Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: April 27, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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AN EFFERVESCENT BOOP! THE BETTY BOOP MUSICAL

Things are a little discombobulated right now. Need a pick me up?

Try Boop! Easy to digest with long term positive after-affects.

Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell who is a master of a syncopated beat. The score is by David Foster and Susan Birkenhead who are noted for getting it right. Bob Martin is credited with the book.

Boop! The Musical is a based on the animated character Betty Boop, who gave emotional relief and never ending words of encouragement - “boop-oop-a-doop.”

At the Broadhurst Theatre you'll be engulfed in mood lifting colorful hues thanks to David Rockwell's exceptional scenic design, Gregg Barnes attention getting costumes and effective lighting by Philip S. Rosenberg.

When Betty Boop was created the world was trying retain its footing after World War I and the Great Depression.

Nothing is always smooth sailing.

"A caricature of a Jazz Age flapper, Betty Boop was described in a 1934 court case as "combin[ing] in appearance the childish with the sophisticated—a large round baby face with big eyes and a nose like a button, framed in a somewhat careful coiffure, with a very small body of which perhaps the leading characteristic is the most self-confident little bust imaginable". She was toned down in the mid-1930s as a result of the Hays Code to appear more modest, and has become one of the world's best-known and most popular cartoon characters."

"Betty Boop is regarded as one of the first and best-known sex symbols on the animated screen; she is a symbol of the Depression era and a reminder of the more carefree days of Jazz Age flappers." Her character embodies a message of confidence and self-expression.

In this kooky story, the iconic 1930s cartoon character created by animation pioneer Max Fleischer, Betty Boop (the talented Jasmine Amy Rogers) lives in a black and white world, a super celebrity who just wants a day to call her own. This show is not "Phantom" or " Les Miz" with stand alone dramatic numbers having the audience hanging from the rafters. Nor it is "Richard III" or "Death of a Salesman." It's a fuzzy, feel good romp which doesn't always make sense. Just revel in the dance and some of the songs. Don't try to make it something it's not.

Betty not only singing but switching personas every eight bars before the stress of being whoever people want her to be puts her in an emotional downturn. Shaken and tired of the showbiz grind from the fun factory, she needs a break.

We need Betty.

In cartoonland, anything is possible — and nonsensical. An interdimensional teleportation Thingamajig, invented by her eccentric co-star Grampy (Stephen DeRosa), sends Betty to the vibrantly colored world of 2025 Manhattan where she lands at a Comic Con convention, complete with its cosplaying crowd. Fitting right in, she’s befriended by Trisha (Angelica Hale), a teenage Betty Boop super-fan.

In spite of glimpsing so much garbage, poverty, and corruption all around her, Betty still sees something magical that she can’t help but resist.

She drives into her new environment: getting involved first with a mayoral campaign and then with a jazz trumpeter/babysitter (Ainsley Melham) while helping an orphaned teenager (Angelica Hale) achieve self-empowerment.

In the all-black-and-white, cartoon world of the 30's Fleischer Studios, David Rockwell redesigns retro into a jar dropping statement.

At first it’s all bewildering to Betty, then wondrous as she takes in her colorful surroundings, her new friend and a potential love interest in Trisha’s brother, a jazz musician named Dwayne (Ainsley Melham).

Even the black and white scenes are top of the line.

Meanwhile, Toontown is in a panic from the disappearance of its star money making attraction. Grampy and pooch Pudgy (an adorable puppet, brought to life by Philip Huber) are transported to the New York to bring Betty back.

An after thought of a subplot has Grampy reuniting with Valentina (Faith Prince), an astrophysicist he met and fell in love with during a long ago tele-trip. Then there’s Trish’s Aunt Carol (Anastacia McCleskey), who is mayoral campaign manager for Raymond Demarest (Erich Bergen), a scum bag of a low life sanitation mogul running for mayor who gloms onto Betty’s popularity once her identity is revealed. He stands for all the drooling men who appear in Betty's cartoons.

Will Aunt Carol supplant Raymond as the candidate? Stay tuned.

With his feet in the real-world Dwayne - or as steady in the real world as a musician can be - in some cases, he is as vapid as Betty but shows off a marvelous voice and suave dance moves in "She Knocks Me Out" and joins Betty in the killer "Why Look Around the Corner" and the jazz hot bandstand number "Here I Wanna Be."

Prince’s character permits her to enthrall us with her wonderful voice. As Trish, the 17-year-old Hale (a finalist in America’s Got Talent) is a spark plug with impressive power. Morgan McGhee is a hoot with her role of the almost mentally stable newscaster.

Betty Boop originally appeared in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures. She was featured in 90 theatrical cartoons between 1930 and 1939.

Cast: Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop. Faith Prince as Valentina. Ainsley Melham as Dwayne. Erich Bergen as Raymond. Stephen DeRosa as Grampy. Anastacia McCleskey as Carol. 17 yea old future superstar Angelica Hale as Trisha - a star in the making with a long, successful future ahead of her. Phillip Huber as Pudgy. Aubie Merrylees as Oscar.

Colin Bradbury as Arnie Finkle, Ricky Schroeder as Clarence.

Ensemble members are: Lawrence Alexander, Tristen Buettel, Joshua Michael Burrage, Victoria Byrd, Dan Castiglione,

Rebecca Corrigan, RJ Higton, Nina Lafarga. Morgan McGhee, Cheryl King, Malcolm Carter, Gabriella Sorrentino, Derek Jordan Taylor, Lizzy Tucker.

Ryah Nixon and Christian Probst as Mascot.

Swings: Courtney Arango, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald , Amy Van Norstrand , Damani Van Rensalier and David Wright Jr. Understudies: Colin Bradbury (Raymond Demarest, Grampy), Tristen Buettel (Valentina), Victoria Byrd (Betty Boop, Trisha), Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald (Oscar Delacorte), RJ Higton (Raymond Demarest), Morgan McGhee (Carol Evans), Aubie Merrylees (Grampy), Ryah Nixon (Valentina), Christian Probst (Pudgy, Oscar Delacorte), Derek Jordan Taylor (Dwayne), Lizzy Tucker (Betty Boop, Trisha), Damani Van Rensalier (Carol Evans) and David Wright Jr. (Dwayne) Musical Supervisor: Daryl Waters; Musical Coordinator: Michael Aarons and M² Music; Associate Musical Coord: Anja Wood; Conducted by Rick Fox; Associate Conductor: Caleb Hoyer; Keyboard: Rick Fox and Caleb Hoyer; Drums: Jordan Rose; Reeds: Dave Mann, Brian Krock, Daniel Willis and Mike Raposo; French Horn: Audrey Flores; Trumpet: John Chudoba and Bruce Harris; Trombone: Dan Levine and Jeff Nelson; Acoustic and Electric Bass: Matt Clohesy; Violin: Suzy Perelman; Cello: Deborah Assael-Migliore; Music Preparation: Jacob Fjeldheim, Nathan Serot, Megan Sperger and J&J Music Preparation; Keyboard Programmer: Stuart Andrews; Music Transcription: Andreas Häberlin; Music Department Associate: Jason Liebson.

The creatives are: David Rockwell scenic design. Gregg Barnes costume design. Philip S. Rosenberg lighting design. Gareth Owen sound design. Finn Ross projection design.

In most productions the make up and hair are important but none more so than in this show. Low bows to Sabana Majeed wig & hair design and Michael Clifton makeup design.

The Huber Marionsttes TM. Marionette Design.Skylar Fox illusions design. DB Bonds associate director. Rachelle Rak associate choreographer. Jon Rua associate choreographer. Bonnie L. Becker production stage manager. Katherine Wallace stage manager. John Carpenter assistance stage manager. Kathleen Rose Gallardo assistant stage manager.

Doug Besterman orchestrations. Rick Fox music director. Zane Mark dance arrangements.

Table 7 Strategy, Victoria Cairl marketing director. RPM Advertising. Boneau/Bryan-Brown press representative. Steve Greer Company Manager. Daryl Waters music supervision and additional arrangements.

You'll be swept up with the energetic choreography of Jerry Mitchell. If the toe tapping doesn't get you in the mood to experience life then you are probably dead. This is toon-town where things don't always fall in line or make sense. Just go with it. We're talking about a cartoon.

According to official records: While Betty Boop herself doesn't have a large collection of specific inspirational quotes, her character embodies a message of confidence and self-expression. Here are some ways to translate that into words of encouragement:

Emphasize her positive attributes:
"You've got a sparkle, just like Betty Boop! Keep shining!"
"Be bold, be beautiful, be you. You're your own Betty Boop."
"Don't let anyone dim your light. You're a star, just like her!"

Encourage self-acceptance and confidence:
"Love yourself, the way Betty Boop loves herself. You're amazing!"
"Confidence is your best accessory. Own it, like Betty Boop does!"
"Don't be afraid to stand out. You're unique and fabulous!"

Promote a positive attitude and perseverance:
"Keep your chin up and your spirits high! You're resilient, just like Betty Boop."
"You can handle anything. You've got that Betty Boop spirit!"
"Don't let anyone discourage you. You're powerful and you deserve to be happy!"

In essence, the encouragement should focus on:
Embracing individuality:
Betty Boop is a unique character, and the encouragement should emphasize that everyone should embrace their unique qualities.
Self-love and confidence:
She is a symbol of confidence, so the encouragement should inspire self-acceptance and belief in oneself.
Resilience and perseverance:
Betty Boop's character often faces challenges, so the encouragement should emphasize the ability to overcome obstacles.

Boop! The Musical is now running at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.

. Boop! The Musical will perform on NBC's Today Show on April 30 as part of Broadway Week, the shows annual celebration of the best new Broadway musicals.

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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

THE GENESIS EXHIBITION: DO HO SUH: WALK THE HOUSE

London-based artist Do Ho Suh invites visitors to explore his large-scale installations, sculptures, videos and drawings in this major survey. Photo: Tate Modern

a major survey exhibition of the work of Do Ho Suh, marking the first major solo showing of his work in London for a generation. The artist invites visitors to explore his large-scale installations, sculptures, videos and drawings, asking questions about the enigma of home, identity and how we move through and inhabit the world around us. The exhibition will present the breadth and depth of Suh’s unique practice over the last three decades, spanning­ locations including Seoul, New York, and London – the three cities he has called home, and featuring new site-specific works on display for the first time.

The exhibition’s title ‘Walk the House’ is drawn from a Korean expression referring to the hanok – a house that could theoretically be disassembled, transported and reassembled at a new site. Reflecting this idea of a transportable home, Suh’s immersive works examine the relationship between architecture, space, the body, and the memories that make us who we are. The artist has stated that ‘The space I’m interested in is not only a physical one, but an intangible, metaphorical, and psychological one. For me, ‘space’ is that which encompasses everything.’

While Suh’s practice is rooted in his own experiences, it welcomes viewers to fill the works both physically with their presence and psychologically with their inner worlds. Visitors will be able to wander through his fabric architectures – translucent 1:1 scale replicas of spaces in which the artist has lived and worked. These include the ambitious new installation Nest/s 2024, which colourfully weaves together corridors and entryways, highlighting the porous nature of boundaries traditionally thought of as fixed. Also presented for the first time is Perfect Home: London, Horsham, New York, Berlin, Providence, Seoul 2024, an outline of the artist’s present home in London, filled with brightly coloured architectural features, including doorknobs, light switches and electrical sockets, that playfully trace the domestic spaces the artist and his family have previously lived in.

In addition, lesser-known facets of Do Ho Suh’s practice will be introduced, including works on paper created between 2000 and the present day. The exhibition will present his evocative Staircase 2016, made by dissolving a paper sculpture onto a sheet of wet paper, thereby translating the three-dimensional form onto a two-dimensional plane. Much like Suh’s fabric architectures, these works allow him to create portable versions of parts of his past homes. Also on view will be the artist's complex and playful thread drawings, where vibrantly coloured threads are sewn into handmade paper, echoing his use of fabric to outline three dimensional spaces.

Tate will also present two of Suh’s video works – Robin Hood Gardens 2018 and Dong In Apartments 2022 – both of which feature photogrammetry, a technically detailed process which stitches together images to produce a digital model of the physical world.

The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House is in partnership with Genesis. It is co-curated by Nabila Abdel Nabi, Senior Curator, International Art (Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational) and Dina Akhmadeeva, Assistant Curator, International Art, Tate Modern.

Running May 1 - October 9, 2025 at Tate Modern in London.

ARTISTS SHORTLISTED FOR THIS YEAR'S TURNER PRIZE are: Nnena Kalu, Mohammed Sami, Zadie Xa and Rene Matic - who at 27 is the second youngest artist to be nominated after Damien Hirst - are all in the running for the prestigious annual art p rize, the Tate announced.

An exhibition of their work will be held at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery from September as part of Bradford's UK City of Culture celebrations.

The winner, who will be awarded £25,000, will be announced on December 8 at a ceremony in the West Yorkshire city.

Glasgow-born Nnena Kalu, who has limited verbal communication, has been a resident artist with Action Space, which supports artists with learning disabilities, for more than 25 years. She creates large-scale swirling abstract drawings and sculptures made from colorful streams of repurposed fabrics and materials such as reels of VHS tape.

Photographer, writer and poet Rene Matic, from Peterborough, is nominated for solo exhibition As Opposed To The Truth at CCA Berlin, which touches on the rise of right-wing populism and identities.

Matic captures "fleeting moments of joy in daily life, and expressions of tenderness within a wider political context", according to Tate, using intimate photos of family and friends placed in an installation which also includes objects like the artist's collection of children's black dolls bought in second-hand shops.

Mohammed Sami hails from Baghdad and his work draws on his life and experiences during the Iraq war and as a refugee in Sweden.

The artist is recognized for solo exhibition After the Storm at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and the jury were impressed by his "powerful representation" of war and exile.

His large-scale paintings explore memory and loss, layering patterns and colors to create "haunting, dreamlike scenes".

Zadie Xa comes from Vancouver, Canada, and her work is inspired by her Korean heritage and the importance of shamanic beliefs. Interweaving paintings, murals, traditional patchwork textiles and 650 brass bells that make harmonized sounds inspired by Korean shamanic ritual bells, Xa's art focuses on the sea as "a spiritual realm to explore traditions and folklore, speaking to a multitude of cultures".

Established in 1984, the prize is named after radical painter JMW Turner - who would have turned 250 last Wednesday - and is awarded each year to a British-based artist for an "outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work".

Shanaz Gulzar, creative director Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, said it was "a huge honor and privilege" to bring the prize to the city that gave the world David Hockney.

Last year's prize was won by Jasleen Kaur, who used a vintage Ford Escort, worship bells and Irn-Bru to celebrate the Scottish Sikh community.

Other previous winners have included Sir Anish Kapoor (1991), Damien Hirst (1995) and Sir Steve McQueen (1999).

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SWEET CHARITY

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER joined the cast of the acclaimed production of Sunset Blvd and with director Jamie Lloyd to auction off the headline-making red bullhorn used earlier that week by star Nicole Scherzinger when due to technical difficulties the performance was canceled. Scherzinger, not wanting to leave the audience empty handed that afternoon, performed "With One Look" into the bullhorn. The moment went viral and made headlines across the country and was called by the New York Times "one of those moments that is likely to become Broadway lore."

The auction for the bullhorn, led by cast member Pierre Marais, raised an astounding $7,000 for Broadway Cares.

The production is playing an extended limited engagement on Broadway at the St. James Theatre through Sunday, July 13 only, and also stars 2024 Olivier Award nominee Grace Hodgett Young as Betty Schaefer, and Olivier Award winner and 2024 Olivier nominee David Thaxton as Max Von Mayerling.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the philanthropic heart of Broadway, helping people across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.

THE 1ST ANNUAL LEGACY BALL OF HARLEM takes place Monday, May 5th, 2025 in the Grand Ballroom of the Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel, the inaugural installment of the Legacy Ball will celebrate the history & culture of the neighborhood & introduce attendees to the modern zeitgeist that continues to inspire an entire new generation of local creatives in all areas of society.

Myrdith Leon-McCormack a serial entrepreneur, founder of World Bride Magazine, is the guest of honor. Joining Myrdith as the guest of honor for the evening will be A’Lelia Bundles, the author of Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance (Scribner, June 2025), the first major biography of her great-grandmother, and of On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, a New York Times Notable Book and bestseller about her great-great-grandmother, an early 20th century hair care industry entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Other notable guests, speakers, and performers from dance to Broadway will surprise and entertain those in attendance.

100 years ago, an incredible movement began. Known as the the Harlem Renaissance, the movement was a cultural awareness that took shape in the 1920s and 1930s which celebrated African American art, music, & literature. The movement challenged the racist stereotypes that were commonplace at the time & eventually gave rise to the civil rights movement that thrust the communities of color into the forefront of societal conversation. The movement inspires artists, creatives of all genres, and intellectuals to this day.

When Myrdith Leon-McCormack realized that the century mark was upon us since the recognized start of this rich, historic movement, she invisioned The Legacy Ball of Harlem.

The event includes dinner, swag bag, & other goodies depending on the ticket level purchased.

FRIDAY FIVE: LA NUIT DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT THE FLYNN Join us at 7pm on May 3rd for a benefit to support The Flynn's education and community programs takes place May 3, 2025.

Supporters, friends, and art lovers are invited to join us for cocktails, live music, dancing, decadent desserts, light bites, and more surprises throughout the night. Plus, a live and silent auction with many exciting items and experiences up for bid. All proceeds support the Flynn and our work throughout the year to increase access to the arts in Vermont and beyond.

Enjoy an exclusive performance by special Broadway guest: Caissie Levy.

Caissie is an Olivier and Grammy Award nominated veteran of eight Broadway and three West End shows. She earned an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for starring as Diana Goodman in the UK premiere of Next To Normal in London's West End and at The Donmar Warehouse. Most recently, she starred as Mother in the critically acclaimed New York City Center Gala production of Ragtime, directed by Lear DeBessonet.

Among other roles, Caissie created the iconic role of Elsa in Disney's Frozen on Broadway, starred in the Tony Award winning Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt, and as Rose in the in the Tony nominated Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change, for which she was nominated for a Grammy Award.

SPREADING THE WORD

COLORFUL TULIP FESTIVALS ARE ENCHANTING

Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival. Photo: Hampton Court.

"The popular Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival is back with over 100,000 tulip bulbs erupting in color at one of the UK’s biggest displays of planted tulips. Recognized as Britain’s Largest and Greatest Tulip Heritage Garden at the prestigious World Tulip Summit in 2024, this year's Tulip Festival promises a floral spectacle like no other. Taking place through May 5, 2025, people can explore 60 acres of breath-taking royal gardens and experience Henry VIII’s famous grounds brimming with award-winning tulips not only on the grounds but pouring out of our Tudor wine fountain and vintage horse carts.

Wander through the gardens to see the floating tulip bowls in the Great Fountain, and rare, historic and specialist varieties in the Lower Orangery, some of which date back over five centuries.

Hampton Court Palace and gardens are open every day during the Tulip Festival, giving you the flexibility to visit when it suits you best.

In addition to Hampton Court, "Nine million multi-colored tulips have burst into bloom in Hillington, Norfork, just five minutes from King Charles' Sandringham Estate in England. The striking flowers are spread across 32 acres — the equivalent of 20 soccer pitches — to create an amazing sea of red, yellow and purple. Some 31,000 people are set to visit the blooming fields which were planted in October last year.

Tulip Garden Warwickshire is a breathtaking natural spectacle featuring 500,000 vibrant tulips.

With over 100 varieties, including early bloomers, mid-season, and late-season tulips, the fields transform into a rolling kaleidoscope of colour throughout the season. Each variety showcases its own unique burst of colour, shape, and size, coming together to create a truly picturesque landscape.

While you’re here, savour traditional Dutch street food, enjoy live roaming entertainment, unwind with a refreshing drink or coffee from our charming coffee house, and snap unforgettable photos with their iconic windmill as the backdrop.

THE OLD GLOBE IN SAN DIEGO, CA has announced the cast and creative team for the San Diego premiere of One of the Good Ones, with performances May 24 through June 22, 2025.

The cast for One of the Good Ones includes Angelique Cabral as Ilana, Cree as Yoli, Nico Greetham as Marcos, Santino Jimenez as Pedro, and Benito Martinez as Enrique.

Understudies include Erika Toraya as Ilana, Maya Sofia Enciso as Yoli, Javier Guerrero as Enrique and Pedro, and Devyn Wade as Marcos.

In addition to Kellett and Senior, the creative team includes scenic design by Takeshi Kata; costume design by Sarita Fellows; lighting design by Jaymi Smith; sound design by Jeff Gardner and Andrea Allmond; casting by Caparelliotis Casting; and production stage manager Chandra R. M. Anthenill.

CAROLINA HERRERA whose New York based fashion label is owned by Spanish group Puig, is pirouetting away from New York Fashion Week in September to showcase its spring/summer 2026 collection in Madrid, Spain.

EPIC PLAYERS THEATRE billed as LA’s Premiere Neurodiverse Theater Company, presents Lights, Camera, Cabaret: A Neuro Inclusive Celebration of Hollywood’s Hit Music on April 30, 2025 at Dynasty Typewriter, in Los Angeles. Tickets include complimentary popcorn. The show will also be available via livestream. Patrons are suggested to "come in your best red carpet attire!"

From iconic movie musicals to timeless soundtracks, this cabaret will honor the music that has defined and shaped the movies we love.r EPIC performers will share the stage with incredible guest artists, including Barry Pearl and Trent Mills, bringing you an unforgettable night filled with incredible talent and pure movie magic.

EPIC Players Cast: Kennedy Areffi, Bowe Avery, Nayeli Benitez, Amanda Castrillo, Dovia Charles, Luna Floerke, Michelle Jace, Jacki Jing, Garrett Lees, Lex Levy, Bella Zoe Martinez, Devin Morrissey, Rebecca Faith Quinn, Abbey Romeo, Harry Schantz, Abe Shapiro, Ana Sharp, Nikolay Sharp, George Steeves, Alexandra Tamplin, Verity Van Dams, Phineas Wilde.

EPIC Players (Empower, Perform, Include, Create), founded on August 25, 2016, is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists. Via inclusive mainstage productions, musical cabarets, original showcases, skills-based classes and career resources, we hope to increase critical employment opportunities, pioneer increased inclusion in the arts, and break down social stigmas surrounding neuro-diverse communities.

STEPHEN K. BANNON who has been known to look like an unmade bed, appeared band box men's wear proper when he delivered the kickoff address at the Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar which took place April 24-25, 2025.

In a speech entitled "MAGA and the Fight for America" the host of War Room pulled no punches. He also spoke in a matter that educated in a clear, understandable framework while leaving no doubt where stands on various issues.

Bannon, a graduate of Harvard Business School. He was an officer in the United States Navy between 1977 and 1983. While serving in the navy, he earned a master's degree in national security studies in 1983 from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. In 1985, Bannon earned a Master of Business Administration degree with honors from Harvard Business School. He then worked for two years at Goldman Sachs as an investment banker. In 1993, he became acting director of the research project Biosphere 2. He was an executive producer on 18 Hollywood films from 1991 to 2016. In 2007, he co-founded Breitbart News.

The Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar also included the following speakers and their topics:

"Was JD Vance Right About Europe?" by Christopher Caldwell from The Claremont Institute - - "Defending the American Way of Life" by Larry P. Arnn President, Hillsdale College which is located in Michigan - - "Top Economic and Financial Challenges" by David Malpass, Former Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs and "The Role of a Free Press and the Irresponsibility of the Legacy Media" by Sean Davis of The Federalist.

THE NEW YORK POPS 42ND BIRTHDAY GALA CONCERT takes place in New York City at Carnegie Hall with a concert featuring the music of the legendary songwriter Diane Warren, including iconic hits like "If I Could Turn Back Time," "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," "How Do I Live," "How Can We Be Lovers," "Un-Break My Heart" and more.

For this very special occasion, they will be joined by a terrific array of guest artists, including Shoshana Bean, Sofia Carson, Taylor Dayne, Ariana DeBose, Micaela Diamond, Brandon Victor Dixon, Angélique Kidjo, Hailey Kilgore, Mykal Kilgore, Storm Large, LeAnn Rimes, and The War and Treaty.

MAMMA MIA! a decade after closing, will return to Broadway this summer. The musical, featuring music by ABBA, will begin previews on August 2 ahead of an opening night on August 14. The run is slated for the Winter Garden Theater, the musical’s original home on Broadway, where it opened in 2001. The production played for a record-breaking 14 years and 5,773 performances at the Winter Garden and then at the Broadhurst Theatre, making it Broadway’s ninth-longest running show of all time.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Horner of Hollywood is the inventor of the turntable set?

JAPAN NIGHT RECEPTION & CONCERT

Japan Night Reception & Concert, a new event this year, will take place the night before the Japan Parade & Street Fair on Friday, May 9 at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.

The creation of Japan Night allows more artists, creatives, performers, organizations, and companies to showcase their expressions of modern and traditional Japanese culture.

The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30pm followed by the concert at 7:00pm. Japan Night will be hosted by NBC News Correspondent Emilie Ikeda.

The concert will open with a performance from the cast of the stage version of the popular manga, ATTACK on TITAN: The Musical. Following this, MIYABI Koto Shamisen Ensemble, led by a renowned Japanese koto player, Masayo Ishigure, will perform with this traditional instrument. There will also be a visual presentation of traditional Japanese crafts presented by the title sponsor of the event ASP Group. The event will close with a live performance by Sayaka Yamamoto, former captain of the popular J-pop group NMB48, and now a singer-songwriter.

Prior to the concert, guests will first enjoy traditional Japanese sake brewing and craftsmanship including MIO Sparkling Sake by Takara Sake USA Inc. and passed hors d’oeuvres at a tasting event. Beer and wine will also be served.

Presented by ASP Group, Japan Night aims to provide a brand new, uniquely Japanese experience.

The next day on May 10, The 4th Annual Japan Parade & Street Fair begins at 1:00PM with Chef Masaharu Morimoto, restauranteur and star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America, as Grand Marshal and Koji Sato as this year’s Japan Parade Community Leader.

Sandra Endo, news correspondent on KTVV Los Angeles, Fox 11 News, and a feature reporter for Good Day LA, will serve, once again, as Emcee of the parade.

Concurrently with the Japan Parade, the Japan Street Fair will be held on West 72nd Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

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OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE ANNOUNCES 2025 NOMINATIONS

The Outer Critics Circle Awards are one of a handful of theatrical honors handed out in the spring, unofficially part of the road to the Tony Awards, this year set for June 8. Founded in the 1949-1950 Broadway season, the Outer Critics Circle honor recognizes the best in New York theatre—including both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions—from a voting membership comprising writers from out-of-town, national, and digital news outlets.

This year's nominees will be honored with a cocktail reception at West Bank Café April 28, with winners to be revealed May 12. An awards ceremony will be held May 22.

The nominees are:

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Cult of Love
The Hills of California
John Proctor Is the Villain
Purpose
Stranger Things: The First Shadow

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
BOOP! The Musical
Death Becomes Her
Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat
Real Women Have Curves

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
The Big Gay Jamboree
DRAG: The Musical
We Live in Cairo

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
The Antiquities
Grangeville
Here There Are Blueberries
Liberation
Table 17

JOHN GASSNER AWARD (NEW AMERICAN PLAY PREFERABLE BY A NEW PLAYWRIGHT
Amy Berryman, Walden
George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck
Marin Ireland, Pre-Existing Condition
Lia Romeo, Still
Emil Weinstein, Becoming Eve

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"
Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Once Upon a Mattress
Sunset Boulevard

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Glengarry Glen Ross
Romeo + Juliet
Vanya
Yellow Face

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER IN A BROADWAY PLAY
Kit Connor, Romeo + Juliet
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN A BROADWAY PLAY
Kieran Culkin, Glengarry Glen Ross
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Mare Winningham, Cult of Love
Kara Young, Purpose

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER IN A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN A BROADWAY MUSICAL
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat
Michele Pawk, Just in Time
Christopher Sieber, Death Becomes Her
Michael Urie, Once Upon a Mattress

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER IN AN OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Nick Adams, DRAG: The Musical
Marla Mindelle, The Big Gay Jamboree
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Safety Not Guaranteed
Alaska Thunderfuck, DRAG: The Musical
Taylor Trensch, Safety Not Guaranteed

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN AN OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Ali Louis Bourzgui, We Live in Cairo
Paris Nix, The Big Gay Jamboree
Eddie Korbich, DRAG: The Musical
J. Elaine Marcos, DRAG: The Musical
André De Shields, Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"
Henry Stram, Three Houses

OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMER IN AN OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Caroline Aaron, Conversations with Mother
F. Murray Abraham, Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Jayne Atkinson, Still
Adam Driver, Hold On to Me Darling
Anthony Edwards, The Counter
Paul Sparks, Grangeville

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER IN AN OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Betsy Aidem, Liberation
Sean Bell, The Beacon
Michael Rishawn, Table 17
Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Frank Wood, Hold On to Me Darling

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
David Greenspan, I'm Assuming You Know David Greenspan
Khawla Ibraheem, A Knock on the Roof
Sam Kissajukian, 300 Paintings
Andrew Scott, Vanya
Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour, We Live in Cairo
Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical
Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING SCORE
Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, BOOP! The Musical
Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRATIONS
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Doug Besterman, Death Becomes Her
Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Daniel Lazour and Michael Starobin, We Live in Cairo
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Trip Cullman, Cult of Love
Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Phylicia Rashad, Purpose
Danya Taymor, John Proctor Is the Villain

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Jenny Arnold, Operation Mincemeat
Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Shannon Lewis, Just in Time
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! the Musical

OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN
Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Dane Laffrey, Maybe Happy Ending
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical
Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, Real Women Have Curves
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Qween Jean, Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
Kevin Adams, Swept Away
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard
Peter Hylenski, Death Becomes Her
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
John Shivers, Swept Away

OUTSTANDING VIDEO/PROJECTIONS
59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard
David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Hana S. Kim, Redwood
Finn Ross, BOOP! The Musical

JOB WELL DONE

Patrick Hoffman

Patrick Hoffman, the recently retired curator of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts will be honored with an Outer Critics Circle Special Award during the OCC's award ceremony. The award pays tribute to Hoffman's more than three decades of service to the theatre community. His tenure with the archive saw 1,229 productions and 76 interviews preserved.

His last day was January 10, 2025.

Hoffman has been responsible for running the TOFT Archive since 2001. He oversaw the production of more than 50 original documentation video recordings of live theatre each year and maintained a close links between the Archive and the theatre community. He also sits on the Executive / Nominating Committee of the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Before joining the Library in 1993, Hoffman served as the Associate Curator of the Theatre Collection at the Museum of the City of New York. He has worked as an actor in professional theatre and has a BA in Theatre from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

"The Library for the Performing Arts and the theatre field are forever changed because of Patrick Hoffman’s work. Since the very beginning of his career here, he has remained a tireless proponent of preserving Broadway, Off-Broadway, and theatre history. His work as Director and Curator has helped build the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive into an unmatched destination for researchers, students, and theatre industry professionals from all over the world." said Roberta Pereira, Barbara G. and Lawrence A. Fleischman Executive Director of the Library for the Performing Arts.

Hoffman is also a nice guy.



GIANT by Mark Rosenblatt.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Tony, Golden Globe and 2025 Best Actor Olivier Award-winner John Lithgow stars as Roald Dahl in the West End transfer of Giant at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London.

Giant offers a complicated portrait of a fiendishly charismatic icon, children’s author Roald Dahl.

Inspired by real events, Mark Rosenblatt’s debut play explores with dark humor the difference between considered opinion and dangerous rhetoric.

The drama also stars Aya Cash making her West End debut as US Publisher Jessie Stone; 2025 Olivier Award-winner Elliot Levey as Tom Maschler, Dahl’s British Jewish Publisher; Olivier Award-nominee Rachael Stirling as Felicity Crosland; Richard Hope returning as Wally Saunders; and Tessa Bonham Jones as Hallie.

Winner of Best New Play (Olivier Awards 2025) Giant is playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London from April 26 to August 2, 2025.

THE COMEDY ABOUT SPIES written by original Mischief Company members Henry Lewis and Henry Shields.

Directed by Matt DiCarlo.

The Comedy About Spies is an uproarious 1960’s spy escapade, bursting with bungled missions, tangled identities, and miscommunication that’s anything but covert. In the show, when a rogue British agent pilfers plans for a top-secret weapon, CIA and KGB spies converge on London’s Piccadilly Hotel in pursuit of the elusive file. Add to the mix a clueless young couple, a hapless actor angling for the role of James Bond, and enough double agents to confuse even the sharpest operative, and you’ve got a mission that’s hilariously out of control.

Starring members of the original Mischief Company – Dave Hearn, Chris Leask, Henry Lewis, Charlie Russell, Henry Shields, Greg Tannahill and Nancy Zamit, joined by Adele James, Macadie Amoroso, Adam Byron, Matt Cavendish, Allie Dart, Niall Ransome and Ashley Tucker.

The creatives include: Set Designer David Farley, Costume Designer Deborah Andrews, Movement Director Shelley Maxwell, Lighting Designer Johanna Town, Sound Designer and Composer Jon Fiber for JollyGoodTunes, Casting by Lucy Jenkins CDG and Sooki McShane CDG, Additional Casting by Heather Basten CDG CSA, and the Associate Director is Katie-Ann McDonough.

Playing at the Noel Coward Theatre n London until September 5, 2025.

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FINAL OVATION

RICHARD KAHN a longtime marketing executive who formerly served as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, died April 5 in Los Angeles. He was 95.

Richard Kahn's sixty-year career in the film industry was highlighted by his presidency of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and MGM International. Kahn, president of the Academy in 1988-89, also served as a Vice President for 5 years and as a member of its Board of Governors for 12 years.

Joining MGM in 1975, after 20 years with Columbia Pictures, Kahn held various executive positions in addition to president of its international arm. Born in New Rochelle, NY, Kahn was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

From 1983 to 1989, Kahn was an adjunct professor on the faculty of the Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program of the USC's School of Cinematic Arts. In 2000, he was honored by the Hollywood Reporter with its Key Art Pioneer Award for "his vision, artistry and expertise as a creative force in the entertainment industry."

Kahn is survived by his two daughters, Sharon Kahn and Lisa Kahn Feldstern and his son-in-law the Honorable Daniel Feldstern, and his grandson and wife, Nicholas and Jennifer Fasulo Feldstern. No funeral services will be held.

JOEL KATZ called a a transformative force who reshaped the entertainment industry, passed away peacefully in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday morning, April 18, 202. He was 80.

Joel's profound impact on the entertainment world stemmed from his groundbreaking work facilitating entertainment-related corporate acquisitions and mergers. His influence reached the pinnacle of the music business, with Billboard magazine ranking him as the No. 1 entertainment attorney in its prestigious "Power 100." Known as "the dealmaker who thinks outside the box," Joel's strategic thinking and unparalleled negotiation skills left an enduring mark that spanned from individuals to global corporations.

Beyond his legal achievements, Joel was deeply committed to education. His passionate endowment and leadership in creating the commercial music program at Kennesaw State University stand as a testament to this commitment. The program has flourished into one of the largest in America, shaping the futures of over 500 students.

A respected voice in legal scholarship, Joel authored and co-authored numerous articles on entertainment law. His significant contributions were further honored by the University of Tennessee College of Law, which dedicated its library as the Joel A. Katz Law Library.

He is survived by his wife Rikki Katz, sisters Judy Harrow and Janie Emerson, brother Aaron Katz, his daughters Dr. Leslie Katz Lestz and Jeni Katz Paul, son-in-law Marshall Lestz and his adored grandchildren, Yossi, Ezra, Tzila, and Skylar.

BURTON KARSIN passed away at home in Irvine, CA on March 26, 2025. He was 90.

Music was the focus of Burton's personal and professional life, and his first distinction was as a boy soprano soloist at St. Paul's Cathedral in Los Angeles, where music was composed especially for him. He attended USC, from which he earned all of his degrees, culminating in a doctorate in music awarded in 1964. Later in life he served as president of the School of Music Alumni Association and in 2011 he was inducted into the Trojan Half-Century Hall of Fame.

Burton's professional life in music included academic positions at Glendale College and Cal State Fullerton, where he taught from 1965 to 1997. Upon retirement, he was named a professor of music emeritus. In addition to his teaching, he performed piano and harpsichord concerts across America. Burton was also a well-respected organist and choir master at a number of churches in Southern California. For many years, he presented pre-concert lectures for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

In 1982 he helped created the annual Corona Del Mar Baroque Music Festival and served as its artistic director for many decades. Its annual June concerts continue to be popular. Additionally, he was one of the founders of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and a prominent supporter of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County,CA.

Burton is survived by his sister, Kay Poggi, and his nephew, Gregory Gandrud (Marllus).

Next Column: May 4, 2025
Copyright: April 27, 2025 All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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Laura Deni