Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: May 18, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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FUNDING PERFORMING ARTS PARTIALLY THROUGH SHOW TOURS

Photography Mark Brenner.

Budgets, grants, and money falling from the sky like rain are being siphoned off and dried up.

A new, austere mantra - get your debt under control - has reached the performing arts industry. People are scrambling, looking for new ways to rake in the legally acquired filthy lucre.

A popular money maker, which is being expanded, involves the theatrical tourist industry. Guided tours to Broadway and the West end to see shows, sights and soak up the creative arts. The tours have been around for decades but suddenly they seem to have been rejuvenated and expanded.

It seems everybody makes money. Ancillary companies, such as airlines, hotels, restaurants and gift shops reward tour operators with a bonus - no longer being called a kickback.

There are currently an estimated 66,300 travel agents in the United States. By 2032 the travel agent job market is expected to grow by 3.5% about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Personally escorting a tour group to live theatre is not something AI can do. Thus, a growth industry.

Travel agencies with ties to the theatrical abound.

SilCo Theatre Trips: proffers"Experience the Best of Broadway and Beyond! Adventure with SilCo to global theatrical hotspots like NYC & London Explore the Vast World of Theatre with SilCo!"

"Join Theatre SilCo for an unforgettable journey to the world’s greatest theatre destinations! Whether it’s the dazzling lights of Broadway in New York City or the theatres across the pond on London’s West End, our expertly curated trips offer theatre lovers an exclusive pass to the magic of live performance."

Their trips include:
Tickets to multiple Broadway or West End productions
Luxury accommodations in the heart of the theatre district
Group excursions and/or cultural outings
Exclusive talkbacks and/or behind-the-scenes experiences
Why Travel with Theatre SilCo?

"Our theatre trips go beyond just seeing shows – they’re immersive experiences designed to deepen your love for live performance. You’ll connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts, gain insider knowledge from our staff, and create memories that last a lifetime, all while being guided by experts who share your passion."

Their next New York City trip takes place during NYC-Aficionado Week October21 - 24th, 2025 and NYC Music Week October 14-17, 2025.

Experience NYC Theatre like a local! Join Theatre SilCo and 4 Professional Shows, 2 dinners, nightly talkbacks, and a tour of one of NYC’s famed performance spaces. This week features shows Off Broadway and beyond for true theatre aficionados!

NYC-Musical Week Oct 14 - 17th, 2025 includes: 4 Broadway Shows, 2 dinners, nightly talkbacks, and a tour of one of NYC’s famed performance spaces. This week will feature Broadway musicals both old and new!

Broadway Across America's London Summer Excursion 2025 London, UK takes place August 14 - 19, 2025.

They describe this package as: "If London contained only its landmarks—Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London—it would still rank as one of the world’s top destinations. But England’s capital is much more. It is a bevy of British bobbies, an ocean of black umbrellas, and an unconquered continuance of more than 2,000 years of history. A city that loves to be explored, London beckons with great museums, the fabulous West End theatre district, royal pageantry, and 1,001 historic delights."

Broadway Across America is introducing a special London experience for three West End performances including Les Misérables.

Anticipated as an intimate group of about 25-34 patrons, this 2025 London trip features 4-star accommodations, top category seats to your shows, including Les Mis a welcome reception & dinner with your fellow travelers, admission to London’s landmark attractions, daily English breakfast, numerous Blue Badge guided tour outings including the best sights in London and a day trip to Stonehenge (that mysterious and majestic circle of giant stones sitting upon the Salisbury Plain) and a farewell dinner before our last show – not to mention the dedicated professional on-site services of the Broadway Across America staff."

Paramount On Tour promises "a curated getaway perfect for every theater-lover. When traveling with Paramount On Tour, you’ll experience the hottest shows, finest restaurants, chicest hotel accommodations and more. And best of all, a portion of your trip payment directly supports Paramount!"

Their New York City Broadway trips in June and October have a wait list. A December 5-8 tour date has just beent added. A London West End excursion successful ended today, May 18, 2025.

Several companies offer tours that specialize in private, group, or educational tours, while others focus on specific aspects of the theater experience. Broadway & NYC Tours offers customized group tours in New York City. Inside Broadway Tours specializes in private, student, and corporate group experiences. Broadway Studios Tour offers behind-the-scenes tours of rehearsal studios.

Here's a more detailed look at some options: Inside Broadway Tours: Hosts private, student, and corporate groups, often with a focus on theater.
Broadway Studios Tour: Provides behind-the-scenes access to Broadway rehearsal studios.
Starr Tours: Offers Broadway trip packages and may include show tickets.
Leisure Group Travel: Provides discounted Broadway tickets for groups.
Broadway Inbound: Helps groups find the best seats to Broadway shows at discounted prices. Discounts can range from $5 to $50 per ticket, and service fees may be waived.
West End (London): Sapphire Tours: Provides educational tours for students with a focus on musical theatre, including dance and music lessons.

Rock Cab Tours: Offers private taxi tours of London, including music legends.

Prices for tours can vary significantly, so make sure to find one that fits your budget.

Both Broadway and West End shows frequently offer discounted tickets for tour groups of 10 or more. Group discounts can be substantial, and sometimes even waive service fees.

Many West End shows offer group discounts, with some schools potentially saving up to 75%.

Broadway Bound Tours work with current and former cast members of London's most popular West End Shows. Your students will learn dances and music from a show of their choice.

Some venues offer tour trips tied in with their current production. An example: NYC Apple Boys Bus Package. Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope regularly offers theatre bus packages. The one for the current production of "The Apple Boys" is $105 and covers roundtrip transportation, driver tip, theater ticket, and all fees.

Across the country, PBS is noted for their local and international tours. Booking through a nonprofit such as PBS and they will tack on a "donation" to help support their programming.

Last year Reno, Nevada PBS staged a Bringing Reno to Broadway – And Beyond 10 day tour which included tickets to four West End productions and two Royal Shakespeare Company productions.

Broadway & NYC Tours is a full service travel agency specializing in customized group tours of New York City. Starr Tours & Charters stresses that "We love hosting groups! We host all types of private, student, and corporate groups. Our tours are the perfect compliment to your Broadway experience.

No matter if you are based in America or England - go see a show. For an added experience take a tour. You be entertained and refreshed while the venue, production company or association earns some needed money.

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Thank you for your interest.

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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

WITCH PANIC! MASSACHUSETTS BEFORE SALEM Discover a time when accused witches walked among us. Forty years before the infamous trials in Salem, fear gripped the small settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts. Neighbors whispered about Mary and Hugh Parsons as rumors simmered for years, exploding into hysteria that eventually consumed the town. "Witch Panic!" dives into the daily lives of the Parsons, examining the circumstances that led to their 1651 accusation and arrest for witchcraft.

Learn about the folklore surrounding witches, like their association with broomsticks, black cats, and cauldrons, or design your own ghoulish familiar, a small creature believed to help witches. Review the evidence of the Parsons’ witchcraft as a member of the jury and determine their innocence or guilt.

The exhibition also features objects from the Museums’ permanent collection, including one of the last remaining copies of Springfield founder William Pynchon’s The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption, one of the first books to be banned in English North America. The Museums’ copy the has the distinction of being owned by Cotton Mather, the Puritan clergyman who influenced and recorded the witch trials in Salem (1692-1693).

"Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem" explores how witchcraft influenced early Springfield and how the conversation continues 375 years later. On display through November 2, 2025 at the Wood Museum of Springfield History, Mass.

ENCOUNTERS a new exhibit at the World War I Museum uses cutting-edge visual storytelling to tell the person narratives of WWI. Visitors will encounter 16 individuals and their intimate first-person accounts crafted from diaries, letters and photos, including:

Allied and Central Power combat soldiers living through the hell of the Western Front and patrolling the seas in submarines;
British colonial Indian soldiers contemplating death and rebelling against the futility of war;
women working in munitions factories to support the war effort;
and dissenters arrested and tried for protesting involvement in the war.

For the past three years the Museum has been refurbishing and upgrading. The updates to the Main Gallery, including 14 new interactive screens, three new films, new lighting and special effects, updated trenches, an authentic replica field hospital and much more.

This Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, the Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO will once again offer free admission for active-duty and veterans (including spouses and dependents with ID) and half-price admission for the public.

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SWEET CHARITY

RED BUCKET CAMPAIGN the annual collection for HIV was a gigantic success delivering a record shattering $6.8 from Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions showgoers to benefit Boadway Cares' Through Sunday, April 27, 2025, every donation dropped into a Red Bucket helps provide essential support for those facing life-altering challenges. Just $10 can cover an HIV test at a health clinic, while a $50 gift ensures a week of nutritious meals for someone living with HIV/AIDS or other serious illnesses.

Broadway shows participating included & Juliet; The Book of Mormon; Cabaret; Death Becomes Her; The Great Gatsby; Hamilton; Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; Hell’s Kitchen; The Lion King; Maybe Happy Ending; Oh, Mary!; The Outsiders; Redwood; Six and Sunset Boulevard; and Off-Broadway's DRAG: The Musical; Little Shop of Horrors and The Play That Goes Wrong. Additionally, the national tours of & Juliet, A Beautiful Noise, Beetlejuice, Clue, Hamilton - Angelica tour, Hamilton - Philip tour, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Les Misérables, The Lion King - Rafiki tour, Mamma Mia, MJ, Parade, Some Like it Hot and Wicked - Munchkinland tour also launched their fundraising.

During the six week campaign, in exchange for a donation, audiences at many productions received their choice of autographed posters, Playbills and other unique memorabilia or one-of-a-kind experiences. Last year, 45 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours raised $4.7 million during the Spring Fundraising Competition.

This year the tally was $6.8 M.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Sunset Blvd." was named by Broadway Cares as the top show for the Spring Fundraising Competition by collecting $329,923. The top Broadway play was "Good Night, and Good Luck" with $324,794.

"Glengarry Glen Ross" producers announced that the play raised a total of $238,343 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids during its annual Red Bucket campaign, making it the first runner up for a Broadway play.

The top off-Broadway play or musical was "Little Shop of Horrors" with $113,982. And the top national tour was "Wicked – Munchkinland" with $221,717.

In related news, the national touring company of "Wicked" reached a fundraising milestone raising over $7 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS since the tour began.

Hundreds of HIV programs, food banks, health clinics, mental health centers and housing programs across the country will benefit reported Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which spearheads the campaign and distributes funds through its national grants program. Broadway Cares is the single largest supporter of the safety net of programs at the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), helping everyone in entertainment and the performing arts. Broadway Cares’ National Grants Program supports more than 450 organizations nationwide providing nutritious meals, health care and hope for those in need. At times of crisis, Broadway Cares also awards one-time humanitarian grants to provide emergency aid across the US and around the world.

SPREADING THE WORD

GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK

George Clooney (center) surrounded by cast of Good Night and Good Luck. Production Photo by Emilio Madrid.

will be telecast live in its entirety on CNN, June 7, 2025, the night before the 2025 Tony Awards, and the night before the play closes on Broadway. The live telecast will take place across CNN properties, including a livestream on CNN.com.

The broadcast will also include special pre-show coverage outside the theatre. After the performance CNN will air a "Good night, and Good Luck" special, which will include a discussion about the fraught state of global journalism.

Said star and co-writer Clooney in a statement: Ican't tell you how exciting it is to do something that's never been done. CNN is the perfect place to bring this story of courage to so many more people than we could have ever hoped. Live TV. No net. Buckle up everyone."ť

The broadcast will be executive produced by George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Deena Katz, Todd Wagner, and Jeff Skoll.

THE VERSE AND PLAYS OF CHARLES DICKENS Explore a new side of Charles Dickens in this free roundtable event at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.

On Wednesday, May 21 this free event will shed new light on one of the most celebrated writers in English literature. As part of the launch of two major new scholarly volumes — The Verse of Charles Dickens and The Plays of Charles Dickens, published by Edinburgh University Press — four leading Dickens scholars will come together for a lively and accessible roundtable discussion open to the public.

Editors Lydia Craig, Emily Bell, Joanna Hofer-Robinson, and Pete Orford will explore Dickens’s lesser-known work as a poet and a playwright. While Dickens is often remembered for his novels, his poetry and dramatic writing offer rich, revealing insights into his imagination, humour, and sense of performance. This roundtable offers a rare opportunity to hear about these rediscovered works and how they expand our understanding of Dickens as a writer deeply engaged with language, theatricality, and the emotional currents of his time.

In addition to the discussion, the editors will read selected excerpts from the poetry and plays featured in the volumes, bringing Dickens’s lyrical and dramatic voice to life in the very home where he once lived and worked.

This event is free and open to all. Whether you're a Dickens enthusiast, a student of literature, or simply curious about the man behind the novels, this promises to be an illuminating and enjoyable afternoon in a uniquely atmospheric setting.

BORN WITH TEETH which had its world premiere at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas in 2022, is headed across the pond to London's West End!

Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel are set to star in the UK premiere of Liz Duffy Adams' dark comedy "Born With Teeth" in the West End. Co-produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Playful Productions, "Born With Teeth" will have performances at the Wyndham's Theatre, from August 13 to November 1, 2025.

THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL which has enjoyed a 7 year run on London's West End has announced it will close on on September 13, 2025.

FOR LOVE OR FUNNY MUSICAL READING a new musical that reimagines The Three Stooges as a trio of sisters. Ashley Rodbro directs Tony winner Cady Huffman, Ally Bonino, and Tiffany Mann.

Two readings for the new musical take place May 19 in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The readings will also feature Stanley Bahorek, Ally Bonino, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Richard Ruiz Henry, Megan Loughran, Ellie MacPherson, and Tiffany Mann.

"For Love or Funny" has lyrics by Megan Loughran, music by Sonya Hayden, and a book by both. Music direction by Katie Coleman.

The musical comedy reimagines the Three Stooges as a trio of sisters: Mo, Mary, and Curly, played by Chambers, Bonino, and Mann, respectively. In a slapstick version of 1930s Brooklyn, the sisters’ family-owned clothing store is about to close—unless they can somehow get a whopping $500 by the following day.

The readings are part of the Across a Crowded Room Fellowship presentation series at the Library for the Performing Arts.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS the current, hit Broadway revival of the David Mamet play starring Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr and Bob Odenkirk, has recouped its investment, producers announced.

The recoupment follows similar announcements for "Othello" starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal , and "Good Night, And Good Luck"starring George Clooney. The three star turners are among the biggest hits of Broadway’s spring 2025 season.

"Glengarry‘s" recoupment coincides with the production’s record-breaking weekly gross at the Palace Theatre. For the week ending May 11, the revival took in $2.4M.

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JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Lyrics by Tim Rice.

Choreographed by Phil Colgan.

Music Direction by Alexander Tom.

A timeless and iconic classic, this beloved rock opera is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events but seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Jesus Christ Superstar follows the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. Jesus Christ Superstar continues to resonate as it moves and thrills audiences across the world.

The cast features: Austin Turner (Judas) with David Sattler (Pilate), J'Quay Gibbs (Herod) with Phil Cogan, Jamari Darling (Caiaphas), Ethan Hardy Benson (Jesus), Sophie Madorsky as Mary and and Franco Tomaino as Annas.

The "Jesus Christ Superstar" ensemble features (in alphabetical order) Parker Aimone, Kolby Lamont Bates, Joshua Bess, Kailee Regan Brandt, Matt Donzella, Ryaan Farhadi, Timothy Matthew Flores, Maya Fortgang, J-Quay Gibbs, Karma Jenkins, Paige Anne Mills, Jessica Minter, Alexis Papaleo, Jonathan Reyes, Nigel O. Richards, and Nick Traficante.

The musicians are: Nancy Boone-Bahr: Reeds - - Terry Caviness: Trumpet - - Jeff Dunn: Trombone - - Michael Fittipaldi: Bass - - Jason Schirripa: Drums - - James R. (instrument not specified).

The creatives are: E. Renée Gamez is Assistant Music Director. Melanie Attuil (Assistant Company Manager), Reilly Masi (Front of House Manager), and Hannah Malone (Director of Audience Services), Phil Colgan (Choreographer) and Ashley Wilson (Wardrobe Supervisor). The Casting Director for The REV's 2025 season is Megan Larche Dominick, CSA

Scenic Designer Jeff Kmiec, Lighting Designer José Santiago, Sound Designer Daniel Lundberg, Costume Designer Tiffany Howard, and Hair & Makeup Designer Mary Tyler. The Production Stage Manager is Matt Silar with Assistant Stage Managers Mollie Heil and Nico Padilla.

Returning to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse stage for the first time in 41 years, "Jesus Christ Superstar" has performances May 28 – June 17, 2025 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York.

LETTERS FROM MAX by Sarah Ruhl.

Directed by Blanche McIntyre.

The cast includes Sirine Saba as Sarah Ruhl and Eric Sirakian as Max. The production will include live music by cellist Laura Moody.

Max Ritvo is an exceptional young man. At just twenty years old, he’s a student at Yale, performing in an experimental comedy troupe, and writing poetry containing wisdom and insight far beyond his years. Eager to explore writing in all its forms, Max applies to Sarah Ruhl’s playwriting workshop. And in Sarah, he quickly realizes he has found not only a mentor, but a friend.

When Max finds out his childhood cancer has returned, the two correspond continually - pursuing an understanding of life and of art and sharing their innermost thoughts with honesty and generosity. Based on their real communications, Letters from Max is a rich mosaic of letters, poetry, music and dialogue that tests theatre’s ability to express the ineffable.

Playing May 23 - June 28 at the Hampstead in London.

CHICKEN & BISCUITS By Douglas Lyons.

Directed by Curtis C. Jackson.

In this compelling story, can Baneatta and Beverly, two sisters at odds, set aside their differences to honor their father's memory? It's a challenging task, especially when Beverly arrives at the chapel flaunting her ostentatious blessings. Meanwhile, Baneatta's son brings his anxious Jewish boyfriend, anticipating his mother's disapproval, and Beverly's daughter persists with probing questions. Despite efforts by Baneatta's pastor husband to ease tensions, a shocking family secret revealed during the service forces the sisters to confront a truth that could either mend their fractured relationship or drive them further apart.

Featuring: Monette McLin, Marc Gill, Charles Hunter, Hunter Steele, Hiawartha Jackson, Ann Marie Gaines, Ashley Sade, RaKaela Thompson. The swings are Jordan Danyel and Ashley Betts.

The creatives are: Assistant Director Emma Crystal. Stage Manager Emma White.

Performances at The Circuit Playhouse through June 1st in Memphis, TN.

LATIN HISTORY FOR MORONS written by John Leguizamo.

Directed by Herbert Sigü?enza

Starring Rick Najera.

Acclaimed Broadway and LA Comedian - and San Diego native - Rick Najera takes the stage in Latin History for Morons, a fast-paced and razor-sharp solo show that blends laugh-out-loud comedy with eye-opening cultural insight. Written by John Leguizamo and directed by Herbert Sigüenza, this one-man production dives into 3,000 years of Latin history—from the Mayans to Pitbull—on a father's urgent quest to help his son find a Latin hero for a school project.

Tackling the glaring absence of Latinos in American history textbooks, Latin History for Morons delivers a witty, irreverent, and deeply personal story that’s as educational as it is entertaining.

"Now I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve always felt like my history was being kept from me: on TV, movies, textbooks, practically everywhere."

"Latin History for Morons" is a hilarious and insightful exploration inspired by the glaring absence of Latinos in American history textbooks. In this uproarious show, Rick Najera embarks on a frenetic quest to uncover a Latin hero for his son’s school project. With his comedic flair, he delivers a whirlwind recap of the Aztec Empire and shines a light on the unsung Latin patriots of the Revolutionary War and beyond, distilling 3,000 years of history—from the Mayans to Pitbull—into 110 irreverent and uncensored minutes that are both entertaining and enlightening. OTC’s production marks the first professional staging of the show in San Diego outside of Leguizamo’s original touring production. Previously, the show made its local debut at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2016, followed by a one-night-only performance at the San Diego Civic Theatre in 2019.

Director Herbert Siguenza was recently the Playwright in Residence for the San Diego Repertory Theatre thanks to a generous grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Herbert is also a founding member of the performance group Culture Clash. Along with Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas, Culture Clash is the most produced Latino theater troupe in the United States.

Performances May 23 - June 8, 2025 at the Oceanside Theatre Company in Oceanside, CA.

THE APPLE BOYS featuring a book by Jonothon Lyons and music by Ben Bonnema.

Directed by David Alpert.

Choreographer Mark Kimelman.

Celebrating friendship and resilience. The Apple Boys is a fast-paced, optimistic four-person comedy set in Gilded Age Coney Island.

Featuring Josh Breckenridge, Jelani Remy, Emily Skeggs, and Teddy Yudain. With Deshawn Bowens, John Mezzina Hannigan and Rachel Kay.

Step back in time to Gilded Age Coney Island with a fast-paced new musical comedy. Jack Chapman III, grandson of Johnny Appleseed, rallies a colorful cast of characters—including the founder of Nathan’s Hotdogs and the world’s strongest man—to save his family’s struggling apple orchard. Featuring an inventive score with tight vocal harmonies, The Apple Boys is a boisterous show that will leave you cheering for the underdogs and celebrating the joys of friendship.

Th creatives are: Scenic Design Adam Koch - - Costume Design Johanna Pan - - Lighting Design Rui Rita - - Sound Design Beth Lake - - Vocal Arranger Matt Gallagher - - Music Supervisor Rona Siddiqui - - Music Director Sujin Kim-Ramsey - - Production Stage Manager RL Campbell - - Assistant Stage Manager Saunio Lawson - - CastingJason Styres, CSA.

- - Performances through May 25, 2025 at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA.

PRIVATE LIVES by Noël Coward.

Directed By KJ Sanchez.

Twinkling lights, crisp tuxedos, and a tango beat. Love never looked so chic in our production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives! Step into a tempestuous world where love and laughter collide in unexpected ways! When divorced couple Elyot and Amanda accidentally find themselves honeymooning with their new spouses in adjacent rooms, sparks fly and tempers flare in a whirlwind of passion and humor. Director KJ Sanchez brings a fresh twist to Coward’s timeless comedy, set in Latin America, specifically in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Elegance, Wit, and Romance.

The cast includes: Orlando Arriaga as Victor Prynne. Hugo E, Carbajal as Elyot Chase. Melissa Molano as Amanda Prynne. Briana J. Resa as Sibyl Chase.

The creatives are Tanya Orellana Scenic Design. David Arevalo Costume Design. Carolina Ortiz Herrera Lighting Design. Jake Rodriguez sound design. H. Russ Brown fight director. Micha Espinosa voice coach. Susana Collins Tango instructor. Melissa Pritchett Intimacy Coach, Denise Cardarelli stage manager. Ethan Mitchell Assistant Stage Manager.

May 23 – June 15 at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas.

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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

CHARLES STROUSE was an American composer and lyricist best known for writing the music to the Broadway musicals "Bye Bye Birdie; Applause," and "Annie" died May 15, 2025 in New York City. He was 96 years old.

Strouse's first Broadway musical was Bye Bye Birdie, with lyrics by Lee Adams, which opened in 1960. Adams became his long-time collaborator. For this show, Strouse won his first Tony Award in the category of best musical.

Strouse's next show was All American (1962), with a book by Mel Brooks and lyrics by Adams. The show produced the standard "Once Upon a Time" (recorded by Perry Como, Eddie Fisher, Al Martino, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Bobby Darin, among dozens of others).

Following this was Golden Boy (1964, also with Adams), starring Sammy Davis Jr., which ran for 568 performances. The musical It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966, based on the popular comic strip) closed after 129 performances, but introduced the song "You've Got Possibilities" sung by Linda Lavin. Its theme would also be adopted by Washington, D.C. television station WTOP (now WUSA) for news broadcasts.

In 1970, Applause (starring Lauren Bacall, with book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and lyrics by Adams) won Strouse his second Tony Award, for Best Musical. In 1977, Strouse adapted another comic strip for the stage, creating the hit Annie, which included the song "Tomorrow," which quickly became a "monstrous song hit," and garnered him his third Tony Award and two Grammy Awards.

Strouse's writing also extendeds into orchestral works, chamber music, piano concertos and opera. His Concerto America, composed in 2002 to commemorate 9/11 and the spirit of New York City, premiered at The Boston Pops in 2002, and his opera Nightingale (1982), starring Sarah Brightman, had a successful run in London, followed by many subsequent productions. In 1977, Strouse founded the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop in New York, through which many young composers and lyricists have found a forum for their work.

Strouse won Emmy Awards for music in television adaptions of Bye Bye Birdie and Annie. He was also the recipient of the 1999 ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award and the Oscar Hammerstein Award. He was a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame (in 2001) and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Strouse was married to director-choreographer Barbara Siman until her death on February 16, 2023. They had 4 children.

BRADFORD BROWN a pioneering force in the world of entertainment marketing- specifically product placement - passed away on May 12, 2025. He was 90.

To support himself during his college studies, he worked as a background actor, appearing in numerous productions-including a notable role as the first on-screen centurion in "Spartacus."

While working at a Pepsi bottling plant, Brad had a visionary idea: to integrate Pepsi products into films. Though initially met with skepticism by studio executives, his persistence paid off when a prop master on a then-unknown film agreed to place a can of Pepsi in a scene. That film was "Flashdance", and its success marked the beginning of a new era in product placement. Brad's ability to connect with behind-the-scenes professionals and his warm smile helped him secure placements in iconic films such as "Back to the Future" and "Star Wars."

In 1980, Brad co-founded Davie-Brown Entertainment, a trailblazing agency in the field of entertainment marketing. The company was later acquired by Omnicom Group and became part of The Marketing Arm, continuing to influence the industry with innovative brand integrations.

He is survived by his nephew, Doug Thomson.

Next Column: May 25, 2025
Copyright: May 18, 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