Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: July 3, 2022
By: Laura Deni
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DAVID COPPERFIELD INSPIRES MAGICIANS TO FACILITATE HEALING

David Copperfield

Sorcery has been in the spotlight since before the Biblical era. Reviled, feared, yet sought after as a way to heal.

World renounced illusionalist David Copperfield is currently performing in Las Vegas at the Hollywood Theatre in the MGM Grand Hotel.

Copperfield has been described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's television specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards, winning 21. Best known for his combination of storytelling and illusion, his career of over 40 years has earned him 11 Guinness World Records, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a knighthood by the French government. He has been named a Living Legend by the US Library of Congress.

Perhaps the best magic he has ever performed is in helping to minimize the health problems in others.

In March 1982, Copperfield along with Julie DeJean, O.T.R., founded Project Magic, a rehabilitation program to help disabled patients regain lost or damaged dexterity skills by using sleight of hand as physical therapy. The program has been accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association, and is in use in over 1100 hospitals in nearly every state and in 30 countries.

Especially designed by Copperfield and DeJean, Project Magic combines the talents of professionals in the entertainment field and those in the medical field to provide a quality of therapeutic training for patients far ahead of traditional rehabilitative programs and techniques.

As a person with a disability learns the mechanics of a magical illusion, they are motivated to increase physical dexterity, functional skills, and communication. Additionally, the learning of a magical illusion can aid in the improvement of problem-solving, the ability to work with numbers, and other cognitive skills.

The Project Magic Handbook describes a large number of magic tricks, and presents information on how to implement a successful therapeutic program.

Project Magic stresses that "most people with disabilities have come to believe that they are less capable than a non-disabled person. Therefore, the ability to perform simple magic allows them to do something that others cannot. Performing magic involves knowing something that the audience does not know - the secret. The performer can work "miracles." This baffles the spectator and creates within the performer a sense of accomplishment, pride, and self-fulfillment. Self-esteem and motivation are essential to the achievement of rehabilitation goals."

With tricks chosen from Copperfield’s Project Magic and aimed to enhance patients’ social skills, in 1990 Mike Lyons of the Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland and senior occupational therapist Anne Marie Menolotto undertook a pilot study in which a magician and two occupational therapists taught magic tricks to seven psychiatric patients with a variety of conditions - including schizophrenia, recurrent paranoid psychosis and bipolar affective disorder. The magic-based intervention consisted of eight 90-minute, sessions, delivered over a nine-week period. Six patients completed a questionnaire about the benefits of learning magic, with the results showing that they found the experience highly sociable, refreshing, pleasant and meaningful. The authors note that the program helped lend structure to large amounts of uncommitted time, and that a key part of its success involved discovering strengths rather than emphasizing limitations.

In 2003 Colleen Klein-Ezell of Southeastern Louisiana University examined whether learning magic tricks helped boost the self-esteem of children with physical and psychological challenges. Ten university students taught magic tricks to 26 children with a range of conditions, including learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, and physical disabilities. Many of the tricks were selected from Project Magic and the children were given the opportunity to rehearse in front of a mirror and also to perform for younger children. The children’s self-esteem (measured via ‘The Student Self-Concept Scale’) was significantly higher after the intervention.

“Changing lives is what I’m supposed to do as a magician. It’s not about tricking people. It’s about showing limitless possibilities in the world. I try to give a different perspective. If I do my job right, I inspire people to do something for a better future,” Copperfield said in a January news report about Project Magic.

When Copperfield's busy schedule permits, he works directly with the patients and gives seminars to introduce and discuss his form of treatment.

Copperfield wasn't the first illusionists to connect magic with therapy.

According to a review of magic-based interventions and their effects, published by pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; peerj and National Institute of Health National Center for Biotechnology Information:

Early work exploring the possible relationship between well being and performing magic tricks appeared during the First World War. In 1915, conjurer and illustrator Charles Folkard wrote Tricks For The Trenches And Wards, a book that encouraged convalescing soldiers to perform magic tricks as a form of entertainment and rehabilitation. At the start of the book Folkard described being inspired by a nurse commenting on the therapeutic value of magic, and in the remainder of the text presented a series of tricks, most of which can be performed with the hands alone. The magic literature contains a well-known anecdote from this era supporting the use of magic as occupational therapy. Cardini, one of the world’s most highly skilled magicians, initially learned how to manipulate playing cards while recuperating from shell shock after being wounded in the battle of the Somme. Later reflecting on his time in hospital, Cardini remarked: "Of course they [medics] didn’t know so much about occupational therapy back in the first World War, but manipulating my fingers with cards amounted to just that."

During the Second World War, magician and psychiatrist Douglas Kelley published a lengthy article describing how he had successfully used magic tricks as a form of occupational therapy at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Hospital (Kelley, 1940). An experienced and well-regarded magician, Kelley discussed why magic tricks are especially well suited to this type of work, noting, for instance, that they often only require a small amount of practice, can be easily adapted to suit the patient and require very little financial outlay.

In the late 1950s, a small group of American magicians established the National Committee for Therapy Through Magic, and encouraged performers to team up with medics and to teach magic tricks to their patients (Lopez, 1957). The initiative involved several well-known medical institutions, including the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and the Variety Children’s Hospital in Miami.

In 1988, American magician Kevin Spencer, after being involved in a serious car accident and suffering head and spinal cord injuries, founded Healing of Magic an initiative involving magicians teaching simple magic tricks to promote patients’ physical and psychological well being. Emulating Copperfield's Project Magic, Spencer produced a manual and DVD containing appropriate magic tricks and instructional material (Spencer & Spencer, 2012).

In 2011, Kevin Spencer built on his Healing of Magic initiative by launching Hocus Focus, an educational curriculum that involves magic-based lesson plans designed to promote students’ motivation and key learning skills, including individuals with learning and emotional challenges.

The following year Spencer conducted a study examining the psychological impact of the Hocus Focus program in three schools, involving a total of 9 teachers and 76 students, aged between 12 and 14. The students were diagnosed with a range of issues, including Autism, Emotional Behavior Disorder, Learning Disability, ADHD, and Communication Difficulties. The teachers completed various observation checklists and surveys, and students completed both surveys and informal interviews. Qualitative data indicated that the majority of the students experienced improvements. The teachers reported that the intervention captured and held students’ attention, encouraged active participation, emphasized the importance of following directions, and encouraged students to help one another. The students appeared to show increases in concentration, and memory skills, self-determination and self- esteem, motivation and participation, leadership and socialization, peer relationships and collaboration.

In 2003, magician Michael Walton created a program entitled Open Heart Magic to teach magic tricks to children in hospitals. The work aims to boost self-esteem and provide a sense of mastery. Unlike many of the other magic-based programs, all potential performers are required to participate in a rigorous training program. Although the initiative runs in various locations, much of the activity takes places in Chicago, where over 100 Hospital Magicians visit 10 hospitals and perform to over 10,000 children each year.

In 2007, American medical student and former professional magician David Elkin founded MagicAid. This initiative involves training health practitioners to deliver one-on-one "magic therapy" for pediatric patients and their families, and aims to help reduce the stress that children often experience in the hospital. MagicAid is run by both medics and magicians - including professional magician Justin Willman - and has been successfully implemented at several medical facilities.

In Canada, the educational and therapeutic program My Magic Hands is run by magician Julie Eng who is executive director of the magic-based arts organization, Magicana. This program has been running for several years and has involved magicians working with occupational therapists to help children with a range of disabilities. Other aspects of the program have included work with at-risk children and those attending community centers in economically disadvantaged areas.

Recently, a team of British occupational therapists have partnered with magicians to create Breathe - a program designed to help those suffering from childhood hemiplegia. Children with hemiplegia often find it difficult to continually carry out the repetitive exercises needed to help combat their condition. Breathe aims to tackle this issue by turning these exercises into magic tricks. During the initiative, children typically participate in around 60 hours of intensive therapy and top-up workshops. In addition, they can perform in a show attended by their friends and families.

As part of the research surrounding the Breathe initiative, 12 hemiplegic children completed a questionnaire-based measure of hopefulness (HOPE scale) both before and after learning to perform magic tricks. The results showed a large, but non-significant, increase in hopefulness (p = 0.06, 2-tailed), and comments from parents reflected themes of empowerment and improved confidence.

Semi-structured interviews (SSI), one of the essential tools in conduction qualitative research, was conducted with 29 parents of hemiplegic children who had undertaken the Breathe initiative. Three main benefits emerged: "It’s okay to be me" (parents believing that their children experienced a strong sense of inclusion and insight), "the magic effect" (valuing the novelty and challenge of performing magic tricks), and "I can do it" (increased self-belief and a willingness to attempt challenging tasks). Overall, many parents believed that their children had gained a feeling of mastery, which had then helped them to develop a more autonomous approach to daily activities.

In the late 1980s, therapist Sadie Broome developed The Magic Kids program for students with behavioral and emotional disorders. Broome offered guidelines for making a magic-based intervention effective within a school-based setting, and provided a detailed description of the tricks and illusions used during the show.

In South Africa, The College of Magic was created by David Gore in 1980, and provides a wide range of magic-based training courses for children. The college aims to create a positive and caring environment that helps children to build a range of life skills, along with eight specific Star Qualities - honesty, respect, responsibility, initiative, excellence, empathy, humility and wonder.

Along the same line, magician Michael Ammar launched his Discover Magic initiative in which children are taught tricks designed to develop eight traits including self confidence, creativity, preparation, communication skills, and resilience.

Sui & Sui, a publisher of scholarly articles, describe a two-year project that involved delivering aspects of the Healing Is Magic program within a social services organization in Hong Kong. Thirty staff taught magic to patients diagnosed with a range of serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and depression. Forty patients completed the "Purdue Pegboard" - a standard test of manual dexterity and bimanual coordination - before and after participating in the magic-based intervention. The patients showed significant improvements both in the use of their left and right hands, and in their ability to use both hands together.

That study also examined whether a magic-based intervention improved patients’ psychological well being. Forty patients completed questionnaires designed to measure their happiness and general satisfaction (Personal Wellbeing Index) and self-confidence (Chinese General Self-Efficacy Scale). The researchers report significant increases on the Personal Wellbeing Index and on just one item of the General Self-efficacy Scale (the capability to identify multiple solutions to a problem). Patients indicated that their cognitive skills - including memory, concentration and ability to think rationally- had improved, and that the intervention boosted their confidence and acted as a catalyst for conversation. Interestingly, the researchers also noted that the patients became more presentable during performance.

Another study examined whether a magic-based intervention might boost the self-esteem and positive behavior of severely emotionally disturbed children. Nine participants, aged between 6 and 18, were taught magic tricks during six, one-hour, weekly sessions. Six children completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale pre- and post the intervention. Although the authors do not provide statistical data, they report that the children’s scores increased on 8 of the 10 scale items. The group also displayed several behavioral improvements, including a decrease in "boundary violations" (mean of 20 violations per child to 7 per child), and "time-outs: (mean of 13.67–5.17 per child).

Finally, a magic-based intervention created by the MagicAid initiative helped reduce the psychological discomfort and anxiety of pediatric patients and their caregivers during hospitalization. Medical students at Stony Brook Children’s hospital in Stony Brook, New York were taught magic tricks, and then taught these tricks to patients aged 5–16 years. 101 patient-caregiver pairs were randomly assigned to receive either magic therapy or "standard services" (which included pet therapy, art therapy and music therapy), and self-report anxiety levels were taken pre and post intervention (Facial Image Scale, Venham Picture Test and Short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory). Compared to participants who received the "standard services", those in the magic-based intervention were significantly less anxious on post-test measures.

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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

THE LOST ART OF JINGLE WRITING is the Library of American Broadcasting's latest exhibit celebrating the history of advertising jingles, based on the Radio Advertising Bureau's collection.

The Lost Art of Jingle Writing tells the history of jingles, from the 1926 debut through the modern era.

Included in the LAB/RAB collection are jingles such as the memorable Alka Seltzer spot "Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, oh what a relief it is!", sung by Speedy; Coca-Cola’s "I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing," and Oscar Meyer’s "Oh I Wish I Were An Oscar Mayer Wiener."

Advertising jingles are believed to have started in 1926, when a barbershop quartet in Minneapolis was hired to perform a Wheaties breakfast commercial.

It wasn’t until 1939 that a catchy jingle began airing nationwide on a growing number of commercial radio stations that became emblematic of radio’s brand-growth potential through song. A Pepsi Cola ad — "Pepsi Cola Hits the Spot" - made its debut. It was created by the Newell-Emmett advertising agency and composed by Alan Kent and Austin Croom-Johnson. And, it was a hit, remembered across generations.

Miles Laboratories introduced Alka-Seltzer over 80 years ago. The Alka-Seltzer slogan "Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz" doubled sales and led to the jingle.

The collection includes jingles crafted from composer giants in the advertising world, including Steve Karmen, Richard Trentlage, Thomas Dawes, Bill Backer and Ellie Greenwich.

The library is housed on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. It is the preeminent repository for the preservation and dissemination of the 100-year history of U.S. broadcasting. The LAB is a national information resource serving radio and television industries and academic communities. The LAB is the nation's most extensive collection of broadcast history, policy and tradition, including historic documents, professional papers, oral and video histories, books, scripts and photographs. The Library of American Broadcasting partners with the University of Maryland Libraries to care for and provide access to the collection.

LUCIAN FREUD: THE PAINTER AND HIS FAMILY

Lucian (left) with his father Ernst Freud and brothers Clement and Stephen Gabriel, c. 1930. © The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2022 / Bridgeman Images. Collection of the Freud Museum London

In the centenary year of British painter Lucian Freud (1922-2011), the Freud Museum in London will stage its first ever exhibition of the great artist’s work.

Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family is the first exhibition of Lucian Freud’s work in the home of his grandfather, Sigmund Freud, and aunt, Anna Freud.

The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings, family photographs, books and letters. These works are drawn from galleries and private collections, the Museum’s archives and members of Lucian Freud’s family. Some of the items have never, or very rarely, been seen in public before.

Lucian Freud’s impact and influence on cultural history is undeniable. Like his grandfather, Sigmund, who revolutionized the way we understand the mind, Lucian affected the history of 20th century art. Migrating from surrealism to realism and often using family and friends as his subjects, Lucian’s work’s evolved over a 60-year career.

Lucian Freud Palm Tree Palm Tree (1944) by Lucian Freud, gifted to his aunt Anna. © The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2022 / Bridgeman Images. Collection of the Freud Museum London The exhibition will explore Lucian Freud’s childhood, family and friends. It will celebrate some lesser known aspects of his life. These include his love of reading and lifelong fascination with horses, as well as his relationships with the former occupants of 20 Maresfield Gardens. Alongside Lucian Freud’s paintings and drawings, the exhibition will include illustrated childhood letters, books he owned and book covers he designed. His sole surviving sculpture, Three-legged Horse (1937) and early painting, Palm Tree (1944), will also be displayed.

Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family is curated by Martin Gayford, art critic for The Spectator and the author of acclaimed books on Lucian Freud, Van Gogh, Constable, David Hockney and Michelangelo.

In 2003-2005, Freud painted Martin Gayford’s portrait. His subsequent wrote a book about the experience of sitting for Freud, Man with a Blue Scarf: on Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud (Thames and Hudson, 2010). Martin is currently editing Lucian Freud’s letters for a book to be published by Thames and Hudson in 2022.

Exhibition opens July 6, 2022 at th Freud Museum in London.

ROOTS a sculptural installation of seven American Sweetgum trees, painted and presented with the root systems intact and upside down to a surreal and dystopic effect.

Sweetgum trees, indigenous to the eastern United States and the region that eventually became Times Square, are known for their impressive root systems that require vast open spaces to grow.

Images of trees have figured prominently in Gaines’s practice since the mid-1970s, when he first began plotting their forms through a system of color-coded, numbered grids - Roots marks both a continuation of his decade’s long investigation, and Gaines’s first foray into working with trees directly in their natural, three-dimensional form.

July 13 – September 23, 2022 Duffy Square, Broadway & 46th St in New York City.

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SWEET CHARITY

BROADWAY BARKS brings a host of adorable tail waggers to Shubert Alley in New York City on July 9, 2022. The four footers are all looking for somebody to love. That could be you.

Co-Founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, this year's event is hosted by Peters and co-host Tony winner Sutton Foster.

This is Broadway Barks' first event in three years - so show up and adopt a new member of your household - the one who will offer unconditional love.

Broadway Barks is a free, star-studded dog and cat adoption event, created in 1999 benefiting New York City animal shelters and rescue groups. The annual event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, with festivities and celebrity presentations of wonderful pets for adoption.

Broadway Barks features Broadway celebrities who use their star power to help find loving homes for animals in need from 25 participating NYC area shelters.

Funds are raised from a raffle, signed memorabilia sales, and donations from supporters, and are distributed to the participating shelters and rescue groups. The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals manages the participation of the more than 25 rescue organizations - many of which are Alliance Participating Organizations - that show animals for adoption at Broadway Barks.

Festivities begin at 3pm with a meet-and-greet with all of the adoptable pets. followed by celebrity presentations of the adoptees from 5-6:30pm.

Broadway Barks is free and open to the public.

Over the past 23 years, more than 2,000 cats and dogs have stolen Broadway’s spotlight and the hearts of all who come to the event. Approximately 85% of these furry friends have successfully found forever homes.

According to the ASPCA approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized - 390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats. The word euthanized means killed.

Celebrity participants lending their support include:
Shoshana Bean (Mr. Saturday Night)
Jewelle Blackman (Hadestown)
Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice: The Musical)
Kerry Butler (Beetlejuice: The Musical)
Bobby Conte (Company)
John Dossett (Paradise Square)
Claybourne Elder (Company)
Myles Frost (MJ)
Jared Goldsmith (Dear Evan Hansen)
Randy Graff (Mr. Saturday Night)
Tamar Greene (Hamilton)
Shuler Hensley (The Music Man)
Antwayn Hopper (A Strange Loop)
Jayne Houdyshell (The Music Man)
Hugh Jackman (The Music Man)
James Jackson Jr. (A Strange Loop)
Jane Lynch (Funny Girl)
Jefferson Mays (The Music Man)
Marie Mullen (The Music Man)
Abby Mueller (Six)
Donna Murphy
Suzy Nakamura (POTUS)
Randy Rainbow
Christopher Sieber (Company)
Jennifer Simard (Company)
Talia Suskauer (Wicked)
Jason Veasey (A Strange Loop)
Julie White (POTUS)

GIBSON GIVES has announced a rare lot of six autographed, high-profile, limited-edition guitars from Gibson artists are now up for auction via Charity Buzz through July 6. The Gibson Gives auction only features rare and collectible limited-edition guitars that are autographed by the artists including Angus Young (AC/DC), Joe Perry and all of AEROSMITH, Darius Rucker, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Robin Zander and Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Don Felder (Eagles), Slash, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest) and more. Each guitar in the Gibson Gives auction includes a certificate of authenticity, and comes straight from the source.

Gibson Gives is the iconic American instrument brand’s purpose-driven philanthropic arm The mission of Gibson Gives is to create, develop and support non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused education, music, and wellness initiatives. In the last three years, Gibson Gives--a 501(c)(3) organization--has raised over $3.5 million dollars worldwide through its mission.

All donations raised will go to Gibson Gives, in addition to the National Museum of African American Music’s music education fund. Bidding on the Gibson Gives auction has started now, and will officially close on Wednesday, July 6 at 3:00pm ET.

SPREADING THE WORD

CHELSEA HANDLER held her own against network talk show heavy weights, NBC'S Stephen Colbert and CBS' Jimmy Fallon as guest hosting a week for ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Kimmel is on summer break. Handler is bright, opinionated, courageous, current and profane. Somehow her propensity for strong vulgarity, which does keep the sensor's buzzer busy, doesn't seem crude as much as it serves as proper punctuation for her tirade on what's happening.

Congratulations to her for being election to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

JAMES CORDEN'S late-late night talk shows, based for a week in London, were sensational.

STATE THEATRE NEW JERSEY has announced its Green Room has been named the "Beasley Media Group Green Room" as part of the theater’s Next Stage Campaign. This naming commemorates Beasley Media Group’s commitment to the arts community and longtime support of State Theatre New Jersey, which is currently celebrating its 100th Anniversary Season.

The green room is traditionally a lounge space in theaters for artists to relax before, during, and after their performances, as well as greet guests.

Beasley Media Group (BMG), LLC, a subsidiary of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc., is a multiplatform media company providing advertising and digital marketing solutions across the United States. The company owns 61radio properties located in large and medium markets across the country, as well as offers capabilities in audio technology, esports, podcasting, ecommerce, and events. BMG’s platforms reach more than 20 million consumers on a weekly basis.

WYNTON MARSALIS performs Sunday, July 10, at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT. Patrons may father in the lobby before the show for a complimentary wine tasting and art exhibit by Chris Osborne featuring paintings inspired by cultural icons from the music, film and automotive worlds.

CIRCUS CIRCUS resort in Las Vegas is adding $5 coin slot machines.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

TIC TOK which reports a billion users every month, is being scrutinized.

Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission has expressing concerns about the platform, citing reports that claim the service provides user data to China. The leader of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission urged Apple and Google to remove TikTok from app stores over China-related data security concerns.

Carr shared a letter via Twitter on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, addressed to Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet Inc. (the parent company of Google) asking them to remove TikTok from their app stores for its “pattern of surreptitious data practices”

The commissioner said he believed that “TikTok’s pattern of conduct and misrepresentations regarding the unfettered access that persons in Beijing have to sensitive U.S. user data," violated Apple’s and Google’s standards "TikTok is not what it appears to be on the surface,” reads the letter. “It is not just an app for sharing funny videos or memes. That’s the sheep’s clothing. At its core, TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data."

"Tiktok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance - an organization that is beholden to the Communist Party of China and required by Chinese Law to comply with PRC’s surveillance demands," reads the letter, dated June 24, 2022.

Carr has asked Alphabet and Apple to respond to his request to remove Tiktok from their app stores by July 8, 2022.

SONGWRITERS CHANGE FEES IN RESPONSE TO STREAMING In an effort to counteract the reality that artists and labels receive the majority of money paid out by digital streaming platforms, songwriters and their management companies are showing their backbones, by devising new ways to get paid. Instead of praying for back-end royalties, songwriter/ managers are increasingly asking for payments throughout the writing and recording process: fees that can include upfront money to enter the studio with an artist; holding fees to reserve tracks for a set period; a kill fee if, for example, a label doesn’t push a single to radio; and, in some cases, a percentage of royalties generated by the recording, which songwriters traditionally have not been granted.

Collectively, these fees can add up to anywhere from a few hundred dollars to the high five figures for in-demand writers, according to articles in Billboard and the NAB Smart Brief.

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THE DIANA AWARD named after the late Princess of Wales is the only charity which carried the name of the mother of the Princes William and Harry - both of whom support the award.

The Diana Award honors young people who work to improve the lives of others. Named after Diana, Princess of Wales, the award was established in 1999 by a board chaired by Gordon Brown. The Award is the most prestigious accolade a young person aged 9-25 can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.

The award ceremony took place virtually on Friday, July 1, 2022 and honored 180 change makers and young philanthropists from 29 countries - including more than 20 winners from the U.S.

The charity said the "exceptional young people" being recognized have demonstrated their ability to mobilize their generation "through campaigning, volunteering, fundraising, fighting injustice or overcoming extreme life challenges." What they have in common is that "they are changing their communities and the world."

Prince William penned a letter on his official stationary and posted it on line.

"Congratulations on receiving The Diana Award today! You are part of an inspirational generation of young people who are changing the world through your actions, and I hugely admire your efforts," he wrote.

"I hugely admire your efforts. Your stories are remarkable. Many of you face huge challenges in the face of difficult times, yet you are tirelessly breaking down barriers to create a better future for us all," he continued.

"You truly are the personification of my mother's legacy and I know she would be so proud of you all. I believe there's no better way to celebrate her life and work than through recognizing incredible people who dedicate so much time and effort to helping those around them."

Prince Harry appeared at the ceremony via video saying, in part: “Today, we're reflecting on what would have been my mother's 61st birthday and this year is also 25 years since her passing.

"There isn't a day during the past two and a half decades where I haven't thought about the mark she left, not only on me and my brother but on all of our lives. I see her legacy in all of you, I see her legacy in a Diana Award community that spans multiple generations.

"I see her legacy every time I meet with families, young people and children from all corners of the world. And I see my mum's legacy when I look at my own children every single day.

"This is a special year, and one where I hope we take extra time, to not just remember how she lived but to reflect on the life she continues to lead through so many, including the young change-makers with us today.

"My mother instilled in me, and in all of us, the drive to speak up and fight for a better world and now as a husband and a parent my mother’s voice is even stronger in my life.

"All of you have kept her voice alive, by showing the world how each small action counts, how kindness is still valued and how our world can be better if we chose to make it so.”

There are more than 20 recipients of the Diana Award from the United States this year. They are: Zikora Akanegbu, 17, from Ellicott City, MD -- for GenZHER; Iqra Bisma, 18 -- Speak To Lead International; Alexandria Brady-Miné, 22, Tampa, Florida -- The Human Projects; Calvin (Hwa Lang) Cho, 17, Irvine, CA. -- The Orange Country Student Review; Brielle Diaz Withers, 16, Cornwall, NY -- Be A Friend Project; Elizabeth Carson Eckhard, 23, Philadelphia and Washington DC -- The Liberation Foundation; Aayush Goel, 16, Cupertina California -- Apart But Not Alone; Mahi Gupta, 16, Wharton, New Jersey -- World Exploration; Isabella Hanson, 16, Chadds Ford, PA -- "I Matter"; Karly Hou, 20, Palo Alto, CA -- Wave Learning Festival; Shraman Kar, 15, Louisville, KY -- Community AI; Sikander (Sonny) Khan, 23, Jackson, MI – Paani; Jean Lin, 16, Camas, WA -- Leaders Across the World; Nam Nguyen, 25, Chicago, MI -- MeditationOrb and Crisis Counsellor; Phuc (James) Nguyen, 17, Santa Ana, CA – Fita; Arsh Pal, 19, Dubuque/Iowa -- Healing through art; Shreya Patel, 16, Boston, MA – Letters Against Isolation; Priya Patel, Edison, NJ – Peer Responders; Dipro Prattoy, Ann Arbor, MI. Kanto Raveloson, San Francisco, CA; Gabrielle Roberts, 25, Hinsdale, Illinois – Code Your Chances; Rafa Sattar, 24, New York City, NY – Fera Foundation Inc; and Olivia Zhang, 16, McLean, VA --Cancer Kids First.



KINKY BOOTS Tony-winning music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein,

Direction and Tony-winning choreography by original director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

The conductor and musical director is two-time Tony and Grammy winner Stephen Oremus, the original music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator of Kinky Boots, for which he won the Tony for Best Orchestrations. Kinky Boots also won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

Featuring Wayne Brady in the role of Lola, Jake Shears as Charlie, and Kelly Marie Tran as Lauren.

With Mark Ballas as “Harry”, Marissa Jaret Winokur as “Pat”, Hayley Orrantia as “Nicola”, Drew Seeley, Jim J. Bullock as “George”, Daniel Stewart Sherman as “Don”, Jennifer Perry as “Trish”, Patrick Scott McDermott as “Young Charlie”, and Walter Russell III as “Young Lola”.

Kinky Boots, inspired by a true story, tells the story of an unlikely friendship built around some very unlikely shoes. Factory owner Charlie is struggling to save his business, and the fabulous Lola has a wildly exciting idea that just might do the trick. Kinky Boots is the huge-hearted story of two people with nothing in common—or so they think.

Kinky Boots will be performed three times at the Hollywood Bowl this summer: Friday, July 8, Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, 2022.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT the Pulitzer Prize-Winning family epic by Eugene O'Neill.

Directed by Shane Bosher.

Regarded as a masterpiece of 20th-century American playwriting, Long Day’s Journey into Night is a deeply moving and poetic portrait of the irresistible pull of family's love, and the bruises left behind - and a family’s capacity to heal.

A powerhouse company of New Zealand artists is led by Theresa Healey and Stephen Lovatt with Simon Leary and Jarod Rawiri.

The creatives include: Dramaturg Allison Horsley, Set Designer John Verryt, Costume Designer Elizabeth Whiting, Lighting Designer Sean Lynch, and Performance Coach Miranda Harcourt.

In the round July 5-30, 2022 at the Q Theatre, Auckland Theatre Company, in New Zealand.

HEART written by and starring British performer and poet Jade Anouka.

Directed by Ola Ince.

Heart, a truly poetic and life-affirming new play, explores the maxim that "Every new story begins as another one ends." Heart introduces us to a woman, shaken by a broken relationship, who finds herself discovering love in the last place—and with the last person - she ever expected. With her sexuality awakened to a new truth, she battles her own and society’s expectations of what love looks like. This world premiere production—dedicated to the misfits and "others" - takes the listeners on a powerful and relatable journey, one that challenges the ‘norms’ society presents us with and celebrates the freedom found in following your heart.

The production features scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design & additional original music by Fitz Patton, movement by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, and original music by Renell Shaw. Brian Bogin is the production stage manager. Technical supervision is by Hudson Theatrical Associates with general management by Baseline Theatrical's Andy Jones and Jonathan Whitton.

Heart begins performances on Saturday, July 9 with an official opening on Sunday, July 17 at the Minetta Lane Theatre , through Sunday, August 14.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM written by William Shakespeare and set in the Antebellum South.

Directed and Choreographed by James Fowler.

Starring Devon Armstrong; Malik Bailey; Bryan Bertone; Sandra Kate Burck; Phillip C. Curry; Erica Mae Mcneal; Heather Mitchell; Nick Mizrahi; Anna-Laurie Rives; Debba Rofheart; Ash Saunders; Michael A. Shepperd; Monazia Smith; Azeem Vecchio; Alexander Wells; Ann Marie Wilding; Dylan Wittrock.

Intrigued by the Mechanicals’ line “That would hang us every mother’s son,” director James Fowler has moved the action from Athens, Greece to Athens, Georgia circa 1855. There, with Shakespeare’s text unchanged, we enter a world where the magic of an enslaved people plays out in the lives of those to whom they remain invisible.

The fairies are played by Phillip C. Curry as Oberon, Ash Saunders as Titania and Monazia Smith as Puck, while the mechanicals are headed up by Michael A. Shepperd as Bottom and Debba Rofheart as Peter Quince. As part of Fowler’s vision, the remaining fairies and mechanicals are doubled, with Malik Bailey as Mustardseed and Flute; Syanne Green as Peaseblossom and Starvling; Erica Mae Mcneal as Cobweb and Snout; and Azeem Vecchio as Moth and Snug. The White “landowners” include Bryan Bertone as Theseus, Heather Mitchell as Hippolyta and Alexander Wells as Egeus, while the four lovers are played by Sandra Kate Burck as Hermia; Dylan Wittrock as Lysander; Anna-Laurie Rives and Ann Marie Wilding alternating as Helena; and Devon Armstrong and Nick Mizrahi alternating as Demetrius.

The creative team includes scenic designer Jan Munroe, lighting designer Gavan Wyrick, sound designer Nayla Hull, costume designer Mylette Nora, prop masters Bruce Dickinson and Ina Shumaker, and assistant choreographer Faith Knapp. Amanda Weier is the production manager, and Carmella Jenkins associate produces. The production stage manager is Jennifer Palumbo.

Presented by Open Fist Theatre Company, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened last night and runs through August 13, at Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.

TAMBAKHIEH by comedian Tariq Al-Ali.

In the play, Al Ali plays the starring role of Bou Awwad, a sports club president who is also an opportunist and single-minded man using his position at the club to satisfy his endless ambitions. Nevertheless, when it comes to his own family, he has no interest whatsoever. "The rest of the story unfolds throughout this hilarious play, which is presented in the form of a satirical comedy."

July 11-12 at Dubai Opera in Dubai, UAE.

THE KITE RUNNER Adapted by Matthew Spangler and based on Khaled Hosseini’s internationally best-selling novel.

Directed by Giles Croft.

One of the best-loved and most highly acclaimed novels of our time, The Kite Runner is a haunting tale of friendship?spanning cultures and continents, that follows one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Afghanistan is a divided country on the verge of war and two childhood friends are about to be torn apart. It’s a beautiful afternoon in Kabul and the skies are full of the excitement and joy of a kite flying tournament. But neither of the boys can foresee the terrible incident which will shatter their lives forever.??

Leading the cast is Amir Arison as Amir and Faran Tahir as Baba. They will be joined by Mazin Akar, Barzin Akhavan, Demosthenes Chrysan, Azita Ghanizada, Danish Farooqui, Joe Joseph, Déa Julien, Dariush Kashani, Beejan Land, Amir Malaklou, Christine Mirzayan, Haris Pervaiz, Alex Purcell, Eric Sirakian, Houshang Touzie, and Evan Zes. Salar Nader plays the tabla, a percussion instrument.

The creative team is Barney George (Scenic and Costume Design), Charles Balfour (Lighting Design), Drew Baumohl (Sound Design), William Simpson (Projection Design), Jonathan Girling (Composer and Musical Supervisor), Kitty Winter (Movement Director), Laura Stanczyk (Casting Director), Humaira Ghilzai (Cultural Advisor & Script Consultant) and Damian Sandys (Associate Director).

Beginning preview performances at the Hayes Theater in New York City on Wednesday, July 6 and opens Thursday, July 21, 2022.

INTO THE WOODS features a book by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and a Tony Award winning score by Stephen Sondheim.

Directed by Lear deBessonet.

Choreographed by Lorin Latarro.

The cast features Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles as the Baker’s Wife, three-time Tony Award nominee Brian D’Arcy James as the Baker, Tony Award winner Patina Miller as the Witch, Tony Award nominee Phillipa Soo as Cinderella, Tony Award winner Gavin Creel as the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince, three-time Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry as Rapunzel’s Prince, Aymee Garcia as Jack’s Mother, Ta’Nika Gibson as Lucinda, Annie Golden as Cinderella’s Mother/Granny/Giant, Albert Guerzon as Cinderella’s Father, Brooke Ishibashi as Florinda, Kennedy Kanagawa as Milky White, David Patrick Kelly as the Narrator/Mysterious Man, Julia Lester as Little Red Ridinghood, Nancy Opel as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Cole Thompson as Jack, David Turner as the Steward, Alysia Velez as Rapunzel, and Delphi Borich, Felicia Curry, Jason Forbach, Alex Joseph Grayson, Paul Kreppel, Mary Kate Moore, Cameron Johnson, Diane Phelan, Lucia Spina rounding out the ensemble.

The production features scenic design by Tony Award winner David Rockwell, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, costume design by Andrea Hood, sound design by Tony winner Scott Lehrer & Alex Neumann, puppet design by James Ortiz, hair, wig & makeup design by Cookie Jordan, and music direction by Rob Berman.

Opening night at the St. James Theatre in New York Cirt is Sunday, July 10, 2022.

BETWEEN THE LINES based on the book by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer with a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, with music and lyrics by Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson.

Directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun.

Choreography by Paul McGill.

Featuring Arielle Jacobs, Jake David Smith, Vicki Lewis, Hillary Fisher, Will Burton, Jerusha Cavazos, John Rapson, Wren Rivera, Sean Stack, and Julia Murney.

"An empowering and enchanting new musical for anyone who has ever sought to find their place in the world. An outsider in a new town and a new school, Delilah seeks comfort in the pages of her favorite book, where she feels heard and understood by the handsome Prince Oliver. But as the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur in both extraordinary and astonishing ways, Delilah discovers how to find her place in the real world while keeping her dreams alive."

Off-Broadway at the Tony Kiser Theater in New York City.

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FINAL OVATION

LINDA KRAMER wife of Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer died June 22, 2022 She was 55.

Linda and Joey had been married for 13 years. The day before her death she posted a happy birthday message to her husband on his 72nd birthday.

The Twitter posting read:

Happy Birthday to the Love Of My LIFE !! You are the most amazing man with the biggest heart I know I Love U my sweet boy — Linda (@MrsKramedog) June 21, 2022.

Joey Kramer had recently announced he would not be joining his bandmates on their Deuces Are Wild residency in Las Vegas this summer.

Linda Kramer is survived by her husband, parents, three sisters, stepsiblings, and her stepson Jesse, as well as her two dogs, Lucy and Cosmo.

Next Column: July 10, 2022
Copyright: July 3, 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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