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Six Resumes Performances in London’s West End December 5

by | Dec 5, 2020 | New Musical News Feed

Divorced, beheaded, and once again: live. Six, the musical that puts Henry VIII’s wives center stage with the pop star treatment, resumes performances in London December 5 following its extended closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Performances are currently scheduled at the Lyric Theatre through April 18, 2021. Plans are in place for it to subsequently relocate to the Arts Theatre, its original West End home.

While some plays in the U.K. have begun to welcome back socially distanced audiences at indoor venues, Six is among the first large-scale musicals to do so. A staged concert version of Les Misérables also begins a West End engagement this weekend, with Everybody’s Talking About Jamie on deck for a December 12 reopening.

The Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss musical will play nine performances a week, with capacity reduced to 50 percent; other safety measures include face coverings for staff and audiences, track and trace procedures, contactless tickets, and routine sanitation of the venue.

The company includes Jarnéia Richard-Noel of Catherine of Aragon, Courtney Bowman as Anne Boleyn, Natalie Paris as Jane Seymour, Alexia McIntosh as Anna of Cleves, Sophie Isaacs as Catherine Howard, and Danielle Steers as Catherine Parr, along with alternates/understudies Zara Macintosh, Cherelle Jay, Hana Stewart, and Collette Guitart.

After originating at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, Six headed to London, going on to earn five Olivier Award nominations. The musical began previews on Broadway February 13, but was hours short of its official opening night March 12 when the New York shutdown brought all productions to a standstill, with the U.K. and other engagements around the world following suit shortly after.

Jeremy O. Harris and NYTW Launch $50K Commissions for New Works

by | Dec 4, 2020 | New Musical News Feed

Jeremy O. Harris and New York Theatre Workshop launched the Golden & Ruth Harris Commission December 4, named after the Tony-nominated playwright’s grandparents, offering two $50,000 commissions for a new theatrical work.

In its inaugural year, the commissions will be awarded to two generative artists who are Black womxn: one who has yet to have an Off-Broadway New York production, and one who made a significant impact early in their artistic lives but has not had adequate support of late.

Over the next several months, nominators will recommend artists from every area and medium of the field, who will submit proposals to an independent panel. The panel will review and submit finalists to Harris and NYTW, who will select the recipients.

“At the core of my practice is the belief that the work of being a playwright is in community building,” Jeremy O. Harris said. “My grandparents always modeled charity and generosity within their community. Moreover, their generosity to me is the only reason I was able to write my first plays.”

“Jeremy is an artist, a spirit, unlike any other,” said NYTW Artistic Director James C. Nicola. “In this new world that he is commanding to materialize, the fight for the common good of the artists that dwell there is at the very core of his efforts.”

Harris and New York Theatre Workshop most recently collaborated on the Off-Broadway world premiere of Slave Play. The Broadway production is currently nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Play for Harris, the most nods for any play in the awards’ history.

Production Photos: Slave Play on Broadway

From Out-of-Town to Opening Night: Celebrating The Cher Show on Broadway

by | Dec 2, 2020 | New Musical News Feed

Following its out-of-town tryout in Chicago, The Cher Show opened on Broadway December 3, 2018. The musical, directed by Jason Moore with choreography by Christopher Gattelli, played 34 previews and 295 performances before closing August 18, 2019. The production earned three Tony Award nominations, winning Best Actress in a Musical for Stephanie J. Block’s performance as the “Star” Cher and Best Costume Design of a Musical for Bob Mackie’s work.

The Cher Show featured three performers as the title pop superstar, chronicling her life while incorporating 35 of her songs—from her career-launching 1965 duet with Sonny Bono, “I Got You Babe,” to her 2013 dance album Closer to The Truth.

From Out-of-Town to Opening Night: Celebrating The Cher Show on Broadway

In addition to Block, the production starred Teal Wicks as “Lady” Cher, Micaela Diamond as “Babe” Cher, Jarrod Spector as Sonny Bono, Michael Berresse as Bob Mackie/Rboert Altman/Frank, Michael Campayno as Rob Camilletti/Lee, Matthew Hydzik as Gregg Allman/John Southall, and Emily Skinner as Georgia Holt.

The cast also included Marija Juliette Abney, Carleigh Bettiol, Taurean Everett, Michael Fatica, Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Michael Graceffa, Blaine Krauss, Sam Lips, Tiana Okoye, Jennifer Rias, Angel Reda, Christopher Vo, Aléna Watters, and Charlie Williams. Rounding out the company were Dee Roscioli as the standby for the Star and the Lady and Amy Quanbeck, Michael Tacconi, Tory Trowbridge, and Ryan Worsing as swings.

In addition to Mackie’s costume design, the creative team featured set designers Christine Jones and Brett J. Banakis, lighting designer Kevin Adams, video and projection designer Darrel Maloney, and sound designer Nevin Steinberg, with stage managers Michael J. Passaro, Michelle Bosch, and Tiffany N. Robinson. For the complete cast and creative team, visit PlaybillVault.com/TheCherShow.