Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: February 20, 2022
By: Laura Deni
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EX-WIVES OF HENRY VIII EXPLAIN THEIR PLIGHT IN SIX THE MUSICAL

Abby Mueller (Jane Seymour) Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard) Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves) and Ana Uzle (Catherine Parr) Photo: Joan Marcus

Not since Lin-Manuel Miranda gave the world Hamilton has there been such a delightfully, effervescent, informative, clever musical creation based on history. When the worst criticism you can muster is to say the 80 minute production is too loud, but you'd happily sit through it multiple times, then that's a rave review. if you just look at the wacky concept, this show never should have made it past the idea stage.

We're glad it did.

Most people know about King Henry VIII. He had six wives which have gone down in history as Divorce, Beheaded, Died; Divorced Beheaded, Survived.

Lucy Worsley, keeper of all things royal as Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, best known as a presenter of BBC Television series on historical topics including the 2016 three part series Six Wives about the women of you know who. With Dr. Worsley's individual and collective accounting of these ladies, one would think that there would be nothing left to tell.

Wrong.

Thanks to out-of-box thinking by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss who wrote Six The Musical when they were still students at Cambridge University, this irreverent, hoot and holler of a screwball delight, with an implausible premise, shouldn't work but does.

The six ex-wives are members of a pop singing group who compete against each other with the wife who is judged as having suffered the most - "the Queen who was dealt the worst hand/The Queen with the most hardships to withstand" - to be elevated to lead singer.

Energetically directed by Moss and Jamie Armitage, the production stars Adrianna Hicks as Catherine of Aragon, Andrea Macasaet as Anne Boleyn, Abby Mueller as Jane Seymour, Brittney Mack as Anna of Cleves, Samatha Pauly as Katherine Howard and Anna Uzele as Catherine Parr.

The no frills staging by Emma Bailey is brought to life - and light - through dramatic illumination and smoke by Tim Deiling. The intricate, elaborate and delightfully Tudor inspired costumes by Gabriella Slade are show stopping.

The recent Super Bowl half time show's choreography has nothing on the exuberant Carrie-Anne Ingrouille movements saged in Six.

Each wife is given her moment in the spotlight to present her case as to how Henry abused her. Everyone should agree that Henry ordering a head chopped off is the ultimate abuse.

Much like the old television show Queen for a Day each ex-wife make their case in a sometimes snarky musical style that emphases their position and plight, rather than the oft told version of Henry's POV.

Backed by the smokin' all-female band of six. Conducted by Julia Schade; Keyboard: Julia Schade; Bass: Michelle Osbourne; Guitars: Kimi Hayes; Drums: Elene Bonomo; Percussion: Mariana Ramirez.

The show's first number Ex Wives features that old children's rhyme along with puns relating to poker.

First up to sing her case is Adrianna Hicks as Catherine of Aragon. She belts it to the back row in the Latin beat infused No Way. Andrea Macasaet as Anne Boleyn (in an impressive Broadway debut) is a comedic delight with the smart and sassy Don’t Lose Ur Head.

Brittney Mack’s Anna of Cleves uses hip hop and jazz in Get Down to relate her life without Henry, and how she is now rich - all alone in the castle she now owns. The chorus backup brings things up to date by comparing Anna’s situation to online dating. Anna, herself, is grateful that she had a prenup.

As Henry’s loving wife, Jane Seymour (Abby Mueller) delivers the only ballad in the show, the powerful and poignant Heart of Stone, in which she emphasizes: "I stood by him. It didn’t matter how many stupid things he did. I was there, by his side. And that’s… not because I was weak or scared. It’s because… I loved him."

Samantha Pauly’s Katherine Howard goes from light to dark in All You Wanna Do.

Anna Uzele’s Catherine Parr — the final wife, the one who lived - gets serious with I Don’t Need Your Love encouraging the others to live in their own spotlight - not the one they shared with Henry.

This rollicking take on the 16th Century Tudors, which is heavy on female empowerment, deserves a long run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Music Supervision: Joe Beighton; Music Supervision (US): Roberta Duchak; Musical Coordinator: Kristy Norter; Music Technology: Phij Adams; Synthesizer Technician: Randy Cohen.

Sound Design by Paul Gatehouse; Associate Scenic Design: Yu-Hsuan Chen; Associate Costume Design: Lisa Zinni; Associate Lighting Design: Paul Toben and Timothy Reed; Associate Sound Design: Josh Millican; Assistant Costume Design: Amanda Jenks; Assistant Lighting Design: Victoria Bain; Assistant Sound Design: Joseph Haggerty; Moving Light Programmer: Paul Toben and Scott K. Tusing.

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ART AND ABOUT

JURASSIC OCEANS: MONSTERS OF THE DEEP While dinosaurs ruled on land, reptiles reigned over the oceans. Dive into the prehistoric seas that were home to enormous marine reptiles, crocodiles, and sharks.

In Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep,5 meet the underwater giants that lived 200 million years ago. As dinosaurs reached new heights, sea creatures became larger, faster, and fiercer. Experience what it’s like to stand (or swim) next to top predators like a plesiosaur—a reptile with flippers, a very long neck, and super sharp teeth.

Delve into the latest scientific research to learn how these Jurassic giants evolved. Then, compare them to specimens of marine animals living today. From sea snakes and turtles to dolphins and whales, appreciate the diversity of life in the water.

Compare creatures’ “fierce factors”, measured on a scale of 1 to 10
,br> See over 100 specimens including skeletons up to 22 feet long

Encounter the skull of a mosasaur, the “T. rex of the sea”

The exhibition is presented in both English and Spanish. La exhibición está presentada en inglés y español.

Opens Feb 25, 2022 at the Field Museum in Chicago.

SURREALISM BEYOND BORDERS

Koga Harue Umi (The Sea) 1929. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Photo: MOMAT/DNPartcom • Mayo (Antoine Malliarakis) Coups de bâtons 1937. Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf © VG Bild-Kunst,

Surrealism was always international. This ground-breaking exhibition opening at Tate Modern in London reveals the broad scope of this radical movement, moving beyond the confines of a single time or place. Based on extensive research undertaken by Tate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, it spans 80 years and 50 countries to show how Surrealism inspired and united artists around the globe, from centres as diverse as Buenos Aires, Cairo, Lisbon, Mexico City, Prague, Seoul and Tokyo. Expanding our understanding of Surrealism as never before, Tate Modern will show how this dynamic movement took root in many places at different times, offering artists the freedom to challenge authority and imagine a new world.

A revolutionary idea sparked in Paris around 1924, Surrealism prioritized the unconscious and dreams over the familiar and everyday. While it has often generated poetic and even humorous works – from Salvador Dalí’s Lobster Telephone to René Magritte’s train rushing from a fireplace – it has also been used by artists around the world as a serious weapon in the struggle for political, social, and personal freedom. Featuring over 150 works ranging from painting and photography to sculpture and film, many of which have never been shown in the UK, this exhibition explores the collective interests shared by artists across regions to highlight their interrelated networks. It also considers the conditions under which they worked and how this in turn impacted Surrealism, including the pursuit of independence from colonialism and displacement caused by international conflict. Among the rarely seen works are photographs by Cecilia Porras and Enrique Grau, which defied the conservative social conventions of 1950s Colombia, as well as paintings by exiled Spanish artist Eugenio Granell, whose radical political commitments made him a target for censorship and persecution.

Familiar Surrealist themes such as the exploration of the uncanny and unconscious desires are repositioned from a fresh perspective. Visitors will see iconic paintings such as Max Ernst’s Two Children are Threatened by a Nightingale 1924 alongside lesser known but significant works including Antonio Berni’s Landru in the Hotel, Paris 1932, which appeared in the artist’s first exhibition of Surrealist works in Argentina, and Toshiko Okanoue’s Yobi-goe (The Call) 1954, addressing the daily experience of post-war Japan. Photographs by Hans Bellmer focusing on the female body are contrasted with Ithell Colquhoun’s Scylla 1938 – a double image exploring female desire – and works by both French Surrealist Claude Cahun and Sri-Lankan-based artist Lionel Wendt, whose radical photographs present queer desire outside of a Western context.

The exhibition also considers locations around the world where artists have converged and exchanged ideas of Surrealism. From Paris at the Bureau of Surrealist Research; to Cairo, with the Art et Liberté group; across the Caribbean, where the movement was initiated by writers; in Mexico City, where it was shaped by the creative bonds of women artists; and Chicago, where Surrealism was used as a tool for radical politics. Special loans including the photographs of Limb Eung-Sik and Jung Haechang from Korea and a film by Len Lye from New Zealand, will offer further insight into the adaption of Surrealism across the globe. For the first time in the UK, Ted Joans’ incredible 36-foot drawing, Long Distance 1976-2005 will go on display, featuring 132 contributors from around the world. Accompanying Joans on his travels, this cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse) drawing took nearly 30 years to complete and united artists located as far apart as Lagos and Toronto.

Surrealism Beyond Borders is organised by Tate Modern and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. It is co-curated by Matthew Gale, Senior Curator at Large at Tate Modern, and Stephanie D’Alessandro, Leonard A. Lauder Curator of Modern Art and Senior Research Coordinator in Modern and Contemporary Art at The Met; with assistance at Tate Modern from Carine Harmand, Assistant Curator, International Art; and at The Met from Lauren Rosati, Assistant Curator, Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, and Sean O’Hanlan, Research Associate in Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. >br>
February 24, 2022 – August 29, 2022 at Tate Modern in London.

PAINTINGS TO BE RETURNED TO JEWISH FAMILIES Last Tuesday, February 15, 2022, the French parliament unanimously authorized the return of 15 art works, including paintings by Gustav Klimt and Marc Chagall, to the heirs of Jewish families looted by the Nazis.

Among the 15 works is Rosiers under the trees by Gustav Klimt, kept at the Musée d'Orsay, the only work by the Austrian painter belonging to the French national collections. It was acquired in 1980 by the State from a merchant.

Extensive research has established that it belonged to the Austrian Eléonore Stiasny who sold it during a forced sale in Vienna in 1938, during the Anschluss, before being deported and murdered.

Eleven drawings and a waxwork conserved at the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée du Château de Compiègne, as well as a painting by Utrillo stored at the Musée Utrillo-Valadon (Carrefour à Sannois), are also part of the expected returns.

A painting by Chagall, entitled Le Père, housed at the Center Pompidou and entered the national collections in 1988, has been added. It was recognized as the property of David Cender, a Polish Jewish musician and luthier, who immigrated to France in 1958.

For 13 of the 15 works, the beneficiaries were identified by the Commission for the Compensation of Victims of Spoliation (CIVS), created in 1999.

100,000 works of art were seized in France during the 1939-1945 war, according to the Ministry of Culture. 60,000 goods were found in Germany at the Liberation and returned to France. Among them, 45,000 were quickly returned to their owners.

France has long been accused of lagging behind several European neighbors when it comes to reparations.

A research and restitution mission for cultural property looted between 1933 and 1945 was created within the Ministry of Culture two years ago.

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SWEET CHARITY

HOLD THESE TRUTHS created in response to the sharp rise in hate directed toward the AAPI community over the past few years, Boston Court Pasadena, East West Players, and Pasadena Playhouse have joined forces to share a virtual reading of Jeanne Sakata’s timely solo play Hold These Truths. The evening is co-directed by Jessica Kubzansky and Margaret Shigeko Starbuck.

All proceeds raised through this event will go to the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists and the incredible work they do to promote AAPI artists and to contribute to our national theatre ecology.

Hold These Truths, an exceptional evening of theatrical storytelling, tells the inspirational true story of a civil rights hero, Gordon Hirabayashi, who took his World War ll fight for his constitutional rights all the way to the Supreme Court.

75 years ago, Executive Order 9066 called for all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast to be ripped from their homes and forced into barbed-wire prison camps, without due process of law. Amid the chaos, one young student stood up for what he passionately believed were his rights as an American citizen. Based on a true story which follows the life of civil rights hero Gordon Hirabayashi, Hold These Truths is a shockingly relevant cautionary tale of the injustices perpetrated when nationalism, fear, and hysteria collide.

This live-streamed event features six of the wonderful actors who have given tour-de-force solo performances as Gordon in Hold These Truths productions across the country and around the world. The event will be hosted by Tamlyn Tomita and Sean Miura and live-streamed on Monday, February 28th at 6PM PST. The streaming is free, but all attendees must register. The event will be available as a video on demand for 48 hours following the live-stream on the 28th.

THE FILM AND TV CHARITY of Great Britain has published Looking Glass ’21, a follow-up to the charity’s 2019 research that uncovered a mental health crisis in the UK film and TV industry.

The new research was conducted during the summer of 2021 to establish baseline metrics against which the charity will measure the industry’s long-term efforts to reverse that crisis, with new questions added to the survey to examine the prevalence, and effects on mental health, of racial harassment and discrimination. The Looking Glass ’21 report shows: Long hours and well-documented skills gaps are challenging the mental health and wellbeing of many working behind the scenes in film and TV, with the number of people reporting that work intensity was causing poor mental health rising from 63% in 2019 to 78% in 2021

57% of respondents say they experienced bullying, sexual or racial harassment or discrimination, or other harassment or discrimination in the past year alone

39% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic respondents experienced racialised harassment or discrimination; causing 43% of them to consider leaving the industry

The number of respondents who say the industry’s culture and values are having a negative impact on mental health has risen from 29% in 2019 to 51% in 2021

74% of disabled respondents considered leaving the industry altogether in the last year due to concerns about their mental health

Only 10% of respondents agreed with the statement that the industry is currently a mentally healthy place to work

SPREADING THE WORD

JAMES CORDEN'S PARENTS

James Corden's parents Malcoln and Margaret at the Grammy Awards.

Margaret and Malcolm from England have been in American and delightfully covered the Super Bowl for their son's late night show.

His seller of Christian supplies father is a television natural. He is easy going, fun, and relatable. His mother, who has even co-hosted her son's show, is simply sweet. Together they are adorable and seem to be game for anything.

It wasn't their first time they served as reporters - they get around, having previously explored Miami with Harry Styles and reported from the Grammy and Tony Awards.

THIS SPACE BETWEEN US A New Comedy by Peter Gil-Sheridan, directed by Keen Artistic director Jonathan Silverstein.

Featuring Glynis Bell, Alex Chester, Joyce Cohen, Ryan Garbayo, Tommy Heleringer, and Anthony Ruiz.

This Space Between Us is about trying to change the world while admitting home could use a little change too. Nobody understands why Jamie wants to leave his cushy law office to work for a non-profit. His best friend is confused, his boyfriend is concerned, and his conservative Cuban-American family are sure they know what’s best. As Jamie announces his plans to serve those less fortunate, one shocking afternoon at the racetrack sparks unexpected and irreversible consequences for them all. This intergenerational comedy follows a raucous attempt to reach for something more without leaving the people you love behind.

The design team will include Steven Kemp (scenic), Rodrigo Muñoz (costumes), Daisy Long (lighting), Luqman Brown (sound), and Addison Heeren (props). Casting is by Bass/Valle Casting. Dramaturgy by Jeremy Stoller. Avery Trunko will serve as Production Stage Manager.

Performances will begin Tuesday February 22nd and continue through April 2nd, with Opening Night set for Wednesday March 9th at Theatre Row, New York City.

BLUE Music by Jeanine Tesori. Libretto by Tazewell Thompson.

A portrait of contemporary African American life: of love and loss, church, sisterhood, and most importantly, family. A young couple celebrates the joy of family with the birth of their son. And, later leans on their close-knit community in the aftermath of his death at the hands of a police officer.

Starring Briana Hunter as The mother - Kenneth Kellogg as The Father - Joshua Stewart as The Son - Gordon Hawkins as The Reverned.

In English with English Subtitles.

The 2020 winner for Best New Opera (Music Critics Association) has performances b Seattle Opera February . 26 & 27, 2022 and March . 2, 5, 9, 11, & 12, 2022 at McCaw Hall in Seattle, Washington.

ON SUGARLAND written by Obie Award winner Aleshea Harris.

Directed by Obie Award winner and NYTW Usual Suspect Whitney White.

Choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly.

Sugarland is on precarious soil—three mobile homes line a southern cul-de-sac replete with years and years of decorative folk-art treasures and keepsakes. Young Sadie calls on generations of matriarchal ancestors to find the truth about her mother's death while the denizens of Sugarland rise each day to holler for the dead - conscripted soldiers lost to a greedy war - in a ritual reclamation of timeless grief.

"This sweeping new work from Obie Award-winning playwright Aleshea Harris is at once a spectacular pageant and spirited meditation on remarkable people transcending difficult circumstances. On Sugarland brings joyous life to communal healing with a glorious ensemble of 14 performers." The cast of On Sugarland includes Stephanie Berry as Evelyn, Thomas Walter Booker, Caleb Eberhardt as Addis, Billy Eugene Jones as Saul, Kiki Layne as Sadie, Lizan Mitchell as Tisha and Adeola Role as Odella. Mariyea, Mister Fitzgerald, Josh Fulton, Xavier Scott Evans, Charisma Glasper, Kai Heath, and Shemar Yanick Jonas as The Rowdy.

Scenic design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Qween Jean, lighting design by Amith Chandrashaker and sound design by Mikaal Sulaiman. Original music is by Starr Busby, hair & wig design by Earon Nealey, fight direction by UnkleDave’s Fight-House, and dramaturgy by Lauren Whitehead. Alfredo Macias serves as Stage Manager.

Officially opens on Thursday, March 3 for a limited run through Sunday March 20, 2022 at the New York Theatre workshop, NYC.

DONALD HARRISON brings his quartet to Birdland for ten shows this week featuring Dan Kaufman (Piano) Mike Clark (Drums) and Nori Naraoka (Bass). February 22-26, 2022. Birdland in NYC will be livestreaming the Donald Harrison Quartet on Thursday, February 24th, at 9:30 pm EST on Flymachine, a social livestream experience where you can watch together, in real time from anywhere in the world.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? by Edward Albee.

Directed by Margaret Harvey.

Starring: Jimi Bani as George and Susan Prior as Martha who are joined on stage by Rashidi Edward and Juanita Navas-Nguyen.

Set design by Ailsa Paterson.

Performances through February 26, 2022 at the Queensland Theatre in South Brisbane, Australia.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

HOLE IN 02 ARENA in London was caused when storm Eunice tore a huge hole through the roof as the UK recorded wind speeds of 122mph.

The music and dining space in Greenwich, South East London, was evacuated and closed to the public. Around 1,000 people were evacuated and no one was injured. Damage to the structure which cost £789 million to build had an employees being quoted as saying the venue "could be closed for a few months."

However, the venue's website is selling tickets for events happening as soon as March 5, 2022.

The O2 which can hold 20,000 spectators, is home to the world's most popular music, sport, comedy and entertainment. Footage showed six white canopy roof panels slowly drifting into the nearby River Thames in South East London.

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THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL PEACE HONORS PRESENTED BY PEACETECH LAB will air as a virtual ceremony on Sunday, February 27th, 2022, at 8:00 pm EST.

Actor and social activist Rosario Dawson will host the event which honors an exceptional group of global leaders who make unique contributions towards building more just and peaceful communities around the world.

In 2013, Rosario co-founded Studio One Eighty Nine with Abrima Erwiah. S189 is an artisan-produced fashion lifestyle brand and social enterprise. Studio 189 is made in Africa and focuses on empowerment, creating jobs and supporting education and skills training and partners with organizations such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative and the NYU Stern School of Business. In 2020, Studio 189 won the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability.

Honorees to receive the International Peace Honors Presented by PeaceTech Lab include actor, director and social activist Forest Whitaker; chairman of MasterCard, Ajay Banga; renowned Singer-Songwriter and Social Advocate, Juanes; former IBM Vice President of Innovation and Technology Nicholas Donofrio, creator of ‘Humans of New York,’ Brandon Stanton; Indigenous Activist and Environmentalist Tokata Iron Eyes; and the president & CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, Dr. Lisa Su.

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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.

Next Column: February 27, 2022
Copyright: February 20, 2022 All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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Laura Deni

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