David Byrne’s American Utopia—which officially opened its return engagement October 17—has canceled its December 4 and 5 performances at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
The December 1-3 performances had been canceled due to an illness in the company. The production previously said it was not COVID-related. Performances are now scheduled to resume Wednesday, December 8 (the production does not offer performances Monday and Tuesday evenings).
Ticket holders for the canceled shows will be refunded at their original point of purchase.
Byrne is joined on stage by returning band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan, and Bobby Wooten III. The company standbys are Renée Albulario, Alena Ciera, Chris Eddleton, Evan Frierson, Abe Nouri, and Natalie Tenenbaum.
The initial run opened October 20, 2019, and continued into 2020. The production recouped its initial $4 million investment in mid-December, 10 weeks after opening. The acclaimed production received a Special Tony Award at the September 26 Tony Awards ceremony.
Oscar winner Spike Lee filmed the theatrical concert during the tail end of its Broadway run; it premiered on HBO October 17, 2020. The film recently won two Creative Arts Emmy Awards: Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special and Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special.
Under the guidance of production consultant Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!), the show features lighting design by Rob Sinclair, sound design by Pete Keppler, and musical direction by Karl Mansfield and Mauro Refosco. Annie-B Parson provides choreography and musical staging.
David Byrne’s American Utopia is produced by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Patrick Catullo and Todomundo with Hal Luftig, Jonathan Reinis, Shira Friedman, Annapurna Theatre, Elizabeth Armstrong, Thomas Laub, Steven Rosenthal, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Matt Picheny, Steve Traxler, Len Blavatnik, Nonesuch Records, Warner Chappell Music, and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions. Allan Williams serves as executive producer.
Check Out New Photos of the Broadway Return of David Byrne’s American Utopia
Check Out New Photos of the Broadway Return of David Byrne’s American Utopia
NBC has released several musical numbers from its December 2 broadcast of Annie Live!, which starredCelina Smith in the title role, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan, Harry Connick, Jr. as Daddy Warbucks, Nicole Scherzinger as Grace, Tituss Burgess as Rooster, Megan Hilty as Lily St. Regis, and Alan Toy as FDR.
Additionally, Sony Masterworks Broadway has dropped theofficial soundtrack for Annie Live!, now available online. The album, produced by Stephen Oremus and Connick Jr., will be released physically January 21, 2022, and is available to preorder.
Watch musical numbers from the live broadcast below:
“Maybe”
“It’s the Hard-Knock Life”
“Tomorrow”
“We’d Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover”
“Little Girls”
“I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here”
“N.Y.C.”
“Sign”
“Easy Street”
“We Got Annie”
“You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile”
“Something Was Missing”
“I Don’t Need Anything But You”
The ensemble featured Wendi Bergamini, Jadaya Bivins, Brittany Conigatti, Ben Davis, Zachary Downer, Karla Garcia, Kayla Goins, Luke Hawkins, Christopher Hernandez, Afra Hines, Trinity Inay, Jeff Kready, McKenzie Kurtz, Jenny LaRoche, Brandt Martinez, Morgan Marcell, Liz McCartney, Anastacia McCleskey, Giana Rice, Eliseo Roman, Lily Tamburo, Sherrod Tate, Kennedy Thompson, Tanairi Vazquez, Jacob Keith Watson, Alex Wong, and Corde Young.
Joining Annie at the orphanage: Felice Kakaletris as Molly, Cate Elefante as Kate, Sophie Knapp as July, Tessa Frascogna as Tessie, Arwen Monzon-Sanders as Duffy, and Audrey Cymone as Pepper.
Lear deBessonet and Alex Rudzinski shared directing duties, with choreography by Sergio Trujillo, costumes by Emilio Sosa, production design by Jason Sherwood, and orchestrations by Stephen Oremus. William Berloni, who started his prolific career as a Broadway animal trainer by finding and training Annie‘s original Sandy, was also on the creative team, having previously worked on NBC’s Peter Pan Live! and The Wiz Live!.
The special was executive produced by Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron, and Alex Rudzinsky with Chloe Productions as producer.
Annie premiered on Broadway in 1977, featuring a score by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan. Based on the Depression-era newspaper comic series, the musical centers on its plucky title character and her journey from orphanage to the opulent Warbucks mansion.
Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winnerAudra McDonald will headline RHAPSODY Turtle Creek Chorales Benefit Gala atthe Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas on Saturday, March 5, 2022. The evening will feature opening receptions, seated dinner, open bar, live auction, a private performance by Ms. McDonald, and an after-party experience with the IDT Band and dessert.
The York Theatre Company’s world premiere of Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, a song-and-dance celebration featuring the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, officially opens December 2 following previews that began November 24. The production marks The York’s first mainstage offering since the pandemic began in March 2020 and the January flood that forced the company from its home at St. Peter’s Theater.
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Tony nominee Randy Skinner with a book by Barry Kleinbort and music direction by David Hancock Turner, performances are scheduled through January 2, 2022, at the York’s temporary home at the Theatre at St. Jean’s.
from left: Joseph Mederios, Victoria Byrd, Kaitlyn Davidson, Jeremy Benton, Melanie Moore, Phillip Attmore Courtesy of York Theatre Company
The cast features Phillip Attmore (Shuffle Along, Hello, Dolly!), Jeremy Benton (42nd Street, Cagney at The York), Victoria Byrd (Peter Pan, A Chorus Line), Kaitlyn Davidson (Cinderella, Bright Star), Joseph Medeiros (Wicked, Yank! at The York), and Melanie Moore (Fiddler on the Roof; Hello, Dolly!). Standbys are Corinne Munsch and Sean Quinn.
The production showcases the songs of the late Berlin and also tell the stories behind the man who made the music that made the movies dance. Expect tunes from such classic films as Top Hat, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Holiday Inn, Easter Parade, White Christmas, and more.
The production also has scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by Nicole Wee, lighting design by Jason Kantrowitz, and sound design by Julian Evans. The production stage manager is Chris Steckel, and the casting director is Michael Cassara.
Cheek to Cheek is produced in association with Riki Kane Larimer.
Look Back at Irving Berlin and Ethel Merman in Rehearsals for Annie Get Your Gun
Look Back at Irving Berlin and Ethel Merman in Rehearsals for Annie Get Your Gun
The Broadway revival opened September 21, 1966 at the Broadway Theatre.
Save the DateTheTheatre World AwardsBoard of Directors,Dale Badway, President, has announced, today, the return to a live in-person presentation of the76th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremonythat will take place onMonday evening, June 6, 2022 beginning at 700PM. Theater venue will be announced in spring 2022.
