TODAY’S THEATRE TALK

Lots of News Across the Pond, Broadway . . .

 

“Andrew Scott To Star In Live-Streamed Lockdown Play ‘Three Kings’ At London’s Old Vic” by Deadline’s Tom Grater – “Andrew Scott will star in new lockdown play Three Kings, live-streamed from London’s Old Vic theatre July 29 – August 1. Stephen Beresford has written the show for [Scott].” http://bway.ly/6mf2kl

“Plan to open England’s theatres with reduced capacity ‘not viable'” by The Guardian’s Lanre Bakare – ” … industry figures said until … performances are allowed indoors and outdoors with “fuller audiences”, theatres and music venues would not be able to reopen and survive financially.” http://bway.ly/xvj7yj

 “Andrew Lloyd Webber: ‘Theatre can’t run with social distancing’” by BBC – ” … Lord Lloyd Webber said what was really needed was “a pilot where we don’t need social distancing”, and that with “very, very basic” measures in place, he believes it is possible to safely re-open venues.” http://bway.ly/akb8no

 

“Theatre workers being asked to pay back furlough contributions” by The Stage’s Giverny Masso – “The Stage understands that producers are considering asking backstage staff to sign contracts requiring them to repay employer furlough contributions … The repayment clauses could stipulate that the amount employers have paid towards furlough contributions is subtracted from workers’ wages when shows resume, and if workers do not return to the show they could be required to pay back the furlough contributions in full.” http://bway.ly/pbn1xh

“Dear Evan Hansen not to re-open in London until ‘as early as practical’ in 2021” by London Theatre Direct’s Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels – ” … due to reduced capacities and restrictions, it will not likely be practical for many shows to re-open right away. Nevertheless, Dear Evan Hansen will indubitably return to the West End stage in 2021 as soon as practical, as confirmed by the show’s production team.” http://bway.ly/0snkcp

“Open-Air Fanny and Stella to Play London This Summer” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “An open-air production of Fanny and Stella will play The Garden Theatre in London, housed in the beer garden of The Eagle, with performances beginning August 3.” http://bway.ly/1aisz5

“Don Black: Why he has you singing with the stars” by BBC’s Vincent Dowd – “Black always has new projects in prospect. “Before coronavirus I’d started work on what I think is a great idea. We were trying out a new version of Tell Me On A Sunday, the musical Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote 40 years ago and I did the lyrics for.” … The new version keeps the same basic era but makes the central character male and gay.” http://bway.ly/gb28pj

REUNION: “Jason Tam, Stephanie Hsu, Will Roland, George Salazar, More Set for Be More Chill Reunion” by Playbill’s Andrew Gans – “The Broadway Podcast Network will present a cross-continent Be More Chill reunion, featuring members of the creative team as well as actors from both the Broadway and London productions, July 22 at 9 PM ET.” http://bway.ly/zoe1j4

 

Broadway On Demand, the new streaming platform for theater devotees, is proud to announce a one-night-only LIVE streaming event, Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young’s concert from The Space in Las Vegas. This first concert in a future series of artists’ live performances, will be presented on Saturday, July 25th at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on BroadwayOnDemand.com.  John Lloyd Young was the star of the Tony Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys on Broadway and the Clint Eastwood-directed film. The special, one-night-only LIVE concert will feature a variety of music from Young’s award-winning Broadway career and as a solo artist. Live Pay Per View concert tickets are available at $30 for the concert only, and $100 for the concert and a special virtual after party. To purchase streaming tickets please visit: http://shop.broadwayondemand.com/

 

FILM: “‘Grease’ Prequel Gains Momentum At Paramount As Brett Haley Comes On As Director” by Deadline’s Justin Kroll – “Leah McKendrick penned the script with Temple Hill and Picturestart producing.” http://bway.ly/j9okk7

ONLINE: 
— “Original Rent Stars and More Set for This Week’s Stars in the House” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – http://bway.ly/633iyt
— “Five Broadway Ensemble Members to Join Michael James Scott for Roundtable Discussion” by Broadway.com‘s Caitlin Moynihan – http://bway.ly/2b0h5l

CONCERTS:
“Brian Stokes Mitchell Concert Will Benefit Berkshire Theatre Group, The Actors Fund & Black Theatre United” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – “Berkshire Theatre Group has announced that Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell is set to take the—socially distanced—stage at the Colonial Theatre for an intimate concert performance on September 5 at 8PM ET.” http://bway.ly/8cltcz

“NextGen Spotlight Concert, Hosted by Jelani Remy, to Benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – ” … which will air on July 27 at 8PM ET … ” http://bway.ly/d8t3gc

PODCAST: “Ilana Levine Launches New Podcast And the Award Goes to…” by Playbill’s Ruthie Fierberg – “The creator and host of Little Known Facts debuts her new series as an homage to the Tony Awards, starting with a Patti LuPone interview.” http://bway.ly/4zs8m8

AWARDS:
“Lynn Nottage, Heidi Schreck, More to Present at Virtual Dramatists Guild and Lilly Awards Joint Ceremony” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “Lynn Nottage, Heidi Schreck, Stephen Schwartz, and more will present at a hybrid awards ceremony July 28, combining honors from the Dramatists Guild, the Dramatists Guild Foundation, and The Lillys.” http://bway.ly/8yakcq

“Hanane Hajj Ali Named Winner of 2020 Gilder/Coigney Award” by American Theatre – http://bway.ly/hze83q

DISNEY WORLD: “As grievance talks loom, Disney sidesteps union actors by changing shows” by The Orlando Sentinel’s Matthew J. Palm – “As Walt Disney World and Actors’ Equity Association members prepare to discuss a grievance filed by the union, Disney is finding ways to work around the absent performers. … Without fanfare, Disney has debuted a revamped version of its bird show at the Animal Kingdom theme park. … A Disney employee who identifies as part of a team of animal-behavior specialists now hosts the show … ” http://bway.ly/ofrgxl