Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: April 20, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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A RELEVANT GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK STARS GEORGE CLOONEY

George Clooney (center) surrounded by cast of Good Night and Good Luck. Production Photo by Emilio Madrid.

Handsome, practical joker George Clooney, with his pulse on the heart beat of America, has brought his award winning movie Good Night and Good Luck to Broadway as a stage play. On the Great White Way Good Night, and Good Luck instantly became a hot ticket, and is now - officially - the highest grossing non-musical play in Broadway history raking in $4.4 million.

As first reported by Deadline, Good Night and Good Luck, an adaptation of the 2005 film of the same name, has Clooney starring as journalist Edward R. Murrow under the direction of David Cromer, the production is earning more at the box office than any other play in the Winter Garden Theatre's 100+ year history.

To say investors are thrilled is an understatement.

While this is Clooney's Broadway debut, he is no stranger to the stage, although not a frequent participant. Good Night, and Good Luck is his first play since 1986, when he starred in Vicious, a play about the life of Sid Vicious he performed in Los Angeles and Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre. He is obvious more comfortable playing to a movie or television camera than to a life audience.

I totally enjoyed the movie and even own the movie's CD.

Transferring from large screen film to small screen isn't as easy task.

Set in the 1950s, in many ways, it was the decade of the understatement. Today, Late Night Talk Show hosts introduce guests by screaming guests' names so loudly that you can't understand the name. Hosts screw up their faces trying to impersonate Donald Trump, sounding nothing like him and then laughing at their own jokes. Back then it was restraint. Stab the person in the back, but be subtle.

Murrow in his chair, his Camel cigarette positioned in his fingers as if a sabre ready to strike - smoke curling upwards.

Color television hadn't yet conquered the nation and events were in shades of gray. Camera men who today show up for work in Bermuda shorts and pull over golf shirts, arrived at work in suits complete with a freshly ironed white shirt and tie.

This was also the era where everyone smoked. The inriguing haze only adds to the subject matter.

This is a drama, but music adds an important element. Sublime singer Georgia Heers who finished her graduate studies at The Juilliard School in 2023, opens the show and provides scene transitions . Her silky satin voice is as smooth as her green gown showcased in gold lighting. A musical combo provides backing for era period tunes as the monitors on each side of the stage offer kinescopes versions of ’50s commercials.

The story is about legendary pioneering television journalist, news anchor and war correspondent Edward R. Murrow’s public confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the latter’s Communist hunting reign of terror in the 1950s. "Good night, and good luck" was his famous sign-off. Set designer Scott Pask has turned the stage into a massive TV studio with video/projection designer David Bengal's large panels flashing events from then to now.

With all due respect to two heavyweights in the business, it may be the staging with those humongous video panels that prevent this play from soaring. The audience's vision isn't controlled whereas in a television show or a movie it's the director and the choice of camera angles which determine where the audience will focus its collective vision.

That is crucial because the focal point controls emotion. In the stage version there is no audience direction through lighting, movement, sound or speech as to where the audience should be focused. There are constant distractions from the video screens plus a large stage and equally large cast.

That doesn't mean the issue of McCarthy isn't front and center.

On June 15, 1953, Murrow hosted The Ford 50th Anniversary Show, broadcast simultaneously on NBC and CBS and seen by 60 million viewers. The broadcast closed with Murrow's commentary covering a variety of topics, including the danger of nuclear war against the backdrop of a mushroom cloud. Murrow also offered indirect criticism of McCarthyism, saying: "Nations have lost their freedom while preparing to defend it, and if we in this country confuse dissent with disloyalty, we deny the right to be wrong." Forty years after the broadcast, television critic Tom Shales recalled the broadcast as both "a landmark in television" and "a milestone in the cultural life of the '50s".

On March 9, 1954, Murrow, Friendly, and their news team produced a half-hour See It Now special titled "A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy". Murrow used excerpts from McCarthy's own speeches and proclamations to criticize the senator and point out episodes where he had contradicted himself. Murrow and Friendly paid for their own newspaper advertisement for the program; they were not allowed to use CBS's money for the publicity campaign or even use the CBS logo.

The broadcast contributed to a nationwide backlash against McCarthy and is seen as a turning point in the history of television.

This production also bookends and injects with authentic speeches which Murrow delivered.

Murrow's last major TV milestone was reporting and narrating the CBS Reports installment Harvest of Shame, a report on the plight of migrant farmworkers in the United States. Directed by Friendly and produced by David Lowe, it ran in November 1960, just after Thanksgiving.

A chain smoker throughout his life, Murrow was almost never seen without his trademark Camel cigarette. It was reported that he smoked between sixty and sixty-five cigarettes a day, equivalent to roughly three packs. See It Now was the first television program to have a report about the connection between smoking and cancer. During the show, Murrow said, "I doubt I could spend a half hour without a cigarette with any comfort or ease." He developed lung cancer and lived for two years after an operation to remove his left lung.

Murrow died at his home in Pawling, New York, on April 27, 1965, two days after his 57th birthday. The 60th anniversary of his death will be celebrated next Sunday.

The Broadway production ends with Clooney delivering a monologue about media having the power to both inform and distract, followed by a montage of significant broadcast news stories over the past 70 years. That includes Elon Musk "giving his heart out" to the audience.

After Murrow's death, the Edward R. Murrow Center of Public Diplomacy was established at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Murrow's library and selected artifacts are housed in the Murrow Memorial Reading Room that also serves as a special seminar classroom and meeting room for Fletcher activities. Murrow's papers are available for research at the Digital Collections and Archives at Tufts, which has a website and makes many of the digitized papers available through the Tufts Digital Library.

The cast features: George Clooney in his Broadway debut as Edward R. Murrow. Mac Brandt in his Broadway debut as Colonel Anderson. Will Dagger in his Broadway debut as Don Hewitt. Christopher Denham as John Aaron. R. Ward Duffy in his Broadway debut as part of the CBS Staff. Glenn Fleshler as Fred Friendly. Joe Forbrich as CBS Staff. Ilana Glazer in her Broadway debut as Shirley Wershba. Clark Gregg as Don Hollenbeck. Paul Gross as William F. Paley. Georgia Heers in her Broadway debut as Ella. Carter Hudson in his Broadway debut as Joe Wershba. Fran Kranz as Palmer Williams. Jennifer Morris in her Broadway debut as Milli Lerner. Michael Nathanson as Eddie Scott. Andrew Polk as Charlie Mack. Imani Rousselle in a Broadway debut as CBS Staff. Greg Stuhr as Phil from Legal and CBS Staff. JD Taylor in his Broadway debut as CBS Staff. Sophia Tzougros in her Broadway debut as CBS Staff. Aaron Roman Weiner as Don Surine.

Understudies: Mac Brandt (Don Surine), R. Ward Duffy (Edward R. Murrow, William F. Paley), Joe Forbrich (Fred Friendly, Charlie Mack), Imani Rousselle (Ella), Greg Stuhr (Eddie Scott, Don Hewitt, Colonel Anderson), JD Taylor (Palmer Williams, Joe Wershba, John Aaron), Sophia Tzougros (Shirley Wershba, Milli Lerner) and Aaron Roman Weiner (Don Hollenbeck, Phil from Legal)

Compositions by Bryan Carter; Music orchestrated by Bryan Carter; Music arranged by Bryan Carter; Musical Director Bryan Carter; Associate Musical Director Joe Block. Musical Supervisor Bryan Carter and Daniel Kluger; Musical Coordinator Kimberlee Wertz; Percussion Bryan Carter; Keys: Joe Block; Bass: Mark Lewandowski; Tenor Sax: Lucas Pino; Music Preparation: Josephine Bearden

The creatives are: Associate Director: Neal Gupta. Scenic Design by Scott Pask; Costume Design by Brenda Abbandandolo; Lighting Design by Heather Gilbert; Sound Design by Daniel Kluger; Projection Design by David Bengali; Hair and Wig Design by Leah J. Loukas; Associate Scenic Design: Orit Jacoby Carroll; Associate Costume Design: Donald Sanders; Associate Lighting Design: Jackie Fox; Associate Sound Design: Will Pickens; Associate Video/Projections Designer: Alessandra Cronin and David Forsee; Associate Hair and Wig Design: Sarah Jordan; Assistant Scenic Design: Kyu Shin and Anton Volovsek; Assistant Costume Design: Arianna Gallo and Amber Paul. Executive Producer: Andrew Higgie and Zachary Baer; General Manager: WJP and Megan Curren; Company Manager: Brian DeCaluwe and Allison Kupfer; Associate Gen. Mgr: Dylan Glen. Production Manager: Juniper Street Productions; Production Stage Manager: Richard A. Hodge; Stage Manager: Ashley-Rose Galligan; Assistant Stage Mgr: Vanessa Coakley.

Casting: David Caparelliotis, CSA; Voice & Dialect: Gigi Buffington; Archival Researcher: Jessica Kahkoska; Advertising: AKA; Press Representative: DKC/O&M; Digital Marketing: SINE Digital; For 2929 Entertainment: Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban; For Participant: Jeff Skoll; For Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures: Jeff Skoll; Photographer: Emilio Madrid.

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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

INSIDE SOLID GOLD

Solid Gold Exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Photo: Brooklyn Museum

explores 6,000 years of gold in forms that express beauty, joy, ritual, and success. With over 500 gold objects ranging from fashion, jewelry, and luxury objects to painting, sculpture, and film, Solid Gold provides a 360-degree view of our millennia-long fascination and obsession with gold, while discussing the ramifications of its pursuit.

Behold the majesty of gold in a shimmering exhibition dedicated to the element that has inspired countless works of art, fashion, film, music, and design. As a material and a color, gold has symbolized beauty, honor, joy, ritual, spirituality, success, and wealth throughout history. It has also taken on myriad forms: from millennia-old depictions of an idealized world to opulent 13th- and 14th-century Italian altarpieces and intricate Japanese screens, to contemporary artwork and haute couture marvels. With a sweeping range of objects and a global perspective, this exhibition traces the many odysseys of the metal that has influenced cultures and legacies worldwide.

Solid Gold features more than 500 works, pairing showpieces from the collection with stunning international loans. The fashion world’s embrace of gold will be seen in standout designs by Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Demna, Gianfranco Ferré, Giorgio di Sant’Angelo, Halston, Mary McFadden, The Blonds, Walter Van Beirendonck, and Yves Saint Laurent. Gold-ground paintings and sculptures, coins, and other treasures will sparkle alongside jewelry by Alexander Calder, Belperron, Cartier, Charles Loloma, Jacob & Co, and Verdura—as well as grillz by Gabby Elan. While celebrating the seductive magic of this luminous material, the exhibition also confronts darker histories, inviting frank discussions about the human and environmental costs of extracting gold ore from the earth. Solid Gold will immerse you in one of humankind’s most dazzling obsessions.

You can also take part in a free, family-friendly treasure hunt in the galleries and see how many gold works you can find. Completed hunts can be redeemed for a 25% discount on Solid Gold merchandise in the Shop.

Solid Gold is organized by Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture; Catherine Futter, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts; and Lisa Small, Senior Curator, European Art; with Imani Williford, Curatorial Assistant, Photography, Fashion, and Material Culture.

On display through July 6, 2025 at The Brooklyn Museum which is an art museum in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum is New York City's second largest and contains an art collection with around 500,000 objects.

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SWEET CHARITY

COMEDY GIVES BACK LAUGH AID benefiting the CGB Fire Fund "was a ton of fun and raised a ton of money for fire victims in LA."

Craig Robinson, Darrell Hammond, Melissa Villasenor, Frankie Quinones, Cristela Alonzo, Pete Holmes, Billy Gardell, Greg Baldwin, Jeff Ross & more turned out on April 16, 2025 at The Improv in Los Angeles.

Comedy Gives Back Fire Fund is a resource to the comedy community impacted by the fires in the Los Angeles area. Comedy Gives Back provides short-term disaster relief, including $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card, to comedians impacted.

Comedy Gives Back Fire Fund is intended to cover short-term costs, should you incur costs from evacuating (hotel, food, supplies). Comedy Gives Back is also able to provide additional support for stand-up comedians with considerable impact, including medical issues or longer-term relocation needs.

Individuals are eligible for CGB Fire Fund support if they work in the comedy community with proof of employment.

ARENA STAGE ANNUAL GALA takes place April 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti takes center stage for a one-night-only performance.

Hosted by Gala co-chairs Susan E. Carter and R. Lucia Riddle, the evening will also include a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, and the presentation of awards emceed by Felicia Curry on the in-the-round Fichandler Stage.

The event will honor Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Deborah F. Rutter for their extraordinary contributions to public service and the arts. Congresswoman Norton will receive the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award and Deborah Rutter will be presented with the Arena Stage American Voice Award.

The celebration continues with a festive reception and dancing, all in support of Arena Stage’s artistic and community engagement programs.

SPREADING THE WORD

THE NEW YORK POPS BIRTHDAY GALA on April 28 honors the celebrated songwriter Diane Warren and Nadine Wong, Private Wealth Advisor, Executive Director, and Global Sports and Entertainment Director with Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management.

At the concert, guests can expect to hear Diane Warren's legendary hits like "Un-break My Heart," "How Can We Be Lovers," "If I Could Turn Back Time," and more!

Guest artists include:
Shoshana Bean, Grammy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee
Sofia Carson, star of Netflix's Purple Hearts and Carry-On
Taylor Dayne, singer of the number one hit "Love Will Lead You Back"
Ariana DeBose, Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner and Tony and Emmy Award nominee
Micaela Diamond, Tony Award nominee for Parade and original Broadway cast member of The Cher Show
Brandon Victor Dixon, Grammy Award winner and three-time Emmy and Tony Award nominee
Angélique Kidjo, five-time Grammy Award winner
LeAnn Rimes, two-time Grammy Award winner
The War and Treaty, two-time Grammy Award nominees.
Hailey Kilgore, Tony nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for the Broadway revival of Once on This Island
Mykal Kilgore, Grammy nominee for Best Traditional R&B performance
Storm Large, known for appearances with Pink Martini and on America's Got Talent.

After the concert, continue your evening with the 42nd Birthday Gala Dinner Dance at the Mandarin Oriental, New York! This star-studded event celebrates the impact of The New York Pops and PopsEd with a night of delicious food and festive dancing in the stunning ballroom at the Mandarin Oriental.

92ND STREET Y, NEW YORK’S SCHOOL OF MUSIC ANNOUNCES music directors, guest teachers, and panelists to join Faith Prince and Michael Kirk for the 2025 summer cabaret conference.

Faith Prince, Currently on Broadway in Boop! The Musical, Returns to Headline her Second Annual Summer Cabaret Conference July 14-18, 2025 at 92NY.

After a thrilling inaugural year in 2024, The 92nd Street Y, New York’s School of Music announces the full lineup for the 2025 92NY Summer Cabaret Conference running July 14-18, 2025. The week-long intensive in the art form of cabaret will again be led by Tony winner and Broadway legend Faith Prince alongside award-winning cabaret performer, director, and historian Michael Kirk Lane. Also returning for a second year are musical directors Yasuhiko (Yaz) Fukuoka and Alex Rybeck. New featured guest teachers will be James Jackson, Jr. (A Strange Loop), Tony Nominee Sally Mayes, and Executive Director of the American Songbook Association, Carolyn Montgomery.

A bevy of panelists will also be part of this year’s conference, including: Tom Dangora, Jeff Harnar, Barry Kleinbort, Lina Koutrakos, Tanya Moberly, Sidney Myer, Amanda Raymond, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Darnell White, and Kelly Wohlford.

The conference is part of 92NY School of Music’s expanded focus on professional classes for the cabaret and concert stage.

This second annual conference will accept 12 singers to work alongside the artists. Performers interested in working with the artists must complete this short pre-screening form. Chosen performers will be notified no later than June 15, 2025. Anyone can audit the Conference for the week or by the day and there is no deadline for those registrations.

Scholarship support for this program has been generously provided, in part, by a collaboration with The American Songbook Association.

MATILDA The little girl with big powers just made West End history. Matilda The Musical has celebrated its 5000th performance at the Cambridge Theatre, cementing its status as one of London’s most loved and enduring hits. Now in its 14th year, the spellbinding show is booking to May 2026.

WORKS & PROCESS PRESENTS THE METROPOLITAN OPERA John Adams’s Antony and Cleopatra on April 28, 2025 at Guggenheim New York.

On May 12, 2025, preeminent American composer John Adams returns to the Metropolitan Opera in New York for the company premiere of his latest opera, Antony and Cleopatra —a glorious adaptation of Shakespeare’s immortal drama.

Groundbreaking director Elkhanah Pulitzer brings a new production to the Met stage, transporting the story of troubled romance and political strife from ancient Rome to the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. Ahead of this historic premiere, Met General Manager Peter Gelb moderates a discussion with director Elkhanah Pulitzer, set designer Mimi Lien, and choreographer Annie-B Parson, and Pulitzer. Soprano Julia Bullock, bass-baritone Gerald Finley, and tenor Paul Appleby, and pianist Laura Poe perform highlights from the score then join the discussion.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE has announced they have officially purchased its iconic 1925 building – restoring full ownership of our historic campus for the first time since 1970.

The announcement was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of its historic facility on May 28, 2025.

The building was lost to bankruptcy in 1970 and held in private ownership for more than five decades. Located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue and anchoring the Pasadena Playhouse Historic District, the 70,000-square-foot campus, which includes the theater, restaurant space, and six-story annex, is one of Southern California’s most iconic cultural venues and among the most influential and storied sites in American theater history.

The purchase of the building was funded by a $15 million fundraising campaign, which has reached 75% of its goal. The lead gift for the effort was provided by the Perenchio Foundation and matched by major arts philanthropists Terri and Jerry Kohl. The campaign’s other major donors are The Ahmanson Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Brad and Pamela King, Harmon and Lea Kong, Leigh and Harry Olivar, Jane Kaczmarek, Bingo and Gino Roncelli, and Erin and Jeremy Baker.

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THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE has announced Jason Knauf as the new CEO, explaining that the organization's current CEO, Hannah Jones, will depart the post this summer after four years. Knauf joined Earthshot as CEO immediately and will work with his predecessor in the coming months of transition.

Knauf started as Kensington Palace Communications Director before becoming the CEO of the Royal Foundation, which encompasses William and Kate's charitable work, until the end of 2021. Even after leaving his role in the royal household, Knauf continued to work on William's Earthshot Prize, serving on its board of trustees.



RAGTIME features a book by Terrence McNally. Music is by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. The musical is based on the novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow.

Directed by Christopher Betts.

Choreographer Sara Edwards.

Music direction by Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director Adam Souza.

A powerful musical set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, Ragtime weaves together the stories of three fictional families striving for the American Dream. As an affluent society woman, an imaginative Jewish immigrant, and an optimistic Harlem pianist navigate a changing world, they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair. With a Tony Award-winning score which blends ragtime, blues, jazz and show tunes, it’s a powerful, sweeping saga of America.

The cast for Ragtime is one of the largest in Goodspeed’s history. Primciples are: Mamie Parris (Mother). Michael Wordly (Coalhouse Walker Jr.). David R. Gordon (Tateh). Brennyn Lark (Sarah). Edward Watts (Father). Behr Marshall (Younger Brother). Sawyer Delaney (Little Boy). Sofie Nesanelis (Little Girl).

The ensemble will feature: Jordan Alexander, Shaunice Maudlyn Alexander, Mia Bergstrom, Tommy Betz, Jodi Bluestein, Yophi Adia Bost, Jonathan Cobrda (Houdini), Jalyn Crosby, Joseph Fierberg, Mia Gerachis (Evelyn Nesbit), Blair Goldberg (Emma Goldman), Nathan Haltiwanger, Benjamin H. Moore (Booker T. Washington), Jeremiah Valentino Porter, Rory Shirley, Stephen Tewksbury (Grandfather/Conklin), Matt Wall.

Swings for this production are Henry H. Miller and Xavier Turner. Robin Louise Miller will understudy Little Boy/Little Girl.

The creatives are: Scenic Designer: Emmie Finckel. Costume Designer: Stephanie Bahniuk. Lighting Designer: Charlie Morrison. Sound Designer: Jay Hilton. Wigs, Hair & Makeup Designer: Tenel Dorsey. Production Stage Manager: Chris Zaccardi. Casting: Paul Hardt / Hardt Casting.

Ragtime will run April 25th – June 15th, 2025 at The Goodspeed in Haddam. CT.

GOLDEN by Andrew Lee Creech.

Directed by Tyrone Phillips.

Morris Golden, fighting to save his laundromat after The Great Recession of 2008, finds an unexpected source of hope in a broken change machine with mysterious powers. From the mind of celebrated Seattle writer Andrew Lee Creech, and first seen at ACT’s inaugural New Works Northwest festival, comes a riveting world premiere that peels back the layers of lives and relationships to reveal the profound impact of choice and the enduring power of human connection. Golden is part of Creech’s nine-play cycle, The Legacy Plays Project, which examines pivotal moments in the lives of Black Americans throughout U.S. history.

Mesgana Alemshowa as Zora Harris, Kaughlin Caver as Quikk, Elena Flory-Barnes as Jazmine Harris, Tracy Michelle Hughes as Rheeda Golden, Arlando Smith as Earl, Ty Willis as Morris Golden, and Evangeline Opongparry as Zora Harris Understudy.

First seen at ACT Contemporary Theatre inaugural New Works Northwest Festival last year. Performances April 26 - May 13, 2026 at ACT Contemporary Theatre in Seattle, WA.

STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW a new play written by Kate Trefry, based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, and rooted in the mythology and world of the Netflix global phenomenon, Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Directed by Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin.

Are monsters born... or made?

In 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, the Creel family seeks a fresh start, especially their teenage son Henry, who is eager to escape his troubled past. Initially, things go well — he finds friendship and joins the school play. But when a wave of shocking crimes strikes the town, Henry is forced to confront a terrifying truth: is there something inside him that connects him to the horrors unfolding around him?

"As this thrilling mystery races forward, shadows of the past are unleashed, relationships are tested, and the town of Hawkins faces the ultimate question: can the power of friendship outshine the darkness within?

"With a cast of 34, this gripping stand-alone adventure will pull you deep into the world of Stranger Things. Experience the heart-pounding excitement of Stranger Thing: The First Shadow where suspense and spectacle lurk at every turn."

Opening on Tuesday, April 22 at the Marquis Theatre in New York City.

CEREMONIES IN DARK OLD MEN Lonne Elder III’s critically acclaimed masterpiece.

Directed by the legendary Clinton Turner Davis.

Starring Tony, Emmy and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis. In addition to Norm Lewis, the cast features James Foster Jr., Jeremiah Packer, Calvin M. Thompson and Bryce Michael Wood.

It’s New York in the 1950s. Russell Parker, a ne'er-do-well barber and the widowed father of three adult children, spends his days playing checkers and reminiscing about his life in vaudeville as a song and dance man. His two sons, Theo and Bobby, are dreamers of a different sort – a pair of petty criminals looking for a “score" in the form of ill-conceived and dangerous bootlegging and numbers schemes. Russell's daughter, Adele, the only gainfully employed member of the family, eventually threatens to walk out, refusing to work herself into an early grave like her mother. When Adele's long-simmering resentments boil over and the boys' criminal enterprise falls apart, tragic consequences ensue for the whole family.

The scenic design is by Harry Feiner; costume design by Isabel Rubio; and lighting design by Jimmy Lawlor. Casting is by Robin Carus.

Co-producers include Willette and Manny Klausner, David S. Stone, Linda Powell, Jamie deRoy, Annaleise Loxton, Jamila Ponton Bragg and Edmund Gaynes.

The production - the first in New York City in nearly 40 years - has performances through May 18, 2025 at Theatre at St. Clements in New York City.

BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY by Ken Ludwig.

Directed by Eleanor Holdridge.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unravel the mystery of the Baskervilles with wit, charm, and suspense.

Featuring the last performance from company mainstay Todd Waite who stars as Sherlock Holmes before retirement.

The cast: Elizabeth Bunch. Dylan Godwin. Brandon Hearnsberger. Christopher Salazar.

Performances through May 4, 2025 at the Alley Theatre in the Meredith J. Long Theatre Center, Houston, Texas.

THE BRIGHTENING AIR by Conor McPherson.

Directed by Conor McPherson.

How much of living is just forgetting?

Set in 1980s Ireland, poised on the brink of extraordinary change, a family gather at their decaying farmhouse with hidden aims. An entrancing tale of fate, family and unseen forces from Olivier Award-winning writer and director Conor McPherson.

In he play, a brother and sister live together in their crumbling family home. Their lonely world is turned upside down when family members come to visit, staking their claims, seeking redemption, or just desperate for a miracle.

The supernatural in Gaelic folklore is also an inspiration for this family drama set in rural Ireland. The 'Sidhe' (pronounced 'Shee' as in 'banshee') is the Irish name for supernatural beings, or deities from a religion that predates Christianity, commonly known as fairies. For centuries Irish people believed in appeasing the Sidhe by offering up food and drink to them and by avoiding any damage to areas they may dwell. According to popular culture both W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett believed in the Sidhe.

The outstanding ensemble cast includes Derbhle Crotty, Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty, Brian Gleeson, Aisling Kearns, Seán McGinley, Hannah Morrish, Chris O’Dowd and Rosie Sheehy.

Playing until June 14, 2025 at the Old Vic in London.

E-Book

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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.

FINAL OVATION

CONNIE ZEHR passed away on Friday, April 4, 2025 at her home in Horseheads, NY after battling a lengthy illness. She was 87.

Connie was a life-long professional artist. In 1960, she earned a BFA from Ohio State University, where she met and later married David Elder, also an artist. The couple moved to Los Angeles in 1964, where she later became one of the key artists associated with the "Light and Space Movement," building a reputation as an installation artist using sand as her primary medium.

Starting in the late 1970s, she then began teaching art at the university level, first at California State University, Fullerton as a visiting artist. She ultimately joined Claremont Graduate University in 1981 where she became a professor in the art department, department chair, before retiring in 2009 as a Professor Emeritus.

Next Column: April 27, 2025
Copyright: April 20, 2025 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