More Theater Monday - Franklinland & The Beacon

We received complimentary tickets to Franklinland for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Franklinland 

Where: Ensemble Studio Theater

             549 W. 52nd St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 16 and Up

When: Through November 3, 2024

The media has generally accustomed us to think of Benjamin Franklin as a kindly old man with razor-sharp wit and a keen and inventive mind. He is probably one of the most beloved forefathers. Lloyd Suh's play, Franklinland paints a very different picture. His Franklin is an egotistical pompous jerk whose son could never possibly measure up to the impossible standards of his father because he could never be his father. 

The show is basically a two-character play revolving around Franklin's relationship with his son, William Franklin although William's son comes into the show briefly towards the very end. The performances are both good. Noah Keyshian is especially good in the role of William. His portrayal of a man who just wants to make his father proud and be loved by him is heartbreaking. His sadness and longing are so clearly written all over his face. 

It is a fact that Franklin and his son were on opposite sides of the Revolutionary War. William Franklin was actually the royal governor of the colony of New Jersey. Although we do not know the historical accuracy of this play if the pair's relationship was anything like it is here, it makes it perfectly understandable why the son would want to completely break away from his father. 

If you revere Benjamin Franklin you may enjoy the parts of the play that recount his experiment with the key and the kite in the storm and talk of some of his famous inventions. Still, you may want to skip the show if you don't want your allusions about the kind of person he may have been shattered. For the rest of us, we are reminded that our forefathers were not perfect they were just people like us with good and bad sides to their character although we would still like to hope that Benjamin Franklin was a better man than he is portrayed in this show. 

For more about Franklinland or to purchase tickets, visit www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/20242025/2024/6/franklinland

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We received complimentary tickets to The Beacon for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: The Beacon

Where: Irish Repertory Theater 

             132 W. 32nd St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through November 24, 2024

Kate Mulgrew is a force to reckon with in this show about a woman hiding secrets from the past. Beiv is an artist who may or may not have killed her husband. Most people seem to think that she did, and her son wants to know the truth.

Mulgrew shines as always, and she is gloriously supported by a terrific supporting cast. The set, lighting, and sound designers do an excellent job of evoking a sense of place. The waves crashing against the shore of Beiv's island home look and sound so real, and they really help evoke an atmosphere of foreboding and a deep sense of isolation. 

If you like a story full of twists and turns and loaded with family secrets, you may enjoy this one. It is wonderfully unpredictable. Even if you think you have it all figured out, you probably don't. 

And that's our view. For more about The Beacon or to purchase tickets, visit irishrep.org/show/2024-2025-season/the-beacon-2

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday. 

Photo credits: 

All Franklinland production photos by Jeremy Daniel

All The Beacon production photos by Carol Rosegg

Images used in this post have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image,  contact us here, and we will look into the matter.

Sunday Scoop Week of 10/27/28 What's Happening This Week and More

A) Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

1) Blithe Spirit

2) Your Name Means Dream

In New York

3) The Light and the Dark 

4) Mama I'm a Big Girl Now

5) Okuni: The Woman Who Created Kabuki

6) Ragtime

7) The Sex Writer

B) Cast Changes

8) MJ

9) Titanique

C) Closing Soon 

10) The Counter

D) What Else is Happening This Week and More

11) 10th Annual Diwali Festival

at Flushing Hall 11/2

12) America Classical Orchestra Chamber Music Concert The Trout

at University Club of New York 10/30

13) Death Becomes Her Digital Lottery and Rush Policies 

14) The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day to Air on Public TV

beginning 11/1

15) Follower at United Solo Festival

at Theatre One - Theatre Row 10/31

16) Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra

at Carnegie Hall 11/3

17) Just in Time Trailer Available Now

18) Lea Salonga: Joy the Holiday Album Availabe 11/1

19) Little Piece of You World Premiere Recording Available Now

20) MasterVoices Presents Strike Up the Band

at Carnegie Hall 10/29

21) MJ to Celebrate Halloween Across the Globe With Special Thriller Performances

22) PAC NYC's Icons of Culture Festival

10/29 - 11/4

23) South Street Seaport Museum Free General Admission & Activities for Diwali

11/1

24) Swept Away Release Music Video

25) Two Roads Documentary Premiere Screening

at Irish Repetory Theater 10/28 & 10/29

A) Beginning Performances 

In New Jersey

Courtesy of Kelsey Theatre

1) Blithe Spirit

When author Charles Condomine invites an eccentric medium to conduct a séance as research for his new book, and for an evening’s entertainment, the Condomines’ pristine English country house is turned upside down because Elvira, the stylish ghost of Charles's past wife, is conjured up. Hilarious mayhem ensues as the wife from the afterlife and the wife from this life battle over Charles' affections.  From the delightfully wicked mind of Noël Coward comes this ghostly tale, where love and marriage devolve into laughter and mayhem – and ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ no.

Kelsey Theatre (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor)

11/1 - 11/3

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.purplepass.com/events/296482-blithe-spirit-oct-31st-2024

2) Your Name Means Dream

Aislin is getting older and suffers the inevitable indignities of being human — and hates technology. Stacy, her caregiver, is perfectly toned, doesn’t age, and is utterly in control — because she’s an AI robot. And there’s a new algorithm out there called AOS or Approximation of Soul. Does Stacy have it? José Rivera examines how we live, die, and form our sense of self in a world that’s increasingly saturated with technology.

NJ Rep (179 Broadway, Long Branch)

10/31 - 11/24

Opening Night 11/2

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit NJRep.org

In New York

3) The Light and the Dark 

At the height of the Italian Renaissance, artists are reshaping the very image of humanity. Artemisia Gentileschi wants to become one of the great painters...but women are not thought capable of true artistry. With persistence and bravado she quickly establishes a groundbreaking perspective, but just as her career begins to gain momentum, a series of devastating betrayals crack the foundation of her life and art. Told through her piercing point of view, The Light and The Dark (the life and times of Artemisia Gentileschi) weaves a magnetic and empowering tapestry of art, ambition, rage, and resilience.

59E59 Theatres (59 E. 59 St.)

11/2 - 12/15

Opening Night 11/17

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PRIMARYSTAGES.ORG

Photo by Michael Kushner

4) Mama I'm a Big Girl Now

Tony nominees Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde), Kerry Butler (Beetlejuice, Xanadu), and Tony winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray) are reuniting for a fabulous, toe-tapping, show-stopping special event, Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now!  will feature musical direction by Andrew Byrne and produced by Lisa Dozier Shacket.

This spectacular event will kick off at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) for a limited run beginning November 2, 2024, with an official opening night on November 13 through December 8, 2024. Expect a dazzling night of nostalgia, laughter, and unforgettable musical moments as these Broadway mamas—who first met while originating the roles of Tracy, Penny, and Amber in the Tony Award-winning show Hairspray—take the stage again. They will revisit the show that helped launch their careers and lifelong friendships, all while singing hits from the shows that made you fall in love with them over 20 years ago.

Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now! is a full-on celebration of Broadway’s brightest moments. From the iconic Hairspray hits like "You Can’t Stop the Beat" and "I Can Hear the Bells" to creative mashups, exclusive medleys, and hilarious parodies, this show promises to be a night filled with all the sparkle and joy of a Broadway musical.

New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.)

11/2 - 12/8

Opening Night 11/13

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.MamaImABigGirlNow.com

5) Okuni: The Woman Who Created Kabuki

Combining authentic dance, live music, dialogue, and narration, Okuni tells the real-life story of a young woman who, in 1603, defied societal norms and gender roles to create Kabuki, one of Japan’s most iconic art forms. Performing on the riverbanks of Kyoto, Okuni and her all-female troupe captivated audiences by portraying both men and women with flamboyant costumes and swaggering style. Her bold, satirical performances quickly gained popularity, earning her the title “Best in the World” from the government. However, as imitators and concerns about morality grew, women were banned from performing Kabuki, and the tradition became an all-male domain—a practice that continues today. Presented by the bilingual Japanese-English theater company Amaterasu Za, Okuni brings to life the extraordinary journey of the woman who broke barriers and founded a theatrical tradition that has endured for over 400 years.

Theatre Row (410 West 42nd St.)

11/2 - 1/23

Opening Night 11/14

For more information or to purchase tickets. visit www.amaterasuza.org

6) Ragtime

Ragtime is a sweeping, powerful musical adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s novel with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally. Through heartrending storytelling and beloved songs like “Wheels of a Dream” and “Back to Before,” Ragtime offers an explosive and relevant portrait of America in the throes of social upheaval.

New York City Center (131 W. 55th St.)

10/3 - 11/10

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nycitycenter.org/ragtime

Photo by Philip Cruise

7) The Sex Writer

Jane's father, an "important" writer has just died by suicide and Jane goes home to her small town to deal with the details of death. Jane is a professor and spicy romance writer and as she meets new possibilities and old loves, she narrates all her sexual longings. She struggles to deal with the grief from her father's death and the feeling that he deserted her a long time ago.

Gene Frankel Theatre (24 Bond St.)

10/30 - 11/17

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.onthestage.tickets/show/thin-duke-productions/66fad10d4abcb41e91ec77cf.

B) Cast Changes

Photo by Nina Westervelt

8) MJ

Julius-Raymond Weems has joined the cast as Little Marlon

Neil Simon Theatre (250 W. 52nd St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit  MJTheMusical.com 

Courtesy of Vivacity Group Media

9) Titanique

Max Jenkins joins the cast as Jack Dawson 11/4

Daryl Roth Theatre (101 E. 15th St.)

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.titaniquemusical.com.

C) Closing Soon 

10) The Counter

Every morning at the local diner in a small town, a waitress refills a regular’s coffee. An unlikely friendship develops and keeps him coming back for more. But when he asks for a shocking favor, it brings to light both of their deepest secrets. The Counter is a funny, surprising, and moving meditation on the everyday connections that can change our lives. 

Laura Pels Theatre (111 W. 46th St.)

Closing 11/17

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.roundabouttheatre.org

D) What Else is Happening This Week and More

Courtesy of Anatgerstein

11) Flushing Town Hall Celebrates 10th Annual Diwali Festival with Dance, Music, and Family Fun

On Saturday, November 2, the Smithsonian affiliate in Queens marks a decade celebrating the Hindu Festival of Lights with Kathak dance, Bhangra music, Indian food and more 

 Flushing Town Hall invites the community to join in celebrating its 10th Annual Diwali Festival on Saturday, November 2 from 12PM to 4PM. This vibrant event for audiences of all ages will honor the Festival of Lights with a variety of cultural performances, family-friendly workshops, and a lively Bhangra dance party led by DJ Rekha. 

This year marks the first that New York City public schools will close in observance of the holiday, on Friday, November 1. Flushing Town Hall’s next-day celebration on Saturday, November 2 presents the perfect opportunity for families of all backgrounds to join the traditional festivities and learn about the holiday. 

The festival will begin at 12:00 noon with engaging workshops and captivating dance performances by Kathak classical dancer Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company, and guest dance troupe ADDA, alongside Dr. Santa R. Nandi. The workshops will include block printing with Alka Mukerji, rangoli making with Joshua Roychowdhury, and Indian cooking demonstrations by Chef Nupur Arora of Queens Curry Kitchen. Guests can also enjoy henna art by Bella Beauty, Hindi calligraphy, and more.

At 2:30 PM, festival goers will be invited to join the dance party led by the renowned DJ Rekha, known for her pioneering work in merging Bhangra with global dance beats. Born in London and raised in Flushing, DJ Rekha has built a career as a musician, educator, curator, and activist, and is best known for her long-running Basement Bhangra dance party.

The festival will feature the dance drama Navadurga, choreographed by Abha Roy and performed by Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company, and Dr. Santa R. Nandi. This dynamic piece explores the different forms of the goddess Durga, portraying her divine aspects such as innocence, love, compassion, righteous anger, and spirituality.

Flushing Town Hall’s 10th Annual Diwali Festival will take place on Saturday, November 2 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for member adults, and free for all children. Indian food will also be available for purchase throughout the day. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Box Office at (718) 463-7700 x 222.

For more upcoming events at Flushing Town, visit: 

https://www.flushingtownhall.org/fth-presents

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Courtesy of Pascal Nadon Communications

12) AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CONTINUES 40th ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH SPECIAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT AT THE HISTORIC UNIVERSITY CLUB OF NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 30

Program Features Schubert’s The Trout Piano Quintet and Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 2

12) AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CONTINUES 40th ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH SPECIAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT AT THE HISTORIC UNIVERSITY CLUB OF NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 30

12) AMERICAN CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA CONTINUES 40th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

WITH SPECIAL CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT AT THE HISTORIC

UNIVERSITY CLUB OF NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 30

Program Features Schubert’s The Trout Piano Quintet and Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 2

Program Features Schubert’s The Trout Piano Quintet and

Beethoven’s Piano Trio No. 2

The American Classical Orchestra (ACO), New York City’s leading period instrument orchestra, continues its 40th anniversary season with a chamber music concert performed in New York’s prestigious University Club on October 30 at 7:30 pm. The first of three such intimate concerts, the program showcases works by Schubert and Beethoven played on period instruments, duplicating the private settings in which this music was first heard. The evening includes a complimentary pre-performance cocktail reception offering audience members an opportunity to interact with the artists.

The Trout Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 7:30 pm University Club of New York, 1 West 54th Street Complimentary pre-performance cocktail reception at 6:30 pm Aisslinn Nosky, violin Kate Goddard, viola Myron Lutzke, cello Nicholas Kleinman, double bass Mike Cheng-Yu Lee, fortepiano Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, D.667 (The Trout) Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 2   This engaging performance takes place at the University Club of New York, a private club chartered in 1865 for the “promotion of literature and art.” The evening presents Schubert’s light-hearted Piano Quintet, commissioned in 1819 by the wealthy music lover Sylvester Paumgartner, who specified that the work had to use a unique combination of instruments: piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Schubert expanded the work by adding a fifth movement to the standard four-movement form, so that he could include a theme and variation movement based on the tune of Paumgartner’s favorite Schubert song, Die Forelle, (The Trout). The evening also includes Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat major Op. 70 No. 2, written for piano, violin, and cello, composed in 1808 in Vienna at the home of Countess Marie Erdödy and dedicated to her. Beethoven expanded the trio form in this work, adding a fourth movement that elevated it to the level of a symphony and lasting thirty to forty minutes. It is the composer’s earliest work with movements in three different keys. Tickets, priced at $125 for this special concert and cocktail reception, are exclusively available at aconyc.org or by calling the ACO at (212) 362-2727, ext.4. Dress Code: The University Club of New York’s dress code can be found here. For details of American Classical Orchestra’s 2024-25 season, click here.

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Courtesy of DKC/O&M

13) DEATH BECOMES HER ANNOUNCES DIGITAL LOTTERY AND RUSH TICKET POLICIES

DEATH BECOMES HER Digital Lottery powered by Broadway Direct will launch with a limited number of $40 tickets available for each performance. The lottery will open at 7am (ET) the day before each performance and close at 2pm (ET) that same day. Once the lottery closes, winners will be notified within minutes and will have 60 minutes to claim and pay for tickets. Seat locations and number of tickets awarded by the lottery are subject to availability. Lottery seats may be partially obstructed. Limit one entry per person per day and limit of two tickets per entry. To enter and for more specifics, please visit https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/dbh-nyc/.

 

A limited number of $35 in-person DEATH BECOMES HER Rush Tickets will be available when the Lunt-Fontanne box office (205 West 46th Street) opens at 10 AM (Monday – Saturday).  Rush tickets are subject to availability and may be partial view. There is a limit of two tickets per person.

For more information visit: DeathBecomesHer.com

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14)  “THE EYES OF THE WORLD:

FROM D-DAY TO VE DAY”

TO AIR ACROSS PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS NATIONWIDE

AND STREAMING ON  PBS.org  AND THE PBS APP

AS SPECIAL VETERANS DAY EVENT, BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1

HOST KATIE COURIC, HISTORIAN JOHN MONSKY, BOSTON POPS

 CONDUCTOR KEITH LOCKHART AND BROADWAY STARS LEAD A

 SYMPHONIC AND VISUAL JOURNEY THROUGH WORLD WAR II’S FINAL

 MONTHS IN EUROPE, FEATURING PERSONAL ACCOUNTS FROM ERNEST

 

HEMINGWAY, ROBERT CAPA, J.D. SALINGER AND LEE MILLER, FILMED

 WITH THE BOSTON POPS AT BOSTON’S SYMPHONY HALL.

American History Unbound and American Public Television (APT) announced today The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day, performed with the Boston Pops, will begin airing on public television stations nationwide and streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app (PBS Passport) beginning Friday, November 1, 2024. This symphonic and visual journey, capturing the dramatic final months of World War II in Europe, commemorates Veterans Day and the 80^th Anniversary of D-Day this year.

 

The performance was recorded on two sold-out nights at Boston Symphony Hall in May 2024.

 

In The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day, hosted by award-winning journalist and best-selling Author Katie Couric, historian and writer John Monsky weaves together music, meticulously researched history and rare film and photographs from the National Archives. The words and images of Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger, Vogue-model-turned-photojournalist Lee Miller, daredevil war photographer Robert Capa and the heroic 761^st Tank Battalion bring Monsky’s powerful narrative to life. Flags that were carried onto the beaches and paved the way to victory further illuminate these stories often lost to history.

 

The Boston Pops’ Keith Lockhart conducts the famed orchestra, featuring top Broadway vocalists Shereen Ahmed (My Fair Lady), Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls), Nicholas Rodriguez (Company) and Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton, Sweeney Todd). Lockhart leads the Boston Pops in a stirring mix of music that captures the essence of the times, featuring compositions from Glenn Miller, Richard Rodgers, Edith Piaf, Frank Loesser and more.

 

In the production, Monsky guides the audience through the Battle of the Hedgerows, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, the horrors of the Hürtgen Forest, Germany’s spiderweb of concentration camps and Munich, through the letters, journal entries and photographs of his witnesses. Along the way, as their journeys unfold in breathtaking fashion, they meet in the most unlikely of places and cross paths with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Pablo Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, the 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion and Hemingway’s estranged wife, trailblazing war correspondent Martha Gellhorn.

 

The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day distributed to public television stations by APT, is produced by American History Unbound Inc., with the Boston Pops and Bright Blue Group. For more information: www.americanhistoryunbound.com  

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Courtesy of Off Off PR

15) Follower

Written and Performed by

Katheryn McGaffigan

Co-directed by Maria Luisa Gambale

October 31, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 

United Solo Festival

Theatre One at Theatre Row

410 West 42^nd Street

New York, NY 10036

General Admission Tickets are $52.50 (includes $5 service charge)

For tickets, visit: https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/united-solo-theatre-fall-festival-2024-fall/

Website: Follower at United Solo Festival

Runtime: 45 minutes (no intermission)

United Solo Festival presents Follower, a gripping exploration of the methodical mind of a female stalker. Paralyzed by feeling lost and trapped in her own life, she follows others to discover new ways to live. Written and performed by Katheryn McGaffigan and co-directed by Maria Luisa Gambale, Follower will be staged at the United Solo Festival on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at Theatre One at Theatre Row, 410 West 42^nd Street in NYC. 

A former runaway with a troubled past gets a second chance at life from the most unlikely project: following and meticulously researching her high-achieving college classmate, whose life is in stark contrast to her own. On a desperate quest for direction and identity, her innocent admiration for him quickly becomes obsession. If she studies his life closely enough, can she use it as a guide for her own transformation? As her fixation intensifies and her feelings for him grow more complex, this thought-provoking performance reveals the extremes we may go to find ourselves. An unparalleled examination of stalking, obsessiveness, limerence, self-identity, and resilience.

The runtime is 45 minutes with no intermission.

General admission tickets are $52.50, which includes a $5.00 service charge. For tickets, visit UnitedSolo.org. Direct ticketing link: https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/united-solo-theatre-fall-festival-2024-fall.

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16) Greek Youth Orchestra

Makes Highly Anticipated 

American Debut, Sunday November 3

at Carnegie Hall

The internationally celebrated Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO), will make its highly-anticipated American debut at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York City, in a one-night-only concert event, Sunday, November 3, at 7:30PM. For tickets and information, visit CarnegieHall.org, call CarnegieCharge, 212-247-7800 or visit the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 881 7th Ave (at 57th Street).

 

Under the direction of its Founder and Artistic Director, Dionysis Grammenos, Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra is comprised of 300 auditioned musicians, ages 18 - 26, from nearly 50 cities in Greece and throughout Europe. At Carnegie Hall, 95 GYSO musicians will present an eclectic evening of music including contemporary European and American popular symphonic works as well as a fresh new take on traditional Greek dance music through a symphonic lens. 

The program will include ”<<rewind«” by acclaimed British, Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne; Leonard Bernstein’s celebrated “Symphonic Dances,” based on themes from his West Side Story; and a selection of Nikos Skalkottas’ “Greek Dances,” which premiered at Carnegie Hall exactly 70 years earlier, in November 1954, when performed by New York Philharmonic.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit

www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2024/11/03/greek-youth-symphony-orchestra-0730pm

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Courtesy of Polk and Co. PR

17) WATCH FIRST JUST IN TIME TRAILER HERE

STARRING TONY AWARD WINNER JONATHAN GROFF AS BOBBY DARIN

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Opening at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre 

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Previews begin Friday, March 28, 2025

www.JustInTimeBroadway.com

Producers Tom Kirdahy, Robert Ahrens and John Frost announce tickets are now on sale to the general public for the world premiere of the new Broadway musical JUST IN TIME starring Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along, Hamilton) as Bobby Darin, at www.JustInTimeBroadway.com for performances through Sunday, July 27, 2025, with performances beginning Friday, March 28, 2025.  Tickets for JUST IN TIME start at $99, with exclusive Night Club floor seating available for an up-close and personal experience.  Circle in the Square Theatre box office opening date, rush policy and other accessible pricing initiatives will be announced later.

 

Watch the first trailer for JUST IN TIME here: https://youtu.be/bABDyBnwvqI

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18) Center Stage Records Announces

LEA SALONGA: SOUNDING JOY –

THE HOLIDAY ALBUM Available

November 1, 2024

Lea Salonga: Sounding Joy – The Holiday Album. Her first holiday album in two decades, the Tony Award winner’s new album is available digitally and on CD on November 1, 2024. The album can be pre-ordered now at Amazon and www.CenterStageRecords.com  limited number of signed albums are available exclusively at www.CenterStageRecords.com.

International icon and Disney Legend Lea Salonga is celebrating the season with her first holiday album in over two decades. This highly anticipated studio release reimagines classic Christmas standards, introduces new original songs, and features a duet with American Idol superstar Clay Aiken. Sounding Joy promises to enchant listeners with Salonga's heartfelt interpretations and flawless vocals, offering a perfect soundtrack for the holiday season.

In support of the album, Salonga will be hitting the road again this winter. Sounding Joy | The Holiday Tour will make stops in San Francisco, San Diego, Northridge, Scottsdale and New York. Tickets are available now at leasalonga.com.

TRACK LISTING

1. Christmas Time / The Most Wonderful Time of the Year 2. Sleigh Ride
3. River
4. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

5. Last Christmas
6. Christmas on Broadway
7. All I Want for Christmas is You
8. Love is Our Christmas Star
9. What Child is This / Silent Night
10. I’ll Be Home for Christmas
11. This Christmas
12. Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be) – with Clay Aiken

TOUR DATES

Saturday, December 7, 8pm | The Warfield Theatre | San Francisco, CA
Monday, December 9, 7:30pm | Arizona MusicFest | Highlands Church | Scottsdale, AZ Wednesday, December 11, 7:30pm | Balboa Theater | San Diego, CA
Sunday, December 15, 2pm & 7pm | The Soraya | Northridge, CA
Friday, December 20, 8pm | The Town Hall | New York, NY

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19) Center Stage Records Announces Release of 

LITTLE PIECE OF YOU World Premiere Recording

Center Stage Records announced today the release of the world premiere recording of Little Piece of You – An Atypical Musical,  the new musical written by Kjersti Long and Jeremy Long (music & lyrics) and Melissa Leilani Larson (book). The recording is available digitally on Friday, October 25 at www.CenterStageRecords.com and at all digital outlets. It can be pre-saved now at https://orcd.co/lpoy. A CD of the album will be available on November 29, 2024.

Available digitally a week before its London concert premiere, the poignant and electrifying world of Little Piece of You – An Atypical Musical intertwines raw family drama with the dynamic pulse of modern rock and pop. Follow Shannon and Britt, a courageous mother and daughter, as they confront their family’s hidden struggles and embark on a transformative journey. Together, they shatter the silence that has long held them back and step into a future of hope and resilience.

Little Piece of You is penned by rock prodigy and exciting new talent, Kjersti Long, who will also star in the production in the role of Sidney Hill. Now aged 17, Kjersti began to write the music for the show when she was just 14. Long has headlined at some of the most iconic venues in the USA including The Bitter End in New York City, The House of Blues in San Diego and the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem to name a few. In 2022 she signed a distribution deal with Warner Brothers and released her first two songs, “Boys in Jersey” and “IDC”, a duet with Ryan Follese of Hot Chelle Rae fame. Both songs have over 2 million streams. 2024 has seen an additional single, “Sad Song”, released alongside the lead single “Legs (Keep Dancing)” from Vanessa Williams’ first album in 15 years, co-written by Kjersti. “Burn it Down”, a song featured in Little Piece of You, has had nearly 100,000 views on Youtube and can be viewed here.

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Courtesy of Pascal Nadon Communications

20) MASTERVOICES PERFORMS A NEW VERSION OF STRIKE UP THE BAND, GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN, GEORGE S. KAUFMAN, AND MORRIE RYSKIND’S POLITICAL MUSICAL SATIRE, ON OCTOBER 29 AT CARNEGIE HALL

Featuring Shereen Ahmed, Phillip Attmore, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Lissa deGuzman, Claybourne Elder, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham, and David Pittu; Choreography by Alison Solomon, Directed and Conducted by Ted Sperling

MasterVoices Launched its First Podcast Initiative Starting with Three Episodes Exploring Facets of Strike Up the Band

Featuring Shereen Ahmed, Phillip Attmore, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Lissa deGuzman, Claybourne Elder, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham, and David Pittu; Choreography by Alison Solomon, Directed and Conducted by Ted Sperling

Featuring Shereen Ahmed, Phillip Attmore, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee,

Lissa deGuzman, Claybourne Elder, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham, and

David Pittu; Choreography by Alison Solomon, Directed and Conducted by Ted Sperling

MasterVoices Launched its First Podcast Initiative Starting with Three Episodes Exploring Facets of Strike Up the Band

MasterVoices Launched its First Podcast Initiative Starting with

Three Episodes Exploring Facets of Strike Up the Band

MasterVoices opens its 2024-25 season on Tuesday, October 29 at Carnegie Hall when MasterVoices Artistic Director Ted Sperling leads the 140–member MasterVoices Chorus, the MasterVoices Orchestra and guest soloists in a concert staging of Strike Up the Band, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

 

The performance features Shereen Ahmed, Phillip Attmore, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Lissa deGuzman, Claybourne Elder, Christopher Fitzgerald, Bryce Pinkham, and David Pittu. The choreographer is Alison Solomon. The costume design is by Tracy Christensen and Somie Pak, lighting design by Shelby Loera, and sound design by Marc Salzberg.

 

With its soaring melodies, infectious syncopation, and lyrics that both provoke and delight, Strike Up the Band was the first of three political musicals that the Gershwins, George S. Kaufman, and Morrie Ryskind wrote together. MasterVoices has previously performed the other two, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Of Thee I Sing in 2017, and its sequel, Let ‘Em Eat Cake, in 2019. 

The MasterVoices Podcast

MasterVoices launched its first podcast initiative and just released the first of three episodes exploring different facets of Strike Up the Band. Hosted by writer, linguist, and musical theater aficionado John McWhorter, the three podcasts include interviews with Ted Sperling and Laurence Maslon on the making of the script, cartoonist and former Cartoon Editor for The New Yorker Bob Mankoff on where Kaufman’s brand of satire lives in the larger scheme of comedy, and conductor and author John Mauceri on operetta’s influence on the Gershwin’s score and lyrics. Click here for more details on The MasterVoices Podcast.

Strike Up the Band

Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 7:00 pm

Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin

Book by Laurence Maslon and Ted Sperling

Based on the original books by George S. Kaufman (1927)

and Morrie Ryskind (1930)

Restored by Tommy Krasker

Orchestrations by Russell Warner, William D. Brohn, William Daly,

Dick Hyman, Sid Ramin, Larry Wilcox, and Donald Johnston

Tickets, priced from $30, may be purchased online at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, or in person at Carnegie Hall’s box office at 57^th and Seventh Avenue.

Details of MasterVoices’ 2024-25 season can be found at mastervoices.org.

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21) “MJ”

TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN ACROSS THE GLOBE

WITH ENCORE PERFORMANCES

OF THE ICONIC “THRILLER” FINALE

 

ON BROADWAY

ON TOUR

AND

IN LONDON

 

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

OCTOBER 31^ST

 Producers Lia Vollack, John Branca and John McClain announced today that MJ, the Tony Award-winning smash hit musical, will celebrate Halloween on Broadway, on Tour, and in London after the evening performances on Thursday, October 31^st with a special performance of the beloved and iconic choreography in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” short film.

 

While the legendary number is performed in the musical every night, -- as envisioned by Tony Award-winner choreographer and director Christopher Wheeldon – now, in an annual Halloween tradition, audiences will get to witness a celebratory rendition of the iconic music video choreography, featuring one-night-only costumes, lighting, and projections. For the first time ever, this special event will be performed at all MJ productions currently around the globe.

 

Audience members are encouraged to wear costumes to the performance.

Tickets are available at www.broadwaydirect.com and at the Neil Simon box office. 

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22)

October 29 – November 2, 2024

The Perelman Performing Arts Center [PAC NYC, Khady Kamara Nunez, Executive Director, Bill Rauch, Artistic Director] is thrilled to present the inaugural PAC NYC ICONS OF CULTURE FESTIVAL presented by BNY from Tuesday, October 29 – Saturday, November 2, 2024.  

 

Joining the festival: a special edition of Tribeca Talks with Alanis Morissette in partnership with Tribeca Festival, ALOK, Ally Love and Interior Chinatown series regular Chloe Bennet and author/showrunner Charles Yu in partnership with Gold House and Hulu. In addition to  Icons: Misty Copeland, The Dogist, Alex Edelman, Renée Fleming, Michael Imperioli, Baaba Maal, Philippe Petit, Questlove, Marcus Samuelsson, Kathleen Turner, Serena Williams, and Vanity Fair’s Little Gold Men Live!  Moderators and more to be announced soon.  

 

Audiences can also enjoy free performances and events on the Vartan and Clare Gregorian Lobby Stage throughout the Festival.  A calendar of events is available at www.pacnyc.org

 

PAC NYC ICONS OF CULTURE FESTIVAL will bring audiences into the room with trailblazers in art, music, comedy, film, sports, and more to talk about pushing boundaries, making a mark, and elevating the everyday to the iconic.

 

The festival features cultural change-makers sharing their personal journeys and powerful insights, encouraging us all to be iconic in our own lives.

Tickets are currently on sale to the general public by calling 212-266-3000 or visiting pacnyc.org.  

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Courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR

23) South Street Seaport Museum

Offers Free General Admission and Festive Activities for Diwali

Friday, November 1, 2024 from 11am-6pm

South Street Seaport Museum presents Diwali Celebration on Friday, November 1, 2024 from 11am-6pm. Join the Seaport Museum and The Culture Tree for a full day of free Seaport Museum admission and festive activities to mark Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Diwali, named for the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that light up homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness, also marks the start of the Hindu New Year. Free general admission can be booked at seaportmuseum.org/diwali/

From 11am to 6pm, step aboard the Seaport Museum’s 1885 tall ship Wavertree for hands-on Diwali fun! Create your own baggywrinkle decoration inspired by marigold garlands, a symbol of good fortune and faith, but with a maritime twist. Plus, decorate your own “diya lamp”—or in this case, a candle—and float it in a special pool on deck, symbolizing prosperity for the new year. The Museum is staying open one hour later so that you can enjoy the glow of your diya lamp after sunset.

From 4pm to 6pm, enjoy Diwali Puppet Storytime on Wavertree and explore the significance and origins of Diwali and how it’s celebrated worldwide. Read stories like A Kids Book About Diwali, perfect for children and families. Following Storytime, dive into an interactive dance workshop where you’ll learn mudras (hand gestures) from classical Indian dance and groove to popular Diwali songs in a lively performance!

In addition to these exciting, all-ages activities, enjoy free access to the Seaport Museum’s current exhibitions at 12 Fulton Street and explore the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Timed tickets for a free tour of the 1908 lightship Ambrose are also available.

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Courtesy of DKC/O&M

24) “SWEPT AWAY”

SHARES FIRST OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO OF

“A GIFT FOR MELODY ANNE”

SUNG BY THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST

Producers Matthew Masten, Sean Hudock, and Madison Wells Live, released a music video of “A Gift for Melody Anne” from The Avett Brothers’ new musical Swept Away which will begin performances on Tuesday, October 29 at the Longacre Theatre (220 W 48^th St). Swept Away’s official opening will be on Tuesday, November 19.

 

To watch the video sung by Tony Award® winner John Gallagher Jr., Tony Award nominee Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe, and Wayne Duvall, click here.

 

Tickets are available for purchase at www.sweptawaymusical.com and Telecharge at www.telecharge.com, or by calling 212-239-6200 or 800-447-7400.

 

From the chart-topping folk-rock band The Avett Brothers comes "a spellbinding tale" (The Washington Post) of shipwreck, salvation and brotherhood set on the high seas.

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25) TWO ROADS

 

A SHARED JOURNEY BETWEEN BLACK AND IRISH AMERICANS

 

AS TOLD BY MICK MOLONEY AND LENWOOD SLOAN

 

FOLLOWED BY A CONCERT PERFORMANCE FROM

THE AUCTION PROJECT

FEATURING GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING PIANIST & COMPOSER

ARTURO O’FARRILL

 

OCTOBER 28-29 AT 7PM

Additional programming for Irish Repertory Theatre's  Fall 2024 Season, will include  Two Roads, A Documentary Screening and Concert.

TWO ROADS
A Shared Journey Between Black and Irish Americans
As told by Mick Moloney and Lenwood Sloan

An Ace Pictures and Irish Repertory Theatre Production
Produced and Directed by Susan Wittenberg

A Documentary Screening and Concert

On the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage

Monday October 28 & Tuesday October 29 at 7pm

 

The documentary Two Roads is a shared story told by legendary folklorist and banjo rambler Mick Moloney and 'catalytic agent' and performer Lenwood Sloan. It explores how, despite the troubled backdrop of racism and discrimination, Irish people in the United States and African Americans found common ground and shared humanity through music, song, dance, and humor.

 

Following the documentary screening will be a live concert performance featuring The Auction Project. Fusing Celtic, jazz and Afro-Latin influences, super group The Auction Project—led by saxophonist, flutist, and composer David Bixler, and featuring Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill—create a surprising, richly textured and thoroughly enjoyable sound. The Auction Project explores how a traditional fiddle phrase fits atop a breezy, post-bop groove as this quintet makes history and stakes out uncommon musical territory. In addition to O’Farrill and Bixler, The Auction Project features All-Ireland medalist violinist/fiddler Heather Bixler, Grammy Award-winning percussionist Vince Cherico, and bassist Raul Reyes, and stars the dancer media sensation Kaitlyn Sardin (Kaitrock).

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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.