Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: September 18, 2022
By: Laura Deni
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TRANSFERRING A SHOW TO NEW YORK - A PRODUCER'S PERSPECTIVE

Producer Benjamin Scuglia

Broadway is still having issues with COVID, monkey-pox is spreading, fall is expected to bring a really bad flu season and polio is in New York City waste water to the point that a state of emergency has been declared. A Los Angeles producer says - I know what I want to do, lets mount in New York City. Nobody shows up with a butterfly net, so the plan proceeds.

Producer Benjamin Scuglia is a Los Angeles based author and playwright, actor, producer and stage manager. He is a member of Theatre West, where Our Man in Santiago was developed. It's penned by two-time Emmy nominee and WGA award-winner Mark Wilding who has worked in television for over two decades, writing and producing both comedies and dramas.

Our Man In Santiago is called "a comic spy thriller inspired by the true story of a spectacularly botched United States attempt to overthrow Chile’s democratically elected leader, Salvador Allende.

On September 4, 1970, socialist politician and physician Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile. According to a 1974 article in Harper's Magazine penned by Gabriela García Marquez, a contingency plan had been hatched by the Nixon administration and the Chilean military in preparation for just such an event - but the coup they intended had to be aborted when "someone made a mistake in the Pentagon and requested 200 visas for a purported Navy chorus, which in reality was to be made up of specialists in government overthrow; however there were several admirals among them who couldn't sing a single note."

Inspired by this ridiculous failure, Wilding, who not only read but saved the Harper's article, penned a political farce in which the CIA enlists an inexperienced, unsuspecting agent to follow up with a poorly conceived and wildly dangerous effort to hasten what was to be, in the end, a successful coup d'état in Chile three years later, in 1973.

Directed by Charlie Mount, Presciliana Esparolini, Nick McDow Musleh and George Tovar reprise the roles in New York they created in the world premiere production at L.A.’s Theatre West, with Steve Nevil and Michael Van Duzer returning as Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.

Scuglia is one of the people who negotiated the contracts and signed on the dotted line. He spoke with Broadway To Vegas about the perils and pleasures of being a producer and transferring this production to the AMT Theatre - a 99-seater in The Big Apple.

"We are right down the street from the Moulin Rouge musical. "We are close to Times Square. The theatre has been completely refurbished. It's really quite sparkling," related the enthusiastic Scuglia.

The cast of Our Man in Santiago Photo by Charlie Mount.

As the producer there is no specific definition of his job occupation.

"Producers do everything," said Scuglia referring to his job title. "One of the things is making sure the cast and crew have a place to stay. Each person found their own living quarters, with some even staying with friends. Most "found an Airbnb within a special budget. We provide a housing stipend. There is a travel budget and they need to be able to get from the airport to New York City. They have a per diem," which covers food according to the producer, who is a cheesecake aficionado. Producer responsibilities trickle down to even making sure the group has access to Covid tests.

"You need to be good at organization," stressed Scuglia. "You don't necessity need to be an expert on contracts. I hired general managers to negotiate with Equity to obtain the proper contracts," he said referring to the Equity Off-Broadway Tier A contract. All roles pay $725.00 per week. Andrea Zee served as casting director.

"You need to be well organized," Scuglia reiterated. "Net working really helps."

A producer has to be "somebody who likes being organized and knows how to proportion your time."

While California is famous for tennis courts, swimming pools and movie stars, Scuglia declares that "it's a very different theatrical environment in New York than it is in Los Angeles." Scuglia asserts he wouldn't be caught dead on a tennis court unless he was "drunk and channeling Dorothy Parker."

"This isn't an expensive play to mount," he stressed. "There are no chandeliers falling."

Our Man in Santiago runs through October 28, 2022.

"We can't extend. We have a limited run contract," he disclosed. "Open ended runs are very expensive," he added referring to contracts in which the venue is compensated for not being able to rent out the facility until the production leaves - whenever that takes place.

As to wealthy people who invest in productions. Some are passionate about arts and theatre, so they believed in helping shows. Others may be frustrated creatives who just happen to have money. What role do investors play? Can they come in and tell you to change the paint color?

"That's a potential pitfall - they say they don't like the wallpaper," he answered. "When you sign a contract you are setting expectations. Some investors don't want any creative input. If they do, you have to set your boundaries. Before you accept the money, you set the expectations."

Director Charlie Mount and writer Mark Wilding. Photo by David Colbert.

Scuglia discovered that it was financially feasible to transfer Our Man in Santiago scenery, lighting and sound from Los Angeles to New York City rather than starting over.

"The sets were built in Los Angeles and stuffed into a U Haul. We hired somebody to drive it from Los Angles to New York," he said.

"Our costumer Mylette Nora didn't bring the same costumes, but had the opportunity to revisit the designs," he explained referring to costumes which are contemporary rather than "vintage period."

Set designer Jeff G. Rack "had to reconfigure his original design for the New York stage. The entire play is set in a hotel room. Jeff had to reconfigure the set down to a smaller stage. So, now the audience is much closer to the stage. The audience has more of a sense that they are in the hotel room."

"Our original lighting was done by Yancey Dunham, who passed away; otherwise he would have transferred with us," disclosed Scuglia.

"Director Charlie Mount reconfigured Yancey's original design for the New York theatre. It was a tough blow to lose Yancey both personally and professionally. It was known to a very small group of people that he was ill; but when his death was announced it was a shock. He knew we were transferring from Los Angeles to New York. Theatres are full of ghosts. I hope his peaceful ghost is with us."

Dunham passed away on October 27, 2021 after a valiant 16-month long battle with colon cancer. A committed vegetarian and dedicated athlete, he left behind a wife, kitten children, and a theatrical family.

Is there a financial obligation to his heirs? The lighting was his design. Do they receive a royalty? Did his heirs sign off on the contract?

"it's not that type of contract," he responded. "If this was a Broadway contract then we would have negotiated that. But in this case it was a personal obligation."

Director Mount served as the artistic director for the critically acclaimed Chestnuts Theatre Program at Theatre West, where he produced the Los Angeles premiere of Requiem for a Heavyweight and The Lion in Winter with Jim Beaver; directed Betty Garrett in Waiting in the Wings; and earned an Ovation nomination for Best Play for his production of Waiting For Lefty. Also at Theatre West, Charlie directed Beau Bridges in the original production of Acting - The First Six Lessons and produced Ray Bradbury's Falling Upward with Pat Harrington. Mount is also a magician; a member at Hollywood's famed Magic Castle.

You have a magician directing the show. He has to be a good magician or he wouldn't be a member of the Magic Castle. Do you tease him about magically making the show a success?

"George (Tover) is also a member of the Magic Castle," injected Scuglia. "No, I don't tease a magician. You don't want to tease a magician - bad idea," said Scuglia.

He insists that "it makes sense" to use a magician as a director. "You can tell that a magician directed the show because magic is all about misdirection," he said referring to the form of deception in which the performer draws audience attention to one thing to distract it from another.

"There are several misdirection moments," he disclosed.

Scuglia points out that this play is timely, appealing to all sides of the political spectrum. "You'll leave the theatre talking about the play."

Our Man in Santiago runs through October 28, 2022 at the AMT Theater in New York City.

The creative team includes set designer Jeff G. Rack, lighting designer Yancey Dunham, costume designer Mylette Nora, fight director Joe Nassi and gun captain Bruce Dickinson. Emily Kluger is the production stage manager, Liv Denevi is assistant stage manager, and Chloe Rosenthal assistant director. Publicity by Lucy Pollak: Benjamin Scuglia produces for Theatre West.

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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

NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER is proud to announce that they have received rare artifacts, wardrobe, and awards from the estate of comedy legend and actress Betty White Ludden, which will become part of the Center's permanent archives.

September 14, 2022 marked the 37th anniversary of The Golden Girls television debut. In celebration of this moment of comedy history, the National Comedy Center disclosed that much of the collection, which includes pieces from White's award-winning work in the acclaimed TV comedies The Mary Tyler Moore Show; The Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland, is now on display at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY.

"Betty would have been thrilled to be celebrated at the National Comedy Center -- not only because it's the official museum for comedy but because it's located in her dear friend Lucille Ball's hometown and based on Lucy's vision. It was one of the honors of my life to have both Betty and Lucy as close friends and cherished mentors, and to have worked so closely with them through the years. Now their legacies are preserved, side by side, for generations to come, which makes me very happy. We all miss them both dearly but their comedy is timeless." – Carol Burnett

The collection donated to the National Comedy Center features scripts hand-annotated by Betty White, plus several articles of Betty White’s screen-used wardrobe now on display – including a Rose Nylund sweater, an Elka Ostrovsky tracksuit from Hot in Cleveland, and a gown worn by White at the 1986 Emmy Awards ceremony, plus five Emmy statuettes for wins spanning nearly 60 years, including Life with Elizabeth in 1952, The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1975 and 1976, The Golden Girls in 1986 and as guest host of Saturday Night Live in 2010. The collection also features career memorabilia, including the sweater White wore in her iconic Super Bowl XLV commercial and a Guinness World Record certificate for Longest TV Career by a Female Entertainer.

"Betty White has had a remarkable impact on the world of comedy. She brought laughter to millions and made it look effortless, when in fact, she was a true master of the art form," stated National Comedy Center executive director Journey Gunderson. "Betty’s story and her body of work have united, entertained, and inspired generations of fans, and her performances are infused with a genuine love for the comedic craft. Her story is a remarkable one, not least because of the unerring grace and resilience she modeled as an artist navigating an evolving entertainment industry across seven decades – never losing relevancy and never failing to reinvent herself and her work to meet the moment. We are truly honored to celebrate Betty White in our galleries and to preserve her materials for generations to come."

"We are delighted to donate these important pieces from Betty White’s career to the National Comedy Center, the nation’s official home for the celebration and preservation of comedy," stated Glenn Kaplan, who represents the Betty White Estate. "Betty was so wonderfully gifted as an actress and comedienne. She loved to make us all laugh for nearly one hundred years, and she believed wholeheartedly in the power of comedy to entertain, to open our minds, and to change the world. Now her work is on exhibit side-by-side with her dear friends and fellow artists, including Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and so many others. We know that she would have been thrilled to be included in the National Comedy Center, and we hope her fans will visit to remember our beloved Betty and pay tribute her extraordinary legacy."

The National Comedy Center is the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations, as formally designated by the U.S. Congress. Opened in 2018 in Jamestown, New York, the museum complex offers an unprecedented, immersive visitor experience using state-of-the-art technology, interactivity and personalization.

THE HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM PAID TRIBUTE TO GEORGE CHAKIRIS ON HIS 90th BIRTHDAY

The George Chakiris necklace from his Concert Hall series. This unique sterling silver necklace has its inspiration from the Los Angeles City skyline.

in a celebrity event which took place Thursday, September 15, 2022.

The museum displayed the legendary dancer, singer, and actor's sterling silver jewelry as well as his Golden Globe and the Academy Award he won for his role of Bernardo in the multi Academy Award winning film West Side Story.

Among the friends and colleagues appearing at the opening were speakers Melissa Manchester and Michele Lee, with Videos submitted by Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, Michael Feinstein and Morgan Fairchild.

Special guests attending included: Millicent Martin, Alice Amter, Alison Arngrim, Darby Hinton, Producer David A.R. White, Diana Lansleen, Elaine Ballace, Gloria Garayua, Kate Linder, Kathy Garver, Kira Reed Lorsch, Kym Karath, Lee Purcell, Geoffrey Mark, Meredith Thomas, Terry Moore, Tyrone Dubose, Vanessa Angel.

When the film of West Side Story opened in 1961. Young George Chakiris’ smoldering performance as Bernardo was hailed typically as "an overnight sensation." Actually, George had been working in films since 1947. His early debut was singing in the chorus of MGM’s Song Of Love, starring Katharine Hepburn. Other appearances included Paramount’s White Christmas, MGM’s Brigadoon; There’s No Business Like Show Business; The Girl Rush; Meet Me In Las Vegas and as one of the wealthy suitors to Marilyn Monroe in the iconic Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend in Fox’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Prior to filming West Side Story George co-starred as Riff in the first London production of the hit Broadway musical, along with Chita Rivera. For the film version, George’s dark and handsome persona was determined to be better suited to Bernardo with Rita Moreno. When the Academy Awards were handed out for 1961 West Side Story won Best Picture, Direction, Screenplay, Cinematographer, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound, Film Editing, Music Scoring, and an Honorary Award for Jerome Robbins for Choreography. The acting honors that year went to Best Supporting Actress Rita Moreno and Chakiris took home the Best Supporting Actor statuette, which was on display for this event.

His performances have often been heralded as "quicksilver" and "sterling" so is no surprise that Chakiris turned his onetime hobby of making sterling silver jewelry into yet another profession. His own brand of high end original sterling silver jewelry is called George Chakiris Collections and features necklaces, bracelets, earrings, dramatic belts, and other exquisite pieces.

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SWEET CHARITY

CARNEGIE HALL'S OPENING NIGHT GALA 2022–2023 season kicks off on September 29 with festive Opening Night Gala concert by The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, performing music by Ravel, Dvorák, and Gabriela Lena Frank. Pianist Daniil Trifonov is featured soloist for this special musical occasion, performing Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

THE OLD GLOBE in San Diego, CA will hold its annual gala on Saturday, September 24, under the stars at the Globe’s Copley Plaza and Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The theme for the 2022 Globe Gala is Drama Resides Here. Reprising their roles as Co-Chairs are Globe Board members Jennifer Greenfield and Sheryl White, and Darlene Marcos Shiley is the Honorary Gala Chair. The evening will benefit The Old Globe’s nationally recognized arts engagement and artistic programs.

The black-tie event will begin with signature cocktails by Snake Oil Cocktail Company and hors d’oeuvres on the Plaza. That will be followed by a special presentation by Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and entertainment by Broadway star Joshua Henry in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. After the performance, guests will indulge in dinner catered by the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine and dancing to the music of Lovestoned.

The 2022 Gala Committee includes; Board members Eleanor Y. Charlton, Ann Davies, Nina Doede, Pamela A. Farr, Susan Hoehn, Evelyn Olson Lamden, Benjamin and Kimberly Lee, Judy McMorrow, Karen Tanz, Christine Roberts Trimble, Evelyn Mack Truitt, Pamela J. Wagner, Margarita Wilkinson, and Vicki L. Zeiger.

COMEDY GIVES BACK benefited from IHOP's Milkshake Monday which took place on Monday, September 12, 2022. One dollar from every milk shake sold was donated to Comedy Gives Back.

Being alone onstage is part of the job of the stand up comedian. Feeling alone offstage is unacceptable. Comedy Gives Back was created so that comedians have resources to turn to when times get tough. Comedy Gives Back is the safety net for the comedy community by providing financial crisis relief, mental health and chemical dependency treatment sponsorship and continued community support.

SPREADING THE WORD

BAM! POW! WHAM! WALLA WALLA SET TO CELEBRATE FIFTH ANNUAL ADAM WEST DAY

Adam West

on September 24. West’s hometown celebrates the original Batman with day filled of fun events, and the Batmobile, Batcycle, and Batcopter, of course.

The Fifth Annual Adam West Day honors the late actor best known for his role as Batman in the 1960s TV show in a way that only his hometown can.

As is tradition, Adam West Day celebrates the life and legacy of the actor on or near his birthday on Sept. 19. And the city will again be pulling out all the stops. "Adam West Day celebrates the life of an American original with a truly original event,” said Jonathan Grant, front office manager at the Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center and a co-organizer of the event. “Adam accomplished so much in his career in film, television, stage, and radio. But no matter how much his star rose in Hollywood over a career that spanned more than a half-century, he always made time to come back to Walla Walla. He never forgot where he came from, and we want to make sure that we never forget our ‘Bright Knight’ and all his amazing accomplishments."

Today, there are reminders of Adam West throughout Walla Walla, including the permanent Adam West exhibit at Walla Walla’s Kirkman House Museum - the only museum in the U.S. that, with a push of a secret button, opens up a hidden passage to the Batcave.

The Kirkman House Museum is a beautifully preserved Victorian Mansion from the 1800s, filled with tales of Walla Walla's past, told through photographs, artifacts, and much more. Since West is poster boy for Walla Walla, he plays a prominent place in the museum.

This year’s itinerary includes:

An opening ceremony at the Land Title Plaza
An in-depth Q&A Panel, with special surprise guests, at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center.
The Batmobile, Batcycle, and Batcopter will be displayed on First Avenue
Live music at the Land Title Plaza with free giveaways for kids and special superhero appearances
“The Animated Adam West, which explores West’s life in animation, at the Marcus Whitman Conference Center
Special movie showing at the Marcus Whitman Conference Center
Official lighting of the Bat Signal on the Marcus Whitman Hotel

BLACK LUCY AND THE BARD a totally flawless production by the Nashville Ballet. The Nashville Ballet? Nashville - where you think of country music, barbecue and Elvis. You don't think Nashville and a black ballet dancer.

Think again.

The production aired last Friday on PBS. If you missed it, make it a point to watch as PBS tends to offer repeats.

From the gorgeous beauty of Claudia Monja to her incredible dancing, to the costumes, choreography and the brilliance of adding a speaking narrator to the on-stage musicians, this production is grabbing, mesmerizing and simply thrilling.

From nuanced moves to bold statements, this dance drama featuring the Nashville Ballet reframes the mysterious love life of William Shakespeare through the perspective of the "Dark Lady" for whom many of his sonnets were written.

This PBS special combines poet Caroline Randall Williams's narration with dances by the Nashville Ballet and an original score by Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi.

Author and performer Caroline Randall Williams narrates the ballet with her own spoken word poetry from the 2015 book on which the show was based, Lucy Negro, Redux.

Exploring themes of love, otherness, equality and beauty, the cast includes an ensemble of Nashville Ballet dancers. Claudia Monja leads the cast as Lucy along with Owen Thorne as Shakespeare and Nicolas Scheuer as Fair Youth. Choreographed and directed by Nashville Ballet’s artistic director Paul Vasterling, the ballet was recorded in March 2022. Playing onstage alongside the dancers in front of a minimalist set, musicians Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi play several instruments including violin, banjo, mandolin and piano.

A production of The WNET Group in association with Nashville Ballet, Great Performances: Black Lucy and The Bard was conceived and adapted as a ballet by Paul Vasterling based on the book by Caroline Randall Williams. Direction and choreography by Paul Vasterling, and directed for television by Matthew Diamond.

AN EVENING WITH STANLEY TUCCI Spend a delicious evening with the inimitable Stanley Tucci - star of blockbuster films such as The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games - as he chats intimately to a special guest interviewer. Monday, September 26, 2022 at the Barbican in London.

SMITHSONIAN JAZZ MASTERWORKS ORCHESTRA CONCERT for more than half of the 20th century legal and social segregation shaped many aspects of life for Americans – including where they heard jazz. But in the speakeasy era, a new kind of venue emerged that opened the doors for Black musicians and audiences, as well as other people of color. Dubbed "black-and-tan clubs," these nightspots began to attract white patrons as well, creating a uniquely integrated musical phenomenon. Join the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra in the Root Family Auditorium for an afternoon of jazz inspired by the black-and-tan clubs of the speakeasy era.

Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach, FL.

JEFFERSON STARSHIP is one of the most successful arena rock groups of the 1970s and 80s, earning 3 platinum and 8 gold records, as well as numerous Top 40 singles. While Jefferson Starship continues to tour today, the band has experienced numerous lineup and personnel changes, and each of those members have contributed to the magic and alchemy that make Jefferson Starship iconic. The band features original Jefferson Airplane member David Freiberg and original Jefferson Starship drummer Donny Baldwin, along with long-time members Chris Smith, Jude Gold, and the amazing Cathy Richardson on vocals. September 22, 2022 at Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.

JAVIER MUNOZ AND MANDY GONZALEZ the Broadway stars of Hamilton and In the Heights, will join voices on September 24 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona in a special performance. Titled Hitting New Heights, the show will celebrate Broadway’s hottest composers, from Stephen Schwartz to Lin-Manuel Miranda. Songs from Wicked; Hamilton and more will be part of this concert event.

Muñoz is best known for starring as Alexander Hamilton in the cultural-phenomenon musical Hamilton on Broadway for two years, after Miranda departed the show (and he was Miranda’s alternate prior to that). He got his break starring as Usnavi in In The Heights on Broadway, also created by Miranda.

Gonzalez starred on Broadway in Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler. She also originated Nina Rosario in the Tony Award-winning In The Heights, for which Gonzalez received a Drama Desk Award. Gonzalez also starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, blowing the roof off New York City’s Gershwin Theatre each night as she belted out the signature song, Defying Gravity.

"Not only will these artists grace our stage, but they have invited students from Desert Mountain High School to perform with them and are leading a public masterclass for our community," said Diandra Adamczyk, senior programming coordinator at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The masterclass with Gonzales and Muñoz will take place prior to the concert that evening. Masterclass participants will break down their song material with one-on-one coaching and will also have the opportunity to be part of a Q&A with both Gonzalez and Muñoz. The class is designed for advanced/college level performers.

TOM STOPPARD IN CONVERSATION WITH DANIEL KEHLMANN In Person and Online Today, Sunday, September 18, 2022, 92Y in New York City.

Tom Stoppard opens the Unterberg Poetry Center’s 84th season with a conversation about Leopoldstadt, his most personal play to date, which comes to Broadway this fall. He is interviewed by novelist Daniel Kehlmann, who translated Leopoldstadt into German and whose family history, like Stoppard’s own, informed the writing of the play.

IAN McEWAN WITH CLAIRE MESSUD In Person and Online Monday, September 19, 92NY presented by New York City. This 92NY event takes place at Merkin Hall (Kaufman Music Center).

This was insomniac memory, not a dream. It was the piano lesson again.

Ian McEwan, winner of the Booker Prize for Atonement, reads from and discusses his highly-anticipated new novel, Lessons, a powerful meditation on history and humanity told through the prism of one man’s lifetime.

JIMMY KIMMEL the Susan Lucci of talk show hosts (he's been nominated for a talk show host Emmy and lost 13 times), apologized to Quinta Brunson for behaving like a jackass during her Emmy acceptance speech for winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - the pilot for Abbott Elementary, - one of the most entertaining shows on television. The ABC series presents serious real life educational issues wrapped in sensitive humor.

The two reconnected last Wednesday on Kimmel's show and attempted to smooth things over.

M*A*S*H

The fingerpost from the M*A*S*H set, as seen in the Smithsonian Institution

speaking of a TV series which presented serious real life issues wrapped in sensitive humor - that show about the Korean War and the 4077 medics who dealt with the problems - debuted on September 17, 1972 - 50 years ago yesterday.

Based on a 1968 Richard Hooker novel and Robert Altman's film adaptation, M*A*S*H, the television series, aired on CBS from September 17, 1972 to February 28, 1983 - more than three times as long as the war. It was developed by Larry Gelbart.

The 4077th M.A.S.H. is arguably one of the most public faces of the Korean War to America. Featuring the day-to-day operations in a hospital just behind the front lines, this show brought the horrors of the Korean War, as well as the moral and ethical problems that service members in combat zone faced, to American TV screens.

The first year featured:
Walter (Radar) O'Reilly played bt Gary Burghoff
Trapper John McIntyre played by Wayne Rogers
Father Mulcahy played by (George Morgan in the pilot) William Christopher
Hawkeye Pierce played by Alan Alda
Margaret Houlihan played by Loretta Swit
Frank Burns played by Larry Linville
Henry Blake played by McLean Stevenson
Spearchucker Jones played by Timothy Brown
Ho-Jon plated by Patrick Adiarte
Ugly John Black played by John Orchard
Lieutenant Dish played by Karen Philipp
1st Lt. Kealani (Nurse Kellye) played by Kellye Nakahara
Ginger Bayliss played by Odessa Cleveland
Maxwell Klinger played by Jamie Farr,

The series spanned 11 seasons and 256 episodes. Along the way, it also garnered 14 Emmy Awards out of 99 nominations.

MOLLY SMITH ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ARENA STAGE has let it be known that she isn't happy. "To say I was devastated when Roe v. Wade was smashed by the Supreme Court is an understatement. With the clock being turned back 50 years, women are once again second-class citizens in the United States of America. After reading voraciously about the decision, I knew that I had to quickly make a theater piece that provided a forum for the shared experience of how this makes women feel. "So, I’m announcing my final production before I step down next year as Arena Stage’s Artistic Director: My Body No Choice, which features monologues from eight of America’s most dynamic female playwrights on women’s choices and bodily autonomy; from the ability to choose—or not—to have an abortion, to the freedom to choose one’s body size, to making a decision around when to end one’s life.

These short stories are both fiction and non-fiction by eight of America’s most exciting female writers: Lee Cataluna, Fatima Dyfan, Lisa Loomer, Dael Orlandersmith, Sarah Ruhl, Mary Hall Surface, V (formerly Eve Ensler), and "Anonymous." These tremendous artists and their monologues represent a rich diversity of theatrical storytelling and personal experiences.

"For far too long, women have been afraid to tell their stories. The national conversation around gay rights changed dramatically when people came out to their families, friends, and neighbors. Suddenly everyone knew someone who was gay, and being gay was normalized. Now, women need to change the conversation around choices that are being made for them around the autonomy of their bodies, in large part by people who have no experience of what it is like to be a woman. We need to tell our stories; it’s past time.

"As an important part of this production, Arena Stage invites women, trans, and non-binary individuals from all over the United States to share their stories about choices and their bodies, in videos of up to 2 minutes in length. Up to 18 videos will be showcased on Arena Stage’s digital media properties, extending the experience of My Body No Choice long after the lights have come down and the run has ended.

I hope you’ll join me."

PEACE LOVE MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place September 23-24 in Neillsville, Wisconsin. The first annual event will have 14 bands performing at The Silver Dome Ballroom.

CABARET CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHAEL KIRK LANE Award-winning cabaret performer and 92NY School of Music faculty member Michael Kirk Lane returns for his series of online conversations about the art form of cabaret in New York City. Each conversation will also include a Q&A session for the participants.

On Monday, September 19, at 92NY it's Carolyn Montgomery, a multi-MAC, Bistro and Nightlife award winning singer/ songwriter, who has performed in major venues across 36 states, Montreal and London. In 2017, she co-founded the American Songbook Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization that promotes and preserves classic American musical legacies (Jazz, Musical Theatre and the American Songbook, old and new) through education programs, senior enrichment, live events, and Cabaret Scenes magazine. She employs some of New York’s finest entertainers as instructors. She partners with some of New York’s most underserved communities, nurturing their students with music.

THIS JOKE IS FROM World Champion Illusionist Wayne Alan who owns and operates The Historic North Theatre in Danville, VA.
The king wanted to go fishing and he asked the royal weather forecaster the forecast for the next few hours. The palace meteorologist assured him that there was no chance of rain. So, the king and the queen went fishing. On the way they met a man with a fishing pole riding on a donkey, and the king asked the man if the fish were biting.

The fisherman said, "Your Majesty, you should return to the palace! In just a short time I expect a huge rainstorm."

The king replied: "I hold the palace meteorologist in high regard. He is an educated and experienced professional. Besides, I pay him very high wages. He gave me a very different forecast. I trust him."

So, the king continued on his way. However, in a short time a torrential rain fell from the sky. The King and Queen were totally soaked. Furious, the king returned to the palace and gave the order to fire the meteorologist. Then he summoned the fisherman and offered him the prestigious position of royal forecaster.

The fisherman said, "Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain my information from my donkey. If I see my donkey's ears drooping, it means with certainty that it will rain."

So, the king hired the donkey. And thus began the practice of hiring dumb asses to work in influential positions of government.

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STARS FROM BROADWAY AND WEST END will pay tribute to 8-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken on September 23rd with a concert and on September 24th with a concert and award ceremony where the acclaimed composer and songwriter will be honored with the Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award by the city of Vienna.

Grammy-nominee Adam Jacobs, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Celinde Schoenmaker, Christine Allado and Bongiwe Happiness Malugna lead the ensemble.

The program for the gala includes highlights of Alan Menken’s career including, The Little Mermaid; Beauty and the Beast; Aladdin; Hercules; The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Pocahontas.

Disney+ will stream the gala event globally, alongside Austrian Broadcasting ORF, for the first time in the ceremony’s history.

Hollywood in Vienna was founded in 2007 by Sandra Tomek. The Max Steiner Film Music Award is presented annually by the City of Vienna to the world’s most renowned film music composers and is a symbol of recognition for exceptional achievements in the art of film music. Past awardees include Gabriel Yared (2019), Hans Zimmer (2018), Danny Elfman (2017), Alexander Desplay (2016), James Newton Howard (2015), Randy Newman (2014), James Horner (2013), Lalo Schifrin (2012), Alan Silvestri (2011), Howard Shore (2010), and John Barry (2009).

The Viennese composer Max Steiner belongs to the most influential pioneers in the history of Hollywood movies and scored all-time classics like King Kong; Gone with the Wind, and Casablanca. The award is meant to be a symbol of recognition for exceptional achievements in the art of film music.

ALAN PAUL has been named Artistic Director of Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass.

Alan joined the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, DC 15 years ago as an Artistic Fellow and has since become "an indispensable cornerstone of STC’s foundation. Passionate about musicals and rediscovering the classics, Alan's productions have often bridged the gaps between classical and contemporary. FromCamelot to The Comedy of Errors; Kiss Me, Kate to Romeo and Juliet, and even Man of La Mancha to All the Devils Are Here, Alan's work at STC has been provocative, imaginative, and inspiring," stated the release from the STC.

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to work alongside Alan for the last three years," says STC Artistic Director Simon Godwin. "Barrington Stage Company has made a brilliant choice and I believe I speak for all STC when I say that we cannot wait to cheer him on as he makes this next leap in his career."

Alan Paul takes the reins at Barrington Stage Company in mid-September.



JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN Ibsen’s most contemporary play, in a new version by Lucinda Coxon.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, Co-Founder of the Bridge Theatre.

John Gabriel Borkman, once an illustrious entrepreneur, has been brought low by a prison sentence for fraud. As he paces alone in an upstairs room, bankrupt and disgraced, he is obsessed by dreams of his comeback. Downstairs, his estranged wife plots the restoration of the family name. When her sister arrives unannounced, she triggers a desperate showdown with the past.

Joining Simon Russell Beale in the title role, Clare Higgins as Gunhild Borkman and Lia Williams as Ella Rentheim are Sebastian De Souza as Erhart Borkman, Daisy Ou as Frida Foldal, Laila Rouass as Fanny Wilton and Michael Simkins as Wilhelm Foldal. The creatives are: Set Designer Anna Fleischle - Costume Designer & Associate Set Designer - Liam Bunster - Lighting Designer- James Francombe - Sound Designer Gareth Fry - Casting Director Robert Sterne - Associate Director Isabel Marr - Costume Supervisor Olivia Ward - Props Supervisor Lily Mollgaard - Production Manager Kate West - Voice Coach Jeannette Nelson.

September 24 - November 26, 2022 at the Bridge Theatre in London.

THE BAND'S VISIT a stage musical with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Itamar Moses, based on the 2007 Israeli film of the same name.

Directed by Donmar Artistic Director Michael Longhurst.

In a quiet desert town way off the beaten path, a band of musicians arrive lost. As they wait for the next bus out, these unexpected visitors bring the town to life in surprising ways, proving that even the briefest visit can stay with you forever.

The cast and onstage band features Alon Moni Aboutboul, Sharif Afifi, Jason Alder, Marc Antolin, Harel Glazer, Levi Goldmeier, Ido Gonen, Michal Horowicz, Emma Kingston, Shira Kravitz, Nitai Levi, Yali Topol Margalith, Ashley Margolis, Carlos Mendoza de Hevia, Miri Mesika, Peter Polycarpou, Ant Romero, Idlir Shyti, Maya Kristal Tenenbaum, Sargon Yelda and Baha Yetkin.

The creative team includes Musical Supervisor: Nigel Lilley; Designer: Soutra Gilmour; Lighting Designer: Anna Watson; Sound Designer: Paul Groothuis; Choreography, Movement & Intimacy Director: Yarit Dor; Casting Director: Anna Cooper CDG; Musical Director: Tarek Merchant; Assistant Musical Director: Natalie Pound; Associate Director: Orr Benezra-Segal; Resident Assistant Director: Dadiow Lin; Cultural Consultant: Dr Lina Khatib; Arabic Music Consultant: Attab Haddad; Dialect Coaches: Khaled Abunaama and Caitlin Stegemoller; Assistant Designer: Lucy Sneddon; Assistant Lighting Designer: Cat Salvini; and Assistant Sound Designer: Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu.

Four reduced price previews from September 24, 2022 at the Donmar in London.

THE MADE by Emily Perkins.

Directed by Colin McColl.

Set in a strangely familiar time and place, this is a "funny, astute and unmissable new play."

What if you could hand your caregiving duties to a humanoid robot with real feelings?

Visionary scientist Alice is at the cutting edge of her field, striving to generate emotions in robots. But, when those robots are used for domestic service, how will they feel?

A visionary scientist who runs her own small Artificial Intelligence lab for a big corporation, Alice is at the cusp of a revolutionary invention but is drowning under the pressure. Alice's husband, David, has recently moved out. David is a silver fox, a professional cellist and is always elusive.

As Alice nears her goal, family accusations and workplace betrayals are unleashed – along with an artificial intelligence (AI) creation that is far beyond anyone’s control. Alice and her family – child Sam and ex-husband David – are forced to grapple with what this new technology will mean for humanity and the tension between creator and creation, mother and child, perfect cyborg and imperfect human.

In addition to Alison Bruce as Alice and Peter Daube as David the cast includes: Joe Dekkers-Reihana as John who is Alice’s former devoted grad student, now long-term assistant waiting for the big break. Meanwhile, he lives in his brother’s garage - Hannah Tasker-Poland as Arie an emotional robot modified by Alice and John but not without glitches. She is prone to involuntary sex robot poses - Murdoch Keane as Sam, Alice and David’s child who is smart and well aware, but emotionally and financially dependent - Adam Gardiner as Director - Bronwyn Bradley as Nanny Ann and Kalyani Nagarajan as The Advisor.

The creatives are:Dr Dorita Hannah Scenographer. Rachel Marlow Lighting & Video Designer. Brad Gledhill Lighting & Video Designer. Nic Smillie Costume Designer. Shan Yu Set Designer Assistant.

Commissioned by Auckland Theatre Company The Made is on stage September 20 - October 8 at the ASB Waterfront Theatre in New Zealand.

THE CARETAKER by Harold Pinter.

Directed by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) artistic director Bonnie J. Morris.

This taut, riveting tale of a homeless man and two brothers who give him shelter, makes for a gripping night of provocative theater. It draws the audience into a compelling and mysterious world, where an unsettling and ever-shifting power struggle plays out amidst a strange, domestic scenario within the walls of a "home" that is as threatening as it is fragile.

Leading the three-man ensemble is Paul Mullins, who marks his 32nd year as a company member, both as an actor and director. He plays the role of Davies, the homeless man who finds shelter in an old home in West London. Jon Barker, another long-time STNJ veteran, returns to play Mick, one of the two brothers in the story. Isaac Hickox-Young, plays Aston, the brother who rescues Davies from the streets.

The design team for The Caretaker includes Set Designer Sarah Beth Hall, Lighting Designer Matthew Adelson, Sound Designer Karin Graybash, and Ms. Monte is designing the costumes. Julie Foh is the Dialect Coach and the Production Stage Manager is Denise Cardarelli.

The Caretaker will be on the Main Stage September 21 – October 9 at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison, NJ.

COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL Book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Music by Vishal Dadlani and Sheykhar Ravjiani. Presented by The Old Globe In association with Yash Raj Films.

Directed by Aditya Chopra.

Choreography by Rob Ashford.

Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is the story of Simran, a young Indian American woman whose future is set: an arranged marriage back in India to a family friend. But when she convinces her very strict dad that she should spend a summer of freedom and fun in Europe, she falls for the charming Roger, and her careful, logical plans go out the window. Can she be true to both her heritage and her heart? Can carefree American Roger win over her traditional father? Take a whirlwind trip from Boston to Europe to India as cultures collide in the stage musical adaptation of the beloved hit romantic comedy film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

The stage musical takes a fresh look at Aditya Chopra's landmark film, renewing it for a new generation and in a new medium. With an American audience in mind, Chopra moves the action of the early scenes to America, and not England as in the film, and he focuses the story more precisely on Simran’s experience, adding gravity and power to her journey. While the original music from the film is quoted and celebrated, the musical includes 18 brand new English songs by the renowned Indian duo of Vishal and Sheykhar, who capture not only their distinctive fusion of Indian and pop musical styles, but who also integrate the famous and recognizable Broadway sound into their remarkable score. And Chopra returns to an idea that animated his earliest thinking about his story from even before he made the film, re-imagining the character of Roger to reflect a more contemporary and inclusive cultural experience.

Chopra directs a cast of 30, which includes Shoba Narayan as Simran, Austin Colby as Roger Mandel, Irvine Iqbal as Baldev, Rupal Pujara as Lajjo, Vishal Vaidya as Ajit, Kate Loprest as Emily “Minky” Soulard, Kinshuk Sen as Kuljit, Juice Mackins as Ben, Hannah Jewel Kohn as Cookie, Jeremy Kushnier as Roger Mandel, Sr.

Ensemble members include Amita Batra, Neha Dharmapuram, Tiffany Engen, Rohit Gijare, Marc Heitzman, Usman Ali Ishaq, Nika Lindsay, Ilda Mason, Caleb Mathura, Meher Mistry , Shannon Mullen, Bhumit Patel, Shahil Patel, Zain Patel, Becca Petersen, Hannah Schreer, Jack Sippel, Michael Starr, Geatali Tampy, and Sonya Venugopal .

The creative include, in addition to Chopra, Ashford, Benjamin, and Dadlani & Ravjiani; associate choreography – Indian dances by Shruti Merchant, music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by David Holcenberg, set design by Emmy and Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award winner Linda Cho, lighting design by five-time Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Tony Award winner Jessica Paz, projection design by Akhila Krishnan, music direction by Ted Arthur , associate director Stephen Sposito, associate choreography by Charlie Williams, musical production and additional orchestrations by Grammy Award winner Billy Jay Stein, associate music director, music director September 15 – October 16 by Michael Gacetta, casting by Duncan Stewart of Stewart/Whitley Casting, associate producer Shruti Venkatraman, casting by Yash Raj Films casting head Shanoo Sharma, production stage manager Anjee Nero, assistant stage manager Amanda Salmons, and assistant stage manager Kendra Stockton. Adam Zotovich serves as Executive Producer.

Officially opened on September 14 with performances through October 16, 2022, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

LEOPOLDSTADT by Tom Stoppard.

Directed by Patrick Marber.

Set in Vienna, Leopoldstadt takes its title from the Jewish quarter. This passionate drama of love and endurance begins in the last days of 1899 and follows one extended family deep into the heart of the 20th Century. Full of his customary wit and beauty, the work spans fifty years of time over two hours.

The cast which includes several members of the original West End company and 23 actors making their Broadway debuts, will feature Jesse Aaronson, Betsy Aidem, Jenna Augen, Japhet Balaban, Corey Brill, Daniel Cantor, Faye Castelow, Erica Dasher, Eden Epstein, Gina Ferrall, Arty Froushan, Charlotte Graham, Matt Harrington, Jacqueline Jarrold, Sarah Killough, David Krumholtz, Caissie Levy, Colleen Litchfield, Tedra Millan, Aaron Neil, Theatre World Award winner Seth Numrich, Anthony Rosenthal, Christopher James Stevens, Sara Topham, three-time Tony Award nominee Brandon Uranowitz, Dylan S. Wallach, Reese Bogin, Max Ryan Burach, Michael Deaner, Romy Fay, Pearl Scarlett Gold, Jaxon Cain Grundleger, Wesley Holloway, Ava Michele Hyl, Joshua Satine, Aaron Shuf, and Drew Squire.

Leopoldstadt’s creative team includes scenic design by Tony Award winner Richard Hudson, costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting design by three-time Tony Award winner Neil Austin, sound and original music by Tony Award winner Adam Cork, video design by Isaac Madge, and movement by Emily Jane Boyle. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Maureen Kelleher, and UK casting is by Amy Ball CDG.

Leopoldstadt marks Tom Stoppard’s 19th play on Broadway since his groundbreaking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead opened 55 years ago. Stoppard has won four Best Play Tony Awards, more than any other playwright in history.

Leopoldstadt began performances on Wednesday, September 14 and opens Sunday, October 2 at the Longacre Theatre in New York City.

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