Mayor Bill de Blasiostopped by theDrama Book Shopto honor the bookstore and declare October 26, 2021 Drama Book Shop Day. Co-ownerLin-Manuel Mirandawas at the store to receive the proclamation from the Mayor, speak on the importance of getting vaccinated and encourage the community to shop locally to support small businesses.
Windows, a new play written by Tawni O’Dell, adapted from the highly acclaimed top-rated audio drama Closing the Distance, has announced that it will make its Broadway premiere next Spring.
Read on for more theatre headlines you may have missed in today’s news.
Emily Bookwalter and Shariffa Ali Join The New Group
The Off-Broadway theatre company, led by founding Artistic Director Scott Elliott and Executive Director Adam Bernstein, is welcoming two new staff members in two newly created positions: Emily Bookwalter as director of external affairs and Shariffa Ali as director of artistic projects. Bookwalter, who comes most recently from Roulette Intermedium, will work with development and marketing at The New Group with the goal of increasing its profile, brand awareness, and philanthropic support within the New York and national theatre communities. Ali will work directly with Elliott and Associate Artistic Director Ian Morgan on shaping and expanding The New Group’s artistic network and literary development activities. Ali has previously worked as an administrator at The New Group, as well as at The Public Theater. Other recent hires and staffing changes include Chris Kam as director of marketing, Rachel Spitz-Lieberman promoted to manager of institutional giving, Nick Bosanko as manager of ticketing and audience services, and Ruth Hollander as business manager.
Comedian Alex Edelman to Perform Solo Show Just For Us
Alex Edelman will make his New York stage debut in the U.S. premiere of his latest solo show Just For Us at the Cherry Lane Theatre. In the piece, Edelman tells the story of how he responded to anti-Semitic online abuse by covertly attending a gathering of white nationalists in New York City. Directed by Adam Brace and presented by Mike Birbiglia (The New One), the show is set to begin previews on December 1 with an official opening night on December 8.
Live and In Color Schedules Reading of New Musical Within Elsewhere
The BIPOC new works Incubator Live and In Color has announced plans to offer a live staged reading of Within Elsewhere, a new musical with a book by Joshua Betancourt and music and lyrics by Trent Jeffords. The story follows the journey of two siblings as they cope with the tragic loss of their youngest brother. Devanand Janki directs a cast that includes Juan Danner, Arjun Dhawan, Catherine Gloria, Gabriella Mancuso, Nick Martinez, Gabriela Cristina Rivera, Lily Talevski, and Sebastian Treviño. Performances will take place October 30 and 31 at 2:30 PM at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in NYC.
Prospect Theater Company Fall Concerts
Prospect Theater Company will be at Symphony Space with fall concert events. Relaunching Prospect’s Ignite series of works-in-progress, the one-night-only Reignite concert on October 26 will feature new songs Isabella Dawis and Tidtaya Sinutoke (Half the Sky), Tia DeShazor and Derrick Byars (The Pact), Cheryl L. Davis and Douglas J. Cohen (Don’t Stay Safe), Mindi Dickstein and Carmel Dean (Maiden Voyage), David Gomez and John-Michael Lyles (Shoot for the Moon), Timothy Huang (Peter and the Wave), Joriah Kwamé (How To You), Christine Toy Johnson and Jason Ma (Broken Ground), Stacey Luftig and Phillip Palmer (Amelia and Me), Or Matias and Etai Benson (Once I Was), Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon (Express), Eric Price and Will Reynolds (The Violet Hour), Jesse J. Sanchez (Sueños), Katya Stanislavskaya (The Poorhouse Project), and Paulo K Tiról (Called). On November 17, the company will present Rule of Three, an evening of new works generated in its annual Musical Theater Lab. For more information or ticketing, visit ProspectTheater.org.
Plus, Billy Porter, the Emmy-, Grammy-, Tony-winning performer turned author, will also be stopping by Symphony Space on November 3 to read from and discuss Unprotected, his new memoir about race, sexuality, and art. This event has been rescheduled from October 19. A handful of additional stage favorites appear in the venue’s upcoming roster; click here for more information.
Meet Myles Frost. He’s a Washington, D.C. who enjoys school musicals, playing golf, and spending time with family. Earlier this year, it was announced that he’ll star as the King of Pop when MJ the Musical it opens on Broadway later this season. Check out his story in the first episode of the show’s new docuseries Startin’ Somethin’ above.
MJ, inspired by the life and art of Michael Jackson, will begin previews December 6 at the Neil Simon Theatre ahead of a February 1, 2022, opening night. The bio-musical features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and a score comprised of familiar pop hits. Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs.
As previously announced, the cast will also feature Quentin Earl Darrington as Joseph Jackson and Rob, with Whitney Bashor as Rachel, Gabriel Ruiz as Alejandro, Antoine L. Smith as Berry Gordy and Nick, Joey Sorge as Dave, John Edwards as Jackie Jackson, Ayana George as Katherine Jackson, Apollo Levine as Quincy Jones and Tito Jackson, Tavon Olds-Sample as Michael, Lamont Walker II as Jermaine Jackson, and Zelig Williams as Marlon Jackson.
Rounding out the ensemble are Raymond Baynard, Kali May Grinder, Oyoyo Joi, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Renni Anthony Magee, Aaron James McKenzie, Aramie Payton, Kamille Upshaw, Ryan VanDenBoom, and Darius Wright.
Frost landed the title role after Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes left citing scheduling conflicts. “All of his talents point towards a new rising star. I’m very much looking forward to working with him to shape the role of Michael Jackson,” Wheeldon said in a statement at the time.
The production will feature sets by Derek McLane, lighting by Natasha Katz, costumes by Paul Tazwell, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini, and hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe, music direction by Jason Michael Webb, musical supervision by David Holcenberg, and orchestrations by Holcenberg and Webb. Casting is by Rachel Hoffman of Telsey + Company.
The Broadway productions ofIs This A RoomandDana H.will conclude their limited engagement on Sunday, November 14 at BroadwaysLyceum Theatre149 W 45thStreet, New York, NY.Dana H.will play its final performance at 2pm on Saturday November 13, 2021.Is This A Roomwill play its final performance at 3pm on Sunday November 14, 2021.
Douglas Carter Beane’s Fairycakes opens October 24 Off-Broadway at the Greenwich House Theater after starting previews October 14. The send-up of A Midsummer Night’s Dream pairs up characters from different fairy tales as they fall in love—and into mischief.
As previously announced, Fairycakes stars Mo Rocca as Geppetto, Kristolyn Lloyd as Peaseblossom, Sabatino Cruz as Pinocchio, Jackie Hoffman as Moth, Kuhoo Verma as Cinderella, Z Infante as Cobweb, Ann Harada as Musterseed, Jamen Nanthakumar as Changeling, Julie Halston as Titania/Elizabeth, Arnie Burton as Oberon/Dirk, Chris Myers as Puck, and Jason Tam as Prince/Cupid.
Directed by Beane, the production features scenic design by Shoko Kambara and Adam Crinson, costume design by Gregory Gale, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, and music contributions by Lewis Flinn. Ellenore Scott choreographs and serves as associate director.
For more information, go to FairycakesThePlay.com.