Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: January 5, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW 2025 GLOWS GLAM

Don't be so anxious to put grandma on an iceberg and push her out to sea.

Martha Stewart

People are living longer, and this longevity is driving demand for products tailored to older adults. In the beauty industry (which has historically focused on anti-aging solutions but is seeing a shift toward celebrating every phase of life), technology like ART Lab’s AI-powered SkinChat solution helps consumers develop customized skincare routines for every life stage. Another innovator is BarunBio, specializes in aging solutions across the apparel, beauty, and aging industries, including clothing that uses energy generated by everyday movements to aid in muscle recovery and prevent fatigue.

Yes, it's CES time where beauty and tech merge.

Beauty, Fashion, and Tech: A New Era of Self-Expression will show how beauty and fashion industries are constantly evolving –– and that evolution is typically attributed to changing trends and social norms. But, especially in recent years, tech has emerged as a major driver of transformation in fashion and beauty, making these industries more inclusive, sustainable, and personalized than ever before.

You, too, can age like the celebrities. Show up at CES in Las Vegas where you can eyeball Lenny Kravitz, Mark Cuban, Marha Stewart, will.i.am. Stevie Wonder and Meghan Trainor who are among those slated to either perform, deliver speeches, appear on a panel or unveil new products during the January 7-10, 2025 industry convention.

"CES gathers the entire technology ecosystem in Las Vegas, including an exciting lineup of celebrities and ambassadors representing global brands," said Kinsey Fabrizio, President, Consumer Technology Association (CTA.) "Bringing these brand ambassadors to CES highlights the intersection of technology, creativity, and innovation across industries."

CES 2025 welcomes a star-studded lineup of personalities across the show at conference programming, keynotes, and more. The CES Creator Space, sponsored by Sony, will host a stage sponsored by Pinterest, highlighting conversations between top brands and content creators, including:

Mark Cuban

Denim Richards, actor, producer, and founder/CEO of Opulent Entertainment Group, will discuss fair compensation and credit.
will.i.am, Founder & CEO of FYI.AI, creative artist and tech entrepreneur, will reimagine radio in an AI-powered world.
The Great Minds series will bring together a powerful lineup of speakers featuring the brightest minds across space exploration, AI, sustainable fashion, entertainment, and more, including:

Karlie Kloss, supermodel and founder of Kode With Klossy, will join the session Shaping a New Era of Ingenuity: The Power of Inclusive Innovation.
Sophia Bush, actress and activist, will be a panelist on Inclusive Investing: Driving Detroit's Entrepreneurial Growth.
Additionally, the following celebrities are expected to make appearances at CES: Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and investor, founder of Seven Seven Six, and co-founder of Reddit, will participate in the panel, Tracking Your Body’s Signals for Better Health, presented by Abbott. Tunde Oyeneyin, global fitness instructor, NY Times bestselling author, and motivational speaker, will also be on the the panel.

Also performing, delivering speeches, appearing on a panel or unveiling new products will be: Lenny Kravitz, music icon.
Mark Cuban, businessman and tech entrepreneur, as well as, part-owner of the NBA team the Dallas Mavericks, Shark Tank investor, and co-founder of Cost Plus Drugs.
Maria Shriver, journalist and writer, will be a part of AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative.
Martha Stewart, businesswoman and writer.
Meghan Trainor, singer-songwriter, will perform at the MediaLink’s dinner.
Stevie Wonder, musician.
Terry Crews, actor, ambassador for amp.
Tim Meadows, actor, will host a BMW reveal.

SiriusXM will take to the stage and Llinda Yaccarino, CEO of X Corp, is one of the Keynote speakers.

323 companies on the Fortune 500 will be in attendance with 58% senior level. There are a record number of submissions, including nearly 50% jump in AI category

Digital tech and beauty coexist. With more connections and community engagement happening online, the desire for digital fashion has increased –– and fundamentally changed how we engage with our personal style. According to a Roblox study, 56% of Gen Z prioritize styling their avatars over their physical appearance, while 84% say their physical style is influenced by their avatars. This digital-first mindset extends to spending habits, with many budgeting for digital fashion items alongside physical clothing.

Karlie Kloss

Tech advancements are also making it possible for companies to develop clothing that’s focused on individual wearers, their unique needs, and how they function. For example, Myant Inc.’s Osmotex jacket features a controllable textile pump that adjusts to human sweat rates, and VOORMI’s groundbreaking wearable technology, Mij™, seamlessly integrates into apparel and provides early alerts regarding "thermal stress" (a metric they state is not captured by other wearables). Tech innovators are also expanding options in adaptive clothing. One example is Totum Tech, which leverages technology like AI to create smart clothing that improves the lives of people with "invisible disabilities," including the blood vessel disorder Raynaud's syndrome. And with advancements like smartphone-based Scan-AI-Print technology utilized by Fitasy Inc., communities around the world can gain access to custom-fitted shoes.

One early example emerged at CES last year with L’Oréal’s HAPTA, a computerized makeup applicator for individuals with limited mobility.

The days of not knowing where clothing comes from are disappearing, thanks to blockchain technology that enhances traceability and transparency, and by extension, ensures ethical sourcing of fabrics and materials. Virtual Try-On (VTO) technology is also helping to improve sustainability in fashion and beauty. By allowing consumers to see what products will look like on them prior to purchase, this AR-powered technology reduces the need for samples and returns –– leading to less waste. It can also save you from a hairstyle gone wrong. The Wahl Style Selector, from Wahl Clipper, allows users to preview hairstyles before committing to a cut. Fashion manufacturers are also leveraging AR to prototype designs, ensuring they meet expectations before production begins.

As technology continues to advance, the beauty and fashion industries are breaking down barriers and opening doors to innovation. These groundbreaking solutions not only enhance self-expression but also ensure that everyone — regardless of physical ability, age, or personal circumstances — can participate and convey who they are visually. From hyper-personalized skincare to adaptive clothing and digital fashion, tech is making the future of beauty and fashion more inclusive, sustainable, and exciting than ever before.

Technology has the ability to promote happiness, enhance wellness, create conveniences — and just make life more enjoyable, touts the convention.

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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

ONCE UPON A STAGE: 30 YEARS OF DISNEY ON BROADWAY

Photo: EPCOT International Festival

takes place January 17 - February 24, 2025 at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts in Florida.

Customers can experience the magic of Broadway both on and off the stage in this walk through exhibit celebrating three decades of Disney on Broadway. Discover costumes and props from your favorite stage musicals, then venture behind-the-scenes to see how the classic animated films The Lion King and Aladdin were re-imagined for the Broadway stage.

Mallory Heinz Ledet Public Relations Manager encourages everyone to "Pick up your paintbrush, prepare your palates, and put on your dancing shoes because the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is just around the corner!"

From January 17-February 24, this uniquely-Disney art festival paints the town with displays of culinary, performing and visual arts that will inspire the inner artist in all of us.

The line-up for the Disney on Broadway Concert Series is star studded. Taking to the America Gardens Theatre stage will be three newcomers to the event: JeLani Remy from his role as Simba from "The Lion King." Rodney Ingram performed the title role of "Aladdin" on Broadway and originated the role in the Mexico City production, and John Riddle originated the role of Hans in "Frozen."

They join Patti Murin, Cassie Levy, Adam Jacibs, and Josh Strickland.

After you work up an appetite head to the Opening Bites Food Studio where patrons can partake of "Food! Glorious food!" This menu is all about paying homage to the foods and drinks immortalized onstage.

Capture a memory in the Artful Photo Ops, where you can step into the canvas and strike a pose. Along with returning favorites like Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-August Renoir and Edvard Munch’s The Scream, there is a new Artful Photo Op inviting you to voyage alongside our favorite seafarer featuring Walt Disney Animation Studios’ "Moana."

A WEEK OF WILLA CATHER takes place at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska January 1-19, 2025.

Attend a variety of special programs that celebrate Willa Cather and her novels, with an emphasis on My Ántonia. And while you’re at The Joslyn, be sure to seek out Tim Youd’s (American, b. 1967) work Willa Cather’s My Ántonia, on view in the Mammel Gallery.

A Week of Willa Cather includes: Bel Canto Duo, A Live Performance of Four CatherTableaux -- Visualizing Literature: Book Club for Art Lovers - - Lecture My Antonia: The Story of an "American Novel" and Four CatherTableaux, A Film Screening Experience.

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SPREADING THE WORD

THE ACTORS GANG is proud to announce Night Miracles, an exhilarating and inventive 10-minute play festival that will run from January 9th to February 8th, 2025, at The Actors’ Gang Theater in Culver City, CA.

The Actors’ Gang boasts a storied four decade reputation of of developing original works from within, encouraging its actors to explore playwriting and directing.

"This dynamic collection of ten original plays is written, directed, and performed by the ensemble members of The Actors' Gang. Each play explores a diverse range of themes, emotions, and storytelling techniques, ensuring a truly unforgettable theater experience."

10 Plays. One Stage. One Evening

"It was incredibly challenging to select just ten plays from the incredible creative energy that exists within this ensemble," says Tim Robbins, Artistic Director of The Actors' Gang. "This collection is a reflection of what inspires me—the raw energy, humor, and profound depth of the human experience. Each piece is a testament to the fearless imagination of our artists. I’m excited to share this bold, unpredictable journey with our community."

However, one talented story writer - Mary Eileen O'Donnell, has grabbed four of the ten slots.

From classic storybook characters in trauma therapy, to buried hens, a debtors’ game show, dueling nuns, saucy archangels, the revelation of masturbation (maybe not that), and a talking theater ghost light – we’re not entirely sure what to expect, but it’s definitely going to be bizarre. Think Topsy Turvy meets a Vegas-inspired circus of gods, clowns, and a master of ceremonies with a talking monkey. Expect the unexpected, from absurd to profound, each piece is as wild, strange, and playful as the artists who created it.

The ten selecyions are:

In Treatment By Mary Eileen O'Donnell: Six classic storybook characters confront their traumas, and each other, in a modern day PTSD group therapy session.

Ghost Light By Caroline Redekopp: A theatre custodian faces a potential demon in order to clean (sweep, mop) up her own demons.

Game Show By Adam Dugas: In a dystopian game show, three players compete for a chance to cancel their debts.

Love Song For Buried Hens By Meghan Stogner: Two farmers at the end of their lives confront the nature of death, and life on the farm.

Rough Hewn By Ken Palmer: From his miniature wheelchair, the poetic, songwriting drum set puppet announces… The stage Door is unlocked…Will anyone step out of their comfort zone and up to ‘ROUGH HEWN’S 24 hour OPEN MIC

Punch And Judy On The Coast Starlight By Mary Eileen O'Donnell: Riding a train up the coast, two traditional British puppets have a fight on their vacation.

Two Angels Walk into A Bar By Mary Eileen O'Donnell: Christmas Eve 1914 - the Archangel Gabriel and Clarence from "It's a Wonderful Life" are making big plans.

The Job By Mary Eileen O'Donnell: Three workers talk about their dirty dangerous job ahead.

Nun Fight By Willa Fossum: Everyone that's anyone loved Sister Roberta.

Sixteen Summers By Ayinde Howell: One GenX’ers nostalgic journey of identity, family and the last act of love.

With an emphasis on collaboration, boundary-pushing performances, and artistic risk, The Actors' Gang continues to be a vital and influential force in Los Angeles’ vibrant theater scene.

AN INVITATION ONLY INDUSTRY READING of Raffael Pacitti's "Mister Halston" with Ken Barnett playing the late fashion designer will be presented January 17, 2025, at Cooper Square in New York City.

Directed by Kimberly Senior, the play is set in 1987. It's a fictionalized version of the interview that led to a seminal New York Times article about the legendary designer.

"Mister Halston" had a sold-out run at New York’s United Solo Festival, where it earned three Festival Awards, including Best Actor for Barnett. The upcoming reading precedes an expected 2025 New York mounting.

THE CONGRESS FOR JEWISH CULTURE will present a development reading of Shtumer Shabes a new play by Rokhl Kafrissen, on Wednesday, January 8 at Theatre 154, 154 Christopher Street, NYC.

The invitational reading is directed by dramaturg Lynn Thomson and features recent star students of YIVO's Uriel Weinreich Program in Yiddish Alona Bach and Noah Mitchel together with Yiddish stage veteran Mitzi Manna.

Shtumer Shabes steps back in time to the Lower East Side of the 1990s, when a graduate student working on her dissertation gets more than she bargained for when she befriends an aging Yiddish diva.

Rokhl Kafrissen is a playwright and cultural critic. She writes the Rokhl’s Golden City column at Tablet and blogs about Jewish life at Rootless Cosmopolitan.

Founded in 1948, the Congress for Jewish Culture (Executive Director, Shane Baker) is a secular organization based in New York City dedicated to enriching Yiddish culture worldwide.

AVALONA a musical legend, conceived and created by award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and storyteller Dina Fanai will receive a special four-day workshop musical presentation on January 14th-17th at the SPSA Theater in New York City.

The workshop will be directed by Dodd Loomis, executive produced and with musical direction by Bob Kinkel (co-creator, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), choreography by Natalie Lomonte, and casting by Chloe Lowery.

Avalona, A Musical Legend invites you into an immersive, multi-genre experience of song, storytelling, dance, and 3D digital projections. This original parable for adults blends the poetic mysticism of Rumi with the transformative insights of Campbell’s The Power of Myth.

Through a rich tapestry of spiritual philosophy, AVALONA breathes life into archetypes that guide us from darkness to light, fear to freedom. As "The Seeker," you follow Avalona, a woman confronting her inner demons and embarking on a journey of self-discovery. Will she choose to LIVE, to LOVE herself, and to SEE beyond the veil of illusion that has blocked her from her true essence and destiny?

The Workshop cast will feature Jenna Rubaii, Constantine Maroulis, Maya Days, Madeline Serrano Dina, Fanai with ensemble members Lavy Cavaliere, Morgan Andrews, Alyssa Rose Bulin, Jamal Shu, Jordann Stoute, Kaori Hiwasa, and Jacob Nahor, Kalie Kaimann, JaQuita May, Dan Domenech, Sofia Gaglia, and Danielle Bowen will perform as understudies.

Pre-recorded tracks are produced by Dina Fanai & Bob Kinkel and will be accompanied by live musicians including Dave Eggar (Cello) and Chuck Palmer (Percussion).

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

ESPORTS BETTING WILL DRIVE NEARLY 60% OF MARKET REVENUE BY 2029 according to data presented by Betideas.com.

For years, esports betting has been a significant revenue driver in the industry, bringing more value than any other market segment. With the growing popularity of competitive gaming, which attracts millions of young, tech-savvy viewers, and gaming platforms like YouTube Gaming and Twitch making esports more accessible, this trend shows no signs of slowing.

Revenue Share Jumped from 50% to 59% in a Decade.

In 2024, almost 730 million people watched esports, a number projected to reach almost 900 million by the end of a decade. "This massive audience, drawn to esports' dynamic and interactive nature, is a natural fit for betting growth, and Statista data proves this."

In 2017, esports betting had around 22 million users and generated $600 million, making up half the market's total. By 2020, its market share remained unchanged, although revenue surged by 40% and hit over one billion dollars for the first time. However, the past four years have seen an explosive growth of the esports betting industry. The user base doubled to 74 million, while revenues skyrocketed by 150% and hit $2.5 billion in 2024, four times the figure reported in 2017. Also, this represents 57% of the esports industry's total revenue this year.

While growth will moderate after recent record-breaking years, the entire sector is expected to reach $3.5 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. Its market share will also increase in this period. Projections show esports betting's share of total industry revenue will climb to 59%, marking a 9% increase over the decade.

More than 95 million People to Bet on Esports by 2029.

The esports betting community, primarily composed of younger, tech-savvy individuals, has grown tremendously. Since 2017, more than 50 million people started placing bets on esports, bringing the total number of users in the market close to 75 million. Thanks to the rise of user-friendly, innovative betting platforms and the surging popularity of esports, this figure is set to soar to nearly 95 million by 2029, with an additional 20 million users entering the fold.

Statista data also show that the United States leads the way in esports betting, currently home to the largest share of bettors. By 2029, nearly 20 million Americans will bet on esports, representing one-fifth of the global total and marking an increase of 7 million from 2024. Far below, the United Kingdom and South Korea follow with 4.6 million and 2 million users in 2029, respectively.

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KING CHARLES' NEW YEAR'S HONORS LIST includes more than 1,200 people from fields including sport, business, entertainment and politics are recognised in this year's list.

Several from the worlds of art and culture include:

Gareth Southgate was knighted for services to football after leading England to the finals of the past two European Championships. Best known for playing his idol Oscar Wilde in the 1997 movie Wilde and for his role in the hit British television comedy Blackadder, Stephen Fry was recognized for services to mental health awareness, the environment and to charity. Fry, who has a form of bipolar disorder, has spoken openly about his mental health struggles. The British polymath Stephen Fry is currently Australia with an evening of stories and Q&A.

Carey Mulligan received an award as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) while Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro was made a Companion of Honour for services to literature.

Former "Coronation Street" cast member Anne Reid, known to millions as Valerie Barlow, is among those who have starred on stage and television to be honored. She wass appointed a CBE, while former "Doctor Who" star Tom Baker became a MBE.

Kevin Whately, who was the lead actor in "Lewis", and West End actress Jill Nalder are appointed OBEs, the latter for her activism around HIV and Aids.

Among the other people from arts and culture recognized for their work is the DJ Steve Lamacq, who said becoming a MBE was an "incredible shock".

Other notable names on the 2025 list include musician Myleene Klass, gardener Alan Titchmarsh, and actress Sarah Lancashire.

Lancashire, known for roles including a no-nonsense police sergeant in BBC series "Happy Valley," said it was an "unexpected delight" to be appointed a CBE for services to drama.

Actress Anne-Marie Duff was appointed an OBE while Loyd Grossman, author and chairman of The Royal Parks who is also known for his cooking sauces, was knighted for services to heritage.

Post Office scandal victims heralded as 'unsung heroes' were honored. Former sub-postmistress Jo Hamilton was one of four UK Post Office scandal victims on the list. The others are Lee Castleton, Christopher Head and Seema Misra. All were recognized with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for their work campaigning for justice.

When British post offices introduced a new accounting system more than two decades ago, money started going missing — what happened next has been described by some as the country's biggest ever miscarriage of justice, in which hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted of fraud, theft and false accounting because of faulty software.

That scandal was turned into a movie which aired on PBS.

The New Year Honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister or senior government ministers. Members of the public can also recommend people for an award. In case you are curious about what all the award letters signify:

Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name
Knight or Dame
CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire
OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire
MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire
BEM - British Empire Medal
Domestic violence and abuse campaigners
The honours list also recognises people who have campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse.

THE CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM in London has announced that current Deputy Director, Frankie Kubicki, will become Director of the Museum. Frankie has been with the Museum for eight years, initially as Curator, before progressing to Senior Curator and, latterly, Deputy Director: Programmes & Collections. She follows Cindy Sughrue, who will leave the Museum at the end of March, having served for nearly ten years.

THE CONSUMEER TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION (CTA) has announced its CES Innovation Awards 2025 honorees. The 2025 awards program received a record-breaking number of submissions, over 3400, a 13% increase from CES 2024.

The CES Innovation Awards annually recognizes and honors exceptional designs and engineering in technology that tackle global challenges and drive meaningful change.

The Awards feature technology across 33 categories. Artificial Intelligence is the fastest growing category with a 49.5% increase in submissions compared to last year, underscoring how AI is integrating into our lives through enhanced user experiences, increased productivity, medical advancements, and more. AI will be a central theme for CES 2025, represented throughout the show floor and conference programming.

"The honorees selected this year represent the range of innovation we will see at CES 2025, with products touching all areas of technology including the entire AI ecosystem," said Gary Shapiro, CEO, CTA. "The record-breaking number of CES Innovation Awards submissions for CES 2025 shows how tech innovation continues to solve the world’s biggest challenges that change the people’s lives."

The 2025 awards program expands to four new categories: Beauty & Personal Care, Fashion Tech, Industrial Equipment & Machinery, and Pet Tech & Animal Welfare.

"Technology is reshaping industries, enhancing products and creating experiences that improve lives in ways we never thought possible," said Kinsey Fabrizio, President, CTA. "From unlocking new efficiencies in agriculture and mining to improving care for our pets, the tech at CES 2025 will allow attendees to dive in to the trends transforming our world."

An independent panel reviews and rates submissions based on innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and design. Experts in the fields of industry design, engineering, and members of the media are selected to judge products. The top-rated entries across categories are awarded the Best of Innovation designation.

The Best of Innovation recipients for 2025 include:

Accessibility & AgeTech: Bio Leg by BionicM Inc.
Artificial Intelligence: booxtory by Woongjin Thinkbig
Audio/Video Components & Accessories: Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad Wireless Speaker System by Sony Electronics Inc.
Computer Peripherals & Accessories: HP Z Captis by HP Inc.
Cybersecurity: ScamVanguard by SK Telecom
Digital Health: TD Square, Tinnitus Digital Treatment Device by Hanyang University Playlab
Drones: Station for drone first responder by Nearthlab
Embedded Technologies: Q-Vision Pro: Safe, Fast On-Device AI for Crime Prevention by Suprema AI
Fashion Tech: Osmotex: Active Electroosmotic Membrane Jackets by Myant Corp.
FinTech: On-Device biometric payment solution by GHOSTPASS Inc.
Headphones & Personal Audio: Galaxy Buds3 Pro by Samsung Electronics America
Industrial Equipment & Machinery: KATR by Kubota Tractor Corp
In-Vehicle Entertainment: On-Demand Automotive Infotainment Center by Corning, Incorporated & CarUX
Metaverse: minVerse by Haply Robotics
Mobile Devices, Accessories, & Apps: inReach® Messenger Plus by Garmin
Robotics: Hypershell Carbon X by Hypershell Co., Ltd.
Sustainability & Energy/Power: Faraday Reactor by Vvater
Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility: Holographic Transparent Camera by ZEISS Microoptics
XR Technologies & Accessories: Sony XR Head-Mounted Display SRH-S1 by Sony Corporation.



I’M ASSUMING YOU KNOW DAVID GREENSPAN by Mona Pirnot.

Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll.

One 68-year-old man plays four millennial women in a comedy (full of drama) about how to make a living as a playwright (or to try.)

Starring six-time Obie Award winner David Greenspa with Drama Desk Award nominee Mona Pirnot and two-time Obie Award winner Ken Rus Schmoll.

January 8 – February 9, 2025 at Atlantic Stage 2 in New York City.

IN THE ZONE a maritime play written by Eugene O’Neill.

Directed by Andy Sowers.

Music Direction by Nathan Bishop, and the band Faoileán.

Stage Managed by KC Athol>

Featuring: Christopher Rashee-Stevenson, Matt Russell, Captain Jack Tunney, Damien Hughes, Jaz Astwood, Stuart Gray, and Sam Gibbs.

Step into maritime and theatre history with the Seaport Museum and the professional actors of Mariner Theatrical as they stage Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill’s (1888–1953) powerful maritime play, In the Zone, to life aboard the historic Wavertree. Accompanying talkback discussions will also be held on January 18 and 19in the Seaport Museum’s historic Schermerhorn Row introduction galleries.

Originally debuting during the height of World War I fervor––only months after the United States entered the war––In the Zone is one of four one-act plays O’Neill wrote between 1914 and 1917, inspired by his time aboard the British ship SS Ikala. Set aboard a tramp steamer, the play delves into themes of paranoia, xenophobia, and ambition, as the sailors grow suspicious that one of their own may be a spy.

For the performance, as you enter the forecastle of Wavertree, you’ll be transported to the tense confines of the SS Glencairn, an Allied munitions ship braving the infamous "U-Boat Zone." The intimate setting enhances the drama, complemented by the atmospheric folk music of Nathan Bishop and his band, Faoileán.

Audience members for the 45-minute play can choose between traditional seating on chairs or benches or embrace a more adventurous experience with bunk seating, allowing you to claim a traditional sailor’s bunk and step into the life of a seafarer from 1885.

Performances: January 17-19, 2025. Talkbacks: January 18-19, at South Street Seaport Museum in New York City.

TWO TRAINS RUNNING by August Wilson.

Directed by Gilbert McCauley.

The cast features Jerome Preston Bates, Jr.; David Jennings; Rafael Jordan; Postell Pringle; Taji Senior; Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr.; and Jeorge Bennett Watson.

The production features Scenic Design by Lawrence Moten; Costume Design by Devario Simmons; Lighting Design by Xavier Pierce; Sound Design by Gregory Robinson; Wig, Hair and Makeup Design by J. Jared Janas; and Casting by Alaine Alldaffer and Lisa Donadio. The Production Stage Manager is lark hackshaw, with Adalhia Ivette Hart as Assistant Stage Manager.

Two Trains Running exemplifies why August Wilson is one of the most revered and produced American playwrights of our time.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Fences and The Piano Lesson, brings us the world inhabited by the staff and regulars at Memphis Lee’s diner in the Hill District of Pittsburgh in 1969. Through these complex and big-hearted characters, Wilson explores the economic and racial turbulence that marked the Civil Rights Era.

Faced with declining business at his restaurant and a rapidly changing neighborhood, Memphis and those around him fight for what they believe they deserve – a fair price for the restaurant, lottery winnings, and a job.

January 23 – February 16, 2025 at Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT.

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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

LINDA LAVIN Tony award winning actress died December 29, 2024 in Los Angeles from complications from lung cancer. She was 87.

Known for her roles on stage and screen, she received several awards including three Drama Desk Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Obie Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. She was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2010.

On stage, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play playing a strong-willed mother in the Neil Simon play Broadway Bound (1987). She was Tony-nominated for her roles in Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1970), The Diary of Anne Frank (1998), The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (2001), Collected Stories (2010), and The Lyons (2012). She is also known for acting in It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman (1966), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1967), Gypsy (1990), The Sisters Rosensweig (1993), and Follies (2011). She made her film debut in Damn Yankees! (1967) and later had roles in The Morning After (1974), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), I Want to Go Home (1989), and Being the Ricardos (2021).

In 1960 Lavin appeared at the East 74th Street Theater in George Gershwin's Oh, Kay!, with Penny Fuller and Marti Stevens. Lavin began her career with Broadway appearances in the musical A Family Affair (1962) and plays such as The Riot Act (1963) and Carl Reiner's Something Different (1967). Lavin also appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions, including the revue Wet Paint (1965), the musical The Mad Show (1966) (in which she introduced the cabaret standard "The Boy From...", written by Stephen Sondheim and Mary Rodgers), and Little Murders (1969). Lavin won the Theatre World Award for Wet Paint and a Drama Desk Award for Little Murders. In 1975, she appeared in the Shakespeare in the Park production of The Comedy of Errors at the Delacorte Theater.
,br> She "arrived at showbiz stardom with a featured role" in the musical It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (1966). She received her first Tony Award nomination in 1970, for her role in the Neil Simon play Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1969). Lavin's last Broadway credit before she moved to Hollywood was in Paul Sills' Story Theatre in 1971.

In 1984, Lavin played the character of "The Mother" in Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author in a production directed by Robert Brustein at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After more than a decade away, Lavin returned to the Broadway stage in 1987, winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and her second Drama Desk Award for her role as Kate in Simon's play Broadway Bound. She then starred on Broadway in Gypsy as Mama Rose Hovick, replacing Tyne Daly in July 1990.

Her subsequent Broadway roles included The Sisters Rosensweig, as a replacement Gorgeous Teitelbaum starting in September 1993 and Mrs. Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank (1997–1998), opposite Natalie Portman, for which she garnered a Tony nomination as Featured Actress in a Play. In 1995 she appeared in the Off-Broadway Death-Defying Acts, which consists of three one-act plays; Lavin performed in the Elaine May (Hotline) and Woody Allen plays (Central Park West). She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Actress – Play) and won an Obie Award (Performance) and the Lucille Lortel Award. She also directed theater during this period.

She played Marjorie in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (2000–2001), co-starring Tony Roberts and Michele Lee, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award, Leading Actress in a Play, and Drama Desk Award, and "nanny" for Helen (young Carol Burnett, played by Sara Niemietz and Donna Lynne Champlin) in Hollywood Arms in Chicago and on Broadway in 2002.

In 2010, Lavin appeared as Ruth Steiner in a Broadway revival of the play Collected Stories, reprising her role for a PBS production of the play, and received a fifth Tony nomination for the role. She appeared in the new play by Jon Robin Baitz, Other Desert Cities, Off-Broadway at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater (Lincoln Center) beginning in previews in December 2010, closing February 27, 2011. Lavin was featured in the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC) production of the musical Follies, from May 2011 to June 2011, as Hattie Walker.

She appeared in the premiere of the Nicky Silver play The Lyons at the Off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre, beginning in September 2011, through November 11. She reprised her role in the Broadway production, which opened at the Cort Theatre on April 23, 2012, and closed on July 1, 2012.

Lavin appeared in the new Nicky Silver play Too Much Sun, which opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre on May 18, 2014. Lavin appeared in 2015/16 on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in a Manhattan Theatre Club production of Richard Greenberg's Our Mother's Brief Affair. In January 2017, Lavin appeared in New York City Opera's production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide at the Rose Theatre at Lincoln Center in the role of The Old Lady. In 2020, Lavin performed "The Boy From..." as part of Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration.

Lavin has appeared in cabaret and concert performances. In 2005 she appeared at the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco, accompanied by Billy Stritch and her husband, Steve Bakunas.

In Wilmington, she was a stage director. One of her directorial credits was a 1998 production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It, updated to a Brazilian jazz style. In both Wilmington and New York she taught master classes in acting and singing.

In September 2012, Lavin announced that she intended to sell her home in Wilmington and return to New York City. Lavin and Bakunas lived in New York City from circa 2013–2014 on. In July 2016, the Luxury Living website posted Lavin's Central Park South apartment for sale at $1.25 million.

Lavin was married three times. Her first marriage to Ron Leibman ended in divorce in 1981. Her second marriage, to Kip Niven, whom she met on the set of Alice, ended in a bitter divorce in 1992. While Lavin had no biological children, she was the stepmother of the children of her second husband and played an active role in their lives and also in the lives of her grandchildren. She was also the stepmother of the children of her third husband, artist/musician Steve Bakunas, whom she married in 2005. The couple resided in Wilmington, North Carolina, where they were committed community members who were working together to rehabilitate impoverished neighborhoods including renovating many homes, donating a park to the city and creating a community theater, the Red Barn Studio. In 1997, Lavin founded The Linda Lavin Arts Foundation in Wilmington, "to promote and foster the advancement of the performing and visual arts, with special emphasis on arts in education. Her foundation has created a theatre program called Girl Friends, whose purpose is to raise the self-esteem of at-risk teenage girls of the inner city."

Both of her former husbands, the aforementioned Niven and Leibman, died in 2019.

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Laura Deni