Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: February 2, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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BROADWAY CON 2025 OPENS FEBRUARY 7th.

Taking place at the New York Marriott Marquis, in the heart of Times Square, events at Broadway Con 2025 include:

A Seussical reunion panel "Hats Off to Seussical: A 25-Year Reunion" will celebrate the musical’s enduring appeal and fandom and feature Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Kevin Chamberlin, Janine LaManna, Michele Pawk, and others.

Crossing the Curtains: Latin American Voices and the Broadway Exchange. Experience firsthand stories from trailblazers like the first Latin American Billy Flynn and groundbreaking creators of original musicals from Peru and Mexico.

Deep Inside the Score: Hamilton: A decade after Hamilton blew us all away with its innovative score, scholars and fans are still uncovering fresh delights in its rich music and lyrics. This panel will demonstrate the brilliance of Hamilton with specific reference to Lin-Manuel's composing choices, talent at synthesis, and hidden musical flourishes, with plenty of examples from three music educators: Edward Barnes, who has taught Miranda's music at Juilliard; Howard Ho, a successful YouTuber with a forthcoming book about Hamilton; and Mateo Chavez Lewis, a Broadway Maven co-host who runs the Music Theatre Theory YouTube channel.

Gone Too Soon: Tammy Faye, Swept Away, and Lempika - Join actors and creatives from Tammy Faye, Swept Away, and Lempicka as they reflect on the unique journeys of their shows. This candid conversation offers an inside look at the challenges these productions faced, the lessons they uncovered, and how their experiences can inspire and shape the future of theatre.

The Best of Both Worlds: Performing on Tour and on Broadway. Join a group of actors as they share their experiences of performing on tour and in New York. From adjusting to new audiences and venues to navigating the shift from a traveling cast to the Broadway spotlight, these actors will discuss the unique challenges and rewards of taking a show on the road and bringing it to the iconic Broadway stage. Whether they've played the same role or stepped into different parts within the same show, they’ll explore the flexibility, growth, and artistry required to perform in both environments.

The (In)Complete History of the American Musical in 60 Minutes or Less. Blast through more than 150 years of stage activity in this ridiculously comprehensive high-speed history of the American musical! Ben West, author of The Musical Theatre Report and curator of the Museum of Broadway's "Timeline Walls," will guide newcomers, fans, and afficionados on an exciting creative journey through the ins and outs of the art form, including a look at vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, minstrelsy, nightclubs, burlesque, and the soldier shows of World War II. Weave through the many styles and sounds of the American musical's maturation in the mid-20th century; move through the discord of the late 1900s; and bound into the new millennium to discuss some recent favorites and flops.

Hello Louis! Come celebrate one of the greatest American musicians of all time with the creative team members of A Wonderful World. They’ll share about the process of capturing such a long and storied life on the stage and their own personal journeys with the production. We’ll discuss what it has been like to inhabit such an iconic, yet fraught, era of American history and why this story matters to audiences now more than ever. With Aurin Squire, Dewitt Fleming Jr, James Monroe Iglehart, Rickey Tripp, and Christina Sajous.

Anchors Aweigh: The Swept Away Journey from Page to Stage to Cast Album. Discover the journey of Swept Away with the cast and creative team, exploring the show’s evolution from its first readings to its Broadway debut. This panel will take you behind the scenes of the show’s journey, from its development at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to its run at Arena Stage, and finally to the Great White Way. Hear firsthand stories about the creative process, the challenges and triumphs along the way, and how the music of Swept Away has come to life on stage and now through its highly anticipated cast album.

Participating in sessions offering autographs and selfies include: Lesli Margherita, Anthony Rapp, Jenn Colella, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Janine LaManna and Michele Pawk.

Other confirmed guests this year include: Beowulf Boritt (Come From Away), Darlesia Cearcy (A Wonderful World), Jenn Colella (Suffs), Peter Friedman (Ragtime; “Succession”), Julie Halston (Tootsie), Winnie Holzman (Wicked), David Henry Hwang (Yellow Face), Francis Jue (Yellow Face), David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo), Craig Lucas (Reckless), Gregory Maguire (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West), Lesli Margherita (Gypsy), Jenny Mollet (SIX), Fergie L. Philippe (Hamilton), Anthony Rapp (Rent), Justin “Squigs” Robertson (The Lights of Broadway Show Cards), Jen Silverman (Spain), Ephraim Sykes (Our Town), John Weidman (Assassins), Doug G. Wright (Good Night, Oscar), and many others.

There will be performances from: Real Women Have Curves, Redwood, A Wonderful World, & Juliet, Six, Operation Mincemeat, Drag: The Musical, The Jonathan Larson Project, Floyd Collins, Joe Iconis, and many more.

There will also be a Cosplay Contest.

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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

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART IN WASHINGTON DC is celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.

Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions. At home, families decorate windows with red paper cuttings and adorn doors with couplets expressing auspicious wishes for the new year. Shopping for holiday sundries in open-air markets and cleaning the house are also beloved traditions. The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that bring good luck and fortune. The fifteenth and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration. In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the year of the snake. Different regions across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. The Smithsonian "also acknowledge that many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not observe the Chinese/lunar zodiac."

Many of the powerful emperors of China’s last dynasties—the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912)—were patrons, collectors, and casual practitioners of the arts. Art served many functions: for state rituals, for expressing piety, to dazzle palace visitors, to build diplomatic relations, and for personal pleasure.

The exhibition Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades is ongoing.

AUSCHWITZ. NOT LONG AGO, NOT FAR AWAY the largest collection of artifacts from Auschwitz outside Europe is coming to Cincinnati Museum Center.

The exhibit will highlight the profound humanity of those who survived, and those who perished, in one of the most infamous sites of the Holocaust. Featuring more than 500 artifacts from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum and more than 20 international museums, the exhibition traces the rise of Nazi ideology and the transformation of Auschwitz from an ordinary Polish town into a place where unimaginable atrocities and extraordinary human resilience intersected.

The exhibition was developed by Musealia and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. It is presented by Neon Global and opens October 18, 2025 at Cincinnati's Union Terminal.

King Charles attending a commemoration service at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation. The Queen is also involved through the Anne Frank Trust. Photo: The Royal Family

January 27 is the date when Allied troops entered the largest camp run by Nazi Germany is also the day used around the world to pay tribute to those who died in the Holocaust. As Prince of Wales, King Charles became Patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust in 2017.

Last week he attended a commemoration service at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi death camp.

The museum said that all Auschwitz survivors were invited to the service, which will be livestreamed for people around the world to watch.

Charles is known to have a long-standing relationship with the Jewish community, and is a patron of multiple Jewish organizations, including World Jewish Relief and London’s Jewish Museum.

Britain’s Chief Rabbi has previously praised the King’s "wonderful sensitivity" and inclusion of other faiths.

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SWEET CHARITY

THE 2025 SUPER BOWL also known as Super Bowl LIX, will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 6:30 PM ET. The game will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

What to expect: A lot of left over food.

Also, a halftime show headlined by Kendrick Lamar. TV broadcast: The game will be broadcast on FOX. Streaming: The game will be available to stream live and free on Tubi. The Caesars Superdome has hosted the Super Bowl more times than any other NFL stadium.

Oh, yes, that food. Tons of left over food.

Reducing food waste is important because over 140,000 pounds of food are thrown away after the Super Bowl each year. Food insecurity is a problem, and the FRN's work helps to address it.

Food Recovery Network (FRN), a college student-powered nonprofit, thhat work to reduce foood waste and end hunger, manages to save thousands of pounds of good edibles that never made it onto fans’ and players’ plates, turning this lavish food fest into an opportunity to stand behind the mantra "waste not, want not."

Leftover Super Bowl food from 2025 will likely be collected by the Food Recovery Network (FRN) and distributed to people in need. FRN volunteers collect leftover food from Super Bowl events. The food is distributed to partner organizations. The partner organizations distribute the food to people in need, such as food banks, shelters, and community kitchens.

Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 9, 2025 will also support several charities. Charities supported by Super Bowl LIX:

Impact 59: A legacy program that will award grants to local nonprofits in New Orleans
Taste of the NFL: A culinary event that will support GENYOUth's mission to end student hunger
Red Cross Blood Services: A partnership between the NFL and the American Red Cross to encourage blood donations
Born Life Foundation: A charity event that aims to make a lasting impact on society
Other charities supported by Super Bowl-related initiatives are: Robert Royal Foundation: A New Orleans organization that supports communities in need. Sideline Pass: A New Orleans organization that supports communities in need. Martin Luther King III Foundation: An initiative that supports community engagement. USA Swim and the YMCA: A partnership that advocates for water safety. Tackle Hunger: A campaign that raises funds for local food charities. Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society's Pet Emergency Fund: A fund that helps people with financial needs afford pet care. Tackle Hunger - Home of the Souper Bowl of Caring.

SPREADING THE WORD

PUB CRAWLING KELSEY GRAMMER

Kelsey Grammer showing off his Faith Beer.

founder of Faith American Brewing Company is in Wichita, Kansas doing a personal pub crawl.

The six-time Emmy winner signed a deal with the Wichita Brewing Company to brew his beer which he's owned since 2015 and is headquartered in The Catskills, New York

Consequently, the star of Frasier and Cheers is visiting Jacob Liquor Exchange, The Monarch, R&J Discount Liquor, Ziggy's, Dempsey's Burger Pub, Auburn Spirits, Old Chicago, Goebel Liquor, The Anchor and Total Wine and Spirits.
During his visits he'll be talking beer and guest bartending.

His pub crawl has been an enrmous success with is television and beer drinking fans creating lines that run around the block.

THE NEW YORK POPS AT CARNEGIE HALL presents Let's Misbehave: The Music of Cole Porter! on February 7, 2025.

This terrific program features Tony DeSare alongside trumpet player Bria Skonberg and tap dancer John Manzari. Together with the fabulous musicians of The New York Pops, they will light up Carnegie Hall with the classic songs of Cole Porter.

Porter's witty lyrics and glittering melodies established him as one of the preeminent composers of the Great American Songbook. You can expect to hear favorites from his catalogue like "Night and Day," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Anything Goes," and more.

LEGENDARY COMEDY INSTITUTION The Second City in Brooklyn, New York will celebrate their first Valentine’s Day in New York City by presenting a one-night-only performance of the award-winning musical improv comedy show, Your Love, Our Musical on February 14. This long-running, smash hit Off-Broadway show is celebrating its 10th Valentine’s Day.

Created by Rebecca Vigil and Evan Kaufman, Your Love, Our Musical features some of New York’s finest improvisers and maybe even…you. The show starts with an interview: the performers talk with a couple from the audience. Then (with the help of a full band), they transform the audience members’ simple meet-cutes into bombastic choruses, their Tinder swipes into epic dance numbers, and their relationship snafus into chopped and screwed hip-hop epics. The best part? Every show is completely unique.

The Second City, founded in 1959 in Chicago, is a comedy company that has launched the careers of countless groundbreaking comedians, renowned improvisers, and stars of Saturday Night Live. Over the past 50+ years, they’ve won a myriad of awards and have expanded to multiple locations across the US.

THE WEST END PRODUCTION OF HADESTOWN will be filmed live over three performances at the Lyric Theatre featuring the original leads from the National Theatre and Broadway companies. The February 28 evening performance and the matinee and evening performances March 1 will be captured, starring Reeve Carney as Orpheus, André De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, and Patrick Page as Hades. They will join the West End company February 11 for a limited engagement through March 9.

The filmed performances will also feature Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel as the Fates; Lauren Azania, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Waylon Jacobs, and Christopher Short as Workers; and Lucinda Buckley, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Winny Herbert, Ryesha Higgs, and Miriam Nyarko as Swings.

The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.

THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER President, Royal Academy of Music, will attend a Concert to celebrate the One Hundred and Tenth Anniversary of the Junior Academy at Cadogan Hall, in London on February 9, 2025.

FREUD FILM CLUB: SPELLBOUND (1945) unspools on February 6, 2025 at the Freud Museum in London.

Enjoy an evening of intrigue at the Freud Museum with this Hitchcock classic, as we solve with Ingrid Bergman the enigma of Dr Edwards. Based on Francis Beeding's novel, Dr Edwards is appointed head of the Green Manors Mental Asylum and becomes attracted to Dr. Constance Petersen, who learns Edwards is not quite who he says he is. The film also features a riveting dream sequence by Salvador Dali.

WORKS & PROCESS AND WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL in partnership with Potash Hill, MASS MoCA and Guggenheim New York present two first looks of Jeremy O. Harris’s New Play, culminating a Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Potash Hill. The first is on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Club B10 at MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA. The second is on Sunday February 9, 2025 in the Peter B. Lewis Theater at Guggenheim New York.

Go behind the scenes of celebrated writer, producer, and actor Jeremy O. Harris’s new play prior to its world premiere at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Recently announced as the inaugural creative director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Creative Collective, Harris will share his creative process. Excerpts will also be performed as the culmination of a one-week workshop that is part of the production’s Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Potash Hill.

JACK LOWDEN AND EMMY WINNER MARTIN FREEMAN are teaming up for the West End transfer of David Ireland‘s The Fifth Step, set to bow at London’s @sohoplace theater for an 11-week limited engagement beginning in May.

The drama, which follows the twelve-step journey of Alcoholics Anonymous, centers on two men: James (Freeman), a long-time member of the program who agrees to mentor newcomer Luka (Lowden). Over cups of black coffee, the pair forge a fragile bond through shared experiences. But as Luka approaches the critical fifth step of the program, which demands complete honesty, both men must confront dangerous secrets from their past – revelations that could either strengthen their recovery or send them spiraling back toward addiction.

Because @sohoplace is an intimate-in-the-round space, director Finn den Hertog is re-imagining the piece.

CREATIVE STAGE COLLECTIVE presents the Creative Stage Spectacular 2025: A Hilarious Musical Sketch Comedy Revue on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, New York. The Creative Stage Spectacular is an evening of imagination, laughter, and music! The performance features actors from Netflix series, network TV, and feature film; professional dancers; jazz musicians; and international opera stars – all performing alongside the multi-generational Creative Stage Collective troupe. Imaginative comic sketches, and parody songs inspired by music from composers, ranging from Mozart to Stevie Wonder which promises to be a delight for audiences of all ages. The revue is created entirely by members of Creative Stage Collective, based on ideas from the Collective’s youth artists. The night will conclude with a tasty surprise treat sponsored by Joe's Coffee.

Featured Guest Artists: Andrew Dolan; Jim Conroy; Todd Faulkner; Gordon Geitz; Sheri Graubert; Nicole Greevy; Veronica Hickman; Melanie Long; Rob Manning, Jr.; Tonna Miller; Marisa Ryan; Sarah Salzberg; Byron Singleton; Danny Sumegi; Paul Whelan.

Also starring Creative Stage Collective’s ensemble of emerging adult artists: Tiffany Iris; Sierra Nelson; Ty Norris; Daneil Oakes; Calalina Walsh; Madeleine Witmer.

M&M's has released limited-edition strawberry and cream flavor for Valentine's Day. Priced at $4.50-$5.99 depending upon the store. The pink and red candy-coated candies are filled with white chocolate and "a dreamy strawberry twist," according to an M&M's press release.

SUPER BOWL COVERAGE: SMILE FOR THE CAMERA

Sony, as an official technology partner of the NFL, is responsible for focusing the tech - a lot of tech.

With over 240 still, broadcast, flying and 8K cinema cameras, Sony will help capture the Super Bowl game and the halftime show from every possible angle.

There will be 97 HDC broadcast cameras. In addition to the big broadcast cameras, there will also be a small, motorized FR7 pan-tilt-zoom or "PTZ" camera, as well as three FX6 cinema cameras, an Alpha 7 III mirrorless camera, and a Venice cinema camera.

To fit in tight spaces, the Venice Extension System splits a Venice 2 camera into the lens and sensor which attach to the body via an 18-foot cable.

For instant replays and to support the officials judging close calls is HawkReplay from Hawk-Eye Systems, a Sony company.

There will be more than 60 Sony still cameras on the sidelines. The Associated Press will have 14 photographers, who will be using Sony Alpha cameras and lenses. That includes the big G Master series telephotos. In total there'll be over 55 cameras, permitting about four per person.

The photographers will be assisted by nine on-site editors who instantly receive the images via a PDT-FP1, Sony's pro-grade 5G wireless data transfer device.

This year's Halftime Show, headlined by Kendrick Lamar joined by SZA, will be produced by Funicular Goats production company. Primarily they'll be using 13 Venice 2 cinema cameras. These have either 6K or 8K sensors, the latter maxing out at 8.6K resolution at 30 fps with a 3:2 aspect ratio.

The viewer won't have a problem knowing that Sony has a new partnership with the NFL. Sony branding will easily be seen on the coaches headsets.

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BONNIE BRENNAN has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Christie’s effective February 1, 2025.

In a message from outgoing CEO Guillaume Cerutti: "Christie’s owners, the Pinault family, have entrusted me with the responsibility of implementing and overseeing a new organization for the artistic and cultural activities of Artémis, their holding company. As part of this organization, I will become President of the Pinault Collection and continue to serve as Christie’s Chairman of the Board.

"After eight years as CEO of Christie’s, I will therefore transition to my new role with effect from 1? February? 2025. This new role will allow me to continue to contribute to the strategic direction of the business, while supporting the Christie’s leadership team in delivering long-term success.

"In conjunction, I am delighted to announce that, with the agreement and full support of the Pinault family, and on my recommendation, Bonnie Brennan has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. I have worked closely with Bonnie for many years, and I am very proud to pass the baton to her. Bonnie is an industry veteran with 28 years of experience and joined Christie’s in ?2012. She has served as the Regional President of the Americas since ?2021."

THE OLD GLOBE IN SAN DIEGO, CA has appointed Kim Montelibano Heil as Associate Artistic Director.

Heil, a theatre artist, administrator, educator, and producer for over 20 years, began her new role in January 2025. She will work closely with the Globe’s Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein on all aspects of artistic leadership, and will supervise the theatre’s Artistic Department.

Prior to her appointment, Heil served as The Old Globe’s Artistic Producer and Head of Casting. She was previously the Associate Producer and Casting Director at San Diego Repertory Theatre, and the Education Director at San Diego Junior Theatre. Heil has also acted as a consultant to Moonlight Stage Productions, and to San Diego State University’s New Musical Initiative. She currently serves on the Board of the National New Play Network and has also served on the boards of Diversionary Theatre and Blindspot Collective. Heil was one of the inaugural Ambassadors for the San Diego Theatre Alliance and recently became a member of the artEquity BIPOC Leadership Circle. Heil holds an M.A. in Performance Studies from New York University and is a member of the Casting Society of America.



THE FERRRYMAN by Jez Butterworth.

Directed by Andrew Flynn.

‘Vanishing. It’s a powerful word, that. A powerful word.‘ County Armagh, Northern Ireland, 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But in the Maze prison, the IRA hunger strikers are dying. Out on the bog, a body has been dug up. And this year, their usual harvest celebrations will be interrupted by an unexpected visitor.

Set in rural Derry in 1981, Butterworth’s play is inspired by the lived experience of his wife, actor Laura Donnelly, whose uncle disappeared in Co. Down at the age of 26.

Starring: Aaron McCuskerm, Alex Murphy, Andrew McClaym, Anna Healym, Ava Molloym, Bríd Ní Neachtainm, Charlene McKennam, Colm O’Brienm, Dane Whyte-O’Hara, Ely Solan, Francesca Europa, James Murphy, Joe Hanley, Laurence Kinlan, Lilymai Clancy, Matilda Gavin, Olivia Byrne, Orén Kinlan, Robbie O’Connor, Robert Hamilton, Sarah Morris, Vega Farrelly and Niall Buggy.

For the first time out of Broadway and the West End, Jez Butterworth’s Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning modern classic play comes home to Ireland. This monumental family tale is an epic of betrayal, redemption and the totality of the human experience.

With a cast of 23, a live baby, a live goose and a live rabbit.

The Ferryman production follows Gaiety Productions’ Animal Welfare policy. This policy is created based on the 2004 World Organizations for Animal Health’s internationally recognized "Five Freedoms" to ensure the upmost care is given to the animals involved in the production.

The play has been extended to March 15, 2025 at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

AFTER ENDGAME written and performed by Kevin James Doyle.

Directed by two time Emmy Award winner and Writers Guild Award nominee Cory Cavin.

After Endgame is a chess lesson and a life lesson by comedian and storyteller Kevin James Doyle, who has a wealth of experience teaching over 6,500 chess lessons. Doyle takes the audience on a journey across the world as he is flown to the vibrant city of Singapore at the behest of a mysterious investor, where he finds himself imparting chess wisdom to some of the world’s wealthiest individuals. The tension rises as Doyle navigates these high-stakes players, both on and off the chessboard.

A pop up chess club follows each performance in the space. "The Soho Chess Lounge" will be open for drinks, chess games, backgammon, tournaments and more for all audience members. Explore the 'Chess Museum' and chess history throughout the room, developed in tandem with director Cory Cavin, creator/performer Kevin James Doyle and chess consultant/set designer Charles Matte. Mingle with friends, enjoy a drink, learn a new opening and discuss the way chess strategies can be applied to life. There will be prizes, drink specials and special guests throughout the run.

After Endgame runs February 11 – March 8 in a limited 4-week engagement for 21 performances at SoHo Playhouse’s intimate Huron Room, NYC. Opening night is February 15.

After the NY premiere, Doyle will have two special performances of After Endgame at The Lyric Hyperion in Los Angeles on March 30-31.

BACKSTROKE written and directed by Anna Mackmin.

"Just let go. Let your body float. You’ll still be here but it’ll feel like flying in a dream."

Bo is busy - balancing the pressures of work and the needs of her struggling daughter. When her mother, the irrepressible force-of-nature Beth, is admitted to hospital following a stroke, the practical realities of the present collide with the complexities of their past.

The cast includes Tamsin Greig, Celia Imrie, Lucy Briers, Anita Reynolds and Georgina Rich.

Previews begin February 15, 2025 at Donmar Warehouse in London.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER by Rick Elice. Music by Wayne Barker. Based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

Directed by Jaclyn Miller.

Music Director Matthew Webb.

This enchanting Peter Pan prequel perfect for all ages. This heartwarming adventure flies into the Hanna Theatre to bring joy and magic to your mid-winter blahs! The Tony Award-Winning Peter Pan prequel that brings over 100 characters to life with just twelve actors. The Hanna stage will sparkle with starstuff and unforgettable performances.

Featuring: Theo Allyn, Dar'Jon Marquise Bentley, Jeremy Gallardo, Benjamin Michael Hall, Nic Hermick, Grayson Heyl, Jessie Cope Miller, James Alexander Rankin, Evan Stevens, M.A. Taylor, Ángela Utrera, Joe Wegner.

The creatives are: Josh Brinkman, Sound Designer/Audio Supervisor - Sara Bruner, Producing Artistic Director - Nicki Cathro, Production Stage Manager - Davey Collins, Co-Puppet Designer - Esther M. Haberlen, Costume Designer/Costume Shop Supervisor - Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Dialect Coach - Catie Martin, Wig Designer - Rick Martin, Lighting Designer- Courtney O'Neill, Scenic Designer - Hayden Pedersen, Co-Puppet Designer - Imani Sade, Assistant Stage Manager - Nick Steen, Fight Choreographer.

Performances February 7 - March 2, 2025 at the Hanna Theatre Playhouse Square, Great Lakes Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.

DAKAR 2000 written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and two-time Obie Award winner Rajiv Joseph.

Directed by May Adrales.

Starring Abubakr Ali and Mia Barron.

In Senegal on the eve of Y2K, an idealistic Peace Corps volunteer (Ali) survives a mysterious car accident. An imposing State Department operative (Barron) arrives at his hospital where she immediately takes command of the situation and his safety. Though they couldn't be more different, they form an unlikely relationship. But when it becomes clear that they both have secrets, the volunteer is roped into a darker side of public service.

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Dakar 2000 begins performances on Thursday, February 4, 2025 at New York City Center Stage I. Opening night is Thursday, February 27, 2025.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer (the first to be lied to and the last to be paid) you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.

FINAL OVATION

MARIANNE FAITHFULL English singer and actress who achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single "As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British Invasion in the United States died January 30, 2025 in London. She was 78.

Faithfull was noted for her distinctive voice; her melodic and high-registered vocals prevailed during her 1960s career, but these were altered by severe laryngitis coupled with persistent drug abuse during the 1970s, which left her voice permanently raspy, cracked and lower in pitch. This new sound was praised as "whisky soaked" by some critics and seen as having helped to capture the raw emotions expressed in Faithfull's music.

From 1966 to 1970, she had a highly publicized romantic relationship with Mick Jagger. Her popularity was enhanced by her film roles, such as those in I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) and Hamlet (1969). However, her popularity was overshadowed by personal problems in the 1970s. During this time, she was anorexic, homeless and addicted to heroin.

After a long commercial absence, Faithfull made a comeback with the 1979 release of her critically acclaimed seventh studio album Broken English. The album was a commercial success and marked a resurgence of her musical career. Broken English earned Faithfull a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and is often regarded as her "definitive recording". She followed this with a series of studio albums, including Dangerous Acquaintances (1981), A Child's Adventure (1983) and Strange Weather (1987).

Faithfull had battled years of health problems — including hepatitis C, breast cancer and an infection from a broken hip — before being hospitalized with covid in 2020.

Faithfull received the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women's World Awards, and she was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.

She gave birth to a son, Nicholas, from her first marriage. She lost custody of the boy because of drug use. She then attempted suicide. She is survived by her son.

Next Column: February9, 2025
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Laura Deni