Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: February 16, 2020
By: Laura Deni
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ASIAN FILM INDUSTRY PUTS HOLLYWOOD ON NOTICE

Hallyuwood is a compound word combining the word Hallyu (Korean Wave) to describe the Korean-language entertainment and film industry in South Korea.

Bong Joon-ho's satirical movie about a lower-income family who infiltrates a wealthy household, only to learn a much darker secret, led the awards season season. Parasite stars Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, and Song Kang-ho. In Korean with English subtitles.

When Bong Joon-ho, 50, winner of the original screenplay, international feature film, best director and best picture Oscar awards for Parasite, accepted the statues the graduate of the Yonsei University, Korean Academy of Film Arts announced through an interpreter that he intended to drink until morning - he was celebrating not only his wins but the serious message the Asian film industry just delivered to Hollywood.

The first-ever “Best Picture” award received by a foreign film, the wins highlight a rapidly growing film industry in South Korea that is gaining more worldwide recognition.

The cinema of South Korea refers to the film industry of South Korea from 1945 to present. South Korean films have been heavily influenced by such events and forces as the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Korean War, government censorship, the business sector, globalization, and the democratization of South Korea.

According to Statista "Box office revenue for films made in South Korea has skyrocketed over the last decade and a half. In 2004, the country produced a total domestic film revenue of 239 billion South Korean won – or roughly $203 million in U.S. dollars. For 2019, the total revenue of Korean films was 971 billion South Korean won – or roughly $823 million U.S. dollars. While that’s still short of the $11.3 billion U.S. film industry, it's certainly a significant portion of the global $42.5 billion film industry. "Over half of the total box office revenue in Korea was collected by domestic films, with 1.91 trillion South Korean won - or $1.62 billion U.S. dollars - coming from both domestic and foreign films in South Korea for 2019," according to research compiled by Statista's Willem Roper.

"Government and culture initiatives in South Korea have played a large role in amplifying cinema in the country, with more films releasing globally than ever before. The country now has one of the five largest film industries in the world, trailing the U.S. and China and on-par with Japan and the U.K."

A class on Cultural Diplomacy from European University Institute is taught by Prof. Anna Triandafyllidou and Dr. Jeremie Molho. Anna Triandafyllidou is Full Professor at the European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, Global Governance Programme where she directs the Research Area on Cultural Pluralism. She is Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, since 2002, and Editor in Chief of the Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies since 2013.

Jeremie Molho is Research Associate at the Global Governance Programme of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. Molho’s research focuses on cultural policies in cities, with a global perspective, his current project focuses on Qatar and Singapore.

In one of their classes they pointed out that the growth of the film market within China has been nearly five times as fast as the growth rate of the Chinese economy. Box office revenues increased from US$435 millions in 2004 to US$3.6 billion in 2013, becoming the second market for movie production. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of screens tripled from 4,100 to 13,100 and movies produced in China increased from only 82 in 1992 to 745 in 2012.

One of China’s largest conglomerate is named Wanda. The group was founded in 1988 as a residential real estate company, and became a “Fortune Global 500” company with a value of over 35 billion dollars. Now it holds shares in a variety of businesses, including real estate development, entertainment, finance, sport and high tech industries. The cultural industries section represents about a third of the total value of Wanda. Its amazing purchasing power has enabled it to gain control over key players of the global movie industry.

In the 2010s, the Group made the acquisition of several large foreign companies that operated movie theatres and became the largest owner of cinemas worldwide with more than 13,000 screens. Wanda purchased the U.S.-based AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. for US 2.6 billion dollars in 2012, as well as the U.K.-based Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group for US 1.13 billion dollars. Wanda has also been active on the production side. In 2016, the Group bought Legendary Entertainment for an amount of US 3.5 billion dollars and announced a partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, to invest in some of its productions with an explicit willingness to emphasize Chinese culture within the films. As Wanda’s CEO, Wang Jianlin, argued, this move was intended to make Hollywood movie’s production more suited to penetrate the Chinese market: “China is destined to become the largest film market, and if you want to profit from this market, you will have to understand the Chinese audience”.

In September 2013, Wang Jianlin, announced the launch of the Qingdao Movie Metropolis, which opened in 2018. When fully completed, it is set to host 52 high-tech studios in addition to movie theatres, and a theme park. This mega-project of over US 8 billion dollars covers an area of 166 hectares and has the ambition to enable Chinese films to reach a global audience.

All of these actions show how crucial a private actor can be in cultural diplomacy. But what kind of relations exist between what happens at the business level and at that of cultural power politics? The CEO of Wanda argued that he was pursuing his strategy in his country’s interest saying it represented “an opportunity to implement a national policy in order to promote cultural power”. Besides, foreign actors can also be inclined to perceive such ambitions as a strategic threat. With its series of acquisitions of Hollywood assets, the Group sparked controversies in the US, where 16 congressmen asked for a review of Chinese investments in the media industry.

Nevertheless, while it is tempting to interpret these different moves as a sign that China is strategically taking over the movie industry to promote its culture, corporate interests and state interests do not always overlap. In recent years, the Chinese government intervened directly to limit the global expansion of Wanda in order to prevent capitals and currencies from leaving the country, by introducing measures to limit loans by state-owned banks. This led Wanda to focus more on the domestic market and to sell some of its foreign assets.

Parasite has been called "a triumph for a film industry trapped between the U.S. and China" The Oscars shone a positive light on Bong Joon-ho, on South Korea’s film industry and on the Academy’s widening interest in the global film industry admittedly an economic necessity, as China is on the brink of overtaking the U.S. film market in size. South Korea nurtured fresh talent while contending with powerful market forces. Hollywood should pay attention.

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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

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

George Takei and Lea Solonga in a scene from Allegiance the musical by Takei about his World War II experiences. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

takes place Monday, February 17, 2020 at the Cartoon Museum in San Francisco.

Join in on the anniversary of Executive Order 9066 as we remember the struggle of Japanese Americans during World War II, who were systematically removed from their homes, robbed of their livelihoods and incarcerated without due process.

Wall of Remembrance: Personal photos of families that were relocated to internment camps will be added to the They Called Us Enemy exhibition where they will be on display for the duration of the exhibition until May 17, 2020.

They Called Us Enemy featuring artist Harmony Becker’s artwork from the acclaimed graphic memoir written by actor, author, and activist George Takei in which Takei revisits his haunting childhood in American concentration camps, as one of 120,000 Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. The exhibition includes an inside look at Becker’s creative process, including excerpts from her reference library and never before seen preparatory illustrations.

This exhibition also features a selection of original artwork from the Cartoon Art Museum’s permanent collection, including comic strips and animation from the 1940s, providing patrons with a snapshot of popular entertainment on the home front during the second World War.

LEVI STRAUSS: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN STYLE In 1873, at the end of the Gold Rush, Levi Strauss & Co., named for a Bavarian Jewish dry goods merchant in San Francisco, obtained a U.S. patent with tailor Jacob Davis on the process of putting metal rivets in men’s denim work pants to increase their durability. It was the birth of the blue jean.

This exhibition tells the distinctly American story of Levi Strauss—a Jewish immigrant, businessman, and philanthropist whose lifelong commitment to family and civic life were fundamental to the history of San Francisco. Starting with the company’s foundation and early local renown as purveyors of “waist overalls” for gold miners and famously indestructible garments for farmers and tradespeople, the exhibition follows the evolution of Levis Strauss & Co. Continuing into the early twentieth century, the exhibition illuminates the pivotal role Levi Strauss & Co. played—through finely crafted clothing and advertising—in capturing the expanding mythology of the American West. The exhibition culminates in the second half of the twentieth century, when the democratic blue jean became a cultural staple and a blank canvas for the rising international youth culture—a symbol of effortless cool for youth, rockers, and revolutionaries alike.

Featuring over 250 items from the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives, Levi Strauss: A History of American Style represents the largest public display of the company's archival materials ever assembled. The show presents a range of loans from additional lenders. Visitors will experience Levi Strauss & Co.’s enduring impact with rarely before seen objects, including a suit owned by Lauren Bacall, a never-before-exhibited jacket worn by Albert Einstein, an AMC Gremlin car with an interior upholstered completely in denim, and a custom ensemble worn by Lauryn Hill on her Miseducation tour, among many others. Works in a variety of media will be on view, reflecting the myriad ways Levi’s has infused the culture of this country, and has become shorthand for classic American style abroad.

Across film and television, on concert stages, and in the streets, Levi’s classic appeal continues to inspire and evolve. Spanning three centuries, Levi Strauss & Co. has defined an American approach to self-presentation that is authentic, hard-working, and inclusive. This exhibition will present a range of garments, media, and archival materials that celebrate the man, the clothing, and the history of San Francisco where it all began.

Levi Strauss: A History of American Style is organized by The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco in collaboration with Levi Strauss & Co. Historian Tracey Panek and co-curated by The CJM’s Chief Preparator and Exhibition Designer, Justin Limoges and Senior Curator, Heidi Rabben.

Opened February 13, 2020 and is on display through August 9, 2020 at the Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA.

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SWEET CHARITY

SHIRLEY MacLAINE getting the word out that: "Around 30,000 pounds of leftover food from the Super Bowl did not go waste. Food Rescue US partnered with NFL Green and Centerplate, the exclusive food and beverage partner at Hard Rock Stadium, to make sure the surplus food from the Super Bowl was distributed to local Miami shelters with the help of countless volunteers.

Beef tenderloins, barbecue chicken, wings, ribs and charcuterie plates are just some of the food that was rescued, ESPN reported.

"It's a full volunteer job. We just want to help people in need," Ellen Bowen, the director of Food Rescue US-Miami said. "It's amazing to see how much food there is that otherwise would have been thrown in the trash that can now feed so many people."

ESPN said the food donated would feed around 20,000 people in need.

"With the scale of an event like the Super Bowl, we always prepare plenty of food, and I'm pleased to continue our partnership with Food Rescue US - Miami to deliver any surplus to local social service agencies feeding the hungry in our community," said Chef Dayanny de la Cruz, Executive Chef of Centerplate at Hard Rock Stadium.

"Our Centerplate team is proud to give back to the communities we serve, and to ensure that the meals we create can also support those in need, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer food rescue teams."

THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION'S 28th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS VIEWING PARTY raised over $6.4 million to continue the Foundation’s work for the LGBT community at risk or living with HIV in the US and around the world.

At last Sunday night's Oscar presentation, Sir Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin received the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“It is so special to celebrate our Foundation’s 28th annual Oscar Party with the Fab Five from Queer Eye and Sam Fender and to top it off, another Oscar win!” said Elton. “But most importantly, we came together to raise urgently needed funds and awareness for the LGBT community at risk or living with HIV. A gay man is 27 times more likely to have HIV than their straight peers, so tonight helps us to remind people that we still have a long way to go to end the AIDS epidemic.”

Last night was filled with unforgettable moments including a stunning performance by Sam Fender that included a surprise visit onstage by Elton for a duet on “Will We Talk?” and an auction of incredible items including an artwork created specially for the Foundation by Nathaniel Mary Quinn – one of the world’s most sought-after artists – entitled "She Would Have Loved The Galas” and that was bought by Elton himself, who made it back to the party quickly after his award.

As Elton put it, “what a night!”

STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY HOSTS 4th ANNUAL WOMEN’S TEA TO SUPPORT ARTS ACCESS INITIATIVES on February 25, 2020. The event includes a networking hour and special performance by violinist Suliman Tekalli, a Center for Musical Excellence Young Artist.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, State Theatre New Jersey is committed to giving back to the community, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth in free and greatly-subsidized admissions for mainstage and educational programs annually. Over 40,000 underserved individuals statewide benefit—including students from low-income schools, veterans, children on the autism spectrum, seniors, charities, and local families.

The Women’s Tea is a major component of State Theatre New Jersey’s year-round efforts to support women’s leadership and welcome professional women and community leaders to connect with each other through the performing arts—over special events, panel discussions, networking gatherings, and world-class performances.

Featuring special guest and Center for Musical Excellence Young Artist and violinist Suliman Tekalli, and a conversation with State Theatre’s President & CEO Sarah K. Chaplin. The Women’s Tea program will recognize the valuable contribution artists and attendees have had on the community, through their dedication to dozens of charities, public service, their families, and their commitment to excellence.

The Women’s Tea committee includes Anne Marie Almasi, Almasi Site and Utility Company; Barbara Barnett, Entrepreneur; Betsy Garlatti; Sally Glick, SobelCo; Colleen Logan, SobelCo; Anne Picone, Marketsmith; Jessica Viotto, PNC; and Wendy Wiebalk, Cahn & Parra, LLC (State Theatre Trustee).

SAVOR THE SYMPHONY ON STAGE a benefit for the Wichita Symphony Orchestra takes place Saturday, February 22, 2020 at Century II Concert Hall in Wichita, Kansas. The evening will include a cocktail hour, delectable dinner, live auction, and a special performance by guest pianist Stewart Goodyear on a Steinway.

All proceeds benefit the Wichita Symphony Orchestra's educational and community outreach programs.

SPREADING THE WORD

ANDRE HOLLAND AND PHYLICIA RASHAD PAY TRIBUTE TO TONI MORRISON Critically-acclaimed actors André Holland and Phylicia Rashad visit 92Y’s Unterberg Poetry Center in New York City on Tuesday, February 18 at 8 pm to pay tribute to author Toni Morrison - with a dramatic reading of Morrison’s last book, The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations. The actors will read selections from the book, curated by Morrison scholar and Columbia University professor Farah Jasmine Griffin, and commissioned by 92Y.

The event will take place on what would have been Morrison’s 89th birthday; it is a reprise of a May 2019 92Y performance, which also featured Holland and Rashad.

In The Source of Self-Regard, Morrison takes on a wide range of topics with resonance today - the complex history of race relations in the U.S., migration and the notion of borders, feminism and social politics, among many others. She also offers appraisals of renowned writers and artists, such as James Baldwin, William Faulkner and Romare Bearden - as well as her own work.

KEEN COMPANY in celebration of their 20th anniversary presents a one-night only benefit reading of Arsenic & Old Lace by by Joseph Kesselring. Jonathan Silverstein will direct Kathleen Chalfant as Abby, Marsha Mason as Martha, and Michael Urie as the drama critic Mortimer.

In Arsenic and Old Lace, we meet two charming but not so innocent spinsters who have been poisoning lonely old men, their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt, their nephew who looks strangely like Boris Karloff, and poor Mortimer who does his best to control his family’s antics just long enough to announce his engagement.

Funds raised will support Keen’s 20th Season.

Monday, February 24th at Theatre 3 of Theatre Row in New York City.

RED BULL THEATER will present the New York Premiere of Patrick Page in All the Devils are Here in a one night only benefit on Monday, February 24th at the Cherry Lane Theater in New York City.

Page, the star of Broadway’s Hadestown and familiar Red Bull Theater face will brilliantly enact many of the Bard’s greatest villains, from Richard III to Prospero. Moving swiftly and chronologically, Page will trace the evolution of Shakespeare’s malefactors from the mere two-dimensional to the psychologically complex characters that heralded the modern psychopath. Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

Following the performance, Page will sit down for an insightful discussion with Michael Sexton, director of the Public Shakespeare Initiative. They’ll take questions from the audience as well.

This one-night-only event will support Red Bull’s upcoming production of Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist, opening Off-Broadway this spring.

LIVE ON THE SET CELEBRATE THE GOOD TIMES WITH JIMMIE "JJ" WALKER Live on the Set, an interactive event that brings the art, artists and audiences together in a night filled with dialogue and candid conversation. Debuting this program will be a viewing of Good Times with Kid Dyn-o-mite himself, Jimmie 'JJ' Walker. Good Times earned its place in television history for its realistic portrayal of an African American family attempting to negotiate the vicissitudes of life in a high-rise tenement apartment in an urban slum. Along with The Jeffersons, Good Times was one of the first television sitcoms featuring a mostly Black cast to appear on television. This event explores the legacy of incredible Black Television for Black History Month.

Thursday, February 20 at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center in Pompano Beach, CA.

THE WAR WITHIN THE WAR: RACE IN VIETNAM As racial tension increased at home, U.S. Army leaders in Vietnam were initially proud of their standing on race relations within their troops. However, as the war progressed many of these same leaders admitted to growing racial tension among troops and a “war within a war,” which challenged the commonly held axiom that: “there’s only one color and that’s o.d. (olive drab).”

On Wednesday, February 26 Dr. Beth Bailey, director at the Center for Military, War, and Society Studies at the University of Kansas, discusses race in the Vietnam War while presenting The War Within the War: Race in Vietnam. This program is offered alongside the exhibition The Vietnam War: 1945-1975 a traveling exhibition from the New-York Historical Society open through May 31. At the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO.

BORIS KARLOFF & KATHARINE HEPBURN HOME for sale. A Los Angeles home where Katharine Hepburn lived early in her Hollywood career and Boris Karloff at the height of his career is for sale. Hepburn, who was the queen of romance movies, and Karloff, who was the king of monster movies, occupied the home that is still owned by people with film-industry connections. The 5,000-square-foot, hacienda-style home has recently been placed on the market, priced at $8.995 million. When Hepburn made the transition from Broadway to Hollywood in 1932, she rented the home and lived in it for the next five years. Katharine had been discovered by a Hollywood talent scout in New York during her performance in The Warrior's Husband who invited her to do a screen test for Joseph P. Kennedy's RKO Pictures. Her independent style and business acumen turned her into one of the world's most popular stars for the next 60 years.

In 1938, Boris Karloff bought the Bowmont Drive home after he attained star status in the horror-film genre for his monster characters in Frankenstein, The Walking Dead and others. He continued to live there until 1945, enjoying his passion for gardening and turning the grounds into a tropical paradise.

"Built in 1927, the five-bedroom, six-bath home appears to rest on a cushion of shrubs and flowers with terraces, two outdoor fireplaces, lawns and steps leading down to the swimming pool. Inside, whitewashed brick walls are balanced by wood or tile floors and wood ceilings with beams. With six interior fireplaces added to the two outside, there are many choices where one can cuddle up by a blaze on a chilly evening. A perfect home for entertaining, its walls must have many stories to tell, from the large kitchen to intimate conversation areas and garden spots among tropical blooms, roses and fruit trees."

The charming hacienda where Katharine Hepburn and later Boris Karloff once lived is now for sale in Hollywood's celebrity-rich 90210 zip code. Priced at $8.995 million, the listing agent is Brendan Fitzpatrick of Douglas Elliman, Beverly Hills.

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HANG IN THERE . . .

REBECCA LUKER three time Tony award nominee who has announced that she has been diagnosed with h amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (ALS). Luker, 51, has been married to multiple Tony Award nominee ?Danny Burstein since 2010.?.

She posted on her Twitter account: "Hello friends. I have some tough news. Late last year I was diagnosed with ALS. I have the best medical care in the world and the greatest support. My dear husband Danny has been an angel. I will get well. In the meantime, we fight and go forward. Keep us in your thoughts."

ALS is a motor neuron disease that usually strikes people between the ages of 40 and 70. As many as 30,000 Americans are believed to have the disease at any given time.



GINA FEMIA NAMED 2020 INGE FESTIVAL NEW VOICES WINNER which recognizes substantial early contributions to the contemporary American stage.

Femia will be presented with the New Voices Award at the 39th annual Inge Festival, May 14-16, at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas. Femia will join Honoree Lynn Nottage as the Inge Festival celebrates outstanding playwriting in the hometown of the late William Inge, the Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award-winning writer. William Inge won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Picnic) and Oscar for Best Screenplay (Splendor in the Grass). The Inge Festival is designated by the state legislature as the Official Theater Festival of Kansas.

Femia will have work of her own presented as a reading during the festival.

The New Voices Award is named for the late Otis L. Guernsey, respected theater critic and scholar. As editor of the annual “Best Plays” anthology, he was a champion of new plays, and a longtime attendee and advocate of the Inge Festival.

Gina Femia who holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College has written over 30 full-length plays which have been developed/produced/seen at MCC, Page 73, Playwrights Horizons, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Rattlestick Theatre, New Georges, Powerhouse, Theatre of NOTE, Great Plains Theatre Conference, Panndora Productions and Project Y, among others.

She is a 2019-2022 Core Writer with the Playwrights Center, and a current member of both Nashville Rep’s Ingram New Plays Lab and Parsnip Ship’s Radio Roots Writer’s group. She’s an alum of EST Youngblood, Page 73’s Interstate 73, Pipeline Theatre’s PlayLab and New Georges’ Audrey Residency.



CHARLIE PARKER'S YARDBIRD a swift-paced jazz-infused opera with music by Daniel Schnyder. Libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly.

What if you could realize one last dream before you die? While the body of tormented bebop innovator Charlie “Yardbird” Parker lies unidentified in a New York City morgue, his ghost travels back to the 1940s–50s heyday of Birdland, the jazz club named after him. As he struggles to complete his final masterpiece, the legendary saxophonist revisits the demons, inspirations, and women who have fueled and hindered his creative genius.

“The whole opera is about the dream of Charlie Parker to bridge these two worlds (of classical and jazz music), something that was historically true,” writes composer Daniel Schnyder, who is also a saxophonist and regularly melds jazz and classical idioms in his work. His dreamlike score for 7 voices and 24-piece classical orchestra showcases the unexpected pairing of a flexible operatic tenor with the fluid, improvisational spirit of bebop: a match made in music heaven." Charles Parker Jr., also known as Yardbird and Bird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Parker was a highly influential jazz soloist and the leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique and advanced harmonies.

The cast: Joshus Stewart and Frederick Ballentine as Charlie Parker. Angela Brown as Addie Parker. Jorell Williams as Dizzy Gillespie. Shelly Traverse as Chan Parker. Jennifer Cross as Doris Parker. Chrystal E. Williams as Rebecca Parker. Audrey Babco kas Nica.

In English with English Subtitles On stage February 22 through March 7, 2020 at McCaw Hall, Seattle opera in Seattle, Washington.

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë, adapted and director by Elizabeth Williamson.

Costume design by Ilona Somogyi.

Brontë’s beloved tale of courage, sacrifice and self-respect features one of literature’s greatest heroines. Orphaned as a child, Jane takes a position working as governess at Thornfield Hall for the brooding Edward Rochester. The strong-willed Jane falls in love with her mysterious employer, but the discovery of a dark secret and its devastating aftermath forces the young governess to make a heart-wrenching decision that changes their lives forever.

Starring Helen Sadler as Jane; Chandler Williams as Rochester; Felicity Jones Latta in multiple roles including Mrs. Fairfax, Mrs. Reed and Bertha; Steve Routman is also multiple roles including a doctor, a priest and a servant. Other multiple role players include: Marie-France Arcilla as Blanche, Bessie and Grace Poole. Meghan Pratt as Adèle and Young Jane. Grayson DeJesus as Mason, St. John Rivers and John Reed.Megan Gwyn from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford as Diana Rivers and Leah.

Scenic Design Nick Vaughan. Costume Design Ilona Somogyi. Lighting Design Isabella Byrd. Sound Design Matt Hubbs. Original Music Christian Frederickson. Wig Design Jason Allen. Dialect Coach Claudia Hill-Sparks. Fight Choreographer Greg Webster. Dramaturg Fiona Kyle. Casting Laura Stanczyk, CSAProduction. Stage Manager Hannah Woodward. Assistant Stage Manager Kelly Hardy.

Opened February 13 with performances through March 14, 2020 at Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT.

PlayDate is a free babysitting service at select Hartford Stage performances. Developed jointly by Hartford Stage and Christ Church Cathedral, PlayDate offers reliable, convenient childcare for parents eager to relax and enjoy a live theatre performance. Available for the 2 pm performance on February 22.

72 MILES TO GO by Hilary Bettis.

Directed by Jo Bonney.

The cast includes Tyler Alvarez as “Aaron,” Jacqueline Guillén as “Eva,” Bobby Moreno as “Christian,” Maria Elena Ramirez as “Anita,” and Triney Sandoval as “Billy.”

"Seventy-two miles. That's the space between a recently deported mother in Nogales, Mexico and her husband and children in Tucson, Arizona. It's distance measured in the graduations, anniversaries, and countless daily moments they spend apart - but also in the love that keeps them together, no matter where they are. Don't miss this profound and personal premiere from Juilliard playwright Hilary Bettis and Jo Bonney."

The world premiere of 72 Miles to Go opens officially on March 10, 2020 at the Laura Pels Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre in New York City.

THE PERPLEXED written by Richard Greenberg.

Directed by MTC’s award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow.

Two families, whose lives have been tumultuously intertwined for decades, gather in the massive library of a Fifth Avenue apartment to celebrate the nuptials of their children. Nothing goes smoothly and as the big moment approaches, the burning question is: can everyone put aside long-smoldering jealousies and deep-seated grudges and just get through the ceremony?

The cast includes Patrick Breen, Margaret Colin, Gregg Edelman, Tess Frazer, Anna Itty, Ilana Levine, Eric William Morris, Zane Pais, JD Taylor, and Frank Wood.

The creative team for The Perplexed includes Santo Loquasto (scenic design), Rita Ryack (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), and Fitz Patton (sound design).

At MTC at New York City Center – Stage I, New York City.

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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.

WHO'S WHERE

BILLY JOEL performing his hits Thursday, February 20, 2020 at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY.

SARAH McLACHLAN with "An Intimate Evening of Songs and Storytelling." Accompanied only by cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith, McLachlan will give an insider's look into her songs as they were written. February 19, 21 and 22, 2020 at the Encore Thheater at Wynn Las Vegas.

ERIC CLAPTON on stage Monday, February 17, 2020 at the Eventim Apollo in London.

QUEEN WITH ADAM LAMBERTU perform Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at the AAMI Park in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Next Sunday, February 23, they'll be delighting fans in the Optus Stadium in Burswood, WA, Australia.

JOHNNY MATHIS backed by the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, crooning his hits in a two nighter opening Friday, February 21, 2020 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC.

CHANCE THE RAPPER telling it his way Tuesday, February18 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Wednesday's gig is at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Thursday finds him on stage at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. Saturday's stop is at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO.

SIR ELTON JOHN newly mined Oscar winner performs Tuesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 20 at Mt Smart Stadium in Penrose, New Zealand. On Saturday the tour stops at AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

HANDEL'S BIRTHDAY CONCERT takes place next Sunday, Sunday,February 23 at the Founding Museum in London. Celebrate Handel's 335th birthday in style with this special concert. Join brilliant young soprano Rowan Pierce alongside the musicians of the English Concert, in a program of German arias and chamber music.

Next Column: February 23, 2020
Copyright: February 16, 2020 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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