Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: September 24, 2023
By: Laura Deni
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ROCK & ROLL RADIO THEATRE AND OPEN DOOR PLAYHOUSE PRODUCING RADIO PLAYS TO ASSIST STRIKING SAG-AFTRA ACTORS & CREW

Gary Lamb

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes have hurt thousands of actors, writers, composers, recording engineers, editors, and crew. "Creatives in our entertainment community cannot pay rent, buy food, or keep health insurance. Some are doing odd jobs and barely getting by on residual checks. And when the entertainment community suffers, the city economy suffers, and businesses from grocery stores to restaurants to movie theatres have begun to see a consistent decline in revenue," reads the release.

Rock and Roll Radio Theatre has partnered with Nonprofit Open-Door Playhouse to produce a radio play series, sanctioned by SAG-AFTRA using the Micro Podcast Contract, that does not cross the picket line. Thanks to donated studio time, on September 24, two shows were recorded in one day, and then posted on multiple podcast streaming services. Says Creative Producer Maureen Davis, "We can HIRE not only SAG actors but also camera crew for behind-the-scenes footage, recording engineers, directors, composers and the like -- all who have spent years perfecting their craft, who want to be able to do it again for a fair wage."

Helping to make the recordings possible were Shure Incorporated, purveyors of professional audio equipment that has become the gold standard for artists and venues worldwide, who contributed $10,000 worth of microphones, and local diner Fred's 62 of Los Feliz who donated food.

Open-Door Playhouse is a podcast created to introduce new plays, new writers, and a wealth of unknown talent. Founded by playwright and filmmaker Bernadette Armstrong, Open-Door Playhouse brings plays to the airwaves in response to the fact that theatres were shuttered all over the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving playwrights with nowhere to produce their plays. Open-Door Playhouse supports new and emerging writers.

David Purdham

In She Was Dick's Tracie by Sandra Cruze, Bernadette Armstrong ably directs an excellent, experienced cast of professionals: Gary Lamb as Harry who recently completed a National Tour of Evita as Juan Peron; David Purdham as the Coroner. Purdham has a Broadway credit list as long as Dick Tracy's arm; Maureen Davis as Tracie. Davis was an original Broadway cast member of Into the Woods, and Peter Bonoff as Jack. Los Angeles based, he was last seen onstage playing Claudio in Measure for Measure at the New America Theatre.

"In She Was Dick's Tracie Red, a dynamite redhead is found lying in a pool of her own blood in a back alley. Senior Detective Hart, his Assistant Jack, and a coroner are all called to the scene to solve her murder: unknowingly each to them has a connection to the recently deceased.

The script has a heavy use of Dick Tracy and Damon Runyon style and phrases. Excellent, well balanced sound and delightful music. Recorded at Oak House Recording Studio in Pasadena, CA with sound engineer David Peters who also served as the Sound Editor.

Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization, which raises money, stressed:

With this project, Rock & Roll Radio Theatre can:
Pay & feed (10 ) SAG-AFTRA actors a union wage PLUS Pension/Health Benefits
License 15-minute Radio Play Scripts from (2) writers
License Original Songs from (2) composers/songwriters
Pay & feed the recording engineer & crew and rent the studio
Pay & feed 2 camera operators to film behind-the-scenes footage.

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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

MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS

Rotated Room. Are you ready to radically change your view of the world? And how about rotating it by 90 degrees? This amazing room is a great background for the craziest photos – your imagination is the limit! Photo: Museum Of Illusions.

in Dubai, UAE takes visitors into the world of illusions which have delighted all generations. Welcome to the fascinating world of illusions! Get entertained, confused and completely blown away. Experience the unimaginable and learn all about how our wonderful mind works. Nothing is what is seems at the Museum of Illusions Dubai!

Enjoy more than 60 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms that are designed to tease the senses and trick the mind.

Test your sense of balance while navigating our Vortex Tunnel, release your inner Einstein while solving our Dilemma games, and be confounded by the laws of gravity and size ratio perception through our interactive Ames and Tilted rooms, and all of this while taking tons of photos and making life-long memories.

“Enjoy our collection of holograms, look closely at every optical illusion, and observe each installation thoroughly. Our exhibits are a brilliant, playful reminder that our assumptions about the world we perceive are often nothing but a specter of illusions. Our classical showpieces will certainly make your jaw drop! Awesome tricks will teach you about vision, perception, the human brain and science, so it will be easier to comprehend why your eyes see things which your brain cannot process.”

Come and explore the world of illusions. Experience the impossible! Be sure your camera is fully charged and has memory space before you visit. By all means, bring your camera with you!

ZOO STATION: A U2:UV EXPERIENCE developed by Vibee in collaboration with Gavin Friday, U2’s longtime Creative Director, and with direct input from the band, Zoo Station features more than 12,000 square feet of interactive and immersive exhibit space across two floors, as well as a pop-up store with exclusive merchandise.

There will also be a Zoo TV Cinema—an intimate theater where films curated by The Edge, including rare and unreleased concert footage, will screen daily.

Explore and celebrate the incredible history of U2 at Zoo Station, located conveniently within The Venetian Resort Las Vegas - the only hotel connected to Sphere - and opens to the public on September 28, 2023.

CHARLIE WATTS Literature and Jazz Part I will be gaveled down by Christie's on September 28, 2023 in London.

Charlie Watts (1941-2021) made his first appearance with The Rolling Stones in 1963, and for almost sixty years provided the steady heartbeat to the "Greatest Rock n Roll band in the world". Outside of fame his great lifelong loves were Literature and Jazz, passions forged in childhood and this unrivaled collection of modern first editions and iconic jazz memorabilia was built with intelligence and dedication and offer a glimpse into Charlie’s unique place in the history of Rock n Roll.

The landmark sale for Lotas 1-204 will take place at Christie’s, London on September 28, 2023, with the Part II online sale closing the following day.

"Charlie was the heartbeat of the Rolling Stones for nearly sixty years, he was totally unique and devoted to jazz and literature from boyhood. He was the quintessential English gentleman and his absence is a great loss for us all. We miss him hugely."—Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood.

SARAH LUCAS: HAPPY GAS at Tate Britain. A major survey of the work of Sarah Lucas. One of the leading figures of her generation, Lucas is internationally celebrated for her bold and irreverent work, often exploring the human body, mortality, and very British experiences of sex, class and gender.

This exhibition brings together more than 75 works spanning four decades, from breakthrough early sculptures and photographs to brand new works being shown for the first time.

Devised in close dialogue with the artist and presented in her own voice, this survey takes a fresh look at Lucas’s practice to date.

The press preview and curator's tour takes place on Monday, September 25 with the exhibit on display to the public September 28, 2023 - January 14, 2024 at Tate Britain in London.

QUOBNA OTTOBAH CUGOANO

Painting by Che Lovelace celebrating Cugoano's baptism. Photo: Waddesdon and Rothschild Foundation

a key figure in Black British history and his baptism at St James’s Church 250 years ago is being recognized. "To mark the anniversary of the baptism of Quobna Ottobah Cugoano at London's St James’s in 1773.

Ottobah Cugoano was one of the most prominent abolitionists of 18th century London and a significant but largely forgotten figure in Black British history. St James’s has commissioned Trinidad-based artist Che Lovelace to create the first permanent artworks to commemorate Cugoano’s life anywhere in the world. Lovelace’s new paintings will be unveiled in the entrance of the church in late September.

Cugoano was born around 1757 in the Fante village of Agimaque or Ajumako in what is now Ghana. When he was a teenager he was kidnapped, sold, and transported to Grenada. His youth was spent as a shackled child laborer, and when he came to England in 1772 with the plantation owner Alexander Johnson, Cugoano swiftly sought baptism (though, contrary to what many believed, baptism did not legally result in liberation from enslavement or prevent the one baptized being enslaved again). He was baptized with the name John Stuart.

For Cugoano, his baptism took place at the font in St James’s Piccadilly, following discussions about Christianity with the Revd Thomas Skinner, a clergyman from Marylebone Street, who, with the Rector William Parker’s permission, baptised him in August 1773. The register simply reads: ‘John Stuart – a Black, aged 16 years’.

In the 1780s Cugoano joined forces with the Sons of Africa to fight for abolition and campaign on behalf of enslaved people whose lives were violently dehumanized in Africa, the Caribbean, and Britain. As part of a small and influential group including Olaudah Equiano and James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, Cugoano argued that liberation from enslavement was a necessary task held both by enslaved people and their masters.

Everyone, Cugoano asserted, has agency and power from within their own experience and circumstances, and can act in their own way to move towards life lived to the full as people made in the image of God. He believed that Christianity was, far from an obstacle to liberation, a necessary condition for liberation, and called strongly for conversion.

In Cugoano’s time, abolitionist and anti-abolitionist Londoners sat side by side at St James’s each Sunday. Dr. Skinner, who baptised Cugoano, and the Rector at the time Revd William Parker, ministered in the midst of this tension. At the time of Cugoano’s baptism in 1773 the Church of England was benefitting considerably from funds invested in the South Sea Company, which had traded in slaves between 1714 and 1739. When Cugoano lived on Pall Mall, where he wrote his book, the parish he lived in and the worshipping congregation he was part of, contained a diverse array of people, whose beliefs and practices were contributing either to the abolition of the abominable practice of slavery or to the perpetuation of its brutal racist violence.

The Revd Dr Mariama Ifode-Blease has written:

Quobna Ottobah Cugoano was kidnapped and trafficked as a child. His body and mind subjected to untold trauma and abuse, his dignity and humanity ignored and decimated. It is only because of God’s grace and his own personal fortitude that we have his story today. His words and active call for justice and equity echo through history, and evidence the power of economic, political and trade structures to change our perspective and shield us from the real-life consequences of our actions and choices. The transatlantic slave trade, which saw Africans stolen, violated, weighed, shackled, bought and sold, has shaped our view of the world through its codification of a hierarchy of ethnicity and the social construct of race. It presents the lie, that white is higher and better and black is lower and worse, as truth. That lie has been the foundation of many of our institutions, processes, and practices, and that lie must be deconstructed and dismissed as a moral imperative.

Cugoano was uprooted from his life and family, and his childhood was destroyed. His life and the lives of so many millions who were enslaved stand as a warning to us to remember that the forced global movement of people has children at the core. Child labour is real and exists. Child exploitation can make many rich and strip communities of future generations. We cannot turn our eyes away from this evil and we must not shirk our responsibility to work for better world for children and young "

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SWEET CHARITY

THE NEW YORK POPS UNDERGROUND fundraiser, hosted by Steven Reineke takes place Monday, October 2, 2023 at 54 Below, New York City.

An intimate cabaret performance by Tony Award nominee Betsy Wolfe will feature selections from & Juliet; Waitress; The Last Five Years, and more. During Betsy's performance, a three-course meal will be served, complete with wine pairings.

The evening kicks off with a champagne reception soundtracked by a special performance from The PopsEd Alumni Ensemble, a group of New York City students who have previously participated in ther Kids on Stage program.

Proceeds from The New York Pops Underground support PopsEd, which has provided music education, arts access, and performance opportunities to over 100,000 New York City students.

A TECTONIC CABARET Tectonic Theater Project's annual benefit, takes place on Monday, October 2, 2023 with a cocktail hour at 6:30 PM and performances at 7:30 PM at Sony Hall in New York City. Hosted by Tony Award-winner Jane Krakowski, the evening will honor Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and activist, Cynthia Nixon with the inaugural Jane Fonda Award and award-winning author, educator and CEO of Lambda Legal, Kevin Jennings with the James C. Hormel "Spirit of Tectonic" Award.

"We are incredibly proud to honor Kevin and Cynthia. Their tireless activism and advocacy for social justice have made an indelible mark on our society. Both Kevin and Cynthia exemplify the mission of Tectonic Theater Project by using their platforms to shed light on critical social issues and inspire meaningful change. We are honored to recognize their remarkable contributions."

Directed by Timothy Koch with musical direction by Anna Ebbesen, A Tectonic Cabaret will feature Tony Award-winner Joaquina Kalukango, Jelani Remy, Meghan Picerno, John McGinty, Grace McLean, Chloe Davis, Nick Lehane, and Donna Carrow.

"A Tectonic Cabaret supports Tectonic's new play development and Moment Work Institute education programs and has become a beloved annual fete in our community. With Moisés' new play Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard making its world premiere at Miami New Drama next month, our critically acclaimed new play Here There Are Blueberries headed to New York Theatre Workshop next spring, and multiple new enormously daring and exciting productions in development, there's never been a better time to support our efforts to create groundbreaking work for the stage."

MOLIERE IN THE PARK will present the OneLove OneTheater Gala, hosted by Murray Hill , on October 2, 2023 at Negril BK in Brooklyn, NY.

Celebrate, uplift and support Brooklyn’s only Off-Broadway theater company solely dedicated to fostering empathy and unity, by bringing free productions of Molière plays and more to Prospect Park, annually. Join them for innovative Caribbean cuisine and starry performances, all to benefit Molière in the Park’s 2023-2024 season!

The evening will feature the inaugural recipients of MIP’s The Shoulder-to-Shoulder Award: Emmy Award winner Samira Wiley and Consul Général of France in New York Jérémie Robert.

The evening also includes performances of excerpts from Molière plays and songs from musicals. Performers include Tony Award winner Deirdre O’Connell , Marc delaCruz, Emmy Award winner Michael Emerson, Yonatan Gebeyehu, Jennifer Mudge and Michelle Veintimilla.

AMAL WALKS ACROSS AMERICA 17 of the most influential L.A. cultural institutions and artists are joining forces to welcome Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, who will be arriving in Los Angeles on October 31 as part of her epic 6,000-mile journey across the United States this fall.

Amal’s visit to Los Angeles is part of Amal Walks Across America: a nationwide journey spanning more than 35 cities and towns, 100 events and, 300+ partners over two months. Starting in Boston, MA on September 7 and culminating on November 5 in San Diego, CA.

“Little Amal’s experience walking across America is made possible because of our amazing partners in every city, who make it a point to show Amal the best of their communities,” said The Walk’s Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi. “In Los Angeles, we have 17 amazing partners who are working together to create 8 beautiful events of welcome for Little Amal. We hope Angelenos of all ages join us to walk with Little Amal and bring attention to the urgent needs of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers.”

In Los Angeles, About Productions, Armory Center for the Arts; Center Theatre Group in partnership with The Music Center; Community Arts Resources (CARS); Deaf West Theatre, Debbie Allen, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Pasadena Playhouse; UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance/Design for Sharing and UCLA Community School; Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis); West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval;, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights; Conejo Interfaith Refugee Team; Global Partnership for Student Solidarity;, Grand Performances and Sankofa will create a series of theatrical “events of welcome” for Amal and add their unique color to the rich tapestry of America’s story throughout Amal’s Los Angeles trek from October 31 - November 3.

Little Amal traveled through cities, towns and villages across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK in 2021, and Ukraine, Poland and the Netherlands in 2022. Most recently, in the fall of 2022 she completed a journey through the five boroughs of New York City. In New York, she participated in more than 50 events with cultural, political, spiritual, and other leaders, as well as artists and immigrant groups, among others hoping to refocus attention on the urgent needs of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers, and to highlight the rich cultures and contributions immigrants bring with them.

During her travels through Europe, Amal participated in events, including at an installation in Turkey that paid tribute to those who lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean in search of refuge and an appearance at Glastonbury alongside the Refugee Choir Citizens of the World Choir and global rock superstars Elbow. In New York City, she was welcomed at events hosted by world-renowned cultural institutions including the American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company. Amal was designed and built by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa, creators of the award-winning puppets for the hit show War Horse. Amal is inspired by a character in Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s play The Jungle, about a refugee camp in Calais, France. The Walk 2021 was a co-production with Good Chance Theatre.

THE FILM AND TV CHARITY OF ENGLAND has added an additional £500,000 to their budget "to help support the film, TV, and cinema workforce as they deal with the impact of strikes in the US, the cost-of-living crisis and a production downturn."

SPREADING THE WORD

PAUL ANKA

The estate of Paul Anka. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals Photo Credit Shawn Cordon

One of the world’s most popular singer-songwriters since the 1950s, who spent decades headlining Las Vegas resorts, has listed his Sherwood Country Club Mansion in Thousand Oaks, California for $10 Million as listed by TopTenRealEstateDeals.

The personable Anka who always delivers 110% on every performance is best known for his hit singles such as "Diana," and "Lonely Boy." In 2007, the multi-talented artist purchased a stunning mansion within the Sherwood Country Club gates. Paul has recently listed the home for $10 million. Paul’s home is featured this week at TopTenRealEstateDeals.com. One of the biggest teen idols of the 1950s and ‘60s, Anka toured with Buddy Holly and wrote the theme song for the Johnny Carson Show. In addition to his solo career, Anka wrote hits for some of the world’s biggest musical stars, including the lyrics to Frank Sinatra’s My Way, Tom Jones’ She’s a Lady,and three singles for Michael Jackson. He was one of the first pop stars to perform in Las Vegas. With a musical style that has evolved through the decades, the 82-year-old Anka is still active, releasing his latest album, Sessions, in 2022 and serving on the board of the holographic tech startup, ARHT Media, with Kevin O’Leary.

A few of Paul Anka's gold records which line the back wall do NOT come with the sale. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals. Photo Credit Shawn Cordon

The stately, French-inspired residence sits on one of the country club’s largest lots at nearly six acres, offering views of the golf clubhouse and the surrounding mountains. The landscaped grounds feature a majestic infinity pool, plus a glass-walled, free-standing gym and outdoor shower. Fully gated, the home is set back from the road with a long driveway and private motor court. Past the impressive columned entryway, find an aesthetic of classic luxury, featuring stone floors, high ceilings, designer light fixtures and marble accents. Perfect for an entertainer, the home features a recording studio, a mirrored billiard room, a gorgeous chef’s kitchen, and collapsible doors that offer seamless access between the living and dining areas and the spacious patios for entertaining and lounging. The spacious primary suite includes a fireplace, an opulent bath, and a dressing room. With 7,791 square feet, five bedrooms and six baths, the two-story home offers a lifestyle of opulence and elegance.

Sherwood Country Club is a golf, tennis, and social club located in Thousand Oaks, California. With a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, 13 tennis courts, a spa and fitness center, three restaurants, and an active social calendar, the club provides an exclusive upscale lifestyle surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains. The opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless, with shopping and dining available in the nearby towns of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village. Malibu’s spectacular beaches are only a few miles away. Sherwood hosts a PGA tour event, the Zozo Championship, and has had numerous celebrity members, including Kenny G, Mel Gibson, Will Smith, Sylvester Stallone, and Justin Timberlake.

The Paul Anka listing is held by Mary Ann Scott of Beverly and Company, LLC, and Team Nicki LaPorta and Karen Crystal at Compass.

B. J. NOVAK writer, actor, stand-up comedian, director, temping at Dunder Mifflin, he's has pretty much done it all. On September 28 he'll' deliver his enlightening and humorous reflections on life, art, and on how he once had a hand in contributing to an MFA exhibition tour.

B. J. Novak is part of the Museum of Fine Art Boston's annual Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Celebrity Lectures series.

SONGBOOK SUNDAYS created and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer celebrating the American Songbook will continue at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in New York City with One for Harold Arlen on Sunday, October 1, 2023.

One for Harold Arlen swings the blues of Arlen classics like The Man that Got Away; Stormy Weather; That Old Black Magic; Come Rain or Come Shine and more.

Hosted and curated by leading American Songbook expert Deborah Grace Winer, the set features Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba, Broadway’s stellar Allison Blackwell, with JALC rising star Georgia Heers.

Music director Ted Rosenthal leads a band of all-stars including Yasushi Nakamura on bass, Jimmy Macbride on drums and Alex De Lazzari on tenor saxophone.

LOOKING FOR LOVE 30,000 women applied to be contestants on Golden Bachelor the new ABC-TV series, which has Gerry Turner, a retired restaurateur who lives on a lake in Indiana, up for grabs.

WHAT TURNS YOU OFF an online poll commissioned by SuperCasinoSites, looked into the most frequent causes of dating breakups in the United States. The survey delved into what makes Americans suddenly start to dislike the thought of being romantically connected to a specific person. The poll included additional questions about the star signs of respondents, the time they met their current partner, and the relationship bloopers they have made in the past.

SuperCasinoSites conducted the poll through the Markets Chain platform on September 10-11, 2023, contacting 2,000, 21 years old or older, individuals in the US. "We found that being disrespectful to service staff is the No.1 dating turn-off among Americans, with 20% of the respondents identifying it as unacceptable."

Additional key findings:

- Showing up late and chewing loudly are two of the most common dating bloopers, with 15% of respondents, stating they would not go on a second date with someone who did either of these things.

- A considerable portion, 14%, stated that they do not want to be in the company of someone who has bad breath or unpleasant body odor.

- A cocky attitude should also be avoided, as it is considered a turn-off by 11% of respondents.

SIR BRIAN MAY

Rocker Dr. Brian May is a key player.

who worked his way through school as the guitarist for Queen, is an important member of the team that will bring NASA's Osiris-Rex (short for Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer) capsule back to earth.

It's a big deal.

Expected to scream into the Earth's atmosphere "more than 15 times the speed of a rifle bullet," according to NASA the plop down is expected to take place in Utah's West Desert on September 24 at around 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT).

Teams of NASA and U.S. military personnel will be standing by to recover it.

The return capsule's structure consists of a graphite-epoxy material covered with a Thermal Protection System making use of NASA's PICA heat shield technology.

What this is all about is answering the questions: Where did the earth come from? How was it formed and when?

Hopefully, the stuff on board will have the answer.

That "stuff" is 9 oz of asteroid Bennu which is 1,722-feet-wide (525 meters) but devoid of suitable landing sites.

Thus, this type of operation was required.

Launched in 2016, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft reached asteroid Bennu in October 2020 and collected samples from the near-Earth asteroid's surface.

Now it has almost completed its more than 4 billion-mile journey with its return to Earth.

The brainy rocker guitarist's involvement is crucial. He is considered an expert in stereo imaging.

Yeah, but does he know how to parallel park a car?

May's expertise is in creating 3D-images from single camera shots taken from various angles and processing those to recreate vivid lifelike views. He and collaborator Claudia Manzoni did this for the shortlist of possible sample sites on Bennu. They established the safest places to approach.

As space.com pointed out: The 3D images of Bennu May created helped the team gauge the nature of the space rock's treacherous surface and ultimately find a crater that not only seemed to contain scientifically promising material, but also looked boulder-free enough to allow OSIRIS-REx, after some serious software updates, to attempt the landing.

OSIRIS-REx's journey is now told in a new book fillled with Brian May's images and features a 3D eye-piece designed by the music legend himself. Bennu: 3-D Anatomy of an Asteroid, authored by Dr. May and OSIRIS-REx principal investigator Prof/ Dante Lauretta, is available in the U.S. from University of Arizona Press and in the U.K. from London Stereoscopic Company.

May is the creator of the London Stereoscopic Company which now make stereo viewers.

"I always say you need art as well as science," Sir Brian told BBC News. "You need to feel the terrain to know if the spaceship is likely to fall over or if it will hit this 'rock of doom' that was right on the edge of the eventual chosen site, called Nightingale. If that had happened it would have been disastrous."

"When we get the 250g (9oz) of asteroid Bennu back on Earth, we'll be looking at material that existed before our planet, maybe even some grains that existed before our Solar System," says Lauretta, the principal investigator on the mission.

"We're trying to piece together our beginnings. How did the Earth form and why is it a habitable world? Where did the oceans get their water; where did the air in our atmosphere come from; and most importantly, what is the source of the organic molecules that make up all life on Earth?"

For the 99.9% of you reading this who don't understand any of the scientific gobbledygook - don't worry - Dr. Brian May has you covered.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THEATRE PRODUCERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA known as TPSCA, has announced that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law Budget Trailer Bill SB104/AB104, which includes funds to implement SB1116 The Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, authored by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) and co-sponsored by TPSCA and Actors’ Equity Association.

SB104/AB104 will reallocate $11.5 million in unexpended funds from previously established grant programs for the performing arts to the Fund, with $7.5 million coming from unused funds in the Nonprofit Performing Arts grant program, and $4 million from the California Venues grant program. Once established, the Equitable Payroll Fund will be used to reimburse payroll expenses for small nonprofit theaters, dance companies, choruses, opera houses, symphonies and other nonprofit performing arts organizations.

"We believe this represents a critical step toward rebuilding sustainability for California's small nonprofit performing arts organizations, and for expanding job opportunities for thousands of underemployed creative workers in the sector,” says TPSCA board president Martha Demson. “We want to thank Senator Portantino for championing our cause over the past two years, and for his stalwart efforts in seeking to repurpose unexpended funds from earlier relief grant programs. We also want to express our gratitude to Governor Newsom for keeping these much needed dollars in the performing arts."

In a groundbreaking innovation, the Equitable Payroll Fund will award the highest-percentage reimbursements to the smallest organizations, reversing the typical arts funding tendency to reward the most established institutions and elevating the role smaller organizations have to play in generating equitable opportunities across the state.

A new study by CVL Economics, the firm behind the annual Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, found that the California performing arts sector generates significant economy activity. According to the study, "for every 100 performing arts jobs, an additional 156 jobs were supported in other sectors through downstream impacts. Each Performing Arts job resulted in $13,287 additional state and local tax revenue."

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PRINCE WILLIAM AT THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE INNOVATION SUMMIT which took place in New York City, announced the 15 finalists - three chosen from each of the five groups.

Five winners - one from each category - will be chosen, honored for their contributions to environmentalism. Each winner receives a grant of £1 million to continue their environmental work. The Awards Ceremony will take place on November 7, 2023 in Singapore.

The finalists are:

FIX OUR CLIMATE
Sea Forest, Australia: Sea Forest’s seaweed-based livestock feed reduces the planet-warming methane emissions from cattle and sheep and supports sustainable farming and healthy marine ecosystems.
Aquacycl, US: Using microbial technology, Aquacycl are making the treatment of industrial wastewater more accessible, more efficient, and less polluting.
Boomitra, Global (US HQ): Boomitra are removing emissions and boosting farmer profits by incentivizing land restoration through a verified carbon-credit marketplace.

"PROTECT AND RESTORE NATURE
Acción Andina, Peru: Acción Andina is a South American community-based initiative protecing native high Andean forest ecosystems.
Freetown the Tree Town, Sierra Leone: combines community stewardship and digital tools to help tree preservation in Sierra Leone's capital.
Belterra, Brazil: Belterra works with smallholder farmers in Brazil to restore forests through regenerative agricultural practices and to create market incentives for sustainably grown crops.

CLEAN OUR AIR
Polish Smog Alert, Poland: A conservation campaign group, works to secure policy change and air quality improvements across Poland - goals to do the same across Central and Eastern Europe.
ENSO, UK: ENSO creates tyres specially designed for electric vehicles that are more sustainable and reduce harmful tyre pollution.
GRST, Hong Kong: With the development of a new way to build and recycle lithium-ion batteries, GRST offers a way to make electric cars of the future even cleaner.

REVIVE OUR OCEANS
Abalobi, South Africa: Abalobi works with small fishing communities to record their catch data and to ensure a fair and improved livelihood from sustainable fishing.
Coastal 500, Global (US HQ): A global network of mayors and local government leaders, to restore ocean habitats and advocating for coastal protection internationally.
WildAid Marine Programme, Global (US HQ): non-profit organisation uses partnership building and knowledge sharing to address the world’s ocean conservation needs.

BUILD A WASTE FREE WORLD
S4S Technologies, India: S4S Technologies’ solar-powered dryers & processing equipment combat food waste, enabling small-hold farmers to preserve crops & turn produce that might otherwise go to waste into products.
"Circ Inc., US: US-based company Circ has created a solution to enable the recycling of polycotton fabrics, which make up half of all textile waste.
Colorifix, UK: Colorifix uses DNA sequencing and nature's own colours to create sustainable dyes that reduce the fashion industry’s use of water and harmful chemicals.

The Earthshot Prize is awarded to five winners each year for their contributions to environmentalism. It was first awarded in 2021 and is planned to run annually until 2030. Each winner receives a grant of £1 million to continue their environmental work.

THE LEE STRASBERG THEATRE & FILM INSTITUTE (West Hollywood, CA and New York, NY) announces the hiring of Dana Theodoratos as the new Head of Talent, a role which was recently created to consult on transitioning the Institute’s talent from students to professional actors in the film and television community.

In her new position, Theodoratos will produce an annual Actors of the Institute Talent Showcase and act as the talent and casting liaison who oversees the development of a unique casting database of the Institute’s top talent to put forth to the casting community. Theodoratos will also spearhead an industry-wide professional guest speaker series focused on actors and casting for the Institute.

Theodoratos was most recently Executive Vice President of Talent & Casting at The CW Television Network. She led the charge in discovering some of TV’s biggest stars, casting actors on every television pilot and series at the network for more than 20 years. From 2002 to 2006, Theodoratos served as Vice President, Talent & Casting at The UPN Television Network. From 1999 to 2002, Theodoratos was the Manager of Casting at Michael Ovitz’s television studio Artists Television Group. Theodoratos lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

LINCOLN CENTER THEATER PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ANDRE BISHOP will retire from his 33-year-innovative and highly successful career at the end of the company's 2024-2025 season, which will be LCT's 40th anniversary.

Bishop joined the company as artistic director in 1992, becoming producing artistic director in 2013. During his reign, Bishop helmed 15 Tony-winning productions. Before joining LCT, Bishop served as artistic director of Playwrights Horizons for 10 years, which followed a six-year tenure as the company's literary manager. Among the works he helped premiere on that stage were the Pulitzer-winning The Heidi Chronicles, Driving Miss Daisy, and Sunday in the Park With George.

METROPOLITAN OPERA CHORUS MASTER DONALD PALUMBO has announced that he will resign at the end of the current season from the post he has held for the past 17 years. A search for Palumbo's successor will take place over the coming season.

Before joining the Met, Palumbo served as chorus master at Lyric Opera of Chicago from 1991-2007. He has also held the post of chorus master at the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Dallas Opera, and was the first American to serve as chorus director of the Salzburg Festival, a position which he held from 1999-2001.

Palumbo will continue to work with the Metropolitan Opera in future seasons on select operas, while also continuing on the faculty of the Juilliard School, where he began teaching in 2016.

SECOND STAGE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CAROLE ROTHMAN who has led the esteemed company since its founding 45 years ago in 1979 will step down in the spring of 2024.

During her tenure she produced more than 250 plays and musicals.

Originally an Off-Broadway venue, Second Stage acquired the Helen Hayes Theater in 2015, making it one of only four non-profit theatre companies operating on Broadway.

GET WELL SOON TO . . .

JIMMY KIMMEL who had to cancel his planned Strike Force Three show which was set for September 23 in Las Vegas after the late night talk show host came down with Covid.

Strike Force Three, a live show starring Kimmel and his friends Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, would have marked the first time that the three late nighters performed on stage together.


On his X account Kimmel posted in part: I could never live with myself if I got my hometown friends sick. Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets, everyone will get full refunds and we will try to reschedule if possible."



UNCLE TED by Senator Gary Stevens.

Directed by Kalli Denali Randall.

In this homage to the famous longtime Alaskan senator, the audience is taken on a journey through his pivotal life moments. The play examines the reputation, as well as the rise and fall of Senator Ted Stevens, told by the man himself.

The longest-serving Republican in Senate history, Stevens was indicted on charges of concealing gifts he received from an Alaska oil services. He was since reelected six times. In August 2010 he died in a plane crash in Dillingham, Alaska.

Stevens was known for his prowess in channeling federal dollars to his home state. For years, he served as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, exerting his power to secure funding for projects in Alaska ranging from millions for new airports right down to a few hundred thousand dollars for berry research. He's been a champion of Native Alaskans and — like almost all Alaskan politicians — he favors drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"In the history of our country, no one man has done more for one state than Ted Stevens," said Republican leader Mitch McConnell in a statement. "His commitment to the people of Alaska and his nation spanned decades, and he left a lasting mark on both."

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) of Louisiana, who often joined Stevens in the hit lists of public-interest groups opposed to pork spending, said in a statement: "Ted always said, 'To hell with politics. Do what is best for Alaska.' He never apologized for fighting for his state, and Alaska is better for it today."

Uncle Ted has performances September 29, 2023 - October 22, 2023 at Cyrano's Theatre Building in Anchorage, Alaska.

PARTNERSHIP by Elizabeth Baker.

Directed by Jackson Grace Gay.

Featuring Gina Daniels, Joshua Echebiri, Gene Gillette, Olivia Gilliatt, Sara Haider, Christiane Noll, Tom Patterson, and Madeline Seidman.

Partnership is a story of yearning for more, but wrapped in the pink charmeuse of light comedy. Kate Rolling owns a small but very smart shop in Brighton and is eager to grow. When George Pillatt, owner of the biggest shop in Brighton, proposes a merger on favorable terms — including matrimony — Kate sees an irresistible business opportunity. "Oh, don't worry about me," Kate assures her colleagues, "I never expected anything great in the way of love." But isn’t romance most likely when it’s least expected?

Partnership is a delightfully refreshing take on the importance of work-life balance and a celebration of the eye-opening power of love. Baker’s play premiered in 1917, a balm for war-weary theatergoers. "One of the very few intelligent and, therefore, really interesting plays of the moment is Partnership at the Court by Miss Elizabeth Baker… It is the eternal battle of the spirit over the material… Don’t miss Partnership. It grips you precisely because it is not a fairy tale,” wrote The Graphic.

Presented by the Mint Theater Company, this American Premiere runs September 30th through November 12th at Theatre Row in New York City.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE: MY WINDOW written by Melissa Etheridge, with additional material by Linda Wallem-Etheridge.

Directed by Amy Tinkham.

Known for her raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has lit up airwaves and arenas across the world for more than two decades with instant classics like I'm the Only One; Come to My Window; Want to Come Over and more.

"Melissa Etheridge: My Window is an intimate experience like never before, inviting theatergoers into an evening of storytelling and music. From tales of her childhood in Kansas to her groundbreaking career highlights – with all of life’s hits and deep cuts between – Etheridge opens her heart and soul on stage to fearlessly dazzle audiences of all generations. My Window lands on Broadway following an acclaimed, world premiere engagement in October 2022 at New World Stages in New York City. "

The creative team includes scenic design by Emmy Award nominee Bruce Rodgers, lighting design by Abigail Rosen Holmes, projection design by Olivia Sebesky, and sound design by Shannon Slaton.

The Grammy and Academy Award-winning rockstar Melissa Etheridge’s limited nine-week Broadway residency at the Circle in the Square Theatre official ly opens on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

THE PITCHER PROJECT conceived and directed by Quentin Madia, with music, book and lyrics by Quentin Madia and Lauren Pelaia, and additional materials by Alex Knezevic.

The Pitcher Project is a new musical that explores the rise and destruction of the now-abandoned mining town of Picher, Oklahoma. Once the world’s largest producer of lead and zinc, Picher became the EPA’s #1 Superfund site, deeming it the most toxic place in America. Based on interviews, personal stories and historic events, the show covers the town’s 100-year history from the opening of the mines to the town’s demise. While grappling with losing their homes, the town is forced to confront their complicated political divide, unpredictable natural disasters, and environmentally caused illnesses. Through the lives of Picher citizens and the often forgotten experience of the Quapaw Nation, The Pitcher Project shows the struggles of illness, pride, love and loss, ultimately asking the following questions: How do we take responsibility for our history? How do we treat the land we live on? How do we leave our home?

The cast includes Bart Shatto, Kimberly JaJuan, Jade Amber, Reese Sebastian Diaz, Cat Greenfield, Tora Nogami Alexander, Alex Schecter, Jasper Berger, Fin Moulding, Hannah Bonnett, Jianzi Colón-Soto, Brett Parker Dixon, Jenna Drahota, Ricky Francese, Rene Henry, Calvin Knegten, Patricia Lawrence, Bradley Lewis, Joe Rumi and Stephen White.

The creative team includes Lauren Pelaia and Irene Westfall (Music Directors), Maren Prophit (Scenic & Props Design), Saawan Tiwari (Costume Design), Travis Wright (Sound Design), Quentin Madia (Light & Projection Design), Rebecca Johnston (Production Stage Manager), Téa Einsarsen (Associate Director) and Angela Lopes (Assistant Stage Manager).

Running September 28 - October 21 at Dixon Place in NYC.

TWISTED by Joel Greenhouse with original music by Peter W. Dizozza.

Directed by Joe John Battista,

"Blackmail! Lust! Demons of Darkness! and Dancing! Zip up your Go-Go boots and welcome to Twisted, a fast and funny train ride through hell that pays tribute to exploitation films of the 1960’s."

The show stars Penny Balfour, GLAAD nominee Brian Belovitch and Robert Z Grant, along with JC Augustin, Sevin Ceviker, Tony Del Bono, Larry Fleischman, Maude Lardner Burke, Evan Laurence, Andrew Ryan Perry and Christine Weiss Beidel.

Musicians include Peter W. Dizozza (Piano), Joe John Battista (Guitar), Ron Raymond (Bass) and Kevin Murray (Drums).

The production team includes Mark Marcante (Set Design), Brian Park (Sound & Light Design), Wendy Tonken (Costume & Props Design), Joe John Battista (Video/Projection Design), Sevin Ceviker (Choreography) and John King (Production Stage Manager).

Running September 28 - October 15 at Theater for the New City in NYC.

THE PIANIST a play with music, based on the memoir "The Pianist" by Wladyslaw Szpilman and directed and adapted for the stage by Emily Mann.

The play features an original score by Iris Hond.

A new stage adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman's harrowing account of the annihilation of Jewish life in Warsaw during World War II and his remarkable survival through the transcendent power of music.? Szpilman was the most acclaimed young musician of his time until his promising career was interrupted by the onset of World War II. He played the last live music heard over Polish radio airwaves before Nazi artillery hit. Though he escaped deportation, Szpilman was forced to live in the heart of the Warsaw ghetto. The play follows Szpilman's heroic and inspirational journey of survival with the unlikely help of a sympathetic German officer.

Starring Ukrainian-Russian Jewish actor Daniel Donskoy as Wladyslaw Szpilman in his American stage debut and features Claire Beckman as Mother, Austin Pendleton as Father, Paul Spera as Henryk, Arielle Goldman as Regina, Georgia Warner as Halina/Woman, Charlotte Ewing as Magda/Boy, Tina Benko as Janina and others, Robert David Grant as Majorek and others, and Jordan Lage as Jaworski.

The creatives are: choreography and assistant direction by Terry Berliner. Scenic design by Tony Award Winner Beowulf Boritt, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, costume design by Tony Award Winner Linda Cho. Co -sound design by Mark Bennett & Charles Coes and video and projection design by S. Katy Tucker.

Szpilman’s memoir inspired the 2002 Oscar-winning film starring Adrien Brody. The Pianist began its development at The McCarter Theatre Center, where Emily Mann served as Artistic Director and Resident Playwright from 1990–2020, and which was honored by the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre during her tenure. The play was first presented in 2017 as a reading. It was decided to augment the innate power of the piece with an original score, and in 2018, Iris Hond was retained as composer. That same year, The Pianist received a music and sound design workshop, where the score was integrated with beginnings of the complex, layered sound effects that Emily calls “a key character in the drama.” The Pianist begins previews on September 26, with an official opening night set for September 29. The play runs through October 22 at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

TACOS LA BROOKLYN by Joel Ulloa

Directed by Fidel Gomez.

Tacos La Brooklyn stars Gavin Lee as Chino; Esperanza America as Yesenia Tapia; Xavi Moreno, Zilah Mendoza and Alejandra Flores as fellow LA River Night Market vendors Mike, Monse and Lencha; Sal Lopez as Chino’s "abuelito"; Paul Dateh, Ariel Kayoko Labasan and Sayaka Miyatani as "Japanese Cholos" Whisper, Benjiro and Mariko; and Jesus "Chuy" Perez as "El Musico."

Chino, a young and ambitious Korean American who grew up in a foster family on Los Angeles’ Eastside, hopes to grow his successful taco stand, "Chino’s Underground Tacos," into a brick and mortar restaurant. When Yesenia Tapia, a Mexican American social media influencer, accuses Chino of cultural appropriation and pandering to a gentrifying neighborhood, he must convince the community of his cultural authenticity in a multi-faceted and complicated city.

The creative team includes scenic designer Natalie Morales; lighting designer Pablo Santiago; sound designer John Zalewski; projection designer Hsuan-Kuang Hsieh; and costume designer Maria Catarina Rodrigues. The assistant director is Nicolas Ruano. Stage manager is Alexa Wolfe is assisted by Valerie Vega.

Officially opening September 30 at The Los Angeles Theatre Center with performances continuing through October 29, 2023.

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FINAL OVATION

MICHAEL McGRATH Tony award winning actor died September 14, 2023 at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He was 65 years old.

McGrath played the role of Cookie McGee in the Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

McGrath played the role of Patsy in the Broadway musical Spamalot, for which he received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

McGrath originated the role of Mr. Simmons in Memphis. He was an ensemble member and understudy for many shows, including My Favorite Year; Swinging on a Star, and Little Me. He appeared in the musicals Anything Goes as Moonface Martin and in Wonderful Town as Chick Clark.

McGrath starred in the play Is He Dead? on Broadway in December 2007 to February 2008 as Agamemnon Buckner. In 2014, he was in the A.R.T. pre-Broadway production of Finding Neverland replacing Roger Bart in the dual role of Charles Frohman and Captain James Hook.

McGrath appeared in a new musical The Honeymooners, based on the television comedy The Honeymooners. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey on September 28, 2017, and starred McGrath as Ralph Kramden.

On television, McGrath was the announcer/sidekick on The Martin Short Show.

While working in the Boston production of Forbidden Broadway, McGrath met his future wife, Toni DiBuono who survives him.

Next Column: October 1, 2023
Copyright: September 24, 2023 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

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