I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Sunday Scoop Week of 3/21/21 Live and Virtual Events Coming Up This Week or Soon Thereafter and More

1) 59E59 Theater Plays In Place Presents the Jackson Frank Listening Party w/Special Guests 
2) Amas Musical Theatre Presents Virtual Presentation of Home Sweet Homeland Beginning 3/29
3) A Wonderful Guy: Conversations With Great Men of Musical Theater to be Released 4/1
4) Ballet Hispanico's Winter Watch Parties Continues 3/24
5) Battery Dance Presents Canadian Voices in Dance 3/25
6) Bloomingdale School of Music Virtual Spring #JustForFun 3/25
7) BroadwayCon Schedule 2021 Announced
8) Broadway on Demand Pairs Up with Broadway Wine Club Featuring the Irish Repetory Theater
9) The Cell Theatre Extends Life is a Drag and Adds Life Pop-Ups Through 4/18
10) Centenary Stage Co, & Centenary U's Nexstage Rep. Present Sweat 3/25 - 3/29
11) Franklin Square March & April Schedule
12) La Femme Theatre Productions Presents Encore Presentation of Night of Iguana 3/25 -3/28
13) Maestra Music' s Spring Inaugural Concert Event AMPLIFY 2021 3/29
14) New York Theatre Ballet Presents Between the Acts: Dance Preservation 3/26
15) The Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making Western Opera Virtual Premiere  3/25 - 4/11
16) Spotlight On Plays Presents The First Two Plays in the Series
17) South Street Seaport Webinar: Sea Songs Sea Lifes: Women Sailors, Women's Chanteys 3/25
18) Theatrical Drive-In Experience Radial Park At Hallets Point Play Returns with Blues Brothers 
19) Theater Resources Unlimited March Panel Via Zoom 3/25

1) 60s folk meets digital theater in
The Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests
 
Produced by New Light Theater Project as part of 59E59 Theaters’
Plays In Place program


An interactive listening party that riffs on brotherhood and
the impact of art in the face of isolation

 
New Light Theater Project is thrilled to present The Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests, written by Michael Aguirre and directed by Sarah NorrisThe Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests begins streaming on Monday, March 29 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 11.  Presented as part of 59E59 Theaters Plays In Place program, tickets are free with a suggested donation of $15. Tickets can be purchased via www.59e59.org. For more information, visit www.newlighttheaterproject.com. The running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

In The Year of Our Lord, 2018, Kanye West held a listening party for his upcoming album, Ye. It took place outdoors in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Chris Rock was the emcee. John Mayer attended. Jonah Hill was also there…maybe?

Unfortunately, our host Allen could not make it that night. However, he plans to Kanye West the s#$t out of his own listening party/theatrical event in the form of a virtual production where:

- The audience will listen to the self-titled album, Jackson C. Frank, in its entirety; and

- Hear a deeply intimate and personal story about Allen and his older brother, who disappeared for an entire year.

Taking the novel form of a listening party, the production draws parallels between an obscure and tragic folk musician of the 60s to our isolation in the pandemic while also sharing a darkly funny story about ways we hold onto the people we love.

The Jackson C. Frank Listening Party w/ Special Guests is structured as a “listening party,” where like-minded people gather to listen to a new or classic album in its entirety and discuss the music. During the pandemic, listening parties went online, with music fans convening via social media apps to listen to the music at the same time and discuss the tracks in real-time.
 
Audiences will need to access Jackson C. Frank’s self-titled album for the duration of the performance, which is available to stream via Spotify and YouTube, or for digital purchase from Amazon Music
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2) AMAS MUSICAL THEATRE
HOME SWEET HOMELAND
A PLAY IN ONE ACT
WRITTEN BY JOANNA RUSH

STREAM LAUNCH BEGINS MARCH 29

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) will present a virtual presentation of “Home Sweet Homeland” a one-act play by Joanna Rush. It will launch online beginning March 29, 2021 and will be available on demand through April 4, 2021. Tickets are free, but reservations are required at www.amasmusical.org. All proceeds will benefit Amas Musical Theatre’s education programs.

Trapped in a building across the street from the World Trade Center on 9/11, Home Sweet Homeland is the story of a family and the Angel of Stand-Up Comedy who watches over them. Based on Joanna Rush's own experience, they work to take control of their lives and find a way back to the new normal.
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3) A WONDERFUL GUY:


 CONVERSATIONS


WITH THE GREAT MEN OF 


MUSICAL THEATER

EDITED BY EDDIE SHAPIRO

AND PUBLISHED BY OXFORD

TO BE RELEASED THURSDAY, APRIL 1

 

FOLLOW UP TO WILDLY SUCCESSFUL “NOTHING LIKE A DAME”

INCLUDES IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH

JOEL GREY, JOHN CULLUM, LEN CARIOU,

BEN VEREEN, MICHAEL RUPERT, TERRENCE MANN, HOWARD MCGILLIN, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, MARC KUDISCH, MICHAEL CERVERIS,

NORM LEWIS, WILL CHASE, CHRISTOPHER SIEBER, NORBERT LEO BUTZ,

CHRISTIAN BORLE, RAÚL ESPARZA, GAVIN CREEL,

CHEYENNE JACKSON, AND JONATHAN GROFF

 

A Wonderful Guy: Conversations with the Great Men of Musical TheaterEddie Shapiro’s follow up to his wildly popular Nothing Like a Dame, will be released on Thursday, April 1 and is published by Oxford Press. A Wonderful Guy will be available in hardcover and digital formats with pre-orders now being accepted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

 

In A Wonderful Guy, Shapiro sits down for intimate, career-encompassing conversations with 19 of Broadway’s most prolific and fascinating leading men. Full of detailed stories and reflections, the talks dig deep into each actor’s career; together, these chapters tell the story of what it means to be a leading man on Broadway over the past fifty years.

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4) Ballet Hispánico’s B Unidos March Watch Party Series 
Celebrates Women’s History Month

Rosie Herrera’s Show.Girl.on March 24, 2021 at 6:30pm
Followed by Conversation with 
CEO and Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro and Special Guests

Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s renowned Latinx dance organization recognized this year as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, kicked off 2021 with a glimpse into the company’s past. The 50th Anniversary Celebration continues with a series of entertaining archival repertory pieces, inviting audiences to look back at vibrant performances celebrating women in dance with the Ballet Hispánico Watch Party Series. To mark Women’s History Month, and in recognition of the company’s pioneering founder Tina Ramirez, March Watch Parties will highlight the significant contributions of women choreographers throughout the field of dance and, specifically, within Ballet Hispánico's 50-year history. 

Enjoy a Company performance from the comfort of your own home, followed by a live Q&A session with Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director and special guests. All Watch Parties are available on Streamyard, at ballethispanico.org, and on YouTube and Facebook.

March 24, 2021 at 6:30pm
In Show.Girl., Miami-based, award-winning choreographer Rosie Herrera uses the Cuban cabaret aesthetic to explore the Latina female identity. Ms. Herrera’s work was commissioned in part by American Dance Festival and came to fruition through Ballet Hispanico’s Instituto Coreográfico, an innovative choreography lab program for Latino dance makers. The evening will feature a panel of special guests including choreographer Rosie Herrera and Jodee Nimerichter, executive director of American Dance Festival.
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5) Battery Dance 
presents
Canadian Voices in Dance 
as part of its new format
Battery Dance Festival +
March 25, 2021 at 7pm

Battery Dance announces the second installment of Battery Dance Festival +, an extension of its annual summer festival that went virtual for the first time in August, attracting nearly 30,000 viewers in its 39th year. Established in 1982, the Battery Dance Festival (BDF) is New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival and one of its most wide-ranging. Battery Dance Festival + showcases free virtual performances by prior Festival participants and welcomes new artists within geographic and cultural themes. 

In partnership with the Canadian Consulate of New York, Battery Dance Festival + will present an hour of performances celebrating Canadian Voices in Dance on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7pm EST on YouTube.com. This program is part of the Battery Dance Festival + series that transports audiences around the world to experience worldwide cultures and dance forms. 

The virtual performances will be available to watch for 30 days after the premiere, expiring April 24, 2021. Registration is free and open to the public at https://www.classy.org/event/battery-dance-festival-canadian-voices-in-dance/e327355. For more information, visit https://batterydance.org/battery-dance-festival/canadian-voices-in-dance/.
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6) Bloomingdale School of Music
announces 
Virtual Spring #JustForFun
Jessie and Bo Peep’s Carnival Quest: The Big Toy Rescue
Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 6pm

Bloomingdale School of Music announces the first Virtual Spring #JustForFun event, Jessie and Bo Peep’s Carnival Quest: The Big Toy Rescue on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 6pm EST. The event is free for Bloomingdale students and families, with a suggested donation for other guests. All are invited to join. For more information and to RSVP, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/justforfun-jessie-and-bo-peeps-carnival-quest-the-big-toy-rescue-tickets-143171099613?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch. Attendees who opt to donate will also receive free entry to the Virtual Spring Benefit on April 13!

They’re breaking out of the Toy Chest and sneaking into the Carnival! Bo Peep and Jessie are on a quest to release all the toys and help them find new families. They will need help to win each of the carnival games, conquer musical challenges, and join in Disney sing-alongs on the way to victory. Are you up for the challenge?

Additional upcoming BSM Virtual Spring #JustForFun events include:

Trivia Night: Music of the World
April 22, 2021 | 6:00 PM
Pack your bag, grab your passport, and prepare to embark on an international music-themed trivia event covering topics such as world music, pop culture, and more! Prizes will be awarded for the top three trivia buffs as well as a special Best Dressed prize for the best location-themed costume.

The Witches of Oz: One Short Day in New York City
May 27, 2021 | 6:00 PM
Grab your broomsticks and get ready to Defy Gravity! Glinda and Elphaba have arrived in New York City and they need your help to navigate through the city's most famous landmarks, perform musical spells, and join in some wicked fun singalongs. This ode to Musical Theater and the city that never sleeps will fill the Broadway-sized hole in your heart and make for a fun night for the whole family!

Virtual Paint Night
June 17, 2021 | 6:00 PM
Connect with your inner Bob Ross and join us for a virtual paint night for the whole family. Our creative host will walk participants step by step through how to recreate their painting of the evening while infusing laughs and music along the way. This class is beginner-friendly; so no experience necessary!
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7) BROADWAYCON RAISES CURTAIN ON 2021 SCHEDULE

30 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING 
STREAMING APRIL 17-18, 2021

First Preview Available Now; Additional Sessions Coming Soon

Digital Passes On Sale Now


BroadwayCon has unveiled a first look at its programming schedule for BroadwayCon 2021. The BroadwayCon 2021 schedule features two days packed with events curated with Broadway’s biggest fans, performers, and creators in mind. BroadwayCon 2021 will be held online April 17-18, 2021 from the comfort and safety of your own living room. Free and upgraded passes are available now at BroadwayCon.com/digital-passes.

This first preview of the schedule features 30 hours of free MainStage programming, with additional session details to be added in the coming weeks. From fan-favorite programs like the BroadwayCon Blizzard Party Line and BroadwayCon Feud to backstage stories from stage managers to contests like Star To BeCosplay, and the annual Lip Sync Battle, BroadwayCon 2021 brings the community together for a weekend of fun and celebration. With an upgraded paid pass, attendees will also be able to access additional hours of bonus content, exclusive sessions, and more.

In partnership with Situation, the fourth annual BroadwayCon Industry Day will also return on Friday, April 16. Streaming for free, Industry Day welcomes those in the theatre industry or who are interested in learning more to join us for discussion on the state of the industry over the past year and look forward to brighter days ahead. For more information, visit BroadwayCon.com/IndustryDay.

Schedule highlights include:

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

BroadwayCon Industry Day
In Partnership with Situation
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM*

Join the fourth annual BroadwayCon Industry Day, virtually and for free this year! Whether you're an industry professional or an interested fan, this event is for you! Take a look back at 2020, what we've learned, and how we've coped. And look forward to brighter days ahead for the theatre industry and for all fans of Broadway. Reserve your seat now for these empowering, uplifting, and forward-thinking conversations with Broadway Industry leaders.

Free registration separate from BroadwayCon. Please visit BroadwayCon.com/IndustryDay for more information

SATURDAY, APRIL 17

Backstage Stories with Broadway’s Stage Managers
10:30 AM*

Stage Managers are the communication hub of any production; they schedule rehearsals, take the notes, call the cues, and maintain the Broadway shows you love. Stage managers from shows like Moulin Rouge!, Aladdin, Hadestown, The Lion King, and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will share the joys, challenges, bumps, and curveballs they experience while ensuring your favorite Broadway shows run smoothly!

Musicals & Mental Health: How Broadway Performers Are Coping During the Pandemic
2:00 PM*

The last year has been a trying period for mental health and we are without the solace found in live, in-person theatre. Like us, our favorites from the Broadway stages have been struggling to navigate this time. Join Broadway actors and psychologist Dr. Alisa Hurwitz as they discuss emotional health during the pandemic, what they have done to cope without the normalcy of performing, and what it will mean to return to live theatre.

BroadwayCon Star To Be
6:30 PM*

It's the fifth annual talent competition! Share in the excitement of the finalists as we share their performances and crown the winner!

BroadwayCon Game Night
7:15 PM*

Imagine Lesli Margherita and Sierra Boggess going head to head to name that tune, Kerry Butler trying to show off her drawing skills during Pictionary, the entire audience chanting an attendee's name, and even a marriage proposal. The BroadwayCon Game Night gets even wackier each year. You don't want to miss what we’ve got up our sleeves this time!

BroadwayCon Cabaret
8:00 PM*

We've come a long way since 2016, when Krysta Rodriguez took this entire timeslot and gave us a one-of-a-kind solo act. But still, you never know what you'll see at the annual BroadwayCon Cabaret.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18

How to Be An #ArtsHero
1:00 PM* 

Join Eden Espinosa in conversation with the co-founders of Be An #ArtsHero (Brooke Ishibashi, Carson Elrod, Jenny Grace Makholm, and Matthew-Lee Erlbach), a national grassroots campaign advocating for proportionate relief for the Arts & Culture sector. Learn about the American creative economy, COVID-19's impact on Broadway and the larger Arts & Culture sector, what relief and recovery for the sector could look like, and how you can Be An #ArtsHero and use your voice to impact the recovery of Broadway and beyond!

Ready, Willing, and Very Abled: Inclusion through a Disability Lens
2:30 PM*

In this panel, performers and behind-the-scenes professionals work together to identify the onus of change and provide actionable steps toward improving disabled representation in the performing arts. They’ll explore the definitions of words like disability, tokenism, and exploitation, plus discuss challenging questions. Is the dearth of disabled inclusion is related to a lack of well-trained, disabled artists, and if so, how do we encourage radical change in models of training and mentoring? 

BroadwayCon Cosplay Contest
3:00 PM*

Prepare the green face paint! Come witness the incredible artistry of the BroadwayCon Community as we crown the winners of the 2021 Cosplay Contest!

Blizzard Party Line
6:00 PM*

They've called Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Sara Bareilles, the list goes on and on. Theyll call their fanciest friends and see what they're up to during the annual BroadwayCon Blizzard Party Line.
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8) BROADWAY ON DEMAND


PARTNERS WITH


BROADWAY WINE CLUB


THE HOME DELIVERY WINE SUBSCRIPTION FOR


 THEATER LOVERS


BENEFITTING THE ACTORS FUND

 

WITH THE ON-DEMAND RELEASE OF THE


IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE


“PERFORMANCES ON SCREEN” SERIES


Broadway on Demand, the industry-leading streaming platform, is proud to announce a new partnership with Broadway Wine Club, the home delivery wine subscription for theater lovers.


This special partnership launches with the streaming of the Irish Repertory Theatre (Charlotte Moore, Artistic Director and Ciarán O’Reilly, Producing Director) company’s 2020 Performances on Screen series, which includes Conor McPherson’s The WeirEugene O’Neill’s classic A Touch of the Poet, and the legendary Bill Irwin in On Beckett / In Screen and much more.

Broadway Wine Club promises to elevate the viewing experience of streamed performing arts events with perfectly paired wine bundles for Irish Repertory’s series and for those looking for an extra special at-home theater experience.


Viewers have the option to purchase both a ticket to the event and home delivery of two bottles of premier wine through December 31, 2021 at wine.broadwayondemand.com


The first program of its kind to blend a love of wine and theater, Broadway Wine Club offers members quarterly shipments of special exclusive vintages from prestigious, award-winning American wineries, each with a collectible bottle designed by a theater artist. Broadway Wine Club donates $10 of every membership to The Actors Fund, in support of the organization’s ongoing emergency relief efforts.


The nine 2020 Performances on Screen performances available to rent include Brian Friel’s Molly Sweeney**Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom, adapted from the novel Ulysses by James Joyce by Aedín Moloney and Colum McCann; Conor McPherson’s The Weir; Love, Noël: The Songs and Letters of Noël Coward, written and devised by Barry DayBelfast Blues, written and performed by Geraldine HughesGive Me Your Hand with poems by Paul Durcan performed by Dermot Crowley and Dearbhla Molloy; Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the PoetOn Beckett / In Screen, an exploration of the works of Samuel Beckett conceived and performed by Bill Irwin; and Meet Me in St. Louis, adapted from the 1989 Broadway production and directed by Charlotte Moore. **Please note: Molly Sweeney is available to rent in North America only and is a limited release through September 7, 2021.


Rentals will be $25 and will be available for 48 hours from the time of check-out. Irish Rep Members are eligible for discount and complimentary rentals. Learn more at irishrep.org/membership. To rent an Irish Rep production, audiences must register and view on Broadway on Demand at livestream.broadwayondemand.com/irish-rep.

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9) THE CELL EXTENDS EXHIBIT & OFFERS LIVE POP-UP PERFORMANCE FROM
LIFE IS DRAG

Now through April 18.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre (Artistic Director Kira Simring) announces the extension of Rachel Rampleman’s exhibition LIFE IS DRAG until April 18. They will also add live street-side performances featuring the performers captured in the exhibition on Saturdays at 6:00 PM (EST). The lineup of performers are as follows:
• Saturday, March 20 @ 6pm - Anna Monoxide, Foxy Belle Afriq, Chartruice (pictured here) and Fem Appeal. 
• Saturday, March 27 @ 6pm - Unforgivable Emotional Carnivore featuring God Complex, Esther, Menthol Menthol.
• Saturday, April 3 @ 6pm - a “Bontemps & Lace Production” featuring Uncle Freak, Egregious Philbin, Chevy Lace and C'etait Bontemps. 

The performances are free of charge, however tips and donations are greatly appreciated. Masks are required and audiences are asked to maintain social distancing practices from other members throughout the length of the pop-up performance. The exhibition will extend hours until 7PM on the day of the performance and will be available to view on the cell’s third floor Gallery. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with the performers during gallery hours prior to the performance.

Exploring subjects such as gender, artifice and spectacle, LIFE IS DRAG documents the most innovative and singular per formers of the currently exploding international alt-drag and burlesque scenes, a portion of which have been filmed throughout the pandemic at the cell’s space on West 23rd Street. Rachel Rampleman utilizes processes ranging from directorial to curatorial to anthropological to showcase exuberantly irrepressible personalities who revel in challenging clichés associated with masculinity and femininity. A sampling of subjects include Girls Girls Girls (the world's first and only all-female Mötley Crüe tribute band), Tazzie Colomb (the world’s longest competing female bodybuilder), and LACTIC Incorporated (an avant-garde clothing brand that takes the detritus  of corporate life and reinterprets it into one-of-a-kind structural garments that challenge the polarization of gender) as  well as drag and burlesque stars Untitled Queen, Fem Appeal, Darlinda Just Darlinda, C'etait BonTemps, Chartruice,  Mimi Silk, Dick TransDyke, JAX, Robyn Edges, Sham Payne, Just JP, Stixen Stones, Kiara Chimera, Barbie Crash, Bunny  Wonderland, Robin from Human Resources, Geo Soctomah Neptune, Jayden Jamison, Mike Hawk, Arabella LaDessé,  Bender Bluefish, and Zayn-X.

LIFE IS DRAG already features over 5 hours of video featuring over 70 portraits of artists from all over the globe. Rampleman plans to create as many as 30 more video portraits during her residency and will incorporate all of these into the exhibition. 

The LIFE IS DRAG exhibition is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12PM-6PM until April 18, 2021 at Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre (338 W. 23rd St. New York, NY 10011). On view since February 13th on the Gallery Floor, LIFE IS DRAG is free and open to the public. Patrons are required to follow all city mandated COVID-19 precautions including mandatory mask wearing, limited capacity, social distancing, filling out a contact-free survey for symptoms and potential exposure, and a digital temperature check before entry. Follow the cell on instagram  at @thecelltheatre for updates or go to www.thecelltheatre.org for upcoming events.  
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10) CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY AND CENTENARY UNIVERSITY’S NEXTSTAGE REPERTORY PRESENTS SWEAT BY LYNN NOTTAGE
Centenary Stage Company and Centenary University’s NEXTstage Repertory presents Lynn Nottage’s Sweat March 25 – 29 in the Little Theatre at 400 Jefferson St. on the campus of Centenary University.  Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for children under 12, and are available on-line at centenarystageco.org or by phone at (908) 979 – 0900

Set near the playwright’s hometown of Reading, PA, Pulitzer prize winning SWEAT details the life of a close-knit group of friends who have been affected by their factory closing, ending the only way of life the town has known for generations.

SWEAT will run from March 25 – 29, 2021 in the Little Theatre located at 400 Jefferson Street in Hackettstown, NJ on the campus of Centenary University. Specific performance dates and times are Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 pm; Friday, March 26 at 8:00 pm; Saturday, March 27 at 8:00 pm; Sunday, March 28 at 2:00 pm; and Monday, March 29 at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 for Adults and $10.00 for children under 12/students.  Centenary Stage Company will also offer a special free live stream of the Saturday, March 27 8:00 PM performance.  The live stream will be made available at centenarystageco.org/nextstage-rep-sweat.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5 PM and two hours prior to all performances. The Centenary Stage Company box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Like and follow to receive the latest in CSC news and special offers.

Centenary Stage Company remains committed to the health and safety of our community and adheres to all requirements set forth by the State of New Jersey including, but not limited to; observing social distancing, limited capacity, and requiring masks or facial coverings. For more information regarding CSC COVID-19 policies visit centenarystageco.org/faq.
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11) March & April 2021 in Franklin Square

6th & Race Streets, Philadelphia’s Historic District

www.historicphiladelphia.org or 215-629-4026


Special Events for March & April in Franklin Square (details below):

·       Spring into Philly Mini Golf, presented by IBEW Local 98 (March 19 – April 18, 8 - 10 pm)

·       Hop-A-Long Trail (Saturday, April 3, 11 am - 1 pm)

·       Griot Tale Saturdays with the African American Museum of Philadelphia (Saturdays, April 10 and 24, 1 - 2 pm)

·       Franklin Square Fountain Show returns (mid-April)

·       SquareBurger re-opens (March 19)


Franklin Square’s 2021 spring season kicks off Friday, March 19. Franklin Square is Philadelphia’s original green space. First created as open space in the 1682 plan of Philadelphia, the seven-and-a-half acre Franklin Square offers family fun in one of the city’s most charming historic parks filled with expansive lawns and shady trees. Steps away from the Liberty Bell, in one of William Penn’s original five squares, award-winning Franklin Square features one of the country’s oldest public fountains featuring a daytime and nighttime water and light show, Philly Mini Golf presented by IBEW Local 98, Parx Liberty Carousel, two playgrounds, and SquareBurger, operated by Cooperage. Putt through some of the city’s most famous icons, take a ride on hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones aboard the carousel, swing along with the dancing water of the fountain, and dine on the finest burgers and shakes in town.

Franklin Square opens daily, 7 days a week, beginning at 10 am. All hours are weather permitting.

6th & Race Streets.


2021 Franklin Square Spring and Summer Operating Hours:

March 19 – April 18: daily, 10 am - 10 pm

April 19 – May 29: daily, 10 am - 9 pm

May 30 – September 6: daily, 10 am - 10 pm


MARCH IN FRANKLIN SQUARE


Franklin Square Spring into Philly Mini Golf presented by IBEW Local 98

March 19 – April 18, 8 - 10 pm

Spring is in the air as you golf in Franklin Square’s spring-themed golf course, complete with oversized tulips, special lighting, and seasonal music. This evening-only limited-ticket Mini Golf special ticket is best reserved in advance. $15/adults, $12/children.


APRIL IN FRANKLIN SQUARE
Hop-A-Long Trail:

Saturday, April 3, 11 am - 1 pm  

FREE EVENT. Dress in an Easter bonnet and bring along an Easter basket to follow the Hop-A-Long Trail and receive Easter Eggs. A limited number of timed tickets are available at historicphiladelphia.org for children 10 and under. Group participation not available for this event. Tickets not available onsite.


Griot Tale Saturdays

Saturdays, April 10 and 24, 1 - 2 pm


·       Griot Tale Saturday: Jazz Musicology


The African American Museum in Philadelphia is partnering with Franklin Square and Text Rich Ali to bring to life a special Jazz Appreciation Month-themed Griot Tale Saturday. A Griot is an African oral historian who passes on their culture through the practice of storytelling. Perfect for children ages 5 - 12 and their favorite adults, as well the young at heart, this event will be outdoors and socially distant to keep all participants safe. Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) is held every April in the United States, in honor of jazz as an early American art form. JAM was created in 2001 by John Edward Hasse, curator of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. It became a national extension of the original Jazz Awareness Month created by the Louisiana Jazz Federation in New Orleans in 1980. In-person event, FREE.


·       Griot Tale Saturday: Celebrating Earth Day Week


Saturday, April 24, 1 - 2 pm (Rain Date: Sunday, April 25, 1 - 2 pm)


The African American Museum in Philadelphia is partnering with Franklin Square and Keepers of the Culture (KOTC) to bring to life a special Earth Day Week-themed Griot Tale Saturday. A Griot is an African oral historian who passes on their culture through the practice of storytelling. Perfect for children ages 5 - 12 and their favorite adults, as well the young at heart, this event will be outdoors and socially distant to keep all participants safe. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. In-person event, FREE.


The African American Museum in Philadelphia is partnering with Franklin Square and Keepers of the Culture (KOTC) to bring to life a special Earth Day Week-themed Griot Tale Saturday. A Griot is an African oral historian who passes on their culture through the practice of storytelling. Perfect for children ages 5 - 12 and their favorite adults, as well the young at heart, this event will be outdoors and socially distant to keep all participants safe. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. In-person event, FREE.


Franklin Square Fountain Show

Beginning Mid-April – October 31, with daily performances every 30 minutes from 12 pm until closing.

In 2006, Historic Philadelphia, Inc. restored the fountain for the first time in thirty years, renovating the vintage marble and surrounding wrought iron fence. In 2019, the 181-year-old historic fountain was renovated to dazzle while being enhanced with a spectacular choreographed by lights and water. Fountain jets dance magically with dramatic lighting and music as LED lights glisten for visitors. All of the additions serve to enhance and modernize the fountain’s beauty while entertaining visitors, ensuring its longevity for generations to come. Guests visiting the park day or night can enjoy choreographed “performances,” that showcase the historic infrastructure of the fountain. Each performance is a selection of one of six songs. FREE.

 

SquareBurger

Beginning March 19: Friday – Sunday, 12 - 8 pm

SquareBurger has a delicious menu operated by Cooperage. Food options include burgers, fries, and classic thick milkshakes including the legendary Original Cake Shake made with Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets®.


Year-Round Attractions in Franklin Square

·       Philly Mini Golf presented by IBEW Local 98: Putt around the city on this Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course. $10 adults/$8 children (3-12), FREE for children under 2. (Note, regular Mini Golf tickets not available March 19 – April 18, 8 - 10 pm, during Spring into Philly Mini Golf.

·       Parx Liberty Carousel: A zebra, a lion, an eagle, horses and more! Hop on this spectacular all-American style carousel with hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. $3 per person (adult or child), FREE for children under 2

·       Playgrounds: Slides, swings, and spinners…bring the kids and enjoy two playgrounds! Open year-round and free.


KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

While Franklin Square’s attractions are well-known, HPI wants to encourage responsible recreation and healthy usage of this beautiful outdoor public environment. It is proven that being outdoors is beneficial both physically and mentally. HPI is operating Franklin Square with the health and safety of guests and staff as its most important goal, while also providing peaceful green space and fun for everyone. The expansive park provides safe and high-quality open space for the physical and mental well-being of Philadelphians and will keep the attractions open in accordance with City of Philadelphia Health Department recommendations. Some of the protocols include:

·       All Franklin Square staff have daily health screenings and are required to wear masks and regularly sanitize hands on site.

·       Hand sanitizing stations have been added throughout the Square as well as friendly distancing reminders.

·       Please stay home when sick. Guests (both children and adults) are strongly encouraged to travel with their own masks and hand sanitizer and use them while enjoying the park’s green space and playgrounds.

·       Contactless entrance is available for tickets purchased online in advance. Guests show the tickets on their phone in the Square. In-person ticketing is available as well.

·       Guests are required to wear masks while riding the Carousel and playing Mini Golf.

·       Health and safety measures are being implemented to maintain physical distancing while entering and playing Mini Golf, buying tickets, or riding the Carousel. Mini-Golf clubs and balls are sanitized between uses.

·       Carousel animals are marked with masks of which ones can be ridden to ensure safe distancing. The animals that are closed are covered with a blanket and have a pennant that marks the horses that are “not in the race today.”

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12) Celebrate TENNESSEE WILLIAMS'S 110th birthday 

With La Femme Theatre Productions 

As it presents an ENCORE presentation of

 

TENNESSEE WILLIAMS'S THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA 


The birthday celebration will begin with

La Femme's JEAN LICHTY

 

-In Conversation with-

EMILY MANN

This presentation will benefit the Actors Fund

Streaming from March 25 to 28, 2021


 

 La Femme Theatre Productions' presentation of Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana, directed by Emily Mann, was initially streamed this past December and raised nearly $17K for The Actors Fund. La Femme is thrilled to present an Encore streaming of The Night of the Iguana in celebration of Tennessee Williams's 110th birthday on March 26, 2021. The event will begin March 25 at 7 PM with La Femme's Executive Director Jean Lichty, “In Conversation” with Tony-nominee and Theater Hall of Fame-inductee, director Emily Mann. Iguana will stream through March 28, 2021.  Encore tickets range from $15 - $250. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit Stellartickets.com.


In Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana, a defrocked clergyman encounters inside disturbances amid outside disturbances during one stormy night at the Costa Verde Hotel in Acapulco as the world prepares for World War II. After four women of different ages and backgrounds, along with a 97-year-old poet, engage in the clergyman's spiritual struggles, their lives leap dramatically forward. And the catalytic, defrocked clergyman survives the night.

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13) MAESTRA MUSIC’S

SPRING INAUGURAL CONCERT EVENT

AMPLIFY 2021


Maestra Music, the not-for-profit organization supporting the women who make the music in the musical theater industry, hosts their inaugural Spring concert event, Amplify. Taking place virtually, Amplify will highlight the work and programs Maestra offers in an effort to provide support, visibility, and community by featuring stories, conversations, and musical performances featuring some of our favorite “maestrae” from Broadway and beyond. Before the show will be a chance to connect with other audience members and learn more about Maestra and after an opportunity to join virtual conversations with Broadway stars.  Amplify 2021 is presented in partnership with Broadway Unlocked, the premier creator of live theatre-based digital content on the internet. 

Exclusive opportunities to connect in individual chat rooms with Broadway stars including Gavin Creel & Celia Keenan-Bolger; “Chers” Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks & Micaela DiamondChaplin co-stars Jenn Colella & Rob McClureBook of Mormon original stars Nikki M. James & Andrew RannellsMean Girls Ashley Park & Erika Henningsen; and The Prom stars Caitlin Kinnunen & Isabelle McCalla.

 

Monday, March 29, 8:00pm ET, with an interactive pre-show @ 7:00pm ET


Virtual Event

To Register or Purchase VIP tickets:
https://secure.givelively.org/event/maestra-music-inc/amplify

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14) New York Theatre Ballet
presents 
Between the Acts: Dance Preservation
Friday, March 26, 2021

New York Theatre Ballet presents Between the Acts: Dance Preservation on Friday, March 26, 2021 at 12pm ET on Zoom. Diving into the art of preserving dance history, this installment of Between the Acts will feature curator of dance for the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Jane Pritchard, Director of Preservation for Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Norton Owen, and curator of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, Linda Murray. The conversation between Jane Pritchard, Norton Owen, Linda Murray, and NYTB Artistic Director Diana Byer will cover curation, tradition, the future of dance, and more. RSVP to ezahlmann@nytb.org to receive a Zoom link prior to Friday. Following the live event, the conversation will be available to view on Vimeo and social media. 

Normally held during intermission, Between the Acts has been recast as a preseason virtual discussion series. Last month featured a discussion with Diana Byer with Sir Richard Alston and Steven Melendez and can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/515105172 and one on Antony Tudor with Jane Pritchard, Amanda McKerrow, John Gardner, Elena Zahlmann, and Diana Byer, available at https://vimeo.com/523480688.
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15) QUANTUM LEAP PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS


RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE:

THE MAKING OF A WESTERN OPERA

A DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT THEATRE

\

RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT ARTISTS SIDELINED BY COVID

 

VIRTUAL FILM PREMIERE


MARCH 25 – APRIL 11

 

TO BENEFIT

THE ACTORS FUND

 

STARRING

PETER COYOTE, KARIN WOLVERTON, MORGAN SMITH,

LAURA WILDE, JOSHUA DENNIS, JOSHUA JEREMIAH,

KEITH PHARES AND KRISTOPHER IRMITER

 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT

WATCH.RIDERSOPERAFILM.COM

 

 The Actors Fund, the national human services organization for everyone in performing arts and entertainment, announced today that Quantum Leap Productions will present “Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera,” a documentary film that celebrates the artistry of live theatre, as an online benefit to support creative professionals out of work due to the pandemic. The Actors Fund and Quantum Leap Productions are partnering to raise funds for performing arts professionals across the country.

 

In the award-winning documentary, Riders of the Purple Sage: The Making of a Western Opera, opera’s hallowed traditions and America's cowboy culture converge to celebrate the collaborative power of art. The documentary details the creative process of all artists involved in live theatre onstage and backstage. Zane Grey is read by Peter Coyote, with performances by shining young opera starsKarin WolvertonMorgan SmithLaura WildeJoshua DennisJoshua JeremiahKeith Phares, and Kristopher Irmiter

Half of all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Actors Fund. The film makes its virtual premiere Thursday, March 25th and will be available until April 11th. Tickets are $10 and are available now at Watch.RidersOperaFilm.com.

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16) SPOTLIGHT ON PLAYS

 PRESENTS

 

THE THANKSGIVING PLAY

By Larissa FastHorse, Directed by Leigh Silverman 

Starring Bobby Cannavale, Keanu Reeves, Heidi Schreck, Alia Shawkat

Thursday, March 25


The first two plays in the spring “Spotlight on Plays” series will premiere with Larissa FastHorse’s The Thanksgiving Play on Thursday, March 25 at 8PM EST/5PM PST and Pearl Cleage’s Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous on Thursday, April 9 at 8PM EST/5PM PST.

Proceeds benefit The Actors Fund.   

THE THANKSGIVING PLAY

Leigh Silverman (Lifespan of a Fact) directs Bobby Cannavale as “Jaxton,” Keanu Reeves as “Caden,” Heidi Schreck as “Logan” and Alia Shawkat as “Alicia.”

 

Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny comedy finds a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambling to create a pageant that manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.


ANGRY RAUCOUS AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS

Camille A. Brown (Choir Boy) directs Debbie Allen as “Betty,” Phylicia Rashad as “Anna,” Heather Alicia Simms as “Kate” and Alicia Stith as “Pete.”

 

Pearl Cleage’s “funny and hopeful” (Georgia Magazine) comedy is all about aging gracefully and gorgeously.  Anna Campbell, now 65, sparked controversy when she bared it all on stage years ago. When a theatre festival asks to re-stage the work with a younger actress in her role, dramatic and comic fireworks ensue.


For a sneak peeks and more exclusive content, go to Broadway’s Best Shows.


The star-studded series will continue this spring with Watch on the Rhine by Lillian Hellman, directed by Sarna Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George); Ohio State Murders by Adrienne Kennedy, directed by Kenny Leon (A Soldier’s Play); Dear Elizabeth by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Kate Whoriskey (Ruined)The Baltimore Waltz by Paula Vogel, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz (Marys Seacole) and The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein, directed by Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County).


The “Spotlight on Plays” events are livestreamed on Stellar at 8PM EST/5PM PST and available for a strictly limited amount of time.  Season subscriptions for all seven plays are available now for $49 on Broadways Best Shows.  Individual tickets can be purchased for $10-15.  Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Actor’s Fund.


To learn more about “Spotlight on Plays” series, visit Broadways Best Shows Spotlight on Plays.

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17) South Street Seaport Museum presents
Webinar Series Sea Songs and Sea Lives
Women Sailors, Women’s Chanteys 
Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7pm ET

South Street Seaport Museum expands its virtual sea chantey programming with the second installment of the Sea Songs and Sea Lives webinar series Women Sailors, Women’s Chanteys, featuring Bonnie Milner, Fern Hoffman, and other special guests on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7pm ET. Register for the free event at seaportmuseum.org/womensailors.

This month, join chantey singer Bonnie Milner of The Johnson Girls and sailor Fern Hoffman, captain and chief mate of traditional sailing vessels (and old time fiddler) to discuss the traditional roles of women at sea, the roles of women in the Tall Ship industry today, the treatment of women in traditional maritime music, and the role of women singing songs traditionally sung by men. Women Sailors, Women’s Chanteys will include songs, with lyrics provided so guests can sing along from home, and a brief Q&A will follow the conversation

The Sea Songs and Sea Lives webinar series will explore the lives of diverse groups of sailors today and in history through conversations with singers, sailors, historians, and more. During the Age of Sail women's roles were limited -- the sweetheart left behind, the saucy tavern wench, the captain's wife sometimes brought along. While some women may have disguised themselves to go to sea, we have little evidence of that. Women's roles in traditional songs were limited as well, and to modern ears the traditional lyrics are often offensive. How do a modern woman chantey singer and a modern woman sailor navigate these issues, each in their way while seeking to keep traditional arts and skills alive?

Each webinar will tackle traditional repertoire while considering the challenges of both song origin and presentation in modern times. Information about the series is available here: seaportmuseum.org/sealives 

The conversation will be illustrated with images from the Seaport Museum's collection, including items from the history of Mary Patten, who commanded the clipper ship Neptune's Car around Cape Horn in 1856, when her husband collapsed during a voyage.

Seaport Museum’s monthly sea-music event Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music – the original NYC chantey sing, now made popular on TikTok – continues virtually on Sunday, April 4, 2021 at 2pm ET. From our living rooms and kitchens, join a round-robin of shared songs featuring members of The New York Packet and friends. Listen in, lead a song, and belt out the choruses for your neighbors to hear on the first Sunday of every month. The event is FREE. Sign up here to receive the Zoom link 24 hours prior: seaportmuseum.org/chanteysing/

The next virtual Chantey Sings will take place on:
- Sunday, May 2, 2021 at 2pm ET – RSVP at bit.ly/ChanteyMay2
- Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 2pm ET – RSVP at bit.ly/ChanteyJun6
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18) THE CINEMERSIVE DRIVE-IN EXPERIENCE


RADIAL PARK


AT HALLETTS POINT PLAY


RETURNS THIS SPRING

 

WITH ICONIC FAN-FAVORITE FILM 


THE BLUES BROTHERS

 

FEATURING LIVE BAND AND PERFORMERS


IN HYBRID SHOWING ALONGSIDE THE FEATURE FILM


BEGINNING MAY 27, 2021


TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 2, 2021


Producers Jeremy Shepard (Stark Production Group, Founder and President) and Marco Shalma (Round Seven Media, Founder and President) announced today that the cinemersive drive-in experience Radial Park at Halletts Point Play, will return this Spring with the iconic, blockbuster, fan-favorite film, The Blues Brothers beginning Thursday, May 27, 2021.

 

he Blues Brothersdirected by Shira Milikowsky, will feature a live band and performances timed in sync with the movie in a one-of-a-kind hybrid mashup. Cast members and a full schedule of showtimes will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for The Blues Brothers will go on sale Friday, April 2.

 

Radial Park’s cinemersive experience, dubbed “Broadway at the Drive-In,” officially opened October 1, 2020 with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera on the big screen along with live specially interwoven musical numbers from Broadway’s Derrick Davis and Ali Ewoldt alongside a live 11-piece orchestra and continued with Purple Rain featuring Aaron MarcellusNick Rashad Burroughs and Lenesha “Sister” Randolph and Selena, starring two-time Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada singing hits from the films in front of live bands.


Guests can enjoy the interactive, theatrical show from the safety of their own vehicles or via reserved picnic tables spaced appropriately for social distancing for those who prefer biking, walking, or taking the ferry to Halletts Point Play.


Beverages and movie theater-style snacks are available for purchase along with multiple food trucks providing a selection of on-site dining options.

 

Following the requirements of government and health officials, Radial Park will continue to implement strict health and safety protocols including temperature checks upon arrival via an infrared, touchless thermometer; color-coded wristbands for social distancing; and more.

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19) Theater Resources Unlimited
March Panel Via Zoom
Rethinking Marketing Strategies to Reach the Wider Virtual Audience
Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 5:30pm

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the monthly Panel, Rethinking Marketing Strategies to Reach the Wider Virtual Audience on Thursday, March 25, 2021 via Zoom. The panel will be led by Roger Gonzalez of Alliance Media Theatricals & LocalTheatreUSA.com, Monica Hammond of Big Leap Brands (former director of marketing for Davenport Theatrical Enterprises) and Toni Isreal of Realemn Productions (former managing director of Walker International Communications). Reserve a spot on the TRU event page at https://truonline.org/events/virtual-marketing-strategies/, or by emailing TRUStaff1@gmail.com - you will be put on a list to receive the Zoom link.

Zoom session will open at 5:30pm eastern time for roundtable introductions of attendees; program will start at 6:00pm - come prepared with your best 20-second summary of who you are, and what you need. Free for TRU members, pay-what-you-can for non-members. Please use the bright red reservation box on our web page, or email or phone at least a day in advance (or much sooner): e-mail TRUStaff1@gmail.com or phone 833-506-5550.

For more information about TRU membership and programs, visit www.truonline.org.
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And that's the scoop. Tune in tomorrow for More Theater Monday.

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