Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: July 9, 2023
By: Laura Deni
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NATO SUMMIT COULD LEARN FROM APRIL FOOLS DAY JOKE

The 2023 NATO Summit will be held in Vilnius the capitol of Lithuanian July 11-12. The meetings will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General. Lithuania is a member of the NATO alliance.

To say security will be tight is an understatement.

40 heads of state and up to 150 other high-ranking officials will attend the summit, all requiring personal protection. Additionally, thousands of foreign dignitaries, staff, and journalists will travel to Vilnius for the event. Police will implement strict security measures throughout the city in coming days to facilitate the gathering. Anti-war protests against the summit are likely for the duration of the event.

Authorities announced that Lithuania would impose identity checks on internal EU borders, thereby suspending the Schengen regulations for freedom of movement, The identity checks began July 7 and last through July 13, 2023.

To ensure the safety and security, Lithuania committed around 1,500 police officers, including the anti-terrorist unit ARAS and the Criminal Police Bureau, as well as over 3,000 troops of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Additionally, police officers from Latvia and Poland will aid security and around 1,000 troops from NATO states will join too, including the Polish Special Forces contingent to aid the Lithuanian Special Operations Force. Overall, up to 12,000 officers and soldiers will be present. In addition to security personnel, Spain is reported to have temporarily moved its NASAMS air defense system from its long-term position in Latvia to Vilnius, in addition to Lithuania's own NASAMS systems. Similarly, German Armed Forces have deployed their MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense system. NATO sent additional warships to the Baltic Sea. CBRN task force was also deployed.

Over the decades some world leaders have come across as an April Fool's Day joke. Ironically, an April Fool's Day joke has turned into a country - a country within a country. Those attending the NATO conference have an opportunity to see how it works. Picking up a few pointers might not be a bad idea.

It's Užupis, a tiny republic of free spirits.

What began as a tongue-in-cheek April Fools’ Day joke has evolved into one of the smallest republics in the world, with its own government, constitution and currency, the only currency in the world backed by beer. It even has a navy consisting of three or four small boats (used mainly for ceremonial purposes). Until recently, it also had an army of around 10 men, but they have all retired.

The republic of Užupis. Photo: Vilnius tourism.

Užupis transformed a crime ridden, run down, slum area full of brothels, and deserted industrial buildings into a tiny republic of artists, intellectuals and entrepreneurial free spirits, demonstrating how people of a variety of beliefs and backgrounds can live together and thrive.

Beautiful neighborhoods now boast artists’ studios lining narrow, picturesque streets alongside local-designer boutiques, hip cafes, and world famous eateries.

The Republic of Užupis covers less than 1 sq km (148 acres) with a populations around 7,000 inhabitants, 1000 of whom are artists.

In 1995, a group of local artists erected a statue of US rock icon Frank Zappa (although he had never been there) as a symbol of freedom and a call to democracy. In 1996, a group of students from the Vilnius Academy of Arts founded an art community in a house along the Vilnele River. on April 1, 1997, they went a step further, declaring their neighborhood of Užupis independent from the rest of Lithuania. Although Užupis is not recognized by foreign governments as an official nation, the micro-nation has become a source of pride in Vilnius and throughout Lithuania.

In 2002 the artists and the Municipality of Vilnius agreed to establish the Užupis Art Incubator together spawning constantly changing open-air sculptures and installations.

Meaning 'beyond the river' in Lithuanian, Užupis is separated from the rest of the city by the Vilnele River.

The Uzupis Bridge. Photo: Vilnius tourism

The republic celebrates its independence annually on April 1, known locally as Užupis Day. On this day, travelers can get their passports stamped as they cross the bridge into the republic (every other day, the border is not guarded), use the local (unofficial) currency and treat themselves to the beer that flows from the water spout in the main square.

Užupis’ Foreign Minister Tomas Cepaitis, one of the micro-nation’s founding fathers, has been quoted as explaining that the republic was born from Aristotle’s philosophy that any great city should have a limited number of inhabitants. "Everybody knows everybody, so it’s hard to cheat and hard to manipulate each other."

The republic’s flag boasts what’s known as the 'Holy Hand': a blue hand with a hole in the middle, making it unable to accept bribes.

Now a thriving creative community, there are regular fashion festivals, concerts, exhibitions and poetry evenings.

The self-proclaimed Republic of Užupis has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop, two churches, (besides one is a stylized statue of a backpacking Jesus) the Bernadine Cemetery, seven bridges, and guardian, the Bronze Angel of Užupis.

Angel of Užupis. Photo: Wikipedia.

Legend has it that the Dalai Lama suggested placing the Angel of Užupis in its current place on one of his visits to Vilnius. The guardian angel of Užupis was created by Zenonas Šteinis, an artist and active member of the community.

Užupis’ made the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen.

Then there is the Užupis Mermaid. Residents say that if you stare into the eyes of the Užupis Mermaid as you cross the bridge into the tiny, self-declared Republic of Užupis from the surrounding Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, you’ll never want to leave. Created in 2002 by sculptor Romas Vilciauskas, the bronze figure welcomes visitors to the tiny republic – and locals claim that it is she who lures them here from all over the globe.

Painted stores in Užupis. Photo: Vilnius tourism.

Cepaitis has told the press that he and his fellow co-founders wanted to create a place where people could disconnect from the distractions of modern life and reconnect with what’s important. "If you cross the bridge, you can become yourself. You don’t play any social role, you don’t belong to anyone, you belong to yourself. You can think about who you are and you can live without being part of that mad race that all of humanity is involved in."

Užupis' parliament house also functions as the local cafe/pub. Užupis' ambassador is an overweight ginger tabby cat that, when not engaged in diplomatic business, sleeps in the neighborhoods book shop.

A core group of about a dozen ministers oversees the running of the micro-nation, including a Minister of Soccer and a Minister of Frisbee.

The constitution was written by Romas Lileikis, poet, film-maker, and the President, and Thomas Chepaitis, a libbrettist and the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is a cat lover, while Lileikis is a dog man. Opposites getting along is the spine of Uzupis. It took them three hours one summer afternoon in 1998 to pen the constitution.

"We had just declared a republic, and then he [Lileikis] visited me (to take a bath) because he had no hot water, which is why there is a clause about hot water," Cepaitis has been quoted as explaining, referring to the second article of the constitution.

The constitution is displayed on several mirrored plaques which hang along the Avenue of Constitutions. Originally displayed in both Lithuanian and English, there are now 30 plaques in different languages, spelling out its 38 points in everything from Latin and Yiddish to Hebrew and Urdu.

The Latin plaque was blessed by the Pope himself during his visit to the Baltics.

The Užupis Constitution:

1. Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnele, and the River Vilnele has the right to flow by everyone.
2. Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
3. Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
4. Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
5. Everyone has the right to be unique.
6. Everyone has the right to love.
7. Everyone has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.
8. Everyone has the right to be undistinguished and unknown.
9. Everyone has the right to idle.
10. Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat
. 11. Everyone has the right to look after the dog until one of them dies.
12. A dog has the right to be a dog.
13. A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of need.
14. Sometimes everyone has the right to be unaware of their duties.
15. Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not an obligation.
16. Everyone has the right to be happy.
17. Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
18. Everyone has the right to be silent.
19. Everyone has the right to have faith.
20. No one has the right to violence.
21. Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance.
22. No one has the right to have a design on eternity.
23. Everyone has the right to understand.
24. Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
25. Everyone has the right to be of any nationality.
26. Everyone has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.
27. Everyone shall remember their name.
28. Everyone may share what they possess.
29. No one can share what they do not possess.
30. Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
31. Everyone may be independent.
32. Everyone is responsible for their freedom.
33. Everyone has the right to cry.
34. Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
35. No one has the right to make another person guilty.
36. Everyone has the right to be individual.
37. Everyone has the right to have no rights.
38. Everyone has the right to not to be afraid.

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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 LOO GARDENS

Loo Gardens. Photo: Tideway.

a fascinating, well thought out "publicity stunt" to bring attention to the new Thames river "super sewer" and the environmental benefits it will bring.

Located 50m underground, for a limited time, 20 people selected by lottery can crawl into a cage, be lifted into the air and then lowered 50metre underground and be dazzled by the sounds of chirping birds and the beauty and aroma of a sumptuous garden.

The Loo Gardens is a brand new art installation in the depths of London’s new "super sewer". The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a 25km sewer tunnel under construction, expected to be completed in 2025. Once completed, the super sewer - which stretches from east to west London parallel with the River Thames - will divert overflow rainwater and sewage from entering directly into the city’s famous river.

It sounds icky and it is: for decades London's Victorian-era sewers have permitted raw sewage to enter the River Thames after a heavy rain.

80 percent complete, the new sewer will stop 95% of sewage spills.

Tideway have said that the "ecological benefits will be significant for the hundreds of species of fish, birds, mammals and riverside flora that call the Thames home".

Instead of dumping sewage water into the Thames, the tunnel will transport the run off to plants where it can be refined back into potable water again.

To drum up positive interest and understanding Tideway created the Loo Gardens installation with charity Thames21 to highlight the ecological benefit of the tunnel.

Designed alongside creative production house Joy Collective with a soundscape composed by Rob Lewis, the Loo Gardens is an intense, irrational reality of a dream - a subterranean rainforest.

The Loo Gardens would make a theatrical set designer salivate.

Visitors are greeted by a gentle mist as they enter a pristine, perfectly reconstructed, professionally illuminated, mini-rainforest which even smells like grass and wetlands. Covering the entire circumference of the tunnel, foliage beckon visitors into a multi-sensory experience as welcoming trees take the spotlight.

Lewis’ bird soundscape work is chirping perfect.

The greenery has been designed by the same company that provides the flowers for shows like Bridgerton and The Crown.

Nestled among the fake, authentic flowers and plants are also hand-crafted flowers, created from recycled rubbish found in the river.

The purpose of the garden is to emphasize the environmental impact the Thames Tideway Tunnel will have when it opens. Greenery that was native to the Thames river bank will once again flourish.

Deborah Leach, CEO of Thames21, said: “Loo Gardens is a fantastic spectacle which celebrates the hugely important environmental impact that the Thames Tideway Tunnel will have on the River Thames. A clean River Thames is essential to wildlife, the local community and river users. Thames21 believes that plastic waste should have no place in our rivers or the natural environment and everybody has a role to tackle this critical environmental issue. Whilst the garden represents the regeneration possible in the future, we’re delighted that it has also played a part in cleaning up the river today by using repurposed waste collected by Thames21 citizen scientists from the riverbanks.”

To date, the Tideway project has seen the creation of more than 4,000 sustainable jobs and more than 150 apprenticeships.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW Through fashion, jewelry, and photography from the 18th century to today, Something Old, Something New: Wedding Fashions and Traditions explores the origins of wedding customs in the United States and offers insight into how they’ve endured over hundreds of years and countless shifts in culture, style, and social norms. Can the traditional “white wedding” be reinterpreted—should it be? How can these traditions be made more inclusive?

Equal parts celebration and interrogation, this newly opened exhibition looks at how traditional American wedding customs - from white silk dresses to diamond rings and wreaths of orange blossoms - fit into the beliefs and truths of the modern American family.

The exhibition features more than 20 objects from the MFA’s fashion collection, with everything from bridal dresses, shoes, and jewelry to undergarments and accessories. Additionally, a wall of fourteen photographs shows brides and grooms throughout the decades, from formal portraits taken by Cecil Beaton, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Edward Weston to candid snapshots by unidentified photographers. Fashion highlights include contemporary dresses designed by Arnold Scaasi - who iconized Barbra Streisand, designed for first lady Barbara Bush, and draped Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Rivers, and Barbara Walters - as well as by Quincy native Priscilla Comins Kidder, the owner of the legendary Priscilla of Boston bridal boutique who dressed Grace Kelly’s bridesmaids and Presidents Johnson’s and Nixon’s daughters for their weddings. These and other exquisite objects, from a gold wedding band made by Paul Revere to a turquoise-and-pearl brooch designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria’s bridesmaids on the occasion of their 1840 wedding, reveal the changes and trends surrounding marriage ceremonies in America.

On display through October 1, 2023 at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.

THE CORONATION OUTFITS

King Charles and Queen Camilla. Photo: The Royal Family.

worn by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at their historic May 6m 2023 ceremony at Westminster Abbey ,will go on display during Buckingham Palace's annual summer opening from July 14 to September 24 in the palace Ballroom.

The clothing will form the centerpiece of a special Coronation display, It will include both of Their Majesties’ Robes of Estate, worn for the procession from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace and their subsequent appearance on the balcony, as well as the Queen’s Coronation dress, designed by Bruce Oldfield.

Visitors will also be able to view the historic vestments worn by the King at the moment of crowning, including the Coronation Glove, Girdle and Stole Royal.

Other items of the monarch’s clothing will include the cream silk overshirt, worn throughout the service, and the purple coronation tunic, worn for departure from the Abbey, both created especially for the occasion.

The overshirt’s collar and cuffs feature embroidered oak leaves and acorns, while the tunic is made of purple satin and trimmed with gold artillery lace. The designs were inspired by similar items worn by King George V and King George VI at their coronations.

Shown alongside these will be the King’s Royal Naval trousers, which are regularly worn by His Majesty as part of his Royal Navy full ceremonial uniform.

The King’s Robe of Estate was worn by his grandfather, George VI for his Coronation in 1937. Made of purple silk velvet with gold lace, it was conserved by the robemakers Ede and Ravenscroft for the occasion.

The Queen’s ivory Peau de Soie silk dress features the first names of her children, Tom (Parker Bowles) and Laura (Lopes), along with those of her grandchildren, Gus, Freddy, Louis, Eliza and Lola.

Her beloved Jack Russell terriers, Beth and Bluebell, who were rehomed from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2017, were also embroidered into the dress, their distinctive profiles rendered in gold thread.

The dress is also covered with swathes of embroidered wildflowers including daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel, representing the King and Queen’s shared affection for nature and the British countryside.

The Queen’s rich purple Robe of Estate was made especially for the occasion and designed to match the King’s. It is embroidered in goldwork threads and intricately decorated with bees, a beetle and a host of flowers, drawing on the themes of nature and the environment - a first for a coronation robe.

The robe pays tribute to her husband by incorporating delphiniums - one of his favorite flowers - which are also Camilla's birth month flower. In memory of Elizabeth II, it includes the late Queen's favorite bloom, lily of the valley, which Camilla also included in her wedding bouquet.

The Queen wore the garment, which also includes her cypher, after her crowning for the departure from Westminster Abbey. It was hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework, of which Camilla is patron.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach, used by the King and Queen to travel from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey, will also be on display at the palace’s state entrance.

Built in Australia and first used in 2014, the three-ton, 18-ft-long coach boasts hydraulic suspension, a heating system, lighting, electric windows and air conditioning.

Crucially, it also celebrates hundreds of years of British history, with pieces of Henry VIII's warship the Mary Rose, Sir Issac Newton's apple tree and Hut Six at codebreaking centre Bletchley Park among the many artefacts incorporated into the bodywork.

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SWEET CHARITY

STEPPENWOLF GUIDE DOG DAY takes place on Sunday, July 16 This first ever Guide Dog Day event for Chicago's Steppenwolf coincides with their preshow touch tour and audio-described performance, which are especially helpful for anyone who is Blind or has low vision.

Don't have a guide dog but want to learn more?

Guide Dogs for the Blind will have an informational table set up in the lobby. Touch tour begins at 1:00pm for a 2:30pm show. Come connect with the guide dog community and enjoy some live theatre!

SPREADING THE WORD

COUTURE MEETS COMET: NICOL & FORD ARE COSTUME DESIGNERS the Darlinghurst Theatre Company in New South Wales, Australia is collaborating with demi-couture designers Nicol & Ford to create a stunning collection of costumes for their Australian premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. The talented designers Katie-Louise and Lil Nicol-Ford have recently had their work acquired by the Powerhouse Museum, and Darlinghurst is excited to work with them to bring the fashion and theatre worlds together and showcase our aligned values of embedding inclusivity, innovation, diversity and creativity.

“We were thrilled to be approached by Darlinghurst Theatre Company for this project, contributing to their work challenging expectations of contemporary theatre and breaking down barriers in the creative industries to work with new and innovative interdisciplinary designers.”- Nicol & Ford

The production follows the Thursday, May 18, runway presentation of Nicol & Ford’s highly-acclaimed Comet at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) at Carriageworks. While the stage costumes are embedded in the same world of design, all pieces will be produced with each character’s persona taken into consideration.

"The collaboration with demi-couture fashion designers, Nicol & Ford, opens up an exciting possibility to create a visual spectacle of costuming that transcends the traditional boundaries of theatre for this bold new production." - Amylia Harris, DTC Artistic Director

It takes many hands to make magic, and these humans are also supported by the legends Hannah Palmer (Microphone Technician), Benjamin Kiehne (Deputy Musical Director), Sam Ducker (Sound Operator), Lyndon Buckley (Lighting Programmer), Cessalee Stovall (Access, Equity & Inclusion Officer) and DTC powerhouse producers Kaleigh DWS Giles and Sonia Dodd . And Kenney Designs (Graphic Designer) making everything look great!

Experience fashion and theatre colliding with Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 currently in previews at Darlinghurst Theatre Company, playing until August 20, 2023.

BACKSTAGE BILLY a new play penned by Marcelo Dos Santos, about the late Queen Mother's best friend and scandalizer will star Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans. Directed by Michae Grandage, the play follows the relationship between the Queen Mother (Wilton) and her loyal manservant, the titular Billy (Evans), during the 1979 tumult in the UK.

The comedy has set and co-costume design by Christopher Oram, co-costume design by Tom Ran, lighting design by Ryan Day, music and sound design by Adam Cork, wigs, hair and make-up design by Carole Hancock, casting by Jacob Sparrow, associate direction by Sophie Drake and costume supervision by Mary Charlton.

The production is set in 1979 against the backdrop of civil unrest in Britain. Tallon, a shopkeeper's son from Coventry, spent half a century as the Queen Mother's steward. Having served for two years in the RAF for his National Service, he joined the Queen Mother's household at Clarence House. He was given the use of Gate Lodge, a cottage attached to his boss's home. All the furnishings, decorations and most of the pictures hanging on the walls came from the Queen Mother's collection.

But, as author Tom Quinn's biography of the aide revealed, Tallon's powerful sex drive ensured that he made many enemies. When the Queen Mother was away, he would allegedly invite two or three men back at a time.

In several published reports, one contemporary, who worked with Tallon at Clarence House, recalled: "Billy was two completely different people. He was calm and almost rigidly decorous during the day, but at night he had only one aim: to have sex with as many men as possible. The truth is that Billy's only real interest outside his work was sex."

At the Queen Mother's lunch parties, Tallon would ensure that everyone had an alcoholic drink, and would even pour wine through a guest's fingers if they tried to cover up their glass. Once guests had left, Tallon would ridicule or mock them to make the Queen Mother laugh.

His friend Noel Kelly recalled to the press: "We all thought it. He was the only person in the household who seemed to her to be in touch with the bawdy, funny, irreverent world outside the horribly closed-up, serious world of the Royals. He also stood up to her now and then, as no one else ever did, and he reminded her of the fun and gaiety of the 1920s, which is where she really lived."

Tallon himself recalled how the Queen Mother's love of dancing meant he would often be 'drafted in'. He said how dancing, "was above all things the pastime she pursued with a real passion, and as she had few partners who were deemed suitable, I was often drafted in."

However, Tallon relied on the Queen Mother for his job security, and so when her mind began to fail in her final decade, he was no longer safe.

The Daily Mail's coverage of how Tallon fell foul of the royal household began after being seen wheeling Princess Margaret in a wheelchair at the Queen Mother's 101st birthday She was seen wearing dark glasses with her arm in a sling. The shocking photo is said to have also affected his close relationship with the Queen Mother.

He was later barred from her personal quarters and thrown out of his grace and favour home. When she died aged 101 in 2002, no member of the Royal Household told him of her passing and he was instead told by a journalist.

After suffering liver failure, Tallon himself was found dead at his ground-floor Kennington flat in 2007.

Backstage Billy opens in the West End this autumn.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL at the Zilker Theatre in Dripping Springs, Texas runs through August 12, 2023.

Kids are invited down to the stage every Saturday at 7:00 PM for a pre-show Dance Party! Join the Matilda cast to learn some choreography from one of the show's big dance numbers! There is also Matilda's Book Club. It's not too late to register for Matilda Book Club, presented in partnership with Austin Allies and BookPeople! Meet at the BookKids Amphitheater on Saturday, July 15 to discuss Matilda by Roald Dahl, plus a Meet & Greet with some of the Matilda cast members. Students are encouraged to read the book before the meeting.

ASL interpreted performances take place July 29 and August 4.

AN EVENING WITH NORM LEWIS part of Midsummer MusicFest, a new annual festival debuting this year in celebration of 92NY’s 150th anniversary. Envisioned as an annual summer event inspired by a musical genre that has made a significant impact on 92NY’s programming, the festival launches this year with three weeks focusing on jazz and its far-reaching influence.

The festival’s opening concert with Tony, Emmy, and Grammy nominee Lewis is on Tuesday, July 11, spotlighting jazz and the American Songbook. Midsummer MusicFest runs from July 11-27 and includes jazz vocalist Veronica Swift and tap-and-swing dance sensation Caleb Teicher in their first-ever collaboration, 92NY’s signature Jazz in July festival led by artistic director Bill Charlap, and featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, John Scofield, Nicholas Payton, Vijay Iyer, John Pizzarelli, Renee Rosnes, Aaron Diehl, Nicole Glover, & More.

July 11 – 27 at 92nd Street Y, New York City.

GRAHAM NORTON will host Wheel of Fortune as it returns to to UK television where it aired from 1998 to 2001. The spin the wheel game show will be back on ITV1 and ITVX in 2024.

"I’m beyond excited to be bringing such an iconic American show to a new British audience" Norton said in a statement.

Wheel; will return for an eight episode run, plus two celebrity specials.

ELENA SKYE has been cast as Twiggy in the newproductions Twiggy The Musical written and directed by Ben Elton.

Performances begin September 18 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.

THE REMAINING EXOTIC CATS FROM SIEGFRIED & ROY'S The Secret Garden at The Mirage Resort in Las Vegas have been relocated to sanctuaries.

The Mirage announced that two sanctuaries — WildCat Ridge Sanctuary in Scotts Mills, Oregon, and In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, Texas — have agrees to provide forever homes for approximately a dozen big cats The sanctuaries were selected due to their "deep experience" in providing long-term care for exotic cats, along with their "experienced animal care teams and excellent facilities," according to a release from The Mirage.

THE CAST OF GUYS AND DOLLS at the Bridge Theatre in London welcomes Owain Arthur to the cast in the role of Nathan Detroit.

His first performance will be on July 17m 2023, replacing Daniel Mays, who will return to the role on October 16, 2023.

Owain Arthur continues his collaboration with Director Nicholas Hytner, having previously performed in the West End run and international tour of One Man, Two Guvnors, leading the cast as Francis Henshall, and The History Boys at the National Theatre.

THE SWEDISH CITY OF MALMO has been selected to host next year’s 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Swedish broadcaster SVT will stage the show after the country’s singing representative, Loreen, won this year’s competition in Liverpool, UK, with the song Tattoo'. She became the first woman to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice and her win meant that Sweden now equals Ireland’s record of 7 wins in total.

Malmö will become the third city to host the world’s largest music event a total of three times. The Swedish capital Stockholm and neighboring Copenhagen have also hosted three times to date. Only London, Luxembourg City and Dublin have hosted more contests.

THE SCOTTISH CORONATION OF KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA took place last Wednesday at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. At the personal request of King Charles, Scottish broadcaster, Gaelic singer, step dancer and educator Joy Dunlop performed a song in the Scottish heritage language as part of the ceremony. Also, the works of Robert Burns were featured as well which means both Scottish Gaelic and Scots Leid (two of Scotland’s native languages) were used.

The soloists featured during the service:

Aaron Azunda Akugbo – Trumpet
Laura Ayoub – Violin
Sarah Ayoub – Piano
Nicola Benedetti – Violin
Karen Cargill – Mezzo soprano
Jordan English – Organ
Ryan Corbett – Accordion
Joy Dunlop – Voice
Robert Lovie – Voice
Michael Harris – Conductor at St Giles’ Cathedral
Mark Evans - Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Scotland
Michael Bawtree – Conductor of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Squadron Leader Richard A Murray – Director of Music (RAF)

The ensembles performing during the service are:

National Youth Choir of Scotland Chamber Choir
The Choir of St Giles’ Cathedral
The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry
Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Royal Air Force College
Joining these ensembles are a specially formed group, named The Honours of Scotland Ensemble. The ensemble is made up of musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, representing King Charles III’s three Scottish patronages.

The musicians representing the Scottish Chamber Orchestra are director Stephanie Gonley, Michelle Dierx, Marcus Barcham Stevens, Felix Tanner, Steve King, Niamh Molloy, Adrian Bornet and Eleanor Hudson. Completing the Honours of Scotland Ensemble are Scottish Ballet Principal violinist Stewart Webster, and two students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, violinist Emma Baird and cellist Helen La Grand.

THE ASCAP FOUNDATION MUSICAL THEATRE FEST

Bursting with talent and important information. And, it's free!

The ASCAP Foundation and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts are staging their inaugural ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest. This two-week, in-person event series, held at The Wallis in Beverly Hills, gives emerging musical theatre composers the chance to learn from the industry’s leading lights.

Week 1 (July 11-13) will present panels exploring the future of the musical theatre industry, focusing on the intersection of Hollywood and musical theatre. The sessions are presented with support by the Gary Geld Musical Theatre Foundation | Gary DaSilva, Trustee.

The ASCAP Foundation/Universal Theatrical Group (UTG) Musical Theatre Workshop returns for week 2 (July 17-20), with celebrated artistic director Stephen Schwartz who gave the world Wicked and Godspell is once again at the helm. You can watch along as emerging musical theatre composers get feedback on their musicals-in-progress, from prominent guests from all corners of the musical theatre world.

TUESDAY JULY 11 morning

Is Hollywood’s Obsession with Musical Theatre Talent Here to Stay?
In July 2020, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton became the most streamed show in the United States. The viewership on Disney+ was so large that it easily surpassed the number of people who had seen the show live on Broadway. So, it’s no secret that streaming audiences love musical theatre. With shows like Ridley Jones; John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch and Schmigadoon! the streets of streaming are teeming with musical theatre talent. Is the obsession here to stay? How do studio executives view musical theatre talent? What are they excited about bringing to audiences next?

Panelists

Anton Monsted (Amazon Studios)
Jay Stutler (Disney Television Animation)
David Taylor (Apple TV+)

TUESDAY JULY 11 afternoon

Using Social Media to Create a New Space for Musical Theatre.
In 2023, it’s clear that social media is breaking down the barriers to entry for young musical theatre writers. Now you can hear the stories of how those writers are utilizing the latest technology to create viral moments and pave the way for global collaboration.

Panelists

Abigail Barlow
Kate Leonard
Daniel Mertzlufft

WEDNESDAY JULY 12, morning

Music Creators Roundtable
Join a group of pro music creators for a wide-ranging discussion about their experiences working with the top Hollywood studios on musical projects. They’ll talk career motivations, creative approaches and tips for how you, too, can build a bridge from Broadway to Hollywood and back again.

Panelists

Eli Bolin
Pippa Cleary
Joriah Kwamé
Gabe Sokoloff
Liz Suggs

WEDNESDAY JULY 12, afternoon

Business As Usual: Best Practices for Getting Your Act Together “Music business” has two words – and “business” is longer than “music!” Today’s top industry executives will provide practical advice on how you should build your team, protect your musical works and set yourself up for success. Panelists Sue Drew (Kobalt Music) Richard Kraft (Kraft-Engel Agency) WEDNESDAY JULY 12, afternoon

From Despicable Me to Schmicago!: In Conversation with Cinco Paul Take a trip to the magical musical world of Cinco Paul. He’ll discuss his journey from celebrated screenwriter (Despicable Me, The Lorax, The Secret Life of Pets) to Emmy-winning songwriter (2022’s Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Corn Puddin’” from Schmigadoon!). We’ll dive deep into the world of Schmigadoon! and discuss his latest move to Schmicago! Panelist

Cinco Paul

THURSDAY JULY 13, morning

Kooman & Dimond: The Life Cycle of a Song Demo
Michael Kooman & Chris Dimond, the songwriting team behind Vampirina and Ridley Jones, present a workshop breaking down the life cycle of a song written for an animated streaming series. From concept to demo to show delivery, Kooman & Dimond will provide an in-depth look into a day in the life of an Emmy-nominated composer/lyricist.

Panelists

Michael Kooman
Chris Dimond

THURSDAY JULY 13, afternoon

Song Feedback Panel: Words of Wisdom from Major Studio Execs
What does it take to get your song in a streaming series? Emerging ASCAP members will put their talents on display and get real-time feedback on songs submitted for review by the creative team at Netflix. The executives will illustrate the process of pitching yourself for consideration and give practical takeaways on what the studios are looking for when hiring and working with composers and lyricists.

Panelists

Stephen Chesley (Netflix)
Samantha Hilscher (Netflix)
John McGrew (Netflix)
Sarah McMullen (Netflix)
Elisa Rice (Netflix)

THURSDAY JULY 13 evening

Waving Through Their Window: An Evening with Benj Pasek & Justin Paul
Pasek & Paul hit the Wallis stage to discuss what it’s like to produce some of the most beloved music for the contemporary stage and screen. From their work on television (musical episodes of Smash and The Flash), film (The Greatest Showman, La La Land) and their massive Broadway hits (Dear Evan Hansen, A Christmas Story), they’ll cover it all. They will also break down their process on streaming hits like AppleTV+’s new holiday classic Spirited. Who knows what special guests might show up or who might hit the piano to illustrate just what makes these two the golden boys of streaming musicals?

Panelists

Benj Pasek
Justin Paul

WEEK 2: The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop

The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop gives participating composers and lyricists a rare chance to present selections from original musicals-in-progress for professional critique. The highly regarded program is led by artistic director Stephen Schwartz – the Tony, Oscar and Grammy award-winning composer/lyricist of Wicked, Godspell, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted, to name a few.

The Workshop will feature a different musical each night. Each night will include a 50-minute segment of the musical, followed by in-depth critique from the Workshop panelists.

Sessions are free to attend with RSVP: TheWallis.org/ASCAP. Sessions will begin promptly at 7:30 PM.

Day 1: Monday, July 17
Maya: Writers: Cheeyang Ng and Eric Sorrels

Day 2: Tuesday, July 18
The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul: Writer: Christie Baugher

Day 3: Wednesday, July 19
Miss Hysteria: Writers: Ben Zeadman and Laura Schein.

Day 4: Thursday, July 20
Call Me From The Grave: Writers: Charles Romano and Harold Hodge Jr.

All sessions are free to attend. RSVP at TheWallis.org/ASCAP.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

McDONALD'S WEDDINGS the fast food chain with the arches has launched a $235 wedding catering package with 100 chicken burgers and 400 nuggets. The special menu is launched initially in Jakarta, Indonesia, with plans to expand around the world if it proves to be popular.

A minimum order of 200 pieces is required for the package, advertised under the slogan "Making wedding moments unforgettable"

The package does not including holding the actual wedding at the fast food place, only the reception.

WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY which takes place on July 7th didn't go unnoticed by Emirates Airlines which announced that more than 40 million pieces of gourmet chocolates are served onboard each year, to passangers in all classes.

Sweetening the travel experience with the world’s most beloved confectionary, Emirates selects and serves a delectable selection of artisan chocolate as part of the signature meal service in all classes, to 140 destinations around the world.

Throughout the last 12 months, 35 million chocolate treats have been served in Economy Class, more than 160,000 chocolates in Premium Economy Class since its launch in June 2022, with an additional 4 million chocolate pairs offered in Business and First Class.

Emirates also introduced large gourmet chocolate boxes to First Class in December 2022, offering premium passengers the chance to indulge in a sample onboard and even takeaway some of their favorite flavors, with chocolate fans relishing more than 36,000 boxes in the last 6 months.

Emirates collaborates closely with connoisseur chocolatiers from around the globe, including Bateel, Coco Jalila and Forrey & Galland from the UAE, Godiva and Neuhaus from Belgium, Valrhona from France, Butlers from Ireland, Canonica from Switzerland, Pacari from Ecuador and Hotel Chocolat from the UK.

The chocolate brands are selected for a multitude of reasons including content – for example dark, milk or white chocolate, bonbons, pralines or truffles, with fillings of creamy ganache or tangy fruit, the all-important taste and texture component, alongside brand recognition, current trends, its 'instagrammability' and whether its sustainably sourced.

Each handpicked chocolate brand is on board for a minimum of 3 months before a new selection is introduced to delight frequent flyers.

Across all classes, customers craving a chocolate fix can enjoy chocolate desserts and hot chocolate from the menu. The most popular chocolate desserts onboard Emirates historically are the decadent Molten Chocolate Cake in First Class and the silky-smooth Milk Chocolate Mousse for children.

On longer routes, chocolate candy bars are served in a snack tray and chocolate lollipops are offered to children during festive celebrations. At Emirates’ A380 Onboard lounge, customers can also help themselves to vegan and non-vegan sweet treats of M&Ms, chocolate cake and chocolate mini treats.

In Emirates Lounges, chocolate is a staple feature, with customers enjoying homemade Emirates chocolate ice-cream from the old-fashioned ice cream cart, signature creamy hot chocolate from Costa Coffee, and a myriad of creative chocolate desserts from Emirates Master Chefs including white chocolate raspberry delight with white chocolate mousse and luscious raspberry jelly, decadent chocolate truffles, a fruity white chocolate passionfruit cheesecake and indulgent dark chocolate salted caramel tarts amongst many others.

A special chocolate-focused dessert is a new feature in Emirates First Class Lounges in Dubai, using Valrhona Grand Cru Blends from around the globe to make exquisite desserts like chocolate and pecan gateaux, 85% Abinao chocolate cremeux, pecan praline, Sacher cake and spiced milk ice cream, as well as Dulcey Chocolate – a blond and cookie flavoured chocolate.

This month, the special First-Class lounge dessert is a rich chocolate extravaganza of 64% Manjari dark chocolate entremets, cocoa crumble, dark chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

TONY WINNING LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE in Chicago has announced that financial shortfalls has required them to halt programming and lay off 50 percent of its staff or 14 people from its staff of 24 .

The 35-year-old company was founded in 1988 by graduates of Northwestern University, and has since become nationally recognized for new works. In 2011 Lookinglass won the Regional Theatre Tony Award. The company hopes to again produce shows beginning in 2024.

The theatre has also launched a fundraiser, with the goal to raise $2.5 million for its work in 2023-24, "so we can become the next version of Lookingglass Theatre Company," Artistic Director Heidi Stillman and Board Chair Diane Whatton, in a letter posted on the company's website.

Lookingglass' letter predicted that "there have been many of these announcements, and more will come."

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OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL has named Tim Bond its new artistic director. His position begins September 1, 2023. The storied organization is currently under the helm of Interim Artistic Director Evren Odcikin, who normally serves as associate artistic director and director of artistic programming.

Bond returns to he OSF where he was the company's associate artistic director from 1996 to 2007. In the years since, Bond has served as producing artistic director at Syracuse Stage, head of University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program, and artistic director of California's TheatreWorks.

Bond will succeed OSF's last full-time artistic director, Nataki Garrett, whose resignation earlier this year followed racist death threats and various other harassments in protest to her artistic decisions to expand the Festival's offerings including more diverse and contemporary plays in place of the company's predominately Shakespeare-exclusive seasons. Garrett was forced to hire a personal security team, after which several theatrical organizations - including Dramatists Guild, Theatre Communications Group, and the Shakespeare Theatre Association - released a joint statement of solidarity supporting Garrett.

NEW YORK STAGE AND FILM has announced UGBA as the 2023 recipient of the Founders’ Award and JaMeeka Holloway as the recipient of this year’s Pfaelzer Award. The NYSAF summer season at Marist College, which begins July 14 and runs to August 6, will also include the creation of the Indigenous Voices of the Northeast Residency.

The Founders' Award for Emerging Playwrights was created in honor of the founders’ enduring commitment to nurturing earlier career artists. Selected by a panel of former recipients, the Founders’ Award winner receives a monetary award, an extended residency within the annual summer season, and financial and administrative support for a project that they curate. This year’s selection committee featured Nissy Aya, jeremy o’brian, and Kirya Traber, and the finalists were Charlene Jean, kanishk pandey, TJ Lewis, and Lauren Whitehead.

The Pfaelzer Award was created in honor of former Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer’s twenty-year commitment to supporting artists and their developing stories at NYSAF, and this award goes toward an emerging artistic leader. Selected by a panel of former recipients, the Pfaelzer Award winner receives a monetary award, residency time within the annual summer season, and mentorship from Johanna Pfaelzer. The selection panel featured Elisa Bocanegra, Estefanía Fadul, and Dawn Monique Williams, with Alisha Espinosa, Jessica Harris, Lauren Turner, and Rebecca Wear as finalists.

This season, NYSAF has created the Indigenous Voices of the Northeast Residency, in collaboration with some of the original stewards of the land and as part of ongoing efforts to share community with Indigenous artists of the northeastern bioregion of Turtle Island. NYSAF is proud to welcome artists from these communities to gather and be nurtured by all the organization offers.

They are: Montana Adams (Aamjiwnaang) - Dawn Jamison (Cayuga) - Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora) - Danielle Soames (Mohawk).

The 2023 Summer Season at Marist will begin with a VIP Reception and Kick-Off concert on July 14 with Joe Iconis & Family. Proceeds from the Reception will go towards NYSAF’s Early Career Apprentice Program and scholarships for Marist College’s Summer Pre-College Program.

Line up includes Laura Dadap, Seth Eliser, Morgan Siobhan Green, Molly Hager, Lorinda Lisitza, Lauren Marcus, Eric William Morris, Jeremy Morse, Jason Tam and Jason SweetTooth Williams.

Joe Iconis is a Tony-nominated musical theater writer and performer. His musical Be More Chill has played Broadway, London, and Tokyo and his new show The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical will have its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse this summer.

The season will also include a new play workshop, Like They Do in the Movies, written and performed by Laurence Fishburne, directed by Leonard Foglia; a new musical workshop of A Wrinkle in Time by Lauren Yee. Music & Lyrics by Heather Christian. Directed by Lee Sunday Evans. Casting includes Leanne Antonio, Kim Blanck, Ashley Perez Flanagan, Robi Hager, Emily Xu Hall, Katrina Lenk, Diego Lucano, Kenita Miller, Mia Pak, Martín Solá, Phillip Taratula, Adrienne Walker, Jayke Workman.

There is also the launch of a new initiative to develop dance-driven musicals with Paradise Ballroom, created by Princess Lockerooo and Harold O’Neal. Directed by Colette Robert. Choreographed by Princess Lockerooo. Presentations: Friday, August 4, Saturday, August 5, & Sunday, August 6 in Nelly Goletti Theatre.

Casting includes William Bailey, Tyrone Bevans, and Tytus Larue James Gibson-Jackson.

Saturday play readings include This Way to the Fire written by Emmy nominated Jason Kim. Directed by Danny Sharron. Casting includes Molly Griggs, Greg Keller, Sue Jean Kim and Jon Norman Schneiderworks by Sopan Deb, Beth Henley, Emily Kaczmarek, and Jason Kim.

Soft Target written by Emily Kaczmarek. Director Jo Bonney. The Good Name written by Sopan Deb. Directed by Trip Cullman. Casting includes Siraj Huda, Keshav Moodliar, Reshma Shetty, Alok Tewari and Rita Wolf.

Downstairs Neighbor written by Beth Henley. Directed by Jaki Bradley. Casting includes Carolyn Braver, Lily Harris and Will Turner.

New York Stage and Film’s Summer Season runs July 14 to August 6 at Marist College.



THE SMILE OF HER written by and starring Christine Lahti with Georgi James as Christine Lahti's younger self.

Direction and dramaturgy by Robert H. Egan.

It’s America in the 1950s. The patriarchy is on steroids. Christine’s "perfect" suburban family is its quintessential microcosm. The Smile of Her takes the audience on a sometimes funny, always deeply personal, journey of denial, neglect, abuse, understanding and by the end—maybe possibly, hope.

The creatives are: scenic design by Jason Simms. Costume design by Elivia Bovenzi Blitz. Lighting design by Patricia M. Nichols. Sound design by Karl Lundeberg. Projection design by David Murakami. Stage manager Samantha Leahan. Casting director David Caparelliotis.

Images on the play's poster are those of Christine's family.

World premiere July 12, 2023 at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA.

CRABS IN A BUCKET written by Bernardo Cubría.

Directed by Alana Dietze.

Starring Jordan Hull, Anna LaMadrid, Xochitl Romero, Michael Sturgis.

"If I can’t have it — neither can you!"

The Echo Theater Company presents an outrageous, smart and very funny satire about the impact of "crab mentality" on oppressed communities whose members work against one another instead of together.

"Jordan Hull, Anna LaMadrid, Xochitl Romero and Michael Sturgis star as four crabs living in a shucking bucket. Amargo and Pootz are bitter crabs who spend their days talking chit about the crabs that got out, the ones who couldn't take it, and the losers who still live among them. Young Beb is the newcomer who arrives filled with optimism and hope for change. Can Beb help Amargo and Pootz achieve their life-long dream of getting the shuck out? Or will they prove to be their own worst enemies and continue to hold each other and everyone else back?"

The "crabs in a bucket" trope comes from the observation that if a single crab is placed in a bucket, it can easily climb to freedom. But if there are multiple crabs, each one that tries to climb up will be pulled back down by the others, ensuring that no crab will ever make it out.

"What happens when we can’t be happy for the success of others?" asks Cubría. "Sometimes, in communities where there are limited opportunities, we think, ‘if he gets a slot, there won’t be one left for me,’ and we get down on each other. Why can’t we support one another? Whenever oppressed groups come together, we win."

The play was inspired by Cubría’s personal experience in the Latinx theater community, but the themes are so universal that it could refer to just about any group. Dietze, for one, was convinced when she read it that it had been written about actors.

"I love how relatable this play is, how the bucket is its own world that’s everywhere and nowhere all at once, and how clever and witty and funny the dialogue is," she says. "For me, the metaphor is about being an artist, and how competition, ambition and petty jealousies create an environment in which people tear each other down when we should be lifting each other up."

The creative team includes scenic designer Amanda Knehans; lighting designer Azra King-Abadi; sound designer Jeff Gardner; costume designer Lou Cranch; composer Arian Saleh; fight choreographer Ahmed Best; movement coach Tristan Waldron; and clowning consultant Julia Davis. The production stage manager is Irene Lee and Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson is associate producer. Chris Fields and Kelly Beech produce for the Echo Theater Company.

Crabs in a Bucket begins previews on July 12 with the official opening set for July 15. Performances continue through August 21, 2023 at the Echo Theater Company in Los Angeles, CA.

THE COTTAGE written by Sandy Rustin.

Directed by Tony Award winner Jason Alexander making his Broadway directorial debut.

Set in the bucolic English countryside in 1923, The Cottage is a rollicking tale of sex, betrayal and love which explodes when Sylvia decides to be wildly indiscreet about her indiscretions. The true meaning of fate, identity and marriage are called into question as an unpredictable and hilarious web of secrets begins to unravel.

Starring Emmy Award winner Eric McCormack, Tony Award nominee Laura Bell Bundy, Tony Award nominee Lilli Cooper, Nehal Joshi, Alex Moffat and Dana Steingold.

The creative team is Paul Tate dePoo III (Scene Design), Sydney Maresca (Costume Design), Jiyoun “Jiji” Chang (Lighting Design), Justin Ellington (Sound Design), and Laura Stanczyk (Casting Director).

The Cottage began performances Friday, July 7, and opens Monday, July 24, for a limited run through Sunday, October 29, at the Hayes Theater in New York City.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, A COMEDY written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.

Directed by Gordon Greenberg.

Dostoyevsky’s turn-of-the-century masterpiece is reimagined as a 90-minute romp of a morality tale, performed by five ridiculously talented actors who play over 50 zany characters, riffing on the famous novel—and all of Russian literature. This classic story follows Raskolnikov, an impoverished student who becomes a murderer in order to save his family. Based on the book you didn’t actually read in high school, this is literature retold like you’ve never seen it before.

The cast includes Vincent Randazzo as Actor 1, Juliet Brett as Actor 2, Stephanie Gibson as Actor 3, Orville Mendoza as Actor 4 (performing from July 15 to August 6), and Nik Walker as Actor 5. Andrew Polec will replace Mendoza as Actor 4 from August 8 to August 13.

Understudies include Cody Ingram as Actor 5, Jasmine January as Actor 2 and Actor 3, and Zakk Mannella as Actor 1 and Actor 4.

The mise-en-scčne: Wilson Chin (Scenic Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Amanda Zieve (Lighting Design), Lindsay Jones (Sound Design). The creatives also include Calleri Jensen Davis (Casting), and Marie Jahelka (Production Stage Manager).

Performances begin July 15, and play through August 20, 2023, with the opening on Thursday, July 20, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park, CA.

BASMATI BITCH by Ankita Singh.

Directed by Ahi Karunaharan.

Set in an alternate reality where ethnic dietary staples, like rice, are banned due to crop disease and closed borders, Basmati Bitch transports us to a heightened reality of contested borders, exploited migrant workers and a crumbling empire.

A self-aware, neo-noir action-crime-comedy full of wacky fourth-wall-breaking characters, slick dance and stage combat.

Nightclubs double as fight clubs, dairies have rice bunkers and Aunties scheme away in their mahjong dens.

In the neonlit streets of futurist Aotearoa, an ex-MMA fighter discovers you can’t ever really escape the past.

When retired fighter, Shiva, is dragged into the world of illegal MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighting by bored overworked Bisma, the last thing they expect is to be embroiled in the contraband black market.

But that’s exactly what happens when they end up in massive debt to basmati baron Toby, ‘The King’. They have seven days to acquire a truckload of rice, or else...

The creatives include: Te Aihe Butler, Rachel Marlow and Bradley Gledhill of Filament Eleven 11 and Imuy Teav.

A collaboration between SquareSums&Co, Oriental Maidens and Auckland Theatre Company.

July 11 - July 23 2023 at the Auckland Theatre Company in Auckland, New Zealand.

SATELLITES by Erin Breznitsky.

Directed by John Wooten.

In Satellites, married couple Katherine & Mike are each on a mission to save the world. She’s a scientist studying climate change; he’s an astronaut exploring the unknown. When Mike’s shuttle vanishes in outer space, Katherine forges ahead alone, raising their children and continuing her life’s work until Mike suddenly reappears without explanation. As the couple struggles to adjust to his strange return, they’re forced to reexamine their entire relationship—while also facing an uncertain future.

“This exciting new production is the first time Premiere Stages will be incorporating a three projection set up into a design’” stated John J. Wooten, Premiere Stages Producing Artistic Director and Satellites Director.

Leading the production are Ellyn Heald, as Doctor Katherine Sparks and Terrell Wheeler, as Captain Mike Turner. Understudies for the production are Kean University Theatre Conservatory alumni Jessica DeLuca and Spenser C. Williams.

The professional design team includes Set Designer David Barber, Projection Designer Paul Deziel, Lighting Designer Zack Gage, Costume Designer Stefanie Genda, and Sound Designer Chad Raines.

Satellites runs July 13-30 in the Bauer Boucher Theatre Center on the Kean University main campus in Union, N.J.

THE TEMPEST Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, CA. has extended the run of Shakespeare’s The Tempest through July 30. Director Nike Doukas brings out the musicality of the Bard’s most poetic and magical comedy, adding original music, live musicians and on-stage Foley effects. An enchanted storm strands a banished Duke's enemies on his isle of exile. Through magic, misadventure and forgiveness, the Duke, his daughter, his foes and the island spirits are all liberated from the prisons of their pasts to the glorious promise of their futures.

Starring Bernard K. Addison, John Allee, JD Cullum, Elinor Gunn, John Harvey, Adrian LaTourelle, Saundra McClain, Peter Mendoza, Erin Pineda, Anja Racic, Peter Van Norden. Musicians: John Allee on piano, JD Cullum on guitar and John Harvey on percussion.

Presented by Antaeus Theatre Company on stage at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale, CA.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Seeking any information regarding attempts to sabotage the Broadway To Vegas website.

It is a criminal offense to interfere with another's website.

Broadway To Vegas is a solely owned website. Nobody has been given permission to access, distort or destroy any Broadway To Vegas column.

Examples:
In 1999 Broadway To Vegas ran a favorable review and commentary regarding the dramatic musical Parade. See Broadway To Vegas column of December 28, 1998. Week after week, month after month, year after year, that column could easily be called up on Google and other search engines. This Spring that column suddenly, without warning, disappeared. It is impossible to find it on Google and thus other search engines who traffic off of Google. "Parade" concerns an event involving a Jewish man.

Normally, Broadway To Vegas columns appear on Google search engines anywhere from minutes to a few hours after launch and then remain on the Google search engine.

Since June 4th, through the month of June Broadway To Vegas columns go up as usual on Google are easily located for approximately 40 hours and then suddenly disappear, not to be found on a search engine, no matter how they are searched.

All columns can be located through the Broadway To Vegas website.

In those columns the subject matter concerned: 1) favorable reporting on a world renowned artist who happens to be black, (2) positive reporting on an event involving nationally known individuals participating in a major Juneteenth celebration in Las Vegas. Juneteenth concerns celebrating black people no longer enslaved, and (3) positive reporting on The Lost Story of Emmett Till.

Columns favorably regarding Jewish people and/or Blacks suddenly disappear. That begs the question if deleting those Broadway To Vegas columns is part of somebody committing a hate crime.

Google has the ability to deliberately hide columns. Google can't remove content from a person's website, but they can hide content so that nobody can find it. That is suppose to take place based upon proof of a wrongful act - such as a judge granting a removal order based upon copyright infringement or the webpage encouraging illegal activity.

Google's website indicates that this is manually done. A person goes into the site, reads it and determines if the page has violated any Google rules and can, at their discretion, block the page.

Broadway To Vegas has been on the web since 1998 and, until now, there has never been a problem with Google.

Broadway To Vegas is NOT implying that Google is involved in a hate crime or that Google has instructed any of their employees to help in sabotaging any website. Respectfully, we point out that Google has thousands of employees, some of whom are part time and also involved in the public relations business. PR firms, especially those based in NYC, represent entertainment websites, individuals and causes and an isolated few have made it known that they will commit illegal acts to boost their own clients, harming other sites, and will continue to do so until legally stopped.

It is a felony to attempt to enter, hijack, block, destroy, any website or contents thereof owned by anyone other than yourself. Preventing a website column to be seen is a crime unless there is a substantial reason, generally backed up by court order. You can't have a search engine block a web page simply because you don't like it. That's restraint of trade and censorship.

Also, hijacking (stealing) a column, posting it on a website that deliberately misleads the reader to think they have clicked into Broadway To Vegas when it is a different website with no Broadway To Vegas affiliation is a crime.

In searching Google for Parade on Broadway To Vegas, a website comes up that misleads the reader into thinking it is Broadway To Vegas. When clicking on the link the ENTIRE column is seen, not just the "Parade" review and there is no link to Broadway To Vegas. It is a "fake" website which has stolen a Broadway To Vegas column which can only be located on this strange site; headlined with an incorrect spelling of Broadway To Vegas. In the real Broadway To Vegas the "T" is capitalized and I have never called myself "theatre chick".

Who Is reports that theatre_chick.tripod.com ownership is hidden and was first indexed by Google more than 10 years ago.

When looking up theatre_chick.tripod.com Google brings up a website headlined Broadway to Vegas - The Theatre Chick's Life, deliberating misleading people.

Information is sought regarding any attempt to interfere with Broadway To Vegas from anyone, anywhere in any capacity. Confidentiality will be provided to the extent to which the law permits.

Broadway To Vegas thanks those who have provided information. Based upon information received, further information is sought regarding two California based men who have worked as techs in a ISP Broadway To Vegas once used and info regarding a West coast and Midwest based female who reportedly has made comments that she has friends in New York City and can cause her (Laura Deni) trouble. The Google press office was provided a copy of this in case they wished to comment. They have not replied.

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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

NORMAN SIDEROW independent producer and former tv production executive, died on June 16, 2023 from Parkinson's Disease. He was 66.

He served as the President of Development and Production at Harmony Gold USA, for many years, where he developed and produced long-form television productions. Subsequently, he partnered with Scott Jones at Artist View Entertainment to produce reality-based webisodes at the dawn of that medium, and later joined forces with John Lynch to form Lynch-Siderow Productions, where they produced The Andy Dick Show; Hollow Men and Jackass: The Movie, among other shows.

Starting in the 1990s Norman worked with Irish film companies, including a stint with Merlin Films in Dublin, Ireland, where he developed a deep affinity for Irish culture and met many of his closest friends. After returning to Los Angeles he continued to work with Irish screenwriters and producers, resulting in the award-winning drama Stardust which swept the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2007, including the award for Best Single Drama/Drama Serial, which award Norman shared with writer Paul Walker and director Ciaran Donnelly.

In 2012 Norman was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which slowed but did not stop him from continuing to work with Artist View and his colleagues in Ireland, and most recently volunteering as a submission screener for the Ojai Film Festival.

He leaves behind his wife, Jill R. Cohen, his sister, Marcia Siderow, and extended family, as well as his dear friends and colleagues.

Next Column: July 16, 2023
Copyright: July 9, 2023 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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