News

Peter Marks: What I Learned Watching An Experiment Unfold

Source: ArtsJournal.com | Posted: October 1 2020 @ 4:01 pm

“Rex Daugherty — whose work I’ve reviewed several times — and I were both interested in how artists and critics could learn more about each other’s functions, could demystify our roles in some small way. Social media has brought many reviewers into far closer proximity with theater artists than ever before. It occurred to us […]

Tony Winner Renée Elise Goldsberry Joins Tina Fey Comedy Series Girls5eva

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 1 2020 @ 3:29 pm

Werk! As previously reported, singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles and Tina Fey are teaming up for the comedy series Girls5eva. Bareilles stars in the show, which is about a former girl group that takes another shot at fame when their one hit gets sampled by a young rapper. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamilton Tony winner Renée Elise Goldsberry has joined the cast as Wickie, the glamorous star of the group.

The series was created by Meredith Scardino (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) who is executive producing Girls5eva with Fey, Mean Girls composer (and Fey's husband) Jeff Richmond, Robert Carlock, David Miner and Eric Gurian.

In addition to Hamilton, Goldsberry's other Broadway credits include Good People, The Color Purple, Rent and The Lion King. Off-Broadway, she has appeared in As You Like It, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Her screen credits include One Life to Live, The Good Wife, Masters of Sex, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and Younger.

Additional casting and a production timeline for Girls5eva will be announced later.

What To Do (Without Broadway!): A Day-to-Day Schedule

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 1 2020 @ 3:26 pm

Even with Broadway on hold, there's plenty to do. Trust the Broadway.com editors to get you in on the best online events, theater-centric films, TV shows and more!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Sweeney Todd Cast Reunion on Stars in the House @ 8PM ET
Len Cariou, Victor Garber, Sarah Rice and Ken Jennings reunite remotely to discuss their time in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's bloody good musical.
Watch Online

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Tonight at the London Coliseum: Cassidy Janson @ TBD
A musical theater powerhouse, most recently seen in an Olivier Award-nominated as Anne Hathaway in the pop musical & Juliet, livestreamed in concert from the iconic U.K. stage.
Tickets are £15. More Info

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Freestyle Love Supreme Academy Showcase @ 8PM ET
Freestyle Love Supreme, the critically acclaimed troupe founded by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Veneziale, is offering virtual fall classes and events, kicking off with a lively showcase. An educational hip-hop weekend for kids and intro courses for adults are available.
Registration Info

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Emily in Paris Premieres
Lily Collins and Tony nominee Ashley Park play besties in France in Sex and the City and Younger creator Darren Star's latest bingeworthy TV series. …

$5 Million From Mellon Foundation To Support Black Theaters

Source: ArtsJournal.com | Posted: October 1 2020 @ 2:02 pm

“The initiative, known as The Black Seed, is described as the first national strategic plan to provide financial support for Black theaters across the country. It is backed by a $5 million lead gift from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; … according to a news release, [it] is the largest-ever one-time investment in Black theater.” […]

Tina's Daniel J. Watts on Learning to Slow Down and How Broadway Is Like the NBA

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 1 2020 @ 1:30 pm

Living near the theater district during the Broadway shutdown, photographer and performer Matthew Stocke has been haunted walking past the empty palaces sitting in repose, waiting for the lights and stars to return. In this new Broadway.com photo feature, he reunites members of the theater community with their Broadway home #AwayFromHome.

DANIEL J. WATTS
TINA: THE TINA TUNER MUSICAL

With an impressive roster of Broadway credits to his name (In the Heights, Memphis, Hamilton, to name a few), Daniel J. Watts stepped into the spotlight as Tina Turner's ex-husband Ike Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical just months ahead of the Broadway shutdown. After finishing a lauded run of his own show The Jam: Only Child at the Public Theater in January, Watts was readying himself for the end of the season. Though it seems much of the world (like Broadway) is on pause as a result of the coronavirus crisis, something has started within Watts. He has presented additional installments of The Jam, a transformative display of music, dance, spoken word and storytelling, via Instagram and has contributed to important conversations about Broadway's past and future. Here, he likens his time at Tina to the …