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By: Laura Deni
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Copyright: March 1, 2026

GOODSPEED MUSICALS WILL HONOR SIR LLOYD WEBBER

Goodspeed Musicals will honor legendary EGOT-winning composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber at their 2026 Gala & Auction on May 30 at the New Haven Lawn CLub in New Haven, CT. He will receive the Goodspeed Musicals Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre, celebrating his immense impact on the art form. The event features performances and supports new musicals.

The event will include a cocktail party, five-course dinner, live auction, and performances of his iconic work.

Tickets go on sale March 13, 2026 for the Black Tie optional event.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the most influential composers in musical theatre history, known for hits like The Phantom of the OperaCatsEvita, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He expressed excitement for the honor, particularly noting his admiration for Goodspeed's previous production of his musicalBy Jeeves. The gala directly benefits Goodspeed's mission to produce new and revitalized musicals.

Lloyd Webber's other musicals include “Cats,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and its sequel “Love Never Dies,” “Evita,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Gala & Auction Chairs: Kiki Kennedy and John Voege offers a Gala & Auction not to be missed! Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most influential figures in musical theatre, will be honored with the Goodspeed Musicals Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre, which recognizes individuals with extraordinary talent and impact on the art form.

The event will be held at the historic New Haven Lawn Club and will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and special performances of some Andrew Lloyd Webber's most beloved songs.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed the scores of some of the world’s most famous musicals. His shows have run continuously in London’s West End for 50 years and ran for 43 uninterrupted years on Broadway.

When the original Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock, CATS, and The Phantom of the Opera he equalled Rodgers & Hammerstein’s record of four shows running simultaneously on Broadway. He is one of the select group of artists with EGOT status, having received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

In 2022, Andrew Lloyd Webber partnered with Michael Harrison to produce new productions of existing work and his future musicals. His latest, the Illusionist, will be produced in London in 2027.

Lloyd Webber owns six London theatres including the iconic London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Reopened in July 2021, the latter was completely restored and renovated at a cost of over £60 million. This was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by a private theatre owner in recent times. His mantra is that every penny of profit made from his theatres is ploughed back into the buildings for their conservation and development.

Lloyd Webber is passionate about the importance of musical education and diversity in the arts. Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation provides 30 performing arts scholarships every year for talented students with financial need, and supports a range of projects such as the Music In Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST).

Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed music for globally significant moments. Most recently, he was asked to compose “Make a Joyful Noise,” the anthem for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Andrew Lloyd Webber was knighted in 1992, created an honorary life peer in 1997, and made a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by King Charles III in 2024. Founded in 1348, this is the highest British civilian honour. Andrew Lloyd Webber is the only person from the arts in the Garter's history granted this personal honour by the monarch.

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ART AND ABOUT

TRACEY EMIN: A SECOND LIFE AT THE MODERN heldits press review was Wesnesday.

This landmark exhibition?traces 40 years of Tracey Emin’s groundbreaking practice, showcasing career-defining sensations alongside works never exhibited before.

Through painting, video, textiles, neons, writing, sculpture, and installation, she continues to challenge boundaries, using the female body as a powerful tool to explore passion, pain, and healing.

Broadening Emin’s story, A Second Life celebrates her raw and confessional approach as she poses profound questions on love, trauma, and autobiography. It also demonstrates her lifelong commitment to painting, showing her recent work as the culmination of the ways she has channelled her life into her art.

Tracey Emin: A Second Life 27 February – 31 August 2026 Tate Modern, Bankside, London. Tracey Emin: A Second Life is presented in the Eyal Ofer Galleries.

In partnership with Gucci. With additional support from the Tracey Emin Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate International Council, Tate Members and Tate Americas Foundation.

THE LOUVRE IN PARIS has named Christophe Leribault, 63, as Its New Director Christophe Leribault replacing Laurence des Cars following her resignation after a major crown jewel theft. He is tasked with managing the museum's security overhaul and modernization.
Background: Leribault is an 18th-century art specialist who previously served as director of the Musée d'Orsay and the Palace of Versailles.

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SWEET CHARITY

MICHAEL DORF PRESENTS THE 21ST ANNUAL MUSIC OF TRIBUTE CONCERT this year celebrating the timeless catalog of Billy Joel – taking place at the legendary Carnegie Hall on March 12, 2026. The event continues Dorf’s beloved tradition of honoring iconic artists through a night of remarkable performances while raising funds for music education.

From his 1971 debut Cold Spring Harbor to chart-topping hits like “Piano Man,” “Just the Way You Are,” “New York State of Mind,” and “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” Billy Joel’s songwriting has defined generations. His masterful ability to blend rock, pop, and storytelling has earned him six Grammy Awards, induction into both the Songwriters and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, and the enduring title of “The Piano Man.”

This year’s concert will feature Billy Joel’s touring band as the evening’s house band, led by Joel’s longtime musical director and keyboardist David Rosenthal. Other band members include Mark Rivera, Crystal Taliefero, Tommy Byrnes, Andy Cichon, Chuck Burgi, and Carl Fischer, bringing the authentic sound and spirit of Joel’s live performances to Carnegie Hall. Joining the lineup are Rob Thomas, Alexa Ray Joel, Pat Monahan (Train), Gavin DeGraw, Marc Roberge, Matt Nathanson, Rufus Wainwright, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Tanya Tucker, The War And Treaty, Bettye LaVette, Itzhak Perlman, Andrew McMahon (Jack’s Mannequin), Sammy Rae, Jon McLaughlin, Wyclef Jean, and Neal Francis.

Now entering its third decade, Dorf’s Music Of series has become one of New York’s most anticipated annual musical events. Since its inception in 2004, the series has honored Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Prince, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, R.E.M., David Byrne, and Patti Smith, among others.

As Michael Dorf approaches the 40th anniversary of his prolific career in live music production — which began with the founding of The Knitting Factory in 1986 and expanded with City Winery — this event underscores his continued commitment to supporting music education.

These sold-out shows have not only celebrated musical greatness, but directed 100% of all net proceeds – $100,000 annually and over $2.2 million in total – to a diverse group of non-profit organizations dedicated to music education. These beneficiaries include Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), Young Audiences NY, FIXS, Church Street School of Music, Partnership with Children, D’Addario Foundation, Exploring the Arts, Jazz Foundation of America, Jazz House Kids, Long Island High School of the Arts, Musicians on Call, Save the Music, Midori & Friends, Grammy in the Schools, The Orchestra Now, The Perlman Music Program, Theatre Within, Third Street Music School Settlement, and the Newport Festivals Foundation. As part of the long-standing tradition of the Music Of series, one beneficiary organization is invited to take the stage each year to spotlight the mission behind the music, and this year multi award-winning artist, producer, and composer Wyclef Jean will perform with students from non-profit Music Will.

100% of all net proceeds from The Music of Billy Joel will once again benefit these and other music education programs, helping to ensure that the next generation of musicians can continue to thrive.
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SPREADING THE WORD

THEATRE PRODUCERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA has endorsed endorse Maria Elena Durazo for County Supervisor.

the Theatre Producers of Southern California, known as TPSCA, gathered at Atwater Village Theatre to present a letter of endorsement to CA State Senator Maria Elana Durzao for the position of Los Angeles County Supervisor..

“Senator Durazo has been a champion for the arts throughout her career,” says TPSCA president Martha Demson, whose Open Fist Theatre Company is in residence at Atwater Village Theatre. “She understands that the performing arts are not only vital to our cultural identity but also a powerful economic driver that sustains thousands of jobs and strengthens communities across Los Angeles County.”

“Maria Elena Durazo’s record speaks for itself,” agrees Casa0101 executive director Emmanuel Deleage, who serves as treasurer of the TPSCA board. “She has dedicated her life to building a fairer, more vibrant Los Angeles, a place where artists and working families can thrive. We are proud to stand with her.”
TPSCA represents a diverse collective of nonprofit theater producers dedicated to advancing the vitality and impact of live performance throughout the region. The organization advocates for policies that support artistic innovation, fair labor practices, and community engagement across Los Angeles and beyond.

SOFT TICKET SALES have restulted in the two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals announces a temporary pause this year in productions at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. While 2025 was a strong season with nearly sold-out performance runs at both The Goodspeed and The Terris, sharply rising production costs and shifting audience habits, expectations and preferences have made The Terris Theatre’s sole focus on the development of brand-new shows more challenging to accomplish.

According to Managing Director Vanessa Logan, “Taking this pause will allow our teams to thoughtfully reimagine how The Terris can best support the organization’s overall financial health. It will give us the time and flexibility to develop an expanded operating model for The Terris, which may include educational programs and programming for young audiences and families like SummerSong, the youth theatre program that we recently announced. Other options may include collaborations with other theatres and artists, community events, and additional initiatives alongside the productions of new musicals. This pause is temporary, and we look forward to updating our audience as plans take shape.”

Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton shared, “In the meantime, we will produce a full season of musicals at The Goodspeed, including the World Premiere of The Snow Goose. Commissioned, nurtured and developed solely by Goodspeed, The Snow Goose will stand as evidence that our commitment to new work and the artists who create it is unwavering. It will make its debut at The Goodspeed Aug. 28 – Oct. 8.”

The Terris Theatre is supported by The Norma Terris/Albert D. Firestone Foundation.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

MARY! will celebrate the upcoming 165th anniversary of the inauguration of Mary's Husband (aka Abraham Lincoln) March 4 with a special $5 ticket lottery. Theatregoers will be able to buy 165 balcony seats at the special price in-person at the Lyceum Theatre box office on the day of the performance only, with each patron limited to two tickets. General rush and day-of sales will be offered after the ticket special sells out.

John Cameron Mitchell is currently leading the cast as Mary opposite John-Andrew Morrison as Mary's Husband, Simu Liu as Mary's Teacher, Jenn Harris as Mary's Chaperone, and Tony Macht as Mary's Husband's Assistant. The play's understudies are Hannah Solow, Martin Landry, and Julian Manjerico. It's one of the funniest shows to ever play Broadway.

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BIGFOOT Featuring lyrics by Tony and Emmy Award nominee Amber Ruffin, a book by Ruffin and Kevin Sciretta (MST3K), music by David Schmoll.

Direction and choreography by Danny Meffford.

Set in the town of Muddirt, a glow-in-the-dark oasis that exists somewhere between a chemical dump site and a nuclear power plant, BIGFOOT! is a larger-than-life musical tale of corrupt politicians, small town paranoia, and misunderstood youth. When that youth happens to be eight feet tall, innocent, and in dire need of electrolysis, it makes him more than a target. It makes him the subject of a can’t miss can’t-myth musical comedy. The cast includes Tony Award-nominee Grey Henson as ‘Bigfoot,’ Tony Award-nominee Crystal Lucas-Perry as ‘Francine,’ Katerina McCrimmon as ‘Joanne,’ and Alex Moffat as ‘Mayor,’ Grammy Award-nominee Jason Tam as ‘Doctor’, Jade Jones as ‘As Cast’, and covers Jake Letts, Kala Ross, and Mike Millan.

BIGFOOT! which began previews at New York City Stage 1 New York City Stage 1 on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, has an official opening night set for Sunday, March 1, 2026. BIGFOOT! is produced by Benson Drive Productions (George Strus, CEO) in association with Manhattan Theatre Club. Evan Bernardin Productions serves as General Manager. Casting is by Jason Thinger, CSA.

THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS written by Sean O'Casey.

Directed by Tom Creed.

Set amid the tumult of the 1916 Easter Rising - events which took place only a block from the theatre - this iconic, important Irish play follows the residents of a Dublin tenement as they shelter from the violence sweeping the city’s streets, while a revolution that will shape the nation’s future rages around them.

The third play in O’Casey’s Dublin Trilogy, The Plough and the Stars remains as resonant today as when it was first staged, exploring how ordinary lives are torn apart by the era’s idealism and challenging enduring ideas of nationalism, masculinity, war and class.

The cast for the 100th anniversary production of The Plough and the Stars: Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty (Jack Clitheroe). Dan Monaghan (Fluther Good). Conor Wolfe O'Hara (Serg. Tinley). Michael Tient (A Bar-Tender). Fintan Kinsella (Corporal Stoddart). Matthew Malone (The Figure in the Window). Shaun O'Callaghan (Lieut. Langon). Thommas Kane Byrne (The Young Covey). Ash Rizi (Capt. Brennan). . Michael Glenn Murphy (Peter Flynn). Evie May O'Brien (Mollser). Kate Stanley Brennan (Mrs Gogan). Caitríona Ennis (Rosie Redmond). Mary Murray (Bessie Burgess). Marion O'Dwyer (A Woman). Kate Gilmore (Nora Clitheroe).

The creatives are: Set Designer: Jamie Vartan. Costume Designer: Catherine Fay. Lighting Designer: Stephen Dodd. Composer and Sound Designer: Michael John McCarthy. Movement Director: Sue Mythen. Hair and Make Up: Tee Elliot. Voice Director: Andrea Ainsworth. Casting Director: Barry Coyle. Associate Director: Éadaoin Fox. Assistant Set Designer: Florentina Burca.

The story comes to life on the Abbey Stage in Dublin, Ireland, from February 27 - April 30, 2026.

ULSTER AMERICAN by David Reland.

Directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.

Starring Tony Award winner Max Baker, Matthew Broderic, and Geraldine Hughes.

Ulster American by David Ireland is a savagely funny play that dissects the intersection of identity politics, ego, privilege, and the Northern Irish "Troubles" with satirical precision. On the evening before rehearsals begin for her new work, Ulster-born playwright Ruth Davenport (Geraldine Hughes) visits the home of English director Leigh Carver (Max Baker), along with Oscar-winning Hollywood star Jay Conway (Matthew Broderick) who has just arrived in London to star in the world premiere. What begins as a cordial gathering to discuss the upcoming production quickly descends into a brutal psychological brawl as egos, ideologies, and historical baggage collide. A theatrical hand grenade disguised as a drawing-room comedy, Ulster American explosively reveals some raw contradictions at the heart of modern storytelling and political posturing.

In 2018, Ulster American was produced at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. It won a Scotsman Fringe First and the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play. Ulster American was revived by Second Half Productions at the Riverside Studios, London in 2023 featuring Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland.

Ulster American will feature set design by Charlie Corcoran (The Honey Trap), costume design by Orla Long (Irishtown), lighting design by Michael Gottlieb, original music and sound by Ryan Rumery, sound design by Florian Staab, and properties by Deirdre Brennan. Karen Evanouskas is the Production Stage Manager and Jade Doina is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Previews of Ulster American begin on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage at Irish Repertory Theatre, New York, on Friday March 6, 2026, with opening night set for Sunday March 15, for a limited run through Sunday May 10, 2026.

MY JOY IS HEAVY created and performed by Obie Award-winning duo & NYTW Usual Suspects?The Bengsons.

Directed by Tony Award winner and NYTW Usual Suspect?Rachel Chavkin.

Choreographed by Princess Grace Award winner & NYTW Usual Suspect?Steph Paul? with music supervision by Obie Award winner Or Matias.

In addition to Abigail & Shaun Bengson, My Joy is Heavy will feature Aaron Bahr on Trumpet/Voice, Ashley Baier (SIX) on Drums/SPD/Voice, Noga Cabo on Guitar/Bass/Voice, Reginald Chapman on Trombone/Tuba/Voice, Matt Deitchman on Keyboard/Accordion/Voice, and Nicole DeMaio on Tenor Sax/Baritone Sax/Flute/Clarinet/Voice.

My Joy is Heavy will feature scenic design by Lee Jellinek (Marjorie Prime), costume design by Hahnji Jang, lighting design by Alan Edwards, sound design by Nick Kourtides, and video design by David Bengali. Alison Kopit serves as Access Dramaturg, with Sarah Lunnie as Dramaturg. Katie Girardot is the Production Stage Manager, and Rodrigo Herrara is the Assistant Stage Manager. Matt Deitchman will serve as Music Director.

My Joy is Heavy has begun performances at New York Theatre Workshop with opening night set for March 17, for a limited run through April 5, 2026.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

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

FINAL OVATION

NEIL SEDAKA died February 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. He was 86 years old.

His skills on the piano earned him entry into the Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Division for Children, where he studied classical music.

As a teen, he had a doo-wop group, The Linc-Tones, later renamed The Tokens, but it was his partnership with lyricist Howard Greenfield that helped lift him above the fray. The pair wrote songs that caught the attention of the Brill Building, a hub for songwriters in New York City, and Sedaka soon landed a record contract.

In 1958, Sedaka launched his solo career with the release of his debut single, "The Diary," which reached No. 14 on the charts. This was followed by a string of chart-topping singles, including "Oh! Carol," "Calendar Girl," "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen," and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," songs that made him a favorite among teen listeners and cemented his place as one of the biggest stars of the pop music scene of the 1960s.

After a period when his star began to wane, a reinvention in the 1970s provided a spark that surged him back onto the charts. "Laughter in the Rain," released in 1974, marked the start of a return to popularity for Sedaka. The following year, Captain & Tennille covered his "Love Will Keep Us Together" and took it to the top of the charts.

When not writing his own work, Sedaka penned hits for Connie Francis, The Carpenters, Tom Jones, and ABBA, among many others. All told, he had over a dozen No. 1 hits as a writer and/or performer. He earned multiple Grammy Award nominations, and in 1983, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also in the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. His 1982 autobiography, "Laughter in the Rain: My Own Story," chronicles his life to that point.

Neil Sedaka and Eydie Gorme, the wife of Steve Lawrence were the first cousins.

SONDRA LEE original Hello, Dolly! died February 27, 2025. She was 97.

Ms. Lee originated the role of Minnie Fay in the Jerry Herman musical.

Ms. Lee was a true woman of the theatre, devoting herself to multiple facets of the craft across her long life. A sickly child, Ms. Lee required growth hormones from a young age, barely reaching four-foot, 10-and-a-half inches in height. While her diminutive stature limited certain performance opportunities, she pursued her passions aggressively from the moment her health stabilized, studying ballet with the endorsement of prima ballerina Alexandra Danilova at Studio 61 in Carnegie Hall, with Vera Nemtchinova and Edward Caton.

She made her Broadway debut in 1947 as a corps de ballet member for Jerome Robbins in High Button Shoes, but it was her second outing with the great choreographer that would make her eternal. In 1954, Ms. Lee created the role of Tiger Lily opposite Mary Martin in the musical adaptation of Peter Pan, replicating the role on television in the production's first three TV broadcast presentations. The third and final of these, which survives in color, initially broadcast to more than 65 million viewers, and has remained enduringly popular for generations, with Ms. Lee impacting the childhood of countless individuals over the last 70 years.

Elsewhere on Broadway, Ms. Lee performed in the original Broadway productions of Hotel Paradiso, Jerome Robbins' Ballet: U.S.A., and Sunday in New York. Her final Broadway performance was nearly as iconic as her second: Ms. Lee originated the role of the excitable shopgirl Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly!, performing with a swath of Dolly Levi's including Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, and, her personal favorite, Martha Raye, with whom Ms. Lee took the musical on tour with the USO during the Vietnam War.

Throughout her nearly 100 years, Ms. Lee constantly reinvented herself, working as a dancer, actor, teacher, author, stage director, playwright, theatre and film consultant, and painter. Ms. Lee taught at New York University and the Stella Adler Conservatory, and memorably spent one month in 1965 teaching members of the touring division of the Metropolitan Opera how to 'effectively' die on stage.

Her cleverly titled memoir, I’ve Slept with Everybody: A Memoir, was released in 2009 by Bear Manor Media. At the time of her death, she was deep into writing a second book, Snapshots Redux.

Her last public appearance was at Carnegie Hall on June 23, 2025, for Transport Group’s Hello, Dolly, In Concert. As the musical’s last surviving original principal, she received one final standing ovation.

Next Column: March 8, 2026
Copyright: March 1, 2026 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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8 Laura Deni