Sunday Scoop post of 12/6/20 Live and Virtual Events Coming Up This Week or Soon Thereafter and More

1) A Streetcar Named Desire on Audible TheaterNow Available Worldwide

2) A Drag Queen Christmas 2020 Available Now on Demand

3) Abingdon Theatre Company Announces Remainder of 2020/2021 Season

4) Artistic Stamp Announces 2nd Season and Artistic Stamp in Residence at 59E59 Theatres

5) BroadwayCon Virtual Event 2021 4/17 & 4/8 Tickets on Sale 12/8

6) Broadway Stars Make Holiday Magic with Seasonal Radio Play

7) Broadway Workshop Broadway Day with Six Stars 12/12

8) The Dybbuk Virtual Production Starring Mike Burstyn and All-Star International Cast 12/14

9) Holiday Fools Mass to Be Livestreamed From Bushwick's Sure We Can 12/6

10) Jackie Beat 22nd Annual Holiday Show Goes on Virtually 

11) Lincoln Square BID Unveils New Holiday Lighting Installation

12) The Off-Broadway League Announces 2020 Toy Drive

13) Ratatouille the Musical Update

14) Reverb Theater Arts Festival Submissions Open Now Virtual Festival Set For  12/3

15) SAY Hosts Under One Moon: Voice United 12/8

16) South Street Seaport Museum Launches of Bowne & Co. Online Pop-up Shop Through 1/3

17) South Street Seaport Museum Virtual Talk with Bowne & Co. 12/14

18) The Sweets Factory Fellowship in Broadway General Managment & Producing Announced

19) Tolerance Part: Two Truth and a Lie Moved to 12/11

20) United We Play Virtual Concert 12/9

21) York Show (+ Tell): Bar Mitzvah Boy Panel 12/7

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1) A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

WRITTEN BY TENNESSEE WILLIAMS

DIRECTED BY 2020 TONY AWARD^® 

NOMINEE ROBERT O’HARA

 

PRESENTED AS PART OF THE

2020 WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL SEASON

ON AUDIBLE THEATER

 

IS AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE NOW ON AUDIBLE PLUS

 The Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) and Audible Theater (Kate Navin, Artistic Producer) presentation of A Streetcar Named Desire is available worldwide tomorrow, December 3 at 3 AM ET within the Audible Plus catalog. A Streetcar Named Desire is part of the 2020 Williamstown Theatre Festival summer season produced on Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling.

 

The Tennessee Williams masterpiece is directed by 2020 Tony Award^® nominee Robert O’Hara, and features Joel Reuben Ganz, Joe Goldammer, Carla Gugino, Carmen M. Herlihy, Sullivan Jones, Brian Lucas, Audra McDonald, Stacey Raymond, Cesar J. Rosado, and Ariel Shafir.

A Streetcar Named Desire running time is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. Special access to all seven titles in the WTF Season on Audible will be made available to eligible WTF donors; visit www.wtfestival.org/support for more information.

 

Following his 2019 production of A Raisin in the Sun, 2020 Tony Award nominee Robert O’Hara returns to Williamstown Theatre Festival to direct this Tennessee Williams masterpiece. With Emmy, Grammy, and six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as Blanche DuBois alongside Carla Gugino as Stella, O’Hara takes a fresh and visceral look at the emotionally charged relationship between these two iconic sisters. Haunted by her past, Blanche seeks refuge with Stella and Stanley (Ariel Shafir) in New Orleans, where she wrestles with the nature of her sister’s husband, her sister’s denial, and her own unraveling mind.

Forged during and in response to a fraught moment in history, the unprecedented collaboration between Williamstown Theatre Festival and Audible Theater preserves the Festival season in a different format, provides continued work for the artists involved in the Festival season, aFor more information about Williamstown Theatre Festival, please visit www.wtfestival.org. For more information about Audible, please visit www.audible.com.nd produces a body of work that will be made available for global Audible listeners to enjoy and experience. It also marks the first time that a theatrical season of work will be produced on Audible.

The rest of WTF’s 2020 season on Audible includes Photograph 51 by Anna Ziegler; Stacy Osei-Kuffour’s world premiere Animals; and the world premiere Chonburi International Hotel & Butterfly Club written by and featuring Shakina Nayfack – all to be released in December 2020 – and Dominique Morisseau’s Paradise Blue; the world premiere musical Row with a book by Daniel Goldstein and music & lyrics by Dawn Landes; and Sanaz Toossi’s world premiere Wish You Were Here – to be released in early 2021.

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2) A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS 2020
THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TOUR 

IS NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND 

THE STREAMING CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURES SOME OF THE MOST CELEBRATED QUEENS FROM RU PAUL’S DRAG RACE ON VH1: SASHA VELOUR, SHEA COULEE, JAIDA ESSENCE HALL, BROOKE LYNN HYTES, THORGY THOR AND JACKIE COX, PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS LADY BUNNY AND LANDON CIDER

Producers Murray Hodgson and Peter Hendrickson (Murray & Peter Present) today released images from the 2020 tour of their outrageous annual Christmas drag show, A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS 2020. The production features some of the most celebrated contestants from the mega hit VH1 reality show “RuPaul's Drag Race” – and brings them together for a jam packed 2-hour holiday spectacular unlike any other. The annual tour is now available on demand at www.dragfans.com

Co-Hosted by Trinity “The Tuck” Taylor (Season 9 & Co-Winner of All Stars 4) and Nina West (Miss Congeniality Season 11), A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS 2020 stars Sasha Velour (Winner Season 9) Shea Coulee (Season 9 and winner All Stars 5), Jaida Essence Hall (winner Season 12), Brooke Lynn Hytes (runner up Season 11), Jackie Cox (Season 12), and Thorgy Thor (Season 8 & All Stars 3). Special guests include the iconic Lady Bunny and Landon Cider – (first Drag King on the show; Winner of Season 3; Boulet Brothers Dragula).

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS 2020 features a dazzling array of yuletide classics, complete with their own naughty twist. The Queens and King are rolling out the red Christmas carpet performing against the backdrop of a winter wonderland - complete with stunning costumes, outrageous comedy performances, and even pyrotechnics! And if all that good cheer wasn’t enough, drag icon Lady Bunnywill perform her new hit single "Santa's Spreading COVID Around". Also featured are flashbacks with fans in various cities across the country from previous tours. Each Queen and King will perform two numbers throughout the show with a produced audience soundtrack to give the event an exciting live experience – and expect some backstage antics.

Usually a sold-out tour in 35-45 cities nationwide, this year’s show was filmed without an audience at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT in Oct 2020. 

Fans can purchase the show for $25 (plus service fees) and watch it on demand as often as they want through January 31, 2021

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3) ABINGDON THEATRE COMPANY

ANNOUNCES

REMAINING 2020-2021 

SEASON OF PROGRAMMING

“BAREFOOT IN THE PARK” STARRING LAURA LINNEY
STREAMING ONLINE ON ATC RADIO NOW

“ESTELLA SCROOGE – A NEW MUSICAL”
STREAMING THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2021

“GRAVEDIGGERS” BY DAN McCORMICK
STREAMING FEBRUARY 22-28, 2021

Abingdon Theatre Company (Chad Austin, Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce an array of exciting programming – albeit virtual! - for the remainder of its 2020-2021 season.

Available through December 31 is from ATC Radio. Following the success of The Odd Couple, the company’s first radio play launch, ATC Radio is excited to present another Neil Simon favorite, Barefoot in the Park. This classic comedy starring Academy Award Nominee Laura Linney tells the story of a young buttoned up-down lawyer and his free-spirited new bride returning to New York City from their honeymoon. After moving into their first apartment in Greenwich Village, all hell breaks loose – no heat, a leaky skylight and an array of eccentric neighbors all contribute to the situation! Tune in here to join the fun!

Closing out the year 2020, ATC will present Estella Scrooge, a new musical event for the whole family. A “Christmas Carol” with a twist, this musical film follows Estella Scrooge, a modern-day Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage and Estella fancies the idea of lowering the boom personally. Arriving at Harthouse on Christmas Eve, Estella discovers that the defaulting party is her childhood friend Pip Nickley. A good and generous soul, Pip has transformed the property into a refuge for the sick, dispossessed and homeless. A freak snowstorm forces Estella to take refuge. That night, just as it happened to her ancestor Ebenezer, she is haunted by three visitations…and oh, what uninvited houseguests they are!

A modern day take on the beloved 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, Estella Scrooge also wittily incorporates characters and plot lines from Dickens’ other great novels, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit and Bleak House), among others.

Estella Scrooge is the first digital theatre piece filmed entirely during the pandemic, utilizing cutting-edge technology. The fully realized production, a dazzlingly cinematic musical theatre adventure, was filmed using tracked green screen techniques, with 3-D surreal digital environments created in post-production merged with the actual footage of the actors to bring the story to life in a brand-new way.

Tickets for Estella Scrooge may be purchased here.

Looking ahead to 2021, Abingdon Theatre Company will present Gravediggers, an original piece by playwright Dan McCormick. Set during an uncertain global pandemic, that we can all relate to, listeners will immediately be drawn into the world of Charlie and Mac, two gravediggers who work overtime, wondering how the pandemic started, how it will end, and discover that despite their often, heated differences, they have more in common than they originally thought - and a surprising secret discovery. Gravediggers will stream from February 22–28, 2021 and feature performances from both Mr. McCormick and Roy Steinberg. Further information will be provided at a later date.

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4) AFTER AN EXTRAORDINARY SOLD-OUT INAUGURAL SEASON

SHELLEY BUTLER AND WEST HYLER 

ANNOUNCE SEASON TWO OF

 

PLAYS-BY-MAIL ARTISTIC STAMP™

AND ARTISTIC STAMP IN RESIDENCE™

AT OFF-BROADWAY’S 59E59

Plays-by-mail theater company Artistic Stamp, Shelley Butler and West Hyler, Artistic Directors, are proud to announce that due to the sold-out success of their inaugural season, they are returning with Season Two in 2021. Season Two will include three world premieres by Liz Duffy Adams (Or), Timothy Huang (Costs of Living), and father and son team of  West Hyler (Cirque Du Soleil’s Paramour) and Dashiell Hyler, in addition to a host of returning favorites from Jahn Sood, Elyne Quan (Sterling Award winning play for young people, Lig & Bittle), and Natalie Ann Valentine. Additionally, the company will make its Off-Broadway (virtual) debut as part of the 59E59 virtual season with titles from Ben Bonnema, November Christine, and Timothy Huang.

Producing original work from award-winning playwrights, Artistic Stamp takes audience members on interactive narrative adventures delivered through handwritten letters in the mail. The audience becomes a pen-pal to characters in the stories, reacting and replying to the letters they receive, and playing a role in deciding the outcome. In a time when theatergoers cannot venture out, Artistic Stamp is bringing the theatrical experience home.

Artistic Stamp’s second season features an eclectic and far-reaching variety of experiences- from November Christine’s story of Ida B Wells discovering her voice, to Jahn Sood’s adult-only romance, to Liz Duffy Adams twist on a Shakespeare favorite, to Ben Bonnema’s musical in the mail, to two shows for young audiences, a sci-fi adventure by Elyne Quan and a Central Park animal mystery by West Hyler and Dashiell Hyler.  

Limited tickets are $99 for a four-month adventure and are on sale from now until December 31 at www.artisticstamp.com and at www.59E59.com

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5)BROADWAYCON 2021 GOES VIRTUAL

ALL-NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE 

FEATURING FAN-FAVORITE EVENTS, 

CAST REUNIONS, AND MORE

MAINSTAGE PROGRAMMING TO STREAM FOR FREE

PLUS BONUS CONTENT UPGRADES 

AND MEET & GREETS AVAILABLE

The show must go... online! For the first time ever, BroadwayCon 2021 will be held online from the comfort and safety of your own living room. Taking place April 17-18, 2021, BroadwayCon 2021 will host two days of panels, programming, meet and greets, and more to once again bring the theatre community together as Broadway endures its longest shutdown yet. 

All MainStage programming will stream for free across select BroadwayCon social media platforms. Additionally, fans can upgrade their experience with passes that include virtual swag packs, access to bonus content, exclusive merchandise for pass holders, and more! Passes will go on sale to the public at 1 PM ET on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Returning attendees of BroadwayCon 2020 will have special pre-sale access beginning Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 1 PM ET.

BroadwayCon has also announced BroadwayCon Meet & Greets, online opportunities with some of the most popular Broadway stars. Starting in January 2021 and continuing through BroadwayCon 2021 in April, these special experiences will bring you face to face with your favorite stars (virtually, of course). Opportunities range from recorded video messages to live meet and greets, and even coaching sessions. More information and a full line-up of guests will be announced at a later date.

Pass Prices

Passes for BroadwayCon 2021 start free, with additional packages ranging from $25 at the Supporter level to $500 for a limited-quantity Ultra Pass. 

Full details on the different ticket types can be found at www.BroadwayCon.com/tickets.

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6) BROADWAY STARS MAKE HOLIDAY MAGIC 

WITH SEASONAL RADIO PLAY

FEATURING 

CHRIS JACKSON,

JAMES MONROE IGLEHART, 

AND MORE

Podcast Special to Release on The Hamilcast podcast feed

Monday, December 14

Fundraising Efforts Begin Now

Broadway stars Christopher Jackson, James Monroe Iglehart, Nik Walker, and more have come together virtually to headline a new addition to the holiday classics: a podcast radio play production of ’Twas The Night, a present-day reimagining of the beloved poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. 

From executive producer Gillian Pensavalle (The Hamilcast, True Crime Obsessed), written and directed by Michael Paul Smith  (The Residuals, Ted & Michael Read Sketches Into Microphones), and produced by Jenson Neal and the Mischief Media Network, the one-episode radio play will raise money for The Actors Fund, supporting the theatre community during Broadway’s longest shutdown ever. To contribute to ’Twas The Night’s fundraising efforts, please use actorsfund.org/twasthenight or visit TwasTheNightPlay.com for more information

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7) Broadway Day

with SIX Stars

Samantha Pauly, Andrea Macasaet

& Associate Choreographer Eliza Ohman

Saturday, December 12

11:00am - 1:00pm ET (Eastern Time)

Ages: 9-19

Zoom Online Workshop

Tuition: $35

This special one-day virtual workshop experience will begin with a SIX Dance Workshop, led by SIX Associate Choreographer ELIZA OHMAN, who will give our students a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to rehearse for the hit musical.

Following the SIX Dance Workshop, our students will participate in a Q&A with the stars of the show, SAMANTHA PAULY (Katherine Howard) and ANDREA MACASAET (Anne Boleyn), where they will discuss leading the incredible company of SIX on Broadway, and students will get to ask the stars questions about the show and working in the theatre industry.

For more information to to register, visit www.broadwayworkshop.com/program/broadway-day-with-six-stars/

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8) 100th ANNIVERSARY OF

THE DYBBUK

TO BE CELEBRATED WITH

VIRTUAL PRODUCTION ON DECEMBER 14

STARRING MIKE BURSTYN AND AN INTERNATIONAL CAST

This month marks the 100^th anniversary of THE DYBBUK, the world’s most famous Jewish play, by S. Ansky. The Congress for Jewish Culture is celebrating this historically significant milestone with a virtual presentation of the play featuring an all-star international cast including Mike Burstyn (Barnum, The Rothschilds, Ain’t Broadway Grand), based in Los Angeles; Shane Baker (New York); Mendy Cahan (Tel Aviv); Refoyel Goldwasser (Buenos Aires); Daniel Kahn (Berlin); Amitai Kedar (Tel Aviv); Yelena Shmulenson (New York) as the possessed bride; Suzanne Toren (New York); and Michael Wex (Toronto). Under the direction of Allen Lewis Rickman, who will also provide English narration, the online production of THE DYBBUK will premiere on Monday, December 14^th at 7 p.m. EST on the Congress for Jewish Culture’s YouTube channel. It will be performed in Yiddish featuring English subtitles, with a script adapted by Allen Lewis Rickman (from an adaptation by Dina Halperin, who appeared in the 1937 film version).

Playwright S. Ansky wrote THE DYBBUK from late 1913 through 1915 in Russian and it was later translated into Yiddish by Ansky himself. The play had its world premiere in that language, performed by the Vilna Troupe in Warsaw on December 9, 1920, 30 days after the playwright’s death. Legendary impresario Max Reinhardt, upon seeing the Vilna production, famously declared “This is not a play, this is a religious rite!”

THE DYBBUK was subsequently translated into over a dozen languages and performed thousands of times all over the world. On September 1, 1921, the play had its American premiere at the grand opening of Maurice Schwartz’ Yiddish Art Theatre in New York, starring Schwartz and Celia Adler. The play was an important artistic and commercial hit and ran for 18 weeks. Along with numerous Broadway productions, the film adaptation of THE DYBBUK was released in 1937 directed by Michał Waszyński. It is still being produced in countless adaptations, as well as operas, ballets and symphonic suites. (For example, in 2011 there were seven different productions.) The play is considered the jewel of the Jewish theatre. 

 

Based on years of research by S. Ansky, who traveled between Jewish shtetls in Russia and Ukraine, documenting folk beliefs and stories of the Hassidic Jews, THE DYBBUK relates the story of a young bride possessed by a dybbuk – a malicious possessing spirit, believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person – on the eve of her wedding.

 

This virtual presentation serves as a particularly personal way to honor THE DYBBUK as two members of the company had close relationships with notable figures from the play’s initial premieres. As a young teen, Mike Burstyn appeared in three plays with Maurice Schwartz and the two families became lifelong friends. Shane Baker’s mentor, Luba Kadison, had a small role in the original production and she went on to star as Leah, a role she would reprise throughout her years onstage. Her father Leib Kadison founded the Vilna Troupe during World War I.

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9) Holiday Tradition Continues for 22nd Year
Dzieci Theatre Presents Annual
FOOLS MASS
Livestreaming Sunday, December 6 from Bushwick's Sure We Can

Since 1998 Dzieci Theatre has presented their roving production of FOOLS MASS at multiple churches and performance spaces throughout New York City, including a stop at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine that routinely sells out. This year, the annual holiday tradition will instead be livestreamed from Bushwick's Sure We Can on Sunday, December 5th at 5pm.  Running time is 50 minutes. Tickets for FOOLS MASS are $20 per device (with premium packages available) at www.dziecitheatre.org.

FOOLS MASS is set during the plague years of the 14th century. When a motley group of village idiots gather for holiday mass, they discover that their beloved pastor has met an untimely death. So they decide to carry on and perform their own mass as best they can. FOOLS MASS celebrates the sacred and profane, the miracle of life and the enigma of death, all with enchanted choral singing, riotous comic buffoonery, and extraordinary dramatic invention

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10) Drag Icon Jackie Beat Says
CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED!
22nd Annual Holiday Show Goes Virtual on 

December 12 & 13
with special guests Alan Cumming, Parker Posey, Michael Urie, Margaret Cho, Ross Mathews, Jackie Hoffman, Peppermint, Kate Flannery & many, many more 

This year, there are no Rockettes at Radio City, Scrooge can't hoist Tiny Tim onto his shoulder and The Nutcracker has been hobbled, but drag icon JACKIE BEAT wants you to know that CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED! The big and bawdy, bold and ballsy queen's holiday shows are legendary, and this year (her 22nd annual holiday show) she's going virtual, livestreaming her festive freak-out right into your living room. Whatever you celebrate, watch for Jackie's holiday classics and new song parodies aimed at everything you cherish. Plus, this year some of Jackie's closest "friends" are popping by to join in the holiday spirit! Who's that knocking on the door? Jackie's expecting Alan Cumming, Alaska, Alec Mapa, Alison Arngrim, Amanda LePore, Bianca del Rio, Calpernia Addams, Candis Cayne, Christeene, Coco Peru, Conchita Wurst, Daniel Franzese, Elvira, Fred Schneider, Jackie Hoffman, Jinkx Monsoon, Jun Nakayama, Kate Flannery, Margaret Cho, Michael Urie, Nina West, Parker Posey, Peppermint, Ross Mathews, Selene Luna, Sherry Vine, and Varla Jean Merman to stop by, among others!

General admission tickets for JACKIE BEAT: CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED! are $20 per device. VIP tickets are $35 (includes show + afterparty). To purchase tickets and for more information visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.

JACKIE BEAT: CHRISTMAS IS NOT CANCELED! can be seen:
• Saturday, December 12 at 5 PM PST / 8 PM EST  / 10 PM GMT.
• Saturday, December 12 at 8 PM PST / 11 PM EST.
• Sunday, December 13 at 7 PM GMT / 2 PM EST / 11 AM PST.

VIP afterparty tickets also available: Join Jackie for an exclusive Zoom Afterparty, limited to a select number of audience members. Jackie will perform encore numbers live that aren't in the main show, and will interact with her fans - answering questions from the VIP audience and offering holiday diet tips, arts & crafts suggestions, and more!

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11) Brighter Days Ahead with New Tumbling Brights Holiday Lights Installation in Lincoln Square

 

Ten Illuminated Spirit Figures Shine Throughout Broadway Malls from

Columbus Circle to 70^th St. as Symbols of Hope and Resilience

As the holiday season begins and as a sign of brighter days ahead, the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) announced today the installation of a brand new, choreographed lighting display Tumbling Brights, a procession of ten lighted spirit figures that are currently illuminating the Broadway malls from Columbus Circle up to 70^th St. this holiday season as symbols of hope, resilience and community solidarity.

Somersaulting their way through the neighborhood, each ethereal figure is positioned at different angles in a coordinated acrobatic display heading up from Columbus Circle and down from 70^th St., converging in Dante Park across from Lincoln Center at the Statue of Dante Alighieri.  The grounds of Dante Park will be delicately illuminated as well, and the Statue will have a light projection with a constellation of stars warmly welcoming residents and visitors to the neighborhood. The full lighting installation will be on display through February 28, 2021.

For more information on the Lincoln Square BID along with a list of open businesses and restaurants, please visit www.lincolnsquarebid.org.

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12) THE OFF-BROADWAY LEAGUE’S 2020 TOY DRIVE 

GOES VIRTUAL 
TO BENEFIT THE NYC DEPARTMENT 

OF HOMELESS SERVICES

 
DONATE A NEW UNWAPPED TOY WORTH MORE THAN $10 AND GET A FREE TICKET TO AN OFF-BROADWAY SHOW IN 2021
 
DROP OFF A TOY OR SHIP DIRECTLY TO THE THEATER CENTER
 VIA AMAZON, WALMART OR ANY OTHER ONLINE RETAILER 

As Off-Broadway theaters remain closed this holiday season, The Off-Broadway League today announced that its annual OFF-BROADWAY TOY DRIVE is going virtual and will benefit a NYC Department of Homeless Services family shelter in Times Square. This year’s goal is to raise 125 presents for 125 kids aged six months to 12 years old. Toys can be donated by purchasing on Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com or any other online retailer and shipping it directly to The Theater Center, 210 West 50^th Street, 4^th floor, New York, NY 10019. 

As Off-Broadway theaters remain closed this holiday season, The Off-Broadway League today announced that its annual OFF-BROADWAY TOY DRIVE is going virtual and will benefit a NYC Department of Homeless Services family shelter in Times Square. This year’s goal is to raise 125 presents for 125 kids aged six months to 12 years old. Toys can be donated by purchasing on Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com or any other online retailer and shipping it directly to The Theater Center, 210 West 50^th Street, 4^th floor, New York, NY 10019. 

The Theater Center will also accept in person drop offs for those in the local area. Toys can be dropped off on Mondays through Fridays between10:00AM – 1:00PM or on Sundays between 10:00AM - 1:00 PM. Only one person at a time will be allowed to drop off and must adhere to all safety protocols in place.  

Here’s how it works:

• PURCHASE a toy online.

• SHIP IT OR HAND DELIVER TO

              Off-Broadway Toy Drive
              c/o The Theater Center, 210 West 50^th St. 4^th floor
              New York, NY 10019

• E-MAIL your purchase confirmation to: offbroadwaytoydrive@gmail.com and a voucher will be sent back to you within 3 business days. Vouchers have no expiration date.

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13) TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY PRODUCER

KEN DAVENPORT

MAKES PUBLIC BID TO PRODUCE

RATATOUILLE: THE MUSICAL

VIA VIRAL TIKTOK VIDEO

Tony Award-winning theater producer Ken Davenport has put out a public plea to the coalition of young TikTok users behind the in-process stage adaption, Ratatouille: The Musical, using the creator’s preferred medium. In his own TikTok video, which has already amassed more than 1,000,000 views in 24 hours, Davenport appeals to be their producer to get Ratatouille to Broadway. The video can be viewed here.

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14) Roundabout Theatre Company and Arts for All Abilities Consortium

Announce A New Theatrical Event

 

REVERB THEATRE ARTS FESTIVAL

Presenting the Voices of Artists with Disabilities

 

Submissions Open Through December 3, 2020

Virtual Festival Set for March 25, 2021

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) and Arts for All Abilities Consortium announce a virtual theatre festival dedicated to the voices of artists with disabilities.  The festival will be a space for artists to develop and share new theatre works, created and hosted by Roundabout Theatre Company and with the participation of four lead partner organizations: Actionplay, CO/LAB Theater Group, DreamStreet Theatre Company and EPIC Players. 

Applicant submissions are now open and will remain open through Tuesday, January 5.  The final pieces will be shown at the festival on March 25, 2021.

To apply to the festival, individuals must submit a draft piece of original theatre – monologue, spoken word, dance or music – based on creative prompts on the theme of “Connection.”   Submissions will be reviewed by the partner organizations and finalists will be selected to develop their piece alongside a group of collaborating artists.  Participating artists will be announced soon.

For more application information and all technical details:  Reverb Theatre Arts Festival Submission

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15) SAY Prepares for Livestream Winter Fundraiser 

‘Under One Moon: Voices United’

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 

7:00 PM EST

Special Guests to include:

Everett Bradley, Brandon Victor Dixon, James Monroe Iglehart, 

Dame Helen Mirren, Kelli O’Hara, Brayden Harrington, 

and more to come!

SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young (www.say.org) is excited to announce its Livestream Winter Fundraising Event Under One Moon: Voices United on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7:00 PM EST. This festive SAY family celebration will stream live at SAYbenefit.org, and on Facebook (@sayorg) and YouTube (SAYorg), to raise crucial funds in support of SAY’s life-changing programs for young people who stutter. Under One Moon: Voices United promises to be a star-studded spectacular with great friends, inspiring performances, and good cheer.

Celebrity friends currently scheduled to share a virtual stage with the kids of SAY include Everett Bradley, Brandon Victor Dixon, James Monroe Iglehart, Dame Helen Mirren, Kelli O’Hara, and the inspiring young man who recently brought stuttering to a national stage, Brayden Harrington, and many more.

Proceeds from Under One Moon: Voices United will help SAY provide essential programming for kids and teens who stutter, including Camp SAY, Camp SAY Across the USA, Speech Therapy, Confident Voices creative arts curriculum, and 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: Voices United will help keep SAY’s life-changing, and life-saving programs available to every child who stutters. And that continues to be critically important,” Cornman adds.

To learn more about SAY’s livestream virtual benefit, Under One Moon: Voices United, visit www.SAYBenefit.org

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16) South Street Seaport Museum Announces Launch of

Bowne & Co. Online Pop-Up Shop

Just In Time For the Holidays

NOW through January 3, 2021

South Street Seaport Museum announces the launch of a limited time

Bowne & Co. Online Pop-Up Shop, with a special selection of core offerings available: journals, writing paper, books, and of course, house-designed notecards and broadside posters. Seaport Museum branded merchandise are also available for purchase in the Online Pop-Up Shop. To shop, visit https://www.bowne.co/. 

19th-century-style print shop Bowne & Co. has launched an online storefront for the holidays. Orders can be shipped anywhere in the United States, and outdoor pickups can be scheduled at Bowne & Co. on Water Street in-person on Wednesdays. We look forward to seeing you virtually at https://www.bowne.co/

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17) South Street Seaport Museum

Announces

Virtual Talk with Bowne & Co: Letterpress in New York City

Monday, December 14, 2020 at 6:30pm

South Street Seaport Museum announces a Virtual Talk with Bowne & Co: Letterpress in New York City on Monday, December 14 at 6:30pm via Zoom. The talk will explore a number of production processes that built the visual landscape of New York. Tickets are $3.00 and can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-talk-with-bowne-co-letterpress-in-new-york-city-tickets-128807407423.

Poster House is thrilled to partner with the South Street Seaport Museum, presenting Robert Wilson, Art Director of Bowne & Co. in an evening dedicated to the early history of letterpress printing in New York City. In this presentation, he will explore a number of production processes that built the visual landscape of New York, with special attention paid to the typographic trends of broadsides and handbills from the 19th century. At Bowne & Co., artifacts from the museum's working collection are used in a contemporary practice, preserving the skills and traditions of 19th-century letterpress printing. Join  a journey of lessons learned at the press, questions warmly welcomed!

Rob Wilson is a designer, educator, and letterpress printer. As Art Director of Bowne & Co., he is responsible for the general operations of custom printing, education, public programming, as well as the overall maintenance and management of the printing history collection of 34 printing presses and over 2,000 cases of moveable type. He teaches graphic design and typography at Pace University and Pratt Institute.

This online event will be hosted on Zoom with attendees' cameras off. Closed Captioning will be provided. If you have questions about access, please email Salvador Muñoz at Salvador@posterhouse.org

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18) THE SWEETS FACTORY FELLOWSHIP
in Broadway General Management and Independent Producing

Fellowship Designed to Mentor Students in Broadway General Management and Independent Producing

321 Theatrical Management and Barbara Whitman Productions are excited to announce, in partnership with the EPIC Theatre Ensemble, THE SWEETS FACTORY FELLOWSHIP in Broadway General Management and Independent Producing. The Sweets Factory, a collective of theatrical managers and producers with offices on the second floor of the old Sweets Factory building in Hell’s Kitchen, includes 321 Theatrical Management (Nina Essman, Marcia Goldberg, & Nancy Gibbs) and Barbara Whitman Productions, with Patrick Catullo, Cornice Productions (Eric Cornell), Amanda Dubois, Aaron Glick, Cody Lassen & Associates, and No Guarantees (Darren Johnston & Christine Schwarzman).

The year-long paid fellowship is open to rising New York City High School seniors currently enrolled in the Epic NEXT Arts Leadership initiative, Epic Theatre Ensemble’s youth development program. One to four students per year will have the opportunity to work alongside leaders in the theatre industry as they gain an intensive look at commercial theatre, including such areas as general management, company management, arts management, and independent producing. Fellows will be guided through the program by designated mentors to perpetuate the Epic NEXT program’s commitment to an individualized approach to leadership development, civic engagement, and college readiness.

THE SWEETS FACTORY FELLOWSHIP will provide Epic NEXT graduates with the next stage of their theatre education; the capstone program allows interested students who have received a comprehensive creative theatre education a deep dive into the business side of the greater theatre industry.

During the fall and winter of Senior year, Fellows will meet with their designated mentors at least once a week and attend and observe meetings and theatrical events, as available, in coordination with the Fellows academic schedule, and receive a stipend for their time. In the spring and summer, the Fellow will begin work in a professional theatre office, be paid hourly, and continue mentorship and observership opportunities.

Epic NEXT participants will be eligible to express interest in the program in the spring of Junior year. Fellows will be chosen after an application and interview process during the summer months, and will be chosen each fall. Previous office experience and/or office skills are neither required nor preferred.

For more information on THE SWEETS FACTORY FELLOWSHIP, please visit: https://www.epictheatreensemble.org/contribute/school-to-production-pipeline/

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19) THE CELL THEATRE in association with DIMLYWIT PRODUCTIONS
PREMIERES  LIVE ONLINE INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE
TOLERANCE PARTY: TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY JOSEPH HENDEL
Change of Date! Now Friday December 11, 2020 at 8PM

Originally slated for December 4, Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre in association with DimlyWit Productions will now broadcast the third installment of TOLERANCE PARTY titled TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE on Friday, December 11 due to unforeseen circumstances. Reuniting the same cast of characters, as well as some new faces (and voices), this installment, written and directed by Joseph Hendel, finds our heroes huddled around a virtual campfire.  Stories will be shared, new worlds will be unlocked, and maybe--just maybe--they'll bring "it" back to life. Audiences are encouraged to participate in a live chat function that will help determine the fate of the characters in following episodes. The cast includes Corey Allen* (“Mindhunter”, “Manh(a)ttan”), Ji Chung, Bob Jaffe* (“Sweetbitter”, “Brotherhood”, Memory Retrograde),  Nidalas Madden, Heather Mo’Witz, Richard Urquiza, India Meñete, Brian Reager, Peyton Rowe, and Steven Simring. Production design is by DimlyWit Productions, original music by Ricardo Romaneiro, co-conceived by Artistic Director Kira Simring (Yes!, Reflections of Molly Bloom, Crackskull Row). 

TOLERANCE PARTY:TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE will be streamed on Friday December 11, 2020 at 8PM. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $5 to $25. Running Time is 30 minutes. You may purchase tickets at the following link: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thecelltheatre/456769

Follow the cell on instagram at @thecelltheatre for updates or go to www.thecelltheatre.org for upcoming events!

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20) —UNITED WE PLAY—

MARCUS ROBERTS, THE MODERN JAZZ GENERATION,

AND AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA UNITE FOR A VIRTUAL PREMIERE ON

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020

 

All-Roberts Musical Program Features Three World Premieres

Marcus Roberts and The Modern Jazz Generation will join the American Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in United We Play, a short film to be available on ASO’s new streaming platform ASO Online, starting at 5 PM EST on Wednesday, December 9. The production features three world premieres of works for strings, jazz instrumentals, and piano composed by Marcus Roberts and commissioned by the ASO: America Has the Blues, Seeking Peace, and United We Play. The film also includes commentary by the composer and the ASO’s music director Leon Botstein. RSVP is required for this free event.

United We Play speaks to the future in a positive way. It is inspired by the current turbulent times, and the belief that strength comes through adversity. Marcus Roberts is a celebrated jazz pianist, recording artist, award-winning composer, and Florida State University faculty member. He was profiled on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, which traced his distinctive journey from his early roots in Jacksonville and at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind to his remarkable career. To access the detailed United We Play press release, click here.

United We Play

All music composed and arranged by Marcus Roberts        

America Has the Blues (World Premiere)

        Seeking Peace (World Premiere)

        United We Play (World Premiere)

Leon Botstein, conductor, music director (American Symphony Orchestra)

Marcus Roberts, composer, music director (The Modern Jazz Generation)

The Modern Jazz Generation

Marcus Roberts, piano

Rodney Jordan, bass

Jason Marsalis, drums

Joe Goldberg, alto saxophone, clarinet

Ricardo Pascal, soprano & tenor saxophones

Stephen Riley, tenor saxophone

Tissa Khosla, baritone saxophone

Alphonso Horne, trumpet

Tim Blackmon, trumpet

Ron Westray, trombone

American Symphony Orchestra

ACCESS: Free streaming. RSVP for the premiere on Wednesday, December 9 at 5 PM EST is required. The film will also be available for on-demand streaming after the event. 

Support for the production of United We Play can be made through online donations here.

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21) YORK'S SHOW (+ TELL!)

VIRTUAL CAST REUNION SERIES CONTINUES...

MONDAY DECEMBER 7AT 7 PM 

Just in time for Hanukkah! Join York Theatre  Company as they revisit this bittersweet musical comedy based on Jack Rosenthal's award-winning 1976 BBC1 teleplay of the same name about a young Jewish Londoner who runs away from the Bar Mitzvah into which his parents have poured their efforts and their money.

The rarely-seen musical Bar Mitzvah Boy, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Tony and Oscar winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard), and book by Jack Rosenthal (Yentl), as adapted by David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys), was the second of three shows in the Winter 2018 Musicals in Mufti Series celebrating the works of composer Jule Styne.

The York's 2018 presentation marked the New York premiere of a new version first presented in London in 2016, with a book adapted by David Thompson and new songs with lyrics by Don Black, using previously unheard Jule Styne melodies.

York's James Morgan and theater historian Charles Wright will be joined by Don Black (lyricist), David Thompson (adapted book), Jason Buell (Archivist for the Styne Estate), director Annette Jolles, music director Darren R. Cohen, and cast members including Ben Fankhauser, Timothy Jerome, Neal Benari, Lori Wilner, and more!

PLEASE NOTE:

This is a panel discussion of The York's production, NOT a performance

Click Here to Reserve

A link will be sent on the day of the panel.

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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.