Today’s Theatre Talk

 

BROADWAY AND OFF:

BREAKING: “‘Smash’ musical aims for Broadway” by Broadway News’ Caitlin Huston – “The musical, based on the NBC television show, will feature a book by Bob Martin and Rick Elice and music from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote original songs for the television show. Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt and Neil Meron, all of whom worked on the television show, will produce the new musical. Production dates have not yet been announced. …

This adaptation, entitled “Smash, A New Musical,” will also follow the creation of “Bombshell,” but will “depart liberally from the series,” according to the press release. … Joshua Bergasse, the television show’s choreographer, who was also attached to the “Bombshell” adaptation, will return as choreographer.” http://bway.ly/jf7qa9

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY WILL LIVE STREAM LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS MAY 22-24
Theater for the New City has currently scheduled over 150 performing arts organizations, independent artists, poets, puppeteers and film makers for its 25th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, which will be mounted virtually for the first time May 22 to 24, 2020. All events and performances will be seen on the theater’s website, www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Events will stream for three days, from 6:00 PM Friday, May 22 to 11:59 PM Sunday, May 24. Attendees will be able to select disciplines and artists from the website’s online timetable and index.

On Saturday, May 23 at 8:00 PM, the festival will feature a live concert of performances by David Amram, Charles Busch, F. Murray Abraham, Penny Arcade, Phoebe Legere, Austin Pendleton and William Electric Black. Following their performances, these major Lower East Side artists will do a virtual “sit around” and discuss theater, politics and “where we go from here,” moderated by Crystal Field.

— “Show of Shows: Broadway.com Salutes the Tonys to Bring Theater Fans Together on Sunday, June 7″ by Broadway.com – “Although the 2020 Tony Awards, originally set for June 7, have been postponed, Broadway.com will pay tribute to the annual TV event with a special event on the same night. Show of Shows: Broadway.com Salutes the Tonys … will air on Sunday, June 7 at 7PM ET on Broadway.com and the Broadway.com YouTube channel.” http://bway.ly/74yoxy
— “Streaming Broadway Benefit Special Hopelessly Devoted To Scrapped Tony Night” by Deadline’s Greg Evans – “… on Sunday, June 7 at 6 pm ET. The new special, directed by Tony Award nominee Lonny Price … will stream on TonyAwards.com and BroadwayOnDemand.com.” http://bway.ly/eda5uo

LAWSUIT: “UBS Sued by Producers of ‘Bull Durham’ and ‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’ Stage Productions” by The Hollywood Reporter’s Ashley Cullins – “Producers of stage adaptations of Bull Durham and Smokey Joe’s Cafe say they were conned out of $3.5 million that was being held in accounts at UBS Bank and the financial institution failed to prevent the fraud. The companies behind the two productions … are suing UBS Financial Services and its parent Switzerland-based UBS AG Bank.” http://bway.ly/nvh1fc

FIRST IN THE BRIEFING: Aaron Grant Theatrical will present Peter Galperin in a live stream concert performance on May 26 at 8 PM to benefit National Jewish Health. The concert will feature music from Galperin’s catalog, including songs from Bulldozer: The Ballad of Robert Moses and a preview of the upcoming musical The Last of the Mannahattas.

WINDY CITY: “Will Chicago be the out-of-town tryout for all of post-COVID Broadway?” by The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Jones – “But one intriguing and realistic scenario has Chicago’s Loop entertainment scene coming back about three months before Broadway’s. In fact, one powerful Broadway producer suggested … Chicago could be a laboratory for some of the changes currently being discussed by Broadway producers — on-the-spot cleaning, safer backstage practices, avoidance of lines at bathrooms, social distancing in the lobby and reduced capacity in the seats.” http://bway.ly/fvxbga

REGIONAL:
“2020 Helen Hayes Awards Ceremony Will Go Virtual” by BroadwayWorld – ” … the Awards ceremony, which was previously postponed from May 18 to August 24, will now take place online.” http://bway.ly/503cqy

ONLINE:
— “The Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood will stream free on Friday” by Time Out’s Adam Feldman – “NBC’s smash-hit 2013 live broadcast of The Sound of Music … will stream for two days starting on Friday, May 22.” http://bway.ly/2048nf
— “92Y Lyrics & Lyricists Announces Limited Online Release of Jerry Herman: You I Like” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/oinbkk
— “Choreographer Camille A. Brown Presents Series of Free Dance Classes & Lectures Online” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – http://bway.ly/s38cq3
— “Andrew Barth Feldman to Present Virtual Celebration! Featuring Skylar Astin, Alex Boniello, Presley Ryan & More” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/dsv8tx