Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: December 3, 2017
By: Laura Deni
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BROADWAY PLAYWRIGHT AND CASTING DIRECTOR ARE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Israel Horovitz. Photo: Samuel French

Accusations of sexual misconduct have now directly hit the Broadway community.

Award winning author Israel Horovitz and Emmy nominated casting director Justin Huff are the latest to feel the fallout from their inappropriate behavior.

Nine women have accused sexual abuse and violations of trust by Israel Horovitz, the author of more than 70 plays, including The Indian Wants The Bronx which starred Al Pacino in 1968; Park Your Car In Harvard Yard which was mounted on Broadway in 1991 and Out Of The Mouths Of Babes, which ran Off Broadway last year.

USA Today first reported that the accusers were in their teens or 20s when the incidents occurred. The acts included forced kissing, sexual touching and rape.

New York Times, which broke the story, printed a statement from one of the playwright’s children, Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys, indicated that he believes the allegations against his father are true.

Rumors of sexual misconduct have been bubbling around Horovitz since 1986. As the founding artistic director of Gloucester Stage, a respected regional theater, he wielded an enormous amount of power. In 1993 The Boston Phoenix published an exposé in which 10 anonymous women accused him of sexual harassment and assault.

At that time Gloucester Stage's board president Barry Weiner, an attorney, brushed off the allegations blaming the women and callied them "tightly wound, if you know what I mean.”

Weiner has recently stepped down from an advisory panel at the Gloucester theater.

Last week, the theater cut ties with Horovitz after learning of the current allegations.

“I apologize to the brave women who came forward in 1992 and 1993 but were not listened to,” Elizabeth Neumeier, the Gloucester board’s current president, said in a statement. “We are individually and collectively appalled by the allegations, both old and new.”

Immediately Jobsite Theater in Tampa, Florida announced they had canceled a production of Man in Snow; performances were to begin in March 2018 as part of its current season. Producing Artistic Director David M. Jenkins stated a replacement offering will be mounted which he will direct.

Circle Theater of Forth Worth, Texas also dropped Out of the Mouth of Babes from its 2018 schedule.

Justin Huff. Photo: IMDB

Broadway professionals have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against casting director Justin Huff, as first reported by Variety. Nuff was employed by the theatre, film and television firm of Telsey + Company, which immediately terminated the Emmy-nominated Grease Live! casting director.

“He was let go last week,” said Bernard Telsey through a statement. Telsey is the veteran casting director who founded Telsey + Co. “I was given reports of inappropriate behavior which I took very seriously, and once I was able to get some information, it was very clear he had to leave this office.”

Huff was the man responsible for casting such Broadway shows as Kinky Boots, On Your Feet!, The Color Purple and Newsies.

In March 2016 Playbill ran an article on Nuff's seemingly perfect marriage to actor Mo Brady whom Huff had cast in Catch Me If You Can. Brady became the video producer for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and the couple had a son via a surrogate.

Broadway To Vegas also reported on the birth.

Meanwhile, Michael Halberstam, a co-founder and artistic director of Writers Theatre, based in Glencoe, Illinois will be permitted to keep is job but will be retrained.

Last month Tom Robson posted a series of tweets detailing acts of harassment toward him that he said were committed by Halberstam when Robson, who was 23 at the time, served as an unpaid assistant director and dramaturg for Writers’ 2003 production of Crime & Punishment, which was directed by Halberstam.

Robson now lives in Decatur, Illinois, where he is an associate professor of theater at Millikin University.

Upon learning of the allegations, Writers Theatre board immediately began an investigation and indicated that Halberstam was cooperating. Halberstam also immediately shut down his social media accounts.

A letter issued Thursday by the non-profit theater’s Board of Trustees stated that the findings showed that Halberstam “made inappropriate and insensitive comments in the workplace. [But] the investigation did not support a finding of other inappropriate sexual behavior. Based on these findings, Mr. Halberstam will participate in compliance training and executive coaching sessions, to begin immediately.”

The statement went on to explain that Halberstam, 51, has wholly agreed to these remediation steps, and included Halberstam’s own comments:

“I understand that statements and comments I have made have caused distress and discomfort for members of our theater community. I would like to unequivocally express my sincere and deep regret. I welcome and embrace the steps that have been laid out for me by the Board as I am fully committed to addressing this behavior and to making certain that our theatre provides a safe and nurturing atmosphere for everyone.”

The venue is currently staging The Importance of Being Earnest which is directed by Halberstam and runs through December 23, 2017.

After Ronan Farrow's investigative reporting, which led the fall of Harvey Weinstein, triggered a flood of sexual misconduct disclosures, Actors’ Equity released the following statement: “Everyone should be able to go to work free from the fear of sexual harassment. Equity expects all employers to provide a workplace where our members can do their work free of harassment. That’s the law. Any Equity member who experiences something that makes them feel uncomfortable and that they believe constitutes harassment can report it to their Equity Business Rep.”










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ART AND ABOUT

MOD NEW YORK FASHION TAKES A TRIP from tailored suit to paper dress to secondhand couture and back again - fashion in the 1960s was a real trip.

Featuring more than 70 garments drawn primarily from the Museum’s Costume Collection, the exhibition traces the dramatic transformation in clothing between 1960 and 1973, not only in length and silhouette, but also in materials and methods of textile manufacture.

Works by designers as diverse as Mary Quant, Geoffrey Beene, and Pauline Trigère illuminate the communicative powers of fashion in the ’60s - reflecting cultural trends from Beatlemania to Pop and Op Art to infatuation with the “space race,” and social changes like the women’s liberation movement and the radicalism of the counterculture and antiwar movements. Also on display are fine and costume jewelry, shoes, handbags, design renderings, and photographs that capture the spirit of a creative and confrontational era.

Mod New York: Fashion Takes a Trip explores the full arc of 1960s fashion, shedding new light on a period marked by tremendous and daring stylistic diversity.

Through April 1, 2018 at the Museum of the City of New York in New York City.

GLORIOUS SPLENDOR TREASURES OF EARLY CHRISTIAN ART Christian art borrowed heavily from non-Christian traditions in terms of its techniques, media, style and iconography.

Glorious Splendor: Treasures of Early Christian Art traces these continuities through the most remarkable objects of the period: precious stones, metals and jewelry. The exhibition features some 30 masterpieces of Late Roman art, most of which have never been exhibited before in a museum.

Drawing on private collections and TMA’s holdings, this exhibition will captivate viewers with its glittering gold and silver, stunning oversize carved garnets and rubies, and dazzling rings and necklaces.

Through February 18, 2018, at the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio.

SWEET CHARITY

'TIS THE SEASON with Jamie deRoy & friends’ Star-Studded Holiday Show To Benefit The Actors Fund Cabaret Initiative takes place Monday, December 11, 2017 at Birdland in New York City.

Joining three time Tony Award winner deRoy are performers Stephen Carlile, Sophia Anne Caruso, Judy Gold, Grammy Award winner Melissa Manchester, Frances Ruffelle and Sally Ann Triplett.

Directing Jamie deRoy & friends’ December 11 show is composer, book writer and lyricist Barry Kleinbort. Musical direction is by award-winning arranger, orchestrator and conductor Ron Abel. Tom Hubbard will be on bass.

Proceeds from the concert, produced by deRoy, will benefit The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative - an endeavor that assists those in the cabaret industry who have medical needs and concerns.

HOLIDAY GALA: A NIGHT IN CAMELOT takes place December 7, 2017 at the Springfield Museum in Springfield, MA.

Join honorary co-chair Representative Richard E. Neal and honored guests from the Smithsonian Institution to celebrate the holidays in style.

Mix and mingle at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts for cocktails while viewing images of the Kennedy family by famed photographer Richard Avedon. On loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History the exhibit features framed black-and-white photographs from the historic 1961 photography session. Then head over to dine in the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History among political memorabilia on loan from Frank Andruss Sr. and photographs of the Kennedys from The Republican Archives.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE STARS takes place December 5, 2017 at Royal Albert Hall in London. Join Radio 2 Listen to the Band presenter Frank Renton for a celebrity packed evening of Christmas favorites. Accompanied by his very own Brass Machine and the grand organ of the Royal Albert Hall, this special evening promises to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Special guest stars include Strictly Come Dancing’s 2016 winner; Ore Oduba, TV’s Dr Ranj Singh performing with Michael Augur from Collabro, actors Danny John-Jules, Helen George, Tom Conti, Chelsea Halfpenny, Gaby Roslin, EastEnders’s Diane Parish, The Disney Choir and many more.

A benefit for Bloodwise, which supports people affected by blood cancer – and the ensemble of people working to beat it.The Duke of Kent, who is Patron of Bloodwise, will attend.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S CORGI'S GIVE TAG WAGGING APPROVAL TO MEGHAN MARKLE

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in one of their official engagement pictures. Photo: Kensington Palace.

It's official. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry. We know the world is thrilled. But, what do the great unwashed know about who is really going to fit in at Buckingham Palace? Rest assured, the royal seal of approval - or tail wag - has been bestowed. Queen Elizabeth's corgi dogs approve of the American citizen and future senior royal.

The graduate of northwestern University in Chicago has had tea more than once with Queen Elizabeth. During those meetings the beloved dogs of Her Majesty had an opportunity to look her over and voice their own opinions.

The in-love couple participated in a BBC interview conducted by Mishal Husain who was personally selected by Prince Harry. During that event Harry divulged that 'And the corgis took to you straight away.' To which Miss Markle replied: 'That's true.'

The bride-to be added: 'Just lying on my feet during tea. It was very sweet.'

Harry confessed that the dogs bark at him.

Permanently joining Meghan in England will be her dog Guy. Unfortunately her other pooch, Bogart, was not permitting to relocate to England. Palace officials would only state that 'Bogart is now living with friends.'

The couple will wed in May at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Shortly before the ceremony Meghan will become a British citizen; and be baptized and confirmed into the Church of England.

The 15th century Gothic St. George's Chapel is where Prince Harry was also christened December 1984 when he was three months old.

It is also where Charles and Camilla (both previously divorced) had their 2005 wedding blessed and where Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip married Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Harry's cousin Peter Phillips - son of the Princess Royal - married Canadian Autumn Kelly in 2008 at St. George's.

The Queen and Prince Philip will attend the ceremony. In addition, the royal family will pay for the event including the music, flowers and the reception, which gossips speculate might take place in the castle's 180 foot long St. George's Hall, traditionally used for state banquets.

The couple has promised that their wedding ceremony will be "fun and joyful."

Prince Harry and President Barack Obama are friends and are pictured here watching the Invictus Games. Obama knows how to sing. Perhaps Harry and Meghan could ask him to sing at their wedding or reception. Photo: Kensington Palace.

The couple has indicated they want to "include the public" in their wedding plans. Broadway To Vegas suggests they invite Prince Harry's good friend, former USA President Barack Obama to sing, either during the service or at the reception. That would be another way to unite the two countries in this British-American wedding, and Obama has an excellent singing voice and singing experience.

Perhaps the children of the groom's big brother, Prince William and his wife Kate, will take part. George and Charlotte would be the right age. Reportedy they have met their future aunt on several occasions. The month before Harry and Meghan's wedding Duchess Kate is expected to deliver her third child.

After the wedding Meghan will become a full time senior working royal, meaning a full-time job promoting and supporting charities.

Wasting no time in getting stated, her first public engagement took place last Friday when she accompanied her husband-to-be to the National Justice Museum in Nottingham.

They then visited the Nottingham Contemporary, an international art center, where they joined a celebration for World Aids Day hosted by the Terrence Higgins Trust. It was an upbeat, fun event that highlighted the work to smash the stigma that can still exist around HIV.

In Nottingham Prince Harry and Meghan watched students perform a Hip-Opera and later met the cast on stage. Photo: Kensington Palace.

Harry and Meghan then went to Nottingham Academy where Full Effect mentors have been working with young people to provide positive role models and help them through difficult situations, such as the transition to secondary school. During the visit to the school, they met with a number of Full Effect partners, including Chantelle Stefanovic who recently traveled with Prince Harry to the Summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago.

The newly engaged couple viewed a performance of the Hip Hopera created by young people working with Full Effect partners, the Community Recording Studio, and had an opportunity say hello to many of the students there before departure.

The groom-to-be also led his future bride into what is known as "a royal rite of passage," called a walkabout where they greet members of the community, all of whom have passed through security screening.

Markle was totally at ease and instantly ingratiated herself with the public who found her confident and charming. Her experience as a television star will facilitate her in the transition into the long term acting commitment of a high profile, married, senior royal. She knows how to treat fans, understands publicity and is comfortable in front of a camera.

It was also officially announced that "Ms Markle is to become the fourth patron of the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry."

Prince Charles greeted the performers in Snow White including 21-year-old actor Cameron Hancock, who is playing the panto's own Prince Charming. Photo: Mow Cow Players

Duchess Camilla shook hands with Snow White performers. Photo: Mow Cow Players

While Harry and Meghan were formally announcing their engagement Harry's father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were in Stoke, England where they greet performers appearing in Snow White and viewed museum and art acquisitions.

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were met at the start of a day of engagements in Stoke by a cheering crowd of about 100 people. Charles quipped: 'Are you all here to see the pantomime?'

Inside the Museum, which was closed to the public during their royal visit, the couple was greeted by the Mow Cop Players, who were performing Snow White.

Mow Cop Players are a local community theater group established in 1974. They've performed at various local venues and are now based at the Forum Theatre.

The group is proud that they are acknowledged as Staffordshire's very own Theatre of Comedy Company thanks to their "hilarious productions of some of the very best trouser dropping farces and roll in the aisle British comedies such as Run for your Wife, Allo Allo, Not Now Darling, Seasons Greetings, Pools Paradise and Friends and Neighbours, September In The Rain and Shirley Valentine.

We have also staged the Amateur Premiere Productions of the musicals Sex, Drugs and Rick and Noel by David Tristram and Radio Times by Noel Gay other acclaimed musicals include I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire by Bob Eaton, Happy as a Sandbag by Ken Lee, and Honk! by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

They have also represented Staffordshire many times in the All England One Act Play Festival, with such plays as The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard, Dead Nice by Andrea Macphail.

Mow Cop Players also boats "a thriving Junior, Youth and Adult sections."

Prince Charles (back to camera) and Duchess Camilla look at a display which features Queen Victoria's wedding gown used the the popular BBC/PBS series Victoria which begins its second season in America next month. Photo: Clarence House

While there Prince Charles and his wife saw the completed restoration on the Middleport Pottery’s steam engine which powered the whole factory from the Victorian era until the 1970s.

They also took a closer look at part of the famous Staffordshire Hoard, and donned white gloves to handle the gold Leekfrith torcs, dug up in a field by metal detectors, with Charles declaring the find as 'amazing'. As Joint Patrons of The Watercolour World, Charles and Camilla were visiting the Potteries Museum to see a project to create a free online collection of pre-1900 watercolors from around the world, and catch a glimpse of recently-uncovered priceless Iron Age relics.

The museum offers visitors the opportunity to travel back in time and discover the history of The Potteries including the world’s greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics, a World War II Spitfire, decorative arts and natural history.

A unique collection of works of art including Picasso, Durer and Degas and national touring shows. The Fine Art collection began when Dr John Russell gave his collection of Impressionistic paintings to the City on condition that it built an Art Gallery.

The couple had an opportunity to tour the Rawlence Collection, of European textiles and lace, dating from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Objects from this collection can be seen within the Changing Fashions gallery. Themed displays celebrate various aspects of the collection. In addition work by contemporary local designers and makers sit alongside the permanent collection.

In that group is the wedding gown won by Queen Victoria in the hit BBC/PBS series Victoria. That series begins airing its second season in America in January, 2018.

We don't know if Meghan's wedding gown will resemble that worn by Queen Victoria - although we seriously doubt it.

Those in attendance weren't ignoring the royal engagement news. Well wishers congratulated the father and step-mother, some even offering engagement cards for Camilla to give to the young royals.

Duchess Camilla may have perfectly summed up about how the world feels at learning Meghan and Harry will wed. 'As you can see, they are so happy. Sometimes, you know, in a climate where we are surrounded by a lot of bad news, it's a real joy to have some good news for once.'

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SPREADING THE WORD

15TH ANNUAL LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE, DIOS INANTZIN a Los Angeles holiday tradition starring renowned opera singer Suzanna Guzman as the Virgin and Sal Lopez as Juan Diegoand. Also featuring over 100 actors, singers and indigenous Aztec dancers as well as children and seniors from the community; the City’s largest theatrical holiday production celebrates its “Quinceañera” in 2017.

The story of Juan Diego, a simple peasant to whom the Virgin Mary appeared on four occasions in the mountains of Tepeyac near Mexico City in 1531. Adapted for the stage from the mid-16th century text The Nican Mopohua by LTC resident playwright Evelina Fernández.

Directed by José Luis Valenzuela with original music composed and performed by Alfredo Lopez Mondragon. Original indigenous music composed and performed by Martin Espino. Choreography by Urbanie Lucero. Also featuring Cástulo Guerra, Lucy Rodriguez, Geoffrey Rivas, Luis Aldana, Esperanza America, Jesús Castaños-Chima and Gabriel Gonzalez. Featured Aztec dancer General Lazaro Arvizu.

Performed in Spanish with English subtitles. Produced by The Latino Theater Company in association with the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. December 7-8, 2017 at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

BEYOND BROADWAY: A BROADER PERSPECTIVE ON DEVELOPING NEW MUSICALS a panel and networking event presented by Theater Resources Unlimited takes place Tuesday December 12, 2017 at Actors Temple Theatre in New York City.

Many consider the musical the great American art form and a key contribution to our country's culture. So many dream of writing a Broadway hit, but there is a wealth of amazing creativity happening outside of New York. The event will look at the rich environments for incubating new works that exist throughout our country, including regional theaters and colleges and universities.

Speakers will include Ken Cerniglia, Dramaturg and Literary Manager, Disney Theatrical Group; Jason Cocovinis, Director of Marketing, Music Theatre International (MTI), one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theaters from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond; Betsy King Militello, executive director National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), whose 160 organizational members and 40 individual members, located throughout 31 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world.

The evening begins with networking and refreshments, round-table introductions of everyone in the room which requests the attendees come prepared with "your best one-minute summary of who you are, and what you need."

A DAY OF INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRIGHTS EXCHANGE takes place December 4, 2017, sponsored by the Martin Segal Theatre Center, Graduate Center CUNY in New York City.

A by invitation only Roundtable and Networking Lunch takes place at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di NY The discussion will center on Building strategies to facilitate the dissemination of Italian and American contemporary dramaturgy through the translation, publication and promotion of contemporary plays in the US and Italy.

The evening presentation will feature excerpted readings from four selected Italian plays with New York actors from: Martin Segal Theatre Center. That event is open to the public.

AN EVENING WITH DAME JOAN COLLINS in which the actress, philanthropist and best-selling author will grace the Dubai Opera stage in her new show. Find the answers to the questions you've always wanted to know. The show puts the Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominee center stage and gives audiences the opportunity to have an intimate chat with the world famous actress, and will also feature never before seen footage from her legendary career.

December 12, 2017 at Dubai Opera in Dubai, UAE.

CHICAGO THE MUSICAL celebrating its 21st year on Broadway has welcomed Todrick Hall to the cast. He'll be performing the role of Billy Flynn through January 14, 2018.

THEATER THREE COLLABORATIVE BOOK LAUNCH EVENT, READINGS AND PANEL WITH KATHLEEN CHALFANT, MARVIN CARLSON takes place Monday, December 11, celebrating 22 years of Theater Three Collaborative at The Segal Theater, CUNY-Graduate Center in New York City.

A premiere reading of Other than We, a play of harrowing, funny and hot "cli-fi" futurism by Karen Malpede, featuring George Bartenieff, Christen Clifford, Caitlin Nasema Cassidy and Paul Pryce.

Then readings from the new publication, Plays in Time by Karen Malpede will take place. It's a collection of four of her plays, The Beekeeper’s Daughter, Prophecy, Another Life and Extreme Whether. These plays offer perspective on influential events including: the Bosnian war and rape camps, the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Israel’s 2006 bombardment of Lebanon, 9/11 and the US torture program and the rise of climate denial.

Readings will be performed by George Bartenieff, Kathleen Chalfant, Caitlin Cassidy, Christen Clifford and Najla Said. An accompanying panel will be offered with Marvin Carlson, Cindy Rosenthal, Kathleen Chalfant, George Bartenieff and Karen Malpede, moderated by Frank Hentschker.

The event will end with a book signing of Plays in Time, an auction of graphic art by by Luba Lukova, music by Arthur Rosen, a slide show of graphic art by Luba Lukova, photos by Beatriz Tiche Schiller and wine. Donations will support Theater Three Collaborative's new post-Paris Cop21 production of Extreme Whether, to be presented by LaMaMa March 1- 18, 2018, and accompanying developmental readings of Other than We.

THE YEAR 1917 was monumental in its effects on Russian history and politics. On Wednesday, December 6, Sean N. Kalic and Gates Brown, co-editors of the recently published The Russian Revolution 1917: The Essential Reference Guide, discuss how social, economic, and political forces transformed Russia in the early 20th century. The free event is the latest in the John J. Pershing Great War Centennial Series, presented in partnership with the Command and General Staff College Foundation.

The event takes place at the World War I Museum in Kansas City.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 is National Peppermint Latte Day. Monday is National Cookie Day. Tuesday is National Comfort Food Day, National Sacher Torte Day and Repeal of Prohibition Day (drink up) . December 6 is National Gazpacho Day, National Microwave Oven Day and National “Cook for Christmas” Day. December 7 is National Cotton Candy Day which is known as Ferry Floss Day in Great Britain. December 8 is National Brownie Day and December 9 is National Pastry Day.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

A $100,000 DONATION given to The 4th Wall Theatre Co. in Houston, Texas by Ken Bohan, president and owner of the Liberty Group, means that the theater will no longer shut down and now has the funds to hire a full-time managing director.

The company which specializes in "contemporary prestige stage drama" had announced that it was closing following the production of Craig Lucas' Reckless which opened this week-end and running through December 16, 2017.

The company will now be able to mount Suzanne Bradbeer’s Shakespeare in Vegas in May, 2018.

WAYNE ALLEN who has owned the The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA for the last five years is working hard on turning the area around the theatre into the Danville Theatre & Arts District. He has purchased the two story office building to the right of the theatre. It will become the Danville Arts Space with small studios for rent for artists and crafts people - similar to an artist's co-operative. The theatre complex already includes a Moon River Thai Bistro,



GRAMMY NOMINEES were announced last Tuesday the the Recording Academy. Leading the list with multiple nominations are: Jay-Z who is already a 21-time Grammy winner, and leads with eight nominations, followed by Kendrick Lamar (7), Bruno Mars (6), Childish Gambino (5), Khalid (5), No I.D. (5), and SZA (5).

Among the categories that might be of specific interest to Broadway To Vegas readers are:

BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM
Come From Away Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, David Hein, David Lai & Irene Sankoff, producers; David Hein & Irene Sankoff, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Dear Evan Hansen Ben Platt, principal soloist; Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, producers; Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Hello, Dolly! Bette Midler, principal soloist; Steven Epstein, producer (Jerry Herman, composer & lyricist) (New Broadway Cast Recording)

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Love So Soft Kelly Clarkson
Praying Kesha
Million Reasons Lady Gaga
What About Us P!nk
Shape Of You Ed Sheeran

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Something Just Like This The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
Despacito Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
Thunder Imagine Dragons
Feel It Still Portugal. The Man
Stay Zedd & Alessia Cara

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Migration Bonobo
3-D The Catalogue Kraftwerk
Mura Masa Mura Masa
A Moment Apart Odesza
What Now Sylvan Esso

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
You Want It Darker Leonard Cohen
The Promise Chris Cornell
Run Foo Fighters
No Good Kaleo
Go To War Nothing More

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Free 6lack 6lack
Awaken, My Love! Childish Gambino
American Teen Khalid
Ctrl SZA
Starboy The Weeknd


BEST RAP ALBUM
4:44 JAY-Z
DAMN Kendrick Lamar
Culture Migos
Laila's Wisdom Rapsody
Flower Boy Tyler, The Creator

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Cosmic Hallelujah Kenny Chesney
Heart Break Lady Antebellum
The Breaker Little Big Town
Life Changes Thomas Rhett
From A Room: Volume 1 Chris Stapleton

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
The Journey The Baylor Project
A Social Call Jazzmeia Horn
Bad Ass And Blind Raul Midón
Porter Plays Porter Randy Porter Trio With Nancy King
Dreams And Daggers Cécile McLorin Salvant

BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Southern Blood Gregg Allman
Shine On Rainy Day Brent Cobb
Beast Epic Iron & Wine
The Nashville Sound Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Brand New Day The Mavericks

TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version) Michael Bublé
Triplicate Bob Dylan
In Full Swing Seth MacFarlane
Wonderland Sarah McLachlan
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 (Various Artists)

AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
Killer Diller Blues Alabama Shakes
Let My Mother Live Blind Boys of Alabama
Arkansas Farmboy Glen Campbell
Steer Your Way Leonard Cohen
I Never Cared for You Alison Krauss

ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS
Another Day of Sun Justin Hurwitz, arranger (La La Land Cast)
Every Time We Say Goodbye Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Clint Holmes featuring Jane Monheit)
I Like Myself Joel McNeely, arranger (Seth MacFarlane)
I Loves You Porgy/There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York Shelly Berg, Gregg Field, Gordon Goodwin & Clint Holmes, arrangers (Clint Holmes featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Count Basie Orchestra)
Putin Randy Newman, arranger (Randy Newman)

BEST COMEDY ALBUM
The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas Dave Chappelle
Cinco Jim Gaffigan
Jerry Before Seinfeld Jerry Seinfeld
A Speck Of Dust Sarah Silverman
What Now? Kevin Hart

BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Astrophysics For People In A Hurry Neil Degrasse Tyson
Born To Run Bruce Springsteen
Confessions Of A Serial Songwriter Shelly Peiken
Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In (Bernie Sanders) Bernie Sanders And Mark Ruffalo
The Princess Diarist Carrie Fisher

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
City Of Stars Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone), Track from La La Land
How Far I'll Go Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli'i Cravalho), Track from Moana: The Songs
I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew & Taylor Swift, songwriters (ZAYN & Taylor Swift), Track from Fifty Shades Darker
Never Give Up Sia Furler & Gregg Kurstin, songwriters (Sia), Track from Lion
Stand Up For Something Common & Diane Warren, songwriters (Andra Day Featuring Common), Track from Marshall

Selected from more than 22,000 submissions across 84 categories, the nominations reflect the past awards year - October 1, 2017 - September 30, 2017). As the only peer-selected music award, the Grammy is voted on by the Recording Academy's membership body of music makers, who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.

The 60th Grammy Awards, will take place January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

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THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE a world premiere opera by composer Ricky Ian Gordon and librettist Royce Vavrek, is based on the original story by Gail Rock and the beloved 1972 television movie of the same name.

Directed by James Robinson directs.

Conducted by Brad Moore.

It tells the story of 10-year-old Addie, growing up in Nebraska with her widowed father who has never come to terms that his wife died giving birth to Addie at Christmastime. The father permits no tree in the house - until one day, Addie wins a Chrismtas tree in a school contest, and the transforming power of love and family.

The cast features Lauren Snouffer as the daughter, Addie Mills; Daniel Belcher as James "Dad" Addison Mills III; Patricia Schuman as Grandma Mills; and Heidi Stober as Miss Thompson / Helen Mills / Adelaide Mills.

The production features the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Juvenile Chorus.

A beautiful holiday story with performances through December 17, 2017 at the HGO Resilience Theater at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

SOMETHING ROTTEN music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell.

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Starring Rob McClure, Adam Pascal and Josh Grisetti.

With: Maggie Lakis, Blake Hammond, Autumn Hurlbert, Scott Cote, and Jeff Brooks.

The cast also includes: Lucy Anders, Kyle Nicholas Anderson, Kate Bailey, Daniel Beeman, Brandon Bieber, Mandie Black, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Ian Campayno, Pierce Cassedy, Drew Franklin, Cameron Hobbs, Ralph Meitzler, Patrick John Moran, Joel Newsome, Con O’Shea-Creal, Kaylin Seckel, Sarah Quinn Taylor, Tonya Thompson, and Emily Trumble.

Welcome to the ‘90s - the 1590s - long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting, and reminders to turn off your cell phones. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom (Tony nominee Rob McClure and Broadway’s Josh Grisetti) are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard” (Tony nominee Adam Pascal). When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical! But amidst the scandalous excitement of Opening Night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self…and all that jazz.

Scenic design by Scott Pask. Costume design by Gregg Barnes. Lighting design by Jeff Croiter. Sound design by Peter Hylenski. Hair design by Josh Marquette. Music direction/conductor Phil Reno. Arrangements by Glen Kelly. Orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Associate director is Steve Bebout.

Performances through December 31, 2017 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Book by Craig Lucas, inspired by the Academy Award-winning film.

Directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with members of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.

An American in Paris is the new Tony Award–winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Its stunning combination of classic music, timeless story, breathtaking dance, and state-of-the-art design results in a spectacular production.

Starring McGee Maddox as Jerry Mulligan, Allison Walsh as Lise Dassin, Ben Michael as Henri Baurel, Teri Hansen as Madame Baurel, Kirsten Scott as Milo Davenport and Matthew Scott as Adam Hochberg.

The creative team comprises Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (sets and costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), Jon Weston (sound), 59 Productions (projections) with the musical score adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher, orchestrations by Christopher Austin, dance arrangements by Sam Davis, musical supervision by Todd Ellison with additional orchestrations by Don Sebesky and Bill Elliott. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman, C.S.A.

The D. C. premiere takes place December 12 - January 7, 2018 at the Opera House of The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

THE SECOND CITY'S DYSFUNCTIONAL HOLIDAY REVUE written by Daniel Handler.

Directed by Tony Taccone.

The Second City’s Dysfunctional Holiday Revue delivers a healthy dose of seasonal satire where neither holiday film classics, family gatherings, nor Christmas carols are too sacred for a show that is the perfect alternative to the same old holiday shows. See hilarious sketch comedy and cutting-edge improvisation - all with a wicked holiday slant. It’s a fast-paced, interactive comedy revue filled with style and wit - where even Rudolph is fair game.

Chicago’s legendary comedy theatre makes its first-ever Berkeley Rep appearance. December 5-31. All tickets include a drink. The Berkeley Rep is located in Berkeley, California.

Since its debut, The Second City has been a launching pad for comedians, actors, directors, and others working in show business. Notable alumni include Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Jeff Garlin, Ian Gomez, Bonnie Hunt, Richard Kind, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Andrea Martin, Bill Murray, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis, Joan Rivers, Amy Sedaris, Martin Short, George Wendt, and Fred Willard, among many others.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK a family pantomime by Al Morley and Matt Crosby.

Directed by Carole Todd.

Choreography by Kevan Allen.

Musical direction by Jane Marlow.

Starring chart-topping singing legend, Tony Christie as The King of Amarillo with Liza Goddard as The Good Fairy, Stephen Beckett as Fleshcreep, Holly Easterbrook as Jack Trott, Robert Reese as Simon Trott, Alexandra Waite-Roberts as Princess and Cambridge's #1 dame, Matt Crosby as Dame Trott.

"The Trott family are down on their luck and need to make money...and fast. When Jack takes their beloved cow Daisy to market, all he gets for her are three measly beans. But these are no ordinary beans. Jack wakes to find an enormous beanstalk slap-bang in the middle of his mum’s beloved vegetable patch. But his adventures are only just beginning."

Lighting Design by Mike Robertson.

Performances through Sunday, January 7, 2018 at the Cambridge Arts Theatre in Cambridge, England.

WHO'S WHERE

ANDREA BOCELLI in concert with the Philly POPS on Friday, December 8th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IN CONCERT experience a symphony orchestra performing music to the entire film from one of the most beloved film franchises in history. Harry Potter fans will be able to relive the magic of the first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in high-definition on a 40-foot screen while hearing the Czech National Symphony Orchestra perform John Williams’ unforgettable score. This magical experience from J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World at at Dubai Opera from December 7-9, 2017 at the Dubai Opera in Dubai, UAE. The Harry Potter Film Concert Series has come to Dubai as part of the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration, and is set to visit more than 35 more countries around the world in 2018.

GEORGE STRAIT opens a two nighter Friday, December 8, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

THE COLORS OF CHRISTMAS starring Peabo Bryson, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr., Ruben Studdard, and Jody Watley takes place Tuesday, December 5 at The State Theatre of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ.

LADY GAGA performs tonight, Sunday, December 3, at the Toyota Center in Houston. Tuesday's stop is in Austin, Texas at the Frank C Erwin Special Events Center. On Friday she's on stage in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. Saturday finds her in Oklahoma City, OK at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

NSO: A HOLIDAY POPS featuring Tony-nominated stage and screen star Megan Hilty performs December 8-9 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

JASON ROBERT BROWN the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist will incorporate an eclectic mix of material featuring music from throughout his acclaimed career along with new works in development. He performs at The Sorting Room at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA on Thursday, December 7, 2017.

FINAL OVATION

RANCE HOWARD actor and father of director Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, died November 25, 2017. He was 85.

His professional acting career began in 1948 when he went to New York City, auditioned and landed a job in a children's touring company. It was while in that touring company he met and married his first wife, the late Jean Speegle Howard, to whom he was married until her death in 2000. They met as teenagers doing a touring children's production in Oklahoma of classic fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella. They married on the tour dressed in their costumes, with the bride dressed as Snow White and groom as a huntsman.

The role that got him noticed nationally for television and film was playing the part of Lindstrom in the touring company of the play Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda in 1950, portraying the character for about a year-and-a-half in major cities across the U.S.

Howard would appear in over 100 movies including many of his son Ron's films.

He is survived by his second wife Judy Howard whom he married in 2001.He is also survived by his sons filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard and granddaughters actress Bryce Dallas Howard and Paige Howard.

JON HENDRICKS jazz lyricist and singer died in a New York City hospital on November 22, 2017. He was 96.

In 1957, he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (LH&R). With Jon as lyricist, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them the designation of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" for five years in a row from Melody Maker magazine.

Hendricks worked as the jazz critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and taught classes at California State University at Sonoma and the University of California at Berkeley. He wrote Evolution of the Blues for the stage about the history of jazz which ran for five years at the Off-Broadway Theatre in San Francisco and two years in Los Angeles. His television documentary Somewhere to Lay My Weary Head received Emmy, Iris and Peabody awards.

Hendricks recorded several critically acclaimed albums on his own, some with his second wife Judith (who died of a brain tumor in 2015) and daughters Michele and Aria contributing. He served on the Kennedy Center Honors committee under Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

Time magazine called him the James Joyce of jive.

In 2017, Hendricks' full lyricization of the album Miles Ahead, including Miles Davis' solos and Gil Evans' orchestrations, was completed. It was premiered in New York by UK-based choir the London Vocal Project, with Hendricks in attendance, with a studio recording to follow.

Neil Portnow President/CEO of the Recording Academy issued the following statement: "Hendricks was a highly acclaimed singer and songwriter who helped bring the jazz vocal technique vocalese to a vast audience in the 1950s and 1960s. No stranger to the Recording Academy, Hendricks’ jazz ensemble Lambert, Hendricks & Ross earned the Best Performance By A Vocal Group Grammy for High Flying for 1961 and Hendricks also earned the Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male Grammy for 1985 for his contributions to the Manhattan Transfer's Another Night In Tunisia. His poetic lyrics and inventive singing had an undeniable influence beyond the jazz scene. Jon will be missed, but his legacy will live on forever. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends, and collaborators during this difficult time."

A widower, his first marriage ended in divorce and produced four children.

PETE MOORE an original member of the Miracles, the hit making Motown group led by Smokey Robinson, and a co-writer of some of its most enduring songs, died in Las Vegas from complications of diabetes on November 19, 2017 his 79th birthday. Moore’s credits included three melancholy Top 20 hits that were released in 1965: Ooo Baby Baby, written with Smokey Robinson; The Tracks of My Tears, with Robinson and the guitarist Marv Tarplin; and My Girl Has Gone, with Robinson, Tarplin and the group’s Ronnie White.

Moore collaborated on hit songs with his Miracles partners for other Motown artists, including Marvin Gaye, with Ain’t That Peculiar and I’ll Be Doggone.

Moore remained with the Miracles until they dissolved in 1978. With Billy Griffin, he wrote Love Machine (Part 1), a No. 1 Billboard hit in 1976. In his post-Miracles career Moore had a Las Vegas production company.

The Miracles were voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

He is survived by his wife Tina, twin daughters, Monique and Monette Moore, and a sister, Winifred Moore.

MAGIN DIAZ a Colombian musician and composer died in Las Vegas on November 28, 2017. He was 94.

At the 18th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, held November 16, 2017 at the MGM in Las Vegas, Díaz won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Recording Package; El Orisha de la Rosa which had also been nominated for Best Folk Album, but lost out to Natalia Lafourcade. Diaz attended the ceremony, but on November 23, 2017 he was hospitalized at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center and died on November 28, 2017.

Gabriel Abaroa Jr. President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy issued the following statement: "The Latin Recording Academy celebrates the 95-year legacy of Magín Díaz, who passed away last night (November 28, 2017) in Las Vegas. His album El Orisha de la Rosa had just received a Latin Grammy for Best Recording Package. The Latin Recording Academy had also planned a recognition to declare Díaz the most experienced nominee in the history of the organization. Unfortunately, it did not occur because Magín was hospitalized.

"Magín Díaz will continue to be one of the most important composers of contemporary Colombian folk music. His music has been immortalized by great contemporary artists and is an indispensable aspect of Colombia’s cultural heritage. Maestro Magín, thank you for leaving behind such an extraordinary musical mark."

JIM NABORS the singer and actor who starred as Gomer Pyle on the hit 1960s TV programs The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, USMC, died peacefully on November 30, 2017, at his home in Hawaii on Thursday with his husband, Stan Cadwallader, at his side. Cadwallader says Nabors' health had been declining for the past year. Nabors was 87.

Nabors who had a rich baritone voice starred in Las Vegas at what was then the Sahara Hotel.

The climactic vocal performance on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. came in an episode titled The Show Must Go On, aired November 3, 1967, in which Pyle sang The Impossible Dream (The Quest) in Washington, D.C., at a U.S. Navy relief show, accompanied by the Marine Corps Band. A clip from the show, in which Pyle says "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" appears in the Pink Floyd album The Wall in the song Nobody Home.

He hosted a variety show, The Jim Nabors Hour (1969–1971), which featured his Gomer Pyle co-stars Ronnie Schell and Frank Sutton.

He also starred in a touring production of The Man of LaMancha.

In the 1980s, Nabors appeared in three feature-length films starring his friend Burt Reynolds.

After moving to Hawaii from Bel Air, California with his partner Stan Cadwallader in 1976, he launched a show, The Jim Nabors Polynesian Extravaganza at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which ran for two years. In 1984, Nabors starred in the Moulin Rouge show at the Las Vegas Hilton and other shows in Reno and Las Vegas. He starred as Harold Hill in The Music Man with Florence Henderson at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre.

From 1997 to 2006, Nabors starred in the Burton White-produced A Merry Christmas with Friends and Nabors, a live performance at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu.

For more than 30 years, Nabors sang Back Home Again in Indiana with the Purdue All-American Marching Band before each Indianapolis 500. He was one of the few individuals to have even been named an Honorary Marine.

For 25 years, he owned a macadamia plantation on Maui before selling it to the National Tropical Botanical Garden, a conservationist organization, though he still retained farming rights to the land and owned a second home on the property.

He was a lovely man to interview. See Jim Nabors interview Broadway To Vegas column of June 22, 2003

Nabors married his partner of 38 years, Stan Cadwallader, at Seattle, Washington's Fairmont Olympic Hotel on January 15, 2013, a month after same-sex marriage became legal in Washington.

Next Column: December 10, 2017
Copyright: December 3, 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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