Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: March 2, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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THE OXY SHOW - SKETCH COMEDY ABOUT SEX, DRUGS AND BABIES

Do not use Dijon mustard as a lubricant for sexual intercourse.

The Oxy Show is a new sketch show that answers the question 'Why are there not more plays about silt?'

Written by Julian England and Kevin P O’Sullivan, whose first major role was on Beverly Hills 90210.

Enter the bizarre world of the OXY Show. Meet Lynne, a woman obsessed with the beautiful yet strangely absent Lucy. Then there is Bazz, the least successful drug dealer in Tunbridge Wells, fish loving Peter and his loyal if confused girlfriend Diane.

In OXY-land The Human Reproduction Licenses Authority is the Government’s novel new way of dealing with problem parents and English soup is surprisingly important.

Starring the excellent Julian England, Kevin P O’Sullivan, Anna Cose-Arman and Laura Forbes.

Interesting music and suburb sound balancing. Clever writing, terrific acting, perfect pacing. Presented by the Wireless Theatre Company.

Looking at a few of the fast moving sketches:

In Sketch One sex is upended - no pun intended. The women are the ones demanding to be satisfied and its the males' obligation to do just that. The women are keeping score. Example. Second husband Tom is a performance failure - he's unimaginative, predictable, and half hearted with no exotic sex.

The wife isn't satisfied with the "level of sexual service I'm getting." Originally their marriage started out with a 48 percent success rate which has dropped to 31 percent. At first, the sessions lasted 34 minutes and 17 seconds which has now dropped to 9 minutes.

The sexually frustrated wife has a plan. She'll treat her body as a restructured franchise with categorize sexual position. Her 8 sexual positions will be prioritized in one year contracts through a competitive marketplace. She's desires "modern and up to date service." Her second husband is welcome to compete. Whoever wins each category may attempt to engage in the prescribed sexual act. After a year all contracts will be reviewed.

Sketch Two has a man with a reputation as a drug dealer. What he is peddling is every form of licorice.

Mr. Swan's wife has been declared as unfit to have a baby. So, the The Human Reproduction Licenses Authority can't issues a procreation approval form. The couple if distraught. Mrs. Swan questions if it is her past: 'born a bastard', stealing, running way, an affair with the Vicar. Nope, none of those. The reason is hilarious.

in a second sketch about fertility, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are thrilled that they have been approved to have a baby. The couple wants twins - a boy and a girl. The doctor brags that they have some exceptional DNA.

The world is full of beautiful women. The couple wants ugly - making their child unique looking. They feel ugly would give her a better change in the world.

For the boy the doctor announces they have just received a lot of David Beckham genes. The couple argues they don't want right legged world famous genes. They want evil who will have a no holds barred attitude, and decide on Mike Tyson genes.

One of the funniest sketches involves Peter and his girlfriend Diane who are talking on the phone. Peter demands phone sex. The proper way to arouse him is to recite names of fish which begin with the letter 'H' "hard core fish names - give it to me baby. give it to me." She has used up her knowledge of fish names beginning with 'H'. He is one fish name away from sexual success and is frustrated. Then he announces that diseases beginning with 'D' "really turn me on." His reaction to all of the fish names as well as 'diphtheria' is laugh out loud funny.

Edited by Lester Berry. Recorded at the Bonified Studios.

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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 CANAL MUSEUM

The Canal Museum.

in London where you can see inside a narrowboat cabin, learn about the history of London's canals, about the cargoes carried, the people who lived and worked on the waterways, and the On March 10, 2025 Anne, The Princess Royal Patron, the Canal Museum Trust, will be on site to open the Canals' Exhibition.

Peer down into the unique heritage of a huge Victorian ice well used to store ice imported from Norway and brought by ship and canal boat to be stored.

This unique waterways museum is housed in a former ice warehouse built in about 1862-3 for Carlo Gatti, the famous ice cream maker, and features the history of the ice trade and ice cream as well as the canals.

There are two themes at London Canal Museum. London's canals have a fascinating past and you will learn not only how they came to be built but about the lives of the workers, the cargoes, horses and how canals work.

"We are a waterways museum first and foremost, but also an industrial museum telling the story of the ice industry in London. It is the only London museum of inland waterways and is situated at King's Cross, an accessible central location," posted the museum.

LEIGH BOWERY! is being celebrated by Tate Modern in London. The provocative and boundary-pushing career of one of the most fearless and original artists of the 20th century. In his short but extraordinary life, Bowery (1961-1994) forged a truly unique path. Known variously as an artist, performer, club kid, model, TV personality, fashion designer and musician, Bowery took on many different roles but always refused to be limited by convention. He reimagined clothing and makeup as forms of sculpture and painting, tested the limits of decorum, and created a new form of performance art to explore the body as a shape-shifting tool with the power to challenge norms of aesthetics, sexuality and gender.

For the first time, Tate Modern has brought together Bowery’s outlandish and dazzling costumes alongside painting, photography and videos to explore how he changed art, fashion and popular culture forever. Charting the journey of a young boy from the quiet suburb of Sunshine in Melbourne, Australia, who became a globally recognized cultural figure, Leigh Bowery! offers a portrait of an outrageous, complex and creative figure who left a distinct and undeniable mark on contemporary art and beyond.

Moving from the club to the stage, to the gallery and beyond, visitors are invited to step inside Bowery’s dynamic creative world. Opening with his arrival in London from Australia in 1980, the exhibition delves into Bowery’s impact on the city’s infamous nightlife scene. Emerging alongside a network of notable figures such as Scarlett Cannon, Boy George and Princess Julia, Bowery cemented his international reputation with the launch of his own club night called ‘Taboo’ in 1985 – a liberating space offering Bowery and friends the freedom to explore their identity and transform themselves.

Famously asking "How many meanings has "Ok" got?!" Bowery thrived on appearing exceptional. He quickly learned the social currency of turning a 'Look' and set himself apart from the crowd through his bold and distinctive style. Visitors will be able to get up close to the intricate costumes he hand-crafted with collaborator Nicola Rainbird, who later became his wife, and corsetier Mr Pearl, while photographs by Fergus Greer illustrate how Bowery brought these to life in animated ways. A music and video installation by filmmaker and DJ Jeffrey Hinton, made especially for the exhibition, will convey the frenzied excitement of the Taboo-era, transporting audiences back to a vibrant underground community.

The exhibition culminates with Bowery’s foray into music with his band Minty. Uniting his love of performance, shock value and humour, it enabled him to achieve the full expression of his creative ideas, showcasing his constant desire to experiment, take risks and create a space for questions. Bowery’s final performance at London’s Freedom Café in November 1994 was attended by a young Lee 'Alexander' McQueen and Lucian Freud, demonstrating how far-reaching his influence on the worlds of both art and fashion had become.

The exhibition is organized by Tate Modern in collaboration with Nicola Rainbird, Director and Owner of the Estate of Leigh Bowery. Curated by Fiontán Moran, Curator, International Art; Jessica Baxter, Assistant Curator, International Art, Tate Modern; Nicola Rainbird, Director and Owner of the Estate of Leigh Bowery; and Margery King, Artistic Advisor of the Estate of Leigh Bowery.

On exhibit through August 21, 2025 at Tate Modern in London.

BREAKING THE MOULD: BROOKLYN MUSEUM at 200 opened on February 28, 2025.

It’s a celebration of two centuries of groundbreaking creativity.

From groundbreaking early acquisitions to striking new additions, the Brooklyn Museum’s collection has always championed artists and artworks that catalyze imaginative storytelling and brave conversations. As they ring in our 200th anniversary, Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200 celebrates this unique legacy. Comprising three chapters that boast both longtime favorites and brand-new standouts, the exhibition brings fresh narratives to the fore while exploring the collection’s rich history and future evolution.

Brooklyn Made is an homage to art and design created in the borough from the 17th century to today. Beginning with a pair of Delaware youth moccasins that acknowledge the land’s original inhabitants, this chapter journeys through time to spotlight works by active Brooklyn artists such as KAWS, Duke Riley, and Tourmaline.

Building the Brooklyn Museum and Its Collection features transformational artworks and archival materials that trace the development of the collection as well as the Beaux-Arts building that houses it. Gifts of Art in Honor of the 200th showcases extraordinary contemporary works—paintings, photographs, video, sculpture, ceramics, and more—given to us by valued donors in honor of our bicentennial. Exemplary pieces by well-established artists such as Julie Mehretu, Robert Frank, Alex Katz, and Coco Fusco are joined by contributions from influential artists working today, many in Brooklyn. Telling the Museum’s story along with their own, these works reveal how the collection continues to reflect our changing world.

Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200 is organized by Meghan Bill, Coordinator of Provenance; Abigail Dansiger, Director of Libraries and Archives; Catherine Futter, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts; Liz St. George, Assistant Curator, Decorative Arts; and Pauline Vermare, Phillip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography; with Kimberli Gant, Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art; Carmen Hermo, former Associate Curator, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art; Michael Gibson-Prugh, Curatorial Assistant, Arts of the Americas and Europe, and Imani Williford, Curatorial Assistant, Photography, Fashion, and Material Culture.

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SWEET CHARITY

THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION has announced iin the three years since the full-scale invasion in Ukraine began — a conflict that has taken over 12,300 lives, displaced millions, and disrupted access to critical healthcare, the EJAF and its partners such as HealthRight International, a partner funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, "we’ve helped over 85,000 people access essential services, from warm clothing to HIV treatment to mental health support since the invasion began. As we reflect on three years of conflict, we remain committed to ensuring no one is left behind. ”

THE NEW GROUP'S 30th ANNIVERSARY GALA celebrating three decades of groundbreaking theater and honoring John Turturro and Christina Kopec Rooney and Matt Rooney will take place on Monday, March 10, 2025 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

The Annual Gala supports The New Group’s mission to develop and produce powerful, contemporary theater that is adventurous, stimulating, and most importantly "now" – a true forum for the present culture. This milestone event provides critical funding for our programs, including our tuition-free YTT College Access program, which provides college application workshops and mentorship to New York City high school students.

The Pershing Square Signature Center, the permanent home of Signature Theater, is a three-theater facility on West 42nd Street designed by Frank Gehry Architects to host Signature’s three distinct playwrights’ residencies and foster a cultural community. The Center is a major contribution to New York City’s cultural landscape and provides a venue for cultural organizations that supports and encourages collaboration among artists throughout the space. In addition to its three intimate theaters, the Center features a studio theater, rehearsal studio, a bookstore, and the Signature Café + Bar.

STRUMMING WITH THE STARS AUCTION Gibson–the iconic American instrument brand–and its philanthropic division Gibson Gives have partnered with Julien’s, and FirstBank Amphitheater for a star studded auction which will benefit those affected by Hurricane Helene (North Carolina) and the Los Angeles Area Wildfires, as well as raise funds for the Gibson Gives and FirstBank Amphitheater music education programs in Williamson County Schools. Billing is open through March 12, 2025.

The Strumming With The Stars Gibson Gives and Julien's Auction will feature 23 lots with hand- signed guitars from music legends Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Eric Church, Luke Combs, SLASH, Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, Post Malone, The Avett Brothers, Primus, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, Melissa Etheridge, Halestorm, Chappell Roan, Staind, Jelly Roll, Seether, Yellowcard, I Prevail, Falling In Reverse, New Kids On the Block, Third Eye Blind, Train, One Republic, Riley Green, and Rascal Flatts.

Many of he instruments are expected to gavel down between $2,000-4,000.

SPREADING THE WORD

A STATUE OF WRITER APHRA BEHN (1640-1689)

Queen Camilla looking at the exquisite statue of Aphra Behn by sculptor Christine Charlesworth. Photo: The Royal Family

was unveiled by Queen Camilla celebrating the heritage and literature in Canterbury.

The bronze statue is of Aphra Behn, considered to be the first professional female writer in the English language and one of the most popular playwrights of the 17th century.

Aphra Behn (1640–1689), whose work is widely studied and her plays regularly performed, was born in Harbledown, just outside Canterbury, and spent her formative years in the city.

The creation of the bronze statue – commissioned by the Canterbury Commemoration Society – by sculptor Christine Charlesworth, followed an extensive period of research and consultation. After an international design competition, four maquettes were toured across the UK and the public asked which they thought would be the most fitting memorial.

Following the statue unveiling, The Queen visited The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, a popular museum, library, art gallery and visitor information center situated in the heart of historic Canterbury.

In the last decade, The Beaney has attracted 3.5 million visitors including almost 50,000 schoolchildren and has seen more than 7,000 people take part in health and wellbeing activities.

Her Majesty toured the building, meeting children undertaking an Aphra Benn workshop, members of the local book club and library volunteers, and a group of visually-impaired people who, with their assistance dogs, regularly use the library’s facilities.

In the Explorers Gallery, Her Majesty saw members of the Royal Shakespeare Company performing an extract from Aphra Behn’s play The Rover. Gyles Brandreth, President of the Aphra Behn Society, also read one of Aphra’s poems and The Queen heard about Canterbury Festival’s Poet of the Year competition.

NEW ORLEANS SONGBOOK a Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents Production. In the mood for Mardi Gras? North comes South in the Jazz at Lincoln Center production “New Orleans Songbook” as the Crescent City’s signature flavor is on display. Here, world class musicians, pianist Luther S. Allison and vocalists Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs, bring their talent on the road to local audiences. They celebrate the legendary composers and timeless songs that define the Crescent City – the historic epicenter of jazz. From the pioneering sounds of Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong to the distinctive styles of Ellis Marsalis and James Black, New Orleans has long been an apex of musical innovation and inspiration.

The show pays homage to The Big Easy’s enduring influence on jazz and the unique energy and legacy of its music, which continues to resonate globally.

Sunday, March 9 · 2025 on the Historic Main Stage Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Wilmington, NC

GAITHER MUSIC GROUP is thrilled to welcome music legend and three time Grammy winner Smokey Robinson to its artist roster. Robinson’s upcoming album, What The World Needs Now, out April 25 on Gaither, is a soulful, musical journey blending timeless classics with original songs that offer inspiration and encouragement. Out today is the first multitrack single from the album with buttery renditions of "Be Thankful For What You’ve Got" and "Lean On Me."

LIGHT IN THE ATTIC (LITA) presents Slow Magic, 1977-1978, a collection of never-bfore-heard songs that Jeff Bridges wrote and recorded with a band of his oldest and closest friends. At turns unruly, inventive, vulnerable, and joyfully weird, the tapes capture him singing and playing with total joy and abandon. The ragtag exuberance of these recordings not only evokes LA at a specific place and time—they reveal a missing link in the life of Bridges, an actor who has always considered himself a musician.

The music on Slow Magic, 1977-1978 comes from a single decaying cassette labeled "July 1978." It represents a cross-section of those lost 1970s sessions. Keefus Ciancia, Jean Sievers, and Matt Sullivan spent the second half of 2024 working closely with Bridges to prep the music for release.

"Music is the weed that keeps popping out of the concrete in my life. It just seems to want to come out." – Jeff Bridges.

Side A features "Here On This Island" with Burgess Meredith and side B has Meredith on "Kong." The inspiration for "Kong" came from Jeff’s concept for a sequel to Kong (1976)—when producer Dino De Laurentiis rejected his pitch, Jeff turned it into a song.

While Jeff was recording at Village Recorder, he ran into the legendary character actor Burgess Meredith, who wrote and directed Jeff’s second film—the surreal thriller The Yin & Yang of Mr. Go (1970). Meredith was an early supporter of Jeff’s music and encouraged him to contribute original songs to the film. A few years later, fresh off his role as Mickey in Rocky (1976), Meredith added extraordinary monologues to "Kong" and "Here On This Island," two mind-bending slices of mutant disco.

Pressed at RTI on transparent blue vinyl, Slow Magic, 1977-1978 will be available exclusively for Record Store Day April 12 at participating independent retailers. Additionally, the album will arrive on digital platforms on the same day. All physical formats include extensive liner notes by Sam Sweet featuring a new interview with Jeff Bridges and a treasure trove of never-before-seen archival photos courtesy of photographers Loretta Ayeroff and Candy Clark. The album features eleven previously unreleased tracks newly mastered by multi-Grammy nominated engineer John Baldwin, with lacquers cut by John Golden at Golden Mastering. Designed by Darry Norsen, the LP edition features a 20-page booklet.

Ahead of the album’s release, digital single "Obnoxious" is streaming on all platforms. Behind the scenes, filmmakers Isaac Gale, Paul Lovelace, and Ben Wu have produced a series of short docs surrounding the project slated for release this spring.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (May 25,1849 - June 14, 1908) was the first African American artist to perform at the White House. He was an American pianist and composer and had numerous original compositions published. He became the highest grossing, most ticketed act of his time. In 1862, Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins first performed at the Thalian Center for the Performing Arts in Wilmington, North Carolina, returning often over the next 25 years — when he wasn’t playing for Mark Twain.

EVACUATE OR SHELTER IN PLACE

I was waiting for Jeopardy to begin when suddenly there was wake-the-dead knocking on my house. Going to the front door I was almost blinded by swirling red police lights. Police cars everywhere.

A policewoman said: "There is a "situation" with your neighbor. You can evacuate or shelter in place. Which are you going to do?"

I decided to shelter in place.

"Go to the back of your house, the farest you can get, and stay there."

That would be the back bedroom.

"Then go there, as far back as you can get, and don't come out."

Which neighbor?

"Across. Not the one directly across from you, but then two house to your left. Get to the back of your house and stay there."

And so, I stared to tell time using Ken Jennings. First there was Jeopardy followed by Shifting Gears then Abbott Elementary. The red police lights lit up the evening. The street was blocked off to traffic.

Tomorrow morning was garbage pickup. I needed to get my filled garbage container to the curb. Maybe not.

Fifty-five years ago this was a nice neighborhood. Well educated, good jobs, including two clergymen and their families. One was the lead minister of a Presbyterian Church. The Rivera Hotel owned one of the houses across the street as did the Dunes Hotel. For a time Robert Goulet was a neighbor until he moved to a really elegant neighborhood. There were always a couple of residents you wished would move away, but all neighborhoods are like that. Basically, we all knew each other and got along. Then the 1986 downturn occurred and all of my neighbors moved out telling me I should leave, too. 'It' going to be a changing neighborhood', I was told. They didn't mean race. They meant education and occupations. The neighborhood went downhill and I wished I had moved out, too. I started referring to living "one step above a slum." Domestic violence affects all neighborhoods, not just those "one step above a slum."

On television Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays teacher Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary, was screaming at the top of her lungs. She had some good news. I was wondering if I was going to be hearing screams coming from across the street - which wouldn't have been good news.

Then Ken Jennings was back on the screen this time with Celebrity Jeopardy where the celebrities were intense and spirited and didn't always have the correct answers.

Households are also intense and spirited and don't always behave correctly.

Finally the red lights stopped spinning. Police cars drove way. I crept outside to get my trash can to the curb. I looked directly at the house across the street and then two houses to my left. It was the house where the Presbyterian minister had once lived. I could hear female voices - yelling.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE MARCHES ON as Macy's and NBC have extended their partnership in a new ten-year rights contract. The agreement also includes programming rights for the Countdown to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks and a new program to be announced later. The 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade attracted 31.7 million people to NBC and Peacock.

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THE PRICE IS RIGHT celebrated its 10,000th episode with a taping at Haven Studios, where elated fans gathered in themed attire to join the festivities. The landmark episode, which aired on CBS February 26 with a repeat airing in prime time slated for March 4, 2025, featured all six models participating and larger cash prizes, including an emotional win of $100,000 by one contestant. The long-running game show, which debuted in 1972, continues to be a fan favorite.

The milestone episode beefed up for the occasion with a 10,000 theme: Grand Game was played for $100,000 instead of standard $10,000.

The Price Is Right also donated $10,000 to Drew Gary's favorite charities, NAMI, which supports mental health needs.

The episode marks Drew Carey's 3,269th as host, joined by announcer George Gray and models Rachel Reynolds, a model who has been on the show for nearly 3,000 episodes; Amber Lancaster, Manuela Arbeláez, James O'Halloran, Devin Goda and Alexis Gaube. Either two or three models are used on each show.

Of course there was cake.

THE BOOK OF MORMON in performing its 5,124th performance, surpassed the run of the original Broadway production of Rent the 11th longest running show in Broadway history.

THE BROADCASTERS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA 2025 LEADERSHIP AWARDS will be presented at the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas.

Receiving the prestigious honor will be:
National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, Susan Larkin of Audacy, Chris Forgy of Saga Communications, David Kantor formerly of Urban One, Dennis Lyle of the Illinois Broadcasters Association and Valari Staab of NBCUniversal Local. Scott Herman, former CBS Radio chief operating officer and BFOA chair, will receive the Lowry Mays Excellence in Broadcasting Award.

PREMIERE STAGES AT KEAN UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES 2025 BAUER BOUCHER PLAYWRITING AWARD WINNERS Kean University student Tyler Sautner (Class of ’25) and alumna Megan Tobias (Class of ‘19) are the winners, named for longtime donors W. John Bauer and Nancy Boucher. Both winners received a cash prize and a one-day developmental reading of their plays with a professional cast and director.

The reading of On the Edge by composer/playwright Tyler Sautner was held on Monday, February 3 at Kean University. Deep in the snowy Canadian woods, city-dweller Marlin meets Frank, a wilderness expert. The two begin to bond as Frank attempts to acclimate Marlin to the outdoors on a 5-day camping trip. As the situation evolves into more than Marlin bargained for, his survival skills prove to be more valuable than he could have imagined.

New York City-based artist Megan Tobias is an actor, writer, historian, and dramaturg. The reading of Oversteegen by Tobias was held on Wednesday, February 26 at Lantern Hill, Based on a true story, Oversteegen follows the lives of Freddie and Truus Oversteegen, who were just 14 and 16 when they joined the Dutch Haarlem resistance against Nazi Germany. Later joined by Hannie Schaft, the trio take on jobs smuggling intelligence to Allied powers, aiding Jewish families in their escapes, and seducing and killing Nazi officers. Together they struggle with the reality of what they’ve been asked to do, living with the constant threat of being discovered, and desperately trying to keep true to themselves. Oversteegen is a play about sisterhood, resilience, and resistance.

Honorable mentions include Aidan Colon in the student category and Emily Conklin and Steven Patrick in the alumni category.

The Bauer Boucher Playwriting Award, established in 2014 through funding by Premiere Stages supporters W. John Bauer and Nancy Boucher, recognizes the work of one Kean University student and one playwright from the alumni community on an annual basis. The Bauer Boucher Award supports Kean University writers with enhanced visibility, dramaturgical feedback, a cash award, and the opportunity to hear their play read out loud by an ensemble of professional actors. The selected plays are directed by John J. Wooten, producing artistic director of Premiere Stages, and performed by a cast of professional actors under Actors’ Equity Association Staged Reading Guidelines. The winning student receives a cash prize of $1,000 and the winning graduate receives a $2,000 award. Honorable Mention recipients receive $150 each.

KARA E. McEACHERN has been named new Executive Director of Operations for the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra in MA.

She previously was office manager for the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra before moving up to Director of Operation. She also served as choir director for St. Francis of Assisi Church.

STORK REPORT

MOLEY MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR a two month old female fur baby has been adopted by Queen Camilla and King Charles III.

Born on December 26, 2024 the four footer's mother is half Jack Russell Terrier and the other half is anybody's guess. The lineage of the father is also unknown. Sounds like an interesting project for one of the DNA testing companies who also offers dogs' DNA analysis.

Moley arrived at the palace from the Battersea Dog & Cat rescue founding home in London, of which Queen Camilla is Patron. The new addition to the household was greeted by her new adopted sister BlueBell who will waste no time in teaching Moley how to manipulate her new pet parents into obeying her demand for treats, toys and belly rubs.



DRACULA, A COMEDY OF TERRORS by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.

Directed by Gordon Greenberg.

Bram Stoker’s horror classic has had a a comic makeover. In this lightning-fast gender-bending reimagining that features a Gen Z pansexual Count Dracula in the midst of an existential crisis. With a cast of five switching costumes and roles at the drop of a hat, this 90-minute freewheeling send-up plays with sexuality and gender norms in the spirit of RuPaul, Monty Python and Mel Brooks – and celebrates goth, camp, and the magic of live theatre itself.

James Daly plays Dracula after originating the role Off-Broadway. Safeena Ladha plays Lucy Westfeldt and others. Dianne Pilkington plays Dr. Westfeldt and others. Three-time Olivier Award-nominee Charlie Stemp plays Jonathan Harker and others. He made his Broadway debut in Hello, Dolly! opposite Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters, and was awarded the 2018 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.

In the treacherous mountains of Transylvania, Jonathan Harker, a meek English estate agent, takes a harrowing journey to meet a new and mysterious client, who happens to be the most terrifying(ly narcissistic) monster the world has ever known: Count Dracula! When the Count sets his sights on Harker’s fiancé, the brilliant young earth scientist Lucy Westfeldt, he meets his match for the first time – as well as a slew of other colorful characters including vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing, insect connoisseur Renfield and behavioral psychiatrist Wallace Westfeldt, whose British country estate doubles as a free-range mental asylum.

Performances March 8 - May 3, 2025 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.

LAUGHS IN SPANISH A Comedy in English by Alexis Scheer.

Directed by Lisa Portes.

Ay, dios mío! It’s the eve of Art Basel – the major art event in Miami – and gallery director Mari is freaking out. The art has vanished, the phones are ringing off the hook, and her assistant Caro is acting suspicious. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, her famous, often-absent mother Estella arrives in town… baggage in tow.

Mother-daughter relationships and questions about art and success are all on the table in this vibrant collage of chaos and cultura.

Featuring: Maggie Bofill as Estella; Olivia Hebert Martinez as Jenny; Stephanie Machado as Mariana; María Victoria Martínez as Carolina; Luis Vega as Juan.

March 6 - 30 2025 at Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT.

CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA (TO CROSS THE FACE OF THE MOON) the first of its kind ever written a mariachi opera with music by José "Pepe" Martínez; Lyrics by Leonard Foglia and José "Pepe" Martínez ; Libretto by Leonard Fogliay. The score blends the unique sound of a Mariachi trio with a full opera orchestra in a new orchestration by David Hanlon.

A poignant and touching multigenerational family story brought to life of two families by the US-Mexico border through the sound of mariachi.

The opera tells the story of a Mexican family torn apart and eventually reunited by immigrating to the U.S. to seek an ostensibly better and bigger life. It does so in a popular musical language not previously used in opera. Time and space are bridged in the process, as the action in Leonard Foglia’s bilingual libretto shuttles back and forth between a Mexican village 50 years ago and present-day Houston.

Featuring Octavio Moreno as Laurentino - Cecilia Duarte as Renata - Vanessa Alonzo as Lupita.

Commissioned in celebration of the Mexican anniversaries of independence and revolution, "Cruzar" was commissioned and introduced by the Houston Grand Opera in 2010.

Then after the opening night attend the first ever Lyric Opera of Kansas City Opening Night Afters: the official Lyric Opera after party! Head to the Lyric's Production Arts Building in the East Crossroads for an unforgettable night of music, food, and fun.

Mingle with the cast and creative team, enjoy a cash bar and purchase delicious bites from Taco Naco KC, and enjoy a vibrant performance by Grupo Folklorico Alma Tapatía. This is a free event for all who attended the Friday evening performance of Cruzar—bring your Friday night playbill or ticket for entry!

Doors open for the party at 9:00 pm. Space is limited at the Production Arts Building, so be sure to RSVP early!

Performances March 7-9 at Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

This project is supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional support from the State of Missouri, the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

OTHELLO by William Shakespeare.

Directed by Kenny Leon.

The classic play follows its title character, a Moorish military commander who falls victim to a psychological campaign from adversary Iago aimed at turning him against his new wife, Desdemona.

Starring Denzel Washington in the title role and Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago.

They will be joined by Molly Osborne as Desdemona, Andrew Burnap as Cassio, Anthony Michael Lopez as Roderigo, Daniel Pearce as Brabantio, Kimber Elayne Sprawl as Emilia, Neal Bledsoe as The Duke of Venice, Julee Cerda as Bianca, Ezra Knight as Montano, Gene Gillette as Gratiano, and Rob Heaps as Ludovico. The ensemble will comprise William Connell, Ty Fanning, Ben Graney, Daniel Reece, Christina Sajous, and Greg Wood, with swing Abiola Obatolu rounding out the company.

The creatives are: scenic design by two-time Tony winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony winner Dede Ayite, lighting design by eight-time Tony winner Natasha Katz, sound design by Obie Award winner Justin Ellington, hair and wig design by Emmy winner Mia Neal, intimacy direction by Claire Warden, and production stage management by Narda E. Alcorn. Casting is by Duncan Stewart and Jarrett Reiche of ARC.

The revival, which is the first since the 1982 revival, began performances February 24 at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City. The official opening is March 23, 2025.

BECKET BRIEFS a selection of Samuel Bekket's one-acts. Three short plays running the gamut of existence - "Not I," "Play," and "Krapp's Last Tape" from birth to the afterlife.

Directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.

Starring F. Murray Abraham as Krapp with Kate Forbes, Roger Dominic Casey, and Sarah Street. Beckett Briefs has been extended through March 16, 2025 on on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage of the Irish Rep in New York City.

BUST by Zora Howard.

Directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz.

It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this ground-breaking, form-defying, laugh-out-loud new drama from Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Zora Howard. Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected — until the unexpected happens. Humor, suspense, and surrealism converge in this gripping interrogation of what it costs to be Black and free.

The cast includes: Mark Bedard, Cecil Blutcher, Caroline Stefanie Clay, Bernard Gilbert, Caitlin Hargraves, Jorge Luna, Victoria Omoregie, Keith Randolph Smith, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Ivan Cecil Walks, Renika Williams-Blutcher.

The understudies are: Hannah Rose Broom, Robert John Connor, Jacob Alexander Craig, Warren Levi Haney, Anjil Jeter, Braian Rivera Jimenez, Taloria Merricks, Ty Revenel.

The creatives are: Malkia Stampley assiciate director.Jeremy Chernick special effects deaign; DJ Reborn sonic dramaturg; Donimique Fawn Hill costume design; Rocio Mendez fight choreography; Lauren Port casting; Matt Saunders scenic design; JacquelineSpringfield dialect coach; Mikaal Sulaiman sound design; Kellen Voss associate sound design; Yi Zhao LX design.

The crew: Lawrence Bennett, production management lead. Xiaonan (Chloe) Liu assistant stage manager. Marshall Lee Smith, Jr. stage management production assistant. Shiku Thuo stage manager.

A co-production with Goodman Theatre, performances on the Coca-colca stage of the Alliance Theatre, in Atlanta, Georgia through March 16, 2025.

BLACK BEAR ISLAND a Mazumdar Award Winner by Kaaarissa Murrell Myers.

Directed by Daniel f. Lendzian.

A psychological thriller which "will leave you questioning the nature of your reality."

This Gothic magical-realism suspense thriller explores regret, the unreliableness of our own memories, and the paths we choose to become who we are. The play centers on Amitra, portrayed by Gabrielle Nunzio, who returns to her childhood home after a 16-year absence following the mysterious death of her estranged childhood sweetheart Warren, played by Russell C. Holt. Set on an island supposedly haunted by a monstrous man-killing bear, what unfolds is a psychological thriller that weaves between past and present as it explores trauma, memory, and the destructive nature of obsession.

As Amitra reconnects with the island and interacts with locals -- including her neighbor Marjorie, played by Kathleen Rooney, and a troubled young girl named Ruby played by Kira Whitehead -- she begins to experience visions of her past self (Alejandra Sutherland), and Warren as a teenager (Connor Raposa). Ayden Herreid as Finn, Warren's younger brother.

The creatives are Daniel Allen's scenic design. Emma Schiminger's lighting and sound design. Anna Krempholtz's fight choreography.

Black Bear Island runs at Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo, New York through March 8, 2025.

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FINAL OVATION

GENE HACKMAN, WIFE BETSY ARAKAWA AND DOG found dead in their New Mexico home on February 27, 2025. Estimated date of death February 17, 2025. Cause of death under investigation.

Hackman, a two time Oscar winner, got his start as a stage actor. His wife was a concert pianist. Their pet dog Zinna, a kelpe mix, also perished.

They have tested negative for carbon monoxide poisoning. The public is over analyzing and speculating, interweaving their own family experiences. Let the police do their job. Authorities are expected to disclose more results next week.

UPDATE NOTICE: The police have indicated that they originally misidentified the deceased Hackman dog. The couple's German shepherd named Bear, survived along wihh dog Nikits. The correct identification of their deceased pet is reflected in the above changes.

ERIC WEISSMANN veteran Entertainment Attorney, passed away on December 15, 2024. He was 94.

Over his five decades of practice, he represented actors such as Gene Wilder and Elizabeth Taylor as well as many directors like Paul Mazursky, Mark Rydell, and Robert Altman. He spent many years as a senior partner at Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowits and Selvin and at Weissmann, Wolff, Bergman, Coleman, Grodin, along with a stint at Warner Brothers as the Head of Worldwide Business Affairs.

In 2010, he was selected Entertainment Lawyer of the Year by the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

He lectured on Film and Law internationally. Eric was born in Zurich in 1930. In 1940, his family fled Europe by way of Mexico before settling in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Louise Weissmann and his daughters Jessica McCrea and Tiffany Wind and granddaughters Sara Mccrea and Emma Sabine Wind.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF RITA McKENZIE took place Saturday, February 22, 2025 in Los Angeles.

McKenzie, a powerhouse of the stage was most recognized for her off-Broadway show, Ethel Merman’s Broadway which became the longest running one woman show in theatrical history. McKenzie died February 17, 2024.

The celebration included special presentations from such friends as: Barry Bostwick, Barbara Eden, Sam Harris, Rupert Holmes, Michael Orland, Renée Taylor, Lesley Ann Warren and more. The celebration of life was also streamed via Zoom.

On February 25, McKenzie’s birthday, her husband and producer, Scott Stander released a lost recording of The Melody Inside, a song written and gifted to her in the 1990’s from Musical Director Robert Bendroff. The song was then incorporated into her Ethel Merman Tribute shows that she performed with symphony orchestras. The new release of the song is available to stream everywhere and for digital purchase.

Proceeds of the single will benefit Broadway Barks, an organization she long loved and admired.

ROBERTA FLACK Grammy winning singer for Record of the Year, died February 24, 2025 from cardiac arrest on her way to a hospital in New York City. She was 88.

Flack was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in August 2022 and announced months later she was unable to sing.

By age 15, Flack entered Howard University in Washington, D.C., on a full music scholarship, making her one of the youngest students ever to enroll there. She eventually changed her major from piano to voice and became an assistant conductor of the university choir. Her direction of a production of Aida received a standing ovation from the Howard University faculty.

Before college graduation Flack became a student teacher at a school near Chevy Chase, Maryland. She graduated from Howard University at 19 and began graduate studies in music there, but the sudden death of her father forced her to take a job teaching music and English in Farmville, North Carolina.

When she was able to launch her singing career she became one of the most popular performers of the 1970s.

She topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love"

Flack was a member of the Artist Empowerment Coalition, which advocates for artists to have the right to control their creative properties. She was also a spokeswoman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; her appearance in commercials for the ASPCA featured "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". The Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx, NYC, ran an after-school music program called "The Roberta Flack School of Music" to provide free music education to underprivileged students in partnership with Flack, who founded the school. Flack was also an advocate for gay rights, stating that "Love is love. Between a man and a woman, between two men, between two women. Love is universal, like music."

From 1966 to 1972, she was married to Steve Novosel. Flack was the aunt of professional ice skater Rory Flack. She was also the godmother of musician Bernard Wright, who died in an accident on May 19, 2022.

ADELAIDE ROBBINS musician, died February 1, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 97.

She began her college career at the Eastman School of Music which is affiliated with the University of Rochester, and she earned both her Undergraduate and Master's Degrees from the Manhattan School of music with a double major in Composition and Bass, and a minor in piano.

Adelaide moved to Las Vegas in 1967 as the only female member of Buddy Rich's Band. Even though, an accomplished bassist and pianist, because of the rampant discrimination against female musicians in those days, work was often preempted by males, many with less talent. Adelaide managed to land a ten plus year gig with R&B and Soul Singer, Ruth Brown. Later she was the regular rehearsal pianist for many Las Vegas casinos productions. Hundreds of Las Vegas cabaret and lounge gigs swelled the number of her lifetime accomplishments.

The Las Vegas Jazz Society will Honor Adelaide Robbins in late March at one of their performances, the date is yet to be determined.

ALICE HIRSON actress died on Friday of last week. She was 95.

Hirson appeared three times on Broadway, including as a member of the original cast of The Investigation.

The veteran actress also had spot appearances on "Murphy Brown," "Just Shoot Me!," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and several daily soap operas. The Long Island native also starred in several films including "Private Benjamin," "Revenge of the Nerds," and "Being There," which featured the iconic Peter Sellers. Hirson married actor Stephen Elliot, who died in 2005. She then married Tony award winning dramatist Roger O. Hirson, with whom she had two children.

Next Column: March 9, 2025
Copyright: March 2, 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