Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: October 27, 2024
By: Laura Deni
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YELLOW FACE REVIVAL BY DAVID HENRY HWANG HAS BRIGHTER HUES

I've always enjoyed the work of expert storyteller David Henry Hwang. The Tony award winner captivated me with - just to mention two - M. Butterfly an improbable, but promoted as based on a true story, which was mesmerizing. I smile every time I think of Chinglish.

The original off-Broadway production of Yellow Face was most enjoyable. However, this revival at the Roundabout sparkles.

As part of the backstory "Hwang's 2007 play Yellow Face relates to his play Face Value, which closed in previews on Broadway in the early 1990s. Face Value was his response to a controversy about the casting of Jonathan Pryce in an Eurasian role in Miss Saigon.

Face Value, which included music and lyrics for a musical-within-a-play by Hwang, lost millions of dollars. It was a stumbling block in the careers of Hwang and producer Stuart Ostrow.

Nor did it help that Hwang was accused by The New York Times of being an agent for the Chinese government.

In Yellow Face, Hwang wrote a semi-autobiographical play, featuring him as the main character in a media farce about mistaken racial identity.

Yellow Face premiered in Los Angeles in 2007 at the Mark Taper Forum as a co-production with East West Players. It moved Off-Broadway to the Joseph Papp Public Theater, an important venue for Hwang's earlier work. It enjoyed an extended run at the Papp, and won Hwang his third Obie Award for Playwriting. The play was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

So why tinker with it?

Because Hwang seems to be a perfectionist. Buffing up something good only makes it better - this updated version has cohesiveness.

The official description: "Fiction meets reality in a hilarious farce about race, inspired by true events.

"Drawing from real events, the play humorously delves into the complexities of race, with a fictionalized doppelgänger protesting yellowface casting in "Miss Saigon" and inadvertently casting a white actor as the Asian lead in his own production.

"This Obie Award-winning and Pulitzer finalist offers a hilarious yet thought-provoking take on race dynamics."

This Broadway production stars Daniel Dae Kim - impersonating David Henry Hwang with the label of DDH. He comfortably becomes the punch line for numerous jokes.

When you are the head of the activist group carping that there aren't enough roles for Asians and then cast a white man in the role of an Asian - well, you have placed yourself in the bullseye.

Beginning in 1988 the success of M. Butterfly elevated DHH into a rarefied stratosphere. Then social indignation has DHH leading an activist group against producer Cameron Mackintosh. In 1991 Mackintosh was transferring the hit musical Miss Saigon from the West End to Broadway and intended to use the London star, Jonathan Pryce, who is white. His character is Eurasian, and DHH protested.

"Everything about the way [producer Cameron] Mackintosh handled it was offensive" charged Hwang.

Although the protest is ineffective, DHH feels empowered and transfers that to the aforementioned Face Value. Then, as fate would have it, in his search for "a straight, masculine Asian leading man" for his lead he accidentally casts a white actor, Marcus (Ryan Eggold).

Kim is an expert at delivering one-liners and feels totally at home in a farce. The production is ably directed by Tony nominee Leigh Silverman who also helmed the off-Broadway version. It's a giggle a minute.

Effortlessly handling multiple duties, Marinda Anderson, Shannon Tyo and Kevin Del Aguila find themselves playing against not just type, but also ethnic type - cast as though they drew their acting roles out of a sack - bringing to life journalists, activists, performers and theater creators.

Featuring Ryan Eggold as Marcus, the white dude whom Hwang unintentionally casts in an Asian American-intended role. Complicating an already embarrassing situation, Marcus comfortably assimilates into his new ethnicity.

Also features is the talented Francis Jue, who also was in the 2007 production. He delivers a sensitive performance as Hwang's father, Henry - known as HYH. He's an immigrant, a former laundry worker, now a banker who believes in the American dream. "When I was working in a laundry, could I ever have dreamed?" he extols referring to an Op-Ed, "That one day Charlton Heston would write about my son?"

This short statement is important because DHH is forced to defend himself against an accusation by The New York Times reporter (Greg Keller) - based upon little to no evidence - of secretly being a spy for the Chinese government.

For HYH it's guilt by association.

Sharply and smartly written, with a coy bite that can sting one's conscious with the reminder that even when a person is falsely tarnished, it is impossible to totally remove the stain; and that Asians are the least represented in all productions be they theatre, television or film.

Featuring non distracting sets by David Korins; believable costumes by Myung Hee Cho; effectively meditative lighting by Donald Holder and well balanced sound by Darron L. West.

In addition to those already mentioned, the creatives are: Original Music by Caroline Eng and Kate Marvin. Assistant Director: Susanna Jaramillo. Scenic Design by Arnulfo Maldonado; Costume Design by Anita Yavich; Lighting Design by Lap Chi Chu; Sound Design by Caroline Eng and Kate Marvin; Projection Design by Yee Eun Nam; Hair Design by Will Vicari; Make-Up Design by Will Vicari; Associate Scenic Design: Corey Umlauf; Associate Costume Design: Sandy Siu; Associate Sound Design: Mike Deyo; Assistant Scenic Design: Joe Burt; Assistant Lighting Design: Kaitlin Trimble; Moving Light Programmer: Alyssa Eilbott; Production Stage Manager: Charles Means; Assistant Stage Mgr: Janet Takami; Voice Coach: Patrick Mulryan; Casting: Carrie Gardner, CSA and Jillian Cimini, CSA; Director of Marketing: Elizabeth Kandel; Press Representative: Polk & Co.; Director of Development: Lane Hosmer, Erin Mooney and Kristen Robinson, CFRE; Founding Director: Gene Feist; Photographer: Joan Marcus.

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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

SALEM WITCH MUSEUM

The Salem Witch Museum. Photo: venue

examines one of the most enduring and emotional events in American History, the Salem witch trials of 1692. The museum consists of two presentations. The first provides an immersive look into the events of 1692. Visitors experience the drama of that dark time though thirteen life-size stage sets, figures, lighting and narration as they are witness to the web of lies and intrigue of the Salem witch-hunt.

Their second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, explores the meaning behind the word witch and evolution of the image of the witch over time. This presentation focuses on the European witch trials and the background leading to the Salem witch trials. In addition, this presentation discusses the emergence of the stereotypical witch and the phenomenon of witch-hunting.

Presentations are offered every half-hour from 10:00AM to 4:30PM, with extended hours in July, August, and October. Plan to allow at least one hour for your visit. For our international visitors, they offer our main presentation in French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Mandarin, and Cantonese by request.

Salem Witch Museum Hangings photo

A few of the questions answers by the museum include: How was the practice of witchcraft viewed in seventeenth-century New England? What was the difference between the "afflicted" and the "accused"? What caused the illness in 1692? Were the Salem witch trials caused by moldy bread? What role did Tituba play in the Salem witch trials? Were only women accused of practicing witchcraft?

How many people were executed during the Salem witch trials? Where are the victims buried? Was anyone burned at the stake in Salem? What is a witch cake? How long did the Salem witch trials last? What happened in the aftermath of the Salem witch trials? How accurate is the play The Crucible? How many witches live in Salem today?

Please Note: The museum presentation depicts tragic history, including a tableau of the Devil, the pressing of Giles Corey, and hanging of George Burroughs. These tableaux may not be suitable for all audiences.

Since its opening in 1972 in a renovated historic church building, the Salem Witch Museum has served as a distinctive local landmark and major contributor to the city’s cultural and historic landscape. The mission of this organization is to be the voice to the innocent victims of witch-hunts, from 1692 to the present day. By interpreting this history through audiovisual displays, guided tours, educational resources, and virtual programming, we strive to bring awareness to the endurance of scapegoating and injustice.

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SWEET CHARITY

THE PRINCESS GRACE AWARDS 2023 AND 2024 WERE PRESENTED

Michael Douglas and Prince Albert II at Princess Grace Awards. Photo: Patrick McMullen forPrincess Grace Foundation/Instagram/Monaco Life

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at the Pierre in New York City.

The black-tie attired event celebrated 40 years of The Princess Grace award, dedicated to supporting extraordinary emerging artists in theater, dance and film in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Michael Douglas who attended with his sons Dylan and Cameron was the recipient of the Prince Rainier III award. This award commemorates the memory of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, this citation recognizes entertainment luminaries whose own outstanding artistic excellence is combined with their dedication to giving back to their communities. This year, Michael Douglas was honored with this prestigious award.

Prince Albert II presented Douglas with the award, speaking of the actor’s longstanding connection to Monaco’s princely family. "Michael and his family’s commitment to philanthropy echoes my family’s own dedication," said Prince Albert. "I am delighted to present him with this year’s Prince Rainier III Award."

An emotional Douglas said: "What an incredible honor it is to be the recipient of this year’s Prince Rainier III Award. I’ve always been a fan of Grace Kelly’s iconic screen work – as were my parents – and I cherished learning about my dad’s friendship with Princess Grace during their Hollywood days and beyond. I’m humbled to have had the opportunity to continue that family friendship with Prince Albert II of Monaco over the years. And so, to receive this esteemed award is extraordinarily special."

Previous recipients of the Prince Rainier III Award include Bernadette Peters, Tim Daly, Jane Cameron, Queen Latifah, Julie Andrews, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Glenn Close, George Lucas, Mandy Patinkin, Twyla Tharp, Denzeland and Paulette Washington, Cicely Tyson, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars.

There were two Princess Grace Statue Award winners.

This prestigious honor recognizes Award winners who have made significant contributions to their chosen artistic field of theater, dance or film since receiving their initial Award. This year’s recipients are Tony Award-nominated director, Lila Neugebauer and Pulitzer Prize finalist and playwright, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

The festive evening included a performance of "I want to go to Monaco" by Carly Hughes, previously performed by Liza Minelli at the 1985 Princes Grace Awards Gala, and a live auction of a rare Cartier necklace worn by Princess Grace.

HOST COMMITTEE: Kyle Abraham* - Amanda Ross Bacon - Gérard Cohen - James H. Coleman - Olivia Tournay Flatto - Karen and Rod Gancas - Scott and Sharon Greenstein - Natasha and Boris Ivanov - Anton and Sharon Katz - Kinga Lampert - Eric and Sarah Lane - Simone and David Levinson - H.E. Maguy Maccario-Doyle - Ambassador of Monaco to the United States and Canada - Simone and James Mets - Leslie Odom Jr.* and Nicolette Robinson* - Hon. Gildo Pallanca Pastor - Consul General of Monaco in New York - Alina De Almeida and John Paulson - Tiler Peck* - Bernadette Peters - H.E. Mrs. Isabelle Picco Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations - Dr. and Mrs. Jon B. Turk - Pauletta and Denzel Washington - Laura Wasserman. *Princess Grace Award Winners.

STEERING COMMITTEE: Jon B. Turk, M.D., Chair. Members: Anton Katz - Richard Kirshenbaum - Simone Mets - Christina Murphy - Camilla Olssen - Milton Pedraza and Noelle Wolf.

BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER COMMEMORATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA tonight, Sunday, October 27, 2024 with an unforgettable gala that will feature a special performance by the legendary Diana Ross. Located in Englewood, New Jersey, "bergenPAC stands as Bergen County's premier arts and performance center, showcasing top-tier musical acts and comedy performances."

This year's gala will recognize healthcare workers at Hackensack Meridian Health and CEO Robert C. Garrett with the prestigious Standing Ovation Award. Additionally, benefactors Aleta and Rich Taylor will be honored with the Legends Award, while the Spotlight Award will be presented to Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and honorary trustee Lori Stokes. The Founders will also be recognized. WABC 7-NY Eyewitness News Reporter Nina Pineda will host this year's event.

The Performing Arts School has evolved into a dynamic, multifaceted arts education institution with outreach programs, serving over 15,000 students annually. The nonprofit Performing Arts School is known for its dedication to diversity and making the arts accessible to all. The 20th anniversary of bergenPAC marks a significant milestone for the institution.

JASON FLOM & KHALIAH ALI are honored with the "Visionary Leadership & Impact Award" at the YA 2024 National Benefit Gala.

Lava Media co-founder and CEO Jason Flom, and his life partner, the author and humanitarian Khaliah Ali, received an award which acknowledged Flom and Ali for their decades of humanitarian service and honorable dedication to a more just society — individually, and more recently, as a team. The remarkable evening took place at the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan and was dedicated to raising funds for arts-integrated education in underserved schools across the nation.

Alongside his storied career in the music business where he served as Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, Virgin Records, and Capitol Records, Flom has been a leading advocate for social justice and criminal legal reforms, and became the founding board member of the Innocence Project in the late 90s. As the creator and host of Lava for Good’s award-winning Wrongful Conviction podcast series, he has been personally involved in the fight of exoneration and justice for over 250 wrongly convicted individuals. Khaliah Ali is committed to continuing her father Muhammad Ali’s legacy of community service, focusing particularly on child hunger, animal welfare, and justice reform. She serves on the boards of the Juvenile Law Center, the National Public Housing Museum, Street Soccer USA, and help USA. Together, Flom and Ali are working closely on several wrongful conviction cases across the country, including that of Robert Roberson in Texas.

Young Audiences was established in 1952 and has since served over 5 million school children each year, focusing on providing arts-rich education that caters to every child’s full potential regardless of socioeconomic background, race, geographic location, and ability. National Executive Director, David A. Dik praised the honorees, stating, "Our honorees remind us of the arts’ incredible ability to educate, inspire, and empower. YA’s work is grounded in delivering the countless benefits and joys the arts can bring to students, but also in the core belief that all young people deserve access to a well-rounded education inclusive of the arts."

The inspiring evening also honored Emmy Award-winner Trevor Noah with the Artistic Inspiration & Empowerment Award and included an onstage conversation between him and acclaimed author Jacqueline Woodson. In addition, Young Audiences showcased the powerful work they are doing with a live performance by the Jazz Combo, a group of nine young musicians from a YA arts-integrated public charter school in Greater New Orleans.

OAK VIEW GROUP'S THEATER ALLIANCE GALA takes place on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Pop rock group Hanson will perform and The Daily Show’s Michael Kosta will host this event which promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, entertainment, and philanthropy.

The Theater Alliance Gala is a cornerstone event for the OVG Theater Alliance Fund and represents a commitment to sustaining the cultural vibrancy of communities across North America. Attendees can look forward to an evening filled with live performances, a silent auction, and networking opportunities with industry leaders and philanthropists.

The OVG Theater Alliance is a nationwide collective of marquee theaters and performing arts venues in top-tier markets across North America where its members benefit from collective buying power, routing of non-traditional content, sponsorship opportunities, industry best practices, and resources.

As a special highlight, the evening will also feature a performance by the Garden of Dreams Choir, which features young people whose lives have been impacted by the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the local New York City beneficiary of the OVG Theater Alliance Fund. Garden of Dreams is a non-profit organization that works with the MSG Family of Companies – MSG Sports, Sphere Entertainment and MSG Entertainment, which includes OVG Theater Alliance members Radio City Music Hall, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre and The Chicago Theatre – to bring lifechanging opportunities to young people facing obstacles such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care.

Also on the bill is Brooklyn’s TIMALIKESMUSIC.

All proceeds from the Gala support the OVG Theater Alliance Fund, created in collaboration with Music’s Promise, to enable theaters to continue their invaluable work, ensuring the arts continue to thrive.

Theater Alliance Members include:

Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater (Austin, TX) - AT&T Performing Arts Center (Dallas TX) - Beacon Theatre (New York, NY) - Boch Center (Boston, MA) - The Chicago Theatre (Chicago, IL) - Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (Orlando, FL) - Ensemble Arts Philly (Philadelphia, PA) - First Interstate Center for the Arts (Spokane, WA) - Fox Theatre (Detroit, MI) - Grand Ole Opry House (Nashville, TN) - Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (Houston, TX) - Houston First (Houston, TX) - Pabst Theater Group (Milwaukee, WI) - Paramount Theatre (Denver, CO) - Paramount Theatre (Oakland, CA) - Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (Pittsburgh, PA) - Playhouse Square (Cleveland, OH) - Portland’5 Centers for the Arts (Portland, OR) - Radio City Music Hall (New York, NY) - Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN) - Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Costa Mesa, CA) - Stifel Theatre (St. Louis, MO) - The Theater at Madison Square Garden (New York, NY) - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts (San Antonio, TX) - Tulsa Performing Arts Center (Tulsa, OK) - YouTube Theater (Inglewood, CA).

SPREADING THE WORD

PRINCE EDWARD, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH on November 5, 2024 will visit the ADC Theatre in Cambridge, England.

The ADC Theatre is a theatre and also a department of the University of Cambridge. On October 26, the production of August Wilson's Fences closed a successful run staged by the Cambridge Amateur Dramatics Club. On November 27 their Pantomime of Snow White opens.

The ABC theatre is the oldest University playhouse in the country. Plays have been presented on the site since 1855. The ADC Theatre is the centre of University drama in Cambridge, run almost entirely by students with no Faculty involvement.

"We aim to provide opportunities to experience and learn about all aspects of theatre, while presenting professional standard productions. The ADC Theatre has helped to launch the careers of many theatre luminaries, including Sir Ian McKellen, Rachel Weisz and Emma Thompson."

THE SIGNALMAN & THE TRIAL FOR MURDER Live Performance onsite at the Charles Dickens Museum in London. October 31, November 1-2, 2024.

"The monstrous thought came into my mind, as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face, that this was a spirit, not a man."

A red light. A black tunnel. A waving figure. A warning beyond understanding. And the fear that someone - that something - is drawing closer...

The Signal-Man is one of the most powerful ghost stories of all time and certainly the most frightening ever written by Charles Dickens. It is paired here with The Trial for Murder, in which Dickens treats the supernatural with just as much terrifying gravity.

These tales are brought to life by James Swanton, who over the last year has played monsters in 20th Century Studios' The First Omen and Sony's Tarot as well as the title roles in two BBC chillers, Mark Gatiss's annual ghost story as well as his work with Dickens includes sell-out seasons and rave reviews including his s one-man play Sikes & Nancy at the West End's Trafalgar Studios.

Join the storyteller as he delves into Dickens's darkest explorations of the spirit world. What better way to celebrate Halloween?

THE 25TH ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS which wil laire live from the Kaseya Center in Miami on Thursday, November 14, has announced a roster of performers. The lineup includes current nominees David Bisbal, Alejandro Fernández, Luis Fonsi, Juan Luis Guerra, Carín León, Elena Rose and Ela Taubert, as well as the 2024 Person of the Year honoree Carlos Vives.

Latin Grammy and Grammy winner Carlos Vives, will be recognized for his more than three-decade career as a multifaceted singer and composer at a special star-studded gala the previous evening.

THE HANOVER THEATRE in Wooster, Massachusetts presents their 4th annual Edgar Allan Poe Double Header. Get in the Halloween spirit with this spine-chilling performance running Thursday, October 31 through Sunday November 2.

At turns dark and darkly funny, this 60-minute solo show is staged as a séance, conjuring two of Poe’s most notorious narrators. Created and performed by THT Rep’s artistic director Livy Scanlon with costume design by Chelsea Kerl, lighting design by Brenda Shepard and sound design by Steve Shepard.

ACADEMY AWARD WINNER GARY OLDMAN will return to the stage after 40 years in a revival of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape.

The English actor, who was born in London in 1958, made his stage debut at the York Theatre Royal in 1979 - the same venue in which Oldman began his career.

Krapp’s Last Tape will open for previews at York Theatre Royal on April 14, 2025, and run until May 17, 2025.

Written in 1958, Dublin-born Beckett’s one-act seminal play tells the story of Krapp, who records a message each year on his birthday reflecting on the previous year.

When Krapp first appears he is 69 and lonely. Fortified with a bottle of wine, a banana and his tape recorder, he listens back to a recording he made as a young man.

Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969. It’s revival at the York will be "a brand new production," York Theatre Royal CEO Paul Crewes announced.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA presents "Fidelio" through November 4 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, DC. Only her love can set him free. WNO launches its 2024–2025 season with a new brand-new production of Beethoven’s monumental, sole opera—last staged in the Opera House more than 30 years ago.

IRISH REP'S NEW WORKS FALL FESTIVAL takes place November 4, 11, 12, and 18, featuring four readings of new plays spotlighting Northern Irish voices on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage, New York City.

"The choice to spotlight writers from the North of Ireland was born of a desire to give space to voices that have a unique view of both contemporary Ireland and its history. In this series you will hear stories that delve into that complicated past, explore the present, and imagine alternative futures."

The readings are: "The Alternative" on Monday, November 4. "The Honey Trap" on Monday, November 11. "The Gap Year" on Tuesday, November 12 and "Crocodile Fever" on Monday, November 18, 2024.

BRAVO TO OLIVIA MUNN for tastefully showing her mastectomy and reconstructive scars in a commercial for Skims. My mastectomy was decades ago and the scars are horrific and the reconstruction shrunken and hard as a rock. Mine aren't going to be willingly shown to anybody. Medicine has come a long way. Munn has helped in posting encouraging and inspiring photographs.

What mastectomy patients have to be wary of are medical professionals who take advantage and want to use the women as a lab rat. A few years ago - not concerning anything related to a mastectomy - I was in a hospital, not expected to leave alive. One Saturday one of the hospital heads led into my room a group of student nurses or nursing assistants. As was reported to me by some of the students in attendance, the hospital official had brought the class in to study my mastectomy. I objected. The doctor tried to undress me. I fought and kicked. As a person who doesn't swear- apparently I know all the words and had interesting ways of combining them. The doctor then drugged me against my will. I'm told my hospital gown was opened. The students all wanted to touch me, which the doctor didn't permit. A few days later the doctor arrived, gleefully recalling the fun they had with me on Saturday. You sure did fight us. . . but, you were drugged and you don't remember a thing, he bragged. Later some of the students actually returned to thank me for permitting them to observe me, and asked if they could now touch me. "We all wanted to touch you, but he (doctor) wouldn't let us." I snapped back that I never gave permission for any of that and I wanted to see the signed legal papers which gave them permission to strip me down and gawk. Later doctors told me that they are told what did to me as a hospital patient was perfectly legal.

This is the same doctor who one time during my stay showed with his nursing co-hort to explain that - you're not going to make it. So, why don't we just take you off everything and let nature take its course. It ought to take about 15 minutes. I said no and they left.

I knew years ago that hospital patients on welfare could be used for teaching demonstrations without their permission, but since I've never been on welfare in my life and have full insurance this has been an unnerving experience. I'm told events like this frequently occur on patients who are expected to die, because all you have to do is bury the evidence.

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WOODY HARRELSON FILMING IN BUDAPEST

The cast of Now You See Me. Promotion photo

A beautiful city with friendly people, Budapest, Hungary also is a considerably cheaper place to film than Hollywood. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the third part of Now You See Me series is there on location. The flick stars Emmy award winning actor Woody Harrelson.

First on his sight seeing list was getting a glimpse at what has been described as his “doppelganger” statue. Interestingly, it seems that Harrelson may have had a statue in Budapest even before his arrival. Several visitors to the city’s iconic Fisherman’s Bastion. located in the historic Buda Castle, have spotted a figure among the statues that bears an uncanny resemblance to the Hollywood star. Emphasized that this is "purely a coincidence," Harrelson went down for a look-see.

According to published reports, "one of the (centuries old) statues of an Árpád-era warrior on the staircase bears an uncanny resemblance to none other than Woody Harrelson himself! The statue has become a bit of a meme, with tourists visiting Budapest often sharing photos of the 'Woody Harrelson lookalike'." He courteously posted for photographs for fans.

I've had the opportunity to meet Harrelson once, decades ago when he was filming Indecent Proposal in Las Vegas. He is down to earth charming.

Harrelson seems to be enjoying Budapest. He was spotted by Hungarians with tennis player Sándor Noszály according to A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon. The guys enjoyed a game of padel, a sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, which is popular in Hungary.

Harrelson was also spotted at the World of Banksy exhibition in Király Street. Event organizers took to the internet to openly admired his "friendly and open demeanor."

The cast has also been seen visiting The Most Magical Shop in Budapest.

It isn't only Harrelson who is temporarily calling Budaprest home. Most of the original cast has returned to reprise their roles. The cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco are the magical heroes. Isla Fisher did not return in Now You See Me 2, which saw Lizzy Caplan join the cast, but in this film Isla Fisher has returned as escape artist Henley Reeves.

This version has Ruben Fleischer directing Daniel Radcliffe as Walter Mabry - Rosamund Pike - Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley - Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves - Ariana Greenblatt - Lizzy Caplan as Lula May - Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney - Mark Ruffalo as Dylan Rhodes - Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas - Justice Smith - Dave Franco as Jack Wilder and Dominic Sessa.

The original "Now You See Me" plot follows an FBI agent and an Interpol detective who track and attempt to bring to justice a team of magicians - the Four Horsemen - who pull off bank heists and robberies by mesmerizing audiences with a pair of amazing magic shows that drain the bank accounts of the corrupt and funnel the money to audience members.

The feature film amazed the audience with its original concept, its strong ensemble and its overall wit. The sequel was a similar public success, and a franchise is following.

Lionsgate’s long-awaited sequel is officially scheduled to hit theaters on November 14, 2025.

Harrelson also sometimes co-hosts a podcast with Ted Dansen titled "Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harreson (sometimes)."

In a recent episode, Harrelson used ZOOM to join Dansen and guest Kelsey Grammar. The fun podcast took on some serious notes. When Grammar and Danson - both men of faith- discussed religion Harrelson disclosed that when he was young he began studies to become a protestant minister, even delivering two sermons. Then he began to question everything.



THE LION KING Disney's spectacular musical celebrated 25 years in London's West End with a special gala performance on Sunday October 20, 2024, at London's Lyceum Theatre.

The celebratory event was attended by the original creatives including Julie Taymor, Lebo M, Richard Hudson, Irene Mecchi, Roger Allers and Donald Holder.

In a spectacular performance ending, London’s Rafiki, Thenjiwe Nofemele, was joined on stage by five Rafiki's representing European productions performing a dynamic "Circle of Life."

The performance was sung in English, German, French, Spanish and Dutch – as well as the five African languages which are featured in every production around the world.

Since the UK premiere in 1999, The Lion King London has entertained more than 19 million theatre goers at the Lyceum Theatre and is the fifth longest-running West End musical of all time.

Taymor’s award winning stage adaptation of the production opened on Broadway in 1997 and 25 global productions in nine different languages have been staged since then in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese.

It was the first commercial theatre musical Taymor directed and she made Broadway history by becoming the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical.

As well as writing completely new songs, South African composer Lebo M created an evocative blend of African rhythms and chorales, with additional material by Julie Taymor and Mark Mancina. Elton John and Tim Rice added three new numbers to the five that they wrote for the award-winning score of the animated film.

TOWA BIRD NAMED GIBSON MARQUEE ARTIST Gibson, the iconic, leading American instrument brand with a commitment to artist-first culture and music discovery, is proud to officially announce that alt-rock/pop artist Towa Bird has joined Gibson as the brand’s Marquee Artist.

Gibson’s new Marquee Artist program goes beyond guitars to provide emerging artists with support and services committed to artist career growth. As a Gibson Marquee Artist, Towa Bird will have access to Gibson’s global resources and work with the brand to create collaboratively inspired cultural campaigns, participate in product development and launches, support Gibson Gives nonprofit initiatives, and join in special events across Gibson Brands products and channels, reaching millions of fans worldwide. The Gibson invests in furthering the careers of artists on the rise who reflect the brand’s mission to celebrate and amplify music across genders, genres, and generations.

"Boundless and fearless, Towa has such range which you can see in fans, message and music, and in her guitar playing from incredible guitar solos to ballads," says Beth Heidt, Chief Marketing Officer at Gibson. "Towa is an unapologetically unique artist that cannot be categorized and is a true inspiration to players all over the world. We are thrilled to have Towa Bird join us as a Gibson Marquee Artist."

On November 2, Towa Bird will join Billie Eilish as direct support on seven nights of the "Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour."

KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA completed a successful trip to Australia and Samoa. The Monarch added a new title to his resume - Samoan High Chief "Tui Taumeasina". The welcoming ceremony required the husband of Queen Camilla to drink a few sips of a narcotic tea called kava from a polished half coconut. Stressed - only a few sips since Australia’s former deputy prime minister was hospitalized after mistakenly drinking too much of a local brew at a similar ceremony in Micronesia in 2022, as first reported by The Guardian.

NATIONAL MEDAL OF THE ARTS for the 2022 and 2023 award winners were presented by President Joe Biden i on October 21, 2024 in a private ceremony at the White House. This was followed by a reception with remarks by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, and National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo).

The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. It is awarded by the president of the United States to individuals or groups who are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States.

2022 National Medal of Arts recipients:

Ruth Asawa (posthumous), artist
Randy A. Batista, photographer
Clyde Butcher, landscape photographer
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, museum and education center
Melissa "Missy" Elliott, artist and producer
Leonardo “Flaco” Jimenez, musician
Eva Longoria, actress, director, and philanthropist
Idina Menzel, actress and singer
Herbert I. Ohta, musician
Bruce Sagan, arts leader
Carrie Mae Weems, visual artist

2023 National Medal of Arts recipients:

Mark Bradford, artist
Ken Burns, documentary filmmaker
Bruce Cohen, producer
Alex Katz, artist
Jo Carole Lauder, arts leader
Spike Lee, filmmaker
Queen Latifah, artist and actress
Selena Quintanilla (posthumous), singer

Steven Spielberg, filmmaker

The 2022 and 2023 National Humanities Medals were be presented at the same ceremony. Among the recipients are Roz Chast, Joy Harjo, Juan Felipe Herrera, and the organization Appalshop.

The National Endowment for the Arts manages the nomination process on behalf of the White House. Each year, the NEA seeks nominations from individuals and organizations across the country. The National Council on the Arts, the NEA’s presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed advisory body, reviews the nominations and provides recommendations to the President, who selects the recipients.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, said, "The arts enrich our lives, helping us to ask questions, imagine new possibilities, and create community. The NEA is pleased to join President Biden in congratulating the 2022 and 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients whose curiosity, creativity, hard work, and dedication have inspired and touched so many in our country and around the globe."



MOZART: HER STORY - THE NEW MUSICAL

Mozaart Her Story

is a new effort which is gaining legs, with a book by Tegan Summer, lyrics by Tegan Summer and Gregory Nabours with music by Gregory Nabours.

A multi-genre musical with a dominant rock/classical fusion.

"Based on the life of one of the greatest composers of all time, Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical, shines a unique light on a classic story told through the eyes of Nan, Wolfgang’s rebellious sister, who attempts to break through the misogynistic confines of the era with her courage and prodigious genius."

The woman in the shadows, behind the man in the sun.

Wolfgang’s sister, Nan Mozart, is a brilliant composer who struggles to be seen and heard in the male-dominated 18th century court. When the young virtuosa, who is arguably more talented than her brother, is silenced and banned from all artistic endeavours, she rebels. In this untold story of the greatest composer of all time, his insatiable sibling and conflicted father embark on a journey of love, hate, tragedy, and redemption.

The cast features Gabrielle Brooks as Nan Mozart, Tyrone Huntley as Wolfgang Mozart. Dom Hartley-Harris plays Leopold Mozart – Wolfgang Amadeus and Nan Mozart’s father. Anthony Rapp as Count Franz von Walsegg.

The cast also features Laura Pitt-Pulford as Anna Maria Mozart, Vinny Coyle as Johann Baptist zu Sonnenburg, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer as Constanze Weber, and Emily Squibb as Karoline von Walsegg / Cover Nan.

Completing the cast are Emily Panes, Elisabeth Snegir, Daisie Mariella, Jordan Fox, Harry Chandler, Bethaney Wellings-Davies, Evie-Leigh Savage, Jacob Wye, Larissa Gerske, Maxfield Haynes, Addison Ector and Charlotte Edmonds.

Writer and producer Tegan Summer said: “I am delighted to bring Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical to the West End stage and particularly thrilled to be presenting an original piece of musical theatre. The show reflects socially-relevant themes of female empowerment and inclusion . . ."

The creative team are: Stephanie Klemons (Director) Colette Freedman (Dramaturgy), Dwight Roden & Desmond Richardson founders of Complexions Contemporary Ballet (Choreography), Andy Walmsley (Scenic Designer), Christine Darch (Costume Design), Davidè Torchio (Hair) Prema Mehta (Lighting Design), Chris Whybrow (Sound Design), and Jill Green Casting (Jill Green & Associates Olivia Laydon and Tom Shiels).

Mozart: Her Story – The New Musical, breaks new ground as it marries Mozart’s classics with over 20 contemporary originals by Tegan Summer and Gregory Nabours. Showcase performances November 16-17 at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.

In 2023 the show played Carnegie Hall in New York City and was presented by Timeless Stage & Screen, Oli Earle, Elena Romantsova, Mark Roesler, Barbara Sealy, Ken Feinberg, Vladimir Baighildin, and Rita Crandall, in association with Amas Musical Theatre.

That production was directed by by Stephanie Klemons and starred Kennedy Caughell and Justn Matthew Sargent.

PBS has also aired a story about her on Episode 5 of Secrets of the Dead. Mozart's sister, was a child prodigy and a respected soloist as an adult. It divulged what happened to her and her music. This is a fascinating story, worthy of a major mounting.

BABE by Jessica Goldberg, with original music by BETTY.

Directed by Scott Elliott.

Starring Marisa Tomei, Arliss Howard & Gracie McGraw.

From grunge to femme punk hits, Abby (Marisa Tomei) and Gus (Arliss Howard) have produced it all. Their work marriage is legendary and Gus has the platinum records to prove it. But when Katherine (Gracie McGraw), a fresh A&R hire, calls Abby out on the compromises she’s made in her work, Abby must face the music and fight to survive.

This production includes Scenic Design by Derek McLane, Costume Design by Jeff Mahshie, Lighting Design by Cha See and Sound Design by Jessica Paz. Production Supervisor is Five Ohm. Casting Director is Judy Henderson, CSA. Production Stage Manager: Valerie A. Peterson.

The New Group’s 30th Anniversary Season begins performances October 29 in Advance of Official Opening Night on Wednesday, November 20. A Limited Off-Broadway Engagement is Slated Through December 22 at The Pershing Square Signature Center, The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theater, in New York City.

CORONATION by Laura Winters.

Directed by Tova Wolff.

After another female candidate loses the American presidential election, three women invent a way to circumvent elections and place a woman in power permanently - a 4th branch of government - to be run by the Queen of America! A femme-futurist political satire, this production will challenge all of your notions around storefront theater in Chicago, as you double over in laughter and tremble with fear.

This 3-act femme-futurist, political satire features a gas mask fashion show, a ball gown made out of blue jeans, and a walking, talking, plotting Siri.

The cast includes: Jodi Gage (she/her, Actor 1); Amber Washington (she/her, Actor 2); Mary Tilden (she/they, Actor 3); Dylan J. Fleming (he/him, Actor 4); Hannah Hammel (she/her, Actor 1 U/S); Kandace Mack (she/her, Actor 2 U/S); Katie Bevil (Actor 3 U/S) and Tristan Odenkirk (he/him, Actor 4 U/S).

The creatives are Kenya Ann Hall dramaturg) and Johnnie Schleyer production manager). Anna Vu manager. Marisj Bennett props designer. Abboye Lawrence projections designer. Becca Venable scenic designer and technical director. Jeff Award-nominee Gregory Graham is costume designer. Marie Szymanski assistant stage manager. Jackson Mikkelsen lead electrician Kira Nutter fight and intimacy coordinator. Hannah Andruss makeup/hair/wigs design.

Refracted Theatre Company, recipient of eight Jeff Awards, presenting Coronation through November 16, at the Den Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

STRATEGIC LOVE PLAY written by Miriam Battye.

Directed by Katie Posner.

Starring Heléne York and Michael Zegen.

After matching online, two strangers meet in real life. The vibe is off, and the conversation is a mess. Yet something is keeping them in their seats. What begins as a typical date off the apps spirals into something unexpected.

The creative team includes Arnulfo Maldonado (scenic design), Jen Schriever (lighting design), Dede Ayite (costume design), Tei Blow (sound design), Elizabeth Allen (production stage manager), Jackson Berkley (properties), and Taylor Williams, CSA (casting). Technical supervision is by Beacon Theatrical Services with general management by Baseline Theatrical’s Jonathan Whitton.

Strategic Love Play was originally produced by Paines Plough, Soho Theatre, and Belgrade Theatre, in association with Landmark Theatres.

Strategic Love Play begins previews on Friday, November 1 ahead of a Sunday, November 10 opening night at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre runs through Saturday, December 7 only.

As with previous Audible Theater shows at the Minetta Lane in New York City, Audible will record and release Strategic Love Play as an Audible Original, extending its reach to millions of listeners around the world.

THE PIANO LESSON by August Wilson.

Directed by Gregg T. Daniel.

Starring LeShay Tomlinson Boyce, Jernard Burks, Kai A. Ealy, Madison Keffer, Alex Morris, Nija Okoro, Gerald C. Rivers, Evan Lewis Smith.

The Piano Lesson weaves together elements of history and spirituality to create a haunting story about reckoning with a complicated past. In 1936 post-Depression Pittsburgh, Berniece (Nija Okoro) finds herself pitted against her newly arrived brother, Boy Willie (Kai A. Ealy), who is determined to sell a family heirloom: a piano decorated with images of their African ancestors carved by their enslaved grandfather. To Berniece, the piano represents a family legacy that must be preserved. Boy Willie sees it as a means to letting go of the past in order to move forward. As friends and relatives (LeShay Tomlinson Boyce, Jernard Burks, Madison Keffer, Alex Morris, Gerald C. Rivers and Evan Lewis Smith) get caught up in the dispute, a dynamic, gripping portrait emerges of a family haunted by its history and wrestling with its future.

The creative team includes composer and music director Maritri Garrett; choreographer Joyce Guy; scenic designer Tesshi Nakagawa; lighting designer Brandon Baruch; sound designer Jeff Gardner; costume designer Alethia Moore-Del Monaco; wig and makeup designer Shelia Dorn; properties designer Stephen Taylor; dialect coach Andrea Odinov; and dramaturg Dr. Miranda Johnson-Haddad. The production stage manager is Lanae Wilks, with Bryan Tiglio assisting.
The Piano Lesson the fourth play in Wilson’s extraordinary 10-play "American Century Cycle"; the second to win a Pulitzer Prize; and the fifth in A Noise Within’s commitment to stage them all.

Performances continue at the company’s Pasadena, CA home through November 10, 2014.

HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR MOTHER by Jonathan Maitland who brings his memoir to the stage.

Directed by Oliver Dawe.

"The true story of a Technicolor woman in a black and white world.

"How do you navigate a crazy, glamorous, narcissistic, scandal-loving mother whose idea of fun is to turn your 1970s family home into Britain’s first ever gay hotel?

"A witty, poignant and often hilarious exploration of the complexities of mother-child relationships, this new play shines a searingly fresh light on the oldest question in the parenting book: what does it take to be 'a good mother'?"

Starring Emma Davies as The Mother, the show also features writer Jonathan Maitland playing himself.

Others in the cast include: The son & others Peter Clements. Ivor & others John Wark. Humphrey & others Stephen Ventura. The Grandson & others Brodie Edwards & Howard Webb.

The creatives are: Designer Louie Whitemore - Lighting Designer Jason Taylor - Sound Designer Josh Spear.

There will be post-show discussions with Emma Davies and Jonathan Maitland after the matinees hosted by BAFTA winning film maker and integrative therapist Olivia Lichtenstein on October 30; by BBC broadcaster Julian Worricker on November 6 , and BBC Radio broadcaster Caroline Wyatt on November 13, 2024.

Performers through November 24, 2024 at King's Head Theatre in London.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA musical based on the blockbuster film and bestselling novel, The Devil Wears Prada features an original score by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick. Book by Kate Wetherhead.

Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

Starring Tony award nominee Vanessa Williams as the iconic Miranda Priestly.

She shares the stage with Georgie Buckland as Andy, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily, James Darch as Christian, Rhys Whitfield as Nate, and Olivier winner Matt Henry as Nigel.

Fresh out of college, aspiring journalist Andy scores a job at the prestigious Runway magazine working for fashion’s most powerful and terrifying icon — editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Sacrificing her personal life to meet Miranda’s impossible demands, Andy finds herself seduced by the glamorous world she once despised. How far will she go to succeed... and will it be worth selling her soul to get what she’s always wanted?

The cast also includes: Debbie Kurup* is Standby Miranda. Ethan Le Phong is James Holt & Ensemble - Josh Damer-Jennings is Irv Ravitz & Ensemble - Kayleigh Thadani is Jaqueline Follet & Ensemble - Liam Marcellino is Hot Nurse & Ensemble - Maddy Ambus is Chanteuse & Ensemble Gabby Antrobus and Jon Reynolds are Swings & Dance Captains. The swings are: Christopher Parkinson - Elizabeth Fullalove - Jinny Gould - Pamela Blair.

Members of the ensemble are: Akeem Ellis-Hyman - Ciro Lourencio Meulens - Eleanor Peach - Elishia Edwards - Ella Valentine - Lloyd Davies - Luke Jackson - Harriet Samuel-Gray - Natasha Heyward - Olivia Saunders - Robertina Bonano - Samuel How - Selena Barron - Tara Yasmin - Theo Papoui.

The creatives are: Scenic design by Tim Hatley. Costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Bruno Poet, Sound design by Gareth Owen, Hair, wgis and makeup design by Campbell young Associates. Casting by Jill Green CDG, Associate director Dominic Shaw, Associate Choreographer Darren Carnall, associate set designer Ross Edwards, Associate costume designer Kamil Bartnicki, associate lighting designer Tamykha Patterson, associate sound designer Andy Green, costume supervisor Karen Short, Props supervisor Propworks, orchestral management Andy Barnwell and Rich Weeden for BW Musicians LTD, Musical director Katharine Woolley, associate music supervisor Ehsaan Shivarani, Advertising and marketing Dewynters, Press and PR Emma Holland PR, Production Management Simon Marlow, Music supervisor, orchestrator and arranger Tom Deering, music executive Giles Martin.

Performances at the Dominion Theatre, London.

Vanessa Williams' name sells tickets. November performances are sold out. Booking from December.

Decades ago Vanessa Williams made her Las Vegas debut. I was there opening night and reviewed her performance. She was fabulous. Her musical entrance was to the Miss America theme. The woman had been crowed Miss America in 1983 and happened to have been my all time favorite Miss America. Nobody could have done a better job. Caught up in a "scandal" it took the Miss American organization three decades to offer an apology.

Her numerous Las Vegas engagements include a 1997 performance at the MGM Grand with Luther Vandross. She portrayed a dance instructor for the movie "Shut Up and Dance" which filmed at the Monte Carlo hotel-casino. There was a 2001 gig in which she performed three concerts at Le Theatre des Arts at the Paris Las Vegas resort. She signed her record albums at Caesars Palace. On September 23, 2005 she appeared with the Las Vegas Philharmonic as part of the Lake Las Vegas Resorts Stars on the Lake concert series. She performed at The Orleans in November 2006. Williams was honored as the 2017 Nevada Ballet Theatre Woman of the Year.

This isn't her first West End show. That was another of my favorites, City of Angels which opened in 2020.

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FINAL OVATION

MIMI HINES Legendary Broadway and Las Vegas star died Monday, October 21, 2024 in her Las Vegas home of natural causes. She was 91.

The versitile singer and comedian succeeded Barbra Streisand in the original production of Funny Girl In 1966, performing the role for eighteen months, after which she starred in touring companies of I Do! I Do! and The Prisoner of Second Avenue, as well as productions of Anything Goes; Never Too Late; The Pajama Game; The Unsinkable Molly Brown; No, No, Nanette and Sugar.

She played at Feinstein's at the Regency in New York City. She appeared with the Los Angeles Pops Orchestra and starred in national tours of Sugar Babies and Nite Club Confidential and on a recorded salute to Johnny Mercer called "Mostly Mercer."

She toured the world for a year in the title role of Hello, Dolly! and starred in productions of A Majority of One and Can-Can in Florida and in revues featuring the songs of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" in Los Angeles, as well as the songs of Rodgers and Hart titled "This Funny World" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the songs of Jerry Herman at the Schoenberg Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

She worked for a time in Anchorage, Alaska, where she met comedian Phil Ford in 1952 while they were working at different night clubs. They married in 1954 and divorced in 1972 but continued to perform together.

It was their appearance on the Jack Parr late night television talk show which skyrocketed them to household name status. Her impression of a peacock was priceless.

In Las Vegas their Phil Ford and Mimi Hines show headlined the Flamingo Hotel on the Strip, always drawing capacity crowds.

SANDI DURELL theatre critic, publisher, producer and investor has died following a three year battle with metastasized lung cancer. She was 84.

Durell was a critic for more than 30 years. A member of the Drama Desk Organization, the Outer Critics Circle Organization, and the American Theatre Critics Association, she was a part of the League of Professional Theatre Women, on the board of American Popular Song Society, and a part of Theater Resources Unlimited Advisory Board.

For 19 years she produced the popular Songwriter Showcase for the American Popular Song Society, and was a producer on the Award winning film Broadway the Golden Age with Rick McKay. She also was occasionally an angel investor.

In 2012, she founded TheaterPizzazz.com, composed of independent theatre critics. She personally selected her co-publisher, Eyal Solomon, as her successor, effective immediately.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Durell, her daughter Cooper Lawrence, and her son-in-law, critic JK Clarke.

PHIL LESH former Las Vegas keno marker turned founding member of the Grateful Dead who influenced the band with his avant-garde bassist riffs died October 25, 2024. He was 84.

Lesh, alongside bandmates Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia, were the three frontmen of the Grateful Dead from the band’s early years in San Francisco’s 1960s music scene until Garcia’s death in 1995.

Lesh began as a classically trained violinist and jazz trumpter. When he was enrolled at the College of San Mateo, he wrote charts for the community college's well-regarded big band and ascended to the first trumpet chair. After transferring with sophomore standing to the University of California, Berkeley in 1961, he befriended future Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten before dropping out again after less than a semester. At the behest of Constanten, he studied under the Italian modernist Luciano Berio in a graduate-level course at Mills College in the spring of 1962.

While volunteering for KPFA as a recording engineer during this period, he met bluegrass banjo player Jerry Garcia. Despite seemingly opposite musical interests, they soon formed a friendship. Lesh was talked into becoming the bassist for Garcia's new rock band (then known as The Warlocks) in the fall of 1964. This was a peculiar turn of events, as Lesh had never before played bass. According to Lesh, the first song he rehearsed with the band was "I Know You Rider". He joined them for their third or fourth gig (memories vary) and stayed until the end.

His official bio indicates that "since Lesh had never played bass, it meant that to a great extent he learned "on the job", yet it also meant he had no preconceived attitudes about the instrument's traditional rhythm section role. In his autobiography, he credits Jack Casady (who was playing with Jefferson Airplane) as a confirming influence on the direction to which his instincts were leading him. Lesh has said that his playing style was influenced more by Bach counterpoint than by contemporaneous rock and soul bass players. Lesh has also cited Jack Bruce of Cream as an influence."

In October 2015, Lesh announced that he had had bladder cancer surgery. He stated that his prognosis was good and that he expected to make a full recovery. In August 2019, Lesh announced that he would undergo back surgery. He was expected to make a full recovery.

In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 11th greatest bass player.

JACK JONES Grammy-winning singer died October 23, 2024 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA hospital following a two year leukemia battle. He was 86.

Jones won two Grammys for his first hit single "Lollipops and Roses" and 1963's "Wives and Lovers." He went on to release over a dozen albums through Kapp Records. One of his most enduring hits was "Love Boat Theme." Jones was also an actor who made his Las Vegas debut at age 19 as part of his father, singer Allan Jones' show at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Three weeks later, he went out on his own. Jones performed concerts around the world and regularly starred in Las Vegas.

Beginning in the 21st century, Jones was active in musical theater, appearing in Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, and others. During that time he went on a national tour performing Don Quixote in the production Man of La Mancha.

Jones was married six times. In the second half of the 1960s, he had a well-publicized relationship with actress Jill St. John and they were briefly married. In the early 1970s, Jones married Gretchen Roberts. Later, he was linked romantically to Susan George. From 1976 to 1982, he was married to Kathy Simmons. From 1982 to 2005, he was married to British-born Kim Ely and they had a daughter, Nicole. Jones had another daughter, Crystal Thomas, from a former marriage to Lee Fuller. He lived with wife Eleonora in Indian Wells southeast of Palm Springs, California.

Next Column: November 3, 2024
Copyright: October 27, 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