Viola Davis (Photo Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

 

On Sunday, July 19, Jamie deRoy & friends presents a special interview with Two Time Tony Award Winner William Finn, filmed in 2007 at The Metropolitan Room.  He is best known for his musicals, which include Falsettos, for which he won the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book, A New Brain (1998) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005).

From the 2016 Broadway revival of Falsettos the cast performs “The Baseball Game.” They include Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Anthony Rosenthal, Tracie Thoms, Brandon Uranowitz and Betsy Wolfe. The show was filmed and is currently streaming www.BroadwayHD.com

There are  appearances by Wendy Scherl singing “Anytime/I Am There” from Elegies: A Song Cycle and Sally Wilfert “I Have Found” from The Royal Family of Broadway. A special thank you to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Broadway HD for permission to use the clip from Falsettos. Jamie deRoy & friends is directed by Barry Kleinbort and videotaped by Russell Bouthiller. 

CD Releases – Digital Downloads:

Ghostlight Records has announced that Rags – The Musical: Original London Cast Recording is available on CD online and in stories today, Friday, July 17. The album was released in digital and streaming formats earlier this year. The new album – based on the revised London production that played to sold out houses earlier this year – is the first recording of this highly-praised new version of this ravishing score. Rags – featuring a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), revised book by David Thompson, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and music by Charles Strouse (Annie) – is a sweeping saga of America’s immigrant past, celebrating the multicultural music which was filling the streets of New York in 1910. This heart-warming and powerful tale follows a group of Jewish immigrants as they arrive to start a new life in America. Fresh from Ellis Island, a young mother and her son search for a new life and a sense of home as the 20th century beckons. The streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side may not be paved with gold, but they echo with the music of opportunity, optimism and hope.

To order or stream Rags visit ghostlightrecords.lnk.to/rags

Kim David Smith

The new album Kim David Smith: Live at Joe’s Pub is available on digital and streaming platforms, in addition to a physical CD, today Friday, July 17. The provocative Australian singer and performer – hailed as “slyly subversive” by The Wall Street Journal, “a male Marlene Dietrich” by The New York Times, and the “David Bowie of cabaret” by BroadwayWorld.com – was nominated for the Helpmann Award, Australia’s highest honor for the performing arts. For Smith’s first live album, his musical devotion to the glitter, doom, and decadence of Weimar-era Berlin subtly intertwines Friedrich Hollaender and Kurt Weill with The Supremes, Kylie Minogue, sultry ‘80s pop confections, classic standards, art songs, and bracing new numbers.  The album features music direction, piano, and backing vocals by Tracy Stark, in addition to Skip Ward on bass. Jeremy Katz and Clay Mills serve as executive producers. For more information on the album or to purchase the CD, visit KimDavidSmith.com

 

Benefit: I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick with Andrew Rally, (Jordan Feltner) has it all, a successful TV career, a devoted girlfriend, (Kate McMorran) a glamorous agent (Christa Trinler) the perfect NYC apartment, all is well until John Barrymore, (Robert Lloyd) appears, and then all hell breaks loose.

Episode one: Friday, July 24 @ 7:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8ogIpTIRwc&feature=youtu.be

Episode two: Saturday, July 25 @ 7:30 pm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32M6GWHLAzw&feature=youtu.be

Benefit for Voice Theatre “So we can open when the time comes ”  – Donate: https://voicetheatre.org/support-us/

 

NEWS AND NOTES

LEGALLY BROADWAY: “The Show Must Go On: Legal Issues Affecting Broadway Amid COVID-19” by Law.com‘s Matthew Windman – “While the 41 theaters of Broadway remain dark, the New York theater community has been left to grapple with challenging legal issues relating to governmental directives, contracts, insurance coverage, refunds, presenting live and prerecorded content on the internet, and what health and safety measures will be needed once the theaters can reopen. Existing contracts will likely be closely scrutinized as to whether payment or performance is excusable under a force majeure clause or some other common law defense such as impossibility or frustration of purpose.” http://bway.ly/5zbx3fREGIONAL:
“‘Hamilton’ Won’t Get Its Shot At Los Angeles Until Next Spring” by Deadline’s Greg Evans – “The Los Angeles production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton won’t be arriving at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre until next April, more than a year after its originally scheduled premiere.” http://bway.ly/51a5yd“Cincinnati Theatres Jointly Announce Delayed Seasons” by American Theatre – ” … Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati have released a joint announcement delaying the start of their 2020-21 seasons … ” http://bway.ly/tex4q4

 

“New Generation Theatrical Will Present an Immersive Production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 in Spring 2021” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/1nltv9

FESTIVAL: “New Ohio’s 2020 Ice Factory Festival to Be Completely Virtual” by Playbill’s Olivia Clement – “Broadcast online over four weeks, the Obie-winning festival will feature four new works, including the inaugural production from Society and the musical A Burning Church.” http://bway.ly/cl471q

BLACK THEATRE UNITED: “Viola Davis, Stacey Abrams and More Lead Next Black Theatre United Event on July 24” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – “The virtual town hall will be a conversation between … Viola Davis, Fair Fight & Fair Count founder Stacey Abrams and Fair Count Vice President Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean.” http://bway.ly/jt7m8l

Frozen – West End (photo Deen van Meer)

 

ACROSS THE POND: “West End Frozen Announces Complete Cast and New Opening Night” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “The West End production of Frozen … will now open April 14, 2021. Starring … Stephanie McKeon as Anna and … Samantha Barks as Elsa, the Disney Theatricals musical begins performances April 2 at the newly restored Theatre Royal Drury Lane.” http://bway.ly/ixne00