Sunday Scoop Week of 5/11/20 the Latest Postponements and Cancellations Plus Current and Upcoming Alternatives to Live In Person Events and More

Postponements 

New York 

1) J2 Spotlight Musical's production of A Class Act originally scheduled for March 2020 has been postponed to September 17 -21 at Theater Row

2) Second Stage Theater's production of Between the Lines originally schedule for this  has been postponed to Spring 2021.

Current and Upcoming Alternatives to Live In Person Events and More 

1) 10PM With Galinsky Upcoming Guests

2) Bleeding Love Final Episode Now Available on The Broadway Podcast Network

3) Broadway Workshop Upcoming Online Workshops

4) Closing the Distance Exploring the Human Stories Behind Social Distancing

5) Concord Theatricals Releases Qui Nguyen's She Kills Monsters Virtual Realms
6) EPIC's Newest Virtual Performance Features Telly Leung

7) Interschool Orchestra's of New York Playing for Hope Benefit Concert

8) SAY Premieres Live Stream Virtual Benefit 'Under One Moon"

9) Touring Sisters Come Together for Musical Mash-Up of Hope and Inspiration

10) York Theatre Company Hosts Special Online Weekly Activities

1) '10 PM With Galinsky' on Facebook Live

5 Nights a Week

Guests - May 11 through May 14 

Barry “Shabaka” Henley, Nicole Behari, Steven Donziger, Ajay Naidu  

10 PM With Galinsky is a new, thirty-minute talk-variety show that stars performer, artist, activist Robert Galinsky streaming live each night from his Alphabet City NYC studio. Galinsky interviews celebrities, newsmakers, and exceptional people doing extraordinary things. The casual conversation format features guest photographs and audience participation through live chat.10 PM with Galinsky, streams live,  Monday -Friday at 10 PM on Facebook.com/RobertGalinsky.

This week's guest bios:

Monday 5/11/2020

Barry “Shabaka” Henley - NACCP Award Winner, Award-Winning Actor

Barry “Shabaka” Henley is an NAACP Image Award winner and most recently appeared in the hit Oscar-nominated film A Star Is Born with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Starring TV Roles: CBS’s “Bob Hearts Abishola”, ABC’s Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” Perhaps the biggest testament to Henley’s talent is his professional collaboration with Michael Mann on; “Ali”, “Collateral”, “Miami Vice” as well as HBO’s “Luck” with Dustin Hoffman. Other starring roles in big-budget hits; The Terminal, Rush Hour, Patch Adams, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Bulworth, and Carrie.

Tuesday 5/12/2020

Nicole Behari - NAACP Image Award Nominee, Award Winning Actress

Winner ‘Best Actress’ African American Film Critics Association; nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series by NAACP Image Awards; star/feature in film and TV: American Violet, Bones, Sleepy Hollow, Black Mirror, The Good Wife, Law & Order SVU and dozens more.

Wednesday 5/13/2020

Steven Donziger - Human Rights and Environmental Lawyer Battling Chevron

Environmental advocate, human rights lawyer, writer, and currently known for leading an unrelenting (24 years and counting) legal battle against Chevron Corporation related to its contamination of the Ecuadorian rainforest. Donziger’s “herculean tenacity” (Business Week) is often credited with keeping the case on track for 18 years until his clients prevailed and won $9.5 billion in damages. When not under house arrest for the Chevron case, he continues to lecture on legal issues at: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, University of California at Berkeley, Duke School of Law, and more.

Thursday 5/14/2020

Ajay Naidu - Independent Spirit Award Nominee, Actor, Performer

Independent Spirit Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor (SubUrbia); featured in the films Office Space, Pi, Bad Santa, Requiem for a Dream; guest star roles on: The Sopranos, The West Wing, Bored to Death; member of the theatre company Complicite; and performs with the musical group, Bhom Shankar.

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2) The Final Episode of BLEEDING LOVE now available on the Broadway Podcast Network!

In a world that is too dangerous to go outside, where a starry-eyed teen cellist risks leaving her apartment to win the love of the rebel punk next door. A demented and heart-stirring musical fairytale, made for the times we live in.

Just as BLEEDING LOVE takes place in a world where people are locked in because it’s too dangerous to go outside, this podcast was recorded by actors in their apartments, in a world where it’s too dangerous to go outside.

he Broadway Podcast network, Tony award-winner Dori Berinstein and Alan Seales, in association with Steve Saporito, Kent Nicholson, and Katie Rosin, present the World Premiere podcast production of BLEEDING LOVE, directed and edited by Harris Doran, based on a story by Jason Schafer, suggested by Oscar Wilde’s “The Nightingale and the Rose.” With book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, and lyrics by Harris Doran, BLEEDING LOVE is a story of hope. Even in a world that is overwhelmingly dark, one small person can change the world and overcome the darkness.

The podcast stars Annie Golden (Hair, The Full Monty, Xanadu) as Madame Floy, Drama Desk Nominee Rebecca Naomi Jones (Oklahoma!, American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) as Lolli, Tony Nominee Marc Kudisch (Girl from the North Country, The Great Society, Finding Neverland) as The Super, Tony Nominee Sarah Stiles (Tootsie, Hand to Good, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Bronwyn, Taylor Trensch (To Kill a Mockingbird, Hello, Dolly!, Dear Evan Hansen) as Sweet William, and Tony Vincent (Rocktopia, American Idiot, Rent) as Puppy.

For more information visit https://bleedinglovemusical.com

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3) Broadway Workshop 

Upcoming Online Workshops

MUSICAL THEATER WORKSHOP

with Lauren Patten

Broadway's Jagged Little Pill, Fun Home

Sunday, May 17th, 2020 

1:30pm - 3:00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)

Ages: 13-19

Zoom Online Workshop

Cost: $90

Lauren, along with the Broadway Workshop team, will work with each student one-on-one on audition technique and song interpretation in this special online master class. They will focus on giving students the opportunity to bring their audition and performance skills to the next level!

MUSICAL THEATER WORKSHOP

with Derek Klena

Broadway's Wicked, Jagged Little Pill, Anastasia.  

NEW SESSION: Tuesday, May 19th, 2020 

4:00pm - 5:30pm EST (Eastern Standard Time)

Ages: 11-19

Zoom Online Workshop

Cost: $90

Derek, along with Broadway Workshop's staff, will work with each student one-on-one on audition technique and song interpretation in this special online master class. They will focus on giving students the opportunity to bring their audition and performance skills to the next level.

For more information or to register for a workshop, visit https://campscui.active.com/orgs/BroadwayWorkshop#/selectSessions/2824309

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4) CONCORD THEATRICALS

RELEASES

QUI NGUYEN’S

SHE KILLS MONSTERS:

VIRTUAL REALMS”

EDITION FOR VIDEO CONFERENCE READINGS AND 

PRODUCTION

Concord Theatricals is thrilled to announce the release of She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms on its Samuel French imprint. Playwright Qui Nguyen has specifically adapted his much-performed play for video conference readings and productions. For more information visit www.concordsho.ws/PerformSheKillsMonstersVirtual. For photos of Nguyen and cover art, please click here

She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms features updated references, technical adjustments and suggestions made for teleconferencing software. A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of high schooler Agnes Evans as she deals with the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes stumbles upon Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ’90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.

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5) Neuro-diverse EPIC Players Inclusion Company Releases Another Video from their Virtual Performance Series, EPIC Sings for Autism

New Video features Telly Leung who played the title role of Aladdin on Broadway.

EPIC Players Inclusion Company started their virtual performance series, EPIC Sings for Autism, after their spring/summer performances were put on hold due to the COIVD-19 Pandemic. The neuro-diverse theater company based in New York City created the series so their autistic performers could have a creative outlet and find some normalcy during this time.

Their newest virtual performance video includes the duet A Whole New World from the Broadway Musical Aladdin and features EPIC company member Jordan Boyatt and Telly Leung who played the title role of Aladdin on Broadway. The song is accompanied by composer and lyricist Scott Evan Davis, who just wrote and composed the new musical Indigo, which workshopped on Broadway this past fall and featured Betsy Wolfe and Telly Leung.

A Whole New World from the Broadway Musical Aladdin

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Tim Rice.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/_tfIqUsJ_NA

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/414538753

In an effort to spread some much-needed joy and inspiration, EPIC’s company members,’ which feature artists on the spectrum, will continue to share a series of virtual performances throughout the Spring. Many of the video’s will be in collaborations with Broadway talent. The company would also like to connect with additional Broadway talent who may be interested in working on a virtual performance with EPIC. Interested individuals can contact Aubrie Therrien at aubrie@epicplayersnyc.org.
Additional Videos from EPIC’s Virtual Performance Series:

Performed by EPIC’s Travis Burbee and Henry Houghton, and featuring special Broadway guest, Analise Scarpaci (Lydia Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire the Musical!/Broadway). Lyrics‎ by ‎David Lindsay-Abaire, and music by ‎Jeanine Tesori.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/SE2Mqi27pnc

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/410846266

If the World Only Knew

This original song was created by award-winning composer and lyricist Scott Evan Davis who also wrote and composed the new musical Indigo, which workshopped on Broadway this past fall. If the World Only Knew was created for the autistic community and was shared with EPIC for their Lincoln Center cabaret.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Ch58BdhYzk

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/404823802
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6) Closing the Distance

JASON ALEXANDER, TONY DANZA, WILLIAM HURT, KELLI O'HARA & KATHLEEN TURNER TO STAR IN A NEW PODCAST SERIES EXPLORING THE HUMAN STORIES BEHIND SOCIAL-DISTANCING, QUARANTINE & ISOLATION

WRITTEN BY NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHORS TAWNI O’DELL AND LOU ARONICA, AND DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER & DIRECTOR MITCHELL MAXWELL, THE NEW SERIES RECENTLY LAUNCHED ON APPLE PODCASTS

The Audio Drama Initiative, developer and producer of high quality audio dramas based on literary works, today announced that Jason Alexander, Tony Danza, William Hurt, Kelli O'Hara, and Kathleen Turner will star in the new dramatic podcast series “Closing the Distance” - a series of ten short pieces that explore the sudden and seemingly uncrossable distance between people caused by the societal issues of our current times: social-distancing, quarantine and isolation. The series will also feature an original song written and composed by internet sensations Sam Tsui and Casey Breves which was performed by Tsui and Breves with Alex Blue. Co-written by New York Times bestselling authors Tawni O’Dell and Lou Aronica and directed by Tony Award-Winning producer and director Mitchell Maxwell, Closing The Distance was created to be a comfort in these uncertain times – using humor, pathos, wit and hope to spotlight the human condition and our ability to be resilient. Additional casting is soon to be announced, and the first two episodes are now available on Apple Podcasts. 

It may seem like there’s nothing new left to say on the subject of the coronavirus pandemic, but after wading through the daily barrage of death toll numbers posted with the nonchalance of scoreboard points, saccharine-sweet commercials trying to convince you that lockdown can be so much fun, and contradictory timelines thrown out by warring politicians that seem to be based on random coin tosses, you might decide there is something lacking; and that’s honest stories about real people dealing with the reality of how this crisis is affecting them.

Closing the Distance is here to fill some of this void. Kathleen Turner portrays an aging trophy wife questioning her past priorities and coming to grips with her future in Being Seen. Tony Danza takes on the role of a regular at a bar who loses the camaraderie of his fellow drinkers and in his isolation is forced to reexamine his life choices in Second Thoughts. Kelli O’Hara is the mother of a four-year-old with a husband overseas trying to resolve her feelings of anger at the world with the love she feels for her daughter as she finally accepts she can’t do everything on her own in Working from Home. Jason Alexander takes on the dark comedy The Man Who Couldn’t Google – a piece about a writer who lives alone and prides himself on his independence until he finds himself helpless when he loses his glasses. William Hurt tackles the difficult subject matter of reconnecting with an estranged child. 

A portion of the proceeds from Closing the Distance will be donated to The Actors Fund, which provides essential assistance to those in the entertainment field, and Save Indie Bookstores, which has been set up to help booksellers.

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7) INTERSCHOOL ORCHESTRAS OF NEW YORK:

Playing for Hope Benefit Concert

RSVP at https://www.isorch.org/playing-for-hope

The InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO), a nonprofit organization, is having an online Playing for Hope Benefit Concert on May 15^th at 7:30 p.m.  Fifty percent of the net proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank For New York City.  We are asking for a $20 donation to support the concert.  This donation will provide 50 meals to a New Yorker and provide financial aid for students to keep studying music.  ISO serves nearly 300 students in four orchestras and provides a nurturing environment where all children can realize their personal best, achieve high artistic standards, and share music with the community. Generous financial aid and scholarships ensure that every child can participate. 

To RSVP for the benefit concert, visit https://www.isorch.org/playing-for-hope.

How to donate:

Donate online at www.isorch.org/donate-today or send a check to ISO, 121 W. 27th Street, 902, New York, NY

10001.

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8) SAY Premieres LIVE Stream Virtual Benefit ‘Under One Moon’ During National Stuttering Awareness Week

May 15, 2020 

6:00 PM EST

Special Guests to include:

Everett Bradley, Alex Brightman, Frank DiLella, 

Victor Garber, Heidi Gardner, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, 

James Monroe Iglehart, Helen Mirren, Greg Naughton, 

Kelli O’Hara, and more to come!

SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young (www.say.org) is thrilled to announce its first-ever LIVE Virtual Benefit Under One Moon on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 6:00 PM EST. This free, live stream event will be simulcast on Facebook Live (@sayorg) and YouTube (SAYorg), to raise crucial funds in support of SAY’s life-changing programs for young people who stutter. Under One Moon promises to be a star-studded spectacular of great friends, surprise appearances, and inspiring performances.

Celebrity friends currently scheduled to appear include Everett Bradley, Alex Brightman, Frank DiLella, Victor Garber, Heidi Gardner, Mariska Hargitay, Peter Hermann, James Monroe Iglehart, Alex Lacamoire, Helen Mirren, Greg Naughton, Kelli O’Hara, and many more, sharing a virtual stage with the kids of SAY.

Proceeds from Under One Moon will help SAY provide vital programming for kids and teens who stutter, including Camp SAY, Camp SAY Across the USA, Speech Therapy, Confident Voices creative arts curriculum, and the newly launched Washington DC-based SAY: DC. “SAY would not be the organization it is today without the support of so many amazing people. The funds raised by Under One Moon will help keep SAY’s life-changing, and life-saving programs available to every child who stutters.

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9) Touring Sisters - Come Together for Musical Mash-Up of Hope and Inspiration 

Video:  https://youtu.be/wkkqqSpP3dg

Touring Sisters,    Chloe Lowery  (Yanni, Rocktopia),  Jodi Katz  (Cher),  April Berry  ( Legally Blonde  Original Broadway Cast),  Rosa Laricchiuta  (“The Voice”),  Asha Mevlana  (Gnarls Barkley, “American Idol” Band) and  Ashley Hollister  (“American Idol”) have come together to create a musical mash-up of the hit songs,  Rise Up ,  He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands , and  Let It Be .  The medley, arranged by Chloe Lowery, was inspired as a way to say thank you to our healthcare professionals and first responders as well as inspire those in quarantine amidst this pandemic.  The accompanying video, created and edited by Asha Mevlana, features performances by the girls along with friends, family, and fans who submitted photos and videos that depict their daily lives in quarantine.  This creative effort is simply a way of saying thank you and that we are all in this together as we Rise Up to get through these unprecedented time. 

The idea for the collaboration came after a fun Zoom date.  Aside from having toured together in the past; this is the first time that   Chloe, Jodi, April, Rosa, Asha,  and  Ashley  have produced something together.  They each offered their interpretations of the classic hits to create a moving performance that has resonated with fans.  In just under a week, without any sort of structured promotion, the video has been viewed over 20,000 times on Facebook alone.  Partnering with  Travis Laws  of  The Pocket Loft,  (Producer of Chloe Lowery’s debut record “The In-Between”), he created a seamless piano track that complimented the vocals.  The track was mixed and edited by Chloe Lowery, Travis Laws, and Caleb Fischer. 

The Video is available on all Social Media Platforms. Direct download available upon request. https://youtu.be/wkkqqSpP3dg 

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10) THE YORK THEATRE COMPANY
HOSTS SPECIAL ONLINE WEEKLY ACTIVITES

LIVE CHATS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS
STREAMING OF PAST YORK EVENTS
SPECIAL MEMBER NIGHTS

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, will host special online weekly activities to include past York events, live chats and panel discussions with past production and creative team members, and special “Happy Hour” Members Nights with a few games of York trivia thrown in. The schedule of events is: “Live Panels” on Mondays at 7:00PM, “From The York Vault” on Wednesdays at 7:00PM, and “Members Only Social Night” Fridays at 6:00PM via invitation only. Please visit the website for additional information at www.yorktheatre.org

The York launched the online series of activities on May 4th with a Live Panel Discussion and behind the scenes revisit with the creative team and cast members from The York’s 1980 mainstage production of the legendary cult favorite Anyone Can Whistle by Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents. This week The York continues the Live Panel Series with a special behind-the-scenes discussion of their acclaimed 1992 production of Carnival, Bob Merrill and Michael Stewart’s musical adaptation of the 1953 film Lili. York Producing Artistic Director James Morgan will moderate a live panel discussion with director Pamela Hunt, music director Darren R. Cohen and cast members Karen Mason, Glory Crampton, and Paul Schoeffler.

UPCOMING SPECIAL ONLINE ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 11:

MONDAY, MAY 11 AT 7:00PM
SHOW! (AND TELL): LIVE PANEL ON HOW THE YORK MADE CARNIVAL! (1992)
The York continues the Live Panel Series with a special behind-the-scenes discussion of their acclaimed 1992 production of Bob Merrill and Michael Stewart’s musical adaptation of the 1953 film Lili. York Producing Artistic Director James Morgan will moderate a live panel discussion with director Pamela Hunt and cast members Karen Mason, Glory Crampton and Paul Schoeffler. By reservation only that beginning Monday, May 11 at 10:00AM at www.yorktheatre.org

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 AT 7:00PM
FROM THE YORK VAULT: YORK’S MUSICAL THEATRE TRAINING PROGRAM –
2019 SUMMER INTENSIVE SHOWCASE
Next up in the special MTTP Showcase Streaming Series are the talented middle and high school students form the 2019 Musical Theatre Summer Intensive. Director Janet Metz, along with current York Education Director Jimmy Ludwig, former York Education Director Michael Unger, will introduce the presentation. Tune in on Facebook (www.facebook.com/yorktheatrecompany/), or watch on YouTube (www.youtube.com/yorktheatrer/).

FRIDAY, MAY 15 AT 6:00PM
YORK MEMBERS ONLY EVENT: IN PHILLY, BOSTON, OR BALTIMO’
Broadway press agent Josh Ellis and critic Peter Filichia regale the audience with first-hand experiences of out-of-town musical tryouts that they attend while growing up. First presented back in March 2019 as part of The York’s Musicals in Mufti Series celebrating Alan Jay Lerner. This event is available for York Theatre Members Only (a link will be sent out in advance of the presentation). To join online, please visit https://yorktheatre.org/support/memberships

Additional Special Online Activities will be announced shortly.

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

Stay well! Stay safe!