TODAY’S THEATRE TALK

 

And the beat goes on to see what the future of theater and more will look like when it finally returns to some normalcy. Here are some things to ponder.

 

Broadway On Demand, the new theater-focused streaming platform, is calling on performers, writers, composers, designers, technicians and other industry professionals to join their subscription series lineup by submitting pitches for anything from masterclasses, docuseries and original narratives to concerts, sketch material, and more. Show formats for pitches can be long-form or episodic but must be conducive to the streaming market. BroadwayHD.com

The Front Office will present TheFrontOffice Forum: A conversation with Rob Wiethoff and Roger Clark to benefit a theater artist relief fund currently being established. The event will feature a discussion of their lives, careers, and work on Red Dead Redemption 2.

Second Stage to present new Lynn Nottage play on Broadway” by Broadway News’ Caitlin Huston – “Nottage’s play, which is currently untitled, will be directed by Kate Whoriskey and is scheduled to play the Hayes Theater on Broadway in fall 2021. This joins the previously announced Broadway production of “Take Me Out,” which had been rescheduled for spring 2021. … Second Stage also announced the world premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s “Letters of Suresh,” directed by May Adrales, at its Off-Broadway Tony Kiser Theater in spring 2021.” http://bway.ly/ghc4y5

Off-Broadway’s Playroom Theater Has Closed Permanently” by Playbill’s Andrew Gans – “Producer Eric Krebs announced that the 62-seat venue has shut its doors due to the ongoing pandemic.” http://bway.ly/mswej0

“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Monet X Change Wants To Act In Broadway Musical To Wong Foo” by Screen Rant’s Bernardo Sim – “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 winner Monet X Change has opened up about her Broadway aspirations. Monet wants to land a role in the long-rumored musical adaptation of To Wong Foo and in the eventual revival of Rent.” http://bway.ly/4xh56h

 “Movement Theatre Announces Second Round of 1MOVE: DES19NED BY…” by American Theatre – “The second cohort, consisting of 15 designers, is dedicated to amplifying the work of Black designers and creative collaborators.” http://bway.ly/5ptshh

FESTIVAL: “Kate Bornstein, Telly Leung, and More to Star in Audible and Williamstown Theatre Festival Premiere of Shakina Nayfack Play” by Playbill’s Olivia Clement – “Rehearsals and remote recording sessions are now underway for four of the 2020 Williamstown audio productions.” http://bway.ly/ul5n73

FILM:
“Spike Lee’s Film of David Byrne’s American Utopia to Open Toronto Film Festival” by TheaterMania’s David Gordon – “Spike Lee’s film version of David Byrne’s American Utopia, which is set to air on HBO later this year, will serve as the opening-night screening of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.” http://bway.ly/1rlxu3

“Alan Menken Animated Musical ‘Spellbound’ Gets Fall 2022 Release From Paramount and Skydance” by The Wrap’s Brian Welk – ““Spellbound” is now slated for global theatrical release on Nov. 11, 2022.” http://bway.ly/za4iqx

 

“Billy Eichner To Play Paul Lynde In ‘Man In The Box’ … “ by Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr – “… Eichner and producer Tom McNulty are developing Man in the Box, a biopic based on the life of groundbreaking TV icon Paul Lynde. … They’ve optioned a script by Edwin Cannistraci, and Eichner and McNulty are currently meeting with creatives to round out the rest of the production team.” http://bway.ly/sd1yl3

TV: “Cheyenne Jackson, Madison Reyes, and More Set for Netflix Musical Series Julie and the Phantoms” by Playbill’s Olivia Clement – “The show, from director-choreographer Kenny Ortega, premieres in the fall.” http://bway.ly/n325qs

ALBUM: “Ethan Slater Releases New Three-Track EP, Titled Life Is Weird” by TheaterMania’s David Gordon – “Life Is Weird is a followup to Slater’s previous EP, Wanderer, which was released last year.” http://bway.ly/8im9z5

BENEFIT: “Patina Miller, Lynn Whitfield, Will Swenson, and More Tapped for #WhileWeBreathe Benefit” by Playbill’s Olivia Clement – “The roster of performers includes … Patina Miller … Lynn Whitfield … Alfie Fuller … Will Swenson … and … Marcus Henderson.” http://bway.ly/2mqs0p

 

REUNION: “The Broadway Cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Including Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, to Reunite Virtually” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “The Broadway cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, including Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Victoria Clark, Ann Harada, and Greg Hildreth, will gather virtually for a July 23 reunion.” http://bway.ly/by5hkj

ONLINE:
“Andrew Barth Feldman, Alex Boniello, Shereen Pimentel, Reneé Rapp to Star in Interactive Broadway Whodunit Series” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “Audiences will serve as detectives as they track down suspects in a live, unscripted performance.” http://bway.ly/r144jf

“Aeschylus’ The Persians to Stream Free From Greece’s Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus” by TheaterMania’s David Gordon – “For the first time in its history, a performance of an ancient Greek drama will be streamed live from the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.” http://bway.ly/keenxc

 

— “Jelani Alladin, Laura Benanti, Daniel J. Watts & More Will Star in Stick Fly Reading on Plays in the House” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/nfziz4

— “Jesse Eisenberg & More Set for Latest Edition of The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – http://bway.ly/42x4rb

AMERICAN THEATRE: “A Tale of Two Reopenings, With and Without the Union Label” by American Theatre’s Jerald Raymond Pierce – “With Equity approval seeming unattainable, at least for the near future, some theatres, like American Shakespeare Center … have decided to simply move forward with just their company’s non-Equity productions … (ASC has long had both an Equity and a non-Equity company). … Equity approved productions at … Barrington Stage Company and Berkshire Theatre Group … . What is the difference among these productions and these two towns? Why has Equity given the go-ahead to two companies but not the other one?” http://bway.ly/3ni8cw

ACROSS THE POND:

Beverley Knight to perform in pilot show run by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the London Palladium” by London Theatre Direct’s Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels – “… Beverley Knight … will be performing as part of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s test pilot for staging safe shows. The socially distanced performances will be held this week at the London Palladium, where Lloyd Webber was recently met by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden right before the MP unveiled a new £1.57 billion performing arts bailout scheme.” http://bway.ly/9ayiub

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical announces delayed opening in autumn 2021” by The Stage’s Giverny Masso – “Moulin Rouge! The Musical has announced it is to begin performances at the Piccadilly Theatre in autumn 2021. The musical was originally due to open in the West End in March next year, however this has now been pushed until later in the year.” http://bway.ly/bsf2s0

“Clint Dyer replaces Dominic Cooke to direct Bob Marley musical” by The Guardian’s Chris Wiegand – “Clint Dyer is to direct a new stage musical about Bob Marley after the original director, Dominic Cooke, stepped aside to acknowledge that “the conversation about race has changed in theatre, as it has across society”.” http://bway.ly/aankkf

“U.K. and Ireland Tour of Grease Will Now Launch in January 2021” by Playbill’s Andrew Gans – “The ’50s-themed musical was originally set to tour in 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus.” http://bway.ly/o5bxva