Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: March 16, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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THE BLOODY LIFE OF R. M. RENFIELD BY MARTY ROSS

Harry Myers

Sarah Whitehouse

If there’s one character in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula as fascinating as the arch vampire himself, it’s R.M. Renfield the zoophagous patient in Dr. Seward’s mental hospital, who has fallen under the vampire’s spell. But Stoker provides no explanation of how Renfield came to be imprisoned, nor of the origins of his strange relationship with his Master.

Marty Ross’s audio drama, based upon his one man show, imagines a whole back story for the character – the story of a tragically ordinary Victorian shopkeeper, stuck looking after ageing parents and prone to a furtive fascination with blood.

Desperate for relief, he goes for a holiday in Whitby, on the Yorkshire Coast, where he experiences premonitions of a vast supernatural power approaching across the sea, a force that will bring meaning to his life, but only of the most terrible sort.

Sarah Golding expertly directs Harry Myers & Sarah Whitehouse who play all of the roles to perfection. Myers won the Carleton Hobbs Bursary award in 1998. More recently, Myers has worked on the Sam Mendes Dickens Trilogy as did his co-star Whitehouse who trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire graduating with 1st Class Honours. Their ability to control and adapt their voices is captivating. Ross is a writer who is consistently strong and even handed. His words hold you attention as the performance glue which holds everything in place, yet permits a dialogue flow is awesome.

Running one hour and 50 minutes, it was recorded on March 15, 2025 in England. Released by the Wireless Theatre Company.

Ross combines the darkest of dark humor with the most poignant, devastating tragedy, in a production that takes listeners, immersively, inside a very troubled and dangerous mind.

The production opens with ominous organ music. The location is Dr. Seward's office. Gold standard sound design and balance by Fiona Thraille and Oliver Morris. You can hear the wax cylinder turning, the recording device of that era which will capture Renfield telling his life story - from his point of view.

Throughout the play the sound design permits voices to be positioned in different locations, as if in a crowded room. Not merely blurred noise, but words and sentences. Wind blows, Birds chirp and seagulls caw. You have been brought into Renfield's world with all of the Gothic horror. Gently interviewing from raising the now dead which comprised Renfield's life and has tormented what he perceives as his dead body which confronts, recalls, and informs of a life of abuse leading to insanity.

A father with uncontrollable diarrhea. It is Renfield's responsibility to keep his father and the bathroom clean. The family pet bird is missing. Perhaps Renfield ate it, we're not sure. Renfield is always hungry. He frequently longs for his black deep hole in the cemetery where he enjoys eating mice and worms. Only his mind is - in a sense - dead. Some of his memories are picture perfect. His job as a haberdasher. His knowledge of the female body because of his trade.

Dr. Seward's office is the location for the ending where you hear the iron locked doors, open and close as Renfield is returned to his mental hospital bed.

If you treasure strong writing, directing, acting, sound contained in a bucket of horror, blood, mental illness and dead people, don't miss TRIGGER WARNINGS: Blood, violence and father to son domestic abuse, reference to marital domestic abuse, murder, drowning, coarse language, sexual reference, depiction of dementia, factory accident, cut throat razor, close shaving, death, depiction of insanity.

The creatives include: Theme music: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in Dm. Incidental music: Virtutes Vocis Kevin MacLeod.

Running one hour and 50 minutes, it was recorded on March 15, 2025 in England. Released by the Wireless Theatre Company.

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This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

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

ART AND ABOUT

THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM will stage its grand opening set for Medal of Honor Day on March 25 along the Arlington waterfront, the National Medal of Honor Museum is a state-of-the-art facility showcasing Medal of Honor recipients and their inspiring stories.

Established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861, the Medal of Honor is our nation’s highest recognition of valor in combat.

Earned through every major conflict in our nation’s history since the Civil War, the Medal of Honor commemorates those who were willing to risk their lives to protect and serve our country and the ideals we hold most dear.

In the last 163 years, over 40,000,000 Americans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces since the Civil War. Only 3,519 have received the Medal of Honor.

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is dedicated to sharing the stories and values of these incredible heroes—and to inspire America to build upon their legacies. Each Medal of Honor recipient has demonstrated utmost courage on the battlefield. While their stories are unique, there are values shared by each hero that have become central to the Medal and all it represents.

"Through the National Medal of Honor Museum and Institute in Arlington, Texas, the National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C., and the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute, we celebrate these legacies of sacrifice and courage so that we may recognize and develop these values within ourselves."

DRESS CODES Showcasing the power of fashion and exploring the codes and conventions of royal dress, don't miss your chance to visit this stunning new exhibition which opened at Kensington Palace on March 13, 2025.

Over 100 items will be on display including the stunning Catherine Walker green silk velvet tuxedo-style dress, worn by Diana Princess of Wales. Other highlights will include two matching Liberty print floral cotton dresses, worn in 1936 by Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and her younger sister Princess Margaret when they were children.

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SWEET CHARITY

20th ANNUAL MUSIC OF TRIBUTE CONCERT in A Celebration of Patti Smith. Taking place at Carnegie Hall on March 26, 2025, this iconic event celebrates Smith’s extraordinary career while raising funds to support music education programs.

Joining the star-studded roster are Chrissie Hynde, Glen Hansard, Jim Jarmusch, Susanna Hoffs, and Jesse Malin, adding even more depth to an already legendary night that features artists Michael Stipe, Matt Berninger of The National, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten, Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Kronos Quartet, Ben Harper, Karen O, Kim Gordon, and Angel Olsen. In addition, Charlie Sexton and Benmont Tench will officially join the house band, which features Tony Shanahan, Flea, and Steve Jordan.

But for those who want a truly unique experience, the exclusive rehearsal show on March 25, 2025 at City Winery NYC offers an intimate preview. Known for spontaneous energy and unforgettable surprises, this event has become legendary in its own right. While no guarantees can be made, past rehearsal shows have often included extraordinary moments with participating artists as they run through their performances with the house band," declared producer Michael Dorf.

This year’s concert coincides with the 50th anniversary of Horses, Smith’s groundbreaking debut album, recorded at Electric Lady Studios. Widely regarded as a punk rock cornerstone, Horses continues to inspire and define artistic freedom.

For two decades, the Music Of series has raised over $2 million for nonprofit organizations focused on music education, supporting programs like Music Will, Young Audiences NY, Save the Music, and the D’Addario Foundation. Every dollar of net proceeds goes directly to organizations working to provide transformative opportunities for children through the power of music.

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST March 24-30 at Royal Albert Hall in London.

"We're proud to once again welcome Teenage Cancer Trust to our auditorium, where the biggest names in music and comedy will come together and raise money to help young people facing the chaos of cancer."

This year's line-up includes The Sex Pistols, James Arthur, The Corrs, G K Barry, The Who and an evening of comedy hosted by Micky Flanagan.

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SPREADING THE WORD

DOWNTOWN SESSIONS AN EVENING WITH RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY PAC NYC welcomes Renée – a Tony Award- and Grammy Award-winning stage and screen actress, singer – to the Downtown Sessions concert series. On March 22, Renée and her stunning backup ensemble will take center stage for a high energy, uplifting evening of Broadway, pop, and soul.

All performances are at 251 Fulton Street, NYC.

PAC NYC is a new home for emergent and established artists in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and media from New York City and around the world.

NEW YORK WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION (NYWIFT) MUSE AWARDS Just in time for Women’s History Month, the 45th annual NYWIFT Muse Awards will celebrate women of vision and achievement on March 26, 2025 at Cipriani 42nd street in New York City

This NY industry awards luncheon celebrates the legacy and future of accomplished women across the media and entertainment industry, including actors, directors, executives, journalists, producers, and more.

Past honorees have included Meryl Streep, Cicely Tyson, Claire Danes, Jodie Foster, Julie Dash, Nora Ephron, Sandra Oh, Glenn Close, and Jane Rosenthal, among others and this year, MOME will once again present its acclaimed “Made in NY” Award to an industry.

THE PIPPIN 50th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT featuring the London Musical Theatre Orcheatra (LMTO,) filmed live from Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May 2024, is available to stream.

A mysterious troupe led by the Leading Player (Alex Newell) performs a parable about a young prince, Pippin (Jac Yarrow), who's in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment - his own "corner of the sky." With music by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, this classic musical is brought to life in a spectacular staged concert.

Accompanied by the 25-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra performing brand new orchestrations by Simon Nathan, and a 50-person choir from ArtsEd, it also featured Olivier winner Patricia Hodge as Berthe, WhatsOnStage Award winners Lucie Jones as Catherine and Cedric Neal as Charlemagne, and Zizi Strallen as Fastrada.

Ryan Heenan joined them as Theo and Idriss Kargbo as Lewis, while Amonik Melaco, Jak Allen-Anderson, Sally Frith and Gleanne Purcell-Brown appeared as the four Players.

DAVID ROTHENBERG is a 91-year-old theatre professional, radio host, activist and author. A theatre producer, a playwright, and a Broadway press agent, he has counted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Alvin Ailey, Tennessee Williams, Bette Davis, Peggy Lee and John Gielgud among his friends and colleagues.

He founded Fortune Society, the country’s foremost prisoner's rights organization.

He witnessed the Attica Prison Uprising, observed the incarcerated persons at Rikers Island, was spat upon at a civil rights sit-in, and shot at during a Central American Civil War …but says none of this prepared him for the year worked with Lauren Bacall.

Endorsed as The Gay White Hope, he ran for city councilman of Manhattan and was an early proponent of AIDS awareness.

He has hosted a live, weekly radio broadcast for nearly 60 years.

And now he has authored a book, Manhattan Mayhem a collection of short fiction, inspired by his nine decades which will be released April, 2025.

A mensch with a big mouth, a big heart, and big ideas, Rothenberg’s 18 stories capture the mood and heartbeat of the planet's most pulsating plot of land. With heartbreak, humor and hope, Rothenberg shares personal urban fables reflecting on friendships, faith, family and fortune.

On March 30 at 3PM, Rothenberg will celebrate the launch of Manhattan Mayhem with a special event at The Castle, 625 West 140th Street (between Broadway & Riverside Dr.). The event will include a reading from the book as well as discussions with Rothenberg and friends including two-time Tony Award® winner Christine Ebersole; former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey; former CEO of Fortune Society JoAnne Page; Fortune Society CEO Stanley Richards; from the cast of Rothenberg’s The Castle, Casimiro Torres; and a performance by actor Richard Hoehler and The Fortune Society Choir.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE AMERICAN IRISH SOCIETY IN NEW YORK CITY AND ELSEWHERE

The Society will be open from 12 noon on the 17th until 7pm to celebrate the famous St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue, which finishes just down the block from the Society on 79th Street.

Performances by The New York Studio of Irish Step Dance at 12 noon, and a performance from the Timahoe Male Choir at 1.30pm. The Emerald Pipes and Drums will also make a special after-Parade performance.

Join in for some light refreshments and Irish hospitality on the Irish National Holiday in the middle of Irish American Heritage Month. Space is limited, so reservations are important!

On Wednesday, March 19, Escape from the House of Mercy by Catherine Gallant which will be performed at The Performance Project @ University Settlement on March 21st and 22nd. Escape from the House of Mercy is a choreographic rendering of sensations and images evoking the spirits of women whose lives were forever changed by the workhouses and laundries in the US and Ireland.

The House of Mercy was a home for abandoned and troubled women in Inwood NYC; most inhabitants were brought there against their wills. A young woman could be locked up for years for an offense such as dancing in public or walking alone at night. Inhumane and demoralizing treatment was disguised as rehabilitation as the rights of the poor, especially women were completely denied, according to the release.

As part of her research into her work on Escape from The House of Mercy, Catherine Gallant filmed a site-responsive dance in Ireland at the Portumna Workhouse, called Stones: Whispers from the Workhouse.

Thursday, March 20th its Two Noble New Yorkers: John B Yeats & John Quinn.

William Butler Yeats's father, the painter John Butler Yeats, accompanied his daughter Lily on a trip to NYC to exhibit wares of her (and her sister Lolly's) Dublin craft business at an Irish fair at Madison Square Garden. He remained here until his death in 1922, becoming a part of the intellectual and artistic life of the city. He was taken under the wing of the NY lawyer and arts patron John Quinn, who was, for example, largely responsible for the""Armory Show" of 1913, which introduced European modern art to Americans. In an illustrated talk by Andrew McGowan, president of the WB Yeats Society of NY, stories and illustrations will be shared, revealing aspects of their lives and relationships. McGowan will describe interesting details like how, when Quinn died in 1924, the fate of his holdings was in the hands of a staffer from his law firm - the maternal grandfather of future journalist Jimmy Breslin.

Andrew McGowan was born in the Bronx, New York, of Irish immigrant parents who came from Donegal and Leitrim. He is a graduate of City College of New York and has been active in CCNY alumni activities, as well as his fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta. After serving as a public relations professional with St. Luke's Hospital Center, he became president of DWJ Television, the nation's oldest and largest video news release company. He founded the W.B. Yeats Society of New York June 13, 1990, on the poet's 125th birthday, to stimulate interest in Ireland's outstanding literary figure.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Monday 24th - Sharing Lands: Choctaw and Irish Connections Join us for a moving and unifying experience with Padraig Kirwan, LeAnne Howe (enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation), and Gillian O’Brien, as they discuss their project, Sharing Lands. Let’s come together to celebrate shared humanity through the power of storytelling!

The Sharing Lands project is inspired by the remarkable story of the $172 sent by members of the Choctaw tribe to the starving in Ireland during the Great Famine in 1847. The donation came soon after the Choctaw’s forced relocation in the 1830s, which caused immense suffering. At the same time, Ireland faced its own hardships from colonial expansion. Ironically, some Irish migrants and Irish American settlers, including President Andrew Jackson, later contributed to expansionist U.S. policies that had a terrible impact on American Indians.

The Sharing Lands project is deeply rooted in the Choctaw concept of ima – the powerful tradition of giving. The project raises important questions about immigration, belonging and generosity in times of crisis.

"Part of our project is about storytelling – a tradition cherished by both Choctaw and Irish cultures. We would love to hear your stories based around the Choctaw gift, or your experience with friendship, generosity, belonging or kindness that is rooted in Irish, Choctaw or Irish American cultures. At time of upheaval, upset and division we would love to hear positive stories that span cultures, geography and time. No story is too small to be shared."

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Rediscovering Anna Frances Levins, Forgotten Irish American Photographer and Political Activist.

Anna Frances Levins (1876-1941) was an Irish American who traveled widely from her hometown Manhattan to photograph remotest Ireland and create portraits of sitters ranging from the Pope to American Irish Historical Society board members and martyred Irish revolutionaries. She founded her own company, Levins Press, which published lavish books about Irish history and Irish Americans, and her photos appeared by the hundreds in books, newspapers and magazines.

She long served as AIHS's official photographer, and its first (and long its only) woman board member. She also helped the newest Irish arrivals at Ellis Island, combating her era's bitter prejudices against immigrants. She eventually married one of her portrait sitters, an Irish baronet, Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, whose County Wexford castle (with a massive library full of centuries of rare editions and government papers) had been destroyed by arsonists during Ireland's 1920s civil unrest. Sir Thomas was one of many men she loved who loved books - her longtime friend Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet was a major contributor to AIHS's library.

How did Levins end up in contemporary obscurity? Independent scholar Eve M. Kahn, who has found troves of Levins' papers and donations at AIHS and mined thousands of pages of Levins' correspondence hidden in Catholic leaders' files, will give a heavily illustrated report on her research into the life and works of this trailblazer. Examples of Levins' photographs and books will be on display.

Eve M. Kahn, former Antiques Columnist at The New York Times, writes about art, architecture, and design for the Times among other publications. She is biographer of artist Mary Rogers Williams (1857-1907) and writer Zoe Anderson Norris (1860-1914) and her books Forever Seeing New Beauties: The Forgotten Impressionist Mary Rogers Williams, 1857–1907 received the Sarton Women’s Book Award, prizes from Connecticut Center for the Book and Connecticut League of History Organizations. She won the Advocacy Award in 2023 from the Victorian Society New York.

This event is free and open to the public, and doors will open approximately 15 minutes before the event begins.

Wednesday 26th its The Innocents of the House: Child Inmates of the Workhouse.

During the Great Hunger, families were forced to enter workhouses due to starvation and displacement. Workhouses enforced a strict segregation policy, with men, women and children separated and forbidden from interacting with each other. This policy was especially restrictive for children, who after the age of two were separated from their mothers. Inevitably, these arrangements had negative psychological effects on the children that they impacted.

This lecture is part of the series which examines different aspects of the Great Hunger in Ireland and America, and complements the new exhibition of select pieces from the Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield Collection. Michelle O’Mahony is an author and historian who currently works as a bespoke history consultant. She has written various case studies on workhouses, including Famine in Cork City and contributed to the seminal work, The Atlas of the Great Irish Famine.

Monday April 7 Emerald Strings: An Immersive Concert Experience.

Emerald Strings presents a program that spans centuries, beginning with the Irish Famine in 1847 and reaching into the present day, where the precision of classical music meets the rich depth of Irish folk and the vibrancy of modern Irish tunes. Harrington’s powerful interpretations breathe life into these works, inviting audiences to connect with the heart of Irish culture. The result is an immersive concert experience that resonates deeply with all who attend.

Led by acclaimed violinist Gregory Harrington, joined by Ian Lum, and Sara Scanlon, Emerald Strings invites you on a journey through Ireland’s musical legacy, blending classical masterpieces with traditional and contemporary Irish music. Harrington, celebrated for his emotional depth and technical brilliance, delivers an unforgettable performance that captures the story of Ireland’s beauty, resilience, and cultural evolution. Each performance shares not only the essence of Irish music but also Harrington’s own journey, bringing the spirit of Ireland to life through evocative melodies and storytelling.

More than just a performance, Emerald Strings is an exploration of Ireland’s history and Harrington’s path as an artist. Join us for an evening that honors Ireland’s past and present through music, storytelling, and a touch of humor, celebrating the enduring spirit of Irish culture as seen through the eyes—and the violin—of Gregory Harrington.

A joint production by Irish Repertory Theatre in partnership with the American Irish Historical Society.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Making Empire: Ireland, Imperialism, & The Early Modern World with Dr. Jane Ohlmeyer.

Making Empire examines the unique position of early modern Ireland in the First English Empire, c. 1550–c. 1770s. Ireland was England’s oldest colony. How then did the English empire function in early modern Ireland, and how did this change over time? What did access to European empires mean for people living in Ireland? This lecture answers these questions by interrogating four interconnected themes. First, that Ireland formed an integral part of the English imperial system. Second, that the Irish operated as agents of empire(s). Third, Ireland served as laboratory in and for the English empire. Finally, it examines the impact that empire(s) had on people living in early modern Ireland.

While the book focuses on Ireland’s place in the English empire, the Irish were trans-imperial and engaged with all of the early modern imperial powers. Making Empires therefore explores connections and comparisons with other European imperial powers, placing the Irish colonial experience in a global context.

Jane Ohlmeyer, MRIA, FTCD, FRHistS, is Erasmus Smith Professor of Modern History at Trinity College Dublin, where she served as Trinity's first Vice-President for Global Relations (2011-14). She is the author or editor of numerous articles and 11 books, and she is currently working on a 4-part documentary called From that Small Island: the story of the Irish.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Saturday, April 12th Celebrate 100 Years of The Great Gatsby.

One hundred years ago, in 1925, Charles Scribner's Sons published The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Since then, the novel has become a timeless classic of American fiction, inspiring countless other writers, as well as film and musical theater adaptations. The novel invited us into the lives of the "rotten crowd," Jazz Age Americans with far more money than morals.

Step back into the dazzling world of the Jazz Age with A Roaring 20s Revue: A Gatsby Centennial Celebration! In honor of the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, this lively evening of music, dance, and storytelling brings the spirit of the Roaring 20s to life.

Featuring dynamic performances by Keith Brown, Joanie Brittingham, and Samantha Nahra, the program showcases jazz-age classics, alongside evocative selections from Evan Mack’s Ghost of Gatsby and traditional Irish music of the 20s. From the sultry swing of Ain’t Misbehavin to the irresistible charm of Let’s Misbehave, and even a Charleston lesson to get your feet moving, this celebration immerses you in the music and magic of Fitzgerald’s world.

With toe-tapping tunes, heartfelt ballads, and readings from The Great Gatsby, this is an evening of revelry, romance, and roaring good fun. So grab a cocktail, don your finest flapper dress or dapper suit, and join us for a night Gatsby himself would never forget!

New York City isn't the only place celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

The Majestic Theatre in West Springfield, MA has some special performances beginning Monday, March 17, 2025.

Join Father Patrick Aloysius Misgivings for a "divine" comedy of belly laughs, blessings, blarney, and bingo! From miracles and marriage counseling to bazaars and birth control, nothing escapes the good Father’s razor-sharp Irish wit. Comedian Dave Kane’s hilarious and interactive one-man show has entertained audiences all over New England.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025 it's Banish Misfortune. Since 2007 they have entertaining audiences in Western Massachusetts and beyond with a broad range of Irish music, stories and craic (fun). The band’s current lineup features seasoned musicians on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, flute, whistle, concertina and guitar.

Expect to be transported to Ireland with rousing jigs and reels, songs both humorous and touching, and stories and poems springing from the soul of the Emerald Isle.

Too much corned beef. Photo: Laura Deni

The West Coast celebrates Saint Patrick's Day, too. Led by Guinness World Record holder for the Fastest Feet in the World, James Devine, and five-time World Champion Irish dancer, David Geaney, and featuring an old-school scratch DJ, this is Irish tap dance like you've never seen it before. Described by The New York Times as "a multimedia show for all ages, earnestly tracing the evolution of Irish dance while toying with tradition," Velocity Irish Dance is one step you don't want to miss! Saint Patrick's Day, Monday, March 17, at Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.

Chicago always tints the Chicago Riveri green and Boston is noted for staging one of the longest pub crawls in the world. If you manage to bottoms-it-up through all that chances are you are now as green as that Chicago river.

STORK REPORT

KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA have added another four footer to their family. A close friend of the King surprised him with an Italian Lagotto Romagnolo dog, named Snuff. According to Palace insiders His Majesty is "besotted" with the pooch.

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BECOMING EVE written by Emil Weinstein, based on the memoir by Abby Chava Stein.

Directed by Tyne Rafaeli.

Puppetry by Amanda Villalobos.

A week before the High Holidays, three rabbis find themselves in a room fighting to save a family by building a bridge between orthodoxy and modernity. One of these rabbis is Chava, the child of a dynastic Hasidic rabbinical family and destined to become a leader of the next generation before the revelation of her trans identity clashed explosively with the strictly gendered world in which she was raised. As we jump through memory—and wrestle with theology—truths and secrets emerge that ensure no one will read the old stories the same way again.

The cast of Becoming Eve will include GLAAD Rising Star Award winner Tommy Dorfman as "Chava," Tony Award nominee Judy Kuhn as "Mami," Tedra Millan as "Fraidy," Rad Pereira as "Chesky," Justin Perkins as "Puppeteer," Emmy Award winner Richard Schiff as "Tati," Tony Award winner Brandon Uranowitz as "Jonah," and Emma Wiseman as "Puppeteer."

The creatives include: scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Enver Chakartash, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by UptownWorks - Daniela Hart, Noel Nichols & Bailey Trieweiler, puppet design by Amanda Villalobos and music by Daniel Kluger . Claire Yenson is the Casting Director, and Jason Kaiser (Monsoon Wedding) will serve as Stage Manager.

Becoming Eve will begin performances at Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand St, New York, NY 10002) on March 19, 2025, with opening night set for April 7, for a limited run through April 27, 2025.

BOOP! THE MUSICAL music by David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead and a book by Bob Martin.

Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

In BOOP! The Musical, Betty Boop's dream of an ordinary day off from the super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to an extraordinary adventure of color, music, and finding love in New York City.

Led by Jasmine Amy Rogers as Betty Boop, the principal acting company in BOOP! includes Faith Prince as Valentina, Ainsley Melham as Dwayne, Erich Bergen as Raymond Demarest, Stephen DeRosa as Grampy, Anastacia McCleskey as Carol Evans, Angelica Hale as Trisha, Phillip Huber as Pudgy the Dog, and Aubie Merrylees as Oscar Delacorte.

The creatives include: David Rockwell, scenic design; Gregg Barnes, costume design; Philip S. Rosenberg, lighting design; Gareth Owen, sound design; and Finn Ross, projection design.

The music team includes Daryl Waters, music supervision and arrangements; Doug Besterman, Orchestrations; Rick Fox, music director; and Zane Mark, dance music arrangements.

In previews with an official opening set for Saturday, April 5 at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.

GLOAMING NOWHERE written and performed by artist J.S. Streible. With original songs by Streible.

The world’s first "Neo-Appalachian, Afrolachian, Southern Pop Revusical." A rich amalgam of original music, poetry, and microfiction A musical for people who don’t like musicals, and refreshing for those who do!

Raised in the Southern Appalachian mountains, Streible’s work embodies a rare synthesis of identities and a deep appreciation for juxtaposition—born of being a biracial man and living among white people of both extreme poverty and wealth, who all looked equally white to him.

Steeped in the storytelling tradition of Rural Appalachia and West African Griots, and fresh from a multi-state Appalachian tour, in Gloaming, Nowhere Streible, embodying the enigmatic storyteller, brings the show to life in a whimsical and moving theatrical experience.

The world premiere of Gloaming, Nowhere, runs to April 5, 2025 in the theater’s intimate Huron Room of the SoHo Playhouse in New York City.

(THIS IS NOT A) HAPPY ROOM by Rosie Day.

One Wedding. One Funeral. Zero Boundaries.

Starring Jonny Weldon as Simon, Andrea Valls as Laura, Jazz Jenkins as Hayley, Tom Kanji as Charles, and Alison Liney as Agatha. What’s more, Alison makes her professional debut at the age of 84!

The story follows the Hendersons, a happily dysfunctional family reuniting for their dad’s third (or fourth?) wedding. Nobody expects the death of his bachelorhood to become an actual funeral… but it would be a waste of the buffet not to re-purpose it, right?

A show which puts the fun in funeral.

March 26 - April 27, 2025 at the King's Head Theatre in London.

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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

JESSE L. KEARNEY, JR. award winning playwright died on Thursday, March 6, 2025, two months after undergoing emergency brain surgery after suffering a sudden brain bleed January 8. He was 49.

Kearney was a recipient of the Dramatists Guild's Jonathan Larson Musical Theater Fellowship and the Lazarus Family Musical Theater Award, among other honors.

A graduate of New York Law School and NYU's Musical Theatre MFA writing program, he served as president of Prospect Theater Company, and was the vice president of Black Broadway Men United.

He is survived by Jacquelyn Bell Kearney, his wife and co-founder of Broadway Advocacy Coalition. He is also survived by their daughters Cecilia and Loretta and his mother, Shirley.


PRINCE FREDERIK OF LUXEMBOURG who was born with POLG Mitochondrial disease, died from the disease on March 1, 2025. He was 22.

His father Prince Robert called him "My Superhero."

Frederik Dies at 22 from Rare Genetic Condition: 'He Is My Superhero,' Said Dad Prince Robert who added that his son "was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy, and determination."

The brave young royal founded the POLG Foundation, an organization to help find treatments and a cure for the illness.

The disease, according to the POLG Foundation, "is a genetic mitochondrial disorder that robs the body’s cells of energy, in turn causing progressive multiple organ (brain, nerves, liver, intestines, muscles, swallowing and ocular function, etc.) dysfunction and failure."

Despite Robert describing Frederick's illness as a "burden that he had to carry throughout his life," the royal, who is the first cousin of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, said his son always handled uphill battles "with grace and with humor" and was beyond proud of the work he did with the POLG Foundation.

He is survived by his parents Prince Robert of Luxembourg, mother Princess Julie of Nassau, brother, Alexander; his sister, Charlotte, three cousins, Charly, Louis, and Donall; his brother-in-law, Mansour; and his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark.

Next Column: March 23, 2025
Copyright: March 16, 2025 All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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Laura Deni