Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: March 22, 2026
By: Laura Deni
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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.

UNROLLING ETERNITY: THE BOOKS OF THE DEAD

In ancient Egypt, Books of the Dead guided the deceased through the underworld. For the first time ever, you can lay eyes on one of the only complete and gilded Books of the Dead—now on view in the Egyptian galleries of the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY.

This manuscript, dating between 340 and 57 B.C.E., holds nearly all 162 spells known from the longest versions. Unlike most surviving examples, it includes blank opening and closing pages that confirm its completeness. Conservation and curatorial efforts have also revealed its original owner—Ankhmerwer, son of Taneferher (“the one beautiful of face”)—offering an extraordinary connection to a person who lived more than two millennia ago.

One of the many issues i launching this exhibit was conserving a 21-foot-long papyrus scroll that’s over 2,000 years old.

Curator Yekaterina Barbash and conservators Ahmed Tarek and Josephine Jenks delved into a three year restoration of the gilded Book of the Dead.

Filled with gleaming vignettes, the scroll appears alongside one of the earliest Books of the Dead and fascinating artifacts, such as gold amulets and reed pens. Unrolling Eternity illuminates both ancient burial rites and the artistic prowess behind a rare masterpiece, as well as the cutting-edge techniques used to preserve it.

In ancient Egypt, Books of the Dead guided the deceased through the underworld, each one personalized with spells for a particular individual. The gilded manuscript, dating between 340 and 57 B.C.E., holds nearly all 162 spells known from the longest versions.

Unrolling Eternity: The Brooklyn Books of the Dead is organized by Yekaterina Barbash, Curator, with Morgan Moroney, Assistant Curator, and Kathy Zurek-Doule, Curatorial Associate, Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art. Funding for the conservation of the illustrated B.



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ART AND ABOUT

CAFE AND CABARET: THE SPECTACULAR ART OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC on view beginning April 4, 2026 at the San Diego Museum of Art.

Known for his beguiling portraits of Paris nightlife and the unvarnished local characters of Montmartre, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's short but celebrated career immortalized the cabaret culture of Belle Époque Paris and revolutionized the art of the poster.

Working in the popular and modern art form of the color lithograph, Toulouse-Lautrec reached unprecedented audiences with spellbinding visuals and eye-catching colors. Inspired and encouraged by Impressionists such as Edgar Degas and his close friend Vincent van Gogh, and taking influence from the flattened color patterns of Japanese graphic arts, Toulouse-Lautrec left an unforgettable image of the spectacle, people, and performers of turn-of-the-century Paris.
This once-in-a-generation exhibition shares approximately fifty works by Toulouse-Lautrec.

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SWEET CHARITY

JOHN KANDER the Tony Award winning composer will be Honored at New York City Gay Men's Chorus Gala benefit March 23, 2026, at the Edison Ballroom at Hotel Edison in New York City.

The Harmony benefit, which begins at 6 PM, will include an open bar, three-course dinner, and entertainment with performances from the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and Broadway artists.

The annual Harmony event will also celebrate advertising executive Aaron Walton.

“As someone who has been at the intersection of theatre and business his entire career, it brings me immense joy to honor John Kander and Aaron Walton at Harmony. Chicago was the first Broadway show I ever saw, and Mr. Kander’s work has shaped generations of music lovers, including myself. Mr. Walton is a titan of the business world and a longtime supporter of NYCGMC. Together, they embody the mission and spirit of this organization, and it is a privilege to celebrate their extraordinary contributions,” stated Executive Director Rashad V. Chambers.

Kander’s four-decade collaboration with the late Fred Ebb included Flora the Red Menace, Cabaret, Zorba, The Happy Time, 70 Girls 70, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Steel Pier, Curtains, The Scottsboro Boys, and The Visit.

Walton is the CEO/co-founder of Walton Isaacson (WI) advertising agency, with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, he was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Fame. Founded in partnership with Earvin “Magic” Johnson, WI has built business relationships with numerous brands. In 2023, he was named Agency Executive of the Year by Ad Age.

Harmony is a celebration of the power that music has to bring people together, build community, celebrate diversity, and advocate for change. The Gala raises funds to support artistic and life-enhancing programs.

SPREADING THE WORD

AN EVENING OF MUSIC FROM THE WEST END Kelly Mathieson & Joe McElderry are the leading stars in this 2026 edition of An Evening of Music from the West End.

Scottish Born Actress and Singer, Kelly Mathieson made her name in the Musical Theatre industry when she landed the lead role of Christine Daaé in the Phantom of the Opera in the West End. Her stage credits include the shows Mimma, Wonderful Town, Into the Woods, South Pacific, Dr Zhivago, and At Last It’s Summer.

Joe McElderry burst onto the scene in 2009 when he won The X Factor, and has scored multiple top 10 albums. On stage, his credits include Tommy in Club Tropicana: The Musical and most famously Joseph in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Joining the two headlining stars is a 60-piece choir , whose harmonies will elevate the atmosphere and create a truly immersive, orchestral West End experience within the magnificent setting of Dumfries House.

Come along to Dumfries House and experience a musical extravaganza. Pre concert, an optional three course set menu dinner will be served in one of the principal dining rooms of Dumfries House.

Meet & Greet tickets are also of limited availability. Enjoy a glass of fizz and mingle with the leading stars.

Took place Friday 27th & Saturday 28th at Ayrshire, UK.

THE SHAKESPEARE THEATRE OF NEW JERSEY (STNJ) is proud to announce its 2026 holiday production, The Gifts of the Magi — a heartwarming musical adaptation of the beloved stories by O. Henry. Running December 5th through December 31st at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre in Madison, this enchanting production celebrates the spirit of generosity, devotion, and the true meaning of the season.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THE TRUMP GOLD COIN A federal arts panel comprised of members appointed by Donald Trump on Thursday unanimously approved a commemorative gold coin featuring his image, part ?of a series of coins the U.S. Mint is planning to produce to celebrate America's 250th birthday this year.

The portrait of U.S. President Donald Trump, taken by official White House photographer Daniel Torok, is the basis of a proposed U.S. Mint semiquincentennial commemorative. The U.S. Mint will now produce final dimensions for the coin. Trump has already approved the design and it is expected that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will order the coin to be minted.

The coin would depict a stern-looking Trump leaning over a desk and staring forward. It is based on a photograph displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

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THE AMERICAN THEATRE CRITICS ASSOCIATION (ATCA) announced six finalists for the 2026 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, recognizing the playwrights who produced the best scripts that premiered professionally outside of New York City in 2025.

The top award, which carries a $25,000 honorarium, and two citations valued at $7,500 each, will be presented on May 2 at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, Calif., as part of the annual Pacific Playwrights Festival. At $40,000, Steinberg/ATCA is the largest national new play award program of its kind.

In 1977, ATCA began to honor new plays produced at regional theaters, as a way of balancing the existing awards landscape, which often focuses on works produced in New York. No play is eligible if it has gone on to a New York production within the award year. Since 2000, the award has been generously funded by the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

The 2026 finalists, listed alphabetically by title, are:

Berlin by Mickle Maher, produced by Court Theatre (Chicago, IL)

Lions by Alice Yorke and Scott R. Sheppard, produced by Lightning Rod Special (Philadelphia, PA)

Mother Russia by Lauren Yee, produced by Seattle Repertory Theatre (Seattle, WA)

The Pilon by Zach Barr, produced by Red Theater (Chicago, IL)

The Staircase by Noa Gardner, produced by South Coast Repertory (Costa Mesa, CA)

Things With Friends by Kristoffer Diaz, produced by American Blues Theater (Chicago, IL)

The plays recognized by Steinberg/ATCA this year testify to the vibrancy and diversity of regional American theater at this moment,” said Cameron Kelsall, a theater critic based in Philadelphia and ATCA member who serves as chair of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Committee.

The finalists include veterans and newcomers alike, including a former winner of this award, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a playwright recognized for the first-ever professional production of his work.ť

Past recipients of ATCA’s New Play Award include August Wilson, Lynn Nottage, Lanford Wilson, Lee Blessing, Michael Cristofer, Marsha Norman, Lauren Yee, Moises Kaufman, and Qui Nguyen. Last year's honoree was Purpose by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

THE ECHO THEATER COMPANY has announced he winners of the company’s 2025 New Play Competition.

. In first place, winning a $1000 cash prize plus travel and housing to attend rehearsals and a public reading at Atwater Village Theatre, is Alisa Zhulina with Deepfake. Set in a near-future where LNM (Lonely No More) sells lifelike companions, two new lovers, two old flames and a family collide—testing whether artificial intimacy can heal the very human wounds it exposes.

The second place prize of $500 and a rehearsed online reading goes to Jeremiah OC Jahi, an Atlanta-born, Brooklyn-nurtured, Black American playwright currently based in Los Angeles, for his play Housekeeping.

In Housekeeping, a tight-knit cleaning crew has been relocated to a new hotel in a recently opened sports entertainment complex bordering all-Black southwest Atlanta and the downtown business district. The public is invited to join the online reading on Sunday, March 29 at 4 p.m., which will be directed by DeJuan Christopher and feature the talents of Channel Bell, Ben Cain, Jon Chaffin, Joy DeMichelle and Matt Elam.

Playwright Maddie Dennis-Yates is the recipient of the third place, $250 honorarium and a note session with members of the Echo’s artistic staff for her play Vanessa The Miracle Girl.

When 14-year-old Vanessasees the David on a field trip, she has an immediate sexual/artistic awakening – just as an earthquake hits, killing all her classmates and her teacher. She becomes an instant tragedy celebrity, worshipped by the Italian press, mentored by the Pope – but what's next for the miracle girl? A spectacle-laden, art historical, gender-bending coming-of-age story, Vanessa is about the disrupted life of a person who barely got the chance to masturbate and make bad art.

The 2025 New Play Competition prize committee included literary agent Beth Blickers, playwright Angelica Chéri (Berta, Berta), 59E59 Theaters artistic director Val Day, playwright and screenwriter Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, Six Feet Under, House of Cards, Archer, Legit, Nurse Jackie), playwright Jessica Goldberg (Babe, Body Politic), and former literary agent and current associate artistic director at The Playwrights Realm Alexis Williams.



SEX, LES AND HAROLD PINTER 2 darkly comics, Pinter one-acts.

open March 20 at the Odyssey in a visiting production Directed by Jack Heller

An evening of two rarely staged Pinter one-acts both darkly comic, both unmistakably unsettling. Performances continuing through April 26 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.
br> In Party Time, affluent guests at a chic London gathering (John Coady, Larry Eisenberg, Michelle Ghatan, Brenda James, Isaac W. Jay, Paul Marius, Michelle McGregor, Christopher Louis Parker and Mouchette Van Helsdingen) trade gossip and brag about wealthy pursuits while, just beyond the half-open door, an unjust regime enforces “order” with brutal force.

In the second half of the evening, the tone shifts with The Lover. Susan Priver, stars as Sarah opposite Ron Bottitta, as Richard. A married couple, Sarah and Richard enliven their relationship by exchanging intimate accounts of their affairsuntil Pinterâ's sly, bittersweet twist reveals how fragile the boundaries between fantasy, power and desire truly are.

Pinter has an extraordinary ability to make us laugh at the very moment we should be most afraid,” suggests Heller.Party Time exposes the casual cruelty of power and privilege with chilling precision, while The Lover seduces us with wit and playfulness before quietly pulling the rug out from under our assumptions about intimacy and control. Presented together, these two one-acts feel less like separate plays and more like a single, unnerving conversation about how people use language, sometimes charmingly, sometimes violently, to get what they want.ť

The creative team for Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter includes scenic designer Joel Daavid, lighting designer Gavan Wyrick, sound designer Chrisropher Moscatiello, costume designer Shon LeBlanc and properties designer Sofia Alejandra Gonzalez. The stage manager is Valeria Ruuva, and the evening is produced by Brian Foyster and Christina Hart.

TITUS ANDRONICUS by William Shakespeare.

Directed by Jesse Berger.

Starring Patrick Page, this bold new staging of Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedy arrives this spring for a limited engagement at The Pershing Square Signature Center’s Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. Opening Night set for Sunday March 29.

This electrifying revival reexamines Shakespeare’s epic revenge tragedy in a production that feels strikingly contemporary. Patrick Page, Tony nominee and Grammy winner for Hadestown, takes on the title role of Rome’s greatest general whose triumph in war unleashes a devastating, and increasingly absurd and grotesque cycle of vengeance.

Joining Mr. Page in the production are McKinley Belcher III, Enid Graham, Jesse Aaronson, Matthew Amendt, Blair Baker, Francesca Faridany, Amy Jo Jackson, Adam Langdon, Anthony Michael Lopez, Anthony Michael Martinez, Howard Overshown, Olivia Reis, and Zack Lopez Roa.

A young Shakespeare flexes his theatrical muscles in this shockingly timely thriller, where Rome’s celebrated hero returns victorious from battle only to ignite an unstoppable spiral of revenge that brings an empire to its knees.

THEATER BREAKING THOUGH BARRIERS’ TRANSCENDENCY RISING: SHORT PLAYS ABOUT DEFYING LIMITATION BTB is Off-Broadway’s leading theatre company advancing artists with disabilities, and will feature new plays created specifically for this project by John Patrick Shanley, Lyle Kessler, Bekah Brunstetter, Cate Allen. Kathryn Grant and Jeff Tabnick.

The production on Theatre Row , through April 11, 2025, features six new plays exploring various aspects of transcendence – or moving beyond challenging circumstances – to reach higher ground, all written by an extraordinary roster of playwrights including Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winner John Patrick Shanley, Tony Award nominee Lyle Kessler, and Tony Award nominee Bekah Brunstetter, alongside acclaimed writers Cate Allen, Kathryn Grant, and Jeff Tabnick.

Together, these playwrights offer moving, provocative, and often unexpected portraits of resilience, illuminating the moments when individuals dare to transcend circumstance, expectation, and self-imposed boundaries in pursuit of something greater.

As with all TBTB productions, the evening features a dynamic company of performers with and without disabilities, embodying the company’s enduring belief that artistic excellence and disability are not mutually exclusive, but mutually enriching. As with all TBTB productions designed for accessibility and inclusion, they will all be fully captioned and utilize audio description throughout.

“This evening brings together some of the most important voices in American theatre to explore what it means to transcend adversity and defy the limits of the human experience. These plays remind us that the human spirit is inherently expansive. At Theater Breaking Through Barriers, we believe the stage is a place where possibility expands, where barriers dissolve, and where audiences are invited to see the world and each other with renewed clarity and compassion.” Nicholas Viselli, Artistic Director, Theater Breaking Through Barriers.

Transcendency Rising: Short Plays About Defying Limitation includes:

From Buffalos by Adam Linn; Directed by Nicholas Viselli
Featuring Fareeda Pasha.

How The Universal Will Spends Its Sundays by Jeff Tabnick; Directed by Eric Nightengale
Featuring Ann Marie Morelli, Dan Teachout, Aya Ibaraki, and Melanie Portsche.

Monologue by Tatiana G. Rivera, Directed by Nicholas Viselli Featuring Katharine Rose Kessler.

Forgotten Corners Of Your Dark, Dark Place by Bekah Brunstetter; Directed by Brian Leahy Doyle.
Featuring Jennifer Elizabeth Bradley, Jamie Petrone, Amanda Cortinas, and Emma Shafer.

Original Monologue by Marc Winski; Directed by Nicholas Viselli
Featuring Marc Winski.

The Upside Down Man by John Patrick Shanley; Directed by Ivette Dumeng
Featuring Nelson Avidon and Veronica Cruz.

Sounds of Stillness by Dipti Mehta; Directed by Nicholas Viselli
Featuring Dipti Mehta.

The Calling by Kathryn Grant; Directed by Ann Marie Morelli
Featuring Carla Brandberg, Scott Barton, Enrique Huili, and Melanie Portsche.

Redemption by Lyle Kessler; Directed by Nicholas Viselli
Featuring Xen Theo.

The Body Is a Waiting Room for Ghosts by Cate Allen, Directed by Pamela Sabaugh.
Featuring Samantha Debicki, Stuart Green, John Little, Ann Flanagan, and Christine Bruno.

BAKUSTERS

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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

LAMONTE McLEMORE Herman Lamonte McLemore was an American vocalist, actor, composer and photographer. He was a founding member of The 5th Dimension, a popular vocal group of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He died February 3, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 90.

He had suffered a stroke several years ago.

The 5th Dimension was a renowned American pop-soul vocal group (1966–mid 1970s) known for hits like "Up, Up and Away" and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In". The original lineup included Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. They blended sunshine pop with soul, winning multiple Grammys.

He was also a longtime celebrity and sports photographer whose images graced magazines including Jet, Ebony and Harper’s Bazaar.

McLemore was known for the warm bass vocals and easygoing presence that helped anchor the group’s sophisticated harmonies and modern pop sensibility.

Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Mieko; his daughter, Ciara; his adopted son, Darin; his sister, Joan; and three grandchildren.

Next Column: March 29, 2026
Copyright: March 22, 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