provincetown at The Art House in 2011 will debut as a weekly virtual series entitled The Seth Concert Series. Presented by Mark Cortale the series premiered ten years ago and is currently housed in more than a dozen major venues worldwide. In its new format, the series will continue to offer viewers a seamless mix of behind-the-scenes stories prompted by Rudetsky’s insightful, funny and revealing questions – and the music from the artists’ stellar careers.

8pm: Rule of 7×7: October Edition By The Tank RULE OF is an ongoing series that premieres 7 brand-new 10 minute plays by 7 different writers. For each show, every playwright comes up with one rule, then the 7 playwrights create new plays using all 7 rules. Hosted and produced by Brett Epstein.

RSVP is required to attend Virtual 7×7.

8pm: Divas for Democracy: United We Slay Stars from the Broadway and drag scenes will come together with a common goal October 18 for Divas for Democracy: United We Slay. The streaming variety show will promote voter mobilization and awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community during the 2020 election.

Click here for tickets. The stream will begin on StageIt at 8 PM ET; tickets are “donate what you can” (beginning at $5), with proceeds going to Drag Out the Vote.

Keltie Knight and RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nina West will co-host the event, in which the Broadway stars will perform musical theatre standards as drag counterparts offer their own lip synced interpretation.

Among the theatre names taking part are Tony winners Chita Rivera, Stephanie J. Block, Lea Salonga, Nikki M. James, Beth Leavel, and Annaleigh Ashford, as well as Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Jenn Colella, Chilina Kennedy, Keala Settle, Tamika Lawrence, L Morgan Lee, and Our Lady J.

Drag Race veterans Peppermint (a Broadway alum herself), Alaska, Jinkx Monsoon, Jujubee, Valentina, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Shuga Cain, Honey Davenport, and Brita Filter are also on the roster (Filter joins as a Drag Out the Vote co-chair alongside Marti Gould Cummings and Pixie Aventura).

Also scheduled to make appearances are Tony winners Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, and James Monroe Iglehart, Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, former competitors Shangela and Bianca Del Rio, Cheyenne Jackson, Oscar winner Allison Janney, Mila Jam, and LGBTQ elected officials Sam Park (Georgia State House representative) and Ritchie Torres (New York City Council).

Broadway choreographers Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins co-direct the event, with Stephen Oremus serving as music supervisor.

8pm: Waiting for the Host Marc Palmieri’s Waiting for The Host, a full-length play composed for an online experience, will make its international premiere in Singapore at Pangdemonium Theatre.

Directed by Tracie Pang, the cast will feature Mina Kaye, Neo Swee Lin, Petrina Kow, Adrian Pang, Gavin Yap, Keagan Kang, and Zachary Pang.

Waiting for The Host begins on the last night of Passover in April 2020. While theatres, playgrounds, schools, and houses of worship are shuttered by a modern plague, the rector of a small church seeks to record a theatrical reading of the story of the Passion for the church website.

For ticket information, click here.

8pm: Brian Nash has been a proud member of the Duplex staff since 2003. Brian works extensively on the Broadway and off-Broadway theater scene, and is the Music Director and Orchestrator of the off-Broadway hit, SILENCE! The Musical. He was a producer on Bare: The Musical for its recent revival off-Broadway and is a resident music director and performer for Atlantis Events worldwide. His cabaret work with Natalie Joy Johnson has earned them recognition from the Village Voice and has been named one of the Top 10 Cabaret Acts by TimeOut New York. Brian has also music directed for Andy Bell of Erasure, Tonya Pinkins, Julia Murney, Rob Evan, Mandy Gonzales, Michael McElroy, Jonathan Hellyer, Trevor Ashley, and many others. His piano playing was recently extensively featured on alternative pop band Boys Like Girls 2012 album, Crazy World (Columbia Records). Other recent theater projects include The Last 5 Years (Asolo Rep) , A Night In Seville (Epic Theater Ensemble), Crossing Brooklyn (Transport Group), Writing Arthur and Something’s Wrong With Amandine at TheatreWorks New Works Festival in Palo Alto, CA, Writing Arthur at NAMT with Kelli O’Hara and Ana Gasteyer, The Unauthorized Musicology of Ben Folds I and II and But I’m A Cheerleader for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and A Broadway Diva Christmas, starring Ellen Greene and Kathy Brier. Other NYC and regional credits include Songs for a New World, The Sexless Years, Red, Lend Me a Tenor, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Rocky Horror Show. Brian has produced albums for singer/songwriters Justin Tranter, Shanna Sharp, and Stacy Allyn Baker, recently performed at Town Hall, the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Birdland with Natalie Douglas, and produced and produced Kate Pazakis’ debut album, Unzipped: Live at the Zipper for PS Classics. Brian is in extensive demand as a pianist and singer throughout NYC and has played sold out concerts of the music of Tori Amos; he is also been a featured performer on Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell’s r family vacations cruises. His first songs were written for two recent editions of TheATrainPlays, and were featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. Brian holds a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Boston Conservatory and studied record production at Berklee College of Music. For more info, please visit BrianJNash.com.

8:30pm: Vineyard Theatre: Lessons in Survival

9pm: Sex and Consequences by Isabella Rossellini Sex and Consequences is a 40-minute comical, absurd, and scientifically accurate show on biodiversity and the multiple ways animals reproduce. The show, created by Rossellini with the support of Paul Magid, is a way to re-create the theatrical experience from home. The engine for this creative attempt is to satisfy the very human wish to be together and laugh, even during these challenging circumstances.

The show will be streaming live from Rossellini’s farm, and will feature some of the many animals call her farm home and will be available to stream worldwide. The show will also feature videos from Isabella’s award-winning series of shorts, Green Porno, Seduce Me, and Mammas.

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Suzanna Bowling

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

Join Broadway Dreams Summer Intensive Tour “Immerse Yourself”

Published

2 days ago

June 2, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

Broadway Dreams (Annette Tanner, Founder & President), a leading non-profit performing arts training program, is kicking off its 2023 Summer Intensive Tour “Immerse Yourself” this week in Nashville, TN. The organization is known for its unique brand of intensive musical theater training and master classes taught by the theater industry’s biggest stars and most influential creatives. The tour will offer intensives in twelve U.S. cities as well as London and Europa Park in Rust, Germany. Throughout the weeklong intensives, rising stars in each city will participate in masterclasses focusing on acting, vocal performance, and dance. The program will culminate in public performances – dynamic Broadway-style cabarets held in both large and intimate venues, allowing students to perform alongside their Broadway idols. In addition to the performance opportunities, each student will have a private audition before a panel of Broadway directors, choreographers, music directors, and leading casting directors who will provide valuable feedback throughout the process. Registration is still open in most cities, offering aspiring performers the chance to learn from the best in the industry and take their skills to the next level. For more information, or to register, click here. “We are ecstatic to be back on the road this summer with our biggest Summer Intensive tour yet,” said Annette Tanner, Broadway Dreams Founder and President. “At Broadway Dreams, we are passionate about discovering, fostering, and propelling the next generation of musical theater stars. Our programs offer young artists unparalleled opportunities to connect with top industry professionals and decision-makers, which has resulted in numerous breakthroughs for our students. With Dreamers in 19 of the 32 currently running shows on Broadway, Broadway Dreams takes immense pride in shaping the future of musical theater.” “Our 2023 Broadway Dreams season theme is Immerse Yourself,” said Nicholas Rodriguez, Broadway Dreams Artistic Director. “After spending nearly 2 years at a distance and on Zoom, we want to dive head first into the collaborative experience. We’re inspired by immersive theater, big bold ideas, thinking outside of the box, and creating in unique spaces. We are thrilled to bring a diverse group of talented, innovative, creative and cutting edge artists to collaborate with students across the country and abroad.”The 2023 Summer Intensive Tour will launch at Belmont University in Nashville, TN (through June 3) before continuing on to School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School in Atlanta, GA (June 4 – 10), Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts in Salt Lake City, UT (June 19 – 24), Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA (June 25 – 27), Enlightened Theatrics in Salem, OR (July 3 – 9), Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH(July 16 – 21), The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in Dallas, TX (July 17 – 21), Ebony Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (July 23 – 28), Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington, DE (July 30 – August 5), Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC (July 29 – August 5), Florida Children’s Theatre in Fort Lauderdale, FL (August 6 – 12), RWS Studios in New York City (August 19 – 24), RWS Studios in London, England (August 21 – 25), and Europa Park in Rust, Germany (August 27 – September 2).Joining Broadway Dreams’ Founder and President, Annette Tanner; Artistic Director, Nicholas Rodriguez (Company); and Director of Engagement and Opportunity, Rachel Hoffman, CSA (The Telsey Office), is an impressive roster of Broadway Dreams faculty, including directors, choreographers, and performers such as Emmy Award nominated choreographer Spencer Liff (“So You Think You Can Dance”), Tony Award nominees Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages), Laura Osnes (Cinderella), and Sidney DuPont (Paradise Square), along with Connor Gallagher (Beetlejuice: The Musical), Quentin Earl Darrington(MJ: The Musical), Hailee Kaleem Wright (Paradise Square), writer and composer, Douglas Tappin (I Dream), Melody Mills (Bring it On: The Musical), Jason Goldston(Jagged Little Pill), musical director Charlie Alterman (Pippin), David Eggers (In Transit), Eric Sciotto (Something Rotten!), Tyler Hanes (Cats), Mariah Lyttle (Bad Cinderella), Samantha Sturm (My Fair Lady), Telly Leung (Aladdin), Max Reed (Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark), Otis Sallid (The Piano Lesson), Alysha Umphress (On the Town), Christopher Hanke (How to Succeed…), Nick Adams (Fire Island, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Gordon Greenberg (Holiday Inn), Matthew Lee Robinson (Atlantis), Alexa Green(Wicked), Greg Haney (Hamilton), The Telsey Office casting director, Rashad Naylor, and more. In addition to Broadway Dreams’ traditional workshops and master classes, participants in the Atlanta intensive will have the unique opportunity to work on material from a new musical entitled 1994 with book, music and lyrics by Sidney Dupont, who also serves as the director for the piece, additional lyrics by Hailee Kaleem Wright, associate direction by Amy Marie Seidel, and choreography by Chloe O. Davis. Students in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Dallas will work on a second new work entitled, Diva with book, music and lyrics by Douglas Tappin.Founded in 2006, Broadway Dreams offers mentorship-driven performing arts training programs throughout the year, drawing on a wide network of teaching artists from the Broadway community, inspiring students to awaken their highest potential. Now in its 17th year, Broadway Dreams has inspired more than 20,000 students in more than 8 countries, including a record 3,200 in-person students in 2022 alone. Broadway Dreams has to-date awarded more than $1.5M in scholarships, with more than 150 students booking professional breakthrough jobs since 2018. The 2022 Showcase featured 52 students from cities across the United States, Kenya, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and Brazil.Established by casting executive Annette Tanner, Broadway Dreams Foundation (“Broadway Dreams”) empowers aspiring young artists through performing arts training, with a focus on the acting, voice, and dance disciplines. Program intensives are offered nationally and internationally throughout the year and are led by an exceptional faculty of respected entertainment professionals who: assess where all students are in their development process and where they need to be; teach student practical skills that can be applied immediately to elevate their performance levels; guide students to achieve physical, emotional, and artistic self-awareness that can be channeled effectively in their work. The Broadway Dreams Board of Directors includes Dr. Elizabeth Faulkner (Chair), Marjorie Wynn (Marketing Chair), Adam C. Sansiveri, Margaret Busch, Michael Cox, Bruce Daitch, Alice Farquhar, Martha Gorjanc, Bernie Jackson, Nanci Lewis, Dannyand Georgina Louchiey, Victoria Morris, Alex Newell, Suzanne Rehl, Chris Roberts, Jerry Schiano, Ryan Stana, Lynne Latham Slear and Ivan Williams.The Broadway Dreams staff includes General Manager, RRR Creative / Ryan Ratelle; Artistic Director, Nicholas Rodriguez; Director of Engagement and Opportunity, Rachel Hoffman; Director of Development, Joe Finocchario; Director of Advancement, Hannah-Kathleen Hawkshaw; Creative & Marketing Director, Drew Padrutt; Company Manager,Yuvin Lee; and Executive Assistant, Mackenzie Messick. For more information on Broadway Dreams and its programs, please visit BroadwayDreams.org.

Broadway

The New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon and You are There

Published

3 days ago

June 1, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

On Tuesday the New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon was held at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, Broadway ballroom 6^th 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.

Broadway

The New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon and You Are There

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

On Tuesday the New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon was held at the New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, Broadway ballroom 6^th 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

Also Artistic Director Emily Morse and Executive Director Joel Ruark,

Executive Director Joel Ruark photo by Michael Hull

Jeannie Tessori photo by Michael Hull

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.

Broadway

And The Winners of The 2023 Drama Desk Awards Are ………

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

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.