Virtual Theatre Today: Thursday, September 24- with Paulo Szot, Next On Stage: Dance Edition, and More!
Today September 24 in live streaming Meet the Next On Stage Dance Edition Top 5, Paulo visits backstage Live, and so much more
In the News: The Inheritance Playwright Matthew Lopez to Lead Town Hall on LGBTQ+ Rights and Voting, Juilliard Gala Goes Virtual, More
Read on for some recent theatre headlines and videos you may have missed.
Matthew Lopez to Lead Town Hall on LGBTQ+ Rights and Voting
The Inheritance playwright Matthew López will host a Broadway for Biden Town Hall October 3 at 2 PM ET on BPN.fm to discuss the presidential hopeful’s policies with several other theatre artists. In addition, the playwright will participate in Broadway for Biden’s LGBTQ+-themed phone banking session September 28 at 7 PM ET. In between calls, Inheritance cast members Tony Goldwyn, Lois Smith, Jonathan Burke, and more will virtually pop in to say hello and speak to fans.
Juilliard Gala Goes Virtual
Juilliard will present a virtual gala October 5. The event will feature performances and appearances by such alums as Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, and Lorraine Toussaint, as well as highlights of past events, including a February 2020 master class led by Renée Fleming, the Juilliard Orchestra virtual performance of “Nimrod” from Elgar’s Enigma Variations conducted by Itzhak Perlman, and a behind-the-scenes look at Larry Keigwin and Nicole Wolcott’s collaboration Bolero Juilliard. The free stream will begin at 7 PM at Juilliard.edu.
Four Artists Will Create New Works for Opera Philadelphia
Opera Philadelphia has revealed four artists who will create new works for the company’s pivot to digital: Composer in Residence Tyshawn Sorey, Courtney Bryan, Angélica Negró, and Caroline Shaw. The commissions are part of Opera Philadelphia’s previously announced programming on its streaming channel, set to launch in October. They’ll premiere on a rolling basis beginning in January 2021. Prior to that, the Channel’s slate includes Sorey’s Cycles of My Being, which premiered at the company in February 2018.
Broadway Actors Join Forces for “The Soul of The Nation” Music Video
Over 50 members of the Broadway community have joined forces for a new music video in support of the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris presidential ticket. “Soul of the Nation,” with lyrics by Christine Toy Johnson and Notorious Pink and music by Kim D. Sherman and Scott Killian, features such stage favorites as Carolee Carmello, Jose Llana, Ali Ewoldt, Michael Potts, Alma Cuervo, Telly Leung, Stephen Bogardus, Kerry O’Malley, Aisha de Haas, Darius de Haas, James Earl Jones II, Francis Jue, Elizabeth Ward Land, Raymond J. Lee, Pearl Sun, Ann Harada, Gizel Jimenez, and Brittney Johnson. Take a look below.
Production Photos: The Inheritance on Broadway
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME Film Will Screen at Woodstock Film Festival
A filmed version of the critically acclaimed, award-winning playWhat the Constitution Means to Me, created by and starringHeidi Schreck, will be screened at the Woodstock Film Festival.
Brave Hearts for Broadway’s Let Us Entertain You Concert Streams September 23
Let Us Entertain You, a frontline worker tribute to the theatre industry, debuts on Playbill September 23, featuring performances by Tony and Emmy winner Billy Porter, Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher, and Lorna Luft, with dozens more Broadway stars making cameos. Check it out above beginning at 7 PM ET.
The project, presented by Brave Hearts for Broadway to benefit The Actors Fund, was conceived by registered nurse, playwright, and producer Michael E. Merritt. Virtually uniting over 120 people from 11 different countries to support and uplift theatre professionals, Merritt organized The Frontline Choir and Friends to create the special video.
WATCH: Go Behind the Scenes of the Brave Hearts for Broadway Concert Let Us Entertain You
The Frontline Choir will sing and dance to original songs written by Matt Cusson, Terron Brooks, Elisa Nicholas, and Andrew David Sotomayor. Let Us Entertain You is choreographed by Kathleen Brazie and John Scott.
While free to watch, donations to The Actors Fund are encouraged.
Among the many stage favorites taking part, in addition to Porter, Hilty, Gallagher, and Luft, are Jelani Alladin, Annaleigh Ashford, Shoshana Bean, Annette Bening, Alexandra Billings, Tommy Bracco, Kristin Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein, Mandy Gonzalez, Ann Harada, Ruthie Henshall, Judy Kuhn, Linda Lavin, Andrea Martin, Laurie Metcalf, Jessie Mueller, Bebe Neuwirth, Bernadette Peters, Conrad Ricamora, Chita Rivera, Krysta Rodriguez, Lea Salonga, Stephen Schwartz, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Allyson Tucker.
VIDEO: Watch Richard Jay-Alexander, T. Oliver Reid & More on Jim Caruso’s Pajama Cast Party
Join the party tonight 8pm with special guestsT. Oliver Reid,Adam Roberts,Becky Priest,Ava Nicole Frances andRichard Jay-Alexander.
Expand The Canon Reveals Inaugural History-Spanning List of Plays by Women to Consider Producing
A collection of nine plays by women for theatre companies to consider produciing has been revealed in the Expand the Canon list from Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre.
Four of the plays will be staged in a digital reading series this fall, including Bold Stroke for a Husband by Hannah Cowley and House of Desires by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. In addition to the works by Cowley and de la Cruz, the plays selected for 2020 are: A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Susanna Centilivre, Her Soul by Amelia P. Roselli, Rachel by Angelina W. Grimke, Restless Night in Late Spring by Fumiko Enchi, Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston, The Drag by Mae West, and Wedding Band by Alice Childress.
“From hundreds of plays by women, we chose 9 that span history, geography, and subject matter—and are by writers from diverse backgrounds,” said Mary Candler, artistic director of Hedgepig. “Each play takes on relevant conversations to this moment and can easily, and meaningfully, slot into 2021 seasons.”
Expand the Canon is a call to action for theatres to stage classical plays by women and to include more diversity in their repertoire. The project aims to ensure that what’s considered a “classic” includes a diverse set of women’s voices from history.
The Do This Play: Expand the Canon virtual reading series kicks off September 22 with Cowley’s 17th century play. Directed by Emily Lyon, the cast includes Skye Pagon, Shannon Corenthin, David Huynh, Basil Rodericks, Sara Hymes, Rachel Schmeling, Jory Murphy, Andrew Hutcheson, Gregory Jon Phelps, Marcus D. Johnson, and Madeline Addis.
Up next is de la Cruz’s Mexican comedy September 27, directed by Melisa Pereyra and produced in partnership with American Players Theatre. House of Desires stars Cher Alvarez, Eduardo Xavier Curley-Carillo, Triney Sandoval, Alejandro Cordova, Sebastian Arboleda, Basil Rodericks, Jamal James, Olivia Williamson, and Desiree Baxter.
Ma-Yi Theater Company co-presents Fumiko Enchi’s Restless Night in Late Spring September 29. Directed by Chari Arespacochago, the world premiere English-language translation of the Japanese play features Sasha Diamond, Shannon Tyo, Daniel K. Isaac, and Fara Faidzan.
Closing out the series October 1 is Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston. The reading is directed by Bianca LaVerne Jones and produced in partnership with The Classical Theatre of Harlem, with casting to be announced.
All of the readings take place at 8 PM ET. For tickets, click here. For more information about the list, visit ExpandTheCanon.com.
BWW Exclusive: John Lloyd Young Counts Down His Favorite Broadway Performances!
Tony and Grammy Award-winner John Lloyd Young returns to The Space in Las Vegas on Saturday, October 3 with John Lloyd Young’s Broadway, an intimate and unforgettable evening of Broadway favorites and classic showtunes. While we await he big night, we’re getting inside John’s head as he counts down ten Broadway performances that have excited, entertained, and inspired him throughout his life and career
Can You Name These 19 Broadway Stars From Their Early Playbill Bios?
How well do you know the beginnings of the careers of Meryl Streep, Stephen Sondheim, Audra McDonald, and more.
Flip through the gallery below to see if you can recognize these people from their early Playbill bios: