Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: September 17, 2023
By: Laura Deni
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WRITER BRUCE KANE DISHES ON PERFORMERS AND THE PLAY-WRITING PROCESS

Bruce Kane. Courtesy photo

It's not easy being a top notch, successful writer.

Just ask Bruce Kane, who was nice enough to talk to Broadway To Vegas about his long and varied career.

He didn't start out as a writer. Instead he put words in other people's mouths as a press agent.

"During my stint as a Hollywood publicist both at a PR agency and at CBS I worked with everyone from Sam Peckinpah to Jefferson Airplane to Glen Campbell, The Smothers Brothers, Tim Conway, Don Rickles, Mike Connors, Buddy Ebsen, Mary Tyler Moore and many, many others."

When Kane was assigned as the publicist on Newhart - a position he held for three-and-a-half years - he spent time with the former accountant/bookkeeper on the set, at his home and in the back of limousines. Newhart was different stressed Kane. Newhart wasn't focused on himself, desperate for others to also view him as the center of attention. He was low-key and naturally funny. "He didn't try to be funny" recalled Kane.

It was also The Bob Newhart Show where Kane emerged as a writer.

Bob Newhart performing a show Kane wrote.

"My first script for The Bob Newhart Show was called "Who Is Mr. X?" in which Bob gets destroyed by an interviewer on an early morning talk show. That same season I wrote the Thanksgiving "moo goo gai pan" episode, which, at one time, was named by TV Guide as one of the ten best television episodes of all time."

Kane credits Newhart with "giving me one of the great nights of my life."

The Bob Newhart Show was filmed before a live audience and Kane had just written his first professional script, which was that episode. Kane had even brought his wife, mother and sister to the taping. During a halftime break Newhart introduced the writer to the audience. "Bob had never done that before. 'Tonight you are going to see a script by a first time writer. Some guys write a lifetime and never do a script this good.'" recalled Kane.

"I thank him for giving me that moment. Generous. He is the one comedian who is respected by every other comedian."

"I then free lanced on a lot of sitcoms, was a staff writer, story editor, producer and wrote a dozen pilots," recalled Kane who was born in New York, grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. "I never set out to be a comedy writer," he admitted. "It wasn't on my radar until I decided to give it a try as a way to get out of being a publicist and having to cater to the egos of some of the people I was having to deal with."

A case in point - being used as neither a writer nor a publicist but as a buffer.

Mary Tyler Moore had some differences with one of the MTM show's publicists. Mary called the show's producer Grant Tinker, who was also her husband, and complained. Grant called the third floor (where the ultra top executives roll down their orders). Kane worked in publicity for all the shows produced by MTM including Rhoda; Newhart; Paul Sand In Friends And Lovers and Doc. Kane was informed by his boss, who was the head of publicity for CBS on the West Coast, that there would be a reshuffling of the publicity staff on the MTM show. Gone was the troublemaker and in was Kane who was informed: "You're job is to make sure Grant never again calls the third floor and complains."

As a general rule it's not the star who is the problem, rather "second, third and fourth leads - or a secretary."

An example given was Tommy Smothers. Every time Kane tried to reached Tommy a secretary put him off, saying he'd call him back, which never happened. Then one day the secretary was gone and - surprise - when Kane left a message he needed to speak to Tommy, the call back was immediate - friendly, polite and professional. The former secretary had set him up to be considered difficult.

Kane's plays have been produced in over 700 hundred venues in 28 countries.

"As for my plays, I find that actors and audiences like them because the plays generate laugh out loud laughter. There's not that much of that in the theater any more. I think my plays do get used by a great many schools and colleges and local theatres because I don't rely on "language" for laughter or effect. Innuendo is so much more fun. The actresses in some of my plays enjoy getting to be "funny sexy" without having to resort to four letter words. I think "four letter" writing is basically just lazy. Why put together a well constructed sentence or joke, when you can just shout the "F" word.

Many of his plays are satire, irony and parody thanks to a clever use of language and wordplay.

For instance in A Tale Told by an Idiot, Kane's flawless melding indicates he had to be both knowledgeable about Macbeth and detectives Sam Spade and Philip Marlow along with era descriptors of not just Hammett but Damon Runyan and his hard boiled language.

Kane becomes self-effacing when questioned about his Shakespeare knowledge. "I am far from a Shakespearean scholar. I haven't seen or even read most of Shakespeare's plays. Once I started using Shakespeare as a jumping off point for comedy and parody, I did start paying a little more attention. I've read Hamlet and a handful of Shakespeare plays that I've seen over and over again. I have read a lot about his plays, how to read them, act them, etc."

In Ruby of Elsinore which won the All Ireland One Act Play Competition, it's what happens when cousins marry cousins - a spoof on Hamlet. His use of puns permits a subversive retelling of a classic while letting it stand on its own legs as a brilliantly crafted work.

"In another life I would have written for radio, which I love."

Currently, what is popular are 10 minute to 30 minute productions. Economics is the top reason with the attention span of TicTok and X audiences also on the radar.

"A small, amateur theater can't do a show with 10-30 in the cast or even 8 or 9," reasoned Kane. "An evening of ten minute plays is popular. Seven actors don't have to memorize more than 10 minutes of dialogue.

A fascinating use of one of Kane's plays was when a Florida theater presented a performance where the first half was a short version of "Hamlet," followed a Kane's version.

If you look at his scripts some have a formatting where the character's name is in capitals followed by a colon then a space, then dialogue. Or, the character's name is centered and below that follows the dialogue. He uses the first mentioned version to "save space."

Do outlets today place more importance on formatting, rather than dialogue and plot substance? When told about one program where the entire conversion was whether, after a period was put at the end of a sentence, should there we be one space on two, his reply was: "You're kidding."

"I use a free (downloadable) programming format."

When it comes to royalties, Covid-19 changed Kane. Since the pandemic Kane, who is successful and more or less retired, has stopped charging for using his plays. "Everyone was out of work. Theaters were closing."

He does request that people "apply for a license which doesn't cost anything, but I want to know who they are. There is a certain kind of respect in the theatre."

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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

TOMMY SMOTHERS LIVING ESTATE SALE

Tommy Smothers

the guitar playing member of The Smothers Brothers - with his younger brother Dick, on stand-up bass - became a popular comedy act in the 1960s, first catapulting onto the scene with humorous folk songs. In 1967, they hosted The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, which began as an ordinary comedy-variety show but evolved into an evocative comedy show that tested the bounds of what was considered permissible on TV at the time. They were unceremoniously fired. They spent decades as Las Vegas headliners. Their first Vegas gig was opening for Juliet Prowse.

Tommy has called Glen Ellen, California home for almost half his life. On the week-end of September 22-24, 2023, at his home, you can own a piece of television history, gaveled down by Estate Sales, who will disclose the full address of the property on Thursday, September 21 at 12:00AM.

In the downsizing process, Tommy has closed his winery. Early this year he disclosed to Lee Cowan of CBS News that he was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer and that his prognosis is good. To concentrate on the important things in life, Tommy has offered up an incredible list of items which can be yours. The list includes - everything you can think of - from expensive furniture, vehicles, a pile of wood, ornate glassware, exercise bike, farm equipment, a chicken coupe, roofing materials, and a green house to a 1950s vintage box of Capezio taps and a glass jar containing wine corks.

The Memoribillia includes: Tom and Dick's Directors Chairs - 50 plus yo-yo's - Gold record for "Purple Onion" - Call record for "Think Ethnic" - Autographed photographs - Autographed books - Solid Gold photograph, autographed by cast - Smothers Albums - Smothers Scripts - Smothers Suspenders - Monster Inc. Door - Smothers playing cards - Records - Autographed Records.

Mahogany Steinway grand piano. Model L 5x10 Model number 240378 (originally black satin) dappers hammers are new. Photo EstateSales

Awards include: TV Land - 2003 Friars Club Roast - 2001 Caddy Shack award - 2007-2008 Pro-Am Award Kraft/Nabisco - Great American Comedy Festival Award - 1993 Bolt Pro-Am - The Humber Comedy Writing and Performance Program presents Thalia to Tom Smothers - 2003 George Carlin Freedom of Expression honoring the Smothers Brothers - 2005 Sonoma County Children's Charity Golf Tournament - Woodstock Award - 1973 The Playboy Club Hotel, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Watches: Men’s Quartz Japan watch with and black leather band - Ronica watch with blue face and silver band - Club 33 watch, black band, and blue face - Antique gold Waltham pocket/railroad watch - Hamilton Quartz men’s watch, black leather band with gold face - Timex Electronic, black band and black face - Wittnauer TTC Longlife black band, gray face - Fendi men’s watch with tan leather band - Swiss Movado, gold face black leather band - Refinier Silver face with black leather band - Marchese di genin, in silver with black face - Finding Nemo watch - Sports watch, water resistant in black - Micro Flash Beam, water resistant black watch - CMC water resistant bag watch - Regnier Paris, Epsilon watch face Model number 46700.

Banjo Clock. Photo: Estate Sales

Since this is an in person, on the property auction, Estate Sales has laid down some important rules:

Anyone arriving on the property prior to the sale will be considered trespassing, there are cameras on the one lane road and your vehicle license plate will be captured. We also will have secret shoppers and will prosecute against any theft.

We reserve the the right to refuse service.

Given it is a one lane road, we will have attendants at the end of the driveway and the top of the driveway. We ask for your own safety that you follow our instruction.

Antique farm equipment. Photo: Estate Sales

Estate Liaison Services and Thomas Bolyn Smothers: shall indemnify, defend with counsel of our choice, and hold us harmless from and against all claims, demands, actions, causes of actions, costs or expenses of any kind that arise form claims related to Owner's title to the property to be sold hereunder or claims of damages to such property while located on property owned by or under the control of Owner.

There will be a sign up list at the base of the driveway, first come first serve. The attendant will allow vehicles to go up the driveway as vehicles leave and they are notified by the upper attendant. If you happen to get caught facing another car, there is a driveway on the left near the top (please use as a turnout) verses trying to pass. Again, everyone's safety is of utmost importance.

Please consider carpooling, given we are letting in a certain number of vehicles at a time.

Be prepared that given the popularity of the sale, there could be a considerable wait. If you feel like you can hike up a meandering .25 mile driveway, you may consider parking elsewhere or Ubering to the entrance.

Items should be thoroughly inspected prior to purchase, all sales are final , there are no returns.

We take cash and credit cards.

Please Supervise Your Children at All Times

You Enter The Thomas Bolyn Smothers Property At Your Own Risks.

Tommy has also placed his 100-acre ranch on the market through Tina Shone of Sotheby’s International Realty in Sonoma, CA. Tommy helped build the custom home in 2002. The layout features a large room with concrete brick and wood floors. It has reclaimed beam ceilings and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and adjoins the dining area, kitchen with island, and breakfast room.

Glass doors open out to the grounds and the pool. In addition, the master suite features two full baths. And a den with built-ins separates the guest wing on the same floor. Downstairs, the lower level includes a large playroom and walk-in wine cellar. In addition, the property comes with a separate studio and two barns with work/live spaces. There’s also a paved driveway, fencing, water storage, and vineyard irrigation. Conveniently located just an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge and close to Sonoma County.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY has announced that Martha Tedeschi, Elizabeth and John Moors Cabot Director of the Harvard Art Museums, will retire at the end of the 2023–24 academic year. Tedeschi’s successful seven-year tenure prioritized the museums’ teaching and research initiatives, expanding access, and making the Harvard Art Museums free to all visitors.

Prior to joining Harvard, Tedeschi served as the deputy director for art and research at the Art Institute of Chicago. Tedeschi earned her B.A. from Brown University and her Ph.D. from Northwestern University, both in art history. She is a specialist in British and American art, with a strong interest in the history of printmaking in early modern Europe. She was president of the Print Council of America from 2009 to 2013, has served on the board of the Association of Art Museum Curators, and was awarded a fellowship to the Center for Curatorial Leadership in 2012.

Harvard will immediately begin a search for the museums’ next director.

EPIPHONE 150th ANNIVERSARY: FEATURING THE GUITARS OF NOEL GALLAGHER AT THE BRITISH EXPERIENCE is a temporary exhibition charting the history of this iconic instrument brand through the guitars of one of its most loyal artists, Noel Gallagher. Epiphone 150th Anniversary: Featuring the Guitars of Noel Gallagher will run from September 27,2023 to January 14, 2024 and will feature four of Noel's private Epiphone guitar collection, including his Epiphone Riviera with Bigsby from the Definitely Maybe album cover and his Epiphone Frontier FT110 used on the (What's the Story) Morning Glory recording.

A very American tale recounts the story of the Stathopoulo family's journey from Greece and the Ottoman Empire to the streets of Manhattan and the eldest son, Epaminondas or Epi for short, taking his immigrant family's honed craftmanship and leading the charge on modernizing instrument manufacturing for the rapidly changing times. Epiphone, meaning Epiâ's voice, set its sights on rivaling the other great American guitar manufacturer, Gibson. Following the tragic death of Epi from leukemia in 1943, the company fell on hard times. In the 1950's on the recommendation of Les Paul himself, Gibson successfully purchased Epiphone for $20,000 and set the stage for a new era in instrument design and creation.

Moving into 2023, Epiphone has grand plans for its 150th Anniversary year, including a raft of exciting new product releases, special events, activities with signature artists, and much more besides.

THE MOTHER & THE WEAVER: ART FROM THE URSULA HAUSER COLLECTION brings together over 40 works of art, all by women, exploring motherhood, childhood, love, loss, sexuality and identity.

The Mother & The Weaver takes the unseen mother, a central part of the Foundling Museum’s story, as a point of departure to explore complex ideas around motherhood, childhood, love, loss, sexuality and identity. Occupying the whole museum, this landmark exhibition will show over 40 works from the Ursula Hauser Collection, all by women artists, in conversation with historic objects and works of art from the Foundling Museum’s collection.

The exhibition presents modern and contemporary works of art in a variety of media, including painting, textiles, sculpture, video and works on paper. The internationally celebrated artists on display include Louise Bourgeois, Marlene Dumas, Luchita Hurtado, Maria Lassnig, Sonia Gomes and Pipilotti Rist.

Maternal presence or absence, and the complex emotions that each arouses, informs many of the works in the exhibition. Others are more suggestive, hinting at complex histories of displacement and fractured identity. Themes and ideas around what it means to be a 'good' mother or woman, explored in the contemporary works, take on new and forceful meanings in the context of the Foundling Museum.

Ursula Hauser has been building her collection of modern and contemporary art since the 1980s. She selects artworks that captivate and move her, and places a special emphasis on female artists.

The Mother & The Weaver, Art from the Ursula Hauser Collection includes artistic depictions of a sexual nature, nudity, pregnancy and childbirth.

Exhibition opens September 22, 2023 at the Foundling Museum in London.

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SWEET CHARITY

FARM AID'S annual music and food festival is returning to Noblesville, Indiana, on Saturday, September 23, at Ruoff Music Center.

Willie Nelson and family, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Margo Price, Bobby Weir and Wolf Brothers, Lukas Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff, Allison Russell, Particle Kid The String Cheese Incident, Clayton Anderson, The Black Opry featuring Lori Rayne, Tylar Bryant and Kyshona, The Jim Irsay Band featuring Ann Wilson of Heart, Native Pride Productions and the Wisdom Indian Dancers who will come together in support of family farmers.

Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $70 million to help family farmers thrive all over the country while inspiring millions of people to take part in the Good Food Movement - caring about where their food comes from and the family farmers who grow it.

MANILOW: RECORD BREAKING WEEKEND CHARITY CELEBRATION takes place September 21-23, 2023 to raise money for charity and celebrate the record breaking number of shows at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

Ticket includes: Collector’s Commemorative Coin, Copacabana Boa, Record Breaking Celebration Hat, 2 Free Drinks at the Copa Bar (Collectible Cups) and VIP Pass to the Saturday afternoon private screening of Copacabana – The Movie.

About the Event: Manilow Record Breaking Weekend Proceeds from each ticket sold will benefit the following charities:

Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center - Manilow Music Project - Musicians on Call - Three Square - Victoria’s Voice - and Youth Villages.

THE ANNUAL GRANADA LEGENDS GALA an elegant black-tie banquet took place last night, Saturday, September 16, 2023, on The Granada’s stage, which afforded patrons and attendees a rare opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous venue from the performer’s vantage point, alongside the honorees and artists.

In keeping with the interwoven theme, mini performances from some members of the theater’s resident companies took place all evening, between and during a three-course dinner featuring local fare, wines and signature cocktails and the "Legends Awards" to celebrate and pay triute to the distinguished honorees.

The Granada Theatre Legends honored Montecito-based writer and actress Fannie Flagg, the Ensemble Theatre Company at the New Vic, the first non-resident organization to receive the Cultural Institution recognition and philanthropists Brooks and Kate Firestone who first met in 1956 at the stage door of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, where Kate was a dancer with the English Royal Ballet. Both have remained as participants in the performing arts over the years, most recently singing in several local choirs. including the Santa Barbara Choral Society.

Previous honorees include artists: Allen Sides, Carol Burnett, Kenny Loggins, Marilyn Horne, Christopher Lloyd and Barry DeVorzon.

Legends Gala Committee.

Anne Smith Towbes and Merryl Snow Zegar, Co-Chairs
Leslie Bains - Meg Burnham - Brooks Firestone - Audrey Hillman Fisher - Marc Normand Gelinas - Erin Graffy de Garcia - Susan Gulbransen - Deirdre Hade Arntz - Gretchen Lieff - Joan Rutkowski.

The Gala helps support ongoing efforts to ensure that the venue continues to actively serve its resident companies – CAMA, the Music Academy, Opera Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Choral Society, Santa Barbara Symphony, State Street Ballet, American Theatre Guild, and UCSB Arts & Lectures – and engage the local community through diverse live performances and other programming. Funds raised from the gala assist the organization in providing best-practices business and marketing support services for The Granada Theatre’s eight resident companies and its Historic Theatre District partners in Santa Barbara, CA.

SPREADING THE WORD

BACK TO THE FUTURE including Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson will attend this year's FanX conventionat the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT on September 22-24, 2023.

This will be the first time either Foxc or Thompson have attended the convention.

Fox played Marty McFly and Thompson played Lorraine Baines-McFly in the cult favorite.

Repeat attendees will be Christopher Lloyd who plays Doc Emmett Brown and Thomas Wilson who plays Biff Tannen.

Eventgoers who want to meet Fox, Thompson and other cast members, will need to go online to the FanX website to purchase tickets for photo-ops and panels.

THE PRINCE OF WALES that's Prince William, will be in New York City on Tuesday for the 2023 Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit. Taking place on September 19, 2023, the summit aims to drive meaningful environmental change. This year's 15 Finalists will also be revealed. Founded by HRH Prince William, the personable royal will be joined by policymakers, global business leaders and philanthropists. The speakers includes Michael R. Bloomberg, José Andrés, Jacinda Ardern, Bill Gates, Nomzamo Mbatha, as well as Earthshot Prize finalists and winners.

The second summit, hosted by The Earthshot Prize and Bloomberg Philanthropies will also be attended by Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Emily Chang, the host and executive producer of Bloomberg Originals, Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Maroš Šefcovic, European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal.

Held at New York’s Plaza Hotel during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the event will kick off the countdown to the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards. The third annual awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Singapore on November 7, 2023. Five of the 15 Finalists will be awarded a catalytic £1 million to scale their cutting-edge solutions.

L.A. THEATRE WORKS brings the roaring twenties to vivid life with an all-new audio theater production of The Great Gatsby. Starring Rufus Swell, Sarah Drew and Nate Corddry, this fresh take on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald is adapted by LATW senior producer Anna Lyse Erikson and directed by Rosalind Ayres. The state-of-the-art recording, was released for digital download and online streaming on September 12.

Sewell stars in the title role as Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire consumed with desire for his former lover, Daisy Buchanan (Drew).

Set in New York during the “Jazz Age” (a term coined by Fitzgerald), the story is narrated by Corddry as new neighbor Nick Carraway, who finds himself caught up in Gatsby’s ill-fated pursuit of Daisy and their seductive world of lavish wealth, wild parties and free-flowing liquor.

Also in the cast are Anna Lyse Erikson, Mike McShane, Moira Quirk, Darren Richardson, André Solgiuzzo, Devon Sorvari and Matthew Wolf.

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

TONY WINNER FAITH PRINCE TO OFFER CABARET WORKSHOP This immersive two-day event, titled "Sing the Authentic You" will be held Friday-Saturday, September 22 and 23, and will be led by Prince, along with award-winning cabaret artists Michael Kirk Lane and Alex Rybeck. It is designed to help attendees establish a profound connection to their own material.

Through a series of thought-provoking discussions and informative sessions, the trio will provide valuable insights into the art form of cabaret, empowering you to showcase the most authentic version of yourself on stage.

On Friday night, Michael Kirk Lane leads Cabaret 101, while Alex Rybeck offers personalized guidance on your song choice. Saturday features our master class with Faith Prince. Be ready to ask questions and dig deeper into your material to sharpen the specificity of your authenticity. Bring songs that reveal the inner YOU. We are pulling off the mask and presenting ourselves through song. This weekend is focused on doing good work and delving into the infrastructure of performance. It is the perfect opportunity to refine your craft and take your cabaret skills to the next level!

Twelve performers will be invited to work directly with Faith Prince, others are invited to join the workshop as auditors. Friday & Saturday, September 22-23 at The 92nd Street Y, New York School of Music, New York City.

IAMA THEATRE COMPANY will present its 6th annual New Works Festival, workshopping and presenting public readings of six new plays or musicals over the course of two weekends - September 22 through October 1, 2023.

Going to the heart of IAMA’s mission, the festival invites the community into the creative process, allowing playwrights to hear their developing work in a public forum and welcoming social gatherings and discussions following each reading. New plays developed in prior festivals have gone on to see full productions not only at IAMA (including last season’s world premiere of Smile by Melissa Jane Osborne), but at other theaters in Los Angeles and across the country.

IAMA'ss 2023-24 16th anniversary season is focused solely on original work by Los Angeles-based playwrights. The lineup includes world premieres of two new plays, RADICAL or, are you gonna miss me? by Isaac Gómez and Arrowhead by Catya McMullen, and a co-production with Boston Court Pasadena that continues IAMA’s tradition of partnering with other companies to strengthen connections within the L.A. theater community.

IAMA’s current home is at the Atwater Village Theatre, Los Angeles.

SEATTLE OPERA CENTER OPEN HOUSE takes place Saturday September 23 2023.

Come explore the magic behind the curtain at our free Opera Center Open House - a day of fun as we open our doors for an inside look inside the world of opera. RSVPs are requested but not required.

Enjoy a variety of activities including:

Tours of the Costume, Hair and Makeup Department and Props Department
Performances by our Resident Artists and Teen Vocal Studio
A livestreamed working rehearsal of Handel's Alcina, on stage this October
A music demonstration and Q&A with the composer of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Anthony Davis
A performance by Lowbrow Opera Collective presenting Achilles and Patroclus, originally commissioned by Seattle Opera as part of the 2021 Jane Lang Davis Creation Lab
Crafts and other children's activities with Seattle Children's Theatre
A tour of the Classical KING studios
Displays from our partners Tasveer, Seattle Rep, Arte Noir, and Path with Art

Performances and activities will be ongoing, so join us any time from 1:00–4:00 PM.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

CAESARS IS CLOSING their property in Dubai, UAE. Beginning in November the resort will be taken over by Singapore-based hotel operator Banyan Tree Group, which will rebrand Caesars Palace Dubai as Banyan Tree Dubai.

On October 31, 2018 a Las Vegas based press release touted the opening dates for Caesara Bluewater Resorts in Dubai as "The Company's First Non-Gaming Properties."

". . . the opening of our first non-gaming resorts and demonstrates the strong demand among developers and guests to see our flagship brands brought into new global markets," said Mark Frissora, President and Chief Executive Officer of Caesars Entertainment. "In collaboration with Meraas Holdings LLC, this project is the first of several that will pair our decades-long leadership in the hospitality, entertainment and culinary spaces with trusted partners around the globe to drive expanded growth and guest satisfaction for many years to come.

"Bluewaters Island is a truly unique space where guests will find that our offerings are synonymous with the quality hospitality, dining, spa and entertainment experiences that have helped establish Caesars as one of the most respected and recognizable brands in the hospitality industry," said Bob Morse, President of Hospitality at Caesars Entertainment. "These openings set the stage for Caesars to continue to expand the reach of our brands into global gateway cities." "Multi-Michelin star chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay will also turn up the heat for guests at his second Hell's Kitchen location at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai. Set to serve up the same combination of show-stopping theatre and world-class cooking as its original Las Vegas location, the experiential and immersive destination restaurant is sure to become a must-see city attraction for tourists and residents alike. Guests can also select from a variety of high-end dining outlets throughout the resort. "Caesars Resort Bluewaters Dubai will follow in the legendary 50-year legacy of its famous Las Vegas resort when it comes to epic entertainment., Guests can expect an electrifying roster of legendary headliners, trendsetting theatre acts, mind-blowing magicians and hilarious comedians. The property will also offer the Empire Club – a kids club for 'Gladiators' (ages 3-7) and 'Centurions' (ages 8-12) available to all junior guests across both hotels – plus Roam, a teens club for young adults. Another shared resort experience is Caesars FORUM – comprising a state-of-the-art conference center, three meeting rooms and the 750sqm Forum Ballroom."

The foray into Dubai was predicated upon their belief that gambling would soon be permitted and, when that happened, they would already have their foot in the door for a gaming license. However, although the area is moving towards legalized gambling, the location isn't Dubai. About a year ago a deal was made that all gambling will only be in RAK, not Dubai, meaning there isn't any profit margin reason for Caesars to hang around.

This month the United Arab Emirates announced it had set up a regulator for legalized gaming and lotteries, led by casino industry veterans.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. has announced plans for a $3.9 billion gaming resort in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), which is north of Dubai. The company’s chief executive officer, Craig Billings, last month stated he expected to "imminently" be granted a gaming license.

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THE 1/52 PROJECT the financial grant program founded by Tony Award-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt has announced that the seven early-career designer recipients will benefit from $88,000 in grants.

Applicants were chosen based on talent, creativity, innovation, and potential for future excellence in the professional theatrical field, and each of the inaugural recipients will receive grants up to $15,000.

An Award Reception is planned for Wednesday, September 27 at West Bank Café’s Beechman Theatre, sponsored by Hudson Scenic Studio.

The 2023 recipients are Lighting designer Ebony M. Burton; Lighting designer Mextly Couzin; Costume designer Mika Eubanks; Costume designer Wilberth González; Sound designer Kathy Ruvuna; Scenic designer Gerardo Díaz Sánchez; and Hair/Wigs/Makeup designer Destinee Steele.

The 1/52 Project, launched in January 2022, is primarily funded by designers with shows running on Broadway who are encouraged to donate one week every year of their weekly royalties to this fund. The project hopes to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups, including all women, with the aim of diversifying and strengthening the Broadway design community.

THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE has announced that Academy Award and Peabody Award winner and Tony Award nominee Tarell Alvin McCraney has been named artistic director.

Effective immediately, McCraney joins the Geffen staff to begin the work of building the 2024/2025 season, reporting to the theater’s Board of Directors. In his new role, McCraney will program new works along with re-envisioned classics with a focus on innovative storytelling, community engagement and audience experience. McCraney will set the strategic artistic course for the Geffen’s Gil Cates and Audrey Skirball Kenis Theaters, as well as lead the artistic and production teams.

ECHO THEATER COMPANY has announced the winners of the company’s 2023 New Play Competition. In total, the company received 497 submissions. Prize committee judges were Boni Alvarez, Sam Catlin, Val Day, Alana Dietze, Tim Sanford and Jessica Sharzer.

In first place, winning a $1000 cash prize plus travel and housing to attend rehearsals and a public reading at Atwater Village Theatre, is Alexis Roblan with Javelina. Ali arrives on set in rural Texas weeks into the filming of her first indie feature film, only to find that a deer has been killed because she had written it into her script. And the killing has just begun in Roblan’s play about moral culpability, death, movies, the souls of all living things — and how easy it is to decide that nothing means anything. Roblan’s other awards include New York Times Critic's Pick; 6 New York Innovative Theatre Award nominations; finalist, O'Neill National Playwrights Conference; Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award, and a grant recipient, NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre; finalist. She earned her MFA in Dramatic Writing from USC.

The second place prize of $500 and a rehearsed online reading goes to Michael Mobley for his play Monsters, in which three Black haunted house performers become the monsters they portray, prompting the question: are monsters made, or are they born? Mobley, a 2021-22 member of Echo Theater Company’s National Young Playwrights in Residence Program, is currently a second-year M.F.A. playwriting candidate at the University of Texas at Austin.

Playwright Robert Axelrod is the recipient of the third place, $250 honorarium and a note session with members of the Echo’s artistic staff for his play Lifeline, about Patti, a well-meaning mother who decides to become a volunteer for a suicide hotline. Axelrod, who has worked as a volunteer crisis service counselor with the Trevor Project, the nation’s leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention service for LGBTQ youth, is a past recipient of the Humanitas New Voices fellowship, CineStory TV fellowship, and was part of the recent inaugural class of the Jewish Writer Initiative’s digital storyteller lab. After being named the "Grand Prize" winner of the ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition, his winning play was presented as part of IAMA Theater Company’s 2021 New Works Festival.

Founded in 1997, the Echo Theater Company has gained a reputation for producing and developing exciting new work. Under the artistic leadership of Chris Fields, the company has championed playwrights for a quarter century, producing and commissioning numerous world premieres and introducing Los Angeles to playwrights David Lindsay-Abaire, Adam Rapp and Sarah Ruhl among others.



BILLY STRAYHORN SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR music and lyrics by Sam Wright and a book by Rob Zeller with Kent Gash.

Co-creator Kent Gash will direct the musical.

Musical Direction by Matthew Whitaker.

Choreographer Dell Howett Darius de Haas stars as Billy Strayhorn with Charl Brown as Aaron Bridges, Taylor C. Collier as Bessie Dudley, Tracy Anthony Dunbar as Ernest Brown, Keziash John-Paul as Lillian, Ivie, Richard McBride as Mercer Ellington, Joseph McGranaghan as Mickey/Lennie, J. D. Mollison as Duke Ellington, and Arielle Roberts as Lena/Billie.

Joseph Robert Fedore and Saige Smith are the production understudies. as Set in modern Tennessee with a gender-swapped twist, the musical features a stunning score. Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For brings to life the remarkable true story of one of the greatest composers of all time. From his impoverished beginnings in Pittsburgh to his lifelong collaboration with Duke Ellington, this world-premiere new musical follows the highs and lows of Billy Strayhorn's career, the joys and heartbreak of his personal life, and the challenges he faced living as an openly gay Black man in mid-20th century America at the dawn of the civil rights movement. Through his collaborations with Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, and the greatest jazz orchestra of all time, Billy Strayhorn transcended racial and sexual barriers and brought a unique fusion of jazz and classical music to the world with all-time favorites including Take the ‘A’ Train and the immortal Lush Life. This show contains mature language.

Pittsburgh native and famed multi-hyphenate star, Billy Porter, serves as the show's producer.

Running September 19-October 11 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh, PA.

SOMETHING MOVING: A MEDITATION OF MAYNARD by Pearl Cleage.

Directed by Seema Sueko.

"This thrilling and timely world premiere production is part of the ongoing Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions initiative. Playwright Pearl Cleage explores the election of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first Black mayor. Cleage sets the play in present day Atlanta, but soon we travel back 50 years as citizens of the city recollect and reflect upon the significance of the once-in-a-lifetime election that turned Atlanta into a progressive example of the New South. Cleage’s unique theatrical voice turns Atlanta into a full-blooded character while allowing her audience to feel what it was like to be part of a true historic moment in this Southern capital city. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Jackson’s election, immerse yourself in Cleage’s evocative depiction of this monumental moment.

Playwright, author, activist, and Atlanta poet laureate Pearl Cleage, who was Maynard’s speechwriter and Director of Communications, says that her own experiences of the moment were life-changing, as she had an up-close seat at a historic moment. She instantly knew she wanted to write about Maynard when commissioned for The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions, through which this play received a developmental workshop and reading in January-February 2023.

The talented ensemble cast of DMV locals includes Billie Krishawn as the Witness, Kim Bey as Citizen 1, Doug Brown as citizen 3, Derek Garza as Citizen 9, Shubhangi Kuchibhotla as Citizen 8, Alina Collins Maldonado as Citizen 7, Susan Rome as Citizen 5, Shaquille Stewart as Citizen 4, Tom Story as Citizen 6 and Constance Swain as Citizen 2.

This production features scenic design by Milagros Ponce de León, lighting design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, costume design by Ivania Stack, sound design by André J. Pluess, projection design by Shawn Duan and hair and makeup design by Danna Rosedahl.

Rounding out the team is dialects/voice director Lisa E. Nathans, dramaturg Faedra Chatard Carpenter, production stage manager Brandon Prendergast and assistant stage manager Julia Singer.

September 22-October 15, 2023 at The Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC.

SWITZERLAND by Joanna Murray-Smith.

Directed by Sarah Goodes.

Starring Sarah Peirse and Jarred Blakiston who bring to life the secret lives of two complex and ferociously intelligent characters who play a hypnotic game of vernacular cat and mouse on stage.

Peirse delves into formidable American crime writer Patricia Highsmith's dark mind during her last days.

September 19 - October 7, 2023 at the ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by William Shakespeare, a music infused production by Rick Dildine.

"Your romantic comedy fix is here. The magical, live-music-infused will have you laughing and crying in your seats as this otherworldly love story unfolds in dazzling style."

Performaces through October 1 on the Festival Stage of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, Alabama.

Bard Talk takes place 1/2 hour before each performance in the Octagon Lobby. Join Shakespeare expert and theatre historian Dr. Susan Willis for a lively discussion of the play and production on September 16 as part of ASF Insights in the Patrons Lobby.

Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the State's theater, builds community by engaging, entertaining, and inspiring people with transformative theatrical performances and compelling educational and community programs. ASF is a not-for-profit organization under the direction of Artistic Director Rick Dildine and Executive Director Todd Schmidt.

THE DUMB WAITER by Harold Pinter.

Directed by Barry McKenna.

Starring Lars Mikkelsen and Ian Burns.

The Dumb Waiter is a dark, one-act comedy by Harold Pinter written in 1957 that combines the staccato rhythms of music-hall cross-talk and the urban thriller. This is a classic example of early Pinter – a minimum of information and an atmosphere of menace, working-class small-talk in a claustrophobic setting.

Ben and Gus are two contract killers waiting for their orders as who to kill next in a closed basement room. Witnessing their everyday banter gives an insight into the terrifying vision of the dominant-subservient battle for power, a battle in which societies and individuals engage as a part of daily existence.

September 27 - October 21, 2023 at That Theatre Company in Denmark.

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