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PRESENTED BY
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Good morning, Broadway!
Last night, the Briefing attended the TCG Gala at the Edison Ballroom, which honored the National Black Theatre Festival and David Henry Hwang. We were happy to catch up with our table hosts, Rick Miramontez and the O&M Team, as well as fellow table-mates Jackie Hoffman, Arian Moayed, and Joe Pantoliano.
After cocktails, dinner, and a lively auction, which included passes to O&M's Tony after-party at the Carlyle, presentations began for the honorees. To celebrate the National Black Theatre Festival, playwright Nambi E. Kelley read Dr. Maya Angelou’s manifesto for the festival, which was originally delivered by Angelou in its inaugural year in 1989. Producers Steven Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey then introduced NBTF board president Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin and artistic director Jackie Alexander, who gave beautiful remarks about the unifying power of theater.
For David Henry Hwang, the evening included a song from Soft Power performed by Billy Bustamante and Alyse Alan Louis, and the song Solo, written by Hwang and Prince, performed by James Jackson Jr. Next came remarks from Leigh Silverman and Oskar Eustis, who introduced Hwang himself. The evening ended with Bustamente, Louis, and Jackson singing a trio of "What a Wonderful World."
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SETTING THE STAGE TODAY
Who lives, who dies, who buys your movie.
"‘Hamilton’ film to be released by Disney in October 2021" by Broadway News' Caitlin Huston - "A filmed version of “ Hamilton” will be released by Walt Disney Studios in October 2021. The film features a live capture of the Broadway show and was shot at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in June 2016. … The film will be released in the U.S. and Canada on Oct. 15, 2021." http://bway.ly/sp76pz
"Disney Paid $75 Million For Worldwide Movie Rights To Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Hamilton’; Biggest Film Acquisition Deal Ever?" by Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. - "According to sources, Disney beat out other suitors and paid $75 million for worldwide rights to [ Hamilton]" http://bway.ly/prk9nh
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NEWS AND NOTES
"Broadway community pays tribute to composer Jerry Herman" by Broadway News' Jeremy Gerard - "A fair representation of that rich, musical history was on display, in a program produced by Michael Feinstein, Jane Dorian and Herman’s husband, Terry Marler. ... A rare, exuberant musicianship was in the air from the moment the 29-piece orchestra, led by Larry Blank, launched into a gorgeously orchestrated overture that would quote much of the Herman catalogue. ...
Marilyn Maye got things off to a chanteuse-y start with “It’s Today,” from “Mame,” followed by Jeremy Jordan’s suavely delivered “It Only Takes a Moment” from “Dolly.” Ron Raines led a rousing, musical 21-gun salute to “Mame” ... and ... Betty Buckley’s warm “Hello, Dolly!” There were plenty of highlights, notably Feinstein, accompanying himself at the piano, singing “Mack & Mable’s” “I Won’t Send Roses,” Sutton Foster, resplendent in a silvery gown, singing “I Don’t Want To Know,” from “Dear World.” Kristin Chenoweth added another from the “Mame” score, “If He Walked Into My Life.” The original star of that musical, Angela Lansbury, appeared on screen with an homage, crediting Herman for kicking off her career in the theater ... Kelli O’Hara pumped the crowd with “Before The Parade Passes By.” Jason Graae, a Herman favorite, did a funny, Borscht-beltian bit involving a clarinet before singing “You I Like,” from “The Grand Tour.” Tyne Daly and Klea Blackhurst traded barbs with “Bosom Buddies,” also “Mame.” Harvey Fierstein choked up as he recalled the never-equalled thrill of being asked by Herman to write the book for “La Cage.” And Bernadette Peters, a star of the original “Mack & Mabel,” sang that show’s lovely ballad “Time Heals Everything.” The highest point among equals was Leslie Uggams singing that show’s anthem, “I Am What I Am,” with mesmerizing aplomb and ferocity." http://bway.ly/cmobuh
CASTING: "‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ announces new Broadway cast" by Broadway News' Gillian Russo - "Paul Thornley, who played Ron Weasley in the original West End production as well as in the original Broadway cast, will return to the role after a one-year absence. Current cast members James Snyder, Diane Davis, Jenny Jules and Nadia Brown will continue their runs as Harry Potter, Ginny Potter, Hermione Granger and Rose Granger-Weasley, respectively. Brady Dalton Richards will join the production as Scorpius Malfoy. All new cast members begin on March 18, 2020, with the previous cast playing their final performance on March 15." http://bway.ly/83rsj1
EXTENSION: The Woman in Black will now run through April 19 at The McKittrick Hotel.
TWITTER WATCH: "Steven Sater Tweets Updates on Spring Awakening Movie and Alice By Heart Revival" by BroadwayWorld - "Sater told a revival of the show could be on the way and that the team is currently "looking into" getting it done! … According to Sater, there is reason to hope that production on a film adaptation will move forward!" http://bway.ly/kpr264
OFF-BROADWAY:
"Dot-Marie Jones, Emmy-Nominated Glee Star, to Join Off-Broadway's Rock of Ages" by Broadway.com's Andy Lefkowitz - "Jones will take on the role of bar owner Dennis Dupree for a limited engagement from February 24 through April 19, stepping in for Matt Ban, who will take a leave from the production until April 20." http://bway.ly/qn7ah3
"Douglas Lyons’ Chicken and Biscuits to Premiere at Queens Theatre" by Playbill's Olivia Clements - " … the new play will run February 28–March 22." http://bway.ly/du8jqx
CONCERT: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Concert Announces Full Creative Team" by TheaterMania's Kenji Fujishima - "Joining the previously announced Michael Arden as director and Stephen Oremus as music director are Beowulf Boritt (set designer), Tragic Hagenbuch (lighting designer), Dave Horowitz (sound designer), James Alsop (choreographer), Ryan Park (costume designer), Robert Hartwell (associate director), Justin Mendoza (associate music director), and David Snyder (chorus master)." http://bway.ly/b30aqu
REGIONAL: "The Band's Visit, Jitney, And More Nominated for 2020 Helen Hayes Awards" by BroadwayWorld - "Olney Theatre Center and 1st Stage saw the most number of nominations for a theatre, with 27 and 18 respectively." http://bway.ly/e0p4vf
FESTIVAL: "Playwrights Realm Announces 2020 INK’D Festival of New Plays" by American Theatre - "The festival will kick off with Tanya Everett’s A Dead Black Man … Next up will be Maya Macdonald’s brunch … Following will be The Lasagna Incident, by Tasha Gordon-Solmon … The festival will close out with Balikbayan, by Christopher Reyes … " http://bway.ly/15q30i
AWARDS:
"Dominique Morisseau, Aleshea Harris, Anne Washburn, More Among Finalists for 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize" by Playbill's Olivia Clement - "The finalists from the U.S. are Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig for The King of Hell’s Palace, Aleshea Harris for What to Send Up When It Goes Down … Kimber Lee for untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play ... Dominique Morisseau for her play Confederates ... Celine Song for Endlings ... and Anne Washburn for her play Shipwreck … " http://bway.ly/l1cvdo
"Ben Platt Named Hasty Pudding's 2020 Man of the Year" by Playbill's Olivia Clement - "The Tony winner is the youngest recipient in the Harvard-born award's 54-year history." http://bway.ly/qvk5vt
GALA: "TDF Will Honor Josh Groban, Kenny Leon, More at 2020 Gala" by Playbill's Andrew Gans - "The March 23 celebration will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street." http://bway.ly/q8xn5k
PAGE SIX:
"Spike Lee already off to a great start adapting ‘American Utopia’" by Page Six's Mara Siegler - "The week before it was announced that Spike Lee would be directing a film version of David Byrne’s Broadway show “American Utopia,” a flabbergasted audience member had told Page Six that Lee had been at a performance “sitting the front row of the mezzanine … reading a script with a clipboard and a reading light.”" http://bway.ly/ogbox2
"‘The Inheritance’ playwright Matthew Lopez meets ‘huge inspiration’ Sonia Sotomayor" by Page Six's Nicki Gostin - "Later, the legal eagle went backstage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre to talk with the cast as well as the show’s playwright, Matthew Lopez, who brought his parents to meet the jurist — along with a copy of her 2013 book, “My Beloved World,” for her to sign." http://bway.ly/hw5deq
FORBES: "Through Her New Play, Bess Wohl Found A Way To Better Understand The Complexities Of Relationships" by Forbes' Jeryl Brunner - "In fact Wohl’s and Silverman’s deep admiration and respect for each other is mutual. “Bess' writing is so extraordinary because she takes most tragic things that happen in life and she reveals what is funny about them,” says Silverman. “And she takes the things that are the funniest in life and she reveals the tragedy underneath them.”" http://bway.ly/u1seln
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A MESSAGE FROM WE'RE GONNA DIE:
We're Gonna Die is a non-musical/non-play/non-concert that celebrates the things we do, say, and sing to keep ourselves going en route to the finish line. A series of hilarious and heartbreaking stories and songs by Young Jean Lee (Straight White Men), the show is directed and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly (A Strange Loop). Learn more.
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BROADWAY BRIEFING PRO [PREVIEW]
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GROSSES | Broadway Attendance
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That's just a sample of today's exclusive pro content.
Try BROADWAY BRIEFING PRO free for a week.
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CALLBOARD
7:00 PM: PREVIEWS Blues For An Alabama Sky @ Theatre Row
7:00 PM: PREVIEWS We're Gonna Die @ Tony Kiser Theater
7:30 PM: OPENING Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice @ Pershing Square Signature Center
7:30 PM: PREVIEWS Cambodian Rock Band @ Pershing Square Signature Center
THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1999, a revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown opened at the Ambassador Theatre.
BROADWAY BIRTHDAYS: Jerry Adler
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STAGE DOOR
Rachel Bay Jones and Brandon Victor Dixon star in Next to Normal at The Kennedy Center. Check it out: http://bway.ly/3n2jt5
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