Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: May 25, 2025
By: Laura Deni
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PERFECT COMBO - DOGS AND FLOWERS AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

King Charles III visits oneof the shops. Photo: Toby Melville Chelsea Flower Show

The King, as Patron of The Royal Horticultural Society, and The Queen, along with Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, have visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show where royalty experienced smelling the flowers and petting dogs.
The King and Queen, accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, were be greeted on arrival by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Keith Weed, before touring the gardens and viewing the displays at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which ran until Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Established in 1913, on the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has become one of the world’s greatest showcases for horticultural excellence, attracting victors and exhibitors from across the globe. Since its beginning, the show has gone from strength to strength. It has grown from 244 exhibitors in 1913 to over 400 horticultural exhibits. Today the show attracts 145,000 visitors each year.

This year creations by artists Monty Don, Joe Perkins, Zoe Claymore, Dave Green, John Warland, Tom Bannister, Tom Hoblyn, Jo Thompson, and Jenny Rafferty.

Together, Their Majesties visited The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden, designed by Monty Don. The garden, designed with dogs in mind, features grass areas for dogs to enjoy and a large tree providing shade.

The brick paths are inscribed with the names of dogs belonging to Radio 2 presenters and RHS ambassadors, as well as Monty Don’s beloved dog Ned, to reflect the special place dogs hold in the nation’s hearts and gardens.

Of every shape and size in happy homes all over the country, when you walk down any British street you will see pups of every variety. Their number has been increasing in recent years, with more people than ever before choosing to own a tail wagger.

A study from the University of Leeds, published in Nature Scientific Reports, found that the UK is home to around 13.5 million dogs, which is an increase of around 1.5 million from the previous year.

The names of The Queen’s adopted Jack Russell Terrier, Bluebell and her new puppy, Moley, are featured on the path, alongside that of her much loved dog Beth, who passed away last year. The name of The King’s dog, Snuff, is also included on the path.

The Garden for Dogs will live on after RHS Chelsea at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, of which The Queen is Patron.

King Charles pets Ned. For the first time a dog was involved in helping to design an exhibit. Photo: Toby Melville Chelsea Flower Show

The King also stopped by The King's Trust Garden: Seeding Success, supported by Project Giving Back and designed by Joe Perkins who is a multi-award-winning landscape design consultancy, creating innovative outdoor spaces that celebrate the environment, wildlife, and explores how pioneer plants are shaping the future of gardening.

The garden is inspired by the potential of the more than one million young people supported by The Trust since it was founded almost 50 years ago, in 1976. It showcases the ability of seeds to adapt and flourish in hostile environments, drawing parallels with the resilience of young people who can overcome adversity and thrive when given the right support.

Screen-printed glass panels weave through the garden to convey an artistic representation of seed dispersal. Drifts of grass and perennials are punctuated by low growing shrubs. These flank basalt paths which culminate in an intimate, quiet space. Following the show, the garden will be rehomed at Uxbridge College, West London where it will be used, developed and maintained by young people enrolled on The King’s Trust programs, other students and the local community.

His Majesty also visited The Wildlife Trusts' British Rainforest Garden, designed by Zoe Claymore the Multi award winning Garden & Landscape Designer who operates her RHS Gold award winning garden design studio in Teddington, South West London.

The garden of The Wildlife Trusts, of which The King is Patron, has been designed to evoke the wild and wet woodlands that once swathed the British west coast.

Inspired by the ambitious 100-year-old mission of The Wildlife Trusts to bring the rainforests back to the British Isles, the garden has been designed as a representation of this precious habitat, which now only covers about one percent of British land. A raised accessible wooden walkway will immerse visitors in a sensory journey through the design. Flowing water provides a calming soundtrack through lichened birch trees, moss planting and dense ferns and foxgloves.

It took David Austin 12 years to create what is now known as "The King's Rose" being admied by Queen Camilla. Photo: Toby Melville Chelsea Flower Show

Meanwhile, Her Majesty visited The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden, designed by Dave Green, who had a fine arts background before focusing on Industrial Design. To him, design is exciting, "it's about seeing the world in new ways."

He tends to get his inspiration from natural forms. The Pensioners Garden wil be based at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners, this garden will be an accessible and secluded space for different generations to socialize, or to enjoy quiet reflection in nature.

Working with the Royal Hospital Chelsea, designer Green, aimed to reflect the 300-year-old heritage of "a home for soldiers broken by age and war." The garden also seeks to foster a spirit of participation, encouraging visitors to keep active in their later years.

The stories of Chelsea Pensioners have shaped the design of the garden, with several features linking directly to their past experiences and their home at the Royal Hospital. The design of the garden is inspired by the joining of hands, when Pensioners and their guests come together, and sketches of linked hands were used to shape the layout. Boundaries will include native hedging and brick walling that links to the architecture of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where gaps in the brickwork will allow garden users to look through to the wider landscape. A sunken space, accessed via a sloped path, will act as a place to gather and be enclosed by planting at seat height.

During his tour of the Show, King Charles also visited The British Red Cross 'Here for Humanity' Garden, designed by John Warland and Tom Bannister. The duo were elated to be informed that their creation "Here For Humanity" was awarded the Gold Medal.

The garden is inspired by Henri Dunant – the Swiss visionary founder of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement – and the countless volunteers who have dedicated their lives to impartial and compassionate service supporting people in crisis in the UK and overseas.

A contemporary twist on an alpine garden, with large stone column-like planters which mimic traditional trough alpine displays, while areas of scree and crevice planting allow for a unique collection of plants to be shown. Alpine species come from areas where the Red Cross has recently provided disaster relief including Morocco, Turkey and the UK. Specimen trees including Pinus cembra (Swiss pine), a nod to the charity’s origin, wrap the landscape while calming mountain streams tumble throughout.

Charles and Camilla also visited Hospice UK's Garden of Compassion, designed by Tom Hoblyn, a British garden designer. He has been awarded one gold, two silver and three silver-gilt medals at the Chelsea Flower Show since 2008, as well as the RHS People’s Choice Award for The Arthritis Research UK Garden 2012. Hoblyn trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and set up his company Thomas Hoblyn Garden Design Ltd in 2002. In 2012, he was commissioned to restore the gardens of the former Hunting Lodge of Edward and Mrs Simpson and was part of the design team that restored the house and grounds of Hillersdon House.

Hoblyn has written articles for Gardens Illustrated, The English Garden and Country Living magazines. He has blogged for the BBC Gardening website.

His garden draws on the spirit of Mediterranean landscapes, showing how thoughtfully designed spaces can play a crucial role in providing comfort and calm at the end of life.

Inspired by the Olive Houses in Mallorca and broader Mediterranean settings, it uses large rocks to create a strong sense of being grounded in nature. The layout mirrors the Olive Houses’ concept of interconnected rooms, offering everything from secluded corners for quiet moments to more open spaces for more communal use. Sculptural benches and water bowls draw visitors in, adding to the garden’s sense of tranquillity and reflection.

The Glasshouse Garden by Jo Thompson. Photo: The Glasshouse Garden

The Queen also visited The Glasshouse Garden, designed by Jo Thompson. One of the country's top ten garden designers and plantswomen, Jo has won multiple awards, including four Gold medals for RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens. Thompson's new book, published by Rizzoli, is a fresh perspective on what a "romantic" garden is today.

This RHS Chelsea garden celebrates the transformative effect of second chances through horticulture. It embodies the sense of purpose, self-belief and hope The Glasshouse program offers to women as they approach the end of their prison sentences, through a program of horticultural training, employment and resettlement support.

An immersive space centered around a translucent elliptical pavilion emerging from the foliage, the Garden is full of sensory delights. Jewel-like colors and fragrant flowers sway to the sound of water from a narrow rill which winds its way through the space connecting different areas and ending in a tranquil pool.

The King and Queen ended their tours of the Show at the Bees for Development balcony garden, designed by Jenny Rafferty, a painter based in Northern Ireland who makes and sells hand embroidered project bags, needle or hook cases, pin cushions and other items.

Inspired by Africa and the vital connection between bees, people, and biodiversity, this urban retreat transforms a small space into a pollinator haven. Traditional English and African beehives highlight the role of bees in mitigating biodiversity loss, climate change, and poverty.

Vibrant, pollinator-friendly plants provide color, pollen, and nectar through the seasons. This balcony garden shows that even the smallest urban spaces can support bees and biodiversity-aligning with Bees for Development’s mission of making life better with bees. Her Majesty has been Patron of the charity since 2020.

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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

MARY TYLER MOORE'S

Mary Tyler Moore auction set for June 4, 2025.

art and memorabilia will be gaveled down by Doyle Auctioneers and Appraisers on June 4, 2025. Items from the collection are being showcased in Beverly Hills and New York ahead of the live auction which will be presented as a live auction event conducted by an auctioneer.

The auction showcases over 300 lots of artwork, furnishings, silver, decorative objects and memorabilia from Mary's home in Greenwich, Connecticut, which brought together pieces from her earlier residences in Millbrook, New York, and Manhattan.

Up for big are artwork, awards, jewelry, furnishings, decor and memorabilia including original Al Hirschfeld drawings of Moore’s roles in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," as well as an unused ticket to the 1977 series finale of the Minneapolis-set show.

The collection also includes three renderings of the Minneapolis statue on Nicollet Mall, commemorating the moment in the opening credits in which Moore’s character throws her tam in the air. There are also scripts from some of Moore’s television appearances and a scrapbook made for Moore after she hosted "Saturday Night Live."

Notable artwork includes two portraits of the actress by Peter Max and two by Everett Raymond Kinstler, as well as two large-scale untitled, 1987 sculptures by Italian contemporary artist Mimmo Paladino, each estimated at $50,000.

People also can bid on a rare Polaroid by Annie Leibovitz of Moore and Dick Van Dyke, along with other vintage photographs.

The iconic "M" mounted on the wall of Minneapolis newswoman Mary Richards’ on-screen apartment in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" will be auctioned off as part of the TV legend’s collection.

Moore died at age 80 in 2017.

In her personal life, Moore was a philanthropist and an animal lover. She advocated for animal welfare for years, and in 1999 she founded Broadway Barks with friend Bernadette Peters, which continues to this day to hold its annual event on Shubert Alley to promote the adoption of shelter animals in New York City and surrounding areas. From age 30, Moore lived with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and suffered many of its complications. For more than thirty years, she was a tireless advocate for diabetes research as the International Chairman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), serving as a voice to the fears and hopes of millions of people with diabetes and the promise of research. Her important work with JDRF helped raise billions of dollars for research to cure diabetes and its complications. While Moore worked with JDRF to help relieve the burdens of diabetes for others, it had a devastating impact on her life, her near blindness from diabetic retinal disease stealing her joy and independence. In 2018, her husband, Dr. S. Robert Levine, founded the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to honor Moore’s contributions to diabetes research progress and help make her dream of a world without vision loss from diabetes a reality.

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SWEET CHARITY

FORTNIGHT OF FORTNITE FOR MENTAL HEALTH a high-energy, charity-driven Fortnite event aimed at raising funds to provide free therapy through Zachary Levi’s nonprofit, Nerd HQ. Fortnite is a very popular online multiplayer video game developed by Epic Games.

Zachary Levi's recent streaming event teamed up with some of the most popular names in streaming to launch Fortnight of Fortnite for Mental Health, a high-energy, charity-driven Fortnite event aimed at raising funds to provide free therapy. Actor Zachary Levi and Top Streamers Unite on Twitch to Raise Funds for Mental Health Throughout the livestream, participants also engaged in candid conversations about mental health, host live giveaways and donate to support Nerd HQ’s mission of providing free access to mental health resources and therapy for those in need.

Levi and Nerd HQ are also running a campaign through the month of May for mental health awareness month where Nerd HQ fans share their mental health mantras in social media videos. The campaign has already succeeded in their goal of raising enough for one session of therapy a day in the month of May, approximately $180 a session. Additionally, Hands of 10ve Foundation will match up to $5,000 of the funds raised online.

Nerd HQ is sharpening minds by revolutionizing the mental health and wellness landscape. Getting back to a healthy mind and happy heart. Nerd HQ focuses on providing a means to free therapy, accessible to all! Nerd HQ is a California nonprofit organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. It is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under section 501c3 of the internal revenue code (Federal Tax ID: 83-1827877). Contributions to Nerd HQ are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

SPREADING THE WORD

GOODSPEED MUSICALS has announced the cast for their production ofAll Shook Up which will run from June 27 – August 17 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn.

Directed by Daniel Goldstein, Natalie/Ed will be played by Kerstin Anderson. Chad will be played by Ryan Mac. Jim will be played by Benjamin Howes. Sylvia will be played by Tony Award nominee L Morgan Lee. Mayor Matilda will be played by Amy Hillner Larsen. Miss Sandra will be played by Jessica Crouch Dennis will be played by Jordan Matthew Brown. Lorraine will be played by Jackera Davis. Dean will be played by Jackson Reagin. Sheriff Earl will be played by Kilty Reidy.

The ensemble will feature Ian Dominguez Ball, Jenna Bienvenue, Corinne C. Broadbent, Julius Chase, Maddie Garbaty, Michael James, Myles McHale, Keyon Pickett, Sydney Quildon, and Montria Walker.

Swings for this production are Ben Horsburgh and Eleni Kontzamanys.

TOM HANKS and James Glossman will co-write the play The World of Tomorrow in which Hanks will star at he Shedth. Tom Hanks Will Co-Write, Star in World Premiere Play This World of Tomorrow at Off-Broadway's The Shed. Kenny Leon will direct.

The World of Tomorrow is based on Hanks' short stories. In the production two time Academy ward winner Hanks will play Bert Allenberry, a scientist from the future who travels through time to 1939's World's Fair in Queens, New York, in search of true love. The story comes from a collection of Hanks' short stories that was published in 2017.

Hanks made his Broadway debut in 2013's Lucky Guy, earning a Tony Award for his performance. His last stage performance was as Falstaff in Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles' 2018 Henry IV. This upcoming performance will be his first New York stage performance in more than a decade.

The World of Tomorrow will play the Shed's Griffin Theater beginning October 30 and continuing through December 21.

JAMES CORDEN, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS AND BOBBY CANNAVALE to star in a revival of Art on Broadway which will begin at th Music Box THeatre on August 28 with the offifical opening on September 16, 2025. The engagement is set to run only until December 21, 2025.

This gig will mark Tony winner Corden's first return to Broadway in 13 years and the first revival of Yasmine Reza's 1998 Tony Award winning play, which was originally produced in French and then subsequently translated into English for Broadway by Christopher Hampton.

Scott Ellis will direct Tony and Emmy-winning actors James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris, and Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale. They will play three friends who argue over a painting. The revival will begin performances at the Music Box Theatre August 28 with an official opening September 16. The limited engagement will run until December 21.

The play is about three friends whose friendship is tested when one of them (Serge, to be played be Harris) buys an expensive painting that Marc (Cannavale) dislikes. The third friend, Yvan (Corden), is stuck in the middle. The original Broadway production had a similarly starry cast when it first ran on Broadway in 1998—that original production starred Alan Alda, Victor Garber, and Alfred Molina (who received a Tony nomination for his performance).

OPERA SARATOGA'S 64th SUMMER SEASON features Offenbach, Meilhac & Halévy’s sparkling, witty, and electric La Vie Parisienne takes us to the heart of the demi-monde in 1860s Paris where two bachelors play tour guide to a Swedish Baron and Baroness. They showcase the Paris of their imagination, complete with visits to dives that they claim are fancy palaces and meetings with friends who are disguised as aristocrats. La Vie Parisienne is social critique at its most hilarious. You will leave the theater humming catchy patter songs and raucous party numbers. La Vie Parisienne June 20, 22, 26 and 28th.

Offenbach’s romp runs in repertory with Bock, Harnick & Masteroff’s jewel-box musical She Loves Me. Famous for tunes like "Vanilla Ice Cream", "She Loves Me", and "It’s Been Grand Knowing You", this sweet story focuses on two employees in a Budapest parfumerie who are sworn enemies during the day but unsuspecting lonely hearts penpals at night. Conducted by Adam Turner and directed by John Giampietro, this production features guest artists Jarrett Porter at Georg Nowack and Peter Kazaras as Mr. Maraczek.

Performances June 21, 25, 27 at 7:30 pm and June 28 & 29 at 2:00 pm.

Earlier in the month, the company will produce a site-specific installation version of In a Grove composed by Chris Cerrone with libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann. This operatic adaptation of Akutagawa’s classic short story In a Grove which inspired the plot of Kurosawa’s renowned film Rashomon, offers a searing investigation into the impossibility and elusiveness of truth.

May 28 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and May 29 at 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm.

Finally, the company will present a work-in-progress showing of composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi O’Connell’s A Mass for Women in Bathrooms. This opera-theater work for three singers, an actress and electronic sound design by Alex Dowling reframes the structure of the Irish Catholic Mass to tell an intimate family story of three sisters and their mother. A story born from personal experience, A Mass for Women in Bathrooms examines themes of infertility, reproductive rights, and dementia, while reclaiming bodily autonomy for women in a historically violent space. This project is funded in part by the Arts Council of Ireland.

June 22 at 7:30 pm and June 27 at 2:00 pm.

CALL ME IZZY starring Jean Smart, is a solo show now in previews with an opening night of June 12 at Studio 54 continuing through August 17, 2025.

The solo show directed by Sarna Lapinr and is the Broadway debut for playwrigtht Jamie Wax.

Smart plays a woman in rural Louisiana who's trapped in an abusive marriage who finds possible escape through writing poetry. The performance is Smart's first Broadway outing in 25 years, having last been on the boards with a Tony-nominated performance opposite Nathan Lane in a 2000 revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner.

CENTRAL PARK PERFORMANCES include New York Classical Theatre’s All’s Well That Ends Well, directed and adapted by NYCT Artistic Director Stephen Burdman, in Central Park. Founded in 2000, NYCT is a full Equity Off-Broadway theatre company that annually performs for free in city parks. To date, almost 325,000 New Yorkers have attended NYCT’s productions. Written around 1604, All’s Well That Ends Well is one of Shakespeare’s boldest romantic comedies. When Helena—a brilliant, determined young woman—heals a king, she earns the right to choose her husband. But love isn’t so simple, and she must use wit, courage, and a daring plan to win the life she desires. Full of humor, heart, and twists, this rarely performed gem is a story of love on Helena’s terms.

Starring Angelique Archer as Diana/Lady Dumaine, Anique Clements as Helena, Paul Deo Jr. as Bertram, Karel Hermánek Jr. as Parolles, Carine Montbertrand as Countess of Rossillion/Widow, Briana Gibson Reeves as Lavatch/Lady Dumaine, Nick Salamone as King of France/Time, and Clay Sorseth as Lefeu.
The creative team includes director and adaptor Stephen Burdman, production designer Siena Zoë Allen, voice and speech coach Nora Leonhardt, and supervising producer/company manager Yetti Steinman. Casting is by Stephanie Klapper.

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JOSEPH HAYWARD has been named Producing Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's York Theatre.

Hayward had been serving as the interim producing artistic director. Hayward will continue running the theatre company with Debra Walton, who remains interim associate artistic director. Both had been named to interim positions in November 2024 following the abrupt departure of former Artistic Director James Morgan.

York Theatre Board President Jim Kierstead said in a statement, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Joseph Hayward has been unanimously voted in as the permanent producing artistic director of The York Theatre. Joseph’s leadership and vision over the past seven months of transition and rebirth has been nothing short of extraordinary.” "I'm honored to step into the role of producing artistic director at The York—my artistic home for the past 10 years," added Hayward. “I want to thank our exceptional staff, Board, and patrons who make everything we do possible. Together, we will build on our remarkable legacy, champion the next generation of musical theatre creators, and usher in a vibrant new era for The York. Our mission is more essential than ever—join us as we bring vital works of musical theatre to life."

THE KINGS TRUST ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE FINALISTS BOUND FOR NYC Over the past month, The King's Trust team has traveled to Chicago, San Jose, Detroit, New York City, and Orlando to host regional pitch competitions for this year’s Enterprise Challenge—and the energy, creativity, and passion from the students have been nothing short of inspiring.

At each stop, middle school teams presented innovative business ideas designed to solve real-world problems in their communities. With the support of mentors, they developed business plans, delivered polished pitches, and demonstrated a remarkable understanding of entrepreneurship and social impact.

Now, we’re gearing up for the Enterprise Challenge National Finals on May 29 in New York City, where the top team from each region will compete for seed funding and national recognition.

Meet the 2025 Finalists:

Crops2Customers
Chicago
Making fresh produce more accessible by growing food in their school garden.

Happy Flowers
San Jose, CA
Donating native flowers from their school garden to nursing homes and individuals in need.

Memory Frame
Detroit
Designing a digital photo and video frame to help people remember lost loved ones.

Stand on Business
New York City
Providing affordable bed bug treatments for underserved communities.

Mighty Knight Packs
Orlando, FLA.
Creating customizable backpack kits to help students feel empowered and included.



HURRICANE DIANE After a big storm hits a Red Bank New Jersey cul-de-sac, a Greek demi-god is back on Earth — as Diane, a lesbian landscaper. The neighbors don’t know it yet, but the end of the world is coming — and Diane is the only one who can stop it. To save the planet, she’s got one wild plan… Hurricane Diane is a sexy, funny, and surprising ride that asks: What can be gained by letting go? June 5-29 at Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT.

THE IMAGINARY INVALID by Molière. World Premiere Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on a new translation by Mirabelle Ordinaire.

Directed by Jesse Berger.

Mark Linn-Baker and Sarah Stiles along with Arnie Burton, Russell Daniels, Manoel Felciano, Emilie Kouatchou, Emily Swallow, and John Yi will lead the cast.

In Molière’s best loved comedy, Monsieur Argan is a notorious hypochondriac whose nonexistent illnesses blind him to the con men and women (his new wife) who prey on his fears to fatten their purses. His plan: marry his daughter to a doctor so he'll have free round-the-clock on-site healthcare for the rest of his life.

"The Imaginary Invalid" is a brilliant satire of doctors, lawyers, and would-be patients who take self-care to staggering levels of pathological solipsism. A comic whirlwind of pills, lovers, therapies, disguises, vaccinations, impersonations, masks, mindfulness and miracle cures.

This limited Off-Broadway engagement at New World Stages, New York City will continue through Sunday June 29th only. Opening Night is set for Monday June 2nd. The performance will run approximately 80 minutes without an intermission.

WESLEY A girl, an owl, and a love story that changed them both forever. Inspired by the International Best-Selling Memoir "Wesley the Owl" by Stacey O’Brien. A new musical written by Scott Steidl and Mark Hantoot.

Directed by Mary Duncan.

Wesley tells the incredible story of Casey, a gifted young rock musician who steps out of the spotlight and into an extraordinary lifelong bond with an injured barn owl named Wesley. At once wildly unique and profoundly universal, Casey’s journey is one of courage, caretaking, and the kind of unshakeable love that rarely takes flight between people and animals. The new musical follows Casey as she takes in a wing-damaged newborn owl, she anticipates a few tender days of hospice care. What she gets instead is a decades-long relationship that reshapes her entire world. As Wesley grows and thrives, so too does their bond, challenging everything Casey thought she knew about connection, purpose, and devotion. Through soaring music and tender storytelling, WESLEY invites us into a duet of healing, heartbreak, and the many forms love can take.

The cast features Andrianna Ayala as Casey, Daniel Sanchez as Wesley with Christa Lisette Beveridge, Tara Dougherty, Ashley Huber, Jack Kehoe, Christopher Kirby Saunders, Nathan Myers, and Maya Pierce.

Creative team includes Germán Cárdenas-Alaminos (set design), Bailey Hammett-Colwell (costume design), Camilla Tassi (projection designer), Austin Phillips (puppet design), and Jacob Heacock (assistant director).

Originally published in 2008, Wesley the Owl spent five weeks on The New York Times Bestseller List and became an international phenomenon, published in multiple languages and countries, including Italy, Brazil, China, Korea, and Germany. It will begin performances on June 11, 2025, and will open on June 25, 2025, at Times Square's Theater Center in New York City and will run through July 18, 2025.

A LETTER TO LYNDON B. JOHNSON OR GOD: WHOEVER READS THIS FIRST written, directed and performed by Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland.

Lighting Designer and Technical Manager is Angelo Sagnelli.

A Letter to Lyndon B. Johnson is an absurdist two-hander that blurs the line between 1960s boy scouts and drafted US soldiers in Vietnam. Two scouts tell stories directly to the audience, muddy-kneed and full of naivete, they embody everyone from their camp-mates to their fellow soldiers, all with the goal of making their hero, current president Lyndon B. Johnson, proud. Johnson was known for his involvement in sending young unwilling men to fight for their country in Vietnam, just as the origins of scouting come from preparing young people for military service. Xhloe and Natasha explore children’s relationship with war, innocence and nostalgia using their signature style of clowning, physical theatre and fast pace. Fitting with Xhloe and Natasha’s company ethos centered around queerness and gender identity,A Letter To Lyndon B. Johnson or God: Whoever Reads This First reflects on the androgyny allowed to young boys and the volatility of the transition into masculine manhood.

The winner of the 2025 SoHo Playhouse International Fringe Encore Theater Series Overall Excellence Award, LBJ runs Off-Broadway June 4 - 29, 2025 for 23 performances in a limited engagement at SoHo Playhouse, in New York City.

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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

GEORGE WENDT best known for playing Norm Peterson on the NBC sitcom Cheers, which earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, died May 20, 2025. He was 76.
A student of the Chicago improv landscape, Wendt was a comedian at The Second City in the 1970s before finding fame as a television actor.

Wendt’s affinity for comedy made him a regular on "Saturday Night Live" through the ’90s.

During his time at The Second City, Wendt met Bernadette Birkett. The two married in 1978. (Though never seen on-screen, Birkett voiced the character of Norm’s wife on Cheers.)

Wendt also turned to theater in the latter portion of his career. In 2008, he took over the role of Edna Turnblad (traditionally performed by an actor in drag) in the then-ongoing Broadway production of "Hairspray." He would reprise the role at a production in the Charlottetown Festival. He also featured as Santa in Broadway’s "Elf the Musical" and played Willy Loman in a 2017 Ontario production of "Death of a Salesman."

Wendt is survived by his wife Bernadete and three children: Hilary, Joe, and Daniel. Wendt was the uncle of Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis. Wendt's sister Kathy is Sudeikis' mother.

JAMES BALDASSARE former theatrical press agent, photographer and investor died March 19, 2025 in California.

He was the press agent of record for: Kenny Loggins on Broadway, Carrie, Safe Sex and others. He invested in Doubt, Frozen and Suffs. For several years he was the press representative for the Outer Critics Circle.

His cremation was handled by Neptune Society who has stated that Baldassare's associates have requested that the mortuary release no details about his death until after a three month period.

Next Column: June 1, 2025
Copyright: May 25, 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