1) A Christmas Carol Starring Jefferson Mays Announces Digital Worldwide Lottery
2) The Acting Company Announces Holiday Benefit with John Rando & Rainn Wilson 12/17
3) Amas Musical Theatre Presents Hip Hop Cinderella Streaming Now
4) Andrew Lloyd Webber's New Musical Cinderella Releases Second Single
5) Ashley Kate Adams and Morgan James Publishing Presents #BYOP Be Your Own Producer
6) Bloomingdale School of Musical Virtual Holiday Concert 12/18
7) Bloomingdale School of Music Virtual Trivia Night 12/17
8) Braves Hearts for Broadway Holidays from the Heart to Stream 12/16
9) Broadway on Demand to Present Premiere #Enough Plays to End Gin Violence Staring 12/14
10) Broadway on Demand to Release The Nightmare Before Christmas Concert 12-19 - 12/31
11) Broadway on Demand to Stream The Keep Going Song
12) Food for Thought Productions Presents The Love Course 12/21
13) Italian & American Playwrights Project IAPP Honors 2020 Winners
14) NAMT Opens Submissions for 33rd Annual Festival of Musicals
15) New York's Ulster County Offers Outdoor Winter Experiences
16) NYC Children's Theater Presents My First Nutcracker Streaming 12/21 - 1/10
17) Oratorio Society of NY Digitally Presents Messiah 12/21
18) Photograph 51 on Audible Theater Available Worldwide
19) Prospect Theater Announces Final Two Shows in Vision Series
20) ShowBiz Stories Launches Website
21) Tourist in Your Own Town Series
22) Trees the Musical Begins 12/18
23) Virtual Impossibilities to Stream live from The Wild Project 12/6 - 12/20
24) York Theatre Company Broadway's American Songbook Gala 12/21
A worldwide digital lottery was announced for A Christmas Carol, the special filmed version of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic starring Tony Award® winner Jefferson Mays, directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Michael Arden.
The lottery will open every day at 12:00 AM ET and close at 11:59 PM. Winners will be notified via email the following morning at 11:00 AM ET and will be able to purchase at any time that day. Entry is open to anyone with a valid email address, limit one entry per person per day.
A Christmas Carol is available now through January 3, 2021 and benefits partner theaters all around the United States that have been devastated by the pandemic. The streaming event is adapted by Mays, Susan Lyons, and Arden, and is conceived by Arden and Tony Award nominee Dane Laffrey. The filmed version is based on the wildly acclaimed 2018 production which made its world premiere at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse.
The beneficiaries of this event – partner community, amateur, and regional theaters that have been hard-hit by the COVID-19 crisis – will be able to market A Christmas Carol directly to their subscribers and single ticket buyers. Proceeds from ticket sales will be distributed accordingly, providing crucial funding during theater’s darkest hour.
Tickets for A Christmas Carol are available to purchase via www.achristmascarollive.com. Tickets purchased via the A Christmas Carol website will automatically benefit local community theaters based on ZIP code. Proceeds from tickets purchased outside of the U.S. or non-affiliated ZIP will be divided and shared with the partner theaters.
A Christmas Carol was filmed at New York’s United Palace, chosen to preserve the power of the theatrical storytelling Mays and Arden have created
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2) THE ACTING COMPANY ANNOUNCES:
2020 VIRTUAL HOLIDAY BENEFIT
RAINN’S FIRST (And Maybe Only) Holiday Special
HOSTED BY RAINN WILSON
DIRECTED BY JOHN RANDO
WITH PERFORMANCES BY:
LISA BANES, HARRIET HARRIS, KEVIN KLINE, JESSE L. MARTIN,
SARA MEARNS, STEVEN SKYBELL, MATT BRADFORD SULLIVAN,
LORRAINE TOUSSAINT, TATIANA WECHSLER, and more!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th @ 8pm EST/5pm PST
The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Margot Harley, Founder) will celebrate the holiday season with a virtual benefit performance of songs, readings, holiday traditions, and hijinks that will feature alumni and friends of the company. Styled as a variety show and hosted by company alum, Rainn Wilson and directed by John Rando, the event will feature performances from actors who have performed with The Acting Company during its storied 48-year history. The virtual fundraiser will stream live on December 17th at 8pm, EST and is free for all to enjoy. Donations to this benefit are highly encouraged.
This fundraiser reunites Rainn Wilson and director John Rando, whose careers both began on tour with The Acting Company in 1990. From 2005-2013 Wilson played the icon Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office, which earned him three consecutive Emmy Award nominations. Rando, who won the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for Urinetown, has a new production of Back to the Future scheduled to open in London’s West End in 2021. Wilson and Rando’s shared sense of humor and zany imaginations will breathe new life into favorite holiday memories drawn from children’s stories, holiday poems, and music, providing laughter for the whole family this holiday season.
Joining Wilson will be alumni and friends of The Acting Company including: Oscar and three-time Tony Award winner, Kevin Kline; Harriet Harris (Tony Award, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Phantom Thread); Lorraine Toussaint (The Glorias, Orange is the New Black); Jesse L. Martin (Rent and Law and Order); Sara Mearns (principal with New York City Ballet), Lisa Banes (The Niceties, Gone Girl); Steven Skybell (Lortel Award, Fiddler on the Roof); Tatiana Wechsler (X: or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation) and others.
VIRTUAL TICKETING:
The event is free for all to enjoy. Donations to this benefit are highly encouraged.
Register for this event online at www.theactingcompany.org or by calling (212) 258-3111.
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3) AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH HIPHOPMUSICALS.COM
ANNOUNCE
HIP HOP CINDERELLA - A NEW MUSICAL
AN OUT OF THIS WORLD MUSICAL ADVENTURE
BOOK BY SCOTT ELMEGREEN
MUSIC & LYRICS BY RONA SIDDIQUI
STORY ADAPTED BY LINDA CHICHESTER AND DAVID COFFMAN
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY VIRTUAL THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE
FEATURING ALUMNI STUDENTS OF
THE ROSETTA LENOIRE MUSICAL THEATRE ACADEMY
STREAMING NOW
Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) in association with HipHopMusicals.com (Linda Chichester and David Coffman, Co-Founders) will present “Hip Hop Cinderella - A New Musical,”a family-friendly intergalactic romp with a cool, hip hop vibe, laughs, adventure and unforgettable songs. This virtual theatrical experience will launch online streaming now through December 27, 2020. Tickets are priced at $20 (general admission), $15 (students/seniors) and $25 (viewing family) and may be purchased at www.amasmusical.org. All proceeds will benefit Amas Musical Theatre’s education programs.
In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, teenage Cinderella and her rapping robot companion Runka live on planet Zolla. They toil under the thumb of Cinderella’s stepmom, Lady Zurka, and her two social media obsessed stepsisters, Zig and Zag. The galaxy has lost its groove, and the Prince is throwing a Hip Hop Ball and Rap Competition to turn the beat around. Traveling via a quantum time warp, Cinderella transforms into “Ella C” and fights to win the competition. Upon returning to planet Zolla, Ella C is forced into a royal rap battle against Lady Zurka with a surprising result.
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4) POLYDOR RECORDS/UMe
ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF
“ONLY YOU, LONELY YOU”
THE SECOND PIECE OF MUSIC FROM
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S
NEW MUSICAL
CINDERELLA
“ONLY YOU, LONELY YOU” IS AVAILABLE NOW
IVANO TURCO
ANNOUNCED TO JOIN CAST IN LATEST REVEAL
THE FULL ALBUM OF “CINDERELLA,”
RECORDED EARLIER THIS YEAR DUR
ING LOCKDOWN,
IS DUE FOR RELEASE EARLY NEXT YEAR,
AND IS AVAILABLE NOW FOR PRE-ORDER
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW THEATER PRODUCTION
IS SET TO OPEN IN SPRING 2021
Polydor Records/UMe has announced the release of the second piece of music from the forthcoming album of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella. ‘Only You, Lonely You’ is sung by the latest cast member to be revealed, Ivano Turco, and is available starting today across all DSPs, here.
A video of Turco singing “Only You, Lonely You” can be viewed here.
Cinderella will open at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, with previews from Friday, April 30, 2021.
All further information is available at www.andrewlloydwebberscinderella.com
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5) ASHLEY KATE ADAMS and MORGAN JAMES PUBLISHING
PRESENT
#BYOP: Be Your Own Producer
A Book by Ashley Kate Adams
Imprint: Morgan James Nonfiction
Pre-sale: December 2020
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 9781631953644
PRE-ORDER NOW
Ashley Kate Adams’ (Broadway’s La Cage Aux Folles, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) first book #BYOP: Be Your Own Producer, the written debut of her best-selling creative consulting business #BYOP, will be published by Morgan James Publishing. True crime podcaster and actor Kristen Seavey will edit the new book. #BYOP: Be Your Own Producer is now accessible for pre-sale at major online retailers, with the official on sale date set for Summer 2021. #BYOP: Be Your Own Producer will be available in big box stores such as Barnes and Noble and Books A Million in conjunction with the Summer 2021 on sale date.
Ashley Kate Adams is an award-winning Actress, Producer & Author who made her Broadway Debut at the age of 23 in the Tony Award Winning Revival of La Cage Aux Folles. She has appeared on television in “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix), “Royal Pains” (USA), and in films such as Pitching Tents (Hulu), and 1 Message (Dish Network). She recently won the Best Actress Award at the 2018 New York Theatre Festival for the play Love and originated the role of Carole in A Christmas Carole: A One-Woman Show.
Adams’s production company, AKA Studio Productions, has served as the lead producer behind 10 Film & streaming properties including Rules of Cool (Full Screen), Mulligan (LA Film Festival), and Billboard Top 10 album Frankie! the Musical. Her interactive creative consulting venture launched with her production company AKA Studio Productions has proved consistently popular with artists across multi-disciplines all over the country, and she is thrilled to be launching #BYOP: Be Your Own Producer with Morgan James.
Traditional entertainment and “how-to” models can be exhaustive and redundant for the aspiring artist, entrepreneur, and overall creative. Recently, the entertainment industry has begun embracing the independent work that many have been pouring their hearts, souls, and bank accounts into for so long. #BYOP: Be Your Own Producer not only allows the reader to take a deep dive into the conversation of creating authentically, but also explores the twists and turns of creating your own content, collaborating with others, and most importantly how to Be Your Own Producer. With #BYOP there is no longer an excuse not to follow through on your newest idea or creative expression, and with it your inner artist will learn the tools to generate not just your own creative freedom but your happiness and your future, again and again.
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6) Bloomingdale School of Music
Presents a Virtual Holiday Concert
Happy Holidays at BSM
Friday, December 18, 2020 at 7pm
The program includes holiday favorites "A Charlie Brown Christmas" performed by Tereasa Payne, "Sleigh Ride" performed by Roberto Hidalgo and Marc Peloquin, and many more.
The full program includes:
Sonata in A Major, K. 322 - Domenico Scarlatti
Danza: "Entre ceniza y humo" - Leonardo Egurbida
Performed by Jose Maldonado
"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Performed by Tereasa Payne
"Winter," from The Seasons - Antonio Vivaldi
Performed by Naho Parrini, Alberto Parrini and Marc Peloquin
"Once Upon a Dream" from Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty - Adapted by George Burns, lyrics by Jack Lawernce and Sammy Fain.
Performed by Celeste and Dashiell Kwan
"Sleigh Ride" - Leroy Anderson
Performed by Roberto Hidalgo and Marc Peloquin
Hanukkah Songs
Performed by Margarlit Cantor and Chris Gross
"Auld Lang Syne/Last Christmas"
Performed by BSM Executive Director Erika Atkins
BSM celebrates the holiday season with a concert featuring faculty and students in music of the season. The concert features performances by Jose Maldonado, Tereasa Payne, Naho Parrini & Alberto Parrini, Celeste and Dashiell Kwan, Roberto Hidalgo, Marc Peloquin, Erika Atkins, Brandon Vasquez, Eli Asher, and BSM Executive Director Erika Atkins.
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7) Bloomingdale School of Music
Presents a Virtual Holiday Trivia Night
Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 6pm
Bloomingdale School of Music presents a virtual Holiday Trivia Night on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 6pm via Zoom. Advance RSVPs requested at https://bit.ly/3lOB2T4. The event is free for Bloomingdale students and families, with a suggested donation for all other guests. All are invited to join; appropriate for children 7 and up.
Don your most festive attire, from ugly sweaters to light up socks, and join Bloomingdale School of Music for an evening of holiday trivia. Three rounds of trivia questions and a holiday outfit contest means that you'll get to compete not only for the title of Kahoot Trivia Champion, but also for Most Festive Outfit. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer and look fabulous doing it? To add to the fun, join the Bloomingdale community 30 minutes before the event for a special arts and crafts pre-show. In honor of the winter month, attendees will be making paper snowflakes with your choice of snowflake design from traditional pointed stars to a wreath of snowmen holding hands!
The Holiday Trivia Night is part of Bloomingdale School of Music's newest program, #JustForFun, a series of events that feature games, sing-alongs, wellness opportunities, trivia nights, and other fun activities to allow our community to grow and connect.
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8) BRAVE HEARTS FOR BROADWAY
TO STREAM
HOLIDAYS FROM THE HEART
VIDEO PERFORMANCE BY FRONTLINE AND
ESSENTIAL WORKERS
RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT
PERFORMING ARTS PROFESSIONALS
FEATURING CAMEOS BY
JUDY NORTON, JUDY KUHN, DARYL ROTH,
LAURIE METCALF, ANN HARADA,
ALLYSON TUCKER-MITCHELL,
DEBORAH TRANELLI, ISABELLA CASCARANO,
DEVIN ILAW, N’KENGE, SHOSHANA BEAN, AND MORE
BENEFITTING THE ACTORS FUND
ON DECEMBER 16 AT 7:00 PM ET
ON PLAYBILL.COM
Brave Hearts for Broadway teams up again with The Actors Fund, the national human services organization that provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals, to present Holidays from the Heart, a special streamed event to celebrate the holiday season and support The Fund, giving back to the performing arts. Frontline and essential workers, along with their theater friends, will sing and dance their way through notable tunes and a few surprises celebrating everything from Christmas to Kwanzaa. This unforgettable event will be available to stream on Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 PM ET on Playbill.com.
This special event will be free to watch with donations encouraged at actorsfund.org/BraveHearts. Watch the trailer here. Watch a sneak preview of The FrontLine Choir and Friends here.
Brave Hearts for Broadway, in support of The Actors Fund, is an organization focused on uniting healthcare workers to help meet the urgent needs of theater workers affected by COVID-19. For more information, please visit braveheartsforbroadway.org.
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9) BROADWAY ON DEMAND
TO PRESENT DIGITAL PREMIERE OF
#ENOUGH:
PLAYS TO END GUN VIOLENCE
SEVEN SHORT PLAYS
WRITTEN BY TEENS
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO CONFRONT GUN VIOLENCE
Broadway On Demand, the theater-focused streaming platform, is proud to present #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence, a ground-breaking production of this year’s seven selected 10-minute plays confronting gun violence, written and submitted by high school students from across the country.
Beginning December 14, the 8-year remembrance of the shootings at Sandy Hook, and available for viewing through December 20, these bold new plays will receive their nationwide digital premiere at livestream.broadwayondemand.com/enough
#ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by
creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action with a mission to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation's spirit of activism and providing a platform for America's playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their skills.
Selected by award-winning playwrights Lauren Gunderson, David Henry Hwang, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Robert Schenkkan, and Karen ZacarÃas, these seven powerful short plays written and performed by teens nationwide confront gun violence through the lenses of race, police brutality, community violence, school shootings, and American mythology. The 2020 play selections include Ms. Martin's Malaise by Adelaide Fisher, Guns In Dragonland by Eislinn Gracen, Togetha by Azya Lyons, Malcolm by Debkanya Mitra, Ghost Gun by Olivia Ridley, Hullabaloo by Sarah Schecter and Loaded Language by Elizabeth Shannon.
Students (grade 6 through 12), teachers, theaters, and community partners are encouraged to get involved at enoughplays.com/get-involved. Next Fall, #ENOUGH will begin accepting submissions from middle and high school students from across the country for short 10-minute plays confronting gun violence.
Click for trailer.
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10) SOULFUL SANTA, MRS. CLAUS, AND
THE DANCING CHITLINS
COME TO LIFE IN FIRST VIRTUAL PRESENTATION OF
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS:
IN CONCERT
BY THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD®-WINNING
SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS
AVAILABLE FROM DECEMBER 19 – 31
ON ORDWAY.ORG AND BROADWAY ON DEMAND
Broadway On Demand, the theater-focused streaming platform, and The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts today announced a virtual holiday presentation of music from The Night Before Christmas: In Concert by Minnesota’s three-time Grammy Award®-winning, international music sensation Sounds of Blackness. Available from December 19 through December 31, The Night Before Christmas: In Concert will stream on Ordway.org and BroadwayOnDemand.com.
Songs from this family-friendly, holiday favorite will be performed in a concert-style format and broadcast virtually for the first time, available via on-demand streaming December 19-31, 2020. Tickets are $15 per household device and are currently on sale at Ordway.org and BroadwayOnDemand.com.
The Night Before Christmas brings Soulful Santa, Mrs. Claus, Santa’s Fine Reindeer, and the famous Dancing Chitlins to life with show-stopping, roof-raising music, in styles ranging from R&B and hip hop, to jazz, blues, and gospel, in a contemporary adaptation of the beloved holiday classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Sounds of Blackness holiday favorite hits “Joy of Christmas,” and “Soul Holidays,” are featured, along with arrangements of classic carols like “Silent Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Featuring 17 vocalists, including Ordway Resident Artist Jamecia Bennett, and the Sounds of Blackness 10-piece band, The Night Before Christmas: In Concert will be recorded in the Ordway’s acoustically-rich Concert Hall. This virtual presentation will deliver a concertized version of the program’s music, giving viewers a “front row” feel through close-ups of the performers.
For access to the complete and ever-expanding Broadway on Demand library, subscribe at BroadwayOnDemand.com. *********************************************************************
11) BROADWAY ON DEMAND
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE
ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE
TO STREAM
THE KEEP GOING SONG
FROM CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
INDIE-FOLK DUO
ABIGAIL AND SHAUN BENGSON
Broadway On Demand, the theater-focused streaming platform, in association with the Actors Theatre of Louisville, is proud to present The Keep Going Song from critically acclaimed indie-folk duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson (Hundred Days) now streaming only at BroadwayOnDemand.com.
n The Keep Going Song, Indie-folk duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson create an intimate evening of storytelling through song. In dark times, people have long found solace in the sound of their shared voices around a small light, and The Bengsons invite you to lean into the glow of your screen as they explore living fully even in moments of fear, choosing to love fiercely, and cultivating joy as a form of personal activism.
To view and download the trailer, please click HERE.
Abigail and Shaun Bengson are a married composing and performing duo. They have appeared at venues across the country and around the world. Three of their singles have been featured on “So You Think You Can Dance” (FOX). Their theater work includes Hundred Days (La Jolla Playhouse, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, Know Theater, Z Space, US Tour), The Lucky Ones (Ars Nova), Where the Mountain Meets the Sea (ATL’s Humana Festival), Sundown, Yellow Moon (Ars Nova/WP), Anything That Gives Off Light (Edinburgh Theatre Festival, US Tour), Hurricane Diane (New York Theatre Workshop, Two River Theatre), You’ll Still Call Me By Name (New York Live Arts, Jacob’s Pillow), The Place We Built (The Flea), and Iphigenia in Aulis (Classic Stage Company). They have received the Jonathan Larson and Richard Rogers awards and nominations for the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Lucile Lortel awards. Abigail Bengson has appeared on High Maintenance (HBO) and toured as a member of tUnE-YaRds, including an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
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12) FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary
Presents
The Fifth Production of its 2020 Series in this wacky year of Social Distancing
THE LOVE COURSE
by A.R. GURNEY
Featuring Larry Pine, Laila Robins,
Jeremy Beck and Allison Jean White
December 21st at 2:00pm at Theatre 80 St. Marks
And Via Live Streaming
(Advance News – Please Note The Paragraph Below Regarding FFTP’s Presentation In Atlanta During The Upcoming Georgia Election)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT PRODUCTIONS, the award-winning theatre company, offers it fifth show during the 2020 season at Theatre 80, 8th Street and 1st Avenue on Monday, December 21st, from 2:00 to 4:00pm.
The program features The Love Course by award winning playwright A.R. Gurney, directed by Antony Marsellis and starring veteran actors Larry Pine and Laila Robins, with Jeremy Beck, and Allison Jean White. Q & A will include a discussion with the cast.
In The Love Course, a female professor has been teaching a course on the literature of love with a male colleague. She has fallen in love with him through the books and the experiences of the classroom. Now, in the last class of the year, she is attempting to bring the course and their relationship to a climactic conclusion.
The performance will be available live via Zoom as well as a limited in-theatre ‘audience’ who will be part of a documentary being filmed on FFTP. The entire FFT series will be presented at Theatre 80 St. Marks. Tickets for the ‘live’ performance are free to first-come patrons, who have agreed to be part of the documentary on FFTP. All social distancing precautions will be respected. There will be a medical professional onsite to check temperatures and audience members must wear masks and have recently tested negative for Covid-19. There will be a nominal charge for the streaming. For additional information and tickets please contact FFTP at: 646-366-9340 or email: info@foodforthoughtproductions.com
Food For Thought Productions will be doing a special presentation of last month’s program - When Truth Is Not Enough, a play about voters’ rights, written by FFTP Founder Susan Charlotte. A filmed version of the reading starring Ebony Jo Ann, Sean Dougherty and Dominique Sharpton, directed by Antony Marsellis will be performed in Atlanta, Georgia on January 5, 2021 – the day of the special Senate runoff election – followed by a march of audience members to a nearby polling station to vote! — many of whom will be voting for the first time. FFTP is presenting this special program in collaboration with the National Action Network. (Additional information to be released in coming days).
For additional information and tickets please contact FFTP at:
646-366-9340 or email: info@foodforthoughtproductions.com
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13) Italian & American Playwrights Project IAPP
honors 2020 selected winners
Campironi, Dammacco, Di Luca, Motta
New York theatre curators Valeria Orani and Frank Hentschker will host the Third Edition of the Italian & American Playwrights Project (IAPP) on Monday, December 14, 2020, 4:30 pm live on US Non-Profit Digital Theatre Platform www.HowlRound.com.
Mimosa Campironi's Family Game, Mariano Dammacco's Good Education, Gabriele Di Luca's Metropolitan Miracles and Tatjana Motta's White Night were chosen by the 12 members of the US Advisory Board, based on over 15 nominations by the Italian counterpart. All Italian playwrights will join the conversation in English or in translation.
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14) Submissions for the
National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s
33rd ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS
are now open
33rd Annual Festival takes place on October 21-22, 2021
New York: National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is now accepting submissions for the 2021 Festival of New Musicals, which will take place on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22, 2021.
In order for a musical to be eligible for the Festival, the musical must…
Be complete and ready for readings, workshops and/or productions.
Have a demo that is an accurate representation of the music and style of the show.
Have full underlying rights clearance of any pre-existing material used (music, source material, etc.) in the script.
Be ready for readings, workshops and/or productions at the time of submission and available for performance in October 2021 at the Festival.
The musical cannot…
Already be licensed through a professional licensing house.
Have been produced on Broadway. [Shows that have had readings, workshops and/or productions (including regional or Off Broadway) are still eligible.]
Have already been submitted to the Festival three times.
All writers can submit a free application for Festival consideration if submitted by December 21, 2020. Late submissions will be accepted with a fee until January 8, 2021. Head over to http://www.namt.org/newmusicals/festival-submissions/ to learn more about how to submit your show. All applications will require an endorsement from an industry professional, but if you do not have an endorser, please review the NAMT website for additional options.
NAMT has been keeping a close eye on COVID-19 and will continue to do so in 2021. The Festival of New Musicals was re-imagined in 2020 and presented online in November. The Festival will remain online until it is safe to go back into theatres. If permitted, the Festival will return to an in-person event next fall, with the potential of an in-person/virtual hybrid.
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15) Outdoor Winter Experiences in New York's Ulster County
Hiking Trails, Ice Skating & More
Rich in history as a 16th-century Dutch trading post and New York’s first state capital, the County features celebrated towns and growing cities including Kingston, Woodstock, New Paltz, Phoenicia, Saugerties and many others.
As we head into the 2020-2021 winter season, below are a few safe ways to experience Ulster County during the colder months – especially for outdoor adventurists:
· Explore Miles of Snowy Trails – Ulster County is home to thousands of miles of hiking trails, access to mountain climbing, and endless forest ridges and panoramic views available at the Shawangunk Ridge, Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, among others. Most recently, Governor Cuomo announced the opening of the new visitor center at Minnewaska State Park Preserve located at Hamilton Point Trail in Gardiner, welcoming visitors to the 24,000-acre preserve. There’s also the Ashokan Rail Trail, which recently opened to the public and is available from sunrise to sunset, offering miles of watershed lands which were previously closed to the public for over 100 years.
· Practice Your Triple Lutz – Home to many seasonal outdoor ice-skating rinks, visitors can choose from several parks and outdoor pavilions in Ulster County including Stoeckeler Memorial Park in Ellenville, Smith Park in Pine Hill and the iconic Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz.
· Hit the Slopes at Belleayre Mountain – With New York State ski mountains opening at reduced capacity this season, it’s an opportune time to ski without the crowds. It’s recommended to purchase tickets and check on conditions and availability in advance. Priority access will be given to those who have a season pass or have a Frequent Skier Card. For more information on pricing, visit www.belleayre.com.
· Angling and Casting a Line in Cold Waters – The Catskills is home to some of the best fishing spots in the country – everyone from Mark Twain, Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter would angle among the freestone streams in the region. During the colder months, black bass, walleye and American eel at various lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs can be found in the Hudson River, Ashokan Reservoir and Esopus Creek. Note it’s important to check the New York State rules and regulations that outline when and what fishing is allowed during specific times of the year.
Whether a day road trip from NYC or an overnight stay at several of the County’s award-winning properties including Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, Emerson Resort & Spa in the Catskills or Hotel Kinsley in Kingston – all of which have implemented safety protocol, Ulster County features a variety of rich resources available during the winter season for those who are looking to experience the outdoors in a safe way. *********************************************************************
16) STREAMING HOLIDAY SPIRIT
The Award-Winning New York City Children's Theater presents
My First Nutcracker
This holiday season, NYCCT will present My First Nutcracker filmed live at Theatre Row, and streamed directly into your home with live special events! In My First Nutcracker, join Clara and the Prince as they travel to a magical kingdom filled with delicious treats, dancing flowers, and a pesky mouse king. My First Nutcracker is an introduction to the classic holiday story you know and love. The family musical debuted last year to critical-acclaim from The New York Times, Red Tricycle, MommyPoppins, TDF and more and most importantly families.
Monday, December 21st through Sunday, January 10th
50 Minutes | Best for ages 3-8
Tickets: $25, per family; the show can be streamed as many times as they want during that time period and will come with pre and post show activities.
https://nycchildrenstheater.org/show/my-first-nutcracker/
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17) THE GRAND TRADITION CONTINUES: ORATORIO SOCIETY
PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL MESSIAH, REIMAGINED DIGITALLY
Available to Stream for Free Beginning Monday, December 21
Featuring Soloists Susanna Phillips, Heather Petrie, Joshua Blue, and Sidney Outlaw
The Oratorio Society of New York, led by Music Director Kent Tritle, continues its tradition of presenting an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah—a yearly occurrence since 1874—with a special, reimagined digital offering. Available to stream at www.osny.org beginning on Monday, December 21 at 8pm ET, the virtual concert features 24 members of the Oratorio Society, performing alongside 12 instrumentalists, and joined by soloists soprano Susanna Phillips, mezzo-soprano Heather Petrie, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Sidney Outlaw. The joyful “Hallelujah Chorus” features additional video appearances from across the Oratorio Society’s wider membership, filmed separately. The concert was filmed outdoors this fall, adhering to CDC guidelines regarding social distancing and masking. In addition, participants produced negative Covid tests prior to arriving for the filming and received temperature checks on-site.
Concert Information
Selections from Handel’s Messiah
Presented by Oratorio Society of New York
Premieres Monday, December 21 at 8pm ET
Free to access at: https://www.osny.org
Oratorio Society of New York
Kent Tritle, Music Director
with soloists:
Susanna Phillips, soprano
Heather Petrie, mezzo-soprano
Joshua Blue, tenor
Sidney Outlaw, baritone
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18) PHOTOGRAPH 51
WRITTEN BY ANNA ZIEGLER
WITH DIRECTION BY SUSAN STROMAN
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 Photograph 51 is available worldwide now within the Audible Plus catalog. Photograph 51 is part of the 2020 Williamstown Theatre Festival summer season produced on Audible, the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling.
Written by Anna Ziegler (winner of the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play) with direction by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), Photograph 51 features Emmy Award nominee Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”), David Corenswet (“The Politician,” “Hollywood”), Tony Award nominee Stephen Kunken (Richard Nelson’s Apple Family Plays), Obie Award winner Aasif Mandvi (Sakina’s Restaurant, “Evil”), Tony Award nominee Omar Metwally (Guards at the Taj, “The Affair”), and Ben Rosenfield (“Boardwalk Empire,” “Mrs. America”).
In 1951, chemist Rosalind Franklin works relentlessly in her King’s College London lab, closing in on a major discovery that could unlock the mysteries of the DNA molecule. Undermined by her colleague Maurice Wilkins, she struggles to compete with rival team Watson and Crick as pressure intensifies to produce results. Following a critically acclaimed run in London, Anna Ziegler’s play is brought to life in a new production directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, honoring the monumental contribution of one scientist with two X chromosomes whom history nearly left behind.
Photograph 51’s running time is approximately 90 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.
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19) PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY
Announces Release Dates for
Final Two Projects in Inaugural
Seven Original Musical Films Available on Prospect’s Website
Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director; Melissa Huber, Managing Director) is pleased to announce the final two release dates for their inaugural Fall 2020 VISION Series of original music-theater on film.
Brain. Storm., with book, music and lyrics by deaf composer Jay Alan Zimmerman, is a playfully musicalized TED-style Talk exploring how Beethoven’s – and Jay’s – deafness affects creating music and connection with the world. This short film explores emerging technologies such as music visualizers and brain-mapping, and is directed by Darren Lee, with cinematography and editing by Jaime Vallés. The cast includes Keiji Ishiguri, Dominique Salerno, and Zimmerman. Brain. Storm. will premiere on Wednesday, December 16th at 7pm, the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birthday.
Don’t Stay Safe, premiering on Tuesday, December 29th at 7pm, has book and lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis, and music by Douglas J. Cohen. This companion piece to Davis & Cohen’s full-length show BRIDGES continues to engage with the ongoing struggle for racial equality and civil rights, bringing the characters into NYC in Spring 2020 to examine the risks of protest, and the risks of staying safe. This short musical on film is directed by Christina Franklin, with cinematography by Lesley Steele. The cast features Iris Beaumier, Latoya Edwards, Nygel D. Robinson, and is music directed by John Bronston.
All VISION Series films will be available for free streaming via Prospect's website and YouTube Channel. To attend the premiere events for each film, audiences should visit ProspectTheater.org and register on the event page for first access. *********************************************************************
20) ShowBiz Stories: New Home for video Stories from Celebrities, Professionals and Fans
Launched Today, December 10, 2020
With Video Contributions from LaChanze, Ledisi, Dawnn Lewis, Tonya Pinkins, Angela Robinson, and more!
ShowBiz Stories (SBS), founded by Marion J. Caffey (producer, Apollo Amateur Night), launched today, December 10 featuring personal and moving stories submitted via video by dozens of artists from across multiple disciplines, from theatre and music to television and film. Anyone can submit their own video on the Tell Us Your Story page at showbizstories.com/upload/.
Since the dawn of time, humans have used storytelling to communicate, entertain, and educate. SBS is The Truth Behind the Curtain; the new global home where fans not only get to watch but also participate and share their industry-related experiences. Sharing Stories Worth Telling - Telling Stories Worth Sharing.
Since the dawn of time, humans have used storytelling to communicate, entertain, and educate. SBS is The Truth Behind the Curtain; the new global home where fans not only get to watch but also participate and share their industry-related experiences. Sharing Stories Worth Telling - Telling Stories Worth Sharing.
Featured Stories
They invite stories from fans. SBS welcomes your story; go directly to the Upload tab and follow the simple instructions. To learn more, visit https://showbizstories.com/. *********************************************************************
21) Home for the Holidays Doesn’t Have to Mean Missing Out on NYC...
New York Landmarks Conservancy’s “Tourist in Your Own Town” Series
Takes You to the City We All Love!
You may not be able to visit New York City this holiday season, but the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s “Tourist in Your Own Town” video series can bring the warmth of NYC right to you! Want to take a walk through Rockefeller Center, Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, The Cloisters or the New York Botanical Garden during the holidays? How about exploring the beauty and grandeur of iconic landmarks such as The Woolworth Building, Temple Emanu-El, City Hall and hidden gems like Merchant’s House, Richmond Town and the Louis Armstrong House Museum right from your own home?
Grab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back, and enjoy a visit to the best that New York City has to offer! Conservancy President Peg Breen is your stay-at-home tour guide showing you around some fascinating landmarks in New York City that you may never have visited. With 60+ sites in the video series, New York Landmarks Conservancy’s “Tourist in Your Own Town” is the perfect way to spend the holidays in the greatest city in the world.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy has led the effort to preserve and protect New York City’s architectural legacy for 47 years. For more information, please visit www.nylandmarks.org. *********************************************************************
22) wild project Presents A New Musical by Mur
TREES
Premiering Friday, December 18 on Stellar
Greta Thunberg-meets-Sondheim in the World Premiere of TREES, a new musical with music and lyrics by Mur. Filmed and produced by wild project, this video-on-demand will be available beginning Friday, December 18 and be available to view through December 24. Tickets are $15 per household, available at thewildproject.org.
TREES is based on the true story of the destruction of Earth and inspired by the international bestseller The Hidden Life Of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. TREES gives audiences a glimpse into a dystopian future through the voices of the last remaining Trees on Earth. This new musical addresses climate change, deforestation, and the selfishness of man.
TREES was set to premiere as a full-length live musical at La MaMa on April 2, 2020 but was postponed due to COVID19. Seeing an opportunity for innovation, creation, and evolution in theater, TREES was trimmed down to 30 minutes and leans into the evolution of digital theater.
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23) wild project Presents
Internationally Acclaimed Mentalist & Magician Eric Walton’s
VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITIES
Livestreaming from NYC’s wild project December 16-20
Eric Walton, whose one-man show Esoterica was a long-running hit Off-Broadway, now presents the World Premiere of his newest evening of mentalism and mind-reading, VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITIES. Performances will be streamed live from Manhattan’s wild project December 16 - 20 at 8pm EST / 5pm PST. Running time is 60 minutes. Tickets are $20 per household at thewildproject.org.
VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITIES is a fully interactive, multimedia, virtual performance of mind-reading and mentalism by the critically acclaimed and award-winning entertainer and showman, Eric Walton. In this highly engaging and thoroughly entertaining online show, Walton presents many of the astonishing feats of mind-reading and mental acuity that have made him one of New York City's top mentalists. Walton has carefully adapted material from his live performance repertoire to suit the virtual format, and has also developed entirely new routines, tailored specifically for this exciting livestreaming platform. Far from being mere passive viewers of the show, the audiences for VIRTUAL IMPOSSIBILITIES participate actively in the performance, engaging and interacting directly with Walton throughout the experience.
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24) IT'S THE HOLIDAY EVENT OF THE SEASON!
York Theatre Company is bringing Broadway's Great American Songbook: The Holiday Gala into your homes— and offering a few perks to make this evening extra special!
Directed by BARRY KLEINBORT, The Gala will star all artists from the seven-week "Songbook" series:
ALTON FITZGERALD WHITE, LEE ROY REAMS,
KAREN MASON, GEORGE ABUD, BEN VEREEN,
KLEA BLACKHURST, ROBERT CREIGHTON
JEREMY BENTON, KYLIE and KADYN KUIOKA,
CHERYL STERN, HALEY SWINDAL and more!
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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.
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