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Tony Award Winner La MaMa ETC 2018-2019 Season: Zombie Asian Moms, Stonewall at 50, Asylum Seekers, the NEA, Puppets!

June 20, 2018 Leave a comment

Kink Haus
Kink Haus
Zombie Asian Moms
Zombie Asian Moms
Exodus_Theatre-d-un-jour
Following-The-Milky Way-Marina Celander-PhotoWaldemart Klyuzko_2834

La Mama ETC, Off-Off Broadway’s only Tony-winning theater, has announced a 57th season that features more than 50 premieres, dizzyingly eclectic as usual, including a 50th anniversary celebration of the Stonewall Riots, a month-long international puppet series, an investigation into the history of the National Endowment for the Arts, a look at Zombie Asian Moms and Kink Haus, a brutal but funny sexual underground, as well as an evening inspired by the poet William Butler Yeats.

In case you missed La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club’s inventive 2018 Tony Award acceptance speech (it wasn’t televised):

(For a video of their remarkable history, see below)

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Filed under New York Theater, Off-Off Broadway, Preview Guide

Free Broadway in Bryant Park Concerts Summer 2018 Schedule

June 20, 2018 Leave a comment

On The Town at Bryant Park
On The Town at Bryant Park
PrincessBroadwayinBryantPark2014
WoodstockyvieweratBryantPark
Zach Braff and Nick Cordero perform from Bullets Over Broadway in Bryant Park shortly before the show closes on Broadway
Zach Braff and Nick Cordero perform from Bullets Over Broadway in Bryant Park shortly before the show closes on Broadway
TellyLeunginBryantPark
BryantPark1AveQ
TracesinBryantParkJuly282011
Rachelle Ann Go and Eva Noblezada in 2017 Broadway in Bryant Park concert
Rachelle Ann Go and Eva Noblezada in 2017 Broadway in Bryant Park concert

For the 18th year in a row, Bryant Park is the site of free lunchtime concerts by cast members of current Broadway (and some Off-Broadway) shows  on Thursdays in July and August between 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. This year’s offerings include Tony-sweeper The Band’s Visit on July 26 and an all-Disney Broadway program on August 2.

Here is the schedule for this summer:

July 12
Co-Host(s):Catherine Russell and the cast of “Perfect Crime”
“Chicago”, “SpongeBob SquarePants”, “Stomp”, “Waitress”
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Filed under New York Theater, Preview, song, video

Broadway 2018-2019 Season Preview Guide

June 15, 2018 Leave a comment

The new Broadway season is shaping up into something familiar — lavish revivals, jukebox musicals, musical adaptations of movies, a musical about a diva and about a giant ape — but also some serious plays – two about racism, two that involve homophobia, two about journalism – and some eclectic offerings not as easily classified

Below is a list of Broadway shows in the 2018-2019 season, with each title linked to the shows’ websites when available. This list is organized chronologically by opening date and only includes shows that as of now have an opening date and a theater. More is to come; much will be changed.
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Filed under Broadway, New York Theater, Preview Guide

There ARE Straight Plays on Broadway. Ask Kerry Washington and Daniel Radliffe. Tony Recap. The Week in NY Theater

June 12, 2018 Leave a comment

Kerry Washing will star on Broadway in "American Son"
Kerry Washing will star on Broadway in “American Son”

Daniel Radcliffe will star in Lifespan of a Fact

There ARE straight plays on Broadway, contrary to the impression left by the 2018 Tony Awards, which showcased only the musicals. Maybe not a Scandal exactly, but Kerry Washington can set them straight. She is in one of the two new plays that were announced this past week for the new Broadway season, both with starry casts and intriguing premises. (See The Week in New York News, below)

But it’s hard to complain too much about an awards show that hono43e the drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who had shielded her students from the mass shooter on Valentine’s Day, and then featured her students singing “Seasons of Love” from Rent. At the same time (and perhaps not coincidentally), the Tony voters ignored a flashy musical that stereotyped high school students.

s.

The Tonys also went big for a little show. The day after, three different people told me that they had never heard of The Band’s Visit. Here are seven photographs, three videos and my rave.    Read more of this post

Filed under New York Theater, New York Theater Weekly Summary Tagged with , , , ,

The 10 Best Moments in the 2018 Tony Awards: From Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students singing “Seasons of Love’ to Nathan Lane rejecting the goat

June 11, 2018 Leave a comment

My favorite moments in the 72nd Tony Award broadcast were moving, inspiring, funny and weird.  Click on any of the photographs to read the captions explaining the moment.Videos below.

1. The drama students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, singing "Seasons of Love" from Rent, right after the Tony for Excellence in Theater Education was given to their drama teacher, Melody Herzfeld, who sheltered 65 students in her office for two hours during the mass shooting on Valentine's Day.
1. The drama students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, singing “Seasons of Love” from Rent, right after the Tony for Excellence in Theater Education was given to their drama teacher, Melody Herzfeld, who sheltered 65 students in her office for two hours during the mass shooting on Valentine’s Day.
2. "I'm one of the oldest ever to have stood on this platform receiving this award, but what a thrill to be in the same house as those amazing children..."-- Glenda Jackson, in her acceptance speech
2. “I’m one of the oldest ever to have stood on this platform receiving this award, but what a thrill to be in the same house as those amazing children…”– Glenda Jackson, in her acceptance speech
3. Bruce Springsteen reminiscing about his hometown while accompanying himself on the piano, before singing “My Hometown.”
3. Bruce Springsteen reminiscing about his hometown while accompanying himself on the piano, before singing “My Hometown.”
4. "Omar Sharif," the musical number selected from The Band's Visit. Sometimes less is more, even on a a televised awards show
4. “Omar Sharif,” the musical number selected from The Band’s Visit. Sometimes less is more, even on a a televised awards show
5. "When I moved to NYC, I was told to change my last name from Mendez to Matthew so that I could get work. I'm so proud to be part of a community that celebrates diversity and individuality..."- Lindsay Mendez, in her Tony acceptance speech
5. “When I moved to NYC, I was told to change my last name from Mendez to Matthew so that I could get work. I’m so proud to be part of a community that celebrates diversity and individuality…”- Lindsay Mendez, in her Tony acceptance speech
6. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Chita Rivera, each winners of lifetime achievement Tony Awards, for which we were shown clips from their careers.
6. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Chita Rivera, each winners of lifetime achievement Tony Awards, for which we were shown clips from their careers.
7. Tony Kushner acceptance speech: We have 21 weeks to save our democracy (That's the midterm elections)And what kind of homosexual would I be if I didn't say Happy Birthday Judy Garland.
7. Tony Kushner acceptance speech: We have 21 weeks to save our democracy (That’s the midterm elections)And what kind of homosexual would I be if I didn’t say Happy Birthday Judy Garland.
8. “We are all sacred, and we all belong,So let’s just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked.” -- the end of a long, emotional acceptance speech by Andrew Garfield, who dedicated his award for Angels in America to the countless LGBTQ people who have fought and died to protect" the "spirit..that says no to oppression."
8. “We are all sacred, and we all belong,So let’s just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked.” — the end of a long, emotional acceptance speech by Andrew Garfield, who dedicated his award for Angels in America to the countless LGBTQ people who have fought and died to protect” the “spirit..that says no to oppression.”
9. After winning the Tony Award for directing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,John Tiffany led the audience at Radio City Musical Hall in singing Happy Birthday to his boyfriend David.
9. After winning the Tony Award for directing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,John Tiffany led the audience at Radio City Musical Hall in singing Happy Birthday to his boyfriend David.
10. Nathan Lane is unfriendly to the goat from Once on this Island. The 72nd annual Tony Award was surely the first to feature both a fake reindeer and a live goat.
10. Nathan Lane is unfriendly to the goat from Once on this Island. The 72nd annual Tony Award was surely the first to feature both a fake reindeer and a live goat.

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Filed under Awards, Moment on stage, New York Theater, Theater on TV

2018 Tony Award Winners: The Band’s Visit Sweeps. Harry Potter, Angels in America win..

June 10, 2018 Leave a comment

bands visit logo updated
Angels in AmericaPerestroika
Brian Abraham and company
Brian Abraham and company
Once on this Island 9

The Band’s Visit won best musical, and a total of 10 of the 11 awards for which it was nominated, at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won best play and five other Tonys; Angels in America won best play revival and two others; and Once on the Island won best musical revival.

Below is the complete list of the winners in the 26 competitive categories  in red with an asterisk*

(Highlighted show titles link to further information. Also listed are my personal preferences — not predictions

Best Musical

Nominated:

The Band’s Visit
Frozen
Mean Girls
SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical

My preference: The Band’s Visit

*Winner: The Band’s Visit

(l-r) Tony Shalhoub and Katrina Lenk in The Band’s Visit

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Filed under Awards, New York Theater

2018 Tony Awards Cheat Sheet

June 10, 2018 Leave a comment

The American Theatre Wing’s 72nd Annual Tony Awards, with hosts Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles, will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS  tonight, Sunday, June 10, 2017 from 8:00 to 11:00 PM, Eastern Time. Here’s a preview guide..
How to Watch
Why Watch
Scheduled Performances
Scheduled Presenters
What to Look For
Nominations and Special Awards

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Filed under Awards, New York Theater, Preview Guide, Theater on TV

What Broadway Shows Should I See? Top 10 Suggestions

June 9, 2018 Leave a comment

Now is the time when interest in Broadway is at its peak, piqued by the annual three-hour TV commercial for Broadway known as the Tony Awards broadcast.

I regularly get asked for recommendations, especially from out-of-towners planning a trip to New York. When I try to explore the person’s tastes, they typically say to me “I just want you to pick the shows for me.” So here are ten, Read more of this post

Filed under Broadway, List, New York Theater, Preview Guide, Tickets Tagged with

Fruit Trilogy Review: Eve Ensler Raging Against Female Exploitation, Reveling in Female Pleasure

June 8, 2018 Leave a comment

These three new short plays written by Eve Ensler about women and the use and abuse of their bodies arrive on stage just four months after her last play, In the Body of the World , turned me into a fan. I  was impressed in that earlier play by the sharpness of her insights and the humor of their delivery;  engaged in the specificity of her rage; both taken aback and riveted by her candor.
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Filed under New York Theater, Off-Broadway Tagged with

2018 Tony Award Winners — Who Should Win

June 7, 2018 Leave a comment

Below are my preferences — not my predictions — for the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. See my article in DC Theatre Scene for an explanation for each of my choices.

Best Musical

Nominated:

The Band’s Visit
Frozen
Mean Girls
SpongeBob SquarePants, The Broadway Musical

My preference: The Band’s Visit

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Filed under Awards, Broadway, List, New York Theater

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