News

New York Times Theatre Critic Ben Brantley to Step Down

Source: BroadwayDirect.com | Posted: September 10 2020 @ 11:51 am

Ben Brantley, co-chief theatre critic at The New York Times, will step down, the Times announced on Thursday. His last day on the job will be October 15. In a statement, Brantley said, “This pandemic pause in the great, energizing party that is the theater seemed to me like a good moment to slip out the door.…

The post New York Times Theatre Critic Ben Brantley to Step Down appeared first on Broadway Direct.

Brandon Victor Dixon Acquires Stage and Film Rights to Children's Book The Magic in Changing Your Stars

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: September 10 2020 @ 10:39 am

Tony and Emmy nominee Brandon Victor Dixon has joined forces with Victoria Lang and Ryan Bogner of Broadway & Beyond Theatricals for an exciting project. They have acquired the stage and film rights to Leah Henderson's children's novel The Magic in Changing Your Stars, according to Deadline,

The book was published in April and centers on an 11-year-old named Ailey Benjamin Lane and his desire to land the role of the Scarecrow in his school’s production of The Wiz. The story becomes a journey to 1939 Harlem in a time-travel adventure with an inspiring message about believing in yourself.

Dixon earned Tony nominations for his turns as Harpo in The Color Purple and Eubie Blake in Shuffle Along. He garnered an Emmy nomination for his performance as Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

Ben Brantley Steps Down as Chief Theater Critic of The New York Times

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: September 10 2020 @ 10:19 am

Ben Brantley, who has served as The New York Times' chief theater critic since 1996, has announced he is stepping down from his position. His last day will be on October 15. Brantley is currently one of two co-chief theater critics; Jesse Green will remain as chief theater critic.

"The end of an era," wrote New York Times theater reporter Michael Paulson on Twitter, and added, "The New York Times culture editor Gilbert Cruz said the paper is committed to filling Ben's position. But, given the coronavirus pandemic has indefinitely prevented most in-person performance, New York Times Arts is expecting to take some time choosing his successor."

Brantley began his work at The New York Times in 1993and is the longest-serving chief theater critic since Brooks Atkinson. He received the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism in his first year in the position.

“This pandemic pause in the great, energizing party that is the theater seemed to me like a good moment to slip out the door,” Brantley said in a statement. “But when the theater returns, I hope to be there—as a writer, an audience member and, above all, the stark raving fan I have been since …

Beth Leavel, Lillias White & Judy Kuhn Join Virtual Concert Series

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: September 10 2020 @ 10:05 am

As previously reported, Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway concert series, which first began in Provincetown at the Art House in 2011, is now a weekly virtual series entitled the Seth Concert Series. Hosted by SiriusXM On Broadway personality and Stars in the House co-host Rudetsky, Beth Leavel, Lillias White and Judy Kuhn have joined the lineup, which has already included Karen Olivo and Sierra Boggess, Jeremy Jordan, Stephanie J. Block, Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Jessie Mueller, Lea Salonga, Melissa Errico, Megan Hilty, Norm Lewis and Cheyenne Jackson.

As previously announced, Jeremy Jordan will perform a new concert on September 13. Kuhn will appear on September 20, followed by White on October 4 and Leavel on October 11. Each weekly show premieres on Sunday nights at 8PM ET with a second showing Mondays at 3PM ET for viewers in other time zones. Tickets are available here.

Kuhn has garnered Tony nominations for her performances in Les Misérables, Chess, She Loves Me and Fun Home. She was last seen on Broadway the 2015 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. White won a Tony Award for her performance in The …

Dame Diana Rigg, Tony-Winning Star of Stage and Screen, Dies at Age 82

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: September 10 2020 @ 9:40 am

Diana Rigg, a celebrated actress with a career spanning stage roles in drama and musical comedy and screen roles on film and television, has died at the age of 82.

"She died peacefully early this morning. She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time," her agent confirmed to the BBC.

A native of South Yorkshire, England, Rigg made her professional stage debut in 1957 with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art's staging of The Caucasian Chalk Circle, continuing her stage career by joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959, appearing in numerous productions with the troupe through 1964.

Rigg was Tony-nominated for each of her four appearances on Broadway, as Heloise in Abelard & Heloise (1971), Célimène in The Misanthrope (1975), Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady (2018) and winning the Tony for playing the title role in Medea (1994), a performance which also earned her an Olivier Award nomination in London's West End.

Diana Rigg as Lady Macbeth in 1972 (Photo: Billy Rose Theatre Division/NYPL)

Highlights of Rigg's London stage résumé also include Olivier-nominated turns as the title role in Mother Courage and Her Children in 1996, Martha in  …