Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: November 17, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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WARNER BROS AND SONY YELL 'ACTION'

It looks like a done deal. Warner Brothers and Sony setting up shop in Las Vegas. The only"negative review" which could throw a wrench into the mix is the Nevada Legislature. The have to approve the entertainment invasion.

The production giants will only move to Sin City if the tax credit bill of $190million a year for 20 years is passed by the legislature next session.

In 2023 a bill was introduced to create big tax incentives for film production. It was $190 million a year for 20 years. Lawmakers said it would create a whole new industry and promised a significant educational impact.

The bill died. A version of it was introduced this year by a respected union leader, the former three-term Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party and retired teacher State Senator Roberta Lange.

In a forward thinking moves several public press events have been held on the subject.

Last Wednesday, a panel discussion took place at UNLV before a full house. UNLV Film Department Chair Heather Addison moderated the panel discussion. New Line Cinema and WBD Executive Vice President of Physical Production Kate Beyda, UNLV Film Department associate chair and professor Brett Levner, and UNLV Department of Film grad student Marquise Hebbler were part of the presentation.

During that event UNLV and Warner Bros. announced a partnership for Nevada Studios making Vegas only the fourth location where Warner Bros. Discovery has a location studio. The others are in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Birtcher Development of Newport Beach, Calif. is an operations partner. Warner Bros. Discovery will make Las Vegas its next filming headquarters and hub all in partnership with UNLV, according to University officials.

"The future is very, very, very bright. Bringing WBD to Las Vegas to create this storied company’s third studio filmmaking hub in the world would be a transformative moment for every aspect of our society today," Dean Nancy Uscher of the UNLV College of Fine Arts told the gathering.

"Their leaders have chosen not just Las Vegas. They have chosen UNLV," declared Bo Bernhard, Vice President of Economic Development of UNLV, christening the future Las Vegas campus the company’s "H.Q.2."
"UNLV is poised to become the best film school in the country, one with a national, global reputation," Bernhard added, noting the similar access granted to film schools near the company’s famed Los Angeles-area studios.

University leaders elaborated on the educational and practical training at Warner Bros. Studios Nevada: UNLV film students would learn in the classroom, then train on the various sound stages at the 34-acre media campus at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research & Technology Park, which is located in the Southwest Valley section of Las Vegas.

Upon full completion of their studies UNLV students would have the opportunity to be selected for five six-week, full-time internships every school year.

A spokesperson said that Warner Bros. Discovery will invest $900 million to build the studios, pledge $500 million of spending annually ($8.5 billion in total over 17 years) at UNLV’S Harry Reid Research & Technology Park and bring 7,500 jobs a year.

Sony Pictures made a similar announcement in August about its plans for a Las Vegas campus which will be located in Summerlin which will bring competition for the film/television industry in the valley.

The big studios don't have a lock on the market of promoting Sin City as a film capital. Actors Mark Wahlberg of Las Vegas and Jeremy Renner of the Lake Tahoe have been outspoken proponents of adding 'film maker' to a Nevada resume and have advocated for that by testifying before the State Legislature.

FORMULA I TO ZOOM INTO LAS VEGAS THIS WEEK

You either love it or you hate it. That Formula I race which brings thousands of money spending racing enthusiasts to Vegas. Local businesses near the track complain customers are either blocked or have great difficulty in reaching their businesses thanks to setting up barriers and constructing a temporary bridge. Some owners even allege they are going out of business because of loses incurred during Formula I with no provided safety net. A handful of small business owners are suing.

Lisa Mayo DeRiso, a public relations and business consultant representing the businesses and their owners, told the media that they are looking for compensation for lost revenue and accountability by Clark County and F1 for allowing the event to interfere with public right of ways and roadways.

Others - such as beer vendors and Strip casinos - are wearing smiles. No records are kept as to the quantity of h beer is sold.

Whichever side of the roadway you're on, this is the week the souped up cars careen around the track.

The race lasts and hour-and-a-half.

At 6.201km, Las Vegas Strip Circuit is the second longest circuit on the Formula 1 calendar, behind Spa-Francorchamps (7.004km) and just ahead of Jeddah Corniche Circuit (6.178km).

Some of the fast driving superstars who'll be anxious to zoom include 2023 champion Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Charles LeClerc and Oscar Piastri.

For other types of entertainment, headliners Ludacris, Alesso, OneRepublic, Chromeo and Chris Lake can be enjoyed on the T-Mobile stages.

Formula 1 and Liberty Media promote the race themselves in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). The Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to take place November 21-23, 2024.

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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 BRITISH MUSEUM has been given legal ownership to a private collection of Chinese ceramics worth about £1billion ($1.27 billion), the highest-value object donation in UK history.

The 1,700-piece private collection was donated by the Sir Percival David Foundation. The British businessman had a profound love of China which resulted in him learning Mandarin and beginning his priceless horde in 1913.

He eventually en massed the most renowned collection of Chinese art outside of China and Taiwan.

POST MALONE PARTNERS WITH MORRISON HOTEL GALLERY to o bring Pop-up Gallery to Nashville, featuring Iconic Photography by Adam DeGross.

Post has partnered with the gallery to curate the pop-up collection, hand picking a selection of images of himself, taken by his personal photographer Adam DeGross. The brick-and-mortar pop-up gallery, will be located in Prima, a new development tower at the center of the South Gulch, and will be open from November 22nd through November 24th.

"DeGross has been capturing photos of Post Malone since 2017 and has been featured in Rolling Stone, GQ, and Inked Magazine. The compilation of photos will feature compelling snapshots of Post Malone in real, emotion-evoking moments both onstage and behind the scenes allowing fans to dive deep into the artist’s world, including two photos captured this summer at a private tour of the Louvre in Paris prior to his performance at Visa Live at le Louvre, a first of its kind performance connecting music, art, culture and commerce. Alongside DeGross’ photographs, the pop-up will also showcase iconic and rare music photography from Morrison Hotel Gallery."

AN EVENING WITH ARTIST TONG YANG-TZE Thursday, November 21, at The Met in New York City.

Join artist Tong Yang-Tze for a conversation about The Great Hall Commission: Tong Yang-Tze, Dialogue, two monumental works of Chinese calligraphy created for The Met's historic space that bring Chinese characters into dialogue with the Museum architecture and push the conceptual and compositional boundaries of the art of writing.

Please note that this program includes interpretation from Mandarin Chinese into English.

THE GREAT MUGHALS: ART, ARCHITECTURE AND OPULENCE This major exhibition a the V&A South Kensington, London celebrates the extraordinary creative output and internationalist culture of the Golden Age of the Mughal Court (about 1560 – 1660) during the reigns of its most famous emperors: Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

Exhibition highlights:
Bejewelled dagger and scabbard, about 1620
Emerald pendant bead, 17th century
Wine cup made for the Emperor Shah Jahan, 1657, Mughal court workshops, white nephrite jade
Ceremonial spoon, about 1600, Mughal empire, set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds
Ewer, early 17th century, Gujarat, India, mother-of-pearl with metal pins
Man's hunting coat, about 1610 – 30, India, embroidered satin with silk
Portrait of Shah Jahan holding an emerald, by Muhammad 'Abed, borders by Harif, about 1628, Agra, India
Pendant, about 1610 – 20, Mughal court workshops, nephrite jade set with rubies and emeralds in gold
Inscribed royal spinel featuring the names of six rulers, engraved by Sa'ida, mid-15th – mid-18th century
Tankard (mashrabeh) of Ulugh Beg, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with handle probably added in the Mughal court workshops. First inscribed to Ulugh Beg (r. 1417 – 49). Nephrite jade with enamelled gold pins

Closes Sunday, May 4, 2025. At the V&A South Kensington, London.

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SWEET CHARITY

MELISSA GILBERT'S MODERN PRAIRIE CAPSULE COLLECTION TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER

Melissa Gilbert displaying some of her products dedicated to PanCAN. Photo: Modern Prairie

Becoming famous over her starring role in Little House on the Prairie Melissa Gilbert honors her close relationship Michael Landon and Patrick Swayze, both of whom passed from the disease. Gilbert, together with her Modern Prairie business partner, co-founder and CEO Nicole Haase, have teamed with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to launch a special collection benefiting PanCAN.

Melissa lost her mentor, acting partner, favorite director, father figure, friend and boss, Michael Landon, in 1991 to pancreatic cancer. And in 2009, Melissa lost her dear friend, Patrick Swayze, whom she had known since the early 80s. More than 30 years later, she is more committed than ever to honoring Michael’s legacy and Patrick’s memory, educating her community and fighting for the future.

The Modern Prairie x PanCAN purple capsule collection also marks the 50th anniversary of the beloved hit series Little House on the Prairie this fall. This special collection of products includes women’s and children’s bonnets, a set of three pocket squares, a signature pie carrier, a cozy throw, and a versatile tote bag—all featuring a beautiful purple print, the color representing pancreatic cancer awareness.

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging cancers to prevent, diagnose or treat. Because its risk factors and symptoms are vague, most people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage when their tumor is inoperable, leaving these patients with few treatment options. An estimated 66,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024, and 51,750 are predicted to die from the disease this year. Current estimates suggest that the disease will be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States before 2030. The five-year survival rate is just 13% – no other major cancer has a five-year survival less than 20%.

To help educate her community about pancreatic cancer, Melissa hosted a workshop on November 14 on the Modern Prairie platform featuring PanCAN Chief Scientific Officer Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA, who spoke about the risks and symptoms of the disease and what to know if you or a loved one is diagnosed.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) leads the way in accelerating critical progress for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN takes bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive.

Modern Prairie’s mission is to empower women to (re)discover their confidence and overcome feelings of isolation by fostering a warm, supportive community. Women can come together to share their stories, seek advice, shop, and learn from one another in an environment that celebrates their unique voices and achievements. Modern Prairie is dedicated to amplifying women’s perspectives and connecting them with others who are driving meaningful change in their lives and communities.

KING CHARLES

Buckingham Palace released a new porrait of King Chalres in honor of his 76th birthday and the Birthday Boy cut into a cake at the new waste distribution center. Photo Royal Palaces

celebrated his 76th birthday last Thursday by appearing at a new food waste distribution center and opening two new centers.

The Coronation Food Project was launched on his 75th birthday last year to cut food waste and tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

It has since brought in food industry giants such as Waitrose, Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and M&S to donate leftover food, packaging and spare transport vehicles.

King Charles's anti-food waste project has saved 940 tons of food over the past 12 months – equivalent to more than two million meals.

It has also raised millions of pounds making it possible to provide grants worth £715,000 to 33 community food groups. This includes the food waste charity UKHarvest, which donates meals to schools that would otherwise be wasted, and the East Belfast Mission, which stores fresh food that local families can collect for free.

The Coronation Food Project also plans to create up to ten special 'food hubs' to redistribute meals to those in need. To do this, they have raised an amazing £15 million through private donations. This is in addition to the 'substantial' personal donation, reportedly a six-figure sum, gifted by King Charles on his 75th birthday. The money has funded the first two Coronation Food Hubs, which Charles opened on Thursday as he turned 76.

Charles first visited a London based Food Hub day to host a 'surplus food festival', which celebrated meals created from leftovers like vegetable curry, soup and pasta dishes. He also inspected a new industrial freezer that can preserve 400 per cent more food.

Birthday boy King Charles then 'virtually' opened the second food hub, which is based outside of London.

Putting his stomach where his heart is, Charles is known to hate any food waste and will eat a slice from the same birthday cake each day until it is finished.

Dame Martina Milburn, Executive Chair of the Coronation Food Project, stated: "I can't quite believe what's been achieved in just a year. Seeing the massive new warehouses, fridges and freezers that will soon be stacked with surplus food and distributed to people in real need is incredible – especially as we head towards winter. It seems fitting to be launching the first two Coronation Food Hubs on the King's birthday because, quite honestly, none of this would have happened without his inspiration and leadership."

N'KENGE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL BENEFIT GALA, HONORING LACHANZE & HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE will take place Friday, November 22, at The Cutting Room in New York City. The event will celebrate the remarkable achievements of Producer and Tony Award-winner LaChanze and actress, author, and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete, whose trailblazing work has left a lasting impact on both the arts and their communities.

The evening’s festivities begin at 6:00 PM with a glamorous Red Carpet and VIP pre-show reception, followed by general admission doors at 7:00 PM, and a spectacular show at 7:30 PM. With a theme of Old Hollywood Glamour, formal attire is highly encouraged to complement an evening filled with elegance, artistry, and purpose.

Proceeds from the gala will support "Dorothy Dandridge! The Musical," a groundbreaking project led by a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning team. Directed by Tamara Tunie and produced by Richard Bell and N'Kenge, the musical features a book and lyrics by Trey Ellis, music and lyrics by Shelton L. Becton, choreography by Byron Easley, and arrangements by Everett Bradley.

Conceived by N'Kenge, the project celebrates the life and legacy of Dorothy Dandridge, a performer who blazed trails for African Americans in the entertainment industry. As well as the N'Kenge Foundation’s Educational Initiatives (including partnerships with HBCUs for mentorship and internships), Community Engagement programs focused on mental health and healing through the arts (in collaboration with Healing TREE), and Media Expansion efforts across film, TV, and literature, including a children’s book about Dorothy Dandridge's daughter, aimed at raising awareness for children with special needs.

The Star-Studded Lineup Includes American Idol's Nya, Amanda Green, Sam Behr, N’Kenge, ELEW, Aisha de Haas, Y. Dolly Fox, Kimberly Lara, Dawn Derow, Jamal Story, Jahzara Martina, Mr. Taptastic, and more.

The night promises performances by American Idol's Nya, Tony-Nominee & President of the Dramatists Guild of American Amanda Green, Broadway's N'Kenge, Aisha de Haas, renowned pianist ELEW, performers Sam Behr, Jamal Story, Y. Dolly Fox, Kimberly Lara, Dawn Derow, Jahzara Martina, Mr. Taptastic, and more. Hosting the evening is Ayanna Prescod. The evening will also feature special guest Jawan M. Jackson, who played Melvin Franklin of The Temptations in Broadway's Motown the Musical and then joined the actual Temptatons, replacing bass vocalist Willie Green.

The event will feature Deah Love Harriott as the Music Director, and Dennis Creary, founder of Blacks on Wall Street, will serve as the auctioneer for the evening, presiding over a live auction that will include a one-of-a-kind piece by artist Ashley Longshore. The night continues with a Hollywood-style afterparty. Broadway community members are encouraged to join the festivities after their performances, adding to the night’s star power.

"We are proud to honor Tony Award-winner LaChanze, a trailblazer in Broadway as a producer, performer, and advocate for women in theater," said N'Kenge. "Joining her in recognition is actress, author, and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete. Together, they embody the resilience, artistry, and dedication to social causes that the N'Kenge Foundation is passionate about celebrating and uplifting."

THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION in partnership with Latin Grammy and Grammy -winning artist and 2024 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Carlos Vives, hosted an educational experience that included the donation of musical instruments at Miami Senior High School in South Florida.

The event, presented in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), marks the 42nd time that the Foundation hosts a Latin Grammy In The Schools program. It featured opening remarks from the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine Cava, a musical tribute from the students who performed "La Gota Fría" in honor of Vives, and a Q&A session with the artist moderated by renowned journalist Lili Estefan, co-host of Univision’s El Gordo y La Flaca.

The band program proudly associated with Miami Senior High School—which was established in 1903 and is the oldest high school in Miami-Dade County—stands as a beacon of musical excellence and cultural representation. With a rich history deeply rooted in the community, the band has captivated audiences across borders, performing in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, and throughout Europe, as well as all across the United States.

In addition, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar joined the celebration as Official Sponsors, with added support from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. Further support was provided by Sony Music Group’s Beyond the Instrument initiative, a grant dedicated to accelerating equity and access to cutting-edge music technology education for students in high-need schools, located in historically excluded communities.

"The instruments we received will not only enhance our students’ musical experience but also open doors for creativity, collaboration and personal growth,” said Santiago Hernández, Band Director of Miami Senior High School. “Each instrument represents a new opportunity for our young musicians to express themselves, develop their talents, and create beautiful music that resonates beyond the classroom.” “We are incredibly grateful to Carlos Vives for joining us as we celebrate another successful Latin GRAMMY In The Schools program with the talented students of Miami Senior High School," said Raquel 'Rocky' Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation. "And, of course, none of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, as we continue to advance our mission of expanding access and opportunities for the next generation of Latin music creators."

Since its inception, the Latin Grammy In The Schools program has benefited schools in U.S. cities such as Aransas Pass, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Antonio; as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Arecibo, Humacao, Yauco and San Juan in Puerto Rico; and Seville, Spain.

Latin Grammy In The Schools is an educational program that informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry and supports educational music departments that have financial limitations. The Foundation invites artists and professional musicians to visit middle and high schools or music education institutions to share their personal stories and experiences with students that highlight the effort it takes to overcome career obstacles. The goal is for students to learn to optimize the educational opportunities presented to them, giving them an advantage and strong academic preparation to be able to compete in the music industry.

In addition to Vives, previous artists who have participated in the program include: Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Marilina Bertoldi, Miguel Bosé, Calle 13, Pedro Capó, Camilo, Chino & Nacho, Chiquis, Luis Coronel, Silvestre Dangond, Joss Favela, Fonseca, Luis Fonsi, El Fantasma, Becky G, Karol G, Kany García, Gente de Zona, Leslie Grace, Carlos Jean, Jesse & Joy, Natalia Lafourcade, Poncho Lizárraga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mau y Ricky, Claudia Montero, Ednita Nazario, Christian Nodal, Laura Pausini, Ángel "Cucco" Peña, Mireya Ramos, Prince Royce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Noel Scharjris, Olga Tañón, Thalía, Christian Serratos, Diego Torres, Wisin and Sebastián Yatra.

TRU LOVE BENEFIT: PASS IT ON takes place Sunday, November 24, 2024 in New York City.

For this year’s gala, TRU honors Irene Gandy, publicist and producer, recipient of the TRU Spirit of Theater Award for being uncompromisingly authentic and igniting a passion for the arts in so many and Susan E. Lee, founder of Camp Broadway and the Broadway Education Alliance, recipient of the TRU Humanitarian Award for innovative thinking that has inspired generations of theater-lovers past, present and future. TRU also honors the memory of producer Ron Simons, 2016 TRU Spirit of Theater Award recipient, 4-time Tony winning producer as well as an actor and film producer.

Joining the star-studded cast are Jana Robbins, Haley Swindal and Allyson Tucker. They join Broadway star and Tony nominee Norm Lewis; pop legend Nona Hendryx of Labelle; Tony and Emmy nominee and Obie winner Jordan E. Cooper; NY1's Frank DiLella; 2023 Roger Reese Awards Outstanding Performer Winner; 2023 Jimmy Awards winner Lauren A. Marchand; Isaiah Baston 2024 Roger Rees Awards Outstanding Performer Winner.

Co-hosts for the event will be theater journalist and host of the Theatre World Awards Peter Filichia; and actress, activist, and educator Dominique Sharpton, with special appearance by legendary theater, television, and film star Joe Morton. Jonathan S. Cerullo will direct, with Lulu Picart as music director and Jim Semmelman as stage manager.

The Benefit Committee includes: Chair Cheryl Davis; Producers Bob Ost, Janel C. Scarborough and Sharon Weiss; plus committee members Margot Astrachan, Jay Chacon, Merrie L. Davis, John Lant, Neal Rubinstein and Sandy Silverberg.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is the leading network for developing theater professionals, a thirty-one-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to help producers produce, emerging theater companies to emerge healthily and all theater professionals to understand and navigate the business of the arts. Membership includes self-producing artists as well as career producers and theater companies.

GIBSON GIVES AND GUITARS FOR VETS teamed up for a Rock To Remember benefit concert at Gibson Garage in Nasville. The concert and auction raised $60,000.

Gibson Gives--the philanthropic division of Gibson, and the nonprofit Guitars For Vets, staged the benefit concert starring the legendary rock group Cheap Trick.

Participants in the evening included: Nigel Fischer (Director of Advancement, Guitars For Vets), Erica Krusen (Global Executive Director, Gibson Gives), Beth Heidt (Chief Marketing Officer, Gibson), Daxx Nielsen (Cheap Trick- drums), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick-lead guitar), Eric Weinstein (Executive Director, Guitars For Vets), Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick-bass), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick-vocals/guitar), Robin Taylor Zander (Cheap Trick-guitars/backing vocals), Lowell Goldman (Veteran and Gibson Gives board member), and Cesar Gueikian (President and CEO of Gibson).

Since 2021, Gibson has provided over 1,500 guitra to help returning veteran with re-acclimation and post traumatic stress disorder.

SPREADING THE WORD

L.A. THEATRE WORKS has released a state-of-the-art recording of Golden Shield by Australian playwright Anchuli Felicia King. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson and starring Seamus Dever, Fang Du, Greg Germann, Belinda Gosbee, Angela Lin, Mardy Ma, Eon Song, Josh Stamberg, Zhan Wang, Joanne Whalley and Jenapher Zheng, this riveting tale of technology, international intrigue and the delicate art of translation was recorded as part of LATW’s acclaimed Relativity Series of science-themed plays.

In this tense drama, a Chinese-American lawyer leads a class action lawsuit to expose an American tech giant's involvement with the Chinese government's “Golden Shield,” the firewall used to monitor and censor what can and cannot be seen online in China. With only one of the Chinese plaintiffs willing to testify, attorney Julie Chen hires her strong-minded sister Eva to translate. But what compromises will they make in order to win? And can they put aside their past differences to speak the same language?

"This marvelous work explores the urgent and timely issues that arise when technology and personal relations collide," says L.A. Theatre Works producing director Susan Loewenberg.

LATW’s recording of Golden Shield is available in two different versions: a sound-rich version that can be listened to anywhere, and an Enhanced Edition, designed for headphones-only listening to give a truly immersive experience.

L.A. Theatre Works, the world’s foremost producer of audio theater, stands apart in its approach to making great theater widely accessible and affordable, bringing recordings of plays into homes and classrooms of millions of theater lovers, teachers and students each year. The company’s catalog of nearly 600 recorded plays is the largest archive of its kind in the world. LATW’s syndicated audio theater series broadcasts weekly on public radio stations across the U.S.; can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts; and can be streamed on demand at latw.org.

L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series of science-themed plays is sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

ORFEH the Tony and Grammy Award nominee is back Café Carlyle in New York City for a one night only performance on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024. With a career spanning from tween popstar to Broadway sensation, Orfeh has become a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Most recently seen in Chicago on Broadway as the keeper of the clink, Mama Morton, and best known for originating the role of Paulette in Legally Blonde: The Musical, she has seamlessly transitioned from the Broadway stage to concert venues worldwide.

THIS CHRISTMAS: HANDEL AND HENDRIX'S HOMES in London will be decorated November 21-December 22, 2024 for Christmas with timeless festive decorations inspired by their musical past. Step inside the magic of Handel Hendrix House and enjoy the historic rooms as they sparkle with timeless festive decorations inspired by music.

Experience the house like never before: The Georgian kitchen laid out for a feast - - A retro sixties Christmas in Jimi’s room - - Family crafting inspired by sixties Christmas decorations - - Live music every Friday-Sunday.

Join in on Thursday November 28 and December 5th and 19th for some exciting late opening at the house. Enjoy the house after hours with festive music, mulled cider and learn groovy go-go dance moves with the Meyer Dancers.

DICKENS ON DICKENS How A Christmas Carol Became a Classic. An Evening with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley takes place as a free, virtual event on November 21, 2024 at 5 p.m EST

Register by contacting Ford's Theatre.

Every holiday season, Ford's Theatre in Washington DC brings Charles Dickens’s beloved A Christmas Carol to life on their historic stage. Renowned for his vivid portrayals of London’s impoverished and the compelling redemption of its curmudgeonly protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, Dickens’s personal experiences shaped a story with timeless resonance.

Now, the venue invite patrons to discover fascinating insights into the life, work, and enduring legacy of Charles Dickens and his yuletide classic. Join celebrated author and historian Lucinda Dickens Hawksley for a one-night-only discussion on one of the world’s most beloved holiday traditions. Dickens on Dickens is a free, virtual event.

DUBAI OPERA BALL an evening of elegance took place on November 15, 2024 in Dubai, UAE.

Patrons enjoyed a spectacular 6 hour evening with one of today's leading tenors, Plácido Domingo, Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva, violinist Pavel Milyukov, jazz legend Igor Butman, and other international artists. The Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra, led by conductor Dmitri Jurowski, provided an enchanting musical experience. The spectacular event will be accompanied by The Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra from Austria, led by conductor Dmitri Jurowski.

The debutant couples from Europe enthralled the audience as they have done in high society throughout European history. Ladies in spectacular gowns and gentlemen in stylish tuxedos took over the stage in an extraordinary dance exhibition.

The evening began with a VIP cocktail reception. The grand finale featured the debutants followed by the Fulminant ball opening dance. After dinner and intermission the evening continued with the Igor Butman Band jam session, followed by dance music.

CYNTHIA ERIVO the Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner and Wicked film star demonstrated on the The Jimmy Fallon Show that she is a world class whistler. That woman's pucker produced sounds belonging in a symphony orchestra - or as theme music for a murder mystery.

PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING BIOGRAPHER ROBERT CARO visits 92NY's Unterberg Poetry Center in New York City on November 21 to discuss the art of biography on the 50th anniversary of his monumental first book, The Power Broker. Acclaimed author Stacey Schiff is the moderator.

The event will open with Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston reading from The Power Broker. Cranston starred as Lyndon B. Johnson in the historical play, All The Way, and he prepared for the role by reading Caro's biography of Johnson, Master of the Senate.

Caro's The Power Broker was an instant classic of political biography and narrative prose. Told at the scale of an epic, following the political rise and fall of Robert Moses, it unveils the shocking story behind the man who built — and nearly destroyed — modern New York.

Exhaustively researched, unflinchingly reported, masterfully composed, it changed the way readers interpreted political power, shedding new light on the nature of cities — profoundly impacting the work of journalists, city leaders, and American presidents. It also changed American literature and popular culture, influencing a wide range of writers and artists.

In this special event, hear Caro and Schiff discuss the making of a literary masterpiece — his meticulous and singular approach to biography, how Robert Moses’ influence on the workings of the city is felt in New York to this day, the writers who shaped his prose and taught him how to tell a story, how he taught historians and journalists to think of their work as literature, and more.

PRINCE WILLIAMS RIDES HIS VIRTUAL DUST DEVIL

Prince William checking out the bike before taking a virtual joyride. Photo: Publicity.

Long a motorcycle devotee last Thursday the heir to the British throne relived his thrill seeking past - even if it was through the world of virtual reality.

The Prince of Wales, 42, visited the Virtual Production Studio at Ulster University’s Belfast City Campus in Northern Ireland and hopped on a stationary motorcycle that took him for a ride through a virtual desert landscape.

"Any excuse to get on a motorbike," William said, as first reported in Hello and picked up by numerous sources. "I feel like someone needs to take this for a real spin."

"I love that exhaust," William added while hopping off the bike and describing the AI results as "incredibly realistic."

Wills was noted for going on his own real world spins until his wife, Princess Kate, reminded him he was a father of three and, besides, she was terrified of losing her husband in a crash. A smart man who listens to his wife, he has stayed off the two wheeler.

University students who are learning about production, innovative technology in which a virtual set is created and displayed on LED walls, they had to wait in line and pass through security before being able to attend the event in which Williams learned that "over the last decade, the university helped to grow the creative industries sector in Northern Ireland, which is estimated to contribute £1.4bn to the local economy and employs more than 24,000 people"

Prince William also met Belfast-born actor, James Martin - the first person with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award for performing in An Irish Goodbye - to discuss the growing success of the sector in Northern Ireland, and how Studio Ulster will help to further strengthen the country's reputation as a global creative leader.

Later, William joined training workshop with young people from two local community groups who are being taught to operate software used in the creation of games, animation and virtual production. A kid at heart, William played with the production cameras.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

HEY COLIN JOST Camalla Harris still needs your five dollars. For weeks the popular host of Saturday Night Live Week-end Update - a desk he shares with co-host Michael Che - has complained that he received daily e-mails from the then presidential candidate Harris, asking for $5.00. When it was announced that Harris has received over $1 billion in political contributions, Jost even showed a copy of her begging e-mail. Now we all learn that Harris' campaign was paying celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, to appear at her rallies. That word "pay" is couched in assorted buffer words such as payments were for "expenses, production costs," etc. No major star is ever paid through a direct deposit to their personal checking account. Money is sent to a business manager, attorney, financial advisor, personal company, etc. Oprah Winfrey received umbrella income wealth through her company Harpo. Winfrey denies she ever 'personally' received any money from Harris.

However, records indicate that two $500,000 payments to Winfrey’s company Harpo took place on October 15, according to a report first published by in the Washington Examiner. Harpo has stated that money was used for "production expenses."

Winfrey hosted a blue ribbon gathering for the vice president in September and also appeared at Harris’ final rally in Philadelphia on the eve of Election Day, with the famed talk-show star even declaring a rare endorsement for Harris as president.

Using the decades in existance Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystophy Labor Day telethon as an example, musicians who perform at charity functions are paid per rules of the musician's union. Celebrities appearing at events may on occassion receive permission to donate their "time" but their expenses will be paid.

Winfrey wasn't the only one mentioned. "The campaign had seven swing-state concerts, the report continued, including performances by Jon Bon Jovi in Detroit, Christina Aguilera in Las Vegas, Katy Perry in Pittsburgh and Lady Gaga in Philadelphia, and a 2 Chainz performance at a rally three days before the election in Atlanta."

This curfluffle really also has to do with income taxes. If artists are paid to attend a function, that is earned income and you have to pay taxes. 'Expenses', 'productions costs' are business deductions.

So, poor Colin, Harris admits she is in debt to the tune of several million and needs money. She wants your hard earned $5.00.

THE SPHERE IN LAS VEGAS that globe-shaped live entertainment center, with 1.2 million LED's and screens wrapping both the inside and outside of its structure is losing money.

Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan, told the press he doesn't yet know how to make the Sphere profitable. From June 30 to September 30, the Sphere reported an operating income loss of $125.1 million.

"I wish that the day we lit it up that we knew exactly how to run it, exactly how to sell it and exactly how to program it, et cetera, but that's just not the case," Dolan admitted.

Sphere Entertainment owns the venue along with MSG Networks, a regional sports cable channel broadcasting games from New York teams like the Knicks, Rangers and Islanders.

The original Sphere cost $2.3 billion to build and has yet recoup that in ticket sales or in advertising.

Next week, the Sphere will also host events for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the cheapest grandstand tickets pegged at nearly $1,000 apiece.

The Sphere also recently announced it will be hosting a New Year's Eve performance by Anyma.

The Eagles, who have been performing weekends at the venue since September, have now added shows through March 2025.

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QUEEN CAMILLA

Queen Camilla in the middle of Booker finalists each holding their lauded creation: Yael van der Wouden, Rachel Kushner, Anne Michaels, Charlotte Wood, Percival Everett and Samantha Harvey. Publicity Photo

a staunch advocate of literacy welcomed the shortlisted Booker Prize authors to her London home, Clarence House, to congratulate them before the winner was announced by the Chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, at a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London. The honor went to Samantha Harvey for her book Orbital!.

Her Majesty posted: "Many congratulations to Samantha Harvey on having won the Booker Prize Award 2024 with your brilliant novel, Orbital!" ending the messaged with "Camilla R".

The other nominated titles were Anne Michaels's Held, Yael van der Wouden's The Safekeep, Charlotte Wood's Stone Yard Devotional, Rachel Kushner's Creation Lake and Percival Everett's James.

The Booker, which comes with a cash prize of 50,000 pounds, or $64,000, is awarded each year to the best full-length novel written in English and published in Britain or Ireland.

Booker McConnell, a multinational company, established the Booker Prize in 1968.

Orbital! was called "the strangest and most magical of projects," and has been widely celebrated for its contemplative themes and eloquent writing. It was released in America in paperback October 29, 2024.

According to the statement from The Booker Prize judges: Harvey's novel follows "the drifting perspective of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they navigate bereavement, loneliness and mission fatigue,"

The novel takes place through the lens of a single day. "Selected for one of the last space station missions of its kind before the program is dismantled, these astronauts and cosmonauts — from America, Russia, Italy, Britain and Japan—have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles an hour as the earth reels below," a press release from Grove Press, an imprint of Grove Atlantic, reads.

A NOISE WITHIN a leading regional producer of classical theater based in Pasadena, California has announced the addition of Julie Fox Blackshaw, Rick Madden and Leilani Jones Wilmore to its Board of Directors.

Blackshaw is a recently retired judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. She earned her B.A. from Stanford University and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Madden, who resides in Pasadena, is a retired partner of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, out-of-court restructurings and securities offerings.

An actor and voice teacher who lives in neighboring San Marino, Wilmore discovered A Noise Within when she accompanied her child to a student matinee. She has been attending performances regularly ever since, is a major donor to the company, and is a student matinee sponsor for the upcoming production of Jane Eyre.

Called "an oasis for those who love classic stories" by the Los Angeles Times, A Noise Within’s award-winning resident company is committed to representing the entire community at their state-of-the-art, 324-seat performance space. In addition to producing world-class performances of classic theater, the organization runs robust education programs with the goal of inspiring diverse audiences of all ages.

THE LION KING AND THE BROADWAY REVIVAL OF CHICAGO which celebrated anniversaries respectively on November 13 and 14th.

The Lion King opened on Broadway 27 years ago on November 13, 1997. The Tony Award winning musical is currently the 3rd longest running musical in Broadway history with over 10,600 performances.

The Broadway revival of Chicago, a striped down version of the original, opened on Broadway 28 years ago on November 14, 1996, becoming 2nd longest musical in Broadway history, just south of 11K performances.

HANG IN THERE . . .

FULL HOUSE STAR DAVE COULIER 65, has announced that he's been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a "very aggressive" cancer.

He appeared on Today and divulged he first noticed his symptoms several months ago when he got a cold, and then spotted a large lump in his groin. Coulier confirmed that he began chemo two weeks into his diagnosis. In anticipation that he would lose his hair, he took the initiative of shaving his head.

"You hear chemo, and it scares the daylights out of you,” he said. “The first round was pretty intense because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know how you’re going to feel. Is this going to hit me immediately? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?"

Coulier will be given six rounds of chemo every three weeks and is expected to finish his treatment by February.

"It’s been a bit of a roller coaster. There (are) days where I feel unbelievable," he told the television audience, adding, "Then there’s other days where … I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be."

He also praised his wife of 10 years, Melissa Bring Coulier, who is extremely supportive. Coulier said she "organized (his) entire life, from nutrition to the doctor’s appointments to the pills."

"She’s got stuff color-coded. It’s pretty great," he added.



EMMA

Toni O'Rourle stars as Emma. Photo: Production Publicity

by Jane Austen. Adapted by Kate Hamill.

Directed by Claire O'Reilly.

Starring Toni O'Rourle as Emma.

"A mind must have occupation, or it will come to mischief"

"We’re taking a fictional town in a British regency novel, through an American screwball lens and then setting in the Irish National Theatre with Irish actors, so it's amazing" - Claire O'Reilly

Centering on the charming and flirtatious title character, Director Claire O'Reilly states: Emma is a celebration of theatricality, playful people and their parties, and the radical power of understanding your desires."

In addition to O'Rourle the production features: Miss Bates / Servant: Clare Barrett.
Jane Fairfax / Mrs Elton / Robert Martin: Ciara Berkeley.
Mrs Weston / Mrs Bates: Liz FitzGibbon.
Mr Elton / Mr Churchill: Domhnall Herdman.
Mr Weston / Mr Woodhouse: Damian Kearney.
Harriet: Hannah Mamalis.
Mr Knightley: Patrick Martins.

A spectacular re-imagining of Jane Austen's Emma makes its European premiere on the Abbey Stage in Dublin, Ireland. Performances begin November 22, 2024 through January 25, 2025.

The Abbey was the first state-subsidized theatre in the English-speaking world; from 1925 onwards it received an annual subsidy from the Irish Free State.

RUDDIGORE the 10th collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan.

Directed by Artistic Director Albert Bergeret.

The cast includes, David Macaluso as the pure hearted farmer, Robin Oakapple, Matthew Wages as his brother Sir Despard Murgatroyd, David Wannen as their uncle Sir Roderic, Daniel Greenwood as Richard Dauntless, Sarah Caldwell Smith as Rose Maybud, Hannah Holmes as Mad Margaret, Laura Sudduth as Zorah and Katie Hall as Ruth. Rounding out the cast are Patrick Lord Remmertas Old Adam and Angela Christine Smith as Dame Hannah who sets the story in motion with a thrilling rendition of the legend of Ruddigore.

Additional cast include, Caitlin Borek, Sam Balzac, Michael Connolly, Victoria Devany, Hannah Eakin, Jonathan Heller, Maurio Hines, Alexandra Imbrosci-Viera, James Mills, Monique Pelletier, Darrick Penny, Kendrick Pifer, Michelle Seipel, James Conrad Smith, Tyler Tejada, and Adam Hirama Wells.

The run will feature production design that pays homage to the iconic American illustrator Edward Gorey. The production will feature choreography by Associate Stage Director David Auxier along with lighting by Benjamin Weill, costumes by Gail J. Wofford and scenery by Albère. Albert Bergeret will also conduct the 25-piece NYGASP orchestra.

New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP), America's preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory company, continues its 50th Anniversary Season with this revival, the classic comic opera that has entertained world-wide audiences for 137 years. This strictly limited 3-performance engagement will be performed on Saturday, November 23rd (2pm and 7:30pmEST) and Sunday, November 24th (3pmEST) at the John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York City.

THE DEAD, 1904 Based on the novella by James Joyce. Adapted by Paul Muldoon & Jean Hanff Korelitz.

Directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.

The Irish Rep production features Kate Baldwin and Christopher Innvar as Gretta and Gabriel Conroy. With Heather Bixler, Terry Donnelly, Karen Killeen, Michael Kuhn, Aedín Moloney, Michael Mellamphy, Jodie Sweeney, and Gary Troy And Estelle Parsons and Mary Beth Peil as Aunt Kate and Aunt Julia.

James Joyce’s novella, The Dead, describes a holiday gathering on January 6, 1904, the Feast of the Epiphany, in the Dublin home of two elderly sisters, Kate and Julia Morkan, and their niece, Mary Jane. At the party are students, friends, a celebrated tenor, a lost alcoholic, and the couple, Gabriel and Gretta Conroy.

Over the course of an evening, there are conversations, music, dancing, and dining. There are speeches and disagreements – polite and impolite – and when it is all over Gabriel learns something about his wife that changes his sense of who she is and who they are to each other, of what it actually means to be alive, and to be dead.

November 20 — January 5, 2025 at The American Irish Historical Society, directly across Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

DEATH BECOMES HER book by Marco Pennette, and an original score by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli.

Starring Tony Award nominees Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber, and Grammy Award winner Michelle Williams. The cast also features Marija Abney, Lauren Celentano, Sarita Colon, Kaleigh Cronin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Taurean Everett, Michael Graceffa, Neil Haskell, Kolton Krouse, Josh Lamon, Sarah Meahl, Ximone Rose, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, Warren Yang, Kyle Brown, Lakota Knuckle, Johanna Moise, and Amy Quanbeck.

The creative team for the production includes Derek McLane (Scenic Design), Paul Tazewell (Costume Design), Justin Townsend (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), Charles LaPointe (Hair & Wig Design), Joe Dulude II (Make-Up Design), Cha Ramos (Fight Direction), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Music Supervision), Doug Besterman (Orchestrations), Ben Cohn (Music Direction), Sam Davis (Dance & Music Arrangements), Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Julia Mattison and Noel Carey (Vocal Arrangements), and Kristy Norter (Music Coordination).

Opening night is Thursday, November 21, 2024 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in New York City.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare. Adapted by Igor Golyak.

Directed by Igor Golyak.

In a nightclub environment akin to a late-night comedy show, this Merchant brings Shakespeare’s "festival" setting for the play into our modern world. Superheroes and their archenemies battle it out to protect good in the face of evil. Will love, justice and order prevail? Who defines love, justice and order? The audience and cast wrestle with these questions and their dead-serious consequences.

T.R. Knight will play Antonio, the ring-leader and emcee, who encourages the live audience to laugh, sing along, boo, and ultimately face the surprising, tragic twist of an ending.

Joining Knight are Richard Topol as Shylock and Alexandra Silber as Portia along with Gus Birney, Tess Goldwy, José Espinosa, Stephen Ochsner, Delilah Napier, Noah Pacht and Elan Zafir.

The Merchant of Venice has scenic design by Jan Pappelbaum of the Schaubuehne, costume and props design by Sasha Ageeva, lighting design by Seth Reiser, and sound design by Fedor Zhuravlev, who has also composed music for the production. Golyak is designing projections. Kyra Bowie is the production stage manager, John Lant /Write Act is production manager, general management is by Martin Platt/Perry Street Theatricals, and The Merchant of Venice is co-presented by Sofia Kapkova/MART Foundation, and executive produced by Sara Stackhouse/Arlekin Players Theatre.

Limited Engagement begins November 22. Opening Night is November 25 at The Lynn F. Angelson Theater, Classic Stage Company in New York City.

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FINAL OVATION

JUDITH ANN JAMISON famed American dancer and choreographer who was the artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 1989 until 2011 and then its artistic director emerita died November 9, 2024 at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. She was 81.

In 1964, after seeing Jamison in a master class, Agnes de Mille invited her to come to New York City to perform in a new work that she was choreographing for American Ballet Theatre, The Four Marys. Jamison made her premiere with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at Chicago's Harper Theater Dance Festival in 1965 in Congo Tango Palace, and in 1966, she toured Europe and Africa with the company. Throughout her performance career with the company she danced in many of Ailey's most renowned works, including "Blues Suite and Revelations."

On May 4, 1971, Jamison premiered the famous solo, "Cry." Alvin Ailey choreographed this sixteen-minute dance as a birthday present for his mother, Lula Cooper, and later dedicated it to "all-black women everywhere, especially our mothers." Throughout her years with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Jamison continued to perform all over the world. Along with her work with Ailey's company, she also appeared as a guest artist with the Cullberg Ballet, Swedish Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and numerous other companies. She danced alongside many renowned dancers, including the ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, in a duet entitled "Pas de Duke", choreographed by Alvin Ailey in 1976.

In 1980, she left Ailey's company to perform in the Broadway musical, Sophisticated Ladies. It was Jamison's first stage experience outside the realm of concert dance, and she admitted it was initially very challenging for her.

She began teaching master classes at Jacob's Pillow in 1981 and soon began choreographing her own works. She later formed The Jamison Project with a group of dancers with a strong desire to work and learn. The Project premiered on November 15, 1988, at the Joyce Theater in New York City, performing works such as Divining, Time Out, and Tease. Jamison later invited guest choreographers, including Garth Fagan, to set work for the company.

In 1988, Jamison returned to Alvin Ailey Dance Theater as an artistic associate. Upon Ailey's death, on December 1, 1989, she assumed the role of artistic director and dedicated the next 21 years of her life to the company's success.[18]In July 2011, Jamison transitioned into the role of artistic director emerita and appointed Robert Battle to the position of artistic director designate.

Jamison was married briefly to Miguel Godreau, a dancer with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, from 1972 to 1974 when the marriage was annulled.

Her many awards included a Kennedy Center Honors for her contribution to American culture through dance (1999, a Primetime Emmy Award, an American Choreography Award for her work on the PBS Documentary "A Hymn for Alvin Ailey" in 1999 and a National Medal of Arts in 2001.

TIMOTHY WEST CBE famed television and theatre actor died November 12, 2024 in London. He was 90.

West worked as an office furniture salesman and as a recording technician, before becoming an assistant stage manager at the Wimbledon Theatre in 1956.[4] West played repertory seasons in Newquay, Hull, Northampton, Worthing and Salisbury before making his London debut at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1959 in the farce Caught Napping. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for three seasons: the 1962 Arts Theatre Experimental season, the 1964 'Dirty Plays' season and the 1965 season at Stratford and later at the Aldwych Theatre .

West played Macbeth twice, Uncle Vanya twice, Solness in The Master Builder twice and King Lear four times: in 1971 (aged 36) for the Prospect Theatre Company at the Edinburgh Festival; on a worldwide tour in 1991 in Dublin for Second Age; in 2003 for the English Touring Theatre, on tour in the UK and at the Old Vic; and in 2016 at the Bristol Old Vic.

Having spent years as a familiar face who never quite became a household name, West's big break came with the major television series Edward the Seventh (1975), in which he played the title role from the age of twenty-three until the King's death; his real-life sons, Samuel and Joseph, played the sons of the King as children. His father Lockwood West also portrayed King Edward VII in 1972 in an episode of the LWT television drama series Upstairs, Downstairs. Other screen appearances have included Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), Masada (1981), Cry Freedom (1987) and Luc Besson's The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999). In Richard Eyre's Iris (2001) he plays Maurice and his son Samuel West plays Maurice as a young man.

His final TV appearance was in the penultimate episode of the BBC TV series Doctors which was screened the day after his death.

West was artistic director of the Forum Theatre, Billingham, in 1973, where he directed We Bombed in New Haven by Joseph Heller, The Oz Obscenity Trial by David Livingstone and The National Health by Peter Nichols. He was co-artistic director of the Prospect Theatre Company at the Old Vic from 1980 to 1981, where he directed Trelawny of the 'Wells' and The Merchant of Venice. He was director-in-residence at the University of Western Australia in 1982. In 2004, West toured Australia with the Carl Rosa Opera Company as director of a production of H.M.S. Pinafore, also singing the role of Sir Joseph Porter.

His theatre credits are as long as your arm. The last being King Lear, as Lear, in a 2016 production at the Bristol Old Vic directed by Tom Morris.

West was married to actress Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961 and had a daughter, Juliet. In 1963 he married actress Prunella Scales, with whom he had two sons, Samuel West, an actor, and Joseph (Joe), who participated in two episodes of Great Canal Journeys filmed in France. Joe lives with his French wife and their children.

The Guardian crossword creator Biggles referred to West's 50th wedding anniversary in its prize crossword puzzle (number 26,089) on October 26, 2013.

West and Scales were patrons of the Lace Market Theatre in Nottingham, The Kings Theatre in Gloucester and of the Conway Hall Sunday Concerts program in London, the longest-running series of chamber music concerts in Europe. West was an Ambassador of SOS Children's Villages, an international orphan charity providing homes and mothers for orphaned and abandoned children. He supported the charity's annual World Orphan Week. West was patron of the National Piers Society, a charity dedicated to preserving and promoting seaside piers.

He and Prunella Scales were patrons of Avon Navigation Trust (ANT), the charity that runs the River Avon from Stratford-upon-Avon to Tewkesbury. They both supported ANT by attending the Stratford River Festival every year. West supported Cancer Research UK. West was a supporter of the Talyllyn Railway in mid Wales, the first preserved railway in the world. He visited on a number of occasions, the last being the summer of 2015 to attend the railway's 150th anniversary. He was a supporter of the Inland Waterways Association. West was president of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (being succeeded by Benedict Cumberbatch in January 2018) and was president of the Society for Theatre Research. He was also patron of London-based drama school Associated Studios. In 1984, West was appointed CBE for his services to drama.

MR. PIFFLES Piff the Magic Dragon's longtime Las Vegas performing companion and beloved Chihuahua, died November 8, 2024, just before his 17th birthday.

Mr. Piffles was part of the act for 15 years and is credited for making the Flamingo Resort act a sensational.

In the wake of the tragic death, the Flamingo Las Vegas announced a special ceremony in honor of the late dog. The celebration took place Wednesday evening November 13, 2024, where the famed resort unveiled the Mr. Piffles Magical Playground ... a dog-friendly space dedicated to the Chihuahua.

Fans first became acquainted with Piff and his loyal companion when the pair appeared on season 10 of "America's Got Talent" ... where Piff boasted Mr. Piffles - a rescue dog - was the world's only magic-performing Chihuahua.

Mr. Piffles is survived by Piff the Magic Dragon and his clone Mr. Piffles the Second.

Next Column: November 24, 2024
Copyright: November 17, 2024 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