Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: October 22, 2017
By: Laura Deni
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MENTAL HEALTH OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WORKERS STUDIED

In first of its kind research Entertainment Assist's project was conducted in association with a research team at the College of Arts, Victoria University in Australia. Results from this world-first research are expected to shape future response to mental health issues for entertainment industry workers around the globe.

According to the recently released report: The Phase One research involved industry interviews with dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, circus performers, TV & radio presenters, roadies, directors, technicians and backstage workers.

Key findings from Phase One included:

25% of performing artists, and most roadies have attempted or considered suicide, but none of the roadies surveyed had sought help. Over a third of performing artists, 25% of industry support workers and most roadies and crew reported mental health problems

Extensive mental health issues across the broad spectrum of the industry were often as a result of bullying, sexual abuse, long and unrewarding working hours and a lack of appreciation for years of commitment.

Entertainment industry workers do not know how to seek support, nor do they know how to talk about mental health with colleagues/peers; they may be concerned about (obtaining and retaining work)

Performing artists live much shorter lives, on average, than the rest of working community

Phase Two, The Quantitative Phase of the research involved an online survey with 2904 respondents providing 488,000 data points from a full cross section of industry workers with collectively over 30,000 years’ experience.

The Phase Two findings presented a concerning picture about the health and well being of industry professionals.

The levels of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms are 10 times higher than in the general population.

The general conclusion was that there is a serious need for early intervention programs tailored to the industry.

On November 13, 2017 at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia a day long Performing Arts Wellbeing Summit - How Can the Show Go On? will take place.

Jane Kreis of Theatre Network NSW has gathered a group of artists, arts workers and arts representatives to contribute to this discourse from across all sub-sectors. How Can The Show Go On? "is unique in that it is providing a sharing platform for not only the experiences of working in high stakes arenas of mainstream theatre, film, and television, but is also addressing concerns of organizations within the small to medium arts sector and independents."

It is emphasized that "there are a great number of factors that contribute to mental health issues in the arts, and they differ not only due to individual experience, but also as they are influenced by the sub-sectors of the industry that we work in."

The Arts Wellbeing Collection explains: "Within the performing arts industry, everyone is heavily invested in the creative and artistic output - from management to marketing, actors to lighting designers, dramaturgs to ushers. Everyone has a hand in the end product. Bad reviews, small houses, repeated rejection, and the unavoidable moments where things don’t go as planned can have an impact on our mental health, our lifestyle choices, and on our flourishing.

This workshop is about moving beyond just ‘coping’ or recovering quickly from difficulty (resilience) – towards flourishing. It provides nuts and bolts techniques to increase your capacity for flourishing, during good times and during times of stress, setback, and challenge within the industry.

Skills include an introduction to ‘radical acceptance’ (a series of steps to help you identify and genuinely accept things that cannot be changed), mindfulness meditation training, and tools to cultivating key aspects of responding and reframing as a means of coping, having resilience, and flourishing.

This event was created by the NSW Performing Arts Wellbeing Group members: Jane Kreis, Theatre Network NSW - Mark Seton, University of Sydney, Australian Society for Performing Arts Healthcare (ASPAH), & Australian Actors Wellbeing Study - Bethwyn Serow, Australian Major Performing Arts Group - Penny Watts, Monkey Baa - Judith Bowtell, Milk Crate Theatre - Irene Lemon, Magic Electricity Box & Creative Plus Business - Michelle Silby, Ausdance NSW/VIC - Emily Collins, Music NSW - Helen O’Moore, (ACFIPS) NSW Creative Industries Training Advisory Body - Morwenna Collett, Accessible Arts NSW - Gill Perkins & Imogen Gardam, Bell Shakespeare - Yolande White & Suzie Franke, CDP Productions - Jenny Muldoon & Angela Bateman, Sydney Opera House - Kingston Anderson, Australian Directors Guild & Australian Screen Directors and Authorship Collection Society.










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ART AND ABOUT

POOR ART /ARTE POVERA

Michelangelo Pistoletto, Television, 1962-83, MAZZOLENI London-Turin. Photo: Estorik Collection

Italian Influences, British Responses. Arte Povera emerged in Italy in the tumultuous late 1960s, a time of profound social and economic change, and radical artistic experimentation. The term literally means ‘poor art’, and was applied by critic and curator Germano Celant to a loose association of Italian artists, mostly working in Turin and Rome.

At once literal, conceptual, metaphorical, matter-of-fact and sensual, Arte Povera swept away traditional restraints to challenge established views of what art could be, and the nature of its relationship with commerce. With its startling openness to a wide range of processes and materials Arte Povera became, in international terms, the most influential development in Italian art in the late twentieth century.

Fifty years after the first Arte Povera show, this exhibition looks at how it has informed the work of several British artists who graduated from art schools in the 1970s and 1980s. It traces their different affinities with a way of working that went beyond modernism in terms of its interest in the personal and subjective, its rejection of a coherent style and its promotion of artistic freedom.

Works by Eric Bainbridge, Tony Cragg, Ceal Floyer, Anya Gallaccio, Mona Hatoum, Jefford Horrigan, Stephen Nelson, Lucy Skaer, Gary Stevens, Jo Stockham, Gavin Turk and Richard Long – who participated in the first international Arte Povera event in Amalfi in 1968 – are shown alongside pieces by key Italian artists including Alighiero Boetti, Mario Merz, Giulio Paolini, Giuseppe Penone and Gilberto Zorio.

On display through December 17, 2017 at the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in London.

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP'S inaugural gown worn to the January 2017 inaugural balls has gone on display at the National Museum of American history in Washington, DC.

The vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder gown with a slit skirt, ruffled accent trim and claret ribbon around the waist was designed by Hervé Pierre in collaboration with Mrs. Trump. The gown has replaced Martha Washington’s dress that was on temporary view.

The First Ladies exhibition explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. It features more than two dozen gowns, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy and Laura Bush.

SWEET CHARITY

ALL FIVE LIVING FORMER U.S. PRESIDENTS attended a concert Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Texas A&M University's Reed Arena in College Station, which is near Dallas. Titled Deep From The Heart, the 7 p.m. concert raised money for relief efforts from hurricane devastation in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Democrats Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Republicans George H.W. and George W. Bush enjoyed performances by Lady Gaga, country music band Alabama, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer 'Soul Man' Sam Moore, gospel legend Yolanda Adams and Texas musicians the Gatlin Brothers, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen.

President Donald Trump recorded a video message for the campaign which was played during the concert.

HUDSON SOCIAL to benefit En Garde Arts in New York City takes place at Dobbs Ferry, New York on Sunday, October 29, 2017.

The evening will feature Ronald Guttman taking on the role of Jean Baptiste Clamence in The Fall based on Albert Camus’ last great novel. Sitting in a bar in the red-light district of Amsterdam - circa 1956 - a man revisits the moral uncertainty and hypocrisy of his past in this eloquent philosophical treatise on life and longing - and the bad faith of his good conscience. In this case, the bar is Hudson Social by the Dobbs Ferry Train Station. The bar is for real and drinks and food will be served.

An immersive theatre piece with angst and alcohol.

Founded by visionary producer Anne Hamburger, En Garde Arts builds upon a globally-recognized history of creative excellence alongside such luminaries as Reza Abdoh, Anne Bogart, María Irene Fornés, Charles L. Mee, Jr., Tina Landau, Jonathan Larson, Bill Rauch, Fiona Shaw, and Mac Wellman. Ronald Guttman is on the Board of Trustees of En Guarde Arts.

SAVE TIN PAN ALLEY ORGANIZATION HOPES FOR A PUBLIC OUTCRY

These buildings and others on West 28th Street between Sixth Avenue and Broadway in Manhattan housed the sheet-music publishers that were the center of American popular music in the early 20th century.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States held court in an area of New York City which came to be known as Tin Pan Alley.

The name originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan and a plaque exists on the sidewalk on 28th Street between Broadway and Sixth commemorates it.

The origins of the name "Tin Pan Alley" are unclear. One account claims that it was a derogatory reference to the sound of many pianos (comparing them to the banging of tin pans). Others claim it arose from songwriters modifying their pianos to produce a more percussive sound. After many years, the term came to refer to the U.S. music industry in general according to the official biography.

For almost 200 years the area has been revered. Now the land has been sold and fears are that the buildings will be demolished. Hoping the horse isn't already out of the barn, the 29th Street Neighborhood Association and the Historic Districts Council staged a rally today in hopes of preserving the area.

George Calderaro, Historic Districts Council, Advisory Board Member answered some questions for Broadway To Vegas.

The area - all of the remaining buildings that constitute Tin Pan Alley - have been sold as a parcel to a real estate developer. It's been well publicized that, because of the large size of the parcel and the buyer’s experience in New York City real estate development, it is likely that all of Tin Pan Alley will be demolished to make room for high-rise development in the near future. Have you spoken to the developer? "We haven’t spoken with the owner and are going to use public opinion to sway the Landmarks Commission," replied Calderaro.
Today's rally included performances by Pianist/Singer Robert Lamont, songwriter and pianist Betsy Hirsch and singers Deborah Karpel, Aubrey Barnes, and Stacey Haughton.

There were also three different area tours led by Miriam Berman, David Freeland and Laurence Frommer and Cher Carden. Speakers included David Freeland. Various elected officials also attended.

Tin Pan Alley’s influence would be hard to overstate. Here, for the first time, publishers and songwriters learned to promote, devising techniques of “song plugging” that helped them market sheet music to a buying public. Blues, Broadway, jazz, ragtime, Latin rhythms - all coalesced into a musical force that emanated from this single block.

Singers as diverse as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jolson and Fred Astaire sang music originating from Tin Pan Alley. Rumor has it that living legend Bob Dylan wrote his first successes while he was living in the Tin Pan Alley. Whenever you hear contemporary music, it is likely to be descended from Tin Pan Alley roots.

Leading Tin Pan Alley composers and lyricists include: Milton Ager - Thomas S. Allen - Harold Arlen - Ernest Ball - Irving Berlin - Bernard Bierman - George Botsford - Shelton Brooks - Nacio Herb Brown - Irving Caesar - Sammy Cahn - Hoagy Carmichael - George M. Cohan - Con Conrad - J. Fred Coots - Gussie Lord Davis - Buddy DeSylva - Walter Donaldson - Paul Dresser - Dave Dreyer - Al Dubin - Dorothy Fields - Ted Fio Rito - Max Freedman - Cliff Friend - George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin - Oscar Hammerstein II - E. Y. "Yip" Harburg - Charles K. Harris - Lorenz Hart - James P. Johnson - Isham Jones - Scott Joplin - Gus Kahn - Bert Kalmar - Jerome Kern - Al Lewis - Sam M. Lewis - Frank Loesser - Jimmy McHugh - F. W. Meacham - Johnny Mercer - Halsey K. Mohr - Theodora Morse - Ethelbert Nevin - Bernice Petkere - Maceo Pinkard - Lew Pollack - Cole Porter - Andy Razaf - Richard Rodgers - Harry Ruby - Al Sherman - Lou Singer - Sunny Skylar - Ted Snyder - Kay Swift - Edward Teschemacher - Albert Von Tilzer - Harry Von Tilzer - Fats Waller - Harry Warren - Richard A. Whiting - Harry M. Woods - Jack Yellen - Vincent Youmans - Joe Young and Hy Zaret[.

The Historic Districts Council is the advocate for all of New York City's historic neighborhoods. "HDC is the only organization in New York that works directly with people who care about our city's historic neighborhoods and buildings. We represent a constituency of over 500 local community organizations."

"We speak out for preservation. HDC is the only group which regularly reviews every single public proposal affecting a historic building and historic districts in New York, and when needed, we comment on them. We monitor the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and work with elected officials on historic preservation and development issues. We have negotiated agreements between developers and community residents on projects affecting historic neighborhoods."

ART THERAPY FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONED BY SECOND LADY KAREN PENCE

As Second Lady of the United States, Mrs. Pence is committed to raising awareness and educating the public about the mental health profession of art therapy in the United States and around the world. She has observed art therapy programs in Canada, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, and across the United States.

Mrs. Pence is the honorary chair of the Art Therapy Initiative at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis and is a member of Riley Children’s Foundation. She also serves as a board member for Tracy’s Kids, an art therapy program for young cancer patients.

Karen Pence, wife of US Vice President Mike Pence, has spoken out in favor of art therapy for mental health, a cause she has championed for years. She announced that using art therapy as a treatment in mental health will be one of her major causes during the Trump administration.

An official release from The White House stated:

Second Lady Karen Pence announced the goals she wants to accomplish through her art therapy initiative, on the campus of Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee, home to a nationally acclaimed art therapy graduate education program. Mrs. Pence has named her initiative, Art Therapy: Healing with the HeART.

Ann Scott, First Lady of Florida, joined Mrs. Pence for the announcement along with John Thrasher, FSU President; Dr. Donna Betts, President of the American Art Therapy Association; Dr. Sara M. Kass, Retired Navy Captain, and Senior Military and Medical Advisor to Creative Forces: The NEA/Military Healing Arts Network; and Dr. Dave Gussak, Chair of FSU’s Department of Art Education, which houses FSU’s Art Therapy program.

In early May, Mrs. Pence held a brainstorming session at the White House with a group of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences with art therapy, including art therapy practitioners, art therapy clients, academics, and medical experts. The brainstorming session served an important purpose in the development of the Second Lady’s initiative as she gained invaluable insight, ideas, and encouragement from the group to move forward with shining the light on art therapy.

“I chose one initiative to champion, and it is art therapy, which is near and dear to my heart,” said Mrs. Pence who has a master’s in art education and taught for 25 years, including as an elementary school art teacher, and is a watercolor artist. . “It is evident when I visit art therapy programs across the United States and world, that art therapy is making a positive difference. From children with cancer, to struggling teens, to grieving families, to people with autism, to military service members experiencing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, to those with eating disorders, art therapy is changing lives. Unfortunately, art therapy is not well-known, but I hope to change that.”

“Art therapy is a regulated mental health profession that enables people to express themselves through the creative process, especially when words fail them,” said Donna Betts, President of the American Art Therapy Association. “As the Second Lady’s initiative shines a spotlight on art therapy, the American Art Therapy Association serves as the nation’s leading resource for expanding access to art therapy services. It is my personal conviction that Second Lady Mrs. Karen Pence’s initiative is a gift to all Americans and will enrich the profession so that more people can be helped, and more lives can be improved by the power of art therapy.”

The Second Lady wants to achieve three goals with her initiative. They are the following:

1. To elevate the profession so that people understand that art therapy is a mental health profession, and not arts and crafts;

2. To help people understand that art therapy is an option for various conditions, illnesses, and life experiences; and

3. To encourage young people to go into the profession.

Mrs. Pence also announced that on October 18, 2017 she started a blog which will chronicle her visits to art therapy programs.

SPREADING THE WORD

TONY AWARD WINNING DIRECTOR JULIE TAYMOR

Julie Taymor and Christopher Jackson

will be featured in a conversation with Christopher Jackson, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway. The evening includes cast performances from the show, and a look at how Taymor’s extraordinary puppets come to life on stage.

Taymor will discuss the process of adapting the animated film for the Broadway stage, including behind-the-scenes anecdotes for the generations of fans who have grown up with this iconic production.

Jackson, who was Tony-nominated for originating the role of George Washington in Broadway’s smash hit Hamilton, and recently sang a stunning rendition of Stevie Wonder’s As on the 2017 Emmy Awards broadcast, was a member of the original Broadway cast of The Lion King. Sunday, October 29, 2017, at 92Y in New York City.

MOVIES AT THE MARSHALL The Flamingo Kid Garry Marshall's 1984 comedy followed by Q&A with Film/TV/Stage/Voice actor Hector Elizondo who has appeared in every film Garry Marshall directed (that would be 18), actor Bronson Pinchot, screenwriter Neal Marshall, and producer Michael Phillips.

The discussion following the film will be moderated by Scott Marshall. Monday, October 23 at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA.

MAX WEINBERG

Priscilla Presley and Max Weinberg

of the E Street Band interviews Priscilla Presley in Elvis & Me.

Priscilla Presley offers audiences an extremely rare opportunity to gain insight into a world only a few have entered. Journey with her through her fascinating life in an intimate interview format where she will answer audience questions and share stories that will spark curiosity and conversation.

It's promised that guests of this unique experience will be "intrigued, surprised, and entertained by Priscilla herself, live on stage in this open conversation."

Friday, October 27, at the State Theatre of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

THE EAST LYNNE THEATRE COMPANY in West Cape May, New Jersey is celebrating the 1920s with the 1920 film classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, with live organ accompaniment played by Wayne Zimmerman presented on Sunday, October 29.

This film is considered the first horror film, and the first example in cinema of German Expressionism.

On Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4 it's a radio show version of Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Speckled Band, in which Holmes and Watson race against time to stop the bizarre murders in an eerie country manor. Performed "radio-style" with live sound effects and commercials, it is based on one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's personal favorites and his play The Stoner Case, adapted by Craig Wichman, with the permission of Dame Jean Conan Doyle. Craig is the founder and producer of Quicksilver Radio Theater. His script received the National Federation of Community Broadcasters' "Gold Reel" for Radio Drama Award. Portraying Holmes and Watson are Lee O'Connor and Fred Velde, with Marty McDonough, Susan Tischler and Gayle Stahlhuth playing multiple roles, along with Rob LeMaire, who also operates the sound effects.

THE LATE CARRIE FISHER deserves some sort of a posthumous award for her powerful, appropriate and downright funny statement to Harvey Weinstein after her friend Heather Robinson reported to Fisher that she had been sexually assaulted by Weinstein.

Last week Robinson told The Morning Mix with Greg Curtis and Mrs. Grant on 94.9 MIXfm that Robinson received a message from Fisher telling her that she had seen Weinstein at Sony Studios, so she hand-delivered a Tiffany box, tied with a white bow.

Inside the present? "It was a cow tongue from Jerry's Famous Deli in Westwood with a note that said, 'If you ever touch my darling Heather or any other woman again, the next delivery will be something of yours in a much smaller box,'" Robinson recounted.

Perfect. Bravo to Fisher who died in December 2016 at the age of 60.

THE 10TH ANNUAL KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

Movie producer Daehyun Kim, Mia Kim, and her husband, musician Tommy Vig, on the red carpet at the opening ceremony at the Jecheon Film Festival in Korea, August 13, 2015, premiering the documentary about Mia and The Kim Sisters: Try To Remember. Photo: The Kim Sisters

is currently taking place in Budapest, Hungary. In addition to screening five films a documentary about The Kim Sisters Try To Remember was featured. Written and directed by Kim Dar-hyeon, it tells the story of the Kim Sisters, who became the first Korean girl group to break into international popularity.

According to the official description: "Lee Nan-young, who is famous for Tears in Mokpo, made her debut at OK Records in the 1930s, and married Kim Hae-song, an acclaimed, genius composer at that time. In the year of liberation in 1945, 'KPK Musical Troupe' won popularity with the duo of Lee Nan-young and Kim Hae-song, but Kim got kidnapped by North Korea. During the Korean War, Lee made Korea’s first girl vocal group Kim Sisters with her daughters Suk-ja, Ae-ja and her niece Min-ja (Mia) who inherited their parents’ musical talent. Thanks to Lee’s desperate effort and intense training, ‘Kim Sisters’ gained popularity at the American 8th Army base. They got all the way to Las Vegas, USA for the first time as Asians, showing strong appeal to American public. Min-ja (Mia) of ‘Kim Sisters’ is still working as a singer in Budapest, Hungary. The audience can meet the three shy girls who fluently sang songs in English without even knowing the language, through the memories of Min-ja (Mia) in the film."

On October 29 Mia Kim will perform a special live concert to close the festival. She'll sing in Korean, English and Hungarian.

The Korean Film Festival takes place in several countries, including - for the first time - in the UAE. The festival unspools October 26-28 in Malaysia where attendees are advised that there will be "‘black-outs’ in some scenes in the movies in compliance with Malaysian censorship guidelines."

Films screened include The Suspect; My Brilliant Life; A Hard Day; My Love, My Bride, and The Fatal Encounter

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 is National Nut Day. Monday is National Boston Cream Pie Day. Tuesday is National Bologna Day followed on Wednesday by National Greasy Foods Day. Thursday is National Mincemeat Day and another National Pumpkin Day. Friday is National Potato Day and American Beer Day. Saturday is National Chocolate Day.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THE RECORDING ACADEMY 20TH ANNUAL ENTERTAINMENT LAW INITIATIVE WRITING COMPETITION co-sponsored by the American Bar Association Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries has been redesigned to focus greater attention on the winner. The program has also returned to the Recording Academy’s Membership & Industry Relations Department, where the program was initially created.

The Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition invites law students enrolled in ABA-approved law schools to write a 3,000-word paper on a compelling legal topic facing the music industry today.

A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded to the author of the winning paper, and a $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the runner-up. In addition, the winner will receive airfare and hotel accommodations for two and two tickets to the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, January 28, 2018. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS

Submissions must be received by January 2, 2018. Winners will be announced on January 10, 2018.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS MANAGERS and non-profit arts organizations in all disciplines from 37 eligible countries are invited to apply for Independent Projects Awards distributed by CEC ArtsLink.

Project grants enable artists and arts managers to carry out self-directed projects in the US. Applicants must have a letter of invitation from a non-profit organization or individual in the US to apply.

US artists and arts managers seeking to collaborate with international colleagues are encouraged to consider this opportunity for potential funding.

Eligible countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Moldova, Montenegro, Palestine, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

The deadline to apply is December 5, 2017.



GEORGE SAUNDERS 58, was presented with the Man Booker 2017 prize from Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall last week at a black-tie dinner at the Guild Hall in London. Wearing a two-piece, cocktail length, evening outfit in shades of bronze, the wife of Prince Charles presented Saunders with the prestigious award, which includes £50,000. The award was for his first length novel Lincoln in the Bardo.

The book is based around a real event: the night in 1862 when Abraham Lincoln buried his 11-year-old son Willie in a Washington cemetery. Saunders imagines that the boy is trapped in the Bardo - a Tibetan Buddhist term for a kind of limbo.

Born in Texas, Saunders is the second American in the row to win the award.



BASKERSFIELD MIST by Stephen Sachs.

Directed by Bickford Theatre Producing Artistic Director Eric Hafen.

Kim Zimmer, four-time Daytime Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Leading Actress for her role in Guiding Light, stars as Marude Gutman. Carl Wallnau, Artistic Director of the Centenary Stage Company, of Hoboken, NJ plays Lionel Percy.

Maude, a fifty-something unemployed bartender living in a trailer park, has bought a painting for a few bucks from a thrift store. Despite almost trashing it, she’s now convinced it’s a lost masterpiece by Jackson Pollock worth millions. But when world-class art expert Lionel Percy flies over from New York and arrives at her trailer home in Bakersfield to authenticate the painting, he has no idea what he is about to discover. Inspired by true events, this hilarious and thought-provoking new comedy-drama asks vital questions about what makes art and people truly authentic. Adult language.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ. stages the production October 26 - November 5, 2017.

THE RED DRESS a world premiere written by Tania Wisbar.

Directed by Kiff Scholl.

Starring Rebecca Larsen, Laura Liguori, Shanti Reinhardt, J.B. Waterman, Dylan Wittrock.

Set in Berlin and inspired by a true story, this romantic drama explores the intersection of politics and art during the years between the Treaty of Versailles and the rise of Fascism.

Wisbar’s fictionalized account of her parents’ marriage and their forced divorce by the Nazis begins in 1924 Berlin. Alexandra Schiele (Laura Ligouri) is a famous film actress from a prominent Jewish family who falls in love with a down-on-his-luck World War I vet, Franz Weitrek (J.B. Waterman). Franz is able to parlay his wife’s connections into work as a film director. But when his career takes off making Nazi propaganda films, his wife suddenly becomes a liability.

Although in real life Wisbar’s mother was not an actress, she was from a well-connected Jewish family that was able to get her father, Frank Wisbar, his start in the German film business. Later, when Frank emigrated to the U.S., he became the producer/director of the first filmed series made for television, Fireside Theater. Tania, who was born in Berlin, came to the U.S. as a baby after her parents divorced. She first learned about her family history decades later.

The creative team includes set designer Pete Hickock, lighting designer Kelley Finn, projections designer Nick Santiago, sound designer Dave B. Marling, costume designer Shon LeBlanc and casting director Ferne Cassel. The production stage manager is Danny Crisp, and Victoria Watson and Racquel Lehrman.

Presented by Argyle Road Productions as a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles with previews October 26- 27 with regular performances October 28 - November 19, 2017.

SUZY STORCK a UK premiere from Magali Mougel.

Directed by celebrated French director Jean-Pierre Baro, in his debut UK production.

Translated by Chris Campbell.

Heavy heat. Just before the storm. An evening when the setting sun never actually sets.

Another unbearably hot evening, 8.54pm. Suzy Storck sits by the window, waiting for her husband to come home. Upstairs she can hear her children, yelling and clamoring at their bedroom door.

She’s locked them in.

Suzy realizes for the first time she never chose any of this. She wonders how she ended up here. After tonight, she might never find her way out.

Set design by Cécile Trémolières.

A co-production with Extime Company October 26-November 18, 2017 at The Gate in London.

MEAN GIRLS a new musical with a script by Tina Fey based on her screenplay for the Paramount Pictures film. Music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin.

Drected and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholow.

After years of living with her zoologist parents in Africa, Cady Heron moves to Illinois and must find where she fits in the social hierarchy. A sweet, naive newbie, Cady quickly attracts the attention of The Plastics, a trio of popular frenemies led by the vicious and calculating Regina George. When Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

"Full of razor-sharp wit and remarkable insight, Mean Girls takes a look at friendships - and human nature - through a ferociously funny lens."

Erika Henningsen will star as Cady Heron, Taylor Louderman as Regina George, Kerry Butler in three roles: Ms. Norbury, Mrs. Heron, and Mrs. George. Featuring Ashley Park as Gretchen Wieners, Kate Rockwell as Karen Smith, Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis Sarkisian, Grey Henson as Damian Hubbard, Kyle Selig as Aaron Samuels, Cheech Manohar as Kevin Gnapoor, Rick Younger as Mr. Duvall.

The cast also includes Stephanie Lynn Bissonnette, Tee Boyich, Collins Conley, Ben Cook, DeMarius Copes, Kevin Csolak, Devon Hadsell, Curtis Edwin Holland, Myles McHale, Chris Medlin, Brittany Nicholas, Becca Petersen, Nikhil Saboo, Jonalyn Saxer, Brendon Stimson, Kamille Upshaw, Zurin Villanueva, Gianna Yanelli, Iain Young.

The creative team includes Scott Pask (Set Design), Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Brian Ronan (Sound Design), Finn Ross & Adam Young (Video Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Make-Up Design), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Music Director), John Clancy (Orchestrations), Glen Kelly (Dance and Incidental Music Arrangements), Jeff Richmond & Glen Kelly (Additional Music Arrangements), Howard Joines (Music Coordinator) and Telsey + Co / Bethany Knox, CSA (Casting).

A world premiere, pre-Broadway run opens October 31 at the National Theatre in Washington, DC for performance through December 3, 2017. Previews at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway start March 12, 2018.

WHO'S WHERE

ELTON JOHN performing his Red Piano production at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas through November 4. It was announced last week that Sir Elton will wrap up his 14-year gig at Caesars with his April 28-May 19, 2018 residency.

JOHN CLEESE LIVE ON STAGE MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL a live and truly unforgettable evening of conversation and audience Q&A. Emphasized - "Absurd and/or ridiculous questions only are requested, please." John will tell stories of his life and career. Before John silly walks his way on to the stage, the excitement will build as the audience will get to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail in its entirety on the big screen. November 1, 2017 at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

FOREIGNER appears on both side of America this week. Today, Sunday, October 22, they star at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre, Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Then on Saturday they open a four night stand at the Rock Getaway 2017 at the Hard Rock Hotel - Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

KEVIN JAMES telling funny stories October 28-29 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.

TEARS FOR FEARS celebrating three decades of hits such as Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Shout and Mad World, the legendary group return to the Royal Albert Hall for the first time since 1985. Friday, October 27, at Royal Albert Hall in London.

THE WEEKND Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling music artist bring his tour to the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, October 24. Saturday's gig is in Columbia, South Carolina at the Colonial Life Arena. Next Sunday, October 29, the Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer can be enjoyed at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

ANDRE RIEU brings his talent and 60 piece Johann Strauss Orchestra to the stage of the Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA, today, Sunday, October 22. On Tuesday, October 24, the show is at the SAP Center at San Jose, CA. Wednesday finds the gang at the Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA, The busy week continues with a show Thursday, October 26 at the Selland Arena, Fresno, CA. Saturday's gig is at the Dome in Tacoma, WA. Next Sunday, October 29 they'll be delighting fans at the The Moda Center, Portland, OR.

KANSAS singing their hits Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the The Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA. Friday's stop is at the Knoxville Civic Center, Knoxville, TN. On Saturday they can be enjoyed at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall, Huntsville, AL.

ERIC HOFFMAN will be making his solo cabaret debut at Don’t Tell Mama in New York City on October 25, 26 and 29. The swinging show is directed by the legendary Marilyn Maye, with sought-after music director and arranger, Tedd Firth, at the piano.

FINAL OVATION

ROY DOTRICE a Tony Award winning veteran British actor, died at his London home on Monday, October 16, 2017. He was 94.

He won a Tony for his 2000 role in the Broadway revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten.

Dotrice was also known for his role as the composer's father, Leopold Mozart, in the Oscar-winning film Amadeus. He also gained fame for his role in the CBS TV series Beauty and the Beast. H was awarded a BAFTA as best TV actor in 1969 for his role in Misleading Cases. Dotrice played the part of John Aubrey in the play devised and written by Patrick Garland of Brief Lives, a one-man show that saw Dotrice on stage for more than two-and-a-half hours (including the interval [intermission], during which he would feign sleep). Premiering in 1967 at the Hampstead Theatre in London, the play had two revivals on Broadway. In 1968, it moved to the Criterion Theatre in the West End, where it would run for 400 performances before transferring to the Mayfair Theatre.

These runs, combined with extensive international touring, earned Dotrice a place in the Guinness World Records for the greatest number of solo performances (1,782). In 1984, he starred opposite Rosemary Harris in a production of Noël Coward's Hay Fever. He appeared in the stage production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas at The Lowry theatre in Salford from November 2009 to January 2010

Dotrice served as a wireless operator and an air gunner with the Royal Air Force prior to his acting career. His plane was shot down and he was a prisoner of war from 1942 until 1945.

He was honored by Queen Elizabeth II in 2008 when he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Dotrice was married to Kay Newman, a television and stage actress, from 1947 until her death in 2007. They had three daughters; Michele, Yvette and Karen, all of whom have acted at various times in their lives. He was the father-in-law of actor Edward Woodward (Michele) and, until their divorce, Alex Hyde-White (Karen). He is survived by his three daughters, grandchildren and great grandson.

GRADY TATE legendary jazz drummer and singer with a distinctive baritone voice, died October 8, 2017 from complications of Altzheimer's. He was 85.

He began his career as the drummer with the Quincy Jones Orchestra in 1962. From 1968 until 1974 Tate was the drummer on <,i>The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. for six years. He was also a member of the New York Jazz Quartet. In 1981 he played drums and percussion for Simon and Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park.

As a sideman he has played with musicians including Jimmy Smith, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Quincy Jones, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, and Michel Legrand.

Tate was a favorite of singer Peggy Lee who encouraged him to sing during her performances.

Millions of children grew up hearing Tate’s vocal talent on many of the Schoolhouse Rock songs from the ABC educational cartoons. Tate was the drummer on the iconic soundtrack for David Lynch’s cult television series Twin Peaks, and also appeared on the soundtrack for Twin Peaks: The Return.

He is survived by his wife Vivian and son Grady, Jr.

Next Column: October 29, 2017
Copyright: October 22, 2017 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

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