Read on for some recent theatre headlines you may have missed in today’s news.
Live at the Lortel Interview Series Announces January Lineup of Guests The virtual conversation series hosted by Eric Ostrow with co-hosts Joy DeMichelle, John-Andrew Morrison, and Daphne Rubin-Vega will welcome director Whitney White and actor Peter Mark Kendall (creators of Capsule) on January 4, 2021, playwright and actor Anna Deavere Smith January 11, Phillipa Soo (Hamilton, Amélie) January 25, and Krysta Rodriguez (Spring Awakening, First Date) February 1. The live interviews take place at 7 PM ET, with podcast episodes released the following week. For more information or to join live, click here.
His Dark Materials Renewed for Third Season BBC One and HBO have ordered a third season for the television series based on the Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials book series. The third season will complete the trilogy with series following the final novel, The Amber Spyglass. Showrunner Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) are writers are currently working on scripts, with filming expected to begin in spring 2021. Season 2, which features Lin-Manuel Miranda as a series regular, concludes on HBO December 28. The fantasy series stars Dafne Keene as Lyra, a brave young woman from another world on a quest to find her kidnapped friend.
Marty & Marissa Remind Us That “Puppies are Forever, Not Just for Christmas” Marty Thomas (Wicked, Xanadu, The Secret Garden) and Marissa Rosen have released a music video for their cover of Sia’s “Puppies Are Forever,” a track on their recent album Marty & Marissa: The Award Winning Holiday Album. Look for cameos from some Broadway favorites and their best friends, including Kristin Chenoweth, Jessica Vosk, Alex Brightman, Lesli Margherita, Andy Karl and Orfeh, and more.
And while we have you, take a listen to this sweet and timely song from composer/music director Caleb Hoyer, titled “At Least There’s Christmas,” as performed by Broadway alum Mary Callanan (Bandstand, Mamma Mia!). Have a safe holiday!
Tony winner Lea Salonga and Telly Leung, who co-starred in the Broadway musical Allegiance, reunited virtually to cover the George Michael holiday tune, “Last Christmas.”
Watch the duet above.
The duo is backed by arranger Larry Yurman on keyboards, Jack Cavari on guitar, Kevin Axt on bass, and Sean McDaniel on drums. Christopher Hewitt mixed and mastered the recording, and the video was created by Olivia Oguma.
Salonga, who shot to fame in the original London and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon—winning Tony and Olivier Awards for her performance as the ill-fated Kim—was most recently on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island at Circle in the Square Theatre, while her other Main Stem credits include Les Misérables, Flower Drum Song, and Allegiance.
Leung, who played a 20-month run in the title role of Disney’s Aladdin, has also been seen on Broadway in the new musicals In Transit and Allegiance, the revivals of Flower Drum Song and Pacific Overtures, and the final Broadway company of Rent.
Lea Salonga, George Takei, Telly Leung Bring “Gaman” to Broadway in First Pics From Allegiance!
As the temporary shutdown of Broadway and theatres around the world continues, Playbill is reaching out to artists to see how they are physically and creatively responding to a changed world.
The series continues with Ali Ewoldt, the first Asian-American actor to play Christine Daaé in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera. She has also been seen on the Main Stem in The King and I and Les Misérables, while her other theatrical credits include Anne of Green Gables: Part I, The Fantasticks, and West Side Story: In Concert.
Ewoldt can currently be seen as Rose Smith in Irish Repertory Theatre’s Meet Me in St. Louis: A Holiday Special in Song and on Screen, which is available for streaming through January 2, 2021. For more information click here.
What is your typical day like now? Oof, it really depends! Definitely one of the challenges of this time has been a lack of consistent routine. I try to do an online yoga class (thank you, Yoga with Adriene!) once a day. I have my wonderful dog/fur-child Mia Belle to take care of, so we walk at least three, if not four times a day. We live close to Riverside Park, so it has been lovely seeing the seasons change. Oftentimes I’ll have some sort of video to put on tape, and that requires a lot of rearranging my studio apartment to set up, so that can take some time. And, I’ve been spending great amounts of time texting/calling/Zooming/Face Timing/etc. with friends and family or seeing them outside in person if possible. Also, a lot of Netflix.
What book/TV show/podcast/film should everyone take the time to consume during this period? There is so much wonderful content out there. It’s so baffling to me that we as artists have to keep insisting that our work is essential while just about everyone has used art to try to stay sane during this challenging period. It’s not new, but if you haven’t seen 13th on Netflix, please do so immediately. I’ve recently been enjoying I May Destroy You, The Crown (season 4), Schitt’s Creek, The Great British Baking Show, and Dash & Lily, just to name a few. I recently read Untamed by Glennon Doyle, which was incredible. Podcast-wise, I’ve been enjoying Code Switch, The Daily, and my personal dorky favorite, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me.
During this time of reflection and re-education regarding BIPOC artists and artistry, particularly in the theatre, what do you want people (those in power, fellow actors, audiences) to be aware of? What do you want them to consider further? I would love all of us to continue to examine what we think it means to “be American” and how all of our biases inform those thoughts. For example, should I not be considered an “all-American type” because even though I was born and raised here, my mom immigrated from the Philippines? And then to think about how these biases (many of which can be unintentional) reflect how we cast people in shows and what stories we are willing to tell. And then to realize that if we expand this casting and these stories to better reflect the people of this country (and the world) that we could create even more incredible theatre and art that could make the parts of our population that have been historically under-represented feel included and inspired.
What advice would you give to someone who may be struggling with the isolation and/or the current unrest? This is a very difficult time—there is no shame in struggling right now, and there is no one correct way to deal with a global pandemic. Try not to compare yourselves with the curated lives others are posting on social media. And, please reach out to loved ones or professionals if you need help. You are not alone.
Ali Ewoldt Courtesy of the Phantom of the Opera
How, if at all, are you keeping your creative juices flowing? Has that been helpful to you? I find that my creativity and bandwidth to do projects comes in spurts these days. I spent four months at my parents’ house (the house I grew up in) in Westchester County from March to July, and while I was there I felt inspired to do creative projects for my sanity. I organized our entire block to do a Les Misérables sing-a-along and drove all over town to sing with local performers and friends. Lately, I’ve been channeling my creativity into making traditional Filipino Christmas decorations with friends over Zoom!
Are you working on any theatrical projects during this time? I recently completed a 10-day shoot of Meet Me in St. Louis with Irish Repertory Theatre from home! It was a brand-new experience for all of us and quite the adventure. The Irish Rep provided us with green screens and lighting/sound equipment, and we listened to our directors and fellow actors over Zoom while imagining them in the space around us. The cast was absolutely incredible, the company was so kind and generous, and it was quite heartwarming to be telling such a classic, optimistic story during this time. While it’s not quite the theatre we all are accustomed to, I am very grateful to have done something theatrical during this time!
What organization would you recommend people learn more about or donate to during this time of change? Oh goodness, there are so many! The Okra Project and Southern Poverty Law Center are wonderful. I just volunteered with God’s Love We Deliver through BC/EFA, which was wonderful. And, I’m a Broadway Ambassador for Broadway’s Babies, which is doing the incredible work of bringing music education to children who otherwise would not have access, from New York City to Haiti to India and beyond!
Spend a Two-Show Day With Ali Ewoldt in Phantom of the Opera
Spend a Two-Show Day With Ali Ewoldt in Phantom of the Opera
See what it’s like to do a double-duty day at the Majestic theatre.
38 PHOTOS
Hello! Ali Ewoldt here. As you can see from this photo, Mia Belle (my pup) and I aren’t really morning people…but a two-show Thursday awaits, so we’re getting up…I promise… Ali Ewoldt
First order of business: taking Mia for a walk in beautiful Riverside Park. Ali Ewoldt
Breakfast of champions! The battle against allergies and sickness is real, folks. Also, RX Bars are awesome! Ali Ewoldt
I usually warm up in my bathroom because of the acoustics…though I’m usually not taking selfies while I do it… Ali Ewoldt
The Strand kiosk is my oasis in Times Square- most of their books are 50% off! I manage to resist the temptation today, but there’s always tomorrow… Ali Ewoldt
And here we are on 44th Street, with our awesome neighbors Hello, Dolly! and Anastasia. Ali Ewoldt
It has always been a dream of mine to have a picture outside of a Broadway house! Here are Rodney Ingram and I looking wistful. Ali Ewoldt
Stage door, here I come! The blue doors on the left lead to the Jacobs Theater and the Red doors on the right lead to our theater, the Majestic. My dressing room is the window on the second floor, so I can often hear what goes on in the Jacobs. Since I’ve joined Phantom, I’ve had the privilege of listening to both Cynthia Erivo and Laura Osnes sing their incredible eleven o’clock numbers (from Color Purple and Bandstand respectively)!! Ali Ewoldt
Our fabulous stage managers Greg Livoti, Jim Athens and Jillian Oliver chat with our publicist, Michael Borowski, and prep posters to sell for BC/EFA. Ali Ewoldt
In my dressing room and ready for my second breakfast, a “chia pod” and a yummy ginger drink. The dolls at my station are fan presents from past shows: Cosette from Les Misérables and Minnie Mouse dressed as Maria from West Side Story. Ali Ewoldt
