DOES HAMILTON GLORIFY SLAVERY?
(Source: ABC NEWS and other sources carried this discussion)
"Hamilton," the critically acclaimed musical that collected a whopping 11 Tony Awards, is available for streaming now on Disney+. However, not everyone is excited about the news.
Shortly after it was announced the stage production would be added to the streamer's catalog, critics hopped on social media claiming the musical, created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, glorifies slave owners.
From those intense discussions, the trending #CancelHamilton hashtag was born on Twitter. While there is no evidence that Alexander Hamilton himself owned slaves, critics say he was complicit with the slave trade by befriending slave owners and marrying a woman from a slave-owning family, Elizabeth Schuyler.
Eventually, Miranda weighed in on the discussion about whether or not the musical is problematic. The 40-year-old joined the debate after "Another Round" podcast co-host Tracy Clayton defended the production by calling it "a flawed play about flawed people written by an imperfect person."
She argued that "Hamilton the play and the movie were given to us in two different worlds," adding that the discussions demonstrate "a clear sign of change."
Following Clayton's remarks, Miranda responded to her sentiments but didn't absolve his musical of all wrongdoings.
"All the criticisms are valid," the "In the Heights" creator tweeted on Monday. "The sheer tonnage of complexities & failings of these people I couldn’t get. Or wrestled with but cut. I took 6 years and fit as much as I could in a 2.5-hour musical."
Overall, he made it clear that he welcomes all forms of debate. "Did my best," he concluded. "It’s all fair game."
In a NPR interview last month, Miranda acknowledged Hamilton's involvement with slavery.
"Hamilton — although he voiced anti-slavery beliefs — remained complicit in the system," he told Terry Gross. "And other than calling out Jefferson on his hypocrisy with regards to slavery in Act 2, doesn't really say much else over the course of Act 2. And I think that's actually pretty honest. ... He didn't really do much about it after that."
"None ofthem did. None of them did enough," Miranda added. "And we say that, too, in the final moments of the song. So that hits differently now because we're having a conversation, we're having a real reckoning of how do you uproot an original sin."
Lin-Manuel Miranda weighs in on 'valid' criticism that 'Hamilton' glorifies slave owners originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com
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CLEVELANDERS DISAPPOINTED AS SHAW FESTIVAL CANCELS ALL AUGUST PERFORMANCES
Many Clevelanders travel to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada each spring, summer and fall to attend the Shaw Festival nestled in the prettiest little city in Canada.
Unfortunately, The Shaw has released this message: “The Shaw Festival is forced to cancel all public events and performances scheduled in August due to the extension of the Province of Ontario’s Emergency Orders and the continuation of the State of Emergency in the Province and Niagara. In discussion with and under the guidance of The Shaw’s insurer, it has become clear that scheduled performances cannot proceed as originally planned.”
"While we are disappointed with these further cancellations, we are focusing our energy on planning for the future so that we can safely welcome audiences back to our theatres, hopefully in September – even if in a more limited way," said Tim Jennings, Executive Director/CEO. "In the meantime, we continue to stay in touch with our patrons through a number of digital and other initiatives and thank you all for your support."
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LORRAINE HANSBERRY’S LES BLANCS, STREAMING ON YOUTUBE
National Theatre's 2016 production of Lorraine Hansberry's Les Blancs, starring Danny Sapani, Gary Beadle, and Tunji Kasim, streams as National Theatre at Home’s series of rebroadcasts continues. The play confronts the hope and tragedy of revolution when a family and a post-colonial African nation fall apart under the pressure to determine their own identity.
The stream is available on National Theatre’s YouTube. It will remain free to watch on demand through 2 PM ET July 29.
For information go to
https://www.playbill.com/article/lorraine-hansberrys-les-blancs-begins-streaming-july-2
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ON-LINE TRYOUTS FOR SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD!
The Millennial Theatre Company is proud to announce our upcoming virtual production of Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World!
This show will be rehearsed and recorded as a new, innovative online format throughout the months of July and August and will debut online sometime this fall.
Auditions for this cast of 15+ are open now! Simply email your musical video audition to millennialtheatrecompany@gmail.com today for your chance to join this exciting project! Seeking actors ages 16+. Please select a song in the style of the show, paying particular attention to how you can sell the story of the song through your performance. All rehearsals will be held online.
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AMERICAN SON STREAMS ON NETFLIX
Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, Jeremy Jordan, and Eugene Leereprise their Broadway roles in American Son, the story of an interracial couple anxiously awaiting word of their son's whereabouts while dealing with a racist cop in a police station. Tony winner Kenny Leon directs. American Son streams on Netflix.
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CLEVELAND JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS JESS EISENBERG IN RESISTANCE
Q&A with Jesse Eisenberg the star and director and cast and crew of the film RESISTANCE will be held Wednesday, July 22 at 1 pm. Details can be found at https://mandeljcc.org/cleveland-jewish-filmfest/arts-culture/ .
If you intend to participate, please complete the RSVP form as only people who RSVP will receive the link for the Q&A.
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THE DEEP BLUE SEA STREAMING
National Theatre's 2016 revival of Terrence Rattigan's THE DEEP BLUE SEA, starring two-time Olivier nominee Helen McCrory, Nick Fletcher, and Tom Burke, streams July 9 as National Theatre at Home’s series of rebroadcasts continues.
Set in postwar London, the play follows a woman in the aftermath of a failed suicide attempt. As she recovers, the story of her affair with a former RAF pilot and the breakdown of her marriage to a respected judge begins to emerge.
The stream is available beginning at 2 PM ET above or on National Theatre’s YouTube. It will remain free to watch on demand through 2 PM ET July 16.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
NY Classical Theatre, New York City's all-free off-Broadway Equity theater company, will bring back the entire original cast of its critically acclaimed production of Oscar Wilde's comic masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest, for an encore reading on July 16 at 8pm. To learn more and make a free reservation, click here.
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SEE VIDEOS OF THE REMAKING OF A CHORUS LINE AND THE BASIS OF FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
CHORUS LINE
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Step-Bob-Avian/dp/B002SP41ZU
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07YMJF844/ref=atv_dp_b00_det_c_UTPsmN_1_2
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⭐PLAYBILL WANTS YOU! ⭐
As Broadway takes this intermission, we want to make use of this time by opening the doors to the audition room wide open. It’s time for a casting call! If you think you have what it takes to be the next big musical theatre star, use the following Acceptd form to submit a self-tape video of your vocal performance. We invite performers of a range of ages (16 and up), all races, creeds, gender identities, sexual orientations, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to submit. The Search for a Star contest is committed to widening the talent pool. All submissions will be judged by a panel of experts and industry professionals. Each week, Playbill will post highlights from eligible entries, but at the end of the contest, only one will be crowned Playbill’s Next Broadway Star.
Submit Here!
Submissions will be accepted beginning 12:00 PM ET July 8, 2020 and ending 11:59 PM ET August 4, 2020.
One Grand Prize winner will receive:
- A one-on-one casting consultation with the casting office of Stewart/Whitley
- A one-on-one work session with Tony-winning director-choreographer Susan Stroman
- A Limitless Class Package from The Growing Studio: an all-access opportunity to work with musical theater and TV/film industry professionals online. This includes access to 30+ classes each week, including one-on-one time with casting directors and talent agents in New York, L.A. and the U.K. Resources include daily vocal warm-ups, movement and fitness, on-camera technique, audition technique, songwriting, and more.
- A guest appearance (interview and performance) on Playbill Live!
- A headshot photoshoot with Playbill’s staff photographer
- A blog feature with Acceptd
- A pair of tickets to a Broadway show of their choice* upon the re-opening of Broadway.
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PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES WILL PRESENT BROADWAY AT HOME
PBS' Great Performances will present Broadway at Home, featuring a theatre favorite every week, beginning July 24 with the 2016 revival of She Loves Me.
The musical will air at 9 PM ET; check local listings. The Roundabout Theatre Company production features Tony winners Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski, and Gavin Creel, as well as Tony nominee Zachary Levi.
The series will continue July 31 with the 2017 revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter. Kevin Kline, who co-starred with Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, and Cobie Smulders.
On August 7, PBS will present In the Heights–Chasing Broadway Dreams. The documentary chronicles the personal stories of Tony-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast in the months leading up to the 2008 opening night of the production.
The Public Theater's 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing will air August 14 with an all-Black cast.
The recent revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, which was filmed in the West End, will air August 21. The cast is headed by Tony winner Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe.
PBS' GREAT PERFORMANCES WILL PRESENT BROADWAY AT HOME
PBS' Great Performances will present Broadway at Home, featuring a theatre favorite every week, beginning July 24 with the 2016 revival of She Loves Me.
The musical will air at 9 PM ET; check local listings. The Roundabout Theatre Company production features Tony winners Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski, and Gavin Creel, as well as Tony nominee Zachary Levi.
The series will continue July 31 with the 2017 revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter. Kevin Kline, who co-starred with Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, and Cobie Smulders.
On August 7, PBS will present In the Heights–Chasing Broadway Dreams. The documentary chronicles the personal stories of Tony-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast in the months leading up to the 2008 opening night of the production.
The Public Theater's 2019 Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing will air August 14 with an all-Black cast.
The recent revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, which was filmed in the West End, will air August 21. The cast is headed by Tony winner Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe.
