Watch below as he chats with West End starEmma Kingston, who appears as the title character inMark SchoenfeldBarri McPherson’s BKLYN The Musical,which is now available to stream on Broadway HD
1878 The original Yankee Doodle Dandy, George M. Cohan is born on the 3rd of July, not the 4th as family legend says. A member of the vaudeville team The Four Cohans with his parents and sister, he soon breaks out as a solo star, writer, and producer of such early 20th century hits as American Born, Billie, Dear Old Darling, Little Nellie Kelly, Pigeons and People, The Rise of Rosie O’Reilly, and The Merry Malones. His life becomes the subject of a musical in 1968, George M!, in which he is played by Joel Grey. His statue has stood at the center of Times Square at 46th Street for decades.
1937 Birthday of British playwright Tom Stoppard, four-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Play: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1968), Travesties (1976), The Real Thing (1984), and The Coast of Utopia (2007). His roster of intelligent dramas also includes Arcadia, The Invention of Love, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Jumpers.
1947 Betty Buckley, who becomes one of Broadway’s leading ladies, is born in Texas. After making her debut in 1776, Buckley wins the 1983 Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical for her turn in Cats. Other memorable stage moments include Song and Dance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Carrie, Sunset Boulevard, and Triumph of Love.
1970 Happy birthday to Audra McDonald, who would go on to win six Tony Awards for acting both in plays and musicals, including Ragtime, Carousel, Master Class, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. She also receives Tony nominations for her performances in Marie Christine and a revival of 110 in the Shade. Most recently, McDonald won the Antonyo Award for her performance in Frankie & Johnny and the Clair de Lune and is a member of the founding group of artists behind Black Theatre United.
1999 The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Cabaret marks its 500th Broadway performance. The production that received four Tony Awards (including Best Revival of a Musical), three Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Theatre World Award, an Astaire Award, and a special award from the New York Drama Critics) opened on Broadway March 19, 1998.
2018 The Australian production of the Tony-nominated Best Musical Come From Away opens in Melbourne. The musical by David Hein and Irene Sankoff tells the story of the passengers of 37 planes that were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, when U.S. air space closed due to the September 11 attacks. The story of the generosity of humanity earned seven Tony nominations, winning for Best Direction by Christopher Ashley.
More of Today’s Birthdays: Leon Errol (1881–1951). Alexander Gemignani (b. 1979). Franz Kafka (1883–1924). Leueen MacGrath (1914–1992). Natasha Richardson (1963–2009). David Shire (b. 1937). Patrick Wilson (b. 1973).
Manhattan Theatre Club’s American premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, the new play featuring gospel music directed by Trip Cullman will open July 2 at MTC’s The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New YorkCity Center - Stage II 131 West 55th Street. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below
Post #46. What is a ‘statement of fact’, and why should you NOT use it either in an outline or in dialogue?
Enjoy!
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In celebration of raising $1 million for the Actors Fund, Stars in the House hosted its first-ever in-person show at Asylum NYC June 30.
Playbill correspondent and SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley commemorated the milestone with the (fully vaccinated) Stars in the House staff, family, and friends as well as Brenda Braxton, Josh Bryant, Andréa Burns, Liz Callaway, Paul Castree, Kristin Chenoweth, Darius de Haas, Colin Donnell, Beth Leavel, Andrea Martin, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lisa Mordente, Patti Murin, Chita Rivera, Marc Shaiman, Pearl Sun, Nina West, and more.
“Thanks to the enormous generosity of our viewers from all over the globe, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate reaching the $1 million mark raised for The Actors Fund on June 30 with our very first in-person show,” said Rudetsky and Wesley in an earlier statement. “And what better way to celebrate this moment than with a ton of live music from our Broadway friends, surrounded by the volunteers and staff of Stars in the House who made it all happen these past 15 months.”
“On March 16, 2020, Seth and James went live with the very first episode of Stars in the House to benefit The Actors Fund, knowing even then that the entertainment community would need monumental support in the months—and as we see now, years—to come,” added The Actors Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell. “Because of Seth, James, everyone working behind the scenes at Stars in the House, all the guest stars, and the incredible dedication of thousands of fans, the show has already raised close to $1 million for The Actors Fund. I cannot wait to celebrate this upcoming milestone with the Stars in the House team, and on behalf of everyone at The Actors Fund, we thank you for your unwavering support of a life in the arts.”
Stars in the House launched March 16 last year to promote support for The Actors Fund and its services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to supporting the theatrical non-profit, it has raised over $264,000 for other charities including the NAACP LDF, Trevor Project, Humane Society of New York, Waterkeeper Alliance, You Gotta Believe, Cancer Support Community, New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Youth Pride Chorus, and more. Rudetsky and Wesley received a special Drama Desk Award for their coronavirus relief efforts.
New shows—streaming Tuesday–Saturday at 8 PM ET—feature performances by stars of stage and screen, in conversation and song with Rudetsky and Wesley. Peter Flynn serves as streaming director.
Click here to watch previous episodes. To make a tax-deductible donation to The Actors Fund visit StarsintheHouse.com/Donate.