The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will continue its 45th season with The Mikado, which the company premiered in December 2016. The upcoming production will run at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College December 27, 2019–January 5, 2020.
The cast will be led by David Wannen in the title role, David Macaluso as Sullivan and Ko-Ko, Matthew Wages as Richard D’Oyly Carte and Pooh-Bah, David Auxier as author Gilbert and town leader Pish-Tush, John Charles McLaughlin as Nanki-Poo, Caitlin Burke as Katisha, Sarah Caldwell Smith as Yum Yum, Rebecca Hargrove as Peep-Bo, and Amy Maude Helfer as Pitti-Sing.
The comic opera will also feature original choreography and direction by NYGASP Associate Stage Director David Auxier, who authored the show’s prologue, and assistant direction by Kelvin Moon Loh.
First performed at London’s Savoy Theatre in 1885, The Mikado pokes fun at topical aspects of Victorian society and follows Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado (the Japanese emperor), who has fled his father’s court in disguise as a “Wand’ring Minstrel” to avoid marrying Katisha, an elderly suitor, and to find and marry his own beloved, the maiden Yum-Yum.
The Mikado, which will also have scenery designed by Anshuman Bhatia, costumes by Quinto Ott, and lighting by Benjamin Weill, is produced by NYGASP Executive Director David Wannen.
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players 2019 Gala
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Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2019 BroadwayWorld NYC Non-Professional Awards Awards, brought to you by TodayTix Community theatre productions, student productions, and college productions are all included Eligibility is for productions whichopened between October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. Nominations are reader submitted and are open through December 10th. Voting will open December 16th and close on December 31st.
Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella officially opens November 24, following previews that began November 20 at the New Jersey venue.
Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter and music direction by Michael Borth, the limited engagement will continue through December 29.
The ensemble includes John Barsoian, Kelly Berman, Antonio Beverly, Erin Burniston, Monica Cioffi, Taeler Cyrus, Richard Gatta, Ricky Loftus George, Christopher M. Howard, Derek Luscutoff, Kate Marilley, John Peterson, Dave Schoonover, Cynthia Thorne, Leslie Blake Walker, Isabella Ward, CorBen Williams, and Minami Yusui.
The production also features scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by William Ivey Long, costume coordination by Tom Beall, lighting design by Charlie Morrison, sound design by Matt Kraus, and hair and wig design by Paul Huntley. The production stage manager is Andrea Cibelli. Casting is by Telsey + Company’s Lauren Harris.
Production Photos: Cinderella at Paper Mill Playhouse
Production Photos: Cinderella at Paper Mill Playhouse
14 PHOTOS
Angel Lin, Dee Hoty, Ashley Blanchet, and Rose Hemingway in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Ashley Blanchet in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Rose Hemingway, Dee Hoty, and Angel Lin in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Christopher Sieber, Billy Harrigan Tighe, and Ashley Blanchet in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Richard Gatta, John Barsoian, and Andrew Kober in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Billy Harrigan Tighe in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Ashley Blanchet and Billy Harrigan Tighe in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Billy Harrigan Tighe and the Cast of CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Richard Gatta, Kate Marilley, Ashley Blanchet, and Leslie Blake in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Donna English in CinderellaEvan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Australian musical theatre starAnthony Warlow will revisit one of his most acclaimed roles, Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden, in the 25th anniversary production which will open at Sydney Lyric Theatre in August next year. Tickets for this sumptuous musical in Sydney are on sale from Friday 29 November.
Theatre For a New Audience’s production of Fefu and Her Friends, written by the late María Irene Fornés, opens with Theatre For a New Audience November 24 after beginning preview performances November 16. The production is scheduled to play through December 8.
In Fefu and Her Friends, a group of articulate, idiosyncratic women gather in Fefu’s New England country house in 1935 to rehearse for a charity event. Directed by Obie Award winner Lileana Blain-Cruz at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, the production sees the audience split up into four groups (as the play is written), and move around the auditorium where they each experience the story in a different setting and in a different order.
Production Photos: Fefu and Her Friends at Theatre for a New Audience
The cast of the TFANA production is comprised of Brittany Bradford (Bernhardt/Hamlet, Merrily We Roll Along ) as Julia, Juliana Canfield (He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box, Succession) as Christina, Helen Cespedes (The Cripple of Inishmaan, The School for Scandal) as Emma, Jennifer Lim (Chinglish, Usual Girls) as Cindy, Ronete Levenson (Lascivious Something, Our Town) as Sue, Lindsay Rico (Alligator, Song for a Future Generation) as Paula, Amelia Workman (The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World AKA the Negro Book of the Dead, Coriolanus) as Fefu, and Carmen Zilles (Little Women, Scenes from a Marriage) as Cecilia.
“María Irene Fornés is a titan of the American theatre, and it truly is an honor to be directing Fefu and Her Friends not only because she’s influenced so many important artists, but because she revolutionized what theatre could be,” says Blain-Cruz. “The depth and complexity of this play requires an exhilarating participation between artist and audience and is one of the most exciting theatrical challenges I’ve ever encountered.”
The creative team includes set designer Adam Rigg, costume designer Montana Levi Blanco, lighting designer Jane Cox, sound designer Palmer Hefferan, and props supervisor Andrew Diaz.
We asked, and you answered To celebrate the importance of arts in education, we asked BroadwayWorld readers to let us know which shows their high schools and colleges are performing this fall. We’ve now gathered some of the most popular answers for you to enjoy, with roles ranging from classics like My Fair Lady and Damn Yankees to newer additions like School of Rock and Urinetown Check them all out
In an all new Crosswalk The Musical segment, James Corden invited the cast of ‘Frozen 2’ to the intersection of Beverly Blvd. and Genesee Av. in Los Angeles for a very special live performance of their hit film.
November 28 marks the 93nd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, kicking off at 9AM ET.
From celebrity sightings to stories-high balloons to Broadway performances, the annual holiday tradition marches through the streets of Manhattan and is broadcast nationwide on NBC and CBS. Hosted on NBC by the Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker, the Parade lands in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street.
Want to watch it live and in person—the way theatre fans like it? Here’s what you need to know about scouting out the best location and tips for attending. Don’t forget to follow Playbill on Instagram and on Snapchat.
PRE-PARADE FUN
Crowds pack it in around the perimeter of the Museum of Natural History (mainly lining 77th and 81st Streets) 1–8 PM November 27 to see the balloon inflation up close.
The viewing loop around the museum takes at least 45 minutes to complete.
Here’s a hack: Visit the Museum during the day so that upon your exit you can view the balloons—taking you on a different path than other visitors, with an edge on timing.
The parade stretches for 2.5 miles from 77th Street to Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street, going down Central Park West until it reaches Columbus Circle at 59th Street, where it will turn east.
The parade marches on 59th Street/Central Park South from Eighth Avenue towards Sixth Avenue and then turns south on Sixth.
It continues down Sixth Avenue until it hits 34th Street, where it turns west and walks one avenue.
The parade finishes at 34th Street and Seventh Avenue.
WATCH IN PERSON
If you plan to watch in person you must arrive early. Reportedly, people start camping out at prime spots along Central Park West at 6AM. The parade begins marching at 9AM.
Great views can be had on Central Park West between 75th and 59th Streets.
There is no viewing along Central Park South.
If you wish to arrive later, we recommend watching on Sixth Avenue between 59th and 38th Streets. These streets tend to be less crowded and boast wider sidewalks.
Know parade entrances. Many streets will be closed off. This is last year’s list of street closures from the New York Department of Transportation, which will likely be similar for this year.
38th Street to 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues are restricted areas due to filming. You will not be able to enter.
Avoid the 34th Street Herald Square and Penn Station subway stations.
For spectators with special needs, check out the Young Adult Institute website. While tickets are sold out for the designated viewing area, you can join a waitlist for tickets and check out helpful FAQs.
Grandstand tickets for access to the bleachers for stage viewing in front of Macy’s—like the Broadway shows—are not available for the general public.
LINEUP Broadway Shows Slated to Perform These performances take place in front of Macy’s in the restricted viewing area. You will not be able to see them on the parade route. They air in the 9AM hour (in all time zones) on the national broadcast.
Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter atop Rexy in the City float from COACH
Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas on the NHL Most Valuable Hockey Mom float from MassMutual/NHL
Grammy Hall of Famers Chicago (the band) will ride the Heartwarming Holiday Countdown float from Hallmark Channel
American Country Music Award winner Chris Janson will enter aboard the Harvest in the Valley float from Green Giant
Country music star Chris Young will be seen on Mount Rushmore’s American Pride float from South Dakota Department of Tourism
Grammy winner Ciara will sing aboard the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles float from Nickelodeon
Pop star and Broadway alum Debbie Gibson will perform aboard Shimmer and Shine from Nickelodeon
Former NASA astronauts Dr. Janet L. Kavandi and Kay Hire will be featured on Snoopy’s Doghouse from Peanuts Worldwide
Tony Award winner Idina Menzel returns to the parade, this time on the Deck the Halls float from Balsam Hill
Nickelodeon star Josh Dela Cruz appears on the Blues Clues & You! float from Nickelodeon
Grammy winner Kelly Rowland rolls in on Toy House of Marvelous Milestones from New York Life
Broadway and Glee alum Lea Michele takes her spot on the Central Park float from Macy’s
Grammy nominee Natasha Bedingfield appears on the Fantasy Chocolate Factory float from Kinder
K-pop phenomenon NCT 127 enters aboard The Brick-Changer from The LEGO Group
Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin greets viewers atop the Big City Cheer! float from Spirit of America Productions
Billboard Latin Music Award winner Ozuna will sing from the Parade Day Mischief float from Sour Patch Kids Candy
Country singer-songwriter Tenille Townes performs from the Home Sweet Home float from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
12-year-old rapper That Girl Lay Lay takes her spot aboard the Universal Playground from Universal Kids
Best-selling American girl group of all time TLC performs from Splashing Safari Adventure from Kalahar Resorts and Conventions
New Balloons
Snoopy gets a makeover for 2019 as he debuts as Astronaut Snoopy. He measures up at 49 feet tall, 43 feet long, and 29 feet wide.
In honor of Netflix’s new show, Green Eggs and Ham, gets a float this year, featuring Guy, Sam, and the titular dish.
From artist Yayoi Kusama, the new float Love Flies Up to the Sky debuts in this year’s parade.
Making his first appearance since 1993, Smokey Bear returns to the Parade to celebrate his 75th birthday.
SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary appear in a newly designed float commemorating the character’s 20th birthday.
GENERAL TIPS FOR ATTENDING THE PARADE
Public transportation is your best bet to navigate the city, as Thanksgiving Day is marked as a gridlock alert day in New York City. The MTA will follow a Sunday schedule, and bus service may be affected by street closures. Be sure to plan your route in advance and check the MTA website for closures and delays. For folks coming from just outside the city, Metro North and LIRR add extra trains.
Scout places nearby your “campsite” to grab food or coffee or go to the bathroom, but be aware that many establishments won’t allow you to run in and use the bathroom—you’ll have to sit down and eat. The Macy’s website has a handy coffee, food, and restroom feature on its interactive map.
Bring snacks! Load up on water, bars, and whatever else you’ll need to be comfortable for a few hours before Thanksgiving dinner.
Bundle up. It gets cold in New York in November, and you don’t want to be stuck freezing. Bring a hat, scarf, and gloves just in case, and be sure to check the weather the day before in case you need rain gear.
Bring a portable phone charger and any cell phone accessories you’ll want to document the day and communicate with your party.
Have a meet-up plan. In case you and your party get separated, make sure you all know where you’re headed so you can find each other.
Rest assured there will be lots of security at the parade to ensure everyone has a safe experience. Look out for directions from volunteers and security and expect some security checks.
WATCH ON TV
The official Parade broadcast begins at 9 AM in all time zones Thanksgiving Day on NBC, and will be available in Spanish on Univision. You can also stream the feed on NBC.com and the NBC mobile app. Or, watch on the NBC channel via Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV.
Terry Crews and Lilly Singh host the exclusive Verizon 360 Livestream, featuring views from 360 cameras places at multiple points along the parade route. Access the 360 Livestream on Verizon’s YouTube page beginning 8:30AM ET.
CBS will host its own broadcast, The Thanksgiving Day Parade, beginning at 9 AM. Featuring specially taped performances from Broadway shows, the broadcast will be hosted by Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier and correspondent (and former Radio City Rockette) Keltie Knight. The CBS broadcast will feature an exclusive performance by Miranda Lambert. (CBS has not yet announced their special lineup of Broadway performances.)
The CBS version is also streamable via CBS All Access or the CBS channel on Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV, and FuboTV.
Stay tuned to Playbill as we will post videos of the performances after they air on television.
Bookmark this article! Playbill will update with additions and announcements to ensure a smooth Parade day. Happy Thanksgiving!
