Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: June 15, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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AN UPCOMING SEASON OF POWERFUL NEW PRODUCTIONS

In a spot check of new works being presented during the upcoming 2025-206 season its obvious that Kristin Chenoweth's long-awaited return to the Broadway stage should result in a box office hit. Based on the wildly astonishing documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, it follows Jackie Siegel, computer engineer-turned-Mrs. Florida-turned-billionairess. Siegel sees herself as the embodiment of the American Dream, and now, as the wife of David "The Timeshare King" Siegel and mother of their eight children, she invites us to behold their most grandiose venture yet: building the largest private home in America, a $100 million house in Orlando, Florida, inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David’s dreams begin to crumble, along with their lavish lifestyle.

Based on the wildly astonishing documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, The Queen of Versailles reunites celebrated Academy Award–winning songwriter Stephen Schwartz with Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth as Jackie Siegel. Also starring F. Murray Abraham. With a book by Lindsey Ferrentino and direction by Tony Award winner Michael Arden, The Queen of Versailles is a new musical exploring the true cost of fame, fortune, and family.

The Queen of Versailles will begin previews October 8, with an official opening night on November 10 at the St. James Theatre in New York City.

Second Stage will bring Gina Gionfriddo’s Pulitzer Prize finalist play Becky Shaw to Broadway. Trip Cullman will direct the dark comedy that hinges on an ill-fated blind date and its repercussions.

Becky Shaw will begin performances March 17, 2026 with an opening night set for April 8, 2026 at the Hayes Theatre.

James Graham's play Punch will be staged at Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Adam Penford will direct the new work from the Olivier-winning Dear England and Ink playwright. Based on Jacob Dunne’s memoir "Right From Wrong", Punch traces Dunne’s journey in restorative justice after one impulsive punch led to fatal consequences. After spending more than a year in prison, he connected with the victim's parents, sparking a profound transformation.

The show has been announced for Fall 2025 at the Friedman Theatre.

Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) will bring Lindsay-Abaire's new work The Balusters to Broadway. Kenny Leon will direct the small town play centering on a neighborhood association experiencing some big drama—namely, the concept of installing a new stop sign on the neighborhood's most bucolic block.

Dog Day Afternoon, a new play from Pulitzer winner Stephen Adly Guirgis will make its Broadway debut, with Emmy-winning "The Bear" stars Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach starring. The true crime story, which previously inspired the 1975 film of the same name, centers on a 1972 Brooklyn bank robbery gone wrong that turns into a hostage situation. Bernthal will play Sonny Amato to Moss-Bachrach's Sal DeSilva. Frank Pierson wrote the 1975 film, adapting P.F. Kluge's Life magazine article "The Boys in the Bank." Warner Bros., which released the film, is producing the upcoming stage play, though it doesn't appear to be a direct adaptation of Pierson's screenplay.

The show has been announced for Spring 2026.

Dolly: An Original Musical is Dolly Parton's biomusical and will be Parton's second Broadway outing, after penning the original score to 2009's "9 to 5". Starring as Parton, each in different stages of the 11-time Grammy winner's life, will be Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb.

The show has been announced for Spring 2026, after a pre-Broadway tryout in Nashville.

Performances begin in November.

Prime Stage Theatre will celebrate its 29th season with three world premieres commissioned from three Pittsburgh playwrights. Performances begin in November.

November 7-16, 2025 - Mr. Poe Presents An Evening of Horror, Mystery, and Imagination. Written by Lawrence C. Connolly, directed by Art DeConciliis.

In Mr. Poe Presents an Evening of Horror, Mystery, and Imagination, popular sci-fi and horror fiction writer Lawrence C. Connolly recreates the dark genius of Edgar Allan Poe performing a selection of favorite tales before a live audience in the 1840s.

January 19-Feb. 1, 2026 - Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance. Directed by Scott Calhoon.

Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance by historical playwright L.E. McCullough dramatizes the 1967 creation of Freedom House Ambulance Service, America's first mobile emergency medical unit staffed by professionally-trained paramedics from Pittsburgh's Hill District.

May 1-10, 2026 - Speak. Written by Tammy Ryan, directed by Dana Hardy Bingham.

Resident New Dramatists playwright Tammy Ryan brings to the stage Laurie Halse Anderson's acclaimed young adult novel Speak, the contemporary story of a teenage girl who uses art to find her voice and redefine her identity after the trauma of rape.

"Each of our plays this season is a world premiere from a Pittsburgh playwright," announced Prime Stage Theatre artistic director Dr. Wayne Brinda. "We want audiences to see how events in our community can be brought to life on the stage with a unique local perspective."

Founded in 1996 with the mission of "bringing literature to life", Prime Stage Theatre has produced 111 plays and 20 world premieres while winning national recognition as a leader in educational theatre.

Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, DC has announced its 2025-2026 season, inspired by the legendary Congressman John Lewis’s call to "make good trouble." At the core of the season is a new musical about Lewis’s formative years, the world premiere of the comedy Precarious. The season also includes a new play development workshop of Code Red, written and directed by two-time Tony Award-nominee Emily Mann.

"This season at Mosaic is a celebration of bold storytelling that entertains, inspires, and sparks vital conversations and connections across cultures and generations," declared Reginald L. Douglas, Artistic Director.

"As Mosaic heads into our next decade, we remain more committed than ever to using theater to reflect upon our shared history and affirm the gifts of diversity, democracy, and dialogue. From the sweeping impact of Young John Lewis, to the sharp humor of Precarious, these plays invite us to see ourselves—and each other—more clearly. We are proud to continue Mosaic’s tradition of presenting urgent, thought-provoking theater that speaks to the world we live in today.”

MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient Samuel D. Hunter’s intimate, powerful play A Case for the Existence of God directed by Danilo Gambini, is a thoughtful meditation on human resilience.

Inside a small office in southern Idaho, two men struggle to understand the confounding terms of a mortgage loan while connecting over the joy and pain of fatherhood. The pair form an unlikely friendship through their "specific kind of sadness," using humor to find hope in the face of heartbreak. A testament to the power of finding one’s own community in the face of loneliness. On stage November 13 - December 7, 2025.

It’s time to make some Good Trouble! In this new hip-hop and soul musical, Mosaic’s Playwright-in-Residence Psalmayene 24 and acclaimed composer Eugene H. Russell IV honor the legendary "Conscience of Congress": the late Congressman John Lewis. Focusing on the Congressman’s formative years of ages 18-28, Young John Lewis reveals the humanity and heart of this mighty historic figure.

Young John Lewis with a book and Lyrics by Psalmayene 24. Music by Eugene H. Russel IV. Directed by Reginald L. Douglas. Music Direction by William Knowles. Choreography by Tony Thomas III. March 26-April 26, 2026.

The musical explores how the murder of Emmett Till motivated Lewis to pursue a life of service, including leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, fighting for Civil Rights with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and nearly two decades of work in Congress. A theatrical event not to be missed, Young John Lewis is both a galvanizing call to action and an inspiring reminder that we can all make a difference, no matter our age.

Precarious by Steph Del Rosso. Directed by Jaki Bradley takes place June 4-28, 2026.

A fresh new comedy about starting out, starting over and the enduring love of family. Recently retired Violet is ready to chart a new path forward, but her daughter Tilly and a summer heatwave seemingly stand in her way. A world premiere, Precarious offers insightful reflections on climate change and generational divides while imagining a brighter future.

In December 2024, Mosaic hosted a developmental workshop and reading of Precarious as part of its Community Engaged Theater Fund, supporting the development of new work that brings artists and community members together and furthers conversations on social justice, racial diversity, and the importance of community.

New Play Development Code Red. Written and Directed by two-time Tony Award-nominee and American Theater Hall of Fame honoree Emily Mann.

Code Red illuminates day-to-day life in an environment perpetually alert—the American public school system. Five women in rural upstate New York navigate teaching, parenthood, and friendship while trying to grapple with their greatest fear. When unfathomable situations make for breakroom banter, the question becomes—how do normal people do their jobs when nothing is normal anymore?

This House, a world premiere presented by Opera Theatre of St. Louis, embraces the notion that we all walk in the shadows of our ancestors. A house is more than four walls and a roof – it is a keeper of memories and a witness to legacy.

The Walker family has lived in the same Harlem brownstone since the 1920s, and they have fought hard to keep what they have. When Zoe returns home after many years, she asks her mother, Ida, and her brother, Lindon, to let her renovate the dilapidated building, but they can’t let go of the past. The house is their whole world, and every room is full of ghostly voices and painful memories. As hidden truths about the family’s legacy come to light, Zoe begins to realize that the secrets harbored within these walls are deeper and more profound than she ever dared to imagine.

Geffen Playhouse

Geffen Playhouse

announced seven productions that will make up its 2025/2026 season lineup, marking the second season from Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Tarell Alvin McCraney. The 2025/2026 season will launch September 3, 2025, and continue through July 12, 2026. The lineup will feature a mix of Los Angeles, West Coast and world premieres.

The 2025/2026 Geffen Playhouse season will take place in its Gil Cates Theater with the world premiere of the fiercely funny one-woman tour-de-force "Am I Roxie?" written and performed by Roxana Ortega. Ortega navigates the chaos of her mother’s mental decline with outrageous humor and unbreakable spirit.

Am I Roxie? a world premiere September 3 – October 5, 2025 will be directed by Bernardo Cubría.

Playing everything from a mermaid-obsessed aunt to a prickly sherpa, Roxie takes us on a wild ride into an opera house, up a killer mountain, and through the doomscape of her own mind. Heartfelt and hilarious, Am I Roxie? explores duty, destiny, and how facing your darkest fears can reveal who you truly are.

The season will continue in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater with the world premiere of "littleboy/littleman", an electrifying tale of brotherhood and belonging that pulses with rhythm and emotion, pulling us into a world where family is everything, but dreams come at a cost, from playwright Rudi Goblen.

littleboy/littleman has performances October 1 – November 2, 2025. Written by Rudi Goblen and directed by Nancy Medina.

When Nicaraguan brothers Fíto and Bastian clash over their visions of the American Dream, their choices send them on a collision course with fate—risking not just their futures, but their bond. Fíto, a poet, is impulsive and ambitious, willing to take risks to get what he wants. Bastian, a telemarketer, is steady and principled, holding onto caution as a guide. Blending poetry, live music, and ritual, this electrifying tale of brotherhood and belonging pulses with rhythm and emotion, pulling us into a world where family is everything, but dreams come at a cost.

The season will then pick up in the new year with the world premiere of Sylvia, Sylvia, Sylvia in the Gil Cates Theater. Darkly funny and haunting, from rising playwright Beth Hyland, this tragicomic thriller explores creativity, obsession, and our ghosts that refuse to be ignored. Next up in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater will be the Los Angeles premiere of "Dragon Mama" (Part II of The Dragon Cycle) written and performed by Sara Porkalob. Packed with ghosts, Filipino gangsters, and a killer ‘90s R&B soundtrack, this award-winning, high-octane solo show is a raw, hilarious, and deeply moving story of resilience, queer love, and what it takes to break free and find home.

Next up in the Gil Cates Theater is the West Coast premiere of "Table 17" from the creative minds of Douglas Lyons and Zhailon Levingston.This witty new play serves up romance, regrets, and the unexpected possibility of second chances.

Stuff of Dreams - A New Musical. World Premiere. A struggling Midwest community theatre is chosen to be first in the nation to perform the hottest show on Broadway, "Betsy Ross: Seams of Dreams." This heartwarming new musical comedy is a stunning show within a show that will have audiences clapping, crying, and rooting for this "chosen family" of humble players to make it to opening night!

Lewis And Shirley White Theater.

It opens on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Lewis & Shirley White Theater in Leawood, Kansas.

A Shadow in Time, written by Ajene D. Washington, features a powerful cast and director and delves into themes of grief and family relationships. The world premiere is on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Just Off Broadway Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City Ballet: New Moves features world premieres by company artists and other emerging choreographers. It will be presented January 29 - February 1, 2026.

Jane Anger by Talene Monahon - A Michigan Premiere Shakespeare in Detroit will present this play about a Cunning Woman who climbs through Shakespeare's window to change history. This Michigan premiere takes place on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical Minneapolis Musical Theatre will present the Twin Cities premiere of this musical based on the film in April 2026.

This House, a world premiere presented by Opera Theatre of St. Louis, embraces the notion that we all walk in the shadows of our ancestors. A house is more than four walls and a roof – it is a keeper of memories and a witness to legacy. The Walker family has lived in the same Harlem brownstone since the 1920s, and they have fought hard to keep what they have. When Zoe returns home after many years, she asks her mother, Ida, and her brother, Lindon, to let her renovate the dilapidated building, but they can’t let go of the past. The house is their whole world, and every room is full of ghostly voices and painful memories. As hidden truths about the family’s legacy come to light, Zoe begins to realize that the secrets harbored within these walls are deeper and more profound than she ever dared to imagine.

Lady Disdain is directed by Sean Daniels.

There’s much ado about something in this whip-smart, laugh-out-loud new romantic comedy from Lauren Gunderson. Lady Disdain is a fast-paced, razor-sharp riff on the deliciously dramatic world of Fantasy Romance novels. Beatrice and Benedict, rival audiobook narrators with voices made for swooning and tempers made for sparring, are locked in a battle of wits, words, and wildly inconvenient attraction. Asolo Rep proudly presents this rolling world premiere from one of America’s most celebrated and funny playwrights.

June 6 – June 27, 2026. Previews June 6 – June 11. Opens June 12 at the Mertz Theatre of Asolo Rep which is a professional theater in Sarasota, Florida. It is the largest Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory theatre in the Southeastern United States.

Asolo Rep is a resident regional theatre company which also invites in guest artists. It works in conjunction with Florida State University's MFA Acting program, the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. It is currently housed in the Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts, a multi-theater complex, located on the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art property.

The Unfriend by Steven Moffat. Directed by Peter Rothstein. February 18 – March 22, 2026. Previews February 18 - 29 Open February 20 at the Mertz Theatre of Aslo Rep.

From the writer of television’s Dr. Who, Sherlock, and Dracula comes a hilarious new play about an unwanted house guest. After twenty years of marriage, Peter and Debbie are enjoying a cruise and a break from their annoying teenagers, when they meet an eagerly friendly, but perhaps dangerous, fellow passenger named Elsa. Before you know it, she’s taken up residence in their suburban home. Asolo Rep stages the US premiere of this hugely entertaining and satirical look at the terrifying lengths we go just to be nice.

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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

BARBIE: A CULTURAL ICON Step back into your childhood and join in on a six-decade evolution and the making of a global phenomenon.

More than a doll. A cultural icon.

Today, Barbie is the most diverse doll line in the world, inspiring girls to imagine everything they can become. A role model, a muse, a best friend. Barbie means something to everyone. Step back into your childhood.

Barbie: A Cultural Icon takes you from 1959 to present day, examining how pop culture and fashion trends have shaped this global phenomenon. The exhibition celebrates Barbie as a reflection of culture, featuring a priceless collection of over 300 artifacts from the 66-year history of Barbie, including the very first 1959 doll, an original Barbie Dreamhouse, behind the scenes prototypes, as well as some of the most infamous Barbie dolls throughout history. You'll also find numerous photo ops throughout the exhibition for shareable moments.

Curated and toured by Illusion Projects Inc., curated by Karan Feder, in partnership with Mattel Inc.

On display at the Cincinnati, Ohio museum to September 1, 2025.

FOR THE LAST 5 DAYS Until June 16, 2025, Tate Modern’s visitors have a rare opportunity to see the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt. Begun around 1989, this vast work consists of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels which represent 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. Laid out in a grid across the entire floor of the Turbine Hall, echoing how it has previously been shown outdoors, it continues to raise awareness of the ongoing AIDS pandemic.

The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is one chapter of the largest community art project in the world. It began in the USA in 1985, when American activist Cleve Jones started inviting people to create textile panels to commemorate the friends, family and loved ones they lost to AIDS. These individual panels were sewn together to create larger quilts, which were then shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. In the late 1980s, Scottish activist Alastair Hume visited San Francisco, where he witnessed an early display of the quilt. When Hume returned home to Edinburgh, he began coordinating the creation and display of a UK version, as many others did around the world. One of its largest public showings was the ‘Quilts of Love’ display in June 1994 at Hyde Park Corner, London, presenting selected panels from the US and the UK, alongside sections created by fashion designers.

Seven UK HIV support charities formed the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Partnership in 2014 to conserve and display the quilt. Today it stands as an important reminder of those who were lost, and of the fact that HIV and AIDS continue to affect people and communities today. While antiretrovirals have made it possible to live with HIV, access to this medication still varies dramatically across the globe.

Siobhán Lanigan from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Partnership said "The purpose of our partnership is to have the Quilt seen as often as possible in as many places as possible. The display in the Turbine Hall marks the largest showing of the UK Quilt in its history, reaching the biggest audience it has ever known. With every viewing, the names and the lives of all the people commemorated and all those who could not be named, are recognized, celebrated and brought out of the shadow of the stigma that is still associated with an HIV diagnosis today. Everything we can do to break down that stigma is of great value. This is one big step in that direction that can be built upon in future displays."

Karin Hindsbo, Director of Tate Modern, said “It’s an honour to show the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt in the Turbine Hall. This feels like an apt place for the public to see it. Tate Modern is all about exploring connections between the global and the local – in this case, connections between an international activist network and a local creative community, as well as connections between a global pandemic and the individual lives it has affected. The quilt is an incredible feat of creative human expression and I know our visitors will find it a deeply moving experience.”

Health Minister Baroness Merron said “The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a powerful and moving tribute to those we’ve lost, and a reminder of the ongoing fight against HIV. Displaying it at Tate Modern will help raise awareness and challenge stigma. This government is fully committed to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. Our upcoming HIV Action Plan will focus not just on prevention and testing, but also on helping people live well with HIV, tackling inequalities and improving support for all affected.”

Throughout the course of the display, volunteers from the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Partnership will be working alongside Tate’s staff to welcome visitors and provide further information and support. Live readings of all the names featured on the panels will place in the Turbine Hall on Saturday, June 14. Bakita Kasadha opened each reading with a poem, followed by a special performance from the London Gay Men’s Chorus.

Accompanying the Turbine Hall display from 12 – 15 June, "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" (1995) - a previously unseen documentary about the 1994 display of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt in Hyde Park Corner, London - will premiere in Tate Modern’s Starr Cinema. Directed by Peter Martin and produced by Martin Cohen, Zowie Broach and Anna Powell, it features interviews with Quilt makers and organiser Alastair Hume, as well as attendees such as Michael Hutchence, Boy George, Neneh Cherry, Paul Rutherford, Rifat Ozbek, Sam McKnight and Judy Blame.

Never publicly released at the time it was made and presumed lost for 30 years, this extraordinary social document captures the resolve and compassion of a community, 13 years after the first reports of deaths from AIDS. No other known film of the ‘Quilts of Love’ display is in existence.

This display is presented by Tate in partnership with UK AIDS Memorial Quilt and was initiated by Charlie Porter. It is curated by Elliot Gibbons, Collaborative Doctoral Researcher, Tate.

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SWEET CHARITY

The 2025 DUMBO DANCE FESTIVAL will kick off with White Wave Dance on Wave's Opening Night Gala Celebration on Thursday, June 26th. During the Gala they will be honoring two remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to White Wave Dance and the greater dance community:

Wendy Perron, esteemed dance critic, writer, and advocate for the arts, whose insightful voice and decades of dedication have shaped and uplifted the field of contemporary dance.

Howard Schranz, former Chairman of White Wave's Board of Directors, whose steadfast leadership, generosity, and unwavering support have been instrumental in sustaining and growing our organization’s mission. "We are thrilled to celebrate their lasting impact on our company and the dance world at large!"

Opening remarks will be followed by five stunning contemporary dance troupes: spoken movement (United Kingdom), Obremski/Works (NY), Motion Tribe (Korea), Bruce McCormick (CA), Katia Raj (NY), White Wave Young Soon Kim Dance Company.

After the performances, the audience can enjoy an open bar, food, and music to feed the soul, as well as a fabulous raffle including gourmet wine baskets, "Dinner for Two" at local DUMBO eateries, and much more.

All proceeds raised will directly offset White Wave’s production costs for our 2025/26 Season.

2025 DDF features 45 contemporary dance troupes combining over 400 artists who will present solo, chamber, and full-scale works. Dancers from across the United States, and internationally from France, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Republic of Congo, and Korea will join the New York’s active dance community to offer the full range of new directions in dance in the 21st century.

This year at the 2025 DUMBO Dance Festival, White Wave Dance is pleased to announce we will be selecting Two outstanding companies to have the opportunity to perform at the 2026 New Dance Festival in South Korea, and the 2026 Detroit City Dance Festival. Both of these highly regarded festivals will provide companies with another fantastic opportunity for further exposure, promotion and performance. All companies participating in this year’s festival will be carefully considered and will be notified after the festival.

In this anniversary year, the roster of companies includes: Bruce McCormick, Olivares Dance Company, Waeli Wang, Vitality [the company], Twigs + Co, Ericka Squire//The Dance Company, Giovanni Castellon, Compagnie La Torrefaction, Company KANE, Carlos Diaz, Chris Johnson Dance, Motion Tribe, KAIROS Dance Theater, Spero Dance, TheCo, Smutek Dance, June's Creative Expressions, New Name Collective, moe-tion dance theater, Jayde Spiegel, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Suzzanne Ponomarenko Dance, The Brooklyn Dance Ensemble, Julia Ciesielska, Obremski/Works, Amos Pinhasi, Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, E-Danza, BK Dance Project, Jaryd Farcon & Co., Sophia Perone, Rae Perry, Mark Bankin, Omnivore Dance, Lauren Mortimer, Nolan Dance Collective, Association Culturelle La Lumiere, Chapman Dance Houston, spoken movement UK, KWAM Collective, dance | Estrada, Fluxus Haus Inc.

NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICAN GALA the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, hosted their annual "Celebration of Rescue" Gala on Thursday, June 12 at the spectacular TriBeCa Rooftop under the stars, overlooking the shimmering lights of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River. This year's event drew attendees from all sectors of New York's animal-loving community and beyond, many of whom have adopted from North Shore Animal League America.

Animal lover/adopter and ABC News Chief Meteorologist/Chief Climate Correspondent Ginger Zee served as the evening's Host and North Shore Animal League America foster-parent, spokesperson, and Board Member Beth Stern was, once again, the event's Chairperson.

A rooftop cocktail hour during the evening's golden hour was followed by the night's program, which highlighted stories of the dedicated people behind-the-scenes rescuing animals and the heartwarming tales of recovery and adoptions facilitated by Animal League America. SVP of Operations Joanne Yohannan proudly shared her passion for Animal League America's no-kill mission and the organization's more than 80 years of leadership in animal welfare.

Actor/Voice Artist Hank Azaria blew the roof off the joint. Hank Azaria & The EZ Street Band delivered an amazing setlist of Bruce Springsteen tunes that had everyone up on their feet dancing and singing along to the best of The Boss.

Teri Ahearn, principal of Shell Bank Middle School in Brooklyn received the Crystal Collar Educators' Award for her work with the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum. This year's Crystal Collar Corporate Award was presented to Swiffer in recognition of their commitment to Animal League America's ongoing mission of saving the lives of animals in need.

Among the "bold face names" to stride our blue carpet while cradling adorable, adoptable puppies (and kittens!) in addition to Event Chairperson Beth Stern and her husband, radio legend Howard Stern, Host Ginger Zee and husband WPIX-11 Feature Reporter Ben Aaron, performer Hank Azaria, North Shore Animal League America SVP of Operations Joanne Yohannan, and The Rachael Ray Foundation's Rachael Ray and John Cusimano, were Actress & Author Ali Wentworth; Actress/Singer Liz Gillies; ABC News' Will Ganss; Comedian Matt Friend; Comedian Seth Herzog; WPIX-11 Anchor Hazel Sanchez; Comedian Robyn Schall; TV Producer & Personality Brian Balthazar; Fashion Designer Mark Bouwer; and North Shore Animal League America Board Member/Treasurer Don LaRocca, Jr.

Celebration of Rescue supports North Shore Animal League America's ever-expanding no-kill mission with all proceeds from the event dedicated to the ongoing no-kill mission to Rescue, Nurture, Adopt, and Educate. With this support, Animal League America will be able to save many more animals' lives and provide the best quality of life for those in their care as they await adoption into responsible, loving forever homes.

SPREADING THE WORD

MEGAN HILTY44, who has been starring as Madeine Astone in Death Becomes Her has posted that she is taking a break from the show. She emphasized the physical aspect of her role, noting she needs to take the next several weeks off to recover from a vocal injury.

The play is an adaptation of the 1992 movie by the same name featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, which has been running at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre since November 2024.

BELOVED MEL BROOKS 98, used X to announced that he is reprising his role as Yogurt in the upcoming "Spaceballs" sequel, set to hit theaters in 2027 - 40 years after the first version.

"But in 38 years there has only ever been one … SPACEBALLS," the opening crawl added, followed by, "Until now."

A video message then popped up of Brooks saying, "After 40 years we asked what do the fans want, but instead, we’re making this movie."

Brooks directed, wrote, produced and starred as dual characters Yogurt and President Skroob in "Spaceballs."

Josh Greenbaum will direct the sequel with a script from Benji Samit, Dan Hernandez and Josh Gad, who will star.

“May the Schwartz be with you!” the EGOT winner added.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP attend the opening night of "Les Misérables" at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Several drag queens also attended in protest against Trump’s complaints that the Kennedy Center had hosted too many shows featuring cross-dressing in the past.

Several other MAGA loyalists attended the show including Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha. along with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Laura Loomer, the conspiracy theorist who sometimes advises Trump.

Since its pre-Broadway run at the Kennedy Center in 1986, "Les Misérables" has changed the world of musical theater. Now, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Boublil & Schönberg’s Tony Award–winning phenomenon returns to the Opera House after its sold-out run in 2023.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, "Les Misérables" tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries, 438 cities, and 22 languages, "Les Misérables" is unquestionably one of the world’s most popular musicals.

Les Mis has performances through July 13 at the Opera House of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

PRINCE EDWARD, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH mingled with stars when he visited the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, as the iconic facility begins its centenary celebrations.

He began his visit with a tour of the EastEnders set, accompanied by Elstree's head of studios Rebecca Hawkes and Hertsmere Borough Council leader Jeremy Newmark.

On the set, he met "EastEnders" stars Adam Woodyatt and Michelle Collins, who played Ian and Cindy Beale.

The studios have earned international recognition as the production home of legendary film franchises including Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

The Duke also visited behind the scenes facilities and the set of Amazon production, The Thomas Crown Affair, where he met with double Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter and producer Patrick McCormick.

The tour concluded with The Duke meeting staff and learning more about of the history of the studios.

Established as one of Britain's earliest and most distinguished film and television production facilities, Elstree has maintained its position at the forefront of the creative industries for a full century. The royal visit highlighted the studios' enduring importance to British entertainment and its contribution to the nation's cultural heritage.

THE DOWNTOWN URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL (DUAF) now in its 23rd season, is presenting the works of 18 playwrights, including that of Tony Award winner Sarah Jones. The festival takes place through June 28 at Joe’s Pub.

In 2001, the theater program at DUAF was founded with the purpose to build a repertoire of new American theatre that echoes the true spirit of urban life and speaks to a whole new generation whose lives defy categorizing along conventional lines. That purpose has been realized, as 221 writers have created and refined their work for the stage.

The Downtown Urban Arts Festival is produced by T. Marc Newell and artistic directed by Reg E. Gaines.

Through the festival, DUAF selects theatre professionals, past DUAF alumni, and notable playwrights to attend the shows and these professionals rate each play based on content, tone, and structure. From these ratings, Best Play and Best Short are selected.

It was also announced that the DUAF Spotlight Playwright of this year’s Festival is Juan Ramirez, Jr. Spotlight Playwright is awarded to a recent DUAF alumnus who received the Best Play Award in previous DUAF festivals. DUAF seeks to highlight self-driven artists who are actively developing their craft and building careers as emerging playwrights in the American theatre. DUAF selected Juan Ramirez Jr. as the 2025 Spotlight Playwright after Juan won Best Play for his full-length work "Ridin’ Shotgun" in 2019, and through his continued hard work since starting his career with DUAF in 2017.

The Festival kicks off Tony Award winner Sarah Jones' return to the New York stage in her play "America, Who Hurt You?" at Joes Pub. The rest of the Festival is at Theatre Row.

Productions include: "Good Grief" by Marcus Harmon and "Admitted" by Juan Ramirez, Jr. and "As I Eat The World" by Luis Roberto Herrera.

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THE MERRY WIDOW by Franz Lehár.

Conducted by Stuart Stratford.

Directed by John Savournin.

Lehár’s delicious comedy of bankruptcy, infidelity, social climbing and the rekindling of romance between two old flames gets a twist of lemon in this zesty co-production from Opera Holland Park, Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera

With his family’s finances on the verge of collapse, Zeta must engineer a marriage between the playboy Danilo and Hanna, once considered too low-born to be Danilo’s bride but now a very wealthy and very independent widow. Against a backdrop of lavishly themed parties, spectacular dances, political intrigue and a subplot of brewing romance between Zeta’s wife, Valencienne, and her hapless suitor Camille, Hanna and Danilo begin to fall in love once more, now a little older and a great deal wiser.

Featuring: Paula Sides, Hanna Glawari, Alex Otterburn, Rhian Lois, William Morgan, Henry Waddington, Connor James Smith, Christopher Nairne, Matthew Siveter, Amy J Payne, Jonathan Forbes Kennedy, Francis Church, Ellie Neate, Rosie Lavery, and Matthew Kellett.

Th creatives are: takis Designer - Ben Pickersgill Lighting Designer - Kally Lloyd-Jones Choreographer - Susannah Wapshott Chorus Director, Scottish Opera - Anna Castro Grinstein Associate Conductor (conducting on 25 June).

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester - she serves as Patron - will make it a date night on June 19, attending the opening night performance on the eve of Birgitte, the Duchess of Glouceter's birthday which she celebrates of June 20th. The couple will also celebrate their 53th wedding anniversary or July 8, 2025.

The Merry Widow has performances June 19-28 at Opera Holland Park Theatre in London.

TROPHY BOYS written by Emmanuelle Mattana.

Directed by Tony Award winner Danya Taymor.

In a culture set on punishing and criticizing men for just existing, the Trophy Boys prepare for the final debate of their undefeated high school careers. Going up against their sister school, they get a debate topic so weighted there’s no way they could possibly win—or could they? What begins as a riotously funny satire turns into a sharp exploration of power and privilege, from high school to the highest circles of political influence.

Following multiple sold-out runs in Australia, playwright Emmanuelle Mattana’s Trophy Boys makes its American premiere in a thrilling new production featuring Mattana as part of the cast.

Trophy Boys is a provocative comedy about the singular pursuit of victory, and the cost of reaching it.

The cast of Trophy Boys includes Terry Hu as David, Louisa Jacobson as Jared, Esco Jouléy as Scott, and Mattana as Owen. Renita Lewis and Imani Russell are the production understudies. The role of David will be played by Renita Lewis from Friday July 11 – Sunday July 13.

Trophy Boys features scenic design by Matt Saunders, costume design by Márion Talán de la Rosa, lighting design by Cha See, sound design by Fan Zhang (The Light and The Dark), and movement by Tilly Evans-Krueger (The Outsiders). Samantha Shoffner (Wine in the Wilderness) is the Prop Supervisor, Gigi Buffington is the Voice, Text and Dialect Coach, Nicole Johnson is the DEI Consultant, and Erin Gioia Albrecht is the Production Stage Manager. Casting is by Charlie Hano, CSA and The Telsey Office.

"Trophy Boys" began previews on Thursday June 5, with an opening night set for Wednesday June 25 and a limited run through Sunday July 27, 2025 at MCC Theater’s Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater in New York City.

LOWCOUNTRY by Abby Rosebrock.

Directed by Tony nominated Jo Bonney.

When Tally, a down-and-out actress and gig worker, returns to her rural hometown, she swipes right on a disgraced high-school teacher fresh out of an ankle bracelet. "Lowcountry" is a dark, twisted romcom about the psychic distress of looking for love in the digital age and the carceral state.

"Lowcountry" is a brand-new commissioned play featuring Jodi Balfour, Keith Kupferer, and Babak Tafti .

Performances now through July 13 at the Linda Gross Theater in New York City.

THE CAVE by the award-winning, Irish writer Kevin Barry.

Directed by the Abbey’s Artistic Director Caitríona McLaughlin.

This world premiere Abbey Theatre production stars three acclaimed Irish actors, Tommy Tiernan, Aaron Monaghan and Judith Roddy.

The sold-out previews have been playing to thrilled audiences who have described it as "hugely enjoyable with an outstanding cast", "a powerful, thought provoking story"and "modern Irish writing at its best."

This unforgettable dark comedy plays on the Abbey Stage in Dublin, Ireland until July 18, 2025.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

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

FINAL OVATION

BRIAN WILSON co-founder of the Beach Boys, died June 11, 2025. He was 82.

He was their chief songwriter during the band's most productive and popular period.

In 1961, Wilson formed the Beach Boys with his brothers, Carl Wilson (lead guitar) (1946–1998) and Dennis Wilson (drums) (1944––1983), and his cousins, Mike Love and Al Jardine. The band's first hit, "Surfin'," came the following year and help define the California sound of the era: catchy songs about chasing girls and living life at the beach, with layered harmonies.

In the 1960s they rose from local California band to national hit makers to international ambassadors of surf and sun. "Wilson himself was celebrated for his gifts and pitied for his demons. He was one of rock’s great romantics, a tormented man who in his peak years embarked on an ever-steeper path to aural perfection, the one true sound."

Wilson's role in the Beach Boys went beyond just being a songwriter and pianist. He was the creative force behind many of the band's most famous songs, including "God Only Knows," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and "Good Vibrations." He also produced the band's records, bringing in new sounds and techniques that were ahead of their time. This was most apparent on 1966's "Pet Sounds," a defining album of the era now considered one of the most influential in pop music history. Its layered production techniques and complex arrangements informed countless records that followed. That same year, Wilson started work on an ambitious project called "Smile," the intended follow-up to the hugely successful "Pet Sounds." However, the album was never completed due to his declining mental health and other factors.

Wilson's struggles with his mental health led to his role in the band being severely diminished by the late 1960s, until he played barely any role at all. By the 1970s he was barely present, and by the '80s he wasn't a part of the band at all. During this time, his business and creative relationship with psychologist Eugene Landy (1934–2006) stirred controversy, due to Landy's insistence on taking a portion of Wilson's copyrights and royalties. Landy was often credited as a co-writer on Wilson's new work, despite having little to no involvement.

Despite the situation, Wilson continued to make music, both as a solo artist and with other collaborators. He released a self-titled album in 1988, which was well-received by critics. Around this time, he met Melinda Kae Ledbetter (1946–2024) at a Cadillac dealership in California. The pair began a relationship. Landy ordered Brian to cut ties with her, but after an investigation, a 1991 court order barred Landy from contacting Wilson, their controversial partnership was severed, and Wilson and Melinda married in 1995. The pair adopted five children.

Melinda Wilson is credited with helping Brian get the care he needed, and in turn re-starting his musical career, including writing new music and touring. Wilson also collaborated with artists such as Van Dyke Parks, Jeff Beck (1944–2023), and Burt Bacharach (1928–2023). In 2004, he released "Brian Wilson Presents Smile," a reimagining of the "Smile" project that he had started decades earlier. The album received critical acclaim and cemented his status as a musical legend.

He briefly reunited with the Beach Boys for a 2012 tour, and in 2016 did a world tour for the 50th anniversary of "Pet Sounds." Wilson continued to perform until 2022, when health concerns cut a tour short. Shortly thereafter, his daughter, Carnie Wilson (of the band Wilson Phillips) said her father would not be touring again.

Over the course of his career, Wilson sold millions of records, was nominated for nine Grammys (winning two), and was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame, including the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, among many other accolades. He released two memoirs, "Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story," which he later disowned, and "I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir." He is widely considered one of the greatest geniuses of 1960s music and popular music overall.

C. RAUL ESPINOZA veteran theatrical marketing consultant died Monday, June 2, 2025 in Los Angeles from cancer. He was 63.

Raul had moved to Texas and established a lucrative career in the tech industry, when, in 1999, he made the decision to follow his heart and try to make a living in theater. He returned to Los Angeles in November of that year and immersed himself in the L.A. theater scene, joining the LA Stage Alliance and volunteering with the Ovation Awards.

Raul’s good friend, Debra De Liso, was in the room one afternoon when Raul received a call from an IT firm in Dallas offering him a six-figure salary to return to IT. He turned it down on the spot, turning to her with tears in his eyes… “I can’t believe I just did that.” Raul’s first professional opportunity came when he was hired by the Mark Taper Forum as a marketing consultant for Luis Alfaro’s play Black Butterfly. That job evolved into a seven-year-long staff position with Center Theatre Group doing targeted outreach and audience development for the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre.

Beginning in 2009, when his agreement with CTG ended, until his death in 2025, Raul enjoyed a thriving freelance career in audience development, community engagement, and theatrical marketing that saw him partnering with some of the most recognizable theaters, theater companies, and independent productions in L.A., including the Hollywood Pantages, Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, A Noise Within, Independent Shakespeare Company, Rogue Machine Theatre, Skylight Theatre, Boston Court Pasadena, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Interact Theatre Company, Latino Theatre Company, Caltech Public Programming, About Productions, Sierra Madre Playhouse, and The Actors' Gang, just to name a few.

He spent three years in New York City, where he worked for The Public Theater, Shakespeare in the Park, Mobile Shakespeare Unit, the 5th Anniversary Broadway reunion concert of In The Heights, and was an adjunct member of the Broadway League's ¡Viva! Broadway initiative. For numerous years he mentored interns from the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture Summer Intern Program and conducted marketing roundtables for their Arts Tune Ups.

Raul sat on the boards of the L.A. Stage Alliance, Furious Theatre Company, and National Repertory Theatre Foundation. He was a member of the NoHo Arts Center Ensemble as well as an Associate Artist of Interact Theatre Company.

In 2024, Raul was honored by Playwrights’ Arena with the Henry Ong Community Leader Award for outstanding leadership in the Los Angeles theater community.

Raul is survived by his mother, Fanny Teresa Almaguer; his brothers, Jorge Roque Almaguer and Jose Omar Almaguer; and by his dear friend, Steve Curtis, "who was Raul’s caretaker and angel until the end."

Next Column: June 22, 2025
Copyright: June 15, 2025 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