BERKO: CLEVELAND-CENTRIC ENTERTAINMENT IN THE PANDEMIC—PHSQUARE, SHAW FESTIVAL, CPT, GLTF AND MORE….

PLAYHOUSE SQUARE LISTS MUSICALS AND PERFORMANCE DATES

Cleveland’s Play House Square has announced a “buy it now and if something comes up, free ticket exchanges policy for the 2020-2021 season.  The shows planned are:

January 5-24, 2021--PRETTY WOMAN, THE MUSICAL
March 9-28, 2021—THE PROM
April 6-25, 2021—AIN’T TOO PROUD-- 
                   (THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS)
May 5-June 6, 2021—MOULIN ROUGE!
July 6-15, 2021--HADESTOWN

For information call 216-640-8800
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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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OHIO LIGHT OPERA TO BE SILENT THIS SUMMER

The boards on the stage at the College of Wooster are silent this summer. Ohio Light Opera has cancelled its season for the first time since its inception in 1979. Well, not cancelled really — it will perform the scheduled 2020 season next year.

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GREAT LAKES THEATER CANCELS 2020 FALL REPERTORY

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) has cancelled the first two productions of its 2020-21 season (Jane Austen’s EMMA and Shakespeare’s HENRY V). Current ticketholder options for the cancelled productions include full refunds, exchanges into future productions through the theater’s 2021-22 season, and/or tax-deductible ticket donation opportunities. Outreach to ticketholders is ongoing.
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NELLIE MCKAY, IS COMING BACK TO NE OHIO TO PERFORM

NELLIE MCKAY will perform in a carefully-spaced outdoor concert on Saturday August 15 at Riverdog, which is 5 miles west of Oberlin in Wakeman.

A combination of songwriter, singer, pianist, and entertainer McKay will perform many of her original songs, which are filled with humor, as well as some wonderful classics. Preview her website or at her YouTube page.

Here is the link for more details and reserving your tickets (no tickets available at the door). 
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THE AMERICAN MUSICAL

Visit 22 film musicals in 12 minutes (skip the ads!):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_TvKH-qEJk
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THE RESURRECTION OF 42ND STREET

Ever wonder how Times Square and 42^nd Street were repurposed, the role of Disney in saving the American musical and the effect on American musical theatre?  Read this article:  https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/essays/resurrection-of-42nd-street/
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BROADWAY BARES IS SET TO GO VIRTUAL AUGUST 1
BROADWAY BARES is set to go virtual August 1. Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the event will be available beginning at 9:30 PM ET on Playbill and at BroadwayCares.org.
Although the in-person 30th anniversary celebration, originally set for June 21, was postponed until 2021, the annual evening will live on digitally through streamed stripteases featuring New York City dancers. Viewers can expect new performances that make social distancing sexy, plus favorite numbers from years past and new appearances by special celebrity guests to be announced. 

ROY BERKO: HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE—CVLT STREAMS VISITING MR. GREEN, EXAMINE PSYCHOLOGY, MUSICAL STYLE AND CREATIVITY OF HAMILTON, PROJECT SING OUT!, FILM VERSIONS OF MUSICALS ON TV, BROADWAY SINGS FOR JOE KENNEDY III, KENT STATE GRAD ALICE RIPLEY TO PERFORM ON STAGE THIS SUMMER, AND MORE….

CHAGRIN VALLEY LITTLE THEATRE STREAMS VISITING MR. GREEN

On Saturday, July 25 and Sunday, July 26, CVLT will be streaming the archival video of Visiting Mr. Green for a pay-as-you-can admission. For details and advance reservation, visit https://cvlt.org/events/visiting-mr-green

"Visiting Mr. Green" stars veteran actor Don Edelman as Mr. Green, an elderly, grumpy, devoutly Jewish widower who wanders into New York City traffic, nearly being hit by the car of 29-year-old finance executive Ross Gardiner (played by Krystopher Perry). As a community service sentence, Gardiner is ordered to assist Mr. Green, visiting him weekly. What starts as a comedy about two men who do not want to be in the same room together becomes a gripping, moving drama as they get to know each other, opening old wounds they’ve been hiding and nursing for years.

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TMTP DISCUSSES MUSICAL DAMN YANKEES

On Thursday, July 23, the day before The Cleveland Indian’s home opener, watch TMTP’s Artistic Director Bill Rudman give his insights and what to look for in the film version of the hit musical DAMN YANKEES (staring Gwen Verdon and Tab Hunter). 

Here is how it works:  Stream DAMN YANKEES on Amazon Prime, iTunes and or You Tube (some fees may apply).   On Thursday, July 23 at 7 connect to Zoom for the discussion:  https://zoom.us/j/98060526330?pwd=eFBjVTBvZnVMT0pmUisyT0M4bHBXUT09

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GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PSYCHOLOGY, MUSICAL STYLE, AND STAGE CREATIVITY of HAMILTON

To gain an understanding of the psychology, musical style, and stage creativity of HAMILTON go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=782gnhUox64

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PROJECT SING OUT!

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift in education across the country, the Broadway community has come together to present PROJECT SING OUT!, a one-night-only livestreamed event to raise funds for the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) to support arts education, specifically in low-income communities and communities of color.

The livestreamed event, which will take place on Monday, July 20, at 7pm (EST), is presented in partnership with Playbill.com and can be viewed exclusively on Playbill.com’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page and stars Chita Rivera, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Roberts, Vanessa Williams, Don Cheadle, Peppermint, Brandon Victor Dixon, Hailey Kilgore, and more.

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MOVIES STREAMING THAT CAPTURE THE MAGIC OF THE MUSICAL ON STAGE

Check out this list of movie musicals currently streaming that capture the magic of the stage with its own Hollywood twist.
Available on Amazon 

Guys and Dolls
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Vivian Blaine, Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons
Nathan and Adelaide have been engaged for 14 years—put off over and over because of the floating crap game he hosts. Songs include “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and more.

Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical
Starring: Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell, Alan Cumming, Steven Webber
The cult favorite campy musical comedy about the dangers of marijuana.

Flower Drum Song
Starring: Nancy Kwan, James Shigeta, Benson Fong
Nominated for five Oscars, the adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1958 musical finds a young woman arriving in San Francisco's Chinatown from Hong Kong with the intention of marrying a nightclub owner, unaware he is involved with one of his singers.

Hello Again
Starring: Audra McDonald, Martha Plimpton, Cheyenne Jackson, T.R. Knight
10 interlocking scenes capture a pair of lovers just prior to, or immediately following, intense, but all-too-brief sexual intimacy. 

Sweeney Todd
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Villainous Judge Turpin wants the beautiful wife of a London barber and has him shipped away on false charges. When the barber returns to London 15 years later, he is thirsty for revenge. But don’t worry, there’s also a beautiful love story in this adaptation of the Hugh Wheeler-Stephen Sondheim classic.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Starring: Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton
This musical comedy set in Ancient Rome follows the story of the slave Pseudolus. Featuring a score by Stephen Sondheim, the musical includes hits like “Comedy Tonight” and “Lovely.”
 
Available on Netflix

Jersey Boys
Starring: John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza
The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the 2005 Tony-winning Best Musical was written by Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman.

West Side Story 
Starring: Natalie Wood (Marni Nixon does the singing), George Chakiris, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno.  Jerome Robbins directed and choreographed the then-modern-day Romeo & Juliet story of rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks.

Fiddler on the Roof 
Starring: Chaim Topol
The 1964 musical “Tradition musical” by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick with songs like “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “Sunrise Sunset.” 

Available on HBOMax

Chicago
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere
Widely considered the film that revived the modern movie musical, the adaptation of Fosse’s musical earned 13 Oscar nominations and won six trophies.

Cabaret
Starring: Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Fritz Wepper
There’s nothing better than watching the story of Sally Bowles, and the dancers and patrons of the Kit Kat Club unfold in Berlin amid the background of the Weimar Republic. The score from Kander and Ebb includes “Mein Herr,” “Willkommen,” and the title number. 

Hairspray
Starring: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Nikki Blonsky, Brittany Snow
Based on the 1988 John Waters film, Hairspray takes us to Baltimore where plus-sized teen Tracy Turnblad fight for civil rights and representation on TV. The score includes “Mamma I’m a Big Girl Now,” “Welcome to the ’60s,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Starring: John Cameron Mitchell, Andrea Martin, Michael Pitt, Miriam Shor
The Off-Broadway hit musical follows the trials and tribulations of a touring rock and roll band fronted by Hedwig, an East German transgender singer. 

Little Shop of Horrors
Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin
A down-on-his-luck plant-shop worker on Skid Row gains fame after finding a man-eating plant while pursuing a troubled romance with his lovable co-worker Audrey. The score includes “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour.”

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AMADEUS STREAMING

National Theatre's 2016 revival of Peter Shaffer's Tony winning AMADEUS, starring Lucian Msamati as Salieri and Adam Gillen as Mozart, streamed July 16 as National Theatre at Home’s series of rebroadcasts concludes its inaugural season on National Theatre’s YouTube. It will remain free to watch on demand through 2 PM ET July 23. Donations to support the U.K. theatre community are encouraged.
 
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BROADWAY SINGS FOR JOE KENNEDY III 

In conjunction with the Campaign for Kennedy for Massachusetts, Group5 Productions will present Broadway Sings for Joe Kennedy III beginning July 21.

The 30-minute, pre-taped virtual concert, will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Tony and Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. 
Viewers can also expect appearances by Senatorial candidate Kennedy plus cast members from HAMILTON, THE LION KING, THE COLOR PURPLE, WICKED, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, AND HELLO, DOLLY.

Tickets begin at $5. Click here for ticket information.

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HOWARD ASHMAN DOCUMENTARY FOCUSING ON DISNEY+

HOWARD, a documentary focusing on the life and work of director-book writer-lyricist Howard Ashman, will arrive on Disney+ beginning August 7. 
Among artists interviewed for the film are his most frequent composer-collaborator Alan Menken; Jodi Benson, who starred in Ashman's 1987 Broadway musical SMILE and voiced Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID and Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

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ALICE RIPLEY, KENT STATE GRAD, TO PERFORM LIVE IN CONCERT THIS SUMMER

Forestburgh Playhouse in Sullivan County, New York, will offer a series of concerts at its outdoor venue featuring Broadway favorites later this summer. The performances have social distancing and sanitization protocols in place. 
The SEVENTY-FIVE AND THRIVE lineup kicks off July 18 with Kyle Taylor Parker (Kinky Boots) in an evening of soul renditions of Broadway staples.
The final performance, August 22 features Tony winner and Kent State University grad Alice Ripley(NEXT TO NORMAL) August 22.
For more information, visit FBPlayhouse.org.

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BERKO—HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE: CONTROVERSY OVER HAMILTON, SHAW FESTIVAL, LES BLANKS, JESSE EISENBERG, YOU: THE NEXT MUSICAL STAR?, BROADWAY AT HOME and more

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.

Berko: HERE, THERE AND EVERWHERE: HAMILTON, CELTIC TIGER, BERNEDETTE PETERS IN CONCERT, CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATERE, PROJECT SING OUT, OHIO LIGHT OPERA and more….

HERE, THERE AND EVERWHERE:  HAMILTON, CELTIC TIGER, BERNEDETTE PETERS IN CONCERT, CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATERE, PROJECT SING OUT, OHIO LIGHT OPERA and more….

Roy Berko (Cleveland Critics Circle, American Theatre Critics Association)

CELTIC TIGER, STARRING FAMED IRISH DANCER-CHOREOGRAPHER MICHAEL FLATLEY

The YouTube channel The Shows Must Go On! continues July 3 with the Celtic Tiger, starring famed Irish dancer-choreographer Michael Flatley.
Flatley introduced Irish dance to the American mainstream back in the 90s with Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, both of which went on to tour the world. A few years later, Flatley returned in 2005 with Celtic Tiger, a show that explores the history of Ireland and the many moments of civil unrest that have led to various freedoms in the island nation. 

The stream will be available for 48 hours at 2 PM ET on YouTube.

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HAMILTON

The cinematic capture of Hamilton drops July 3 on Disney+.  The platform starts at $6.99 a month). For more information, click here.
Be aware that many televisions are not capable of downloading the app so before you enroll for a subscription make sure your set is compatible.  (None of the smart TVs in our house will handle it.). 

This is Hamilton, beginning to end. The only lyric cuts are the removal of two uses of "f*ck" so that the film could receive a PG-13 rating (one will be muted, the other replaced with a record scratch).
To see a trailer for Hamilton, click here.

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BERNADETTE PETERS IN CONCERT

For the first time online, watch an extraordinary evening with Broadway leading lady and three-time Tony Award recipient Bernadette Peters in concert. The free stream is set for 8 pm Eastern on Friday, July 10, and can be watched at broadwaycares.org/bernadette.
 
Throughout the evening, get the scoop from Peters and Broadway and television star Michael Urie as they talk about the concert and share insider stories. The one-night-only benefit concert, originally performed at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre in 2009, features spectacular performances of songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein and more.

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CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE PRESENTS SAVORY TANHA

From July 9-11 @ 8 pm Cleveland Public Theatre will present SAVORY TANHA, sixteen short plays as part of its Encounters (Here and Now Series).   The series if written and directed by David Hansen.

Each presentation, which is a virtual memory of long longing and loss, happiness and helpfulness, and navigating the pathways of human desire, will be 50 minutes and be limited to 60 “seats” (a live presentation via Zoom.)  

For tickets, which are $1, and information, go to  https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2020-2021/savory taṇha/

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 PROJECT SING OUT!

Project Sing Out!, supporting the Educational Theatre Foundation and their efforts to increase access to arts education in under-resourced schools, will stream live on Playbill's YouTube channel and Facebook page July 20 at 7 PM ET.

The event will offer musical and spoken word performances and special appearances, including Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams and Audra McDonald.

For information go to:  https://t2conline.com/project-sing-out-a-one-night-only-benefit-for-arts-education/
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BROADWAY TO REMAIN DARK UNTIL JANUARY 3, 2021

As performing arts organizations across the country announce plans to forgo their fall programming, Broadway is following suit. The Broadway League has announced that all productions will remain closed through at least January 3, 2021.

While it is now official, the decision does not come as a surprise. The League stated in May that while shows would be dark through September 6, this date serves more as a determination of how late productions would offer refunds and exchanges than as a look into when the curtain will rise again.

Once that is able to happen, audiences can expect shows to return on a rolling basis, rather than on one specific date. Details concerning this scheduling and ticketing will be announced in the coming weeks.

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THEATER PLANS DIVIDERS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING

Like most other large regional nonprofit and commercial theaters, the Wilma in Philadelphia plans to stay closed through the fall.

But this theater has an unusual idea for how to reopen when the time comes: it will prevent theatergoers from breathing on one another by separating them with wooden dividers.

The Wilma, which normally seats 300 people in a traditional auditorium, says it will build a new structure, seating as many as 100 or as few as 35, on its stage. The two-tiered structure, which can be configured in the round or as a semicircle, is based in part on Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.
The most distinctive feature is that each party of patrons — whether they be solo or in groups of up to four — is seated in a box, physically separated from all other parties.

For the whole story go to:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/theater/wilma-theater-social-distancing.html?campaign_id=28&emc=edit_cu_20200701&instance_id=19916&nl=theater-update&regi_id=136086792&segment_id=32344&te=1&user_id=5212a49ff07ce1fbfbc4c7323959cc70

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 OHIO LIGHT OPERA TO BE SILENT THIS SUMMER

The boards on the stage at the College of Wooster are silent this summer. Ohio Light Opera has cancelled its season for the first time since its inception in 1979. Well, not cancelled really — it will perform the scheduled 2020 season next year.

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