Friday, May 01, 2020

Berko column on things to do 5/01/2020



Activities to do while hunkering in:  see segments from musical Tony Award winners, perform scenes and/or sing along with Broadway and Disney musicals, an announcement from Rabbit Run Theater, and more

ROY BERKO, CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE, AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION

THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG:  VOLUME II
Following the success of the broadcast of The Disney Family Singalong (seen by nearly 13 million people), ABC will present The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II May 10. 
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the one-hour program will begin at 7 PM ET on the network. Celebrity guests, who will perform from their homes, will be announced soon. The program will subsequently be available to stream on Disney+.
Click below and then hit the play button on the visual that appears:
Watch Derek Hough, Hayely Erbert, and Julianne Hough in 'Be Our Guest' From The Disney Family Singalong

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A LOOK BACK AT THE BEST MUSICAL TONY AWARD WINNERS FROM THE PAST 10 YEARS

Since 1947, the Tony Awards have served as the most prestigious honors earned in the world of theatre. While we await news of when we will be able to celebrate this season’s fantastic performances, we celebrate the power and vibrancy of unforgettable performances from Broadway’s recent past.

https://broadwaydirect.com/a-look-back-at-the-tony-award-for-best-musical-winners-from-the-past-10-years/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_campaign=BD377&mcid=dk1aOFpyaVFZUUtET0RZcHYyMkQ5OEVNcEZsaFdhYUI=
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10 TV Musicals to Stream from Home

Here, we offer a list of the musicals made specifically for the small screen that you can stream from the comfort of your couch.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 
1985
The Peanuts gang reunites in an animated version of Clark Gesner’s musical. , Google Play
Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, iTunes

Nunsense 
1993 
Starring: Rue McClanahan, Christine L. Anderson, Christine Meyers
The Little Sisters of Hoboken are in a bind when Sister Julia Child accidentally poisons the convent and 52 sisters die. The remaining nuns have no funds with which to bury them, so they decide to put on a show—to hilarious effect. 
Available on: Amazon Video

Gypsy
1993
Starring: Bette Midler, Cynthia Gibb, Peter Riegert
Made for CBS, Midler won a Golden Globe for her performance as Rose in the legendary musical about the stage mother who made Gypsy Rose Lee. Of course, hits like “Some People” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” are belted to perfection.
Available on: Google Play, Vudu (free), iTunes, Amazon Video

Bye Bye Birdie
1995
Starring: Jason Alexander, Vanessa Williams, Marc Kudisch, Tyne Daly
Jason Alexander takes the role originated by Dick Van Dyke in this remake. Conrad Birdie is the Elvis-like rock star about to go off to war; to rehab his image before he does, his songwriter Albert Peterson (Alexander) arranges for him to sing “One Last Kiss” on The Ed Sullivan Show and kiss a wholesome hometown girl. When Kim MacAfee wins the coveted prize, her boyfriend isn’t all too happy and trouble ensues. Featuring beloved tunes like “The Telephone Hour,” “Put On a Happy Face,” and “A Lot of Livin’ To Do” by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams.
Available on: Vudu, iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play

Annie
1999
Everyone's favorite red-headed orphan came to ABC in this adaptation of the beloved stage musical. Starring Kathy Bates as Miss Hannigan, Alan Cumming as Rooster, Kristin Chenoweth as Lily St. Regis, Victor Garber as Daddy Warbucks, Audra McDonald as Grace, and Alicia Morton as Annie, this is a fairly faithful retelling of the original.
Available on: Amazon Video, iTunes, Disney+, Vudu

The Music Man 
2003
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoweth
Professor Harold Hill (Broderick) is a traveling salesman of musical instruments and band uniforms—who also happens to be a con artist. From town to town, he sells the instruments and wardrobes promising to teach music and organize a band, but skips town before he does. Things, of course, get complicated when he begins to romance the librarian Marian Paroo (Chenoweth). With unforgettable songs like “Ya Got Trouble,” “76 Trombones,” and “Shipoopi” by Meredith Willson. 
Available on: Amazon Video, Vudu, iTunes

Reefer Madness 
2005
Starring: Christian Campbell, Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell, Alan Cumming
Cumming stars as a lecturer who comes to warn the students of a small town about the dangers of marijuana by telling the tale of two teens who fell under the spell of weed. Madcap doesn’t even begin to cover it. Based on the 2001 Off-Broadway musical.
Available on: Amazon Video

Once Upon a Mattress 
2005
Starring: Carol Burnett, Tracy Ullman, Denis O’Hare
Directed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall, this retelling (the third made for TV!) of the classic “Princess and the Pea” fable features music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Berer, and Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Barer. Burnett originated the role of Princess Winnifred on Broadway, but in this made-for-TV musical Burnett plays Queen Aggravain with Tracey Ullman as Winnifred. It also features a young Zooey Deschanel and Matthew Morrison.
Available on: Disney+, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu

High School Musical
2006
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu
Made as a Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical is the Fame of its generation. Directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, HSM begins when Troy and Gabriella meet singing karaoke at a New Year’s Eve party and then suddenly (a lá Grease) Gabriella is a new student at East High, where Troy is king of the jocks. But when auditions for the spring musicale take place, Troy and Gabriella both break out of their boxes as jock and “freaky genius girl” to find themselves and the start of something new. The movie also spawned two more movies, a stage adaptation that toured the country, and the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Available on: Disney+, Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes

High School Musical 2
2007
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale
The entire crew from East High is back for the summer, and all working together at a country club-resort whose most important customers just happen to be Ryan and Sharpay Evans. The kids have their eyes on the end-of-summer talent show, but Sharpay would prefer that she be the event’s solo star.
Available on: Disney+, Google Play, Amazon Video, iTunes

A Christmas Story Live!
2017
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Maya Rudolph, Andy Walken, Chris Diamontopoulos, Jane Krakowski
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s first Broadway musical, based on the movie of the same name, came to broadcast TV as a must-see holiday event. Set in 1940s Indiana, the musical follows the mischief of Ralphie Parker and his unrelenting need for a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. This version did incorporate a new Chanukah song, written especially for the broadcast and sung by Ana Gasteyer.
Available on: Amazon Video, iTunes, Google Play

The Little Mermaid Live!
2019
Starring: Auli’i Cravalho, Queen Latifah, Shaggy, John Stamos, Graham Phillips
For the first time, this event featured live, fully-produced musical numbers interwoven with the original animated film. The cast created a full undersea world, and the world above, before a live studio audience.
Available on: Disney+

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Feinstein's/54 Below Will Stream THE WEDDING SINGER and GRAND HOTEL REUNIONS, LEGALLY BOUND, and More

Feinstein's/54 Below is going digital. The venue, dubbed "Broadway's living room," will now head to its patrons' living rooms with its #54BelowatHome series.

The initiative kicked off March 25 with a filmed performance of Be More Chill Tony nominee Joe Iconis and George Salazar's concert Two Player Game. Later offerings, each one-time-only events, include other videos from the Feinstein's/54 Below archives (streamed on YouTube), as well as some live-from-their-home sets on Facebook by artists whose scheduled cabarets had been put on hold due to the shutdown.
Schedule. All streams begin at 6:30 PM
April 29: Christine Andreas
May 1: I Am Woman: A Concert for Female Empowerment
May 6: It's Kind of a Funny Story
May 7: 54 Below Celebrates Mel Brooks
May 8: Luba Mason
May 9: Storm Large
May 11: The Wedding Singer Reunion Concert
May 12: The Year of Living Dangerously
May 14: Andy Karl & Orfeh: Legally Bound
May 15: Joe Iconis and Family
May 16: Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band
May 17: 54 Sings Grand Hotel: The 25th Anniversary Concert
May 19: 54 Sings One Direction
May 20: 54 Does 54: The Feinstein’s/54 Below Staff Show
May 23: Mauricio Martinez with special guests Orfeh & Mariand Torres
May 26: Another Opening, Another Debut! Broadway Debuts of the 2017-2018 Season
*Live show on Facebook

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SEE LONDON HIT SING STREET, BEFORE IT OPENS ON BROADWAY
Based on John Carney’s 2016 indie film SING STREET explores the power of first love and music against the backdrop of 1980s Dublin. The musical features a New Wave score from Carney and Gary Clark, a book by Tony winner Enda Walsh, and choreography by Sonya Tayeh.
Sing Street: Grounded - At Home with The Broadway Cast will kick off at 6:30 PM and continue through 7 PM ET. The event will feature songs from the show like “Up,” “Drive It Like You Stole It,” “Go Now,” and “Love and Stars,” a new song written for the Broadway production.
The concert will be available on demand May 4 at 6:30 PM ET. 
READ: Check Out the New Music Video for ’Riddle of the Model’ From the Broadway-Bound Sing Street

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Gather your roommates or your family to perform actual scenes from: A CHORUS LINE, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN,  NATIVE GARDENS, OUR TOWN, KEN LUDWIG’S SHERWOOD: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and THE WIZARD OF OZ. 

Post a video of your #LivingRoomTheatre performance on Facebook, tagging /ConcordShows, and send the link to livingroomtheatre@playbill.com. (Links from YouTube and Vimeo are also accepted.) Your video could end up featured on Playbill!

To submit:
1. Film your scene in landscape/horizontal view. 
2. Upload the video file to Facebook, tag Playbill and /ConcordShows and #LivingRoomTheatre. Include the name of the show your scene is from and tag that show, too! (You may also upload to Vimeo or YouTube.)
3. Email the link to your video to livingroomtheatre@playbill.com by May 13. 
4. Want to kick it up a notch? 
Take your pick from the complete list of scenes below, or try all eight. Check out more scripts and cast albums at ConcordTheatricals.com.

1. A CHORUS LINE
Conceived and Originally Directed and Choreographed by Michael Bennett / Book by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante / Music by Marvin Hamlisch / Lyrics by Edward Kleban 

2. ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin / Book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields
Annie Oakley is the best sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill's show, but when her star power threatens to overshadow the man she loves, can she beat him in a final shoot-out?

3. EURYDICE
In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story.

4. NATIVE GARDENS 
By Karen Zacarías
Neighbors Frank and Virginia and Pablo and Tania have been disputing where their backyard property lines are drawn. Tensions have hit their peak as each couple starts to tear apart the other’s gardens—and Tania is about to give birth.

5. OUR TOWN 
By Thornton Wilder
A scene from Our Town  Miami New Drama
Our Town follows the small town of Grover’s Corners through three acts: "Daily Life," "Love and Marriage," and "Death and Eternity." Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families.
In this scene from Act 2, Emily tells George that he has developed a large ego since he started playing baseball. George takes Emily for an ice cream soda and announces that instead of going to college he will remain in Grover’s Corners, take over his uncle’s farm, and stay with Emily.

6. KEN LUDWIG'S SHERWOOD: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
By Ken Ludwig
Packed with thrills, romance, laughter, and immortal characters like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hoodtells the enduring story of a hero of the people who takes on the ruthless powers that be. 
After defeating a band of villains, Robin Hood, Deorwynn, Little John, and Friar John discover the masked person who helped them in their fight is Marian. All the introductions aren’t so welcome, though, as Marian introduces her betrothed: Sir Guy Gisbourne, the right hand of the evil Prince John. 

7. THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by Richard Rodgers / Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II / Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
One of the most beloved musicals of all time! In Austria, 1938, an exuberant young governess brings music and joy back to a broken family, only to face danger and intrigue as the Nazis gain power.
Toward the end of Act 1, Maria becomes upset and confused by her feelings for Captain von Trapp. After leaving the von Trapp family without saying goodbye, she returns to Nonnberg Abbey—ready to take her monastic vows and accept a life of poverty, obedience.

8. THE WIZARD OF OZ (R.S.C. 1987 version)
By L. Frank Baum / With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg / Background Music by Herbert Stothart / Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard / Orchestration by Larry Wilcox / Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company 
In this scene, Dorothy and her friends triumphantly return to the Wizard’s palace, only to discover he’s nothing but a fraud. Humbled but determined, the Wizard ceremoniously bestows an award on each petitioner and promises to bring Dorothy home to Kansas himself. 

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Rabbit Run Theater announces cancellation of 2020 summer shows

Rabbit Run Theater is one of the few original barn theaters still in operation in Ohio.  The theater is located at 5648 W. Chapel Rd., Madison. 
  
The theatre’s board has released this statement: “The greatest concern is always for the safety and well-being of theater patrons, staff and volunteers. With that in mind the decision was made by the Board to cancel the 2020 Rabbit Run Theater season.”

“It is the hope of the RRCAA Board that, as the summer progresses, State guidelines will allow for larger gatherings.  Should this be the case, it may be possible to offer one or more of the intended productions from the season.”
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