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Check Out Sexy, Behind-the-Scenes Portraits From Broadway Bares: XXX

Photos Check Out Sexy, Behind-the-Scenes Portraits From Broadway Bares: XXX

The 30th anniversary burlesque performance benefited Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Zach Williams, Ted Keener, Alec Varcas, Timothy Hughes, Chris Newsome, Mark Mackillop, and Alfie Parker Jr. Mati Ficara

Broadway Bares, the modern-day burlesque spectacular produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, returned to live performances June 26 with a 30th anniversary celebration titled Broadway Bares: XXX at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Laya Barak, who piloted the last live edition, Broadway Bares: Take Off in 2019, again directed with associate direction by Jonathan Lee. Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, who created the fundraiser, and Nick Kenkel, a longtime Bares director and performer, continued as executive producers.

READ: Broadway Bares: XXX Raises $1,893,715 for Broadway Cares

The one-night-only extravaganza of provocative new production numbers was inspired by the show’s three-decade run. Fourteeen choreographers drew inspiration from Bares’ titles and storylines of years past, bringing new takes to audience favorites. In addition to Barak, Kenkel, and Lee, choreographers included Al Blackstone, Jessica Castro, Chloe Davis, Armando Farfan, Richard J. Hinds, Stephanie Klemons, Sekou McMiller, Michael Lee Scott, Gabby Sorrentino, Kellen Stancil, and Andrew Turteltaub.

Check out new, behind-the-scenes photos from the evening below:

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Check Out Sexy, Behind-the-Scenes Portraits From Broadway Bares: XXX

The roster of Broadway performers who made appearances included Oscar winner and 2022 Tony Awards host Ariana DeBose, Funny Girl star Ramin Karimloo, POTUS stars Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, and Julie White; the Queens of Broadway’s SIX: The Musical, who performed the evening’s finale; Tony-winning A Strange Loop writer Michael R. Jackson; Tony winner and Broadway Bares founder Mitchell; Nathan Lee Graham; Lesli Margherita; Bonnie Milligan; Maulik Pancholy; and Jason Tam. The evening also included performers from the casts of Broadway’s Aladdin, Beetlejuice, Company, Funny Girl, Hadestown, Hamilton, The Lion King, MJ, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Music Man, POTUS, A Strange Loop, and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.

Broadway Bares: XXX was written by Hunter Bell and Troy Britton Johnson and featured lighting design by Joel Shier, scenic design by David Arsenault, and sound design by Nick Borisjuk. Production stage managers were Jereme Kyle Lewis and Johnny Milani with Sarah Helgesen as stage manager.

Broadway Bares was created in 1992 by Mitchell, then a Broadway dancer, as a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS. In Broadway Bares’ first year, Mitchell and six of his friends danced atop a New York City bar and raised $8,000 for the cause. Because of the pandemic, the last two editions of Broadway Bares were virtual presentations. Since 1988, Broadway Bares has raised more than $21 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Visit BroadwayCares.org.

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See Inside Broadway Bares XXX

Netflix’s Matilda Movie Musical to Open BFI London Film Festival

Film & TV News Netflix’s Matilda Movie Musical to Open BFI London Film Festival

The adaptation of the Tony- and Olivier-winning production stars newcomer Alisha Weir as Matilda and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Trunchbull.

Alisha Weir as Matilda Wormwood in Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Dan Smith/NETFLIX

Netflix’s screen adaptation of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin‘s Matilda The Musical will open the 66th BFI London Film Festival with an October 5 screening at the Southbank Centre in Royal Festival Hall. Filmmakers and cast are expected to be in attendance. 

The BFI premiere will be accompanied by simultaneous preview screenings at movie theatres across the U.K., all ahead of a cinema-exclusive U.K. release December 2 and the U.S. debut on Netflix expected for this holiday season.

Based on the 1988 children’s novel by Roald Dahl, the film stars Emma Thompson as Mrs. Trunchbull, Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey, Sindhu Vee as Mrs. Phelps, Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, with newcomer Alisha Weir playing the title role.

Matilda The Musical follows Matilda Wormwood, a curious young girl with dodgy and absent parents, who is encouraged by her inspiring teacher Miss Honey. But, Matilda’s excitement for attending Crunchem Hall is tampered by the discovery that the school is an oppressive place led by the evil Miss Trunchbull.

“What a delight to be opening this tremendous film festival with singing, dancing, green hair and chocolate cake,” says Tony winner Matthew Warchus, who has directed the screen adaptation after helming its stage production. “It’s a real honor to be sharing this joyful and empowering tale of a little girl’s courage and compassion at such a prestigious event.”

LOOK: Production Photos of West End’s Matilda

The Tony- and Olivier-winning theatre production was adapted for the silver screen by Kelly, with original music and lyrics by Minchin. Having served as director of both the West End and Broadway productions, Tony winner Warchus returned to direct the Netflix film. Working Title’s Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner and The Roald Dahl Story Company’s Jon Finn and Luke Kelly serve as its producers. The stage musical successfully played on stages in New York City, New Zealand, Korea, Toronto, and London’s West End, where it opened in 2011 and continues to run

The 66th BFI London Film Festival will reveal its full programming September 1, utilizing the format the festival has developed since 2020 for this year’s presentation.

Elesha Paul Moses, Caleb Roberts, More Join Cast of London’s Tina—The Tina Turner Musical June 29

London News Elesha Paul Moses, Caleb Roberts, More Join Cast of London’s Tina—The Tina Turner Musical June 29

The international hit musical continues at the Aldwych Theatre.

Elesha Paul Moses and Caleb Roberts

The hit West End production of Tina—The Tina Turner Musical welcomes several new cast members June 29 at London’s Aldwych Theatre. 

Elesha Paul Moses (Whitney: Queen of the Night) steps into the title role of rock icon Tina Turner, sharing the part with Aisha Jawando, who previously shared the role with Chanel Haynes. Caleb Roberts (Cinderella) takes over the role of Ike.

Also joining the company are Paula Kay as Tina’s mother Zelma, Charis Alexandra as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, George Jennings as Tina’s manager Roger Davies, and Cordell Mosteller as Tina’s first love Raymond. Ensemble member Kelly Hampson now plays Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam, Gregory Haney now plays Tina’s father Richard Bullock, and former ensemble member Chris Grahamson now plays record producer Phil Spector and lyricist Terry Britten. 

 READ: Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Will Close on Broadway This Summer

Irene Myrtle Forrester continues as Tina’s grandmother, and Joseph Richardson continues as record company marketing manager Erwin Bach.

Ensemble members are Megan Armstrong, Vanessa Dumatey, Thomas Sutcliffe (who plays Carpenter), Turrell Barrett-Wallace (who plays Tina’s son Ronnie), and Joey James (who plays Tina’s son Craig). The Ikettes are played by Karis Anderson, Marie Finlayson, and Natorii Illidge, and swings are Lauren Allan, Richard Appiah-Sarpong, Joshua Da Costa, Miles Anthony Daley, Livvy Evans, Imogen Rose Hart, Jaz Robinson, Brad Veitch, Saran Webb, and Samuel J Weir.

Based on the life of Grammy winner Tina Turner and produced in association with Turner, Tina—The Tina Turner Musical received its world premiere in April 2018 at the Aldwych Theatre. The Broadway production opened in 2019 and continues at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and three productions are running in Europe in Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. The North American tour will commence in Rhode Island this September.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, the musical is choreographed by Anthony van Laast with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg, and orchestrations by Ethan Popp.

Tina—The Tina Turner Musical is produced in the West End by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende, and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.