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MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG FINALLY SUCCEEDS ON BROADWAY - - EXPRESSIONISTS KANDINSKY, MÜNTER AND THE BLUE RIDER
- - TRANSPORT GROUP'S 2024 GALA - - BALLET HISPÁNICO – THE QUINCEAÑERA GALA - -
THE NEW YORK POPS' 41ST BIRTHDAY GALA - - GOT WELLIES?! - -
ROSIE THE ROSIE RIVETERS HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS
- - THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE PARTY - - DONATE . . . Scroll Down
Copyright: April 21, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG FINALLY SUCCEEDS ON BROADWAY
This time they got it right.
When the Stephen Sondheim creation Merrily We Roll Along a 1981 American musical with music and lyrics by Sondheim and a fragmented, disjointed book by George Furth, based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, opened on Broadway - it received negative reviews, and closed after 16 performances and 44 previews.
After years of substantial revisions, a palatable version was staged in a London premiere in 2000 that won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. That polished version is now back as its first Broadway revival.
This time the quirky musical has more staying power - with low bows to Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe, and Lindsay Mendez, compellingly inspired directing by Maria Friedman who never makes a mis-step.
The entire case is perfect, but Groff as composer Frank Shepard all but eats the scenery and makes the production his own.
The show tells the story of "how three friends' lives and friendship change over the course of 20 years; it focuses particularly on Franklin Shepard, a talented composer of musicals who, over those 20 years, abandons his friends and songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood movies. Like the play on which it is based, the show's story moves in reverse chronology, beginning in 1976 at the friends' lowest moment and ending in 1957, at their youthful best."
Songs that have had staying power since the original version are "Old Friends," "Good Thing Going" and "Not a Day Goes By."
In this production even the sets and costumes by Soutra Gilmour add to the emotional statements. The set, to be kind, is not attractive - perhaps to emphasize that the path Frank Shepard had to trod to become a success wasn't a rainbow. To pay the bills he even lowered himself to write schlock, producing a hit film. In a brilliant use of costuming, Groff as Shepard has basically one outfit, something a Las Vegas bus boy might wear - black pants, a white shirt and black tie, with subtle scene variations. Others in the cast change their clothes to fit the twenty year time spread. Shepard's static appearance sets him apart as the person whose story is being told, as if he is in another dimension. Not until Act Two, does his outfit change as does his attitude and the trio return to their less emotionally corrupt youthful days.
The demanding mistress of anyone in show business is rejection.
Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lndsey Mendez. Photo by Matthew Murphy
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Shepard's friends are Pulitzer Prize winning lyricist Charley Kringas (Daniel Radcliffe) a sweet, the glass is always half full kind of guy, and their sidekick Mary Flynn (Lindsay Mendez), a one time novelist transformed into a theater critic who has her own self destructive inclinations, looking for that life support message in a liquor bottle. Her rendition of Like it Was with Kringas is heartbreaking. They nurture, support, pander to, encourage and tolerate being used and emotionally abused by Shepard, an obviously talented but insecure creative who is temperamental, neurotic and goes through wives like people in show business tend to do.
Meaningful choreography by Tim Jackson.
Shepard's legal harem: wife number one Beth (Katie Rose Clarke); his mistress who became his second wife, Gussie (Krystal Joy Brown) who is a wedge into relationships; his current mistress and perhaps upcoming third wife , Meg (Talia Simone Robinson). Then there is his producer, Joe who long ago traded high road idealism for counting the dollars signs in everything, played by Reg Rogers.
Fulfilling the Sondheim trademark, this musical can make you hurt as you smile.
Enjoy the show at the Hudson Theatre in New York City until July 7, 2024.
In addition to the three leads, the cast includes: Krystal Joy Brown · Katie Rose Clarke · Reg Rogers · Max Rackenberg · Rocco Van Auken - Brady Wagner - Sherz Aletaha - Coby Getzug - Christian Strange.
Swings: Gemma Baird, Morgan Kirner (Dance Captain) , Ken Krugman, Amanda Rose and Koray Tarhan.
Understudies: Sherz Aletaha (Mary Flynn), Maya Boyd (Gussie), Leana Rae Concepcion (Beth), Ken Krugman (Joe), Corey Mach (Franklin Shepard), Talia Simone Robinson (Beth), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Mary Flynn, Gussie), Brian Sears (Charley Kringas), Evan Alexander Smith (Franklin Shepard), Koray Tarhan (Charley Kringas), Vishal Vaidya (Joe), Natalie Wachen (Gussie) and Jacob Keith Watson (Joe).
The creatives are: Music orchestrated by Jonathan Tunick; Additional Vocal Arrangements: Joel Fram; Musical Director: Joel Fram.
Associate Director: Ryan Dobrin; Associate Choreographer: Mandie Rapoza. Scenic Design by Soutra Gilmour; Costume Design by Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Design by Amith Chandrashaker; Sound Design by Kai Harada; Hair and Wig Design by Cookie Jordan; Make-Up Design by Kirk Cambridge-Del Pesche; Associate Scenic Design: Grace Laubacher; Associate Costume Design: Brian J. Bustos; Associate Lighting Design: Jessica Creager, Abby May, Stoli Stolnack and Aaron Tacy; Associate Sound Design: Joseph Haggerty; Associate Hair Design: Harley Haberman; Assistant Costume Design: Michelle Ridley; Assistant Lighting Design: Colleen Doherty and Christopher Wong; Moving Light Programmer: Jeff Englander and Ben Fichthorn.
General Manager: TT Partners and Adam J. Miller; Company Manager: Brittany Weber; Associate Gen. Mgr: Jessie Douglas; Associate Co. Mgr: Carrie Jablansky; Assistant Gen. Mgr: Marty McGuire
Production Manager: Aurora Productions; Production Stage Manager: Jhanaë K-C Bonnick; Stage Manager: Fatimah Amill; Assistant Stage Mgr: Imani Champion.
Musical Supervisor: Catherine Jayes; Associate Musical Supervisor: Alvin Hough, Jr.; Musical Coordinator: Kristy Norter; Associate Conductor: Bryson Baumgartel; Keyboard: Bryson Baumgartel; Reeds: Vito Chiavuzzo, Steven Lyon and Rick Walburn; Trumpets: Max Darché and Daniel Urness; Trombone: Julie Dombroski-Jones; Cello: Laura Bontrager; Violin/Concertmaster: Monica K. Davis; Violin: Martin Agee; Viola: Chelsea Wimmer; Bass: Ray Kilday; Drums/Percussion: Barbara Merjan; Synthesizer Programmer: Randy Cohen, Randy Cohen Keyboards LLC, Sam Starobin, Tim Crook and Nick Schenkel; Music Copying: Emily Grishman Music Preparation, Katharine Edmonds and Alden Terry.
Casting: Jim Carnahan, CSA and Jason Thinger, CSA; Press Representative: Polk & Co.; Advertising: SpotCo; Digital Marketing: SINE Digital; Executive Director for Sonia Friedman Productions: Diane Benjamin; Senior Associate Producer for Sonia Friedman Productions: Thomas Swayne; Dance Captain: Morgan Kirner; Fight Captain: Koray Tarhan; Fight & Intimacy Director: UnkleDave's Fight-House; Photographer: Matthew Murphy.
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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.
In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid)
you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers,
treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.
ART AND ABOUT
EXPRESSIONISTS KANDINSKY, MÜNTER AND THE BLUE RIDER Franz Marc "Tiger" (detail) 1912 Lenbachhaus Munich. Photo: Take Modern
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stages a press preview at Tate Modern in London on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
This major exhibition will tell the story of the international circle of friends who came together in the early 20th century to transform modern art. They became known as The Blue Rider. From Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc and Paul Klee, to previously overlooked figures like Wladimir Burliuk and Maria Franck-Marc, the exhibition will reveal the multicultural and transnational nature of this key moment in early modernist art.
Drawing on the world’s richest collection of expressionist masterpieces at the Lenbachhaus in Munich alongside rare loans from public and private collections, including some never seen before in the UK, it will celebrate their radical experimentation with form, colour, sound and performance.
Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art. It examines the highly individual creatives that made up The Blue Rider, from Franz Marc’s interest in color to Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance. The women artists played a central role in the movement. Discover experimental photographs by Gabriele Münter alongside the dramatic paintings of Marianne Werefkin.
Experience a collection of masterpieces from paintings, sculpture, and photography to performance and sound. This landmark exhibition is possible due to a collaboration with Lenbachhaus, Munich, who have offered Tate unprecedented access to their collection. It features over 130 works – brought together in the UK for the first time in over 60 years.
The exhibit can be enjoyed April 25 - October 20, 2024. Tate Modern in London.
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SWEET CHARITY
TRANSPORT GROUP'S 2024 GALA will take place Tuesday, April 30, at The Edison Ballroom in New York City.
Tony award winner John Cariani hosts.
Performers include Tony Award winners Freestyle Love Supreme, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and John Lloyd Young. The star-studded benefit will also feature performers Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Danyel Fulton, Miguel Gil, Mandy Gonzalez, Darron Hayes, Anika Larsen, Betsy Morgan, Sabrina Shah, Barbara Walsh, and Eleri Ward.
Transport Group’s 2024 gala will honor Broadway producer Jennifer Costello and founder of Activate4Good Jan Svendsen Weiss with its Transporting American Theatre Award.
The evening includes a cocktail party, seated dinner, performances, dessert reception, and silent and live auctions.
The Transporting American Theatre Award recognizes significant contributions to the American Theatre. Past recipients include Barbara Andres, Donna Lynne Champlin, Michele Pawk, Mary Testa, Carmel Dean, Michael Starobin, Dick Scanlan, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Michael John LaChiusa, Gretchen Shugart, Barbara Whitman, Beth Williams, Sue Frost, Christian Borle, Paul Huntley, Douglas Carter Beane, Lewis Flinn, A.R. Gurney, Liz Smith, Barbara Frietag, Terrence McNally, and Joe Mantello.
Jennifer Costello For over 26 years, she served various companies that grew from PACE’s beginnings, eventually acting as the Executive Vice President of Production for the John Gore Organization. In that capacity, Jennifer helmed a group of producers, overseeing family, national, and international touring companies, while also acting as executive producer for Broadway projects, including Hands on a Hardbody; On a Clear Day You Can See Foreverstarring Harry Connick, Jr.; Million Dollar Quartet; How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe; Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenowith; The Producers; La Cage Aux Folles; and Sweet Charity starring Christina Applegate. Jennifer currently runs Big Red Barn Productions and is producing the new Broadway musical Water for Elephants, is currently at the Imperial Theatre. Married to Micah Hollingworth, and mother to Dylan and Finn.
Jan Svendsen Weiss has over 20 years of experience in entertainment, partnership and cause marketing, philanthropic strategy, talent relations, and business development. Most recently Jan founded Activate4Good, a social impact and philanthropy consulting agency where she supports the initiatives of artists, brands, and organizations to elevate their philanthropy, enhance their activism, and magnify their impact.
BALLET HISPÁNICO – THE QUINCEAÑERA GALA honoring Oscar Munoz, Former CEO & Chairman, United Airlines, with the Nuestra Inspiración Award—presented by Marcos Torres, Senior Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets and Ballet Hispánico Board Member, and Eduardo Vilaro’s 15th season as Artistic Director of Ballet Hispánico, with remarks by Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, takes place in New York City Center, Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Also participating are: NYC Council Member Gale A. Brewer; Alton Murray, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Michael S. Rosenberg, President & CEO, New York City Center; Jorge Islas Lopez, Consul General of Mexico; guest artist Herman Cornejo, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer; Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Sonia Manzano, Ana Paola Hernandez, Daria Rose.
Gala Chairs: Jody & John Arnhold, Richard Feldman, Kate Lear & Jonathan LaPook, David Pérez & Milena Alberti-Pérez, Joseph Wayland & Patricia Verrilli.
Gala Committee: Melissa Alvarez-Downing & Stuart Downing, Avance Investment Management, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera & Stephen Dizard, Judy & Jamie Dimon, Auri Fenouil & Sebastian Garcia, Ford Foundation, Matthew Ford, Howard Gilman Foundation, Hiroko Ito, Robert Kartheiser & Caroline Walther-Meade , Sara & Chris Lange, The Frances Lear Foundation, Richard & Juana Maloof, Meow Wolf, Brett & Lauren Perlmutter, Popular Bank, Pryor Cashman, LLP, Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Rita Rodriguez, Samuel H. Scripps Foundation, Ronald Shechtman & Lynne Meado, Scott Tegethoff, Jose & Vanesa Tolosa, Marcos Torres, Sergio Trujillo and Jack Noseworthy, Danays Vichot, Charles Wortman & Laura Baldwin.
The Quinceañera black-tie chic event is a beloved New York event attended by some 500 leaders in the arts and business communities and is truly a spectacular evening filled with performances by the students from its School of Dance and, of course, live music by three-time Grammy Award Winner, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, that entices guests to take to the dance floor.
The critical funds raised at the Gala provide dance training scholarships that change the lives of young people, inspiring performances by the professional Company, and immersive dance programs in communities across the United States and worldwide.
The evening begins with a red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by a reception and the opening night performance of the Company's annual season at New York City Center. The festivities continue with a presentation of awards during a seated dinner at The Plaza Hotel.
Gala Performance Program: Recuerdo de Campo Amor by Talley Beatty; Con Brazos Abiertos (excerpts) by Michelle Manzanales; Doña Perón (excerpt) by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa featuring guest artist Herman Cornejo, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer; Pas de O' Farrill, duet by Pedro Ruiz; Buscando a Juan by Eduardo Vilaro.
SPREADING THE WORD
GOT WELLIES?! the The Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire is staging a production of The Ferryman April 25-28, which requires multiple pairs of Wellington-style boots in all sizes (kids and adults). If you have a pair of traditionally green or black "Wellies" in any condition (dirt, mud, and holes are all okay!) that you would like to donate to the production, please email info@winniplayhouse.org. They are "happy to pick them up within about an hour's drive of Meredith."
STEPHEN COLBERT will host The Late Show on CBS live from Chicago during the Democratic National Convention this August. "I started my career in Chicago, let's see if I can end it there," Colbert quipped.
The DNC takes place at the United Center. From August 19 to August. 22, the DNC will also host events in local businesses.
Roughly 50,000 visitors, 20,000 members of the media, and 5,500 delegates, alternates, and other guests will come to Chicago for the Convention.
ARENA STAGE in Washington DC is current staging The Unknown Soldier. The production's cast, crew, and creative team were recently invited to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Cast members Riglee Ruth Bryson, Elizabeth Vargo, Kerstin Anderson, and Perry Sherman represented the production in honoring an unidentified WWI soldier.
The group also received a private tour from Dr. Allison S. Finkelstein to learn more about Arlington National Cemetery and how the story of Unknown Soldier resonates with the history of the many unidentified soldiers who perished in WWI. Dr. Finkelstein, who serves as Senior Historian at Arlington National Cemetery, will be the special guest at the post-show conversation following the production’s Wednesday, May 1, noon performance.
THE NEW YORK POPS' 41ST BIRTHDAY GALA The Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Tribute to the Legendary Clive Davis! takes place April 29, 2024
with a thrilling concert at Carnegie Hall, followed by a black tie-optional Dinner Dance at the Mandarin Oriental New York.
As the record industry's most innovative and influential executive, Clive Davis has had a profound effect on the world of music spanning over 50 years. He has earned four Grammys in his role as Album Producer, has received the Grammy Trustees Lifetime Achievement Award, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and, in 2010, The Recording Academy named The Grammy Museum theatre in his honor.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Davis graduated from New York University and Harvard Law School. He first worked at Columbia Records, where he was named President in 1967. In 1974, Mr. Davis founded Arista Records, and expanded the company to include Arista Nashville in 1988. He continued his exploration of different musical genres with the formation of LaFace Records in 1989, and Bad Boy Records in 1994. In 2000, Mr. Davis formed J Records, which quickly emerged as a dominant force in the industry. In 2008, Mr. Davis was appointed Chief Creative Officer for Sony Music Entertainment, a position which expanded the number of artists for whom he was creatively responsible.
Mr. Davis has impacted the worlds of Pop, Rock and Roll, R&B, Country and Hip-Hop, and has played a key role in the careers of countless artists across those genres including: Janis Joplin, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Santana, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Earth, Wind & Fire, Simon & Garfunkel, Sly & The Family Stone, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Patti Smith, Sarah McLachlan, Aretha Franklin, Annie Lennox, The Kinks, The Grateful Dead, Dionne Warwick, Carly Simon, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Toni Braxton, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Notorious B.I.G., Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Luther Vandross, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson and he launched the first six American Idol award winners to multi-platinum success.
RENÉE FLEMING IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN: MUSIC AND MIND takes place today, Sunday, April 21, at 92Y in New York City.
Those lucky enough to attend will join Grammy winner, 2023 Kennedy Center honoree, and legendary soprano Renée Fleming on her life on stage and the myriad connections between music and health — and her new book, Music and Mind. One of the most beloved and celebrated sopranos of our time, Fleming has traveled centerstage to the greatest opera houses, concert halls, and theaters around the world, performing at momentous occasions from Buckingham Palace to the Super Bowl. Over the past few years, she has become one of the most prominent advocates for the study of the powerful connections between the arts and health. In Music and Mind, Fleming draws upon her own experience to showcase the breadth of research showing the stunning health benefits of music and the arts — from providing pain relief and alleviating anxiety and depression to regaining speech after stroke or traumatic brain injury — inviting leading experts to share their discoveries. Hear her and Rubenstein discuss her remarkable career — what singing has meant to her, how music and the arts might heal us, and much more.
L.A. THEATRE WORKS has released an audio theater recording of Innocent When You Dream by Ken Narasaki. The newest addition to the company’s Civil Liberties podcast series, Innocent When
You Dream is now available for digital download.
L.A. Theatre Works senior producer Anna Lyse Erikson directed Kurt Kanazawa, John Miyasaki, Suzy Nakamura, Rosie Narasaki, Sharon Omi, Sab Shimono, Greg Watanabe and playwright Ken Narasaki in the story of Dan Yamada, a Nisei man now in his eighties who has suffered a devastating stroke. In a semi-comatose state, Dan reaches into his memory to recall the woman he fell in love with while in a Japanese internment camp — and to try to understand why she couldn’t love him back.
Winner of the Kuma Kahua Pacific Rim Playwriting Award, the play is titled after a Tom Waits song.
The L.A. Theatre Works Civil Liberties Collection is sponsored by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a state-funded grant project of the California State Library.
TOM HANKS isn't the type to forget who gave him his first break. He's remained a devoted supporter of The Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio. Hanks came to Cleveland in 1977 as a college intern for Great Lakes. There he met Vincent Dowling, head of the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio. At Dowling's suggestion, Hanks became an intern at the Festival. His internship stretched into a three-year experience that covered most aspects of theater production, including lighting, set design, and stage management, all of which caused Hanks to drop out of college. During the same time, Hanks won the Cleveland Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his 1978 performance as Proteus in Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, one of the few times he played a villain. Hanks performed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Hanks spent three seasons with Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, as it was then known, housed at Lakewood Civic Auditorium, before leaving to star in TV’s Bosom Buddies. That led to movie stardom in Forrest Gump; Toy Story; Saving Pricate Ryan; Apollo 13; Philadelphia, Sleepless in Seattle; You've Got Mail, Turner & Hooch, A Leagu of Their Own, Elvis, A Man Called Ottoand The Da Vinci Code, to name only a few.
The two time Oscar winner has remained grateful through the years to Great Lakes — and a fan of Cleveland — returning three times to help the classical theater company raise money. His putting his money where his mouth is support including serving as the Honorary Chair of the fundraising efforts to 're-imagine' the Hanna Theatre as the new home for the Festival and to establish an endowment for the classic theater company since 2008. Although the amount of the gift is confidential, the donation was used to create a permanent endowment to support Festival artists called The Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Fund for Artists.
Thanks in no small part to Hanks, the Great Lakes Theater Festival opened its permanent, new home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare (designed by Cleveland-based architectural firm Westlake Reed Leskosky) on September 20, 2008.
You can drink a toast to Rita and Tom at the Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson Bar at the Hanna Theatre, where Always . . . Patsy Cline gallops into the intimate Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square, starting this Friday, April 26th. Filled with laughter, friendship and Patsy's unforgettable hits.
IN THE LIGHT, A FAUSTIAN TALE features a book by Kate Mulley and Nathan Wright, with music & lyrics by Michael Mott, based on a work by Justin Silvestri and Michael Mott. The musical is presented as the second offering of The Broadway Workroom Series, which champions the arts and empower the development of theatrical artists and new works. This initiative provides creative teams with free studio space and technical support to further the development of their creative projects. At the end of the development week, the public is invited, at no cost, to experience this dynamic new musicals in concert at Open Jar Studios in New York City.
In the Light follows Dr. Johann Faustus, an astronomer accused of blasphemy by the Holy Inquisition. Guided by a mysterious being, Johann and his wife flee to a small town, where he meets a scholarly young woman named Gretchen. Gretchen believes Johann can help rebuild her town and influence the new Baron. When news of the town's rise and Johann's supposed miracles reaches an old rival, Johann must resist the temptation that his ambition yields, and Gretchen must make a choice between living authentically and saving her town.
Featuring: Brandon J. Ellis, Sarah Ann Fernandez, Brandon J. Ellis, Sarah Ann Fernandez, Jeffrey Kringer, Shereen Pimental, Antonio Cipriano, with Caleb Albert, Shavey Brown, Will Stephan Connell, Nicole DeLuca, Caitlin Doak, Anna Frasier Thomas, Alyssa Giannetti, Craig Juricka, Liz Lang, Pablo Laucerica, Michael McCorry Rose, Erick Pinnick, Rob Richardson, Lindsay Rider, Karla Shook, Bronwyn Tarboten and Andy Walken.
April 26-28, 2023, 2024 At Open Jar Studios, New York City.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION FEATURING GARRISON KELLOR was celebrated on April 20, 2024 at the Flynn Center in Burlington, Vermont.
The 50th anniversary of A Prairie Home Companion celebrated the "last live radio variety show" with an opening six-minute video of PHC’s origins in Minnesota, Garrison Keillor’s stand-up on the beauty of being 80, comedy sketches from the Royal Academy of Radio Acting with sound-effects wizard Fred Newman, and an extended commercial for Powdermilk Biscuits. Also a word or two from the American Duct Tape Council, Real Hot Coffee, Guy’s Shoes, and the Ketchup Advisory Board; features with Rich Dworsky and the Guy’s Hot Shoe Band; duets with Heather Masse and Keillor doing a medley of love poems and old jokes; an audience sing-along intermission; and, of course, the latest news from Lake Wobegon where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and the children are all above average.
ROSIE
THE RIVETERS HONORED WITH CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine speaking to the group of Rosie Riveters. Photo: Sen. Collins Office.
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Eight decades after their wartime efforts, real-life Rosie the Riveters received the nation's highest civilian honor from Congress — the Congressional Gold Medal.
Twenty seven "Rosies" traveled from across the country to attend the award ceremony, stated K. Lynn Berry, the superintendent of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. Its nonprofit partner, the Rosie the Riveter Trust, raised funds to support their trips.
These "Rosie" women worked as welders, mechanics, crane operators, and so much more during the war. See Broadway To Vegas column of July 23, 2016.html
The medal was awarded symbolically to all WWII "Rosie the Riveters," both living and deceased.
As a member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association, 99-year-old Mar Krier accepted the award in Washington D.C. on behalf of all of the "Rosies".
In accepting the award the Levittown, PA native Krier said, “We're proud, we're so proud of the women and young girls who are following in our lead. I think one of the greatest things we left behind is what we've done for women.”
Krier who helped build bombers for Boeing in Seattle, emphasized she wants women to always remember these four words: "We can do it."
Senator Susan Collins of Maine was honored to assist in the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the "Rosies" of WWII at the "Rosie the Riveter" Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. The 27 patriotic trailblazers - aged in their 90s to 106 - were able to attend the ceremony with their families. Collins thanked them for their extraordinary service to our country and for forever changing the role of women in the workforce.
Collins joined Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and other members of Congress for this historic event. The Congressional Gold Medal is a reality for these women because of a bipartisan, bicameral bill Senators Collins and Bob Casey (D-PA) authored.
During her remarks, Senator Collins shared the story of the Maine women who worked industrial jobs making supplies and defense equipment during WWII. 3,700 of these women worked as welders, mechanics, and crane operators in South Portland to build 274 Liberty ships for the U.S. Navy. An additional 1,600 women worked in Bath to build over 80 ships.
"At a time of great peril for freedom here at home and around the world, an estimated 16 million women stepped forward to learn new skills and to produce the battle ships, war planes, and equipment required by our troops to win the war,” Senator Collins said. “Mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters answered our nation’s call to action by working tirelessly in factories, farms, shipyards, aircraft, plants and steel mills in support of our Armed Forces."
Four of those in attendance were 98-year-old Jeanne Gibson, who, like many attending had her wartime ID badge — photo, name and location included — pinned to her shirt: Maria Sousa, 98, who drew blueprints in the engineering department of a Richmond shipyard and now volunteers with the historical park: Velma Long, 106, worked as a typist for the U.S. Navy during WWII and Jeanne Gibson, 98, worked as a welder in Seattle and for the Army Transportation Corps in Juneau, Alaska.
OTHER PEOPLE'S
MONEY
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE PARTY the 2nd annual benefit for Pasadena Playhouse, the official State Theater of California and recipient of the 2023 Regional Theatre Tony Award, created by Pasadena Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Danny Feldman and the Playhouse Party Committee, was held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Co-chaired by Elizabeth Hall, Y-Vonne Hutchinson, Anita Lawler and Leigh Olivar, the event was created to strengthen the community through connection and celebration. The event was an enormous success, raising over $675,000 for Pasadena Playhouse.
THE AVERAGE COST OF A FOUR YEAR DEGREE in the USA is now well over $100,000.
Are college degrees worth that sizable investment? A recent study from Career.io answered that question with a resounding yes.
California has the biggest graduate salary premium. Professionals with a college degree are earning 96% more than their high-school-educated counterparts. On a dollar basis, that works out to an extra $37,000 per year.
New Jersey is another state with a high graduate salary premium; it’s over 90%. Other states where graduates are out-earning the rest of the workforce by a significant amount include Maryland, Washington, and New York.
On the other end of the scale, Vermont’s college-educated professionals might wonder if taking on all that student debt was really worth it. Vermont has the smallest graduate salary premium of any US state; it’s just over 30%.
The pay disparity between high-school and college-educated workers in California widens even further when looking at the data on gender. Male workers without a degree in California earn an average salary of $42,000, while their college-educated peers make nearly $90,000; that’s a graduate salary premium of over 100%.
And the pay gap is more significant among female high-school educated workers and college graduate professionals. There are four states where the graduate salary premium for female graduates is over 100%. They are New Jersey (105%), Texas (104%), California (103%), and New York (102%).
The research suggests that college-educated females earn around $50,000 more annually. Over a working lifetime, that could add up to an additional $3 million, making the investment of a college degree well worth it in the long run.
The Career.io researchers also segmented the data by cities. For example, the graduate salary premium in Sugar Land, Texas, is a massive 201%. New Rochelle, New York, where college graduates earn 3x more than high-school graduates. The US cities with the highest graduate salary premium: Hoboken, New Jersey, a city where college graduates earn, on average, 305.63% more than workers with only a high school diploma. The career.io researcher ran the numbers and calculated that Hoboken’s salary premium equals an additional $81,000 per year. Palo Alto, California, has a graduate salary premium of 256%.
US cities with the lowest graduate salary premiums.There are several US cities where the salary disparity between non-college-educated workers and those with a degree is down to just a few percent. For example, the graduate salary premium in Schaumburg, Illinois, is only 7.83%. And there are several US cities where high school-educated workers are out-earning those with a degree. They include Johnson City, Tennessee, where the salary premium for college grads is -12%. The best place to be a high school-educated worker, at least in terms of earning potential, is Gary, Indiana, where the salary premium disparity dips all the way down to -50%. Flip that around, and it means high school-educated workers in Gary are earning 50% more than those who paid over $100k to fund four years of college.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO . . . .
GIANANDREA NOSEDA currently the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. which celebrated his 60th birthday on April 23, 2024.
Noseda is one of the world's most sought-after conductors, equally recognized for his artistry in both the concert hall and opera house.
In its 93rd season, the NSO actively works to engage audiences both locally in our community as well as across the world through excellence in performance and education. Under the steadfast leadership of Gianandrea Noseda, the NSO performs an average of 150 concerts per year and serves thousands of students through its education programs such as Young People’s Concerts and its online digital resources.
Noseda holds the honor of Commendatore al Merito della Repubblica Italiana, for his contributions to the artistic life of Italy. He was the recipient of the Conductor of the Year award from Musical America, for 2015. The International Opera Awards named him Best Conductor in 2016. In February 2023, Noseda was recognized as Best Conductor by the Oper! Awards 2023.
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THE BRIDGE THEATRE which is run by London Theatre Company Productions Limited is bustin' its buttons with pride. Their production of Guys & Dolls
scooped itself an Olivier. "We keep on pinching ourselves, but apparently, yes, it really did happen," reported the venue. "A huge congratulations to Arlene Phillips and James Cousins who won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. If you can believe it, at the age of 80, this is Arlene's very first Olivier, and she received a full standing ovation from the audience.
"As if that wasn't enough, our original Miss Adelaide, Olivier Award nominee, the fabulous Marisha Wallace, took to the stage to perform Take Back Your Mink alongside our glittering Hot Box girls."
They are also "very pleased to announce, that Guys & Dolls will be extending, one final time. This five-star, multi-award winning production, will now be running until 4 January 2025.
hosted the 2024 AAFA American Image Awards at Gotham Hall in midtown Manhattan. Emceed by the host of Boston Globe Today, Segun Oduolowu, the gala honored leaders and advocates across the apparel and footwear industries. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Foundation is the event’s longstanding charitable beneficiary.
The AAFA American Image Awards honorees included?Lizanne Kindler, Executive Chair & CEO, KnitWell Group, as Person of the Year;?Carhartt, Inc.?as Company of the Year, accepted by Danilo Amoretty, Senior Vice President of Global Product Supply and Operations;?Wes Gordon, Creative Director, Carolina Herrera, as Designer of the Year; Global Fashion Agenda, accepted by CEO,?Federica Marchionni,?as Eco-Steward of the Year; and?Allan Ellinger, Senior Managing Partner, MMG Advisors, as Trailblazer.
Delivering touching remarks as they accepted their statuette, Eco-Steward, Frederica Marchionni spoke of the American dream being alive and well and inspiring all to strive to achieve their highest aspirations. Trailblazer, Allan Ellinger, shared his belief in the power of doing good and offered tremendous hope for our collective future. Designer of the Year, Wes Gordon, inspired all to see the power of creating beautiful things as being truly life changing, not only for himself and his team, but for his clients the world over. Danilo Amoretty accepted Carhartt’s honor as Company of the Year, which comes as the iconic brand celebrates 135 years; he spoke about one of the company’s core values — to "Respect the Past, While Walking Bravely Into the Future" — as the company continues to redefine the limits of workwear through its commitment to quality gear with enduring value, and the development of sustainable practices to protect our planet for future generations. Finally, Person of the Year, Lizanne Kindler, shared the inspiration she finds in those around her – family, colleagues, and customers.
"For more than four decades, the American Image Awards has not only recognized our industry’s finest leaders and companies, but it has served as a pathway where challenges and opportunities intersect. We are a community, a collective, global in our reach and full of talent – and together we can foster such a bright future," said?Josue Solano, AAFA chair and CEO of BBC International.
THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL book by Jonathan A. Abrams, and story by Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan A. Abrams.
Set in 1987 and jam-packed with Huey Lewis megahits like "Do You Believe in Love", "Hip to Be Square", and "If This Is It," The Heart of Rock and Roll centers on a couple of twenty-somethings on the cusp of their futures—Bobby, a rock and roller who’s traded his guitar for the corporate ladder and his boss Cassandra who’s always put the family business first. When they both get a second shot at their dreams, it’ll take "The Power of Love" and a little help from their friends to figure out what kind of life they really want.
"The Heart of Rock and Roll is a smart, funny, heartfelt throwback to the era of big feelings, classic rom coms, and music that really "Stuck with You."
The principal cast includes Corey Cott (Bobby), McKenzie Kurtz (Cassandra), Josh Breckenridge (Wyatt), F. Michael Haynie (Glenn), Zoe Jensen (Paige), Tamika Lawrence (Roz), Raymond J. Lee (JJ), John-Michael Lyles (Eli), Orville Mendoza (Fjord), Billy Harrigan Tighe (Tucker) and John Dossett (Stone). Mike Baerga, Tommy Bracco, TyNia René Brandon, Olivia Cece, Taylor Marie Daniel, Autumn Guzzardi, Lindsay Joan, Ross Lekites, Robin Masella, Michael Olaribigbe, Kevin Pariseau, and Robert Pendilla round out the ensemble, with Joe Moeller, Jennifer Noble, Fredric Rodriguez Odgaard, and Leah Read as the swings.
The creatives are: Music Supervision, Arrangements, and Orchestrations by Brian Usifer, Musical Direction by Will Van Dyke, Choreography by Lorin Latarro and Direction by Gordon Greenberg. Additional creative team members are Derek McLane (Scenic Designer), Jen Caprio (Costume Designer), Japhy Weideman (Lighting Designer), John Shivers (Sound Designer), Nikiya Mathis (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Designer), Tara Rubin Casting / Peter Van Dam CSA (Casting Director), and Justin Scribner (Production Stage Manager).
Performances at the James Earl Jones Theatre, New York City.
THE EFFECT by BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Emmy award-winning writer Lucy Prebble.
Directed by Benjamin Kilby-Henson.
Assistant director Keagan Carr Fransch.
Love, ethics, and the power of pills.
Featuring Sara Wiseman as Dr. Lorna James; Zoë Robins as Connie Hall, Jayden Daniels as Tristan Frey and Jarod Rawiri as Dr. Toby Sealey.
When Connie and Tristan sign up for a clinical trial to test a new antidepressant, they fall for each other. Hard. Sealed off from the outside world, they’re ready to break all the rules. But are their feelings real or nothing more than a side effect from the drug that’s firing a dopamine hit to their brains?
British playwright Lucy Prebble shows all the razor-sharp flair that made her a star writer on the smash hit Succession in this deft dissection of medical ethics and the nature of human attraction – fresh from a critically acclaimed 2023 season at London’s National Theatre.
As the couple’s illicit romance throws the trial off course, tensions flare between the two supervising psychiatrists, who turn out to have a messy history of their own.
And, as both the dosage of the drug and the emotional stakes increase, a wider debate plays out on the medicalization of depression for profit by the pharmaceutical industry. "There’s no such thing as side effects. They’re just effects you can’t sell."
A provocative delve into the mysteries of human attraction, this chemical romance keeps you guessing as it asks which is more powerful – the head or the heart?
The creatives are: Daniel Williams Production Designer; Jane Hakaraia Lighting Designer; Chelsea Jade Sound Designer; Katrina George Movement Director; Miriama McDowell Intimacy Director.
Performances through May 11, 2024 at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov.
Directed by Benedict Andrews.
Featuring BAFTA winner Adeel Akhtar, Sarah Amankwah, Nathan Armarkwei Laryea, David Ganly, Michael Gould, BAFTA nominee Éanna Hardwicke, multi-award-winning Nina Hoss, Daniel Monks, Marli Siu, Sadie Soverall, Posy Sterling and June Watson.
Following internationally acclaimed productions of The Seagull and Three Sisters, director Benedict Andrews has a reputation as one of the world’s leading interpreters of Chekhov. For the Donmar Warehouse he stages the great writer’s final play. It’s a work that predicted and captured the end of an era, but is timeless in its humanity, prescience, humor and pathos.
Previews sold out - best availability from May 24, 2024 at the Donmar Warehouse in London.
THE THANKSGIVING PLAY by Larissa FastHorse.
Directed by Jess McLeod.
Four (very) well-intentioned theatre people walk into an elementary school. The work at hand: a Thanksgiving pageant that won’t ruffle any feathers. What could possibly go wrong? Rambunctious, thorny and not altogether politically correct, The Thanksgiving Play serves up the hypocrisies of woke America on a big, family-style, platter. Come get ya some.
Featuring Audrey Francis and Tim Hopper.
Playwright Larissa FastHorse on NPR stated: "People so often want Native work to be dark and dramatic" she says. "If you look at my plays on the cover page, it almost always says like "a satirical comedy" or "a farce" or something like that... I'm a joke writer..."
Featuring Audrey Francis as Logan and Tim Hopper as Caden. With Alicia - Paloma Nozicka; Jaxton - Nate Santanal.
Understudies are: Thomas J. Cox, Madelyn DePorter, Arash Fakhrabadi, and Andrea San Miguel.
The creatives are: Scenic Design Andrew Boyce: Costume Design Raquel Adorno: Lighting Design Keith Parham: Sound Design Tosin Olufolabi: Violence Design R&D Choreography: Intimacy Consultant Jyreika Guest: Music Director Kory Danielson: Engagement Curator & Cultural Consultant Dillon Chitto: Vocal Coach Kate DeVore: Creative Producer Patrick Zakem: Production Manager Elise Hausken: Casting JC Clementz: Production Stage Manager Christine D. Freeburg: Assistant Stage Manager Kathleen Barrett.
The Chicago premiere of the skewering and satirical Broadway hit The Thanksgiving Play on stage April 25 - June 2! at Steppenwolf in Chicago.
THE ISLANDER book by Stewart Melton. Music and Lyrics by Finn Anderson.
Conceived and Directed by Amy Draper.
Staging & Associate Direction by Eve Nicol.
Featuring Lois Craig, Sylvie Stenson, Stephanie MacGaraidh and Julie Murray.
Winner of Best New Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Islander tells a modern myth featuring two actors who use live mixing and looping technology to create a sonic landscape as dramatic as the Scottish coastline. Eilidh is the only child on Kinnan Island, where most of the dwindling population has moved to the "Big Land." The government has proposed to resettle the rest, and the town must vote soon on whether or not to accept the offer. But the day after a baby whale beaches itself, Eilidh discovers a young girl named Arran along the shore, who seems straight out of Scottish folklore. As the two form a friendship, Islander takes audiences on a magical journey to transcend loss, recover hope, and find community.
Now through April 28, 2024 at the Olney Theatre in Olney, MD.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS book & Lyrics by Howard Ashman. Music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith.
Directed and choreographed by Keenon Hooks.
Music director Michael Wilkins.
Mushnik’s flower shop on Skid Row is about to go under, until Seymour, a tragically shy assistant, stumbles upon a new breed of plant with an unusual appetite - for blood. Little Shop of Horrors is a hilarious, musical hit and sci-fi homage to B-movies, that continues to devour the hearts of theater goers for over 30 years.
Starring Alexander Pimental, Molly Dobbs, Diva LaMarr, Billy Breed and George Walker.
Understudies: Andrew Missael Banderas, Annabelle Oglesby, Brezae Weeks, Joshua Oscar, and Michael Gould.
The creatives are: Costume design by Caroline Rein. Lighting design by Cody Soper. Scenic design by Joe C. Klug. Assistant costume designer Skyla Robison, Wardrobe crew Renee Ortega, Holland Rolapp, and Jessica Peters. Dresser/ Wigs Ella Costa.
Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, Producing Director) Originally produced at the Orpheum Theatre, New York City by the WPA Theatre, David Geffen, Cameron Mackintosh and the Shubert Organization.
April 25-May 12, 2024 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, CA. and June 13-July 7, 2024 at the Solvang Festival Theater in Solvang, CA.
THE ACTORS by Ronnie Larsen.
A man, grief-stricken by the death of his Mother, hires actors to come to his house a few times a week and be his family. But things don’t go quite as he planned.
"The Actors is a comedy about the death of my parents. In the late 90's, when some of my plays experienced a little success Off-Broadway, I earned enough money to bring my parents to New York City and take them to a bunch of Broadway shows. We celebrated our love of theatre together but could not celebrate my plays because the work I was producing was at odds with their conservative Mormon beliefs. So it's ironic to be returning Off-Broadway with a play that features my parents as major characters and that is actually suitable for all audiences. Had they lived they would have been extremely proud to know that I have finally written a play they can bring their friends to. However, had they lived, I would never have written the play."
Starring: Ronnie Larsen as Ronnie - Jeni Hacker as Jean - Allen Lewis Rickman as Claire - Gabriell Salgado as Actor Jay - Jason Guy as Real Jay.
Performances beginning April 27, 2024 at Theatre Row in New York City.
ALL OF ME by Laura Winters.
Directed by Ashley Brooke Monroe.
Featuring Madison Ferris, Danny J. Gomez, Lily Mae Harrington, Florencia Lozano, Brian Morabito and Kyra Sedgwick.
It’s your classic romantic comedy. Boy meets girl. Boy uses a wheelchair, girl uses a scooter, and they both use text-to-speech technology to connect to the world around them. They come from different worlds, but love pulls them together when their families push them apart. All of Me is a boldly humorous and candid love story exploring class and disability in America today.
The creatives are: Co-Scenic Design by Brett Banakis and Edward T. Morris, Costume Design by Sarah LeFeber, Lighting Design by Reza Behjat and Sound Design by Matt Otto. Fight Director: Thomas Schall. Production Supervisor: Five Ohm. Accessibility & Disability Consultant: ConsultAbility. Production Accessibility Coordinator: Caitlin Cafiero. Casting Director is Judy Henderson, CSA. Production Stage Manager is Elizabeth Allen.
All of Me was a winner of the Burman New Play Prize and had its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company in fall 2022. This production from The New Group begins previews April 23 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Tuesday, May 14. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 16 at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City.
THE GIRLS OF SLENDER MEANS Drama adapted by Gabriel Quigley, from the novel by Muriel Spark.
Directed by Roxana Silbert.
"We were girls together during the war. In a boarding house for women on the Bayswater Road called The May of Teck Club. It was 1945, when all the nice people were poor... allowing for exceptions.’"
Set in the summer of 1945, The Girls of Slender Means follows the adventures of a group of young women who are caught between hope and unhappiness. As each girl grapples with what happened in the war, they begin to imagine what lies ahead of them in peacetime. A Schiaparelli gown, suitors and bacon rations are all bartered with in this lively and moving stage adaption of Spark's seminal novel.
Romance, work, fashion and politics collide in The Girls of Slender Means as the girls find joy among the rubble.
Featuring Julia Brown as Selina Redwood - Seamus Dillane as Nicholas Farringdon - Amy Kennedy as Anne Markham - Molly McGrath as Joanna Childe - Molly Vevers as Jane Wright - Shannon Watson as Pauline Fox.
The creatives are: Designer Jessica Worrall - Lighting Designer Matt Haskins - Composer & Sound Designer Nick Powell - Movement Director Jack Webb - Casting Directors Simone Pereira Hind (CDG) & Anna Dawson - Dramaturg Jackie Crichton - Producer David Dey.
On stage through Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.
In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid)
you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers,
treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.
FINAL OVATION
JUDITH GINGOLD a pioneer in the first sex discrimination complaint filed in the news media, died in Los Angeles, March 2, 2024 after a long illness. She was 82.
A Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of Smith College and a Marshall Scholar at Oxford University, when she returned to New York, she could find a job only as a researcher - not a reporter or writer - at Newsweek magazine, a position for which only women were hired and rarely promoted.
Judy decided the women should take legal action. On March 16, 1970, she was one of 46 women staffers who filed a sex discrimination complaint against Newsweek, the first such action by women in the media. After that, women at Time, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, The Washington Post and The New York Times all filed sex discrimination complaints, changing the face of journalism in the US. "That is one of the hardest things I've ever done but I felt I had to sue," Judy said at the time. She ended up as the editor of the My Turn column at Newsweek.
In 1982, Judy moved to Los Angeles with her husband, David Freeman, a writer, but never gave up her love for New York. In Los Angeles, Judy wrote book reviews for the Los Angeles Times as well as pieces for The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic magazine. She also was a fellow at the Betty Friedan Think Tank at the Institute for the Study of Women and Men at USC and later at the Center for the Study of Women at UCLA.
She is survived by her husband, her brother Alfred Gingold, sister-in-law Helen Rogan and nephew Toby Gingold and her many friends in Los Angeles and New York.
DICKEY BETTS singer and guitarist who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band died from cancer and COPD in his home April 17, 2024 in Osprey, Florida. He was 80.
Betts wrote several of the band’s most enduring compositions, including the instrumentals "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" "Jessica," and the pastoral love song "Blue Sky." He remained best known for the 1973 song "Ramblin’ Man,"
which became the band’s only top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
In August 2018, Betts suffered a mild stroke and had to cancel upcoming tour dates with his Dickey Betts Band. He was in critical yet stable condition at a Florida hospital following an accident at his home in Osprey, Florida. An operation was planned for September 20, 2018. He successfully underwent surgery to relieve swelling on his brain.
Betts married his fifth wife, Donna, in 1989. He had four children: Kimberly, Christy, Jessica, and Duane. Christy is married to Frank Hannon of the band Tesla. Jessica is the namesake of Betts’ instrumental. Duane, named for Betts' former bandmate Duane Allman, is also a musician and performed and recorded with his father.
Next Column: April 28, 2024
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