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IN THIS ISSUE:
11th Hour Theatre Company - Quarantine Cabarets
42nd Street Moon - Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
The 5th Avenue Theatre - RadioActive Musicals Vol. 2
Broadway On Demand - #Sugarwater, Body and Soul: An American Bridge and Call Me Elizabeth
Broadway Rose Theatre Company - The Last Five Years
Cardinal Stage - Sherlock in Btown Series
King's Head Theatre - I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical
MusicalFare Theatre - Stories of Life
Musical Theatre West - On This Side of the World (Fest '20) and Keep the Lights On Benefit Concert
Music Theatre of Madison - An American Mythology Concept Album
New York Theatre Barn - Hart Island (Fest '20) and Cowboy Bob (Fest '20)
Philadelphia Theatre Company - An Evening with Ali Stroker
Prospect Theater Company, Inc. - Making Micheaux
James Sasser & Charles Vincent Burwell (Fest '14, Cubamor) - Le Comte Noir
Theatre Now New York - Sound Bites Extra Bites
Theater Latté Da - Re-Cast
University of Notre Dame - An Old Family Recipe
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11TH HOUR THEATRE COMPANY CONTINUES QUARANTINE CABARET SERIES
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Set up your laptop, phone, or cast to the big screen, because 11th Hour is bringing some big talent right to your home! Enjoy these evenings of stories and songs with some of Philly’s most entertaining performers, who are either quarantined together or wish they were! Viewers will be able to virtually interact LIVE with some of your favorite Philly artists over Zoom.
Coming up in the series:
- May 22nd: Amanda Jill Robinson & Jenna Pinchbeck as Ruth & Estelle
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42ND STREET MOON STREAMS LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL AS PART OF MOONBEAMS SERIES
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Director: Brandon Jackson
Music Director: Marcus McCauley
Starring: Doris Bumpus
“If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all” – Billie Holiday
She was one of the most influential jazz singers of all time with a voice unparalleled in the industry. Set in 1959 in South Philadelphia, Billie Holiday takes the stage for one of her final performances before her untimely death. Featuring some of her most famous songs like “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” “Strange Fruit” and more and interlaced with stories of her life, Lady Day tells her story of racism, abuse and addiction – all for the chance to sing.
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THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE PRESENTS THEIR RISING STAR PROJECT'S RADIOACTIVE MUSICALS VOL. 2
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In 2020, the students of The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Rising Star Project took on a new challenge: adapting original podcasts and radio journalism by the students of KUOW’s RadioActive Youth Media. The product was RadioActive Musicals.
This year, the students are at it again with RadioActive Musicals: Volume 2! Rising Star Project teens have adapted podcasts and photo essays by KUOW’s RadioActive Youth Media into short-form musicals that address the weight and pressures of the last year as humans struggle to connect in a period of unprecedented isolation and divisiveness. And they do so with joy, hope, levity, and a sense of humor.
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THE LATEST DOCUMENTARIES NOW AVAILABLE ON BROADWAY ON DEMAND
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#Sugarwater
Written and directed by Jo Lewis
An all-access BTS documentary following the first performance at The National Theatre of a Deaf and disabled theatre company.
Available to watch on Broadway on Demand.
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Body and Soul: An American Bridge
The performance history of the most recorded song in jazz illustrates the complex musical interplay between Jewish and African-American cultures in American popular song.
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Call Me Elizabeth
Fresh off her win as Best Actress and recovery from a brush with death, Elizabeth Taylor is struggling with her hardest role yet: herself. Through an intimate conversation with a biographer, Call Me Elizabeth examines the movie star’s life, career and loves as she grapples with the culture of celebrity and her place as Hollywood’s brightest star.
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BROADWAY ROSE STREAMS THE LAST FIVE YEARS
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Directed by Sharon Maroney
Music Direction by Brian Michael
Written and Composed by Jason Robert Brown (Fest '97, Songs For A New World)
An emotionally powerful and intimate musical, The Last Five Years tells the bittersweet tale of a brief marriage between two young artists. The storytelling is non-linear: Cathy, a struggling actor, starts her tale at the end of the marriage, working backwards through the timeline. Jamie, a literary prodigy, begins his at the onset of the relationship. The two narratives intersect on their wedding day before diverging again to arrive at the beginning, and end, of their five years together.
The production stars Kailey Rhodes and Jeff Rosick, and streams April 23 - May 16. Available at broadwayrose.org.
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CARDINAL STAGE TAKES YOU OUTSIDE WITH SHERLOCK IN BTOWN WALKABOUT RADIO PLAY SERIES
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Cardinal Stage's Walkabout Radio Plays are a fun way to enjoy the magic of theatre in a unique setting. These audio drams can be listened to from ANYWHERE! Make a donation of any amount to get access on CardinalStage.org.
Each play is set in Bloomington, IN and takes place on a designated walking route. All you need is a smart phone and your favorite headphones, and the world will be transformed around you! Listen to a new scene at each location as the story unfolds. Cardinal provides visual companions for folks listening from afar. Pay what you will to get access to either play, Predisposed to Violins or John Watson, PhD.
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KING'S HEAD THEATRE AND SPECTACULAR MUSIC BRING I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL ONLINE
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King's Head Theatre and Spectacular Music present I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical, filmed by the award winning Shoot Media, as part of the King’s Head Theatre’s digital on demand season, "Plays On Film."
Boasting 20 ★★★★★ reviews and a West End Wilma Award following its sold-out 2019 Edinburgh Fringe run and featuring West End regulars Luke Bayer, Charlotte O’Rourke, Lucas Rush and Charlotte Anne Steen, this sparkling musical revue lifts the lid on the highs and lows of life as a musical theatre performer.
From voice-straining high notes to limb-spraining high kicks, via on-stage smooches and off-stage feuds, this laugh-out-loud caper takes in the journey from wide-eyed drama school graduate to difficult diva (or past-it chorus member).
With music and lyrics from iTunes comedy album chart-topper Alexander S. Bermange, get set for a thoroughly entertaining hour of awful auditions, debilitating dance routines and backstage backstabbing - as well as the magical moments that make it all worthwhile.
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MUSICALFARE THEATRE PRESENTS STORIES OF LIFE
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Stories of Life is a World Premiere original musical based on the actual words of elder Americans residing in independent, assisted living, and nursing care facilities at Beechwood Continuing Care in 2001. These extraordinary stories from ordinary people feature a resilience and a humanity that seem especially vital during our current times.
This 40-minute musical features the stories of dozens of elder Americans, portrayed by four actors, sometimes spoken and sometimes sung using original music. Greenscreen technology is used to establish settings, time periods and to evoke the memories of the viewers using period photographs.
Written, directed and conceived by Randall Kramer, the production features George Brown, Debbie Pappas, Michele Marie Roberts and Doug Weyand. Technical direction and videography are provided by Chris Cavanagh. Available to stream on MusicalFare Theatre's website until June 30th.
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MUSICAL THEATRE WEST STREAMS CONCERT OF ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD (FEST '20) AND CONTINUES KEEP THE LIGHTS ON BENEFIT CONCERT SERIES WITH ANNA MINTZER
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On This Side of the World (Fest '20)
Musical Theatre West and the Creators of On This Side of the World (Fest '20) are very excited to represent the Filipino community during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month by hosting a virtual concert that is FREE to watch thru May 31st, bringing their show to the West Coast for the first time! Along with the streaming of this content free of charge, Musical Theatre West will also be using the event to raise funds for Long Beach's Filipino Migrant Center and other local organizations. Watch for free on musical.org or stellartickets.com.
This virtual event, hosted by the creators of On This Side of the World (Music & Lyrics by Paulo K Tiról, Developed with & Directed by Noam Shapiro,) features existing videos from NAMT's Festival of New Musicals, Prospect Theater Co.'s IGNITE concert series and the NY Theatre Barn's New Works Series, interspersed with conversations about the creation of this brand-new musical.
In On This Side of the World, actors give voice to Filipino immigrants navigating old lives and new beginnings, as a one-way ticket sends them on a journey 8,000 miles from home. Through a vibrant mix of styles and tones, from torch songs to bubblegum pop, romantic ballads to power anthems, Paulo K Tiról’s sung-through musical becomes a love letter to the Filipino-American dream. Please contact Dana Leach for more information, graphics or interview requests at education-outreach@musical.org.
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Keep the Lights On
Musical Theatre West's Keep the Lights On Benefit Concert Series returns for 2021 with brand-new content as well as encores of concerts from the 2020 series. The concerts will be shown using a brand new streaming platform, STELLAR! It’s just one of the ways Musical Theatre West is bringing entertainment into your homes during these challenging times.
Anna Mintzer jumped into the heart of MTW audiences in Bright Star as leading lady Alice Murphy, and returns to our digital stage to share her talents with us again! Anna was recently in the national tour of The Sound of Music and featured on the Amazon show New Dogs, All Tricks.
Available to stream on Musical Theatre West's website from May 13-24. For more information on the series check out Musical.org.
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MUSIC THEATRE OF MADISON ANNOUNCES STAGGERED RELEASE OF CONCEPT ALBUM AN AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY
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Who are our heroes?
Music Theatre of Madison's album, meant to be the first step in the journey toward a full production, explores the tropes of America in the style of myths, written by BIPOC Wisconsin writers. A powerful natural element comes to life. A man takes a magical substance to fit in. A woman visits a distant land to colonize its inhabitants. And much more. It asks us to consider, who are our heroes? What happens when we shift our perspectives? And how many of our guiding principles destroy rather than protect?
This album has a staggered release beginning May 14. Songs are $1.49 each or $14.99 for the entire album of eleven pieces. Check out MTMadison.com for more information.
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NEW YORK THEATRE BARN'S NEW WORKS SERIES SPOTLIGHTS HART ISLAND (FEST '20) AND COWBOY BOB (FEST '20)
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Now in its 14th season, New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series presents exclusive “pre-premieres” of new musicals in the early stages of development. New York Theatre Barn is keeping original live theatre alive during these unprecedented times. From our homes to yours, we are excited to share and experience the magic of live theatre in development.
The next installment on Wednesday, May 12th (tonight!) will be a 1-hour virtual live stream which will include excerpts from two new musicals:
- Hart Island (Fest '20) - Book by Michelle Elliott, Lyrics by Michelle Elliott and Danny Haengil Larsen, Music by Danny Haengil Larsen - Just off the shore of New York City lies a sorrowful island that serves as a public burial ground for the lonely, forgotten, or impoverished of the city. Hart Island is an inspiring and emotional tale of an immigrant woman fighting for her child, and the unexpected compassion of a disillusioned inmate who is the only person who can help her. This hauntingly beautiful new musical observes two people on the fringe of society as they change each other’s lives forever. Featuring performances by Natascia Diaz (Passion, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark), Rodney Hicks (Come From Away, Rent) and Gizel Jiménez (Wicked, Avenue Q)
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Cowboy Bob (Fest '20) - Music and Lyrics by Jeanna Phillips, Book and Additional Lyrics by Molly Beach Murphy, Additional Music by Alex Thrailkill, Directed by Annie Tippe - You wouldn’t look twice at Peggy Jo. She was a good daughter, always tipped well at restaurants, but disguised as “Cowboy Bob” in a fake beard and a ten-gallon hat, she was the slickest bank robber Texas has ever known. Making her get-away in a sky blue 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix, she was a modern-day bandit stealing thousands and evading detection for more than a decade. With a score that's equal parts Riot Grrrl rage and Texas two-step twang, this tale of a small-town legend spurs a discontented chain-restaurant waitress to buck routine, take life by the reins, and let it ride. Featuring performances by Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Freestyle Love Supreme) and Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812)
Produced by Joe Barros and Jen Sandler, the event streams live on New York Theatre Barn's YouTube channel on Wednesday, May 12th at 7pm ET. The New Works Series has received support in part by NAMT's Innovation & Exploration Fund.
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PHILADELPHIA THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH ALI STROKER VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER
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Join Broadway’s groundbreaking Tony Award®-Winner Ali Stroker for a virtual concert filmed on the stage of The Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Ali returns to PTC ten years after her Barrymore Award-nominated performance as Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
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PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY CONTINUES VISION SERIES WITH MAKING MICHEAUX
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Prospect Theater Company's
VISION Series presents Making Micheaux
Book and lyrics by Jesse L. Kearney, Jr.
Music by Alphonso Horne
Directed by Jeffrey L. Page
Starring Aaron Marcellus
with Alphonso Horne, Endea Owens, Mathis Picard, and TJ Reddick
Director of Photography Brian Bon
Chicago, 1918. Oscar Micheaux stands at a turning point in his life: Facing down a world which denies him a place in the narrative, what path will he take? This original jazz musical-on-film is inspired by the life of America's first major Black filmmaker, Oscar Micheaux. Watch anytime on ProspectTheater.org.
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LE COMTE NOIR NOW STREAMING ON BROADWAY ON DEMAND
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Music & Lyrics by Charles Vincent Burwell (Fest '14, Cubamor)
Book & Lyrics by James D Sasser (Fest '14, Cubamor)
Le Comte Noir is a brand new musical about the untold story of the real Count Of Monte Cristo. Alexandre Dumas is struggling with writer's block. To beat it he must reconcile what happened to his father — the wrongfully imprisoned Haitian-born hero of the French Revolution and rival to Napoleon — a legacy that inspired what many consider the son’s greatest literary work. Commissioned by Manhattan School of Music's New Musicals Initiative, Le Comte Noir was also developed at a TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Writer's Retreat, and a part of the Michigan State University New Musical Dramaturgy Project. This developmental premiere was made possible by MSM's Cultural Inclusion Initiative.
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THEATRE NOW NEW YORK PRESENTS SOUND BITES EXTRA BITES
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Eight new 10-minute musicals will be showcased over two nights (May 21st and May 28th), along with special performances from the first six years of Theatre Now New York's Sound Bites Festival of 10-Minute Musicals.
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THEATER LATTÉ DA PRESENTS RE-CAST CONCERT
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Theater Latté Da has invited some of your favorite artists to sing songs they have always wanted to sing. Actors can be plagued by the word “typecast;” so Latté Da asked them to remove those barriers, those expectations, and tell their own stories. Re-Cast will be an evening filled with passion, joy and surprise. Directed by Kelli Foster Warder, with music direction by Jason Hansen.
Re-Cast is one of five virtual performances as part of Theater Latté. Da's Ghostlight Series. This performance will be available to watch on demand until August 31st. For tickets and information, visit www.latteda.org/ghostlight-series
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UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME STREAMS THEATRICAL FILM OF NEW MUSICAL AN OLD FAMILY RECIPE
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Book, lyrics, and music by Veronica Mansour
Directed by Matt Hawkins
An Old Family Recipe was developed in Notre Dame's New Works Lab course, taught by Matt Hawkins, during the fall 2020 semester. The cast rehearsed on Zoom in January, in person (while masked and distanced) in February, and filmed during March and early April. Since University protocols prohibit unmasked indoor singing, all of the songs were recorded individually in the studio prior to filming.
An Old Family Recipe follows the story of Toni, a young woman struggling with depression and anxiety. When Toni’s grandmother dies, she is left with only uncertainty, especially when a recipe book is left on her doorstep. Toni must learn to navigate relationships in her life (both past and present) in order to discover who she really is, and the life she wants to lead. With the help of her therapist, her energetic coworkers, a quirky mailman, and her *cough* dead ancestors who show up at her door, Toni must learn how to make connections with people, making hard choices that move her toward the life she wants to lead when she most feels like running away. An Old Family Recipe is a musical about learning how to connect with people…about facing others when we’re at our worst, but more than that, about facing ourselves. How can we all, during the times when we feel the most alone, open our eyes to see what is right in front of us? How can we stop running away from what we have to offer, and move towards the people we have always had the potential to be?
The production streams Friday, May 21 @ 7PM (EDT) on Youtube.
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