Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: June 4, 2023
By: Laura Deni
CLICK HERE FOR COMMENT SECTION

BROADWAY CAST RECORDING OF & JULIET PERFECT SUMMER LISTENING

Max Martin is a Swedish hitmaker who has devised a clever way to reinvent his own songs, taking advantage of his 25 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since 1998. We not only know the tunes but then Martin decides to upend the most oft told love story of all time Romeo and Juliet. This screw ball idea shouldn't have worked, but it does - delightfully.

The award winning & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City, flips the script on the greatest love story ever told, imagining what would happen next if Juliet hadn’t ended it all over Romeo, and got a second chance at life and love - on her terms. Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, again, all written by Max Martin and his collaborators.

Music orchestrated by Bill Sherman and Dominic Fallacaro D provides a seminal lesson on the importance of arrangements and orchestrations, as the song list includes songs made famous by Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Katy Perry and more.

This production has, among others, a Tony nomination for Best Orchestrations.

If you're tryng to relate to a teenager, this score is for you. It's a rock score, but not the type of rock that is grating or makes your ears bleed. This is dancing pop anthems rock. Perfect for exercising or getting you out of bed in the morning.

The Broadway cast recording also has perfect sound balance, which also helps for listening pleasure. Yes, after awhile the beat starts to sound the same, but consider the hits including in this recording and what else would you expect? While a recording from the London cast was laid down in 2019 this recording features the exceptional Broadway cast: Philippe Arroyo as Francois - Lorna Courtney as Juliet - Melanie La Barrie as Angélique - Stark Sands as Shakespeare - Justin David Sullivan as May - Tony winner Paulo Szot as Lance - Ben Jackson Walker as Romeo - Betsy Wolfe as Anne - Brandon Antonio as Richard - Michael Iván Carrier as Thomas - Nico DeJesus as Cuthbert - Nicholas Edwards as Lord Capulet and Sly - Virgil Gadson as Augustine - Bobby "Pocket" Horner as Rumour - Joomin Hwang as Kempe - Megan Kane as Lucy - Alaina Vi Maderal as Gwynn - Daniel J. Maldonado as Fletcher - Joe Moeller as Henry - Brittany Nicholas as Margaret - Veronica Otim as Lady Capulet and Nell - Jasmine Rafael as Imogen - Matt Raffy as Gregory - Tiernan Tunnicliffe as Eleanor and Benvolio - Rachel Webb as Judith.

Paulo Szot is a Brazilian operatic baritone singer and actor. He made his opera debut in 1997 and his international career has included performances with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala di Milano, Opera de Paris, Bayerische Staatsoper, Opera Australia, Liceo de Barcelona, among many others. On Broadway he got hearts fluttering when he played Emile de Becque in South Pacific delivering show stopping numbers such as This Nearly was Mine.

In this production he plays Lance, a wealthy man Juliet meets while in Paris. As Lance he's a father on the brink of figuring out his relationship with his son. As it is explained, Lance starts the show as a "blocking character" keeping his son from following his heart, but by the end of & Julie Lance embodies the spirit of radical inclusion. He's the only parent in the story who actually listens to his child. Szot can be heard singing Katy Perry's Teenage Dream/ Break Free; Everybody and Shape of my Heart.

A movie version of & Juliet would be a chick flick. As a stage production it's a girls rule, jukebox musical. With layered humor and an abundance of twists and turns. There are so many tropes that if you haven't seen the live production listening to the recording won't provide you with the plot-line. Just listen and enjoy the music. If you've seen the production, then the recording is a nice souvenir and reminder.

Juliet (Lorna Courtney) doesn’t die but rather wakes up dazed, confused and emotional. After all, Romeo had committed suicide. She laments in Baby One More Time, performed in front of Romeo's sarcophagus while wearing her funeral dress accessorized by headphones and a Walkman. The recording comes with a booklet filled with pictures. This ditzy story then moves to Paris where Juliet is presented with a new boyfriend — François du Bois (Philippe Arroyo) whom she does agree to marry. Oops! . . . I Did It Again. However, François du Bois is enamored with another. The plot now twists its way through several Shakespearean minefields; comic mismatches, reunited lovers (Paulo Szotas as Lance and Melanie La Barrie as Angélique) and the return of yet another character from the grave - yes, Romeo.

Betsy Wolfe as Anne delivers a heartfelt, splendid rendition of the Celine Dion hit That’s the Way It Is.

The 30 songs are snippets - no long, drawn out, dramatic Broadway ballads. Although there are a few rhythm changes, such as the second number I Want It That Way which begins more soothing before breaking out into rock. Third cut Baby, One More Time features a more pronounced, dramatic beat. - basically this is a rock album and tempos traditionally turn into similarities.

Blow is revved up, high octane with the following number I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman being melodic, with a soft piano and soul searching lyrics, sung by Justin David Sullivan with an assistant from Lorna Courtney.

Overprotected is talk-sung by Philippe Arroyo and Courtney. Next up is a take no prisoners, beat heavy Confident which almost defies you not to stand up and move. Paulo Szot's dramatic, well trained voice comes through on Teenage Dream/Break Free countered by the rocker voice of Melanie La Barrie. I Kissed A Girl is precisely the same beat as on the hit version by Katy Perry. The beat continues with It's My Life. - and that's just the first half.

One of the most beautiful renditions is the 20th cut -That's The Way It Is with beautiful harmony by -Betsy Wolfe and Lorna Courtney.

Track 25 Shape of My Heart features Szot in as close to a traditional Broadway delivery that you'll hear on this recording. Backed by a piano, Szot is joined by Philippe Arroyo and Justin David Sullivan.

#27 Roar (Eye of the Tiger) is a showstopper. Lorna Courtney's voice is outragiously fantastic.

In addition to photographs the booklet concentrates on providing proper legal credit for each and every number. No lyrics or scene descriptions.

A fun listen. Perfect for summertime lying on the beach and listening through your headphones.

The Band:
Musical Supervisor: Bill Sherman; Musical Coordinator: Michael Aarons; Conducted by Dominic Fallacaro; Associate Conductor: Haley Bennett; Keyboard: Dominic Fallacaro and Haley Bennett; Guitars: Mike Bono; Bass/Synth Bass: Alexandra Eckhardt; Drums: Sam Merrick; Concertmaster: Mary Jo Stilp; Violin: Maria Im; Viola: Ina Paris; Cello: Adele Stein.

Recorded at Power Staton at Berklee NYC. Mixed at Hansa Mix Room, Berlin, Germany. Mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound. Music Preparation by Emly Grishman Music Preparation.

Recorded by Michael Ilbert and Derek Lee. Additional production and editing by Peter Carlss. Additional Editing Tyler Hartman, Lke Klingensmith. Assistant Engineer/vibes Hemry Reinach. Additional Assistant Engineers Michael Hickey, Teng Chen. Production Manager Jill Dell'abate.

Music Coordinator Michael Aarons M2Music. Additional Ableton Programming Scott Wasserman. Music Technology Programming Phij Adams. US Music Technology Randy Cohen, Cohen Keyboards. Keyboard Techs Randy Cohen, Julianne Merrill, Nicholas Schenkel, Sam Starobin. Drum Tech Martin Yee.

Book by David West Read the Emmy Award-winning writer from Schitt's Creek. Music by Max Martin; Lyrics by five-time Grammy Award winner Max Martin; Music and Lyrics by Max Martin and Friends: Klas Åhlund, Dido Armstrong, Jon Bon Jovi, Andreas Carlsson, Robyn Carlsson, Jessica Cornish, Cathy Dennis, Lukasz Gottwald, Ariana Grande, Allan Grigg, Amethyst Amelia Kelly, Claude Kelly, Savan Kotecha, Benjamin Levin, Brian Littrell, Tove Lo, Demetria Lovato, Kristian Lundin, Bonnie McKee, Lisa Miskovsky, Alecia Moore, Ali Payami, Katy Perry, Denniz PoP, Ilya Salmanzadeh, Richard S. Sambora, Kesha Sebert, Shellback, Peter Andres Svensson, Abel Tesfaye, Justin Timberlake, Henry Walter, Rami Yacoub and Anton Zaslavski.

Musical Director: Dominic Fallacaro; Music orchestrated by Bill Sherman; Music arranged by Bill Sherman; Additional orchestrations by Dominic Fallacaro; Additional arrangements by Dominic Fallacaro.

Recording contains a parental advisory "explicit content." Released on Atlantic Records.

E-Book

Soft back Book

Broadway To Vegas is supported through advertising and donations. Priority consideration is given to interview suggestions, news, press releases, etc from paid supporters. However, no paid supporters control, alter, edit, or in any way manipulate the content of this site. Your donation is appreciated. We accept PAYPAL.

Thank you for your interest.

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.

ART AND ABOUT

FREDDIE MERCURY: A WORLD OF HIS OWN

Freddie Mercury’s arrow leather stage jacket. Worn for Queen’s first and only appearance on Saturday Night Live, September 25, 1982 – Mercury’s last ever performance in the USA. Photo: Sotheby's.

presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the private collection of a global icon.

This rich legacy will now be shared for the very first time through a series of auctions and a blockbuster exhibition at Sotheby’s London, preceded by preview exhibitions in our galleries across the globe.

On display through June 8 in New York before moving to Sotheby's Los Angeles for a showing June 14-18 followed by stops at Sotheby's Hong Kong June 26-30 and finally London August 4- September 5. The live auction begins September 6, 2023.

Two of the items up for bid:

Freddie Mercury’s arrow leather stage jacket. Worn for Queen’s first and only appearance on Saturday Night Live, September 25, 1982 – Mercury’s last ever performance in the USA.

Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 GBP.

Freddie Mercury’s autograph working lyrics for Bohemian Rhapsody (c. 1974). Written in black and blue ballpoint pen and pencil, this early draft for Bohemian Rhapsody encompasses all sections of this most ambitious of Queen hits, which today still ranks as the third best-selling UK single of all time. As with many of the lyrics held within this collection, the draft text is written across 15 pages of stationery from the now defunct 'British Midland Airways'. Revealing untold insights into other possible directions this song could have taken, one page – for example – reveals an early alternative title for the song as "Mongolian Rhapsody" with the words first underlined and then crossed out and replaced with the words, "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Estimate: £800,000 - £1.2 million.

THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM will present its 10th annual Real to Reel: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQ+s in Hollywood exhibit opening on June 9, 2023 to the public, in celebration of LGBTQ+ Heritage Month.
br> The festivities kick off with a VIP award presentation on Thusday, June 8, honoring Lorna Luft (The Judy Garland Legacy Award, presented by Michael Feinstein), Kevin Spirtas (The Trailblazer Award, presented by Dee Wallace) and JoJo Siwa (The Future of Hollywood Award, presented by Raven-Symoné) and special guest Reverend Steve Pieters. This educational, entertaining and informative retrospective of LGBTQ images in film and television featuring costumes, props, photos, and iconic imagery will tell the story of the milestones and influence that LBGTQ characters and plot lines have had in Hollywood from early stereotypes to modern day representations.

Expected to stride down the June 8th Red Carpet are: Donelle Dadigan Founder/President of the Hollywood Museum, Fiona Ma (CA State Treasurer), Maria-Elena Durazo (CA State Senator), Hugo Soto-Martinez (LA Council member/CD-13/LA Pride!), Stefanie Powers (Hart to Hart/Woman From Uncle), George Chakiris (West Side Story), Carolyn Hennesy (GH / Trueblood), Alice Amter (Big Bang Theory), Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie), Anson Williams (Happy Days), Blake Jenner (What/If), Dee Wallace (ET: The Extraterrestrial/CUJO), Erin Murphy (Bewitched), Geoffrey Mark (Best Selling Author), Ilene Graff (Mr Belevdre), JoJo Siwa (Siwas Dance Pop Revolution/Honoree), Kate Linder (Y&R), Kathy Kolla (Mayhem of the Mind), Kevin Spirtas (After Forever/Days of Our Lives/Honoree), Lee Purcell (2x Emmy Nominee), Lorna Luft (Grease 2/Trapper John, M.D./Honoree), Lydia Cornell (Too Close For Comfort), Michael Feinstein (Award Winning Recording Artist), Nimi Adokiye (Infamy), Rev. Steve Pieters (The Eyes of Tammy Faye), Randy West (Announcer), Raven-Symone (Raven’s Home), Rico Anderson (Truth Be Told), Rufus Wainwright (Rufus Does Judy), Steven Wishnoff (OZ / Life Interrupted), Thomson Gordon (Dynasty), Tyrone BuBose (Unsung), Vanessa Angel (Johnny & Clyde), and more.

The exhibit revisits monumental LGBTQ moments in history with exhibit items that include a Who's Who in LGBTQ+ entertainment costumes, props and memorabilia. The exhibit features personal artifacts from popular LGBTQ+ artists and gay icons from television, film and music: Judy Garland, Cher, Joan Rivers, Whitney Houston, Al Pacino, Dame Edna, Songwriter Alan Rich, The Pointer Sisters, "Broke Back Mountain" with Heath Ledger and Jake Gylinhal, Jim Parsons from "The Big Bang Theory," "Bohemian Rhapsody" starring Rami Malick, Superheroes, "RuPaul's Drag Race" & drag legends including Jim Bailey and CoCo Peru, as well as Gay Comedy Icons including Bruce Vilanch & Paul Jacek. Also highlighted in the exhibit will be special costumes from this years Honoree’s JoJo Siwa concert costume, Kevin Spirtas' costumes from his hit show "After Forever,” and Lorna Luft's jacket worn in the film "Grease 2," and more.

BESPOKE BODIES The Design & Craft of Prosthetics will be on view at The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO from June 8, 2023 to April 7, 2024.

The major traveling exhibition from Design Museum Everywhere explores the past, present and future of prosthetic design.

The exhibition features stories from professional athletes, veterans, children, and other users who collaborated with Prosthetists and designers to create prostheses with improved functionality, comfort, adaptability, and aesthetics.

Bespoke Bodies combines these experiences with contemporary and historical artifacts showcasing the innovations and impact of prosthetic design.

The exhibition also features objects from the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s collection of artifacts from the Great War – a pivotal time in the field of prosthetics.

The artifacts provide a unique historical context to explore urgent contemporary conversations around design and disability. Bespoke Bodies features close to 50 examples from around the world — spanning a prosthetic arm with a lego attachment to mind-controlled bionic limbs.

Visitors will be invited to explore the evolution of prosthetic devices through visual stories, historical timelines, and videos. These stories demonstrate that when more perspectives of people who use prostheses are part of the creation process, the better the design.

Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics premiered in 2018 at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon. The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be its fifth location.

Bespoke Bodies is in collaboration with Design Museum Everywhere. Based in Boston, Design Museum Everywhere is a new kind of museum focused on design impact. Their mission: Inspire social change through the transformative power of design.

E-Book

Soft back Book

SWEET CHARITY

HOLLYWOOD BOWL OPENING NIGHT takes place June 10, 2023 with Janet Jackson as the headliner.

The celebrated music icon behind All for You; Rhythm Nation; Nasty; That’s the Way Love Goes, plus the Grammy Award-winning rapper Ludacris kicks off a night not to be missed.

All proceeds from Hollywood Bowl Opening Night benefit the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its Learning and community programs.

RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE SUMMER GALA takes place Friday, June 9, at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT.

Buddy Guy with his Damn Right Farewell Tour stars along with special guest 6-time Grammy-nominated pedal steel sensation, Robert Randolph, to collaborate with Buddy on select songs.

Since 2007, blues icon Buddy Guy has graced the Playhouse stage 9 times. This event will mark Buddy and his band's 10th and final appearance at the Playhouse, as part of his aptly named 2023 Damn Right Farewell Tour. The 8-time Grammy Award-winner will treat the audience to songs from his more than 50-year repertoire, including songs from his latest #1 album, The Blues Don’t Lie.

PLAYHOUSE SQUARE BENEFIT takes place June 10, 2023. Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio hosts one major fundraiser each year to support their innovative arts education programs. The event includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner on one of lobbies or stages, a VIP performance, and a Can you Can, Can? dessert and dancing reception with live entertainment and dancing.

The evening will feature a full performance of Moulin Rouge The Musical, part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. Parisian or Cocktail Attire requested.

Benefit co- chairs are Dee Haslam and Beth Mooney.

Proceeds of the 2023 event will specifically support three programs that truly embody Playhouse Square’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion: Streaming Initiatives, Sensory-Friendly Performances, and our Social-Justice Series. Together, these three programs last year impacted over 120,000 children and adults in 26 counties as they enriched children and adults of all backgrounds, abilities and means with nationally recognized performances and arts education.

GOODSPEED MUSICALS' 60TH ANNIVERSARY GALA & AUCTION takes place Monday, June 12, 2023 with Tony & Grammy Award-Winner Jennifer Holliday headlining.

The grand evening will take place under a tent on the Goodspeed lawn, alongside the scenic Connecticut River. Guests will enjoy reminiscing about their favorite musicals shared with family and friends over the years as they mark Goodspeed’s diamond anniversary.

Festivities will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a four-course dinner provided by Riverhouse Catering. Entertainment will occur throughout the evening along with a Live Auction of unique experiences.

Local celebrity and meteorologist Matt Scott will serve as the emcee for the event. Goodspeed Musicals’ Trustee and longtime resident of East Haddam Susan Link will serve as Gala Chair. All proceeds from this annual fundraiser will benefit the future of Goodspeed’s New Works Commissions.

The 60th Anniversary Gala & Auction will culminate in the iconic Goodspeed Opera House with a rousing concert by Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award-winner Jennifer Holliday accompanied by Goodspeed’s Resident Music Director Adam Souza and a seven-piece band.

IRISH REP GALA 2023: ALL MY LOVING: THE LYRICS OF PAUL McCARTNEY takes place Monday, June 12, 2023 at Town Hall in New York City.

Michael Cerveris, Melissa Errico, Kathryn Gallagher, Peter Gallagher, Amber Gray, Kylie Kuioka, and Ciaran Sheehan will be among the performers appearing at the Gala.

The lineup will include stars from the stage and screen inspired by the recent publication of The Lyrics of Paul McCartney, edited by poet Paul Muldoon.

Muldoon will introduce the songs, including All My Loving; Hey Jude; Let It Be; Penny Lane; Blackbird; Give Ireland Back to the Irish; The Long and Winding Road; Yellow Submarine; Yesterday; With a Little Help from My Friends and many more.

Directed & Arranged by Charlotte Moore. Full Orchestra and Chorus Under the Direction of John Bell.

Honoring Simon Lorne. Vice Chairman, Chief Legal Officer Millennium Management.

Jay Clayton, Gala Chair.

SPREADING THE WORD

THE QUEEN'S READING ROOM FESTIVAL Her Majesty Queen Camilla's love of literature is well documented and Hampton Court Palace will stage a magnificent literary festival on June 11, 2023 with The Queen's Reading Room.

The event ws announced with Dame Judi Dench reading from William Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 in a promotional trailer.

On the program - talks from authors such as Dame Judi Dench, David Olusoga, Kamila Shamsie, Ben Macintyre and Ken Follett.

The festival follows the success of Her Majesty's book club, which launched on Instagram in January 2021 and has since amassed over 160k followers internationally.

First up will be the award-winning smash-hit comedy, Austentatious. The cast will don period costumes and improvise a hilarious new Jane Austen novel, inspired entirely by a title dreamt up by HM Queen Camilla.

Organizers promise the event will be 'a literary festival like no other' – and will break the mold of the traditional stuffy conventions of 'authors plugging their own books'. The Queen has been "hands on" in organizing the day-long extravaganza.

The festival will also honor the life and work of Wolf Hall novelist Dame Hilary Mantel, despite the late author's controversial relationship with the Royal Family. Mantel had some unkind words for Kate, the Princess of Wales during her time as the Duchess of Cambridge. Never-the-less Mantel's memorial with the Royal Society of Literature will feature David Olusoga, Kamila Shamsie, Philippa Gregory, Ben Miles and Dame Harriet Walters.

That will be followed by An Eye for a Spy - Espionage writing in fiction and non-fiction: featuring Ben Macintyre, Ken Follett and Robert Harris who is one of King Charles' favorite writers.

Dame Judi Dench will be in conversation with Gyles Brandreth reflecting on her life and career, as well as her love for William Shakespeare.

Cartoon Gallery will feature Kate Mosse - Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (also) Built the World.

The Sinister Everyday is next and features the fact and fiction of crime writing with Peter James.

The Queen launched The Reading Room, which recommends four books four times a year, on Instagram in January 2021. It is hoped the festival will become one of Camilla's 'legacy' projects by inspiring more people to take up reading.

June 11 at Hampton Court Palace.

BERNADETTE PETERS IN CONCERT will be presented June 9-11, 2023 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. This will be the culminating event of Pasadena Playhouse’s six-month-long celebration of the works and impact of Stephen Sondheim, the first major festival honoring his legacy since his passing in 2021.

One of Broadway’s brightest stars and Sondheim’s most stunning muse, Bernadette Peters will offer an unforgettable evening of song from the Broadway shows she’s received accolades for, as well as from all her Grammy Award winning and nominated albums. A glamorous evening as only Bernadette Peters can do.

BOUND a chamber opera from composer Huang Ruo and librettist Bao-Long Chu. Inspired by a true story, eleventh grade honor roll student Diane Tran is the child of two Vietnamese immigrants who are now divorced. With her father rarely around and her mother gone, Diane must provide financially for her family and be both sister and parent to her younger siblings while also keeping up her honor roll studies. As she faces jail time for truancy, Diane must make an impossible decision in an unjust "land of laws."

Bound is on stage June 9–18 in Tagney Jones Hall at the Opera Center in Seattle, Washington.

SONGBOOK SUNDAYS at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club hosted by Deborah Grace Winer on Sunday, June 11, 2023.

This Songbook Sundays raises the roof with Waller classics like Honeysuckle Rose; Ain’t Misbehavin’; I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter; Black and Blue and more.

Hosted and curated by leading American Songbook expert Deborah Grace Winer, the set features two powerhouse jazz divas: five-time Grammy award nominee Karrin Allyson, and stellar Broadway, club and concert artist Aisha de Haas, with JALC rising star Tyreek McDole.

Music director Richard Cummings leads a band of jazz stars including Kenny Davis on bass (Art Farmer, Geri Allen), Tony Cintron on drums (Celia Cruz, Eartha Kitt), and Ed Jackson on saxophone (Count Basie Band, Illinois Jacquet).

Add in some breezy stories and it’s a jumpin’, stompin’ Sunday jam at Dizzy’s.

In the spirit of swing, the mission of Jazz at Lincoln Center is to entertain, enrich and expand the global community for jazz through performance, education and advocacy. Dizzy’s Club offers live jazz performances with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

GAME STREAMING REVENUE is a growth market. The industry of watching other people play video games has exploded in popularity over the past five years, with people worldwide spending billions of hours watching game streaming content. According to a Statista survey, professional eSports gamers and signed streamers made around $40.8 million in 2017. This figure has more than doubled in the next five years and hit $87.4 million in 2022. Statista expects 2023 to see the highest revenue growth, with streaming revenues jumping by 22.3% year-over-year to almost $107 million. The following years are set to witness just as impressive growth. Statista expects streaming revenues to jump by another 60% to $172.2 million by 2027.

In global comparison, China represents the world`s largest professional game streaming market, generating 30% of total revenue. According to Statista, the Chinese market is expected to see $32.1 million of game streaming revenues, or 28% more than last year. The United States ranked second with $14.8 million in revenue and a 13% market share. Mexico, Canada, and India follow, with $9.5 million, $4.5 million, and $4.3 million in game streaming revenues, respectively.

Statistics show the game streaming market has also witnessed huge user growth in recent years. Between 2017 and 2023, around 230 million people worldwide started watching professional game streamers, pushing the total user count from 350 million to 580 million. By 2027, the entire market is set to reach 720 million users.

E-Book

Soft back Book

THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SILVER GAVEL AWARDS which recognize outstanding work that fosters the public’s understanding of law and the legal system—to finalists in the books, commentary, documentaries, drama and literature, magazines, multimedia, newspapers, radio and television categories. The association also announced that it would award five honorable mentions.

The ABA selected its winners from the 30 finalists from 165 entries this year. The Silver Gavel Awards have been presented each year since 1958.

ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross will present the awards and honorable mentions July 25 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The event is free to the public and will also be livestreamed.

The complete list of winners:

BOOKS
Silver Gavel: The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice, and the American City by Nicholas Dawidoff; W.W. Norton & Company

COMMENTARY
Silver Gavel: "The Maddening Irrelevance of Charlie Vaughn’s Innocence": The Watch; Radley Balko, independent journalist

DOCUMENTARIES
Silver Gavel: When Claude Got Shot: 371 Productions; Brad Lichtenstein, director; Steven Cantor, Brad Lichtenstein, Jamie Schutz, producers; Snoop Dogg, Sally Jo Fifer, Lois Vossen, Leslie Fields Cruz, Geralyn Dreyfous, Ted Chung, executive producers; Patty Quillin, co-executive producer; Santana Coleman, co-producer; Michelle Chang, editor; Colin Sytsma, director of photography; Vernon Reid, original music; Noland Walker, consulting producer; Shana Swanson, supervising producer

Honorable Mention: American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton: Open Eye Pictures; Lise Pearlman, producer; Abby Ginzberg and Robert Richter, co-producers; Andrew Abrahams, co-director, producer, principal DP, editor; Herb Ferrette, co-director

Honorable Mention: The Lost Story of Emmett Till: NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV), Collaboraction Theatre Company; Marion Brooks, NBC Chicago, anchor and investigative reporter; DS Shin, NBC Chicago, photographer/editor; Tom Jones, NBC Chicago, investigative producer; Lauren Stauffer, NBC Chicago, managing editor; Lisa Balde, NBC Chicago, vice president of digital media; Akemi Harrison, NBC Chicago, assistant news director; Frank Whittaker, NBC Chicago, vice president of news; Kevin Cross, NBC Chicago, general manager; Saudia Davis, Collaboraction, executive director; Carla Stillwell, Collaboraction, producer; Marquis Simmons, Collaboraction, assistant director and associate producer; Pricilla Torres, Collaboraction, associate producer; Anthony Moseley, Collaboraction, artistic director; Dana N. Anderson, Collaboraction, co-director; G. Riley Mills and Willie Round, Collaboraction, co-writers of adaptation

DRAMA & LITERATURE
Silver Gavel: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez; Penguin Random House

Honorable Mention: Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till: Collaboraction Theatre Company and NBC 5 Chicago; Anthony Moseley, Collaboraction, producer/director/co-producer; Gary Mills, Collaboraction, co-writer; Willie Round, Collaboraction, co-writer; Carla Stillwell, Collaboraction, producer; Dana N. Anderson, Collaboraction, co-director; Marion Brooks and Lauren Stauffer, NBC Chicago, producers; DS Shin, NBC Chicago, editor

MAGAZINES
Silver Gavel: "The Rogue Court that Paved the Way for Roe’s Demise": Texas Monthly; Michael Hall, writer/executive editor

MULTIMEDIA
Silver Gavel: "Eavesdropping in Maine Jails": The Maine Monitor; Samantha Hogan, reporter; Eric Conrad and David Dahl, editors; George Harvey, multimedia editor; Hal Madsen, copyeditor; Rose Ciotta, Investigative Editing Corps, editor

NEWSPAPERS
Silver Gavel: Captive No More: One SC Man’s Journey to Freedom After Years in Modern-Day Slavery: The Post and Courier; Jennifer Berry Hawes, watchdog and public service reporter; Autumn Phillips, executive editor; Glenn Smith, watchdog and public service editor; Andrew Whitaker, photojournalist; Brandon Lockett, digital graphics producer

RADIO
Silver Gavel: "Affirmative Action Faces Toughest Test in a Generation": Bloomberg Industry Group; Matthew S. Schwartz, host/producer; Josh Block, editor/executive producer

Honorable Mention: "The Trump Grand Jury": The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Breakdown, season nine; Bill Rankin, creator/host/writer/senior reporter legal affairs; Tamar Hallerman, host/writer/senior reporter enterprise; Shane Backler, sound engineer/producer/senior producer, podcasts & audio content; Jay Black, audio & podcast program manager; Pete Corson, digital presentation specialist

TELEVISION
Silver Gavel: Roe v. Wade: CBS News’ CBS Evening News With Norah O’Donnell; Norah O’Donnell, anchor and managing editor; Adam Verdugo, executive producer; Alturo Rhymes, executive story editor; Elizabeth Turner, senior broadcast producer; Jan Crawford, Omar Villafranca, Jamie Yuccas and Elaine Quijano, correspondents; Julie Morse, Brian Gottlieb, Paul Facey, Sherri Sylvester and Patrick Becker, senior producers; Robert Kozberg, Caroline Bol, Anam Siddiq, Chris Laible, Kate Rydell, Corey Rangel, Rebecca Kaplan, Rebecca Reingold, Durrell Dawson, Angela Moore, Maggie Dore and Olivia Rinaldi, producers; Brian McEneny, Stephen Boyd, Chris Hassan, Larry Goldfine, George Whipple, Gustavo Sampaio, Heather Spinelli, editors

Honorable Mention: Spotlight—Supreme Court: ABC News; Devin Dwyer, correspondent; Sarah Herndon, Robert Gehlen and Isabella Meneses, producers; Paul Strzegowski, editor; Paul Dougherty, director of photography; Joey Ybarra, Lincoln Wiese and Sal Malguarnera, photographers; John Fonseca, Jeff Edrich and Larry Kaltenbach, audio technicians

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL has announced that writing partners Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski will receive the 2023 Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting during the 30th Austin Film Festival.

Alexander and Karaszewski's partnership led to prominent films and television such as Ed Wood (1994), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Man on the Moon (1999), and American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson (2016).

Introduced in 1995, Austin Film Festival's Bill Wittliff Award for Screenwriting has honored the leading storytellers of film, television, and new media. Past award recipients include Buck Henry (1997), Lawrence Kasdan (2001), Nancy Meyers (2016), Tony Gilroy (2018) and James Gray (2022). Previous recipients include Buck Henry (1997), Lawrence Kasdan (2001), Frank Pierson (2003), Nancy Meyers (2016), and Scott Frank (2021).

THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY has announced that Latin Grammy and Grammy winner, Laura Pausini, will be the 2023 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.

Pausini will be honored for her career as a multifaceted, multi-lingual performer as well as for her continued commitment to supporting social justice causes that are close to her heart including equality for women and LGBTQ+ people and world hunger.

Pausini will be celebrated at a special star-studded gala featuring a heartfelt tribute concert, including renditions of her renowned repertoire performed by an array of notable artists and friends.

The Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year honors musicians and their artistic achievements in the Latin music industry as well as their humanitarian efforts. The past honorees are Marco Antonio Solís (2022), Rubén Blades (2021), Juanes (2019), Maná (2018), Alejandro Sanz (2017), Marc Anthony (2016), Roberto Carlos (2015), Joan Manuel Serrat (2014), Miguel Bosé (2013), Caetano Veloso (2012), Shakira (2011), Plácido Domingo (2010), Juan Gabriel (2009), Gloria Estefan (2008), Juan Luis Guerra (2007), Ricky Martin (2006), José José (2005), Carlos Santana (2004), Gilberto Gil (2003), Vicente Fernández (2002), Julio Iglesias (2001) and Emilio Estefan (2000).

Net proceeds from the Latin Academy Person of the Year Gala will go toward the charitable work of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

HANG IN THERE

DANNY BONADUCE 63, has announced that he will undergo brain surgery.

According to an interview he gave to TMZ the actor disclosed that even after going to see "over 100 doctors" - "nobody could figure out" -what was causing his slurred speech and balance issues, then one doctor finally provided a diagnosis: hydrocephalus.

According to Mayo Clinic, hydrocephalus, which occurs most frequently among infants and adults 60 and over, is the buildup of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain, which can damage brain tissues and cause a range of brain function problems.

"Currently, it looks like that's what I was having," the Partridge Family star told TMZ, admitting he "can't figure out what caused it, because I've done so many stupid things."

Examples he provided included: On a reality TV show, taking a guitar to his head - punched in the face by Jose Canseco, a 250-pound professional athlete.

Mayo Clinic notes that traumatic brain injury could be one possible cause of hydrocephalus.

In the brain surgery, Bonaduce's doctors will place a shunt in his head to drain the excess liquid into a "drainboard."

"From what I hear, if the diagnosis is correct and it's hydrocephalus, it will be 50 percent better right out [of surgery]," he said, before sharing why he doesn't "want to get my hopes up too much that I'll be cured."

"Unfortunately right now... I will be completely bummed out if this doesn't work," he admitted. "I can't walk correctly. I just can't. Ten percent would be great, but I'm going for a full-blown [fix]... I'm never going to run track, I'm never gonna box again, but if I can get from here to the kitchen on my own, bravo!"



THE THIRD MAN a new musical based on Graham Greene’s famous novella and film, is written by Christopher Hampton with music by George Fenton and lyrics by Don Black.

Directed by Trevor Nunn.

The story of The Third Man is set in post-war Vienna, where Holly Martins arrives at the invitation of his friend and hero, Harry Lime, only to discover that Harry has been killed in a car accident. But nothing that he is told about what happened makes any sense.

Starring Edward Baker-Duly as Calloway, Simon Bailey as Crabbit, Natalie Dunne as Anna, Derek Griffiths as The Porter, Jonathan Andrew Hume as Paine, Rachel Izen as The Porter’s Wife, Gary Milner as Kurtz, Harry Morrison as Popescu, Sam Underwood as Holly, and Alan Vicary as Dr Winkel.

Completing the ensemble are Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Craig Bartley, Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Leah Harris, Aly Merali, Tom Sterling, Samantha Thomas, and Tim Walton.

Originally developed by Vereinigte Bühnen Wien Gmbh (VBW) in Vienna, the production features set and costume design by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Emma Chapman, sound design by Gregory Clarke, orchestrations by Jason Carr, musical supervision and direction by Tamara Saringer, and movement and choreography by Rebecca Howell. Michael Oakley is co-director.

Previews begin June 10 with the officially opening on June 19, running until September 9 at the Minier Chocolate Factory in London.

FALLEN ANGELS by Noël Coward.

Directed by David Edwards.

Fallen Angels is a delightful romp through the scandalous lives of two best friends who find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Julia and Jane are two happily but complacently married upper-class women with a penchant for mischief, but when their former lover announces a visit, they panic. As they try to keep their scandalous past a secret, chaos and hilarity ensue.

With Coward's signature wit and charm, Fallen Angels takes the audience on a wild ride of mistaken identities, champagne-fueled antics and unexpected twists. It's a classic tale of love, lust and laughter that will leave the audience feeling thoroughly entertained and scandalized.

The cast includes Zoé Badovinac, Jeffrey Hardy, Elizabeth Hayden, Tony Javed, Jeffery Passero and Jenny Tucker.

The creatives include: Scenic design is by Harlan Penn, costumes are by Omar Sama’ey, lighting design by Stephen Cornelius, and sound design by Zachary Dornfeld. Co-producers are Susan Case and Kelly Gilmore.

This production will use the original 1925 public domain version of the script.

Fallen Angels opened at the Globe Theatre, London (now called the Gielgud Theatre) on April 21, 1925, and ran until August 29 of that year. The production, which was a critical and commercial success, starred Edna Best, Austin Trevor and Tallulah Bankhead. Later productions, including the 1927 Broadway production, starred luminaries that include Nancy Walker, Constance Cummings, Susannah York, Joan Collins and Annette Bening.

Fallen Angels is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Fallen Angels also is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

The mission of Out of the Box Theatre Company, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, is to feature working professionals at their peak and in their prime: seasoned actors, directors and designers primarily past 50 years of age, and to present new interpretations of period plays and contemporary classics: works written in the last century and earlier. Out of the Box also distributes free tickets to senior citizen organizations.

Performances June 7-11 at the Bernie Wohl Center, New York, N.Y.

EVITA Lyrics by Tim Rice. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Originally directed by Harold Prince.

Set in Argentina between 1934-1952, this Tony-winning musical charts the young Eva Duarte’s meteoric rise to fame which takes her on a journey from poor, illegitimate child to ambitious actress to wife of President Juan Perón. By the time Eva was 30 years old, she was arguably one of the most powerful and iconic women in the world. To this day, Evita’s imprint and impact are indelible but also heavily debated. Set to a legendary score by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, this incredible rock opera features hits such as, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Oh What a Circus; Buenos Aires and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

The cast features: Samantha Marisol Gershman as Eva Perón - Justin Gregory Lopez as Che Guevara - Erica Reyes as Mistress - Martín Solá as Juan Perón - Felipe Bombonato as Magaldi, u/s Che.

The cast also includes: Emily Castillo-Langley, Sharlane Conner, Erin DeGraw, Marco Forte, JoJo Harper-McNeal, Ethan Horbury, Arjaye Johnson, Jamil Kassem-Lopez, Timmy Lewis, Maggie Likcani, Carmella Manapat, Adam Mandala, Maggie Likcani, Carmella Manapat, Adam Mandala, Tay Marquise, Jaden Tai Martinez, Mel Mehrabian, Payton Moledor, Katie Moya, Lily Rose Nila, Cathleen O'Brien, Jay Owens, Lav Raman, David Nando Rodgers, Janina Rosa, Roberto Russo, David Nando Rodgers Vanessa Sierra, Nick Traficante and Adrian Villegas.

The creatives are: Alfonso Annotto (Hair & Makeup Designer). Morgan Benford (Assistant Stage Manager). Milo Bue (Associate Scenic Designer). Brian Cimmet (Musical Director). Cedric Dodd (Associate Choreographer). Kevin Gregory Dwyer (Assistant Stage Manager). Alex Gutierrez (Assistant Musical Director). Kelly Hardy* (Production Stage Manager). Tiffany Howard, MFA (Costume Designer). Jeff Kmiec (Scenic Designer). John Lacson Malley (Stage Management Intern). Elle-May Patterson (Choreographer). José Santiago (Lighting Designer).

Musicians: Robert Bridge (Percussion). Michael Caporizzo (Guitar). Pat Carney (Trumpet). Michael Fittipaldi (Bass). James R. Spadafore (Woodwinds). Sonya Stith Williams (Violin).

Performances through June 30, 2023 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY.

DEAR ENGLAND a new play by James Graham.

Directed by Rupert Goold.

It’s time to change the game.

The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.

Called a "gripping examination of both nation and game."

Starring Joseph Fiennes as Gareth Southgate.

The creatives are: Es Devlin set designer, Evie Gurney costume designer, Jon Clark lighting designer.

June 10—August 11, 2023 at the Olivier Theatre in London.

BOUND Music by Huang Ruo; Libretto by Bao-Long Chu.

Stage direction by Desdemona Chiang.

Inspired by a true story, eleventh grade honor roll student Diane Tran is the child of two Vietnamese immigrants who are now divorced. With her father rarely around and her mother gone, Diane feels bound to help provide financially for her family, be both sister and parent to her siblings, and also keep up her honor roll studies.

Through the lens of an exhausted dream, we follow Diane as she struggles with familial duties, her mother's abandonment, and the injustices of a system lacking compassion or understanding. As Diane's mother shares her own reasons for leaving family behind, Diane must make an impossible decision in this "land of laws."

Featuring Karen Vuong, Nina Yoshida Nelsen and Daniel Klein.

The creatives are: Carey Wong scenic designer - Deborah Trout costume designer - Geoff Korf lighting designer.

Performed in English June 9–18, 2023 - Tagney Jones Hall at the Opera Center in Seattle, Washington.

EVERY BRILLIANT THING written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe.

Directed by Andrea Ainsworth.

Starring Amy Conroy.

A play about all the things worth living for, Amy Conroy returns in this not-to-be-missed theatrical experience which talks honestly and compassionately about mental health, in an hour of uplifting humor.

In the words of the director Andrea Ainsworth, this is a show that "reminds us that even when things seem hopeless, we can still find joy in the ephemeral everyday."

June 9-July 1, 2023 on the Peacock stage of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, Ireland.

DRIFTWOOD THE MUSICAL is based on an original stage play by award-winning playwright Jane Bodie and the original memoir by Eva de Jong-Duldig. Original music, lyrics and arrangements by Anthony Barnhill with additional lyrics by Tania de Jong AM and Jane Bodie.

Directed by Gary Abrahams.

Billed as a "powerful new Australian musical about art and creativity, survival and perseverance, family, love and the endurance of the human spirit, telling the inspirational story of the renowned Austrian/Australian sculptor Karl Duldig and his artist- inventor wife, Slawa Horowitz-Duldig. We follow their lives in pre-war Vienna, the family’s narrow escape from Nazi Austria, Slawa’s ingenious invention of the foldable umbrella, and the incredible chain of events that took place after miraculously escaping Nazi Austria."

This epic story traverses three continents and three generations.

Driftwood The Musical also celebrates the Australian migrant experience, of hope, intelligence, tenacity and survival.

Featuring Tania de Jong as Slawa - Anton Berezin as Karl - Bridget Costello as Eva - Michaela Burger as Rella - Nelson Gardner as Ignaz, Marcel, Gauleiter, Patent Attorneys & more.

The musicians are: Roy Theaker Violinist (Melbourne) - Kalina Krusteva Cellist (Melbourne) - Michele O'Young-Violinist (Sydney) - Rachel Valentine Cellist (Sydney) - David Gardos Musical Director/Piano (Sydney).

The creatives are: Marcello Lo Ricco Sound Designer - Jacob Battista Set Design - Justin Gardam Sound and AV Creation and Design - Harrie Hogan Lighting Design - Kim Bishop Costume Design - Bec Poulter Production Supervisor - Craig Donnell General Manager - Anna Davies Tour Production Manager - .Tiff Lane Stage Manager - Sophie Loughran Choreographer.

Umbrella Foundation presents Driftwood The Musical at the Eternity Playhouse for a limited season from June 7 to 18. Darlinghurst, NSW.

THE SILVER BELL by Alan Flanagan.

Directed by Dan Hutton.

A Cosmic Love Story.

Straight from Edinburgh, Dublin and the UK is a tale as old as time. Boy meets boy, boy loses boy, boy punches a hole in universe to get boy back. Join Mico and James as they tell you their reality-bending story of love, loss and trying to find a decent sausage roll in a universe that never invented them.

U.S. premiere June 8-18 at New Jersey Rep in Long Branch, New Jersey.

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.

FINAL OVATION

GEORGE MAHARIS actor who gained fame co-starring with Martin Milner on television's Route 66, died at his Beverly Hills home on May 24, 2023. He was 94.

Route 66 was a hit American adventure crime drama that ran on CBS from October 7,1960 until March 20, 1964.

He studied at the Actors Studio and appeared in off-Broadway productions of Jean Genet's Deathwatch and Edward Albee's The Zoo Story. He modeled fully nude for the July 1973 issue of Playgirl magazine, one of the first celebrities to do so. It was the magazine's second issue.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Maharis had featured roles in several television movies and also guest-starred on numerous television series, He also starred with the Kenley Players in productions of Barefoot in the Park (1967) and How the Other Half Loves (1973) and in national touring company productions of Company and I Ought to Be in Pictures.

Later, he performed in nightclubs including in the 1980s starring in the Maynard Sloate produced and directed production of Sorry, Wrong Husband at the Union Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas. I was there. Afterwards there was an opening night party in his dressing room. Martin Milner attended.

Maharis also pursued a secondary career as an impressionist painter.

ED AMES singer and TV star died in Los Angeles from Alzheimer's disease on May 21, 2023. He was 95.

Ames rose to fame in the 1950s in a pop quartet with three of his brothers, Joe, Gene and Vic. Known as The Ames Brothers, they had several hits and became fixtures on variety shows and in clubs. But the constant touring and recording wore them down. They cut 40 albums and were constantly on the road. When he arrived home unexpectedly and his wife called to their 3-year-old daughter: "Who is it?" The girl replied, "One of the Ames Brothers."

"That did it," he told a reporter. "My brothers and I agreed that we had all had it and should go our separate ways." The group, which was earning $20,000 a week, played its last engagement at the Sahara in Las Vegas on New Year's 1961.

After the group split, Ames topped the charts multiple times on his own.

Ed was the most successful solo artist of the group, with chart-topping hits My Cup Runneth Over; Time, Time and When the Snow Is on the Roses.

"I’ve been very blessed to have had an exciting career," he said in 2007.

Ames was the last surviving member of the Ames Brothers. Vic died in 1978, Gene in 1997 and Joe in December 2007.

Before he found success as a solo singer he paid the bills by appearing on Broadway. In was in a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. He joined the traveling company of Gower Champion's Carnival and transferred to the New York company until the show's final performance. Ames earned top money at Las Vegas casinos and in hotel supper clubs and toured extensively in the musicals Man of La Mancha; Fiddler on the Roof; South Pacific and I Do, I Do.

His dark complexion and sharp facial features led to his being cast regularly as a Native American. In the 1960s he played Chief Bromden in the Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, opposite Kirk Douglas. and Gene Wilder. Talent scouts at 20th Century Fox saw Ames on Broadway and invited him to play the Cherokee tribesman, Mingo on the NBC television series Daniel Boone, with Fess Parker. His character's father was an English officer, the Fourth Earl of Dunmore, played in the show by Walter Pidgeon. In that show, Mingo was the Earl's eldest son and thus entitled to claim the title as the fifth Earl, but decided to remain part of the Cherokee Nation.

The part of Mingo is what landed him an appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

On the late-night show, Ames was given a tomahawk and asked to throw it at a wood panel with the outline of a cowboy on it. Ames chucked it straight into the cowboy’s crotch, leading to what’s been called the longest sustained audience laugh in Tonight Show history.

Ames was a lovely man. I interviewed him several times as well as reviewing his shows. I was one of the press members who traveled with him when he did what was called the Silver Circuit - performing in Las Vegas, Reno and Tahoe.

Ed Ames married Sarita (Sara) Cacheiro on July 17, 1947 and they had three children, Sonya, Ronald, and Linda (aka Marcila, who died in 2007). The couple divorced in 1978.

He is survived by his second wife Jeanne, whom he married in 1998, and was a doting dad to her son Stephen Saviano. He is also survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren,

ROBIN WAGNER Tony award winning scenic designer, died May 29, 2023 in New York City. He was 89.

Wagner attended art school and started his career in theatres in San Francisco with designs for Don Pasquale; Amahl and the Night Visitors; Tea and Sympathy and Waiting for Godot, among others. In 1958, he relocated to New York City, where he worked on numerous off-Broadway productions before making his Broadway debut as an assistant designer for the Hugh Wheeler play Big Fish, Little Fish in 1961. His first solo project was a short-lived 1966 production of The Condemned of Altona by Jean-Paul Sartre.

Wagner's many Broadway credits include Hair; The Great White Hope; Promises, Promises; Gantry; Jesus Christ Superstar; Seesaw; Mack & Mabel; A Chorus Line; Ballroom; On the Twentieth Century; 42nd Street; Dreamgirls; Song and Dance; City of Angels; Victor/Victoria; Angels in America: Millennium Approaches; Angels in America: Perestroika; The Producers; The Boy from Oz and Young Frankenstein. His work in London's West End includes Crazy For You and Chess.

Wagner's other theatrical work ranges from off-Broadway and regional theatre productions to ballet and opera, including sets for the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, and the New York City Ballet.

Wagner won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design three times out of ten nominations.

Wagner served on the Theatre Advisory Committee for the New York International Festival of the Arts, as a trustee of the New York Shakespeare Festival, and taught in the graduate theatre arts program at Columbia University. In 2001, Wagner was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Wagner was divorced from studio executive Paula Wagner. Wagner was also divorced from Joyce Marie Workman. They had three children, Kurt, Leslie, and Christie.

MILT LARSEN writer and Co-Founder of The Magic Castle in Hollywood, died May 28, 203 in Los Angeles. He was 92

He also wrote songs with Oscar winner Richard Sherman and worked on the legendary game show Truth or Consequences. Larsen produced TV specials for ABC, CBS and NBC and wrote songs with Richard Sherman, the Oscar winner who partnered with his late brother, Robert, to create tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book.

He also was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

In 1963, Larsen and his late brother, Bill, founded The Magic Castle in a 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue. With its many stages, labyrinthine corridors and old-fashioned decor, the place would become a renowned private club for magicians. Larsen wrote five joke books and three books involving The Magic Castle, penned a weekly column for members of the club and edited a monthly newsletter. He was still president of the club’s parent company at the time of his death.

In 2006, Larsen and his brother Bill were both honored by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Larsen is survived by his wife of 33 years, Arlene Larsen, an award-winning costume designer.

CYNTHIA WEILL prolific Grammy winning lyricist who wrote hit songs with her husband Barry Mann, died on June 1, 2023. She was 82.

Weil and Mann were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Weil became one of the Brill Building songwriters of the 1960s, and one of the most important writers during the emergence of rock and roll. Weill's Righteous Brothers’ 1964 hit You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling, is among the most played tunes of the 20th century with over 8 million "airplays," according to the music rights org BMI.

Just a few of their creations include: "On Broadway; We Gotta Get Out of This Place; Only in America; Blame It on the Bossa Nova; I Just Can't Help Believing; Looking Through the Eyes of Love; Make Your Own Kind of Music: (You're My) Soul and Inspiration".

In 1987, she was inducted with her husband, Mann, into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2004, Mann and Weil's They Wrote That?, a musical revue based on their songs, opened in New York. In it, Mann sang and Weil related stories about the songs and their personal history.

Weil, along with Mann, was named among the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was the first woman to receive the honor. In 2011 Mann and Weil received the Johnny Mercer Award—the highest honor from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Weill and Mann married in August 1961. He survives her along with thee couple's daughter, Dr. Jenn Mann and grandchildren.

Next Column: June 11, 2023
Copyright: June 4, 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.
Link to Main Page

---

Laura Deni

For the snail mail address, please E-mail your request.