Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: February 4, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS ARE SKEWERED BY THE FUNNY MUMMY

Alyssa Kyria aka The Funny Mummy started off on the cabaret and comedy circuit as Ariadne the Greek WAG, (Wives and Girlfriends) playing venues including Madame Jojos, The Comedy Store, Cafe De Paris and more. Nowadays you can find her on the 'baby comedy circuit' doing parenting comedy and parody songs as The Funny Mummy.

Ariadne and Leonora is a title of a show showcasing sketches written and performed by Alyssa Kyria. Post-Production by Mariele Runacre-Temple. Available from Wireless Theatre.

Meet Leonora, the mentally abusive Australian life coach and Ariadne, the Greek Footballers wife who tells us about her bitchy life as a WAG.

Ariadne and Leonora are all of the Real Housewives of wherever morphed together. They are bitchy, self absorbed women whose survival mode is whining and putting down others.

Taking on a Greek accent which is a little too heavy, Alyssa Kyria becomes Ariadne. "I am married to a famous footballer and have famous friends." She "realizes" that people are jealous of her. She understands that people call her a gold digger but explains that they do this because "they are poor."

She says the look on Victoria Bechman's face is hunger. At a party a woman's silicone bumped into her causing her champagne to spill all over her expensive gown. Tom Cruise tried to convert her to Scientology but she retorted "I can't hear you down there." As a self help guru she answers questions from her fans. One complains that her husband ignores her in bed and wants to know what to do. Ariadne's answer: "Sleep with his brother."

Leonora, who has an easily understood voice, is a tough Australian life coach. She has no problem telling someone they are fat. Leonora prides herself on always being right. A client cries and is ridiculed. Crying isn't allowed in her office. She sells her own weight loss program, which guarantees a substantial weight loss. The client is knocked out for two weeks and intravenously administered "the strongest laxatives the black market has to offer." Nothing passes the client's lips for two weeks. If brain damages has occurred the client is refunded twenty percent of the fee. That begs the question of how can you tell if a WAG has brain damage?

A fast paced comedy routine which skewers the thin, rich women - many of whom are intellectually vapid.

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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

QUEEN MARY'S DOLL HOUSE

Queen Mary's Doll House. Photo: Royal Trust

A doll house to end all doll houses.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, the largest and most famous Dolls’ House in the world, which has been on display for visitors to Windsor Castle since its creation.

Last week Queen Camilla hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders who have been involved in the new Modern-Day Miniature Library collection displayed alongside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House for visitors to enjoy throughout 2024 in celebration of its centenary year.

From life below stairs to the royal setting of the saloon and dining room, and from a library bursting with original works by famous literary names of the day, to a fully stocked wine cellar and a garden, no detail was forgotten. Everything in the doll house was created at a one twelfth scale.

Dining Room in doll house. Photo: Royal Trust

According to the Royal Collection Trust, The Dolls’ House was built between 1921 and 1924. The House was the idea of Princess Marie Louise, cousin to King George V and childhood friend of Queen Mary. She decided that the Queen, who loved all things small and decorative, would enjoy the House and it was to become a gift to Queen Mary in the years after the First World War.

It is a perfect 1:12 scale replica of an Edwardian-style residence – complete with electricity, working lifts and running water – built by the by the leading British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, and is filled with contributions from over 1,500 of the finest artists, craftspeople, and manufacturers of the day."

Sir Edwin was a friend of the Princess. Between them, they created a committee who decided on the style of the House and ensured that all its contents were of the highest possible quality and all perfectly to scale.

The committee suggested that the House should be a collaborative venture with the cost and labor to be divided between as many people as possible. The completed House was the product of 250 craftspeople and manufacturers, 60 artist-decorators, 700 artists, 600 writers and 500 donors.

The House was shown at the Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924 as a showcase for British workmanship. It was displayed at Wembley for seven months and over this period more than 1.5 million people visited it.

In July 1925 it was moved to Windsor Castle, where it was situated in a room designed by Lutyens and where it can be visited today.

The King's and Queen's respective suites can be accessed on the second floor, via the marble staircase. Each room contains articles and decorations particular to the owner's needs. The ceiling of the King's Bedroom was painted by George Plank, who subtly interwove the notes to the first line of the National Anthem into a garden trellis.

The walls of the Queen's Bedroom are covered in blue-grey damask, reflecting the style of the 1920s. Both beds have mattresses of horsehair on top of a box-sprung mattress and hotwater bottles have been placed beneath the sheets.

Library in doll house. Photo: Royal Trust

One of the great treasures of the Dolls’ House is its Library, which captured the literary culture of the 1920s through miniature books handwritten by the era’s foremost writers, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Vita Sackville-West to A. A. Milne and Thomas Hardy. The library in the house feature miniature books handwritten by leading writers of the day—and to celebrate the 100 year anniversary, twenty new tiny manuscripts have been penned and decorated. Among the contributors are Julia Donaldson, Bernardine Evaristo, Anthony Horowitz, Elif Shafak, Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles, and more.

"Writing a miniature story for Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House library was both fascinating and deeply inspiring," Shafak said. "It made me appreciate not only the magic of words, carried throughout the centuries, but also the delicate work of writers and poets, artisans and artists, bookbinders and carpenters, past and present. I loved the way this unique project brings together hearts and disciplines, weaving literature and history and art, offering a welcoming space, a warm home, for everyone who values the art of storytelling."

Queen Camilla herself even contributed a mini book. "These new books highlight the incredible richness of twenty-first century Literary talent – and demonstrate how fortunate we are to have access to so many outstanding writers, whose work brings joy, comfort, laughter, companionship and hope to us all, opening our eyes to others’ experiences and reminding us that we are not alone," she said in a statement.

Her Majesty viewed the new miniature books and was shown her own hand-bound contribution for the first time, which will be added to the display for visitors.

Bound in the Royal Bindery at Windsor Castle, Her Majesty's handwritten book, an introduction to the Modern-Day Miniature Library, features a gold-tooled version of Her Majesty’s cypher measuring just 7mm tall. It was created using a specially made cypher tool, which was modeled on the tool used to apply Queen Mary’s 7mm-tall cypher to the original Dolls’ House Library books in the 1920s.

In the written introduction, Her Majesty says:

These new books highlight the incredible richness of twenty-first century Literary talent – and demonstrate how fortunate we are to have access to so many outstanding writers, whose work brings joy, comfort, laughter, companionship and hope to us all, opening our eyes to others’ experiences and reminding us that we are not alone.

The contributors to the Modern-Day Miniature Library are:

Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House: foreword, bound by Glenn Bartley, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Simon Armitage, There was a steep grass bank then a field, bound by Matthew Stockl, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Alan Bennett, The Mantelpiece, bound by Andreas Maroulis, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Malorie Blackman, A Message to Jessica, bound by Bayntun-Riviere. Illustrations by Elizabeth Mira Morrison.
Lucy Caldwell, Intimacies, bound by Gillian Stewart, Juju Books. Illustrations by Orla Routh (age 5 ¾).
Joseph Coelho, An Abecedarius of the Very Teeny: and other poems, bound by Matthew Stockl, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Imtiaz Dharker, The Welcome, bound by Flora Ginn.
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler,The Gruffalo, bound byGlenn Bartley, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Bernardine Evaristo, The African Origins of the United Kingdom, bound by Sue Doggett.
Sebastian Faulks, Music for a Dolls’ House, 1924–2024, bound by Shepherds, Sangorski & Sutcliffe.
Philippa Gregory, Richard my Richard: a play, bound by Stuart Brockman, Brockman Bookbinders.
Robert Hardman, The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, 6.V.2023, bound by Ted Bennett. Illustrations by Phoebe Hardman (age 14).
Anthony Horowitz, A Tiny Ghost Story, bound by Angela James.
Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, bound by Hannah Brown.
Sir Ben Okri, Poems, bound by Rachel Ward-Sale, Bookbinders of Lewes.
Tom Parker Bowles, A Recipe Fit for a Queen, bound by Andreas Maroulis, Royal Bindery, Windsor Castle.
Elif Shafak, Aisha woke up from troubled dreams, bound by Haein Song.
Sir Tom Stoppard, Kolya’s Glove, bound by Lester Capon.
Sarah Waters, Underhand House: part one, bound by Christopher Shaw.
A. N. Wilson, The Residents: a poem, bound by Peter Jones.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, The House Mouse / translated from Mouse Squeaks, bound by Eri Funazaki.

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SWEET CHARITY

THE 2024 PUPPY BOWL is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The three-hour matchup will see Team Ruff take on Team Fluff competing for the Lombarky Trophy. The teams consist of 131 dogs from 73 shelters across the 36 states and territories, including 4 pups from St. Cloud rescue group and 5 dogs from San Diego. 14 Connecticut pups are in the line-up.

Levi. Official photo/Warners Discovery

Cosmo. Official photo/Warners Discovery

This year, there will be six dogs with special needs also participating. They are: Skipper, Moosh, Xinia and Stryker who are deaf and obey hand signals · Riddle who has cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological condition that affects his mobility and coordination. Mr. Bean was born without front legs.

Levi the Great Dane weighing in at 72 lbs is the biggest dog from Team Fluff. The smallest dog ever in the Puppy Bowl is Sweetpea, who tips the scales at 1.7 lbs. Maggie, a chow chow/American Staffordshire terrier representing the US Virgin Islands for the first time. Dolly Barkon represents Michigan. Lady Luck, (now known as Venom) a poodle mix came from the Nevada SPCA, located across the street from Allegiant Stadium, where that other bowl will be played, is also a part of this year's Puppy Bowl. Greyson, an Australian shepherd - a breed known for their intelligence - will play for Team Ruff. He was found abandoned in a Walmart dumpster in Arkansas. Greyson was recently adopted from Pack Leaders Rescue of East Hartford, CT.

According to Animal Planet, every puppy featured on prior Puppy Bowls has found a home since its first show in 2005.

This televised event has gone to the dogs.

"Puppies are taking over the show's production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor," Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement. Puppy Bowl XX will be conducted by referee Dan Schachner, who has judged the contest for the last 13 years. The big match -- which is on ahead of Super Bowl LVIII -- airs on Sunday, February 11, on Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery +, TBS, TruTv and Max at 2 p.m. ET.

SPREADING THE WORD

RANDY RAINBOW FOR PRESIDENT the immensely talented musical satirist, Rainbow is putting the "camp" back in campaign! Rainbow, is running for president and he’s taking his musical comedy campaign on the road with The Randy Rainbow for President Tour! The four-time Emmy and Grammy nominated singer, comedian and New York Times Best-Selling author will take on the hottest topics and skewer politicos of the day as only he can (now as a presidential candidate… sort of), bringing his most viral video song parodies to life onstage. Featuring live accompaniment by Broadway musicians, the show will also include live audience interaction and original songs written by Rainbow with Marc Shaiman and Alan Menken.

Friday, February 9, 2024 at the Flynn Center in Burlington, Vermont.

CENTER STAGE RECORDS is a new label specializing in theatrical recordings. The new label is founded by Van Dean, a Tony and Grammy award winning Broadway producer, who previously ran Broadway Records, which is under the ownership of Cutting Edge Group. Dean co-founded Broadway Records in 2012, which released nearly 300 albums under his leadership. Dean helped to produce Broadway Records' Grammy-winning cast recording of the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, and also served as a producer for the Tony-winning 2012 revival of Porgy and Bess. Dean's new label Center Stage Records has over two dozen albums scheduled for 2024, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, and West End recordings, plus concept recordings and albums from solo artists. Recent Broadway Broadway productions to be on Center Stage Records include Gutenberg! The Musical and How to Dance in Ohio.

THE GUTHRIE THEATRE a regional Tony award winning theatre in Minneapolis has announced plans to stage a rare Shakespearean marathon event: Richard II; Henry IV and Henry V, performed by a cast of 25 all in one day during the weekend of April 13, 2024.

OLD STAR ALAN ALDA although the actor turned a sprightly 88 on January 28, 2024, his star is actually quite old - ancient in fact. In 1982, Alan Alda received a unique and celestial honor when a star in the Aquarius constellation was officially named after him. This special gesture was made possible through International Star Registry (ISR), an organization dedicated to naming stars after individuals and providing people with the opportunity to symbolically connect with the universe.

We don't know if the hyphenate performer Alan Alda has wished upon star Alan Alda.

THE FIRST RIYADH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL is set to take place from February 7 to February 9, 2024, at the Mayadeen Theatre in Diriyah, Riyadh.

Set throughout three evenings, the festival will headline some of the biggest international artists as well as emerging artists from the region whose music would evoke a sense of liveliness in the atmosphere and bring soulful songs for all to enjoy.

With major names like 'Queen of Funk' ten time Grammy winner Chaka Khan performing in Riyadh for the first time, jazz-funk band The Australian jazz-funk Cat Empire, 'TrapHouseJazz' pioneer Masego, British jazz royalty YolanDa Brown OBE, Synthpop artist Fulana, British jazz ensemble KOKOROKO, Bahraini Afro-Khaleeji band Majaz, Haitus Kaiyote, Saudi jazz-fusion band Garwasha will headline. The festival will also opens its doors for new up-and-coming artists to showcase their talents as well.

Each night renowned clarinettist Peter Long and his orchestra entertain at the Jazz Cafe. The lineup also boasts the exceptional talents of Saudi artists, including Nourah Sings & Mazen Lawand, Sarah Alshafie, Loulwa, and Abdullah Filfilan, in an entertaining rotation.

Riyadh International Jazz Festival is orchestrated by the Music Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to help promote the nation’s thriving music sector. CEO Paul Pacifico told the press: "The first Riyadh International Jazz Festival is a unique opportunity to host some of the world’s most renowned music artists alongside amazing Saudi talents. It is an important step in supporting the development of the fast-growing music sector locally, whilst also putting Riyadh on the map as an emerging centre of excellence in global music."

GRAMMY AWARD WEEKEND kick-off celebration hosted by Morrison Hotel Gallery and Stand Together Music presented an exclusive industry event at the Los Angeles Sunset Marquis on Thursday, February 1st. The jam-packed party featured live performances by Grammy-nominated artists Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, and a dynamic DJ set by The Muses.

Adding to the allure of the night was the presence of a of A-list celebrities, including the legendary Darryl McDaniels, Killer Mike, Priscilla Presley, Norman Reedus, Nile Rodgers, Chance the Rapper, Brady Blade, Marcus King, Julian Lennon, Elijah Blue Allman (Cher's son) Indio Downey (Robert Downey jr son), Grace Bowers, Michelle Branch, and many more.

The evening served as a tribute to the iconic photography of the late-great Mick Rock. Attendees were transported into Rock's legendary world as they immersed themselves in his captivating images of music legends such as David Bowie, Queen, Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, Lenny Kravitz, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, and more. Original signed prints from Rock's extensive collection were made available for purchase for the first time since his passing.

Timothy White of Morrison Hotel Gallery, kicked the night off and introduced Mick’s widow Pati Rock, who gave a short and touching speech to her late husband. Holding true to the Mick Rock mystique the night was drenched in rock n roll, as the rain fell from the sky. Performances by Larkin Poe, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown were called " nothing short of magic."

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

GRAMMY GIFT BAG is that coveted perk given to every performer or presenter at the Grammy Awards. For the past 25 years the goodie bags have been put together by marketing agency Distinctive Assets. This year's bag, with 68 brands and items available, is said to be worth up to $30,000. Them that has, gets.

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THE ESTATE OF COMEDIAN GEORGE CARLIN HAS FILED A LAWSUIT OVER AN AI IMPRESSION

The family of late comedian George Carlin has sued Dudesy podcast hosts Chad Kultgen, 47, and Will Sasso, 48, charging copyright infringement by using Carlin's work to train an AI program in order to impersonate him for the Dudesy podcast's hour-long episode titled George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead.

The family described the result as a "ghoulish" impersonation of Carlin for a comedy episode.

"The defendants' AI-generated 'George Carlin Special' is not a creative work. It is a piece of computer-generated clickbait which detracts from the value of Carlin's comedic works and harms his reputation," reads the lawsuit filed in California last week.

"It is a casual theft of a great American artist's work."

The show in question is hosted by an artificial-intelligence personality named Dudesy writes and controls the experimental program and acts as a third host, chatting with the two humans throughout the show. The Dudesy special, published January 9, begins with a Carlin-like voice saying, "I'm sorry it took me so long to come out with new material, but I do have a pretty good excuse. I was dead."

Through the rest of the episode, the AI character reflects on topics that have been prevalent in American culture since Carlin's death in 2008 — including Taylor Swift, gun culture and the role of artificial intelligence in society.

The special has since been hidden from the public on YouTube.

Kultgen, an American and Sasso who was born in British Columbia, Canada. In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Sasso told the press that the video's script had been written by Kultgen rather than an AI.

Sasso is a Canadian actor, comedian and podcaster. He is notable for his five seasons as a cast member on Mad TV from 1997 to 2002, for starring as Curly in the 2012 film reboot of The Three Stooges, and as Mover #1 in Happy Gilmore.

Kultgen is a novelist, journalist, and podcaster. He has published the nonfiction book How to Win the Bachelor with podcasting co-host Lizzy Pace, along with several online pieces, including an opinion article in The Huffington Post.

In an interview with CBC's As It Happens earlier this month, Carlin's daughter said the podcasters never contacted her family or asked permission to use her father's likeness. She said the recording left her feeling like she needed to protect her late father and the pride he took in creating his own comedic material.

"This is not my father. It's so ghoulish. It's so creepy," Kelly Carlin-McCall said of the AI-generated voice.

Carlin, 71, was widely recognized for his provocative counter-culture standup routines over his 50-year career. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, appeared on The Tonight Show more than 100 times and received four Grammy Awards for his work in comedy. Carlin died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. on June 22, 2008.

CURTAIN DOWN

THE TROPICANA HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS will cease operation on April 2, 2024 in preparation for the decommissioning and demolition of the structures. The demolition is slated to make room for the (Oakland) Athletics' proposed 30,000-seat ballpark.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, announced that the recent contract negotiation with the Tropicana covered the possibility of a closure. The deal reached last month guarantees severance of $2,000 per service year, along with six months toward health care.

Broadway's Gutenberg! The Musical! which recouped its investment, played its final performance January 28, performing to standing-room-only crowds at James Earl Jones Theatre.

TENNESSEE RISING: THE DAWN OF TENNESSEE WILLIAMS a solo play, written and performed by Jacob Storms, which explores the early years of acclaimed playwright Tennessee Williams' career, culminating in the opening night of his first Broadway hit, The Glass Menagerie. Final performance was Friday, February 2, 2024 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC.

HARMONY at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City closes today, February 4, 2024. Book and Lyrics by Bruce Sussman. Music by Barry Manilow. Directed by Warren Carlyle. Cast Included Chip Zien, Sierra Boggess, Julie Benko, Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Allison Semmes, Andrew O'Shanick, Zak Edwards, Bruce Landry, RhonniRose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Brownyn Tarboton, Kate Wesler, Stuart Zagnit, Lee Zarrett.

In the 1920s and 30s, The Comedian Harmonists sold millions of records, made dozens of films, and sold-out the biggest theaters around the world. Their heavenly harmonies and musical comedy antics catapulted these six talented young men from singing in the subway tunnels of Berlin to international superstardom. The play concerned hat happened next.

PURLIE VICTORIOUS at Broadway's Music Box Theatre closes on February 4, 2024 following an extension.

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch is the rousing, laugh-filled comedy by Kennedy Center honoree Ossie Davis that tells the story of a Black preacher’s machinations to reclaim his inheritance and win back his church. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, this inspiring and delightful comedic masterpiece became the source material for the beloved hit musical, Purlie.

Cast Included Leslie Odom, Jr., Vanessa Bell Calloway, Billy Eugene Jones, Noah Pyzik, Noah Robbins, Jay O. Sanders, Heather Alicia Simms, Bill Timoney, Kara Young.



BRANFORD MARSALIS has been named as the new artistic director for the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, a donor-supported education and community center.

The center honor his father, Wynton, and carries on New Orleans' 120 yearlong musical legacy.

Branford, the jazz saxophonist and composer acclaimed for his movie scores, Grammy-winning recordings and his stint as the leader of The Tonight Show band when Jay Leno was the host.

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL GRAMMY WINNERS OF ALL TIME is a list compiled by BonusInsider. The team at BonusInsider looked at the number of singles each of the Grammy winners had released over the years and put them against the number of times they had been recognized by the Recording Academy. They also calculated their success ratio of nominations versus wins.

According to their calculations, the most successful non-classical performing artist in terms of the ratio of released singles to Grammy awards is British singer Adele who has won 16 times while having only 17 singles. She is also the third-most successful one when it comes to the percentage of nominations she has actually won. These 16 Grammy awards stand against 25 nominations, or a success rate of 64%.

Here are the most important findings from their report:

Adele has won 16 times with only 17 released singles (ratio of 0.94), which makes her the most successful artist when this metric is applied, while the most Grammy Award-winning artist of all time, Beyonce, ranks 6th with 32 awards and a total of 83 singles (ratio of 0.38).

Carlos Santana is the artist with the largest percentage of Grammy wins. He has been nominated 14 times and won on 10 of those instances, which is a success rate of 71.43%.

Taylor Swift ranks as one of the "Grammy losers" when we look at the nominations versus wins ratio, landing in 45th place overall; she has lost 40 awards out of all 52 nominations throughout her career in the industry, which is a loss rate of 76.92%.

Beyonce falls behind on the ranking list (26th) with 32 Grammy awards won out of all 79 nominations, giving her a success rate of 40.51%.

For this report, "we considered all non-classical performing artists with 10 Grammy awards or more. Our list includes 49 entries overall - 31 male artists, 15 female artists, as well as three bands. To get accurate figures for the awards and nominations, we looked at the official Grammys website, as well as various online sources such as Wikipedia and Mojim to get the number of singles released by each artist."

Other artists on the list include: Alison Karuaa 27 wins out of 36 nomination - Pharrell Williams 13 ins out of 22 nominations - Bruno Mars 15 wins out of 32 nominations - The Chicks 12 wins out of 28 nominations - Beyonce 32 wins out of 83 nominations - George Harrison 12 wins out of 35 nominations - Sting 17 wins out of 51 nominations - Lady Gaga 13 wins out of 29 nominations - Bobby McFerrin 10 wins out of 31 nominations - John Legend 12 wins out of 39 nominations - Vince Gill 22 wins out of 74 nominations - Stevie Wonder 25 wins out of 91 nominations - Eminem 15 wins out of 57 nominations - Foo Fighter s15 wins out of 57 nominations - Paul Simon 16 wins out of 61 nominations - U2 22 wins out of 84 nominations - Kendrick Lamar 17 wins out of 65 nominations.



AFTER MIDNIGHT conceived by Jack Viertel.

Co-directed by Dominique Kelley and Paper Mill Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director Jen Bender.

Choreographed by Dominique Kelley. The production will play January 31 – February 25, 2024 at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive). Opening night is Sunday, February 4. This Jazz Age rhythm and dance extravaganza is an electrifying musical revue that transports you to the Cotton Club of the Harlem Renaissance, an unparalleled time in New York City when jazz and swing were king. After Midnight intertwines the poetry of Langston Hughes with songs from big-band legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Harold Arlen, Dorothy Fields, and more. The exhilarating score features such hits as "I Can’t Give You Anything but Love," "Stormy Weather," "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)."

After Midnight stars Angela Birchett, Sasha Hutchings, Joshua Lamar, "Legendary", James T. Lane, Stanley Martin, Aramie Payton, Destinee Rea, Awa Sal Secka, Liv Symone, Harris Matthew Turner, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel, and Anthony Wayne.

The production features music direction by Sean Mayes, scenic and lighting design by Adam Honoré, costume design by Azalea Fairley, sound design by Sadah Espii Proctor, and hair and wig design by Alfreda Howard. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting. RL Campbell is the Production Stage Manager.

The production will play through February 25, 2024 at regional Tony award winning Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jerse. Opening night is Sunday, February 4, 2024.

BROOKLYN LAUNDRY written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning author of Doubt and the Oscar-winning writer of Moonstruck.

The cast features Florencia Lozano, Cecily Strong, Andrea Syglowski and David Zayas.

"Sometimes big things start from little things; in this case, a bag of laundry. Shanley’s latest is about three sisters and a guy who runs a laundry in Brooklyn, and the sometimes savage tricks life plays on them. Tragic and funny by turns, this story will remind you what is important in life... and the sorrow and joy of fully embracing adulthood."

The Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Brooklyn Laundry at MTC at New York City Center – Stage I begins performances Tuesday, February 6 and will open Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

PLAZA SUITE by Neil Simon.

Directed by Tony winner John Benjamin Hickey.

Starring two time Tony winner Matthew Broderick and two time Emmy winner Sarah Jessica Parker who is making her West End debut. Simon penned a delightfully witty exploration of love and marriage. Three unique couples, each finding themselves entangled in hilariously outlandish situations within the walls of the legendary Plaza Suite hotel room. Step into the lives of Karen and Sam, a long-married couple trying to save their relationship-on-the-rocks from an early checkout. Reunite with Muriel and Jesse, former high school sweethearts, destined for an extended, amorous stay. Empathise with long-suffering Norma and Roy, parents of the bride, as they attempt to coax their to-be-wed daughter out of the bathroom.

The outstanding creative team includes: two-time Tony Award winner John Lee Beatty set design, Tony Award winner Jane Greenwood costume design, five-time Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt lighting design, Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer sound design, Tony Award winner Marc Shaiman incidental music, and Jim Carnahan as the casting director.

While the critics have not been kind to his production the name above the title stars and the powerful creatives give this comedy their best efforts.

Performances at the Savoy Theatre in London.

LEND ME A SOPRANO by Ken Ludwig.

Directed by Eleanor Holdridge.

Master of comedy and farce, Ken Ludwig, has adapted his Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Lend Me A Tenor for a new generation, with the genders swapped. The hilarious result is Lend Me A Soprano! It’s 1934, and world-famous Italian soprano Elena Firenzi, the biggest star of her era, is in town for a one-night-only concert with the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. The gala performance is the apex of general manager Lucille Wylie’s career, and she’s given her assistant Jo one job – keep Elena away from men and liquor until the curtain rises. But when events spiral out of Jo’s control, she’s got one chance to set everything right.

Featuring Dylan Arredondo, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Rachel Felstein, Donna Migliaccio, Tom Patterson, Natalya Lynette Rathnam, Graciela Rey, Carolann M. Sanita, Tina Stafford, Benjamin Topa.

The creatives are: Set Designer Andrew Cohen. Costume Designer Sarah Cubbage.

Join playwright Ken Ludwig and Artistic Director, Jason Loewith, for an Opening Night Discussion on February 10, 2024. ASL Interpreted Performance: Thursday, March 7. Audio Described Performance: Wednesday, March 6.

Performances February 7 - March 10, 2024 at the Olney Theatre in Olney, MD.

SHED: EXPLODED VIEW by Phoebe Eclair-Powell. The 2019 winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

Directed by Atri Banerjee.

"A devastating and delicately woven piece about violence, love and loss. There was a fork in her face. An actual fork. He dug a fork into her face. A fork stood on end in her cheek. A fork."

Three couples.

Thirty years.

Mothers and daughters. Lovers, partners, husbands and wives. Babies, teenagers, birthdays, holidays, honeymoons, fireworks, near-misses, rain. This is a play about all of it.

The smallest tremble. A smashed glass. The ripping apart of space and time.

An explosion.

"Will you kiss me at New Year – when the clock strikes will you?"

Featuring: Hayley Carmichael as Lil. Jason Hughes as Frank. Norah Lopez Holden as Abi. Lizzy Watts as Naomi. Wil Johnson as Tony. Michael Workéyè as Mark.

The creative team: Photography by: Felicity McCabe. Designer: Naomi Dawson. Lighting Designer : Bethany Gupwell. Composer: Carmel Smickersgill. Sound Designer: Max Pappenheim. Movement Director: Sung Im Her. Voice and Dialect Coach: Natalie Grady. Casting Director: Nadine Rennie CDG. Assistant Director: Amara Heyland. Production Dramatherapist: Wabriya King. Dramaturg : Suzanne Bell. Production Manager: Hannah Blamire for the Production Family. Stage Manager: Sophie Wright. Deputy Stage Manager: Amy Bending. Deputy Stage Manager (cover): Natasha Guzel. Assistant Stage Manager: Amelia Blackburn.

Performances Friday, February 9 - Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England.

ENGLISH by Sanaz Toossi.

Directed by Arya Shahi.

In a classroom near Tehran, four adult students prepare for an English proficiency exam. They each have a reason for being there: a chance at opportunity, access, or a new calling. But as they bond over this new way to express themselves, they also grapple with the lives they must leave behind. Told with hilarious wit and genuine compassion.

The cast for English includes Mary Apick as Roya, Ari Derambakhsh as Goli, Tara Grammy as Elham, Joe Joseph as Omid, and Pooya Mohseni as Marjan.

In addition to Toossi and Shahi, the creative team includes Sadra Tehrani (Scenic Design), Afsaneh Aayani (Costume Design), Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design), Megumi Katayama (Sound Design), Ana Bayat (Dialect Coach), Caparelliotis Casting (Casting), and Chandra R.M. Anthenill (Production Stage Manager).

Performances through February 25, 2024, at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

E-Book

Soft back Book

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

CHITA RIVERA Broadway icon died January in New York City. She was 91.

Her first professional appearance, at age 19, was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam.

After making her Broadway debut as a dancer in Guys and Dolls (1950), she then went on to originate roles in Broadway musicals such as Anita in West Side Story (1957), Velma Kelly in Chicago (1975), and the title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She is a ten-time Tony Award nominee, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical twice for her roles in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993).

One of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history – she earned 10 nominations, and receiving the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Her most recent starring roles included the 2015 Broadway production of The Visit, the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway; the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012); the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life (2005, 2006), a musical celebrating her career written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele; and the revival of the 2003 Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas.

On screen, Rivera’s feature credits include Sweet Charity (1969), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Chicago (2002) and tick, tick…BOOM! (2021). She also enjoyed extensive television credits.

Rivera was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor. She has headlined with her sold-out solo concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Cadogan Hall, was honored as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy; and Great Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing.

Her critically acclaimed book Chita: A Memoir was published last year by HarperOne.

Rivera is survived by her daughter, the singer, dancer and choreographer Lisa Mordente from her marriage to her West Side Story co-star Tony Mordente; siblings Julio, Armando and Lola del Rivero; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by sister Carmen.

ANNE EDWARDS America author, died in Beverly Hills, California on Saturday, January 20, 2024. She was 96 years old.

Edwards was best known for her biographies of celebrities including Judy Garland, Katharine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Maria Callas, Margaret Mitchell, Ronald Reagan and Barbra Streisand and of royalty including Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor, The Royal Sisters and Princess Diana.

Her "Uncle Dave" Chasen was a comedian and restaurateur, having opened the iconic Chasen's restaurant in 1936. She started her career as a junior writer at MGM in 1944 and became a Hollywood screenwriter and television writer during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Her film credits include co-writing the first draft of the screenplay for Funny Girl starring Barbra Streisand. Her first novel was the best-selling The Survivors, published the same year (1968). A later novel, Haunted Summer, about Mary Shelley and Lord Byron, was made into a film in 1988, starring Laura Dern. She authored eight novels, sixteen biographies, three children's books, two memoirs (one with her late husband, Stephen Citron) and an autobiography.

She was a past President of the Authors Guild and served on its Board of Directors, and a member of the Writer's Guild of America. Her collection of literary manuscripts, papers, and related materials is now part of the Special Collections Department of the Charles E. Young Research Library at UCLA, where she taught writing.

In the mid-1970s, Edwards was hired by the Zanuck-Brown Company to write a story that could be adapted as the film sequel to Gone with the Wind. She produced a meticulously researched novel, which in the end was not used due to a conflict between the Zanuck-Brown Company and the Mitchell estate and remains unpublished to this day. It was through this work that she ultimately wrote her biography of Margaret Mitchell.

She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Edwards Sadler and son-in-law, Judd Grill of Los Angeles and her son, Michael Edwards of Washington D.C., as well as grandchildren, Maxwell, Casey and Hillary, and great-grandchildren, Henry, Eleanor and Oliver.

N. SCOTT MOMADAY the novelist and short story writer who was the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize died January 24, 2024. He was 89.

His novel House Made of Dawn was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1969, and is considered the first major work of the Native American Renaissance. His follow-up work The Way to Rainy Mountain blends folklore with memoir.

Momaday was a full-blooded Kiowa.

In 1963, Momaday began teaching at the University of California-Santa Barbara as an assistant professor of English. From 1966 to 1967, he focused primarily on literary research, leading him to pursue the Guggenheim Fellowship at Harvard University. Two years later, in 1969, Momaday was named professor of English at the University of California-Berkeley. Momaday taught creative writing, and produced a new curriculum based on American Indian literature and mythology.

During the 35-plus years of Momaday's academic career, he built up a reputation specializing in American Indian oral traditions and sacred concepts of the culture itself. The many years of schooling and teaching are evidence of Momaday's academic success, resulting in 12 honorary degrees from several American universities.

Momaday was the founder of the Rainy Mountain Foundation and Buffalo Trust, a nonprofit organization working to preserve Native American cultures. Momaday, a known watercolor painter, designed and illustrated the book, In the Bear's House.

Regina Heitzer and N. Scott Momaday were married on July 21, 1979, They had one daughter, Lore.

HINTON BATTLE the three time Tony winner died January 29, 3034 after a brief illness. He was 67.

At the age of 18, Mr. Battle made his Broadway debut as the original Scarecrow in The Wiz, Battle received an impressive three Tony Awards for originating three vastly varied and important roles: in Sophisticated Ladies; The Tap Dance Kid, and Miss Saigon. He won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for all three roles, making him the most-awarded actor in the category's history.

On the road, Battle toured Dancin'; Sophisticated Ladies, and The Tap Dance Kid across the country. Notably, he was also in the first national tour of Ragtime, where he starred as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in 1998.

As a choreographer, Battle staged the beloved musical episode of the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Once More With Feeling." His television and movie credits are extensive.

Off-Broadway, Mr. Battle served as the co-director and choreographer for Evil Dead The Musical. He also directed the stage musical Respect, which explored the fluctuating power of women from the 1900s to the 2007. In 2014, he returned to performance to star in the Off-Broadway premiere of Cindy: The Musical.

In addition to his Tony threesome, Battle received the NAACP Image Award, the Midtown International Theatre Festival Award, the Fred Astaire Award, the Ira Aldridge Award, the Planet Connection Award, the 2012 Champion of the Arts Award from Big Boi’s “Antwan Patten” Big Kidz Foundation, and the Amas 2014 Rosie Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of extraordinary accomplishment in the theatrical arts.

CARL WEATHERS was an American actor, director and American football linebacker died February 1, 2024 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76.

He was known for his roles as boxer Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films (1976–1985), Colonel Al Dillon in Predator (1987), and Combat Carl in the Toy Story franchise. He also portrayed Det. Beaudreaux in the television series Street Justice (1991–1993) and a fictionalized version of himself in the comedy series Arrested Development (2004, 2013), and voiced Omnitraxus Prime in Star vs. the Forces of Evil (2017–2019). He had a recurring role as Greef Karga in the Star Wars series "The Mandalorian" (2019–2023), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Three times divorced, he had two sons with his first ex-wife Mary Ann Castle.

Next Column: February 11, 2024
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Laura Deni

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