Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: December 11, 2022
By: Laura Deni
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SONDHEIM AND ME OFFERS AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE FAMED GENIUS - WITH A FEW SURPRISES.

Sondheim and Me by Paul Salsini, published by Bandcroft Books is, in a nutshell - well written, interesting and informative.

Over the years I've known or - known of - numerous men who gushingly worshiped at the feet of the famed Stephen Sondheim. Manifesting an unrealistic adoration, I suspected they wished they had been Sondheim's lover. Thus, when the book Sondheim and Me was presented to me for review I wondered if this was another one. It isn't.

The book is really a clear and informative history of the Sondheim Review, a now defunct, but once popular publication which I have never seen or - obviously - read. This book chronicles the development of the Sondheim Review by utilizing reprints of articles and photographs.

Author Paul Salsini was a reporter, editor, and staff development director for The Milwaukee Journal for 37 years and a correspondent for The New York Times for 15 years. He also taught journalism courses and later, a musical theater history course at Marquette University.

This memoir chronicling the relationship between Sondheim and Salsini takes place during the latter's time as the founder and editor of the Sondheim Review, the only publication devoted solely to Sondheim's work during his lifetime.

Officially, "the Sondheim Review was a quarterly magazine published in Chicago by Ray Birks starting in 1994. Per its tagline, it was "Dedicated to the work of the Musical Theatre's foremost composer and lyricist," Stephen Sondheim. It was originally edited by Paul Salsini; starting in 2004, Cincinnati theatre critic Rick Pender became its managing editor; its editorial board included Chicago theatre columnist John Olson, drama critic and university professor Eric Grode, university professor Paul M. Puccio, and theater journalist Russell M. Dembin. Sondheim wrote occasional short items for the magazine, although he was not formally connected with the magazine."

Salsini edited the publication from 1994-2004. The Sondheim Review ceased publication in early in 2016.

Sondheim and Me is clearly laid out with a cover photo credited to The New York Times. There are a twenty-four page chronology of Sondheim's work, 15 full-cover reproductions of the quarterly's covers, posters, photos, reproductions of notes and various communications. Delightful Hirschfeld caricatures and a full page puzzle. I had no idea the Sondheim was into creating puzzles, but he was. As explained: "On its one-year anniversarie, the Sondheim Review published a cryptic puzzle that Sondheim had created for the New York Magazine. This one was called 'Dedicated Dodecahedron.'"

In providing a history of the Sondheim Quarterly, the book offers a time specific history of Sondheim, making this an easy to read and understand book helpful for schools and libraries.

With a major section filled with visuals, this is also a nice coffee table book.

Sondheim and Me begins with Salsini explaining how in 1965 he took a week off from his job as editor of The Milwaukee Journal to go on a trip with his wife to New York. Although a fan of music, as an editor of The Milwaukee Journal he spent his time going over copy regarding crime, business, road and other non-entertainment issues. A treat for the Milwaukee residents was to attend several Broadway shows including Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand and Hello Dolly! starring Carol Channing. Attending Do I Hear a Waltz Salsini read the playbill and discovered "that the lyrics were written by somebody named Stephen Sondheim."

At that time the composer getting all of the attention was Jerry Herman whose Hello Dolly!, with something called Mame going into production, was the talk of the town. While West Side Story had been a Broadway 1957 hit, - winning Tony Awards for choreography and scenic design - it was Leonard Bernstein (music), Jerome Robbins (concept) and Arthur Laurents (book) who received most of the publicity ink - with an emphasis on Bernstein. Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics, didn't really receive his just due until later. Milwaukee boy Salsini didn't connect with the name.

Salsini became fascinated with the work of Sondheim, but it wasn't until almost twenty years later - in 1984 - that Salsini would first write to Sondheim, asking for information about his unproduced show, Saturday Night. Even though Sondheim was up to his neck with previews of Sunday in the Park With George he replied and even sent Salsini a rare cassette tape of songs from the show.

In 1994, inspired by the well received semi-annual newsletter of the Kurt Weill Foundation, Salsini founded the Sondheim Quarterly. The composer/lyricist paid attention.

"Sondheim would read the magazine cover to cover, perhaps circling or underlining words or phrases, correcting or clarifying something that others might overlook. Every word had to be clear and correct. He obviously considered the Sondheim Review important because it would provide a permanent record," writes Salsini.

During the Sondheim Review era the reader is introduced to an artistic genius who was like any other creator - he didn't appreciate it when his work was criticized. Nobody creates a work which they hope will fail, that will be torn apart, picked apart, criticized by someone who has trouble writing down a grocery list, much less possessing the talent to create a musical.

In one such incidence Sondheim lets his wrath be known. "To my surprise, Sondheim didn’t wait to write," penned Salsini. "He called. He was incensed and he started right in. I tried to respond, but he kept interrupting: 'How could you print this? You didn’t quote the other reviews accurately. This review wasn’t fair. Had the critic even seen the show in New York? [Your writer] doesn’t have any credentials to write about musical theatre.'

He also had tremendous incite into the theatrical audience: "It's an 'occasion' now - whatever the hot ticket is for the middle aged and rich. Ask them about it (afterward) and (all) they'll say (is), 'We had wonderful seats!'"

Sondheim died in November 21, 2021 aged 91. He is considered the most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history, and was honored with eight Tony Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Tony in 2008), an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, a Pulitzer Prize, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. A theater is named after him both on Broadway and in the West End of London.

Sondheim & Me: Revealing a Musical Genius, published by Bancroft Press has 221 numbered pages, plus 64 unnumbered pages of illustrations.

Sondheim and Me with an forward by Paul Gemignani, features an excellent Chronology section, plus a clear and useful index. Last, but not least, a list of 20 question which the book pinpoints towards book clubs, but could easily be modified for schools.

The book make a nice Christmas stocking stuffer.

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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

KIMONO TO CATWALK

Kimono to Catwalk. Photo: V&A Museum

a V&A touring exhibit now on display at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris to May 28, 2023.

The exhibition explores the sartorial, aesthetic and social significance of the kimono, both in Japan and the rest of the word.

The Fashion Museum in Bath, London, which is moving to a new location, is delighted to have loaned several outfits to this touring exhibit. A fabulous 1977 printed silk kimono by Bill Gibb is a graphic 'Jubilee' print includes pink blossoms, peacocks and Scottish thistles and was designed by Janet Taylor for Bill Gibb to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

A garment emblematic and characteristic of Japan’s identity, the kimono has become an iconic fashion item. Spotlight on an attire that transcends categories and borders.

The kimono – literally what is worn – appeared more than a thousand years ago and is a representation of their national culture and sensitivity for the Japanese. At the beginning of the Edo era (1603-1868), it became the traditional garment par excellence, worn by all Japanese, regardless of social status or gender. A golden age that saw the extraordinary development of its production and the birth of a fashion culture, thanks to the infatuation of the entertainment world. Celebrities and trendsetters of the time – kabuki actors in particular – became the first Japanese fashion icons.

Although it timidly reached European shores at the end of the 17th century, it was in the 1850s, with the opening of Japan to foreign trade, that the kimono was exported to the West, fascinated by its exotic character. The enthusiasm generated by its shape and fabrics profoundly and radically transformed fashion on the continent a few decades later. It subsequently surpassed its status as a symbol and lost none of its beauty in the hands of the world's greatest designers (such as John Galliano or Alexander McQueen) or in the streets of the archipelago, revisited in innovative and sometimes subversive ways by the young Japanese.

The exhibition designed by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London revisits this history, that of an iconic garment, intimately linked to Japan. The kimono from every angle, or the portrait of a resolutely modern garment, across the centuries and continents.

Curated by Anna Jackson, Chief Curator, Asia Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Josephine Rout, Curator Asia department Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The scientific advisor Julien Rousseau, Head of the Asia Heritage Unit, musée du quai Branly? – Jacques Chirac, Paris.

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE UNESCO INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST have been announced. Being part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage inscriptions means recognizing the country's heritage and its importance in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of increasing globalization. "Intangible Cultural Heritage means helping intercultural dialogue, fostering mutual respect for other ways of life. Its importance lies not in the cultural manifestation itself, but in the wealth of knowledge and skills that are transmitted through it from one generation to another."

The 39 new additions:

Al Talli, traditional embroidery skills in the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates)
Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practices (Oman)
Al-Mansaf in Jordan, a festive banquet and its social and cultural meanings (Jordan)
Alheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks (Saudi Arabia – Oman – United Arab Emirates)
Ancestral system of knowledge of the four indigenous peoples, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia)
Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread (France)
August 15th (Dekapentavgoustos) festivities in two Highland Communities of Northern Greece: Tranos Choros (Grand Dance) in Vlasti and Syrrako Festival (Greece)
Bear festivities in the Pyrenees (Andorra – France)
Beekeeping in Slovenia, a way of life (Slovenia)
Crafting and playing the Oud (Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Syrian Arab Republic)
Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction (Azerbaijan – Türkiye)
Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices (United Arab Emirates – Bahrain – Egypt – Iraq – Jordan – Kuwait – Mauritania – Morocco – Oman – Palestine – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Sudan – Tunisia – Yemen)
Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in Egypt (Egypt)
Festivity of Saint Tryphon and the Kolo (chain dance) of Saint Tryphon, traditions of Croats from Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor) who live in the Republic of Croatia (Croatia)
Furyu-odori, ritual dances imbued with people’s hopes and prayers (Japan)
Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practices (Tunisia)
Holy Week in Guatemala (Guatemala)
Hungarian string band tradition (Hungary)
Kalela dance (Zambia)
Knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beans (Saudi Arabia)
Knowledge of the light rum masters (Cuba)
Kun Lbokator, traditional martial arts in Cambodia (Cambodia)
Lipizzan horse breeding traditions (Austria – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatia – Hungary – Italy – Romania – Slovakia – Slovenia)
Manual bell ringing (Spain)
Orteke, traditional performing art in Kazakhstan: dance, puppet and music (Kazakhstan)
Pehlevanliq culture: traditional zorkhana games, sports and wrestling (Azerbaijan)
Pyongyang Raengmyon custom (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
Raï, popular folk song of Algeria (Algeria)
Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving (Afghanistan – Azerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan)
Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit – šljivovica (Serbia)
Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skills (Belarus)
Talchum, mask dance drama in the Republic of Korea (Republic of Korea)
Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja/ Molla Nesreddin/ Molla Ependi/ Apendi/ Afendi Kozhanasyr Anecdotes (Azerbaijan – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Türkiye – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan)
The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altita) — an element of cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of Moldova (Romania – Republic of Moldova)
The practice of Modern Dance in Germany (Germany)
Timber rafting (Austria – Czechia – Germany – Latvia – Poland – Spain)
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China (China)
Turkmen-style needlework art (Turkmenistan – Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Yalda/Chella (Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Afghanistan)

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SWEET CHARITY

RED BULL THEATER will present Your Own Thing, an All-Star Benefit Performance of the Hit 1968 Rock Musical suggested by Twelfth Night.

The event takes place Monday, December 12, 2022 at the Peter Norton Symphony Space.

The cast includes: Lesli Margherita, Simon Pearl, Michael Pilato, Vaden Thurgood, Eddie Cooper, Lilli Cooper, Santino Fontana, and Jennifer Sánchez.

Featuring Special Appearances by Michael Cerveris, Robert Cuccioli, Tovah Feldshuh, Richard Kind, Ken Page, Patrick Page, Kate Buirton, Jay O. Sanders, Mary Testa, John Douglas Thompson, and Bruce Vilanch.

Directed by Gabriel Barre, with Musical Direction by Greg Pliska.

With music & lyrics by Hal Hester and Danny Apolinar, and book adaptation by Donald Driver, the original production opened on January 13th 1968 at the Orpheum Theater, produced by Zev Bufman & Dorothy Love, where it ran for 933 performances. In the late 1960s, a raging storm shipwrecks a young music duo, twins Viola and Sebastian. The pair end up in the land of Illyria, which looks very much like New York City, and the rest is Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night–well, kind of. This hit rock musical ran Off-Broadway winning the Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical, Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Production, and the Drama Desk Award (Vernon Rice Award) for Donald Driver as Outstanding New Playwright. Red Bull Theater will give the show its first New York presentation in decades with this one-night-only, in-person-only, concert benefit.

FREUD MUSEUM AND CHARITY AUCTION This event, sponsored by the Institute for Digital Archaeology, is to be held at the Freud Museum in aid of charities to support Ukraine, the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association and the Freud Museum London. The evening includes classical opera by Vasili Karpiak and readings by the author and poet, Ruth Padel, and Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage.

The Freud Museum will auction works by: Ralph Steadman, Peter Blake, Alison Watt, Claes Oldenburg, Cornelia Parker, and Damien Hirst, among others.

All works being sold to raise funds for the Freud Museum have been donated to the Museum by artists and collectors with the purpose of selling them to raise funds for the Museum, which receives no regular government funding and which relies on the generosity of its visitors and supporters. None of the items have ever formed part of the Museum’s collection.

Sunday, December 18, 2022 at the Freud Museum London.

SPREADING THE WORD

LIBERACE is to have a Las Vegas street named after him. The performer who lived in Las Vegas and was , at one time, the highest paid performer died in 1987.

As approved by the Clark County Commission, Karen Avenue between Maryland Parkway and Joe W. Brown Drive will be renamed in honor of the flamboyant performer on December 14, 2022. The street is adjacent to the former Las Vegas Hilton (now Westgate) where Liberace first performed in 1972.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR emotions and gratitude will overflow this holiday season at Olney Theatre Center as they invite everyone to a show featuring Jay Frisby, Kaiyla Gross, Patricia Hurley, Nick Lehan and a five-piece band.

"This show will have something for everyone. From skits to audience sing-alongs, dancing, and even some disco, there is sure to be an abundance of the holiday spirit in the house every night. So bring your joy, your sorrows, your need for connection, and your prayers for the world as we journey the month of December and celebrate The Most Wonderful Time of The Year."

Performances begin December 16 at the Olney Theatre Center in Olney, MD.

THE ELECTRIC PICNIC Ireland's largest music festival, has announced the forst 10 performers who will headline the September 1-3, 2023 event in Stradbally. THey are: Ireland's own Niall Horan, pop star Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi and DJ and producer Fred again. Also on the lineup are Tom Odell, Rick Astley, Steve Lacy, IDLES and Jamie xx and Amyl & The Sniffers. Billie Eilish last headlined the festival in 2019 while Lewis Capaldi last played at the festival in 2017.

WAYNE ALAN'S 2022 MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS SHOW a magic and illusion show themed around Christmas starring World Champion Illusionist Wayne Alan. It is an exciting yet heart warming magic and illusion show full of family fun and comedy. Saturday, December 17, 2022 at the Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Kansas City, MO has a Miniland which is made of over 7.3 million LEGO Brick and is a LEGO replica of Kansas City.

NEW REPORT ON DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN UK TV from the Creative Diversity Network shows that the UK media industry needs more than 13,000 additional disabled people to bring it into line with the wider UK workforce. The report draws on five years of Diamond data and provides an overview of the representation of disabled people in programs commissioned and transmitted by the UK’s main broadcasters (2016-2021).

LAWRENCE ZUCKER after 44 years of leading The Town Hall in New York City as its Executive Director, will be stepping down from his leadership role at the end of the calendar year.

Zucker first came to Town Hall in 1978, to join Marvin Leffler, President, of The Town Hall Foundation, the non-profit corporation that has run Town Hall since 1973. Together they renovated and revitalized the storied, 1500-seat venue in the heart of Times Square.

Zucker earned a stellar reputation as both a presenter and creative producer with a keen eye for talent and an adventurous spirit. For four and a half decades, Zucker has been the heart and soul of the organization, and a champion of artists from across the globe. He worked with all the major concert promoters and presenting organizations to bring the top performers to Town Hall’s stage. He established long-running series that celebrated Broadway, cabaret, folk, classical, and world music, delighting generations of audiences.

Tom Wirtshafter, Town Hall’s President, reflected on Zucker’s importance in the rebuilding of Town Hall. “Larry has been the essence of Town Hall for more than four decades, helping to foster and curate more than 8,000 performances. While we couldn’t be happier for him and his wife, Anita, he will be sorely missed.” One of the star dressing rooms backstage will be named in Zucker’s honor.

Zucker will be succeeded as Interim Executive Director by Ted Lambert, a former member of Town Hall’s Board of Trustees, and its current Chief Operating Officer.

IN THE COURTS . . .

BACKSTREET BOYS SINGER NICK CARTER is accused of providing a 17-year-old girl alcohol then raping her on a tour bus in 2001, alleges a complaint filed Thursday, December 8, 2022 in Clark County (Las Vegas).

Now 39 years old, the woman Shannon "Shay" Ruth is autistic and suffers from cerebral palsy. She filed a sexual battery lawsuit in which she claims Carter assaulted her in Tacoma, Washington in February 2001. Carter, represented by attorney Michael Holtz, denied the charge.

Carter faced a similar allegation in 2017 after former pop singer Melissa Schuman accused him of raping her 15 years ago. Los Angles officials didn't pursue the charge because the statue of limitations had expired.

Carter denied the charge.

In light of the lawsuit ABC has announced that they will no longer air the television special A Very Backstreet Holiday which was slated to broadcast on December 14. Previously aired comedies will be broadcast instead.

SINGING CHRISTMAS

HANDEL & HENDRIX CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE which takes place Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at St George's Hanover Square The Vestry, in London.

Festive carols and mulled wine in the beautiful setting of Handel’s church, St. George’s, Hanover Square. The program will include some music from Messiah performed by the St George's choir, Hallelujah!

TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS Princess Kate's Carol Concert takes place at Westminster Abbey in London on December 15.

In addition to the Princess of Wales those in attendance will include her husband Prince William, her in-laws King Charles and Queen Camilla, Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Zara and Mike Tindall; and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. Kate's parents Michael and Caroline Middleton will also attend.

Performers include: West End star Samantha Barks, a duet by Alfie Boe and Melanic C., and reading by the Prince of Wales, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and Hugh Bonneville.

In November Princess Kate asked the public to help choosing a final song with a Twitter Poll that the mother of three provided.

The event which will be hosted by Kate will be filmed for broadcast on ITV.

This year the service is dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II and the enormous contribution that she made to the world.

CAROLS AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London is a famous sing-along taking place December 17 -24th.

GREAT ORMOND STREET CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT the twenty-third Christmas Carol Concert will take place on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at St Paul's Church in London.

FESTIVAL OF CAROLS the Los Angeles Master Chorale sings out ancient yuletide carol and a few modern ones at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. December 17, 2022.

THE 113TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE at Harvard Memorial Church will take place on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Sung by the Harvard University Choir, is America's oldest carol service. It is free and open to the public. A voluntary collection following the service will benefit Y2Y Harvard Square, a youth homeless shelter in Cambridge.

HO-HO-HOLIDAY from the Houston, Texas Symphony offers a morning of song from Disney's Frozen, The Polar Express, holiday sing alongs and more. There will also be a visit from Santa, caroling stations and free hot chocolate. Saturday, December 17, 2022.

THE NEW YORK POPS on Friday, December 16, Steven Reineke and the orchestra will be joined by Ingrid and Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. Get in the holiday spirit with this night of classic carols and modern favorites, including Deck the Halls; The First Noel; I'll be Home for Christmas, and many more surprises.

The following evening on December 17, they return to Carnegie Hall for Winter Song: A Holiday Evening with Ingrid Michaelson. Alongside classics like Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Ingrid and the orchestra will perform selections from Ingrid's body of work, including original holiday songs from her album Songs from the Season and her new single It's Almost Christmas.






THE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AWARD

HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex flanked by Georgetown President John J. DeGioia and former Secretary of State and US First Lady Hillary Clinton. Photo: Georgetown.

named for the honorary founding chairperson of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security (GIWPS), are bestowed annually for exceptional leadership in advancing women’s rights and creating a more peaceful and secure world for all. Five recipients of the award were honored December 5, 2022 at a ceremony at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 57, 'a full-time working member of the Royal Family and a patron of over 70 charities and organizations' was presented with the award for her commitment to spotlight the need of survivors in conflict zones and shine a light on ending sexual violence in war.

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, was honored for her tireless efforts to rally the world to support Ukraine and its struggle for freedom, democracy and its very existence. She was also recognized for her work in support of the well-being of Ukraine’s children and addressing widespread needs related to mental health, domestic violence and humanitarian assistance through her foundation and platforms.

Other 2022 awardees include Kateryna Levchenko, government commissioner for gender equality policy; Natalia Karbowska, director on strategic development for the Ukrainian Women’s Fund; and Oleksandra Matviychuk, human rights lawyer and chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Center for Civil Liberties.

The women spoke on a panel, where they discussed their work to raise the issue of gender-based violence.

GIWPS, led by Executive Director Ambassador Melanne Verveer, also leads cutting edge research, convenes agenda-setting events and symposia and advances global policy through efforts like their Onward for Afghan Women initiative and the Women, Peace and Security Index. The HRC awards are an opportunity to highlight the women and individuals who are leading government and grassroots efforts to advance women’s rights around the globe.

“This is a special opportunity for our community to recognize the leadership of five incredible honorees, women who have demonstrated a deep commitment to protecting and empowering the voices of women,” said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

WARNER BROS TO OPEN THEME PARK IN SAUDI ARABIA the first Discovery Adventures center, spanning an area of around 3,000 sq m, will open at SEVEN's entertainment destination in in Al Hamra, Riyadh. The $13.2bn entertainment site will be home to a purpose-built indoor adventure center. This will be Discovery’s inaugural indoor adventures center globally. Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

A Harry Potter-themed land will launch at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi.. Fans of the franchise will find themselves in iconic locations from the Wizarding World. No opening date has been announced.

The expansive new land will join six existing zones in Warner Bros. World Abu Dhab on Yas Island. These are Warner Bros. Plaza, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch, Cartoon Junction, Gotham City and Metropolis.

The Harry Potter film franchise is based on J.K. Rowling‘s best-selling book series, which has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide.

Speaking about the project, HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral said: "We are very proud of our continuous partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and excited to be bringing this spell-binding first to the Middle East, and the world."

Miral, a leading developer of immersive attractions and experiences, has a portfolio of projects under construction worth more than $3.4bn on Yas Island and in Abu Dhabi.

FORT WAYNE INDIANA PHILHARMONIC MUSICIANS have begun their first strike in the organization's history after performing for more than three months without a contract.

The musicians are members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 58.

The union had requested a 46% wage increase while management has countered with an 11.5% increase.

The next negotiation meeting is slated for Monday, December 12.

Campbell MacDonald is chairperson of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Players Association, AFof M Local 58.

HANG IN THERE . . .

CELINE DION has announced that she has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder the incurable Stiff Person Syndrome, affecting about only one out of every 1 million individuals. It can be an extremely painful and debilitating disease.

A tremendous Las Vegas performer, Dion, 54, has postponed the spring performances of her 2023 European Courage World Tour scheduled from February 24 through April 11, 2023, into spring 2024, and is cancelling eight performances in summer 2023.

STEVEN TYLER 74, part of Aerosmith, remains ill with an undisclosed ailment, resulting the the famed group cancelling the last part of their Las Vegas residency.

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CURTAIN DOWN

IT WAS BAD NEWS TUESDAY for KPOP and Caroline's Comedy Club in New York. First, the musical KPOP announced the curtain would be coming down today, Sunday, December 11, at Circle in the Square Theatre after 17 regular performances and 44 previews.

For the final show, producers offered 200 complimentary tickets to AAPI community members and youth, and plan a post-performance panel discussion with top AAPI theater artists including KPOP composer Helen Park and David Henry Hwang, the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony Award. He took home the Tony for the landmark M. Butterfly.

The post-show panel also included Korean playwright Hansol Jung and actor Pun Bandhu. The final performance was supported by TAAF (The Asian American Foundation) in collaboration with Gold House, AAPAC (Asian American Performers Action Coalition), and Ma-Yi Theater Company.

Regardless of its early closing, and financial losses, KPOP producers emphasize the production was history making by being the first Broadway production to feature Korean stories written by Korean American creatives, along with 18 cast members, all of AAPI descent, making their Broadway debuts.

Then Caroline Hirsch, owner of the famed 300-seat Caroline's Comedy Club in Times Square New York City announced that the club would be permanently closing after the New Year's Eve performance. After 40 years of producing some of the best in comedy entertainment, the club's lease was up for renewal but the landlord - that would be the real-estate segment of the Kueaiti government's sovereign=wealth fund, Fosterland - would be raising the rent, which resulted in the shutdown. The last solo act will be Dave Attell.



A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE with a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

Directed by John Doyle.

Starring four-time Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons, and two-time Emmy winner and Tony nominee Mare Winningham as siblings Alfie and Lily Byrne, respectively, as well as Shereen Ahmed as Adele Rice, Alma Cuervo as Miss Oona Crowe, Kara Mikula as Mrs. Curtain, Da’Von T. Moody as Breton Beret, Tony nominee Mary Beth Peil as Mrs. Grace, Thom Sesma as Mr. Carney, Tony nominee A.J. Shively as Robbie Fay, Nathaniel Stampley as Father Kenny, Jessica Tyler Wright as Mrs. Patrick, Joel Waggoner as Ernie Lally, and William Youmans as Baldy O’Shea. Justin Scott Brown, Lee Harrington, Benjamine Howes and Beth Kirkpatrick serve as understudies.

A Man of No Importance tells the story of an amateur theatre group in 1960s Dublin and their leader, bus driver Alfie Byrne. Determined to stage a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome despite the objections of local church authorities, Alfie confronts the forces of bigotry and shame over a love "that dare not speak its name." This evocative and award-winning musical illustrates the redemptive power of theater, love, and friendship, all for a man of seemingly no importance.

Last chance to catch this impressive New York city's Classic Stage Company show as it must close on Sunday, December 18.

A SOLDIER'S PLAY the 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning thriller by Charles Fuller.

Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.

In 1944, on a Louisiana Army base, two shots ring out. A sergeant is murdered. And a series of interrogations triggers a gripping barrage of questions about sacrifice, service, and identity in America.

Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis leads a powerhouse cast in the Tony Award-winning show.

Performances December 13, 2022 –January 8, 2023 at the Eisenhower Theater at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee Williams.

Directed by Rebecca Frecknell, her first since her multi-Olivier Award-winning production of Cabaret, which continues to run on the West End.

Paul Mescar returns to the world of theatre for the first time since 2020, by starring in this production.

First performed on Broadway in 1947, the play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois (Patsy Ferran), a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of personal losses, leaves her once-prosperous situation to move into a shabby apartment in New Orleans rented by her younger sister and brother-in-law.

When Blanche unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella, she brings with her a past that will threaten their future. As Stella’s husband Stanley stalks closer to the truth, Blanche's fragile world begins to fracture. Reality and illusion collide and a violent conflict changes their lives forever.

Mescal takes on the role of the brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski, a violent antagonist, while Anjana Vasan plays younger sister Stella.

The cast also includes: Eduardo Ackerman, Ralph Davis, Janet Etuk, Gabriela García, Francesca Knight, Tom Penn, Jabez Sykes, and Dwane Walcott.

The creatives include: Set Designer Madeleine Girling. Costume Designer Merle Hensel. Lighting Designer Lee Curran. Sound Designer Peter Rice. Composer Angus MacRae. Casting Director Julia Horan CDG. Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton. Fight Director Jonathan Holby. Dialect Coach Rebecca Clark Carey. Assistant Director Tatenda Shamiso. Associate Designer Ruth Hall. Assistant Sound Designer Anna Wood. Casting Assistant Lilly Mackie.

The show will run to February 4, 2023, at the Almeida Theatre in London.

WHO WAS JANE ANGER? interpretated by Talene Monahon.

Directed by Jess Chayess.

Jane Anger was the pseudonym of an unknown 16th-century English female-identifying author. She was the first woman to publish a full-length defense of her sex in English: Jane Anger; Her Protection For Women To Defend Them Against The Scandalous Reportes of a Late Surfeiting Lover, and All Other Like Venerians that Complaine so to be Overcloyed With Women's Kindnesse.

Jane was the first major polemicist in English writing, crafting a new (and fiery) voice for women in a world where women who spoke their minds were labeled shrews (looking at you, Shakespeare).

"So who was Jane Anger? We don't really know. But we'd love for you to meet Talene Monahon's interpretation of this historical trailblazer as she fights with Shakespeare, joins hands with Anne Hathaway, and spreads the gospel of strong, independent women across the District," states the venue.

Starring Talene Monahon as Anne Hathaway, Ryan Spahn as Francis, Michael Urie as William Shakespere, Amelia Workman as Jane Anger, and Geoffrey Besser as plague screecher/Peasant Woman/

The understudies are: Saron Araia, Bowen Fox and Anna Takayo Walden.

The creatives include: Scenic Designer Kristen Robinson - Costume designer Andrea Hood - Stacey Derosier lighting designer. Original music and sound design by Lindsay Jones. Special effects design by Jeremy Chernick. Resident dramaturg is Dr. Drew Lichtenberg - Fight choreographer Sean Michael Chin - Original casting Claire Yenson - Resident casting director Danica Rodriguez - assistant director Ashley Mapley-Brittle - production stae manager Marne Sundman and Stage management swing Lauren Pekel.

Jane Anger runs from December 13, 2022 through January 8, 2023 at the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Klein Theatre in Washington, DC.

E-Book

Soft back Book

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

KIRSTIE ALLEY Emmy award winning actress died from colon cancer on November 5, 2022. She was 71.

She was famous for her television star turns in Cheers and David's Mother.

From 1997 to 2000, she starred as the lead in the sitcom Veronica's Closet, earning additional Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Divorced twice, she is survived by her two children, True and Lillie Stevenson, from her second marriage to Parker Stevenson.

Next Column: December 18, 2022
Copyright: December 11, 2022 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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