Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: June 23, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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PAYING THEIR DUES

Alan Alda worked an assortment of odd jobs including a cab drive, dressed as a clown dancing in front business encouraging passers by to stop at the stores. He also did time as a doorman, which he enjoyed. It was while he was in that position, hailing cabs for other people, that he had an audition scheduled for a Broadway show. Pressed for time, he arrived at the audition still wearing his doorman's slacks with that stripe down the side. He got the role. A role which offered him seven lines but started his Broadway career.

Tom Arnold spent three years working at a Hormel meat plant - on the floor where the animals are slaughtered - known as the kill floor - ripping fat from the ribs of dead pigs.

Steve Buscemi was a firefighter.

George Clooney sold insurance, women's shoes and stocking shelves.

James Corden played the coronet in a Salvation Army Band.

Terry Crews was a courtroom sketch artist in Flint, Michigan.

Johnny Depp,using fake names, was a telemarketer.

Megan Fox had to dress up as a banana when she worked in a smoothie shop.

Whoopi Goldberg earned money as a beautician at a morgue, making dead people look "natural."

Jon Hamm was a high school drama teacher and also was a set designer in the pornography film industry.

Jennifer Hudson worked at a Burger King in her hometown of Chicago. In 2007, the company awarded her free Burger King for life.

Bonnie Hunt is a registered nurse who worked as an oncology nurse.

Hugh Jackman was employed as a gym teacher and a for rent party clown.

Ashton Kutcher toiled on his family’s farm then worked at General Mills, sweeping up cereal.

Eva Longoria worked at Wendy's, and later discussed their cheeseburger secrets on Rachael Ray. "What we learned at Wendy’s was mayonnaise goes on the bun first, to seal the bun, so the bun stays nice," she said. "Then you put the ketchup. And [then] mustard goes on the meat, because it brings out the flavor of meat."

Madonna worked at a Times Square outpost of Dunkin Donuts. Gossip has it she was fired for squirting jelly on a customer.

Former President Barack Obama worked at Baskin Robbins in high school. He wrote about his experience on LinkedIn.
"Scooping ice cream is tougher than it looks. Rows and rows of rock hard ice cream can be tough on the wrists."

Brad Pitt's first job in Hollywood was at an El Pollo Loco chicken restaurant, standing outside in a chicken costume waving at passing would-be customers.

Amy Poehler not only worked as an ice cream scooper at her local parlor, Chadwick's, but wrote an entire essay about it for The New Yorker.

Pope Frances, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio isn't somebody you want to mess around with. Before he joined the Society of Jesus he worked as a bouncer at a bar.

Amanda Seyfried worked in an animals hospital.

Sylvester Stalllone cleaned circus lion cages.

Taylor Swift's life before she started taking selfie's with Prince William and his family was working on Christmas tree farm. "[My job] was picking the praying-mantis pods off of the trees, collecting them so that the bugs wouldn't hatch inside people's houses," Taylor told Esquire in 2014. "The only reason that was my job was because I was too little to help lift trees"

Wanda Sykes worked at the Natonal Security Sgency (NSA) which required a security clearance. One of the requirements was never to acquire debt, because then you could be in a position to be blackmailed. When she ran up some debt over some audio equipment, she was called in and dress down. The agency loaned her some money to pay off the debt, which was taken out of her salary.

Kanya West in high school had a part time job at a mall clothing chain retailer. Think GAP.

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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

ANTHONY McCALL: SOLID LIGHT

Anthony McCall, Solid Light Films and Other Works, 1971-2014. Installation view Eye Film Museum, Amsterdam 2014. Courtesy of the artist, Sprüth Magers, and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles. Photo by Hans Wilschut. Photo: Tate Modern.

is open from June 27, 2024 - April 27, 2025 at the Tate Modern in London.

An early pioneer of experimental cinema and installation art, Anthony McCall is best known for his 'solid light' installations where projected light is visibly enhanced using a thin mist to produce solid light forms which visitors are invited to interact with. This exhibition will feature four of these immersive works as well as film, photography and archive material documenting McCall's extraordinary practice.

On Friday, June 28 , award-winning musician Celeste will give an exclusive performance at Tate Modern’s Late exploring light and film, in celebration of the work of US-based artist Anthony McCall. For one night only, Celeste will take over Tate Modern’s South Tank with a unique set performed alongside McCall’s dramatic 16mm projector. The performance will reflect on Celeste’s deep relationship with visual art, immersing audiences in a theatrical experience that blends her soothing vocals with unforgettable light installations.

Every month, Tate Modern Lates offer visitors a free evening of art, music, film and more, where like-minded creatives can come together in the heart of London’s cultural landscape. The programme for June’s event will celebrate Anthony McCall’s mesmerising sculptures of light and explore their influence across artistic genres, taking inspiration from the artist’s new solo exhibition, which will open late into the night.

Singer Celeste.

Visitors will be able to watch McCall’s animated lines come to life in the film Five Minute Drawing and hear from a host of voices who have drawn inspiration from his pioneering experimental works. Film production company Somesuch will host a series of conversations exploring the concept of light as a profound artistic tool in Tate Modern’s Starr Cinema. Filmmaker and poet Caleb Femi will be joined by directors Duncan Loudon and Tajana Tokyo to discuss immersive film.

Those looking to get hands on can join an interactive workshop led by Originary Arts, inviting visitors to create collage from old film strips, while DJ sets programmed by Global Roots will take over the gallery’s iconic Turbine Hall.

The exciting new Swatch Social space supported by Swatch will be open throughout the night, where visitors can meet artist Elena Ooijman and take part in collective breathing and movement sessions.

Celeste said “It is an honour to collaborate with Anthony McCall. Being able to perform my songs in an unconventional way and in such an immersive space, affords me the freedom and fortune of articulating my creative ambitions directly to audiences. Translating raw and human expressions are most impactful up close and in person, which Anthony’s work very much reflects. Galleries partly exist to encourage us to congregate and appreciate the value of real-life encounters. Both music and art offer personal and sensory experiences, allowing us to walk away with profound realisations of our own realties and shared existences.”

Anthony McCall: Solid Light is curated by Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art, Tate Modern and Andrew de Brún, Assistant Curator, International Art, Tate Modern.

THE BOSTON MUSEUM OF FINE ART has announced that Matthew Teitelbaum, Ann and Graham Gund Director and CEO since 2015, intends to retire from the Museum in August 2025, marking ten years as director. Under his leadership, the MFA, which was founded in 1870, has introduced new initiatives, programs, and partnerships to invite, welcome, and engage diverse audiences and build a more inclusive community of visitors, staff, volunteers, and supporters.

During his tenure Teitelbaum has focused on the future of museums, grounding the MFA as an institution that is resilient and agile in complex times.

Prior to his appointment as the 11th Director of the MFA, Teitelbaum served as the Michael and Sonja Koerner Director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. A scholar of contemporary, European and Canadian art, he holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Canadian history from Carleton University; a Master of Philosophy in modern European painting and sculpture from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London; and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Queen’s University. He is a past president of the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) and recently served as Chair of the Bizot Group (International Group of Organizers of Large Scale Exhibitions). Teitelbaum has been honored with the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government for his ongoing commitment and contributions to the arts; the RCA Medal from the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts for his outstanding support to the development of the visual arts in Canada; the Canadian Centre for Diversity’s Human Relations Award; and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) Award for arts leadership. In 2019, he was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor, which recognizes individuals who make extraordinary contributions to the nation.

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SWEET CHARITY

DAME JUDI DENCH joined yesterday's - Saturday, June 22, 2024 - Extinction Rebellion march calling on politicians to do more to protect nature. The 89-year-old actress encouraged the public to participate in the Restore Nature Now march in London on Saturday, with more than 50,000 participating.

"Despite being a nation of nature lovers, the UK's politicians are failing to protect the wildlife that we love," the veteran actress asserted.

"Pollution in our rivers and ocean, falling wildlife populations, and increased droughts and floods are all symptoms of the decline of our natural world," she continued.

"Nature needs more than sticking plaster solutions, we need our politicians to deliver a cure for nature's decline. That's why we should all join together to demand that all political parties Restore Nature Now."

Dame Emma Thompson, Chris Packham, Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, Feargal Sharkey and Dr Amir Khan also supported the protest, which aimed to send a message to elected officials to make nature and climate a higher priority in the next parliament.

More than 300 charities, businesses, and direct-action groups took part in the 'family-friendly, peaceful and legal' march.

Echoing Dame Judi's words, actor and writer Dame Emma said: "Our politicians have a legal duty and a moral responsibility to ensure the next generation have a future full of thriving nature without the threat of climate disaster hanging over their heads."

TV broadcaster and environmental campaigner Packham said: "We're standing shoulder to shoulder - whether we're from urban ponds or national nature reserves, from big charities or local direct action groups, we are all lovers of life on planet Earth and we are going to stop asking and start demanding that politicians protect the world we love. We need to shout above the noise and make a difference. We will make a last stand for nature."

The call from celebrities comes as new polling, released by Rewilding Britain, found that 77 per cent of all voters say that politicians should be doing more to reduce the decline of nature.

SPREADING THE WORD

DECODING DICKENS: THE SHORTHAND MYSTERIES a free virtual talk takes place Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 2pm (UK time) from the Charles Dickens Museum in London.

Charles Dickens’s stories are world-famous. But, more than 150 years after his death, several texts in his hand remain unread and unknown. This is because they are written in an idiosyncratic type of shorthand. Researchers and members of the public – the 'Dickens Decoders' – are working together to decipher these texts for the very first time. What does the shorthand tell us about Dickens’s life and career and what mysteries remain to be discovered?

In this online talk, Dr Claire Wood and Professor Hugo Bowles will explore the essential part that shorthand played in Dickens’s development as a writer, as well as the fascinating shorthand fragments that he left behind. You’ll learn about Gurney’s Brachygraphy – the fiendish shorthand system that Dickens mastered – and share in discoveries about Dickens’s newly deciphered shorthand manuscripts.

Dr Claire Wood is an Associate Professor of Victorian Literature at the University of Leicester, with particular interests in Dickens and Victorian death culture. Professor Hugo Bowles is an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and author of Dickens and the Stenographic Mind (Oxford University Press, 2019). Together they lead the Dickens Code project, which involves members of the public in deciphering Dickens’s mysterious shorthand.

This virtual talk is free to attend, or you can choose to make a donation. This talk will take place over zoom. The link will be sent our 1 hour before the talk begins.

GOODSPEED MUSICALS has announced the cast for Ask for the Moon, an outrageous comedy about greed, revenge and...murder. Ask for the Moon will appear at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre from July 19 – August 11 in Chester, Conn. Official Press Opening will be August 7, 2024. Opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals, The Terris Theatre is celebrating 40 years and its return to a full season of three new musicals. Set sail on the Jewel of the Sea ocean liner with a scheming widow, a vengeful lawyer, and a volatile nurse. Enjoy the vocal stylings of Misha and Grisha, the squabbling Carpathian twins. Get the latest fashion tips from Persimmon De Vol, stylist par excellence. But only venture into the Poseidon Suite at your own peril… Madness and hilarity abound in a diabolical new musical comedy that is sure to make waves. Bon voyage!

Ask for the Moon features book and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak, who will also direct the production. Music is by Oran Eldor, who was nominated for The Stage Debut Awards: “Best Composer” in London and for a META Award: “Best Composer” in Montreal for Mythic.

Schroeder/Persimmon/Misha/Grider will be played by Jamison Stern . Helene Huber will be played by Luba Mason. Charlotte St. Clair will be played by Ali Ewoldt. The Body Double will be played by Alex Dreschke.

Ask for the Moon will be choreographed by Karla Puno Garcia. Music direction will be by Ian Axness. Scenic design will be by Alexander Dodge. Costume design will be by Jen Caprio. Lighting Design will be by Philip Rosenberg. Sound design will be by Jay Hilton whoalso serves as Goodspeed’s Audio Supervisor/Resident Sound Designer. Wig, hair & make-up design will be Tom Watson. Orchestrations will be done by three-time Tony Award-winner Doug Besterman. Fight Choreographer will be Rocio Mendez. Puppet Design and Fabrication is by Simple Mischief Studio. Pamela Remler will be the Production Stage Manager. Casting for this production is by Paul Hardt / Hardt Casting.

KATHY AND STELLA SOLVE A MURDER! officially opened at Ambassadors Theatre and then the rains came down. A flood in Kathy's mum's garage took place, so everyone who attended the press performance o Kathy and Stella Solve A Murder! had to go home before they could find out WHODUNNIT!

However, nothing can rain on their parade and there’s no use crying over spilt water. So, after experiencing what must be the longest interval in the history of the west-end the press were re-invited to a special one-off Act 2-only performance on June 19.

Their ability to keep performing may have been water logged, but the venue then offered 50 pairs of free tickets to the general public with the caveat that those in attendance "keep the secrets" and "don't share any Act 2 spoilers with the other attendees." Then the attendees were asked to post their favorite song lyric from the show. Getting water on the brain can do that to a person. The show is playing a strictly limited engagement until September 14 at Ambassadors Theatre in London.

THE 92ND STREET Y, NEW YORK (92NY) has announced its 2024/25 Tisch Music Season.

“The 2024/25 Tisch Music Season offers a rich kaleidoscope of vanguard artists and modern legends performing hallmarks of the repertoire as well as an array of contemporary music, a stage for some of the most forward-thinking artists in jazz, and an opportunity for iconic musical theater composers and legendary singer-songwriters to share their singular viewpoints on the American Songbook,” said Nicholas Russotto, Executive Director, Tisch Music. “I am thrilled to be leading Tisch in my first season as executive director and look forward to building seasons that consider the future of the performing arts, as we think expansively about the artists and the work that we feature on our stages."

Highlights of the 2024/25 Tisch Music Season include:

Premieres of new works from Pulitzer Prize winners Caroline Shaw and Tyshawn Sorey, performances by acclaimed new music ensembles So Percussion and Wild Up, and many others; 29 92NY concert debuts, including by superstar early-music ensemble Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, phenom young supergroup OWLS, UK’s preeminent baroque ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and Grammy Award-winners Jordi Savall and Brad Mehldau; Expanded American Songbook offerings of exclusive concerts by Broadway icons Kelli O’Hara, Heather Headley, Alex Newell, and Darren Criss; Presentations from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music, NEA Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim, Grammy Award-winners Pacifica Quartet & Catalyst Quartet, Lakecia Benjamin Quartet, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; 2024/25 Lyrics & Lyricists series celebrates the legendary artistry of luminaries Jonathan Larson, Nina Simone, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Kander & Ebb; plus, a one-night-only special event with the legendary Rosanne Cash.

Over the past century and a half, 92NY has grown into one of New York City’s — and the world’s — most influential cultural institutions. This season builds exponentially on the organization’s rich history of presenting the best and most innovative musicians performing across a wide range of genres, from classical to jazz, advancing and expanding each genre through commissions and multi-disciplinary collaborations. With this, his first season as Executive Director of Tisch Music, Nicholas Russotto has created an exciting season including Four World, One U.S., and 19 New York Premieres, and returning Tisch Music favorites, expanding the scope of offered programming.

THE CASPER, WYOMING COMIC CON will be held at the Ford Wyoming Center on June 29th. Dawn your best cosplays and enjoy the “convergence of comics, cosplay, art, and collectibles” for a break from the heat and the love of pop culture!

DIVO TO DIVA with big wigs, over-the-top looks, and comedic charm, local drag star Anita Spritzer brings musical theater and operatic selections to her live one woman show, accompanied by pianist Jay Rozendaal. June 27, 2024 at Seattle Opera in Seattle, Washington.

WHO INAUGURATES THE FIVE CENT POSTAL HIKE STAMP?

Correct answer? Alex Trebek.

If something unpleasant is about to happen the best way to smooth over the situation is to have someone beloved serve as a buffer.

Nobody is more beloved than the late Alex Trebek.

The price of a first class mail Forever stamp will increase from 68 cents to 73 cents on July 14, 2024.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Friday that it will honor Alex Trebek, the late host of the game show mainstay Jeopardy!," with his own stamp.

Price of the stamp? 73 cents.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Alex Trebek stamp is free and open to the public, taking place Monday, July 22 at John Calley Park, Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, CA.

In attendance will be Michael Elston, Secretary of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, Ken Jennings, Jeopardy host and Jean Trebek, widow of Alex Trebek.

This stamp commemorates Alex Trebek (1940–2020), the longtime host of the television quiz show Jeopardy who became a respected and beloved presence in millions of homes. Earlier this year the show's 60th Diamond Celebration was launched to celebrate the remarkable legacy of America's Favorite Quiz Show.

The grid of 20 identical stamps resembles the array of video monitors that form the Jeopardy game board.

On the stamp is written the prompt, “THIS NATURALIZED U.S. CITIZEN HOSTED THE QUIZ SHOW ‘JEOPARDY!’ FOR 37 SEASONS” and underneath, upside down, is the correct response: "Who is Alex Trebek?"

On the stamp pane, relevant category headers appear at the top of each column of stamps, and to the left is a photograph of Trebek with a portion of the Jeopardy! set behind him.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using photography provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment and hand lettering by Marti Davila.

The Alex Trebek stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

Jeopardy!, America’s Favorite Quiz Show, is in its 40th season in syndication. With a weekly audience of more than 20 million viewers, Jeopardy! is the top-rated quiz show on television. The show has won a total of 44 Emmy Awards, holds the Guinness World Records title for the most Emmy Awards won by a TV game show, and received a Peabody Award for "celebrating and rewarding knowledge." It originally debuted on March 30, 1964. Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Co.; it is distributed domestically by CBS Media Ventures and internationally by Paramount Global Content Distribution, both units of Paramount.

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LORD LLOYD WEBBER AND THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. Photo: The Royal Family

On Monday, June 17, 2024 members of the British royal family came together to celebrate the Order of the Garter, a tradition that has hundreds of years of history. Established in the 1300s by King Edward III, the Order of the Garter includes the reigning monarch, the Prince of Wales and two dozen knights and ladies.

According to the royal family's website, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table during his reign in the 1300s that he set up the Order of the Garter as his own group of honorable noblemen. At the annual service, the monarch formally invests any new Companions with the Order's insignia in the Throne Room of Windsor Castle. The members and officers then attend a lunch hosted by the sovereign then all process on foot to a service in St. George's Chapel where new Companions are installed.

The appointments are wholly based on the monarch’s decision, and include more than just members of the British royal family and international royals. King Charles made four new appointments to the Order of the Garter - Air Chief Marshal Lord Peach; the Right Honourable Lord Kakkar; the Duchess of Gloucester as a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. The last two are of interest to Broadway To Vegas readers.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has been musically involved with the royal family for decades.

King Charles turned to The Phantom Of The Opera;Evital; Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats composer for flagship coronation music Lloyd Webber, said he was "incredibly honored" to be involved.

Lord Lloyd-Webber also wrote a musical for Queen Elizabeth II at the request of her son Prince Edward to celebrate her 60th birthday. The theatre impresario, revealed that his composition, which he penned with Tim Rice, was performed at Windsor, which resulted in Prince Edward working for Lloyd Webber's company, including serving time in New York City. In 2012, Lord Lloyd-Webber and Take That’s Gary Barlow composed the Queen’s official Diamond Jubilee single, Sing, which he played for the monarch.

Lord Lloyd Webber has composed 21 musicals, a song cycle, a set of variations, two film scores, and a Latin Requiem Mass.

Lloyd Webber has received numerous awards, including a knighthood in 1992, followed by a peerage for services to the arts, six Tonys, seven Olivier Awards, three Grammys (as well as the Grammy Legend Award), an Academy Award, 14 Ivor Novello Awards, a Golden Globe, a Brit Award, the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors, and two Classic Brit Awards (for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2008, and for Musical Theatre and Education in 2018). In 2018, after Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), he became the thirteenth person to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Grammy, and a Tony. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is an inductee into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.

Birgitte, The Duchess of Gloucester. Photo: The Royal Family

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester is married to Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. A first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Richard was appointed to the Order of the Garter in 1997. His wife, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, was appointed to the Order of the Garter in 2024 breaking a tough, double pane glass ceiling.

For decades the self-effacing Birgitte has been working under the radar to help the Monarchy. She never deliberately calls attention to herself, but rather to the charities or the events which she is supporting. Never short of appearing band box elegant, she is a supportive working royal, an enormous asset to the Crown.

That was never acknowledged more publicity than King Charles bestowing upon her the coveted Order of the Garter. The decision was unexpected, as the Duchess of Gloucester became the first non-blood royal who wasn't married to the monarch or the heir to the throne.

According to the royal family's official website, she supports over 60 organizations across the arts, the military, sports, health, welfare and education. She's also a regular face at royal events.

MAX ROACH one of the greatest jazz drummers of all time, was honored on Juneteenth when the corner of Greene and Marcy Aves. in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn was named after him. The naming of Max Roach Way ceremony was emceed by Brooklyn City Councilman Chi Ossé. The ceremony also included performances and guest speakers. Members of Roach’s family attended.

1984 NEA Jazz Master, the broad-based percussionist who was a pioneer in establishing a fixed pulse on the ride cymbal instead of the bass drum, Roach was one of the two leading drummers of the bebop era (along with Kenny Clarke) and was one of the leading musicians, composers, and bandleaders in jazz since the 1940s. His often biting political commentary and strong intellect, not to mention his rhythmic innovations, kept him at the vanguard of jazz for more than 50 years.

SHERRI EDEN BARBER has been named Artistic Director of Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, CA filling the position left open by the departure of Matt M. Morrow in June of 2023.

Sherri is a recipient of The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Directors Fellowship, a Drama League Directing Fellow, and recipient of the US/UK Exchange Award.

Diversionary Theatre is the nation’s third-oldest LGTBQIA+ theatre dedicated to amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices through the performing arts in a dynamic, inclusive, and provocative environment that celebrates and preserves their unique culture while contributing to an environment of diversity and inclusion throughout the broader community.

GEORGE STRAIT broke the record for the largest U.S. ticketed show when he stepped onstage at Kyle Field at Texas A&M in College Station a week ago. Roughly 110,905 fans packed into the iconic venue to sing along with the superstar. This massive crowd officially broke the record for biggest concert in American history. Previously, the record was held by a crowd of 107,019 people who attended a Grateful Dead concert at Raceway Park (New Jersey) in 1977. Kyle Field is the home of the Texas A&M Aggies and can normally hold 102,733 people.

HANG IN THERE . . . .

SIR IAN McKELLLEN 85, lost his footing and fell off the stage in a fight scene involving Toheeb Jimoh’s Prince Hal and Henry Percy, played by Samuel Edward-Cook, during a performance of Player King at London's Noel Coward Theatre.

McKellen cried out in pain after the fall, according to a BBC journalist at the theater. McKellen was playing the roguish John Falstaff in Player Kings, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s two "Henry IV" history plays, directed by Robert Icke.

Staff and two doctors in the audience helped the actor, the theater said in a statement. The theater was evacuated and the performance was canceled. "He was taken to hospital after the accident, with performances on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday all cancelled to give him time to rest," stated the venue.

The final London performances took place this past week with understudy David Semark assuming the role.

"After three nights in hospital, the effects of my fall onstage have been fully analyzed and I'm now having physiotherapy, light exercise and a lot of essential rest at home," he posted on X.

"I want to thank everyone for their kind messages and support. Since the accident, during a performance of Player Kings last night, my injuries have been diagnosed and treated by a series of experts, specialists and nurses working for the National Health Service. To them, of course, I am hugely indebted. They have assured me that my recovery will be complete and speedy and I am looking forward to returning to work. The many messages of love and support will, I am sure, aid the speedy recovery that my doctors have promised me.

McKellen has won a Tony Award — for Amadeus” — several Olivier Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards, five Emmys and several BAFTA awards.

MARK CHESNUTT who is recovering after undergoing emergency quadruple bypass surgery The "Blame It on Texas" hitmaker was hospitalized on Sunday, June 16 "I send my love and gratitude to my family and friends, the band and fans for your understanding, prayers and support, and look forward to seeing you all again soon at a honky tonk near you," Chesnutt said in a message shared to Instagram "Mark Chesnutt, one of the most signatured country music voices of the 90s and a honky tonk mainstay for more than three decades, experienced a heart health issue over the weekend that hospitalized him Sunday evening, June 16; Mark underwent emergency quadruple bypass surgery," the caption, shared alongside a photo of the country crooner pointing at the camera, read. "The recuperation time will make it necessary to cancel show dates. Please respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time of recovery," the message continued. Chesnutt was due to take to the stage on Friday, June 21, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, before heading to George West, Texas on Saturday, June 22. He was set to tour the U.S. through summer, but is seemingly pushing all the dates back as he recovers. He was also getting ready to perform at Dauphin's Countryfest 2024 in Canada on Sunday, June 30.

Chesnutt had been admitted to a local hospital on Nov. 1, 2023, and underwent a medical evaluation. On Nov. 14, 2023, Chesnutt revealed in an Instagram post that he'd been dealing with "extreme health issues."



UNBROKEN BLOSSOMS by Philip W. Chung.

Directed by Jeff Liu.

The story of the silenced voices behind the real silent film Broken Blossoms. This play is a historical reimagining of the making of the boundary-breaking Hollywood classic that shines a light on the collateral damage in the search for "authentic" representation, and asks what price we pay for our art.

The play follows Moon, an idealistic family man, and James, a cynical, aspiring filmmaker. The two are hired as the Chinese American consultants for Broken Blossoms, Hollywood's first onscreen interracial love story... between a white actress and a white actor in yellowface makeup. If the circumstances weren’t already questionable enough, the consultants must contend with the outsized ego of the film's director D.W. Griffith, who is attempting to belie criticisms of racism after the release of his controversial film The Birth of a Nation. Based on actual events, this world premiere production illuminates a historical conflict just behind the silver screen.

Unbroken Blossoms was originally presented in 2015 by Visual Communications in partnership with East West Players, and was also a semi-finalist for the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference.

The cast includes Gavin Kawin Lee as James Leong, Ron Song as Moon Kwan, Arye Gross as D.W. Griffith, Alexandra Hellquist as Lillian Gish/Gilda, and Conlan Ledwith as Richard Barthelmess. Paul Dateh understudies the roles of James and Moon, Ty Aldridge understudies the roles of Richard and Griffith, and Valerie Rose Lohman understudies the role of Lillian.

The creative team includes intimacy direction by Shinshin Yuder Tsai, fight choreography by Cesar Cipriano, scenic design by Mina Kinukawa, projection design by Sam Clevenger, properties design by Michael O'Hara, costume design by Jaymee Ngernwichit, lighting design by Wes Charles Chew, assistant lighting design by Kelly Rodriguez, sound design by Cinthia Nava, stage management by Brandon Hong Cheng, and assistant stage management by Irene DH Lee.

Originally presented as a staged reading in 2015 by Visual Communications in partnership with East West Players, Unbroken Blossoms will have its world premiere at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles June 27 through July 21, 2024 with opening night on Sunday, June 30th, 2024.

East West Players (EWP), one of the nation’s oldest theaters of color is the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works.

DREAMGIRLS book and lyrics by Tom Eyen. Music by Henry Krieger.

Directed by Robert Clater.

Lesia Kaye Choreographer.

Anne Shuttlesworth music director/conductor.

A smash-hit Broadway musical that became an Oscar-nominated film, Dreamgirls follows an all-girl Motown singing group on the path from obscurity to superstardom in the 1960s and ’70s. Along the way, the rising stars must question the price of their success and the meaning of family. It’s a whirlwind ride through the highs and lows of showbiz in an era of change in American pop music.

Featuring: Tiffany Mann, Aisha Jackson, Courtnee Carter, Tony nominated Charl Brown, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Ron Himes, Aramie Payton, Robby Clater, Natalie Kaye Clater, and Kayle E. Rush as the standby for the character of Effie Melody White.

Ensemble and Swings: Travante S. Baker, Lamont Brown, Ian Campayno, Kylie Edwards, Lexie Faith, Julia Grondin, Sophia Hillman, Kennedy Holmes, Dan Horn, Gabriel Kearns, ZaKeyia Lacey, Nathaniel Mahone, Collin Milfort, Pershard Owens, Alanna Porter, Ranease Ryann, Owen Scales, Duncan Smith, TJ Staten, Richard E. Waits. Understudies: For Deena Jones: Natalie Kaye Clater. For Lorrell Robinson: Kylie Edwards. For Marty: Richard E. Waits.

Youth Ensemble: DeKylah Epps, Laila Fantroy, Owen Hanford, Lili Hart, Michael Hunter, Ben Iken, JJ Jones, Kayla Montgomery, Rebecca Mooney, Landon Page, Lilly Smith, Thomas Woodrow The creatives are: Ed Haynes scenic design - Leon Dobkowski costume design - Rob Denton lighting design - John Shivers co-sound design - David Patridge co-sign design - Elaine McCarthy video design - Kelley Jordan wig design - Michael J. Passaro production stage manager.

June 27 – July 3 at The Muny in St. Louis, MO.

E-Book

Soft back Book

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.

CURTAIN DOWN

THE HEART OF ROCK AND ROLL will play its final performance at the James Earl Jones Theatre on June 23.

As of the final performance, the Huey Lewis jukebox musical will have played 24 previews and 72 performances.

FINAL OVATION

DONALD SUTHERLAND was a Canadian actor and anti-war activist whose film career spanned over seven decades died June 14, 2024 in Miami, Florida. He was 88.

He received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics Choice Award. In October 2023, Canada Post issued a stamp in his honor, commemorating his career as one of Canada's most respected and versatile actors.

Several notable Canadians, including Sutherland, carried the Olympic flag at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver.

Sutherland was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on 18 December 1978 and promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada in 2019. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2000. He maintained a home in Georgeville, Quebec.

While he gained worldwide fame thanks to his movie and television roles, he began his career on the stage.

Sutherland studied at Victoria University, an affiliated college of the University of Toronto, where he met his first wife Lois May Hardwick (not to be confused with the child star Lois Ann Hardwick), and graduated with a double major in engineering and drama. He had at one point been a member of the "UC Follies" comedy troupe in Toronto. He changed his mind about becoming an engineer, and left Canada for Britain in 1957, studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After departing the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Sutherland spent a year and a half at the Perth Repertory Theatre in Scotland.

Sutherland married three times. His first marriage, to Lois May Hardwick, lasted from 1959 to 1966. His second marriage, which lasted from 1966 to 1970, was to Shirley Douglas, daughter of Canadian social democratic politician and the "father" of Canada's universal healthcare system, Tommy Douglas. Sutherland and Douglas have two children, twins Kiefer and Rachel. From 1970 to 1972, he had an affair with married Klute co-star Jane Fonda.

Sutherland married French Canadian actress Francine Racette in 1972, after meeting her on the set of the Canadian pioneer drama Alien Thunder. They have three sons – Rossif Sutherland, Angus Redford Sutherland, and Roeg Sutherland – all of whom were named after directors Sutherland had worked with. Kiefer is named after American-born director and writer Warren Kiefer, who, under the assumed name of Lorenzo Sabatini, directed Sutherland in his first feature film, the Italian low-budget horror film Il castello dei morti vivi (Castle of the Living Dead); Roeg is named after director Nicolas Roeg; Rossif is named after French director Frédéric Rossif; and Angus Redford has his middle name after Robert Redford.

EVANS EVANS FRANKENHEIMER who played the character Velma Davis in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde alongside Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, died on Sunday, June 16 in Sherman Oaks, CA. She was 91.

Evans appeared in more than 25 film and television projects. Evans also starred on Broadway in 1957's The Dark at the Top of the Stairs followed by A Distant Bell and The 49th Cousin in 1960.

Evans was The Manchurian Candidate director John Frankenheimer's third wife. They remained married for 41 years until his death,

Next Column: June 30, 2024
Copyright: June 23, 2024 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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