Second Stage News

Cleverly and wittingly written, not only the book, but the intricate, explanatory and humorous lyrics to the ten musical numbers written for the show with wonderful vocal arrangements to match; Law and Order; The Musical, delivers the clues, the facts, the suspects, the crime and plenty of hilarity during this mock-up and laugh-a-minute parody spoofing the epic long-running TV drama.  The spiffy and caricatured choreography was an added bonus to the already lively, full of energy cast of characters we meet.  Being a long-time fan of the series, it was fun to mix and match the characters to the different actors you've seen playing those roles.   The woman behind all this creativity is Ilyse Mimoun, who plays one of the leads, and has written, directed and is executive producer of this brand new endeavor.  Kudos to the entire cast for mastering the extensive dialogue, lyrics, musical staging, choreography, and some really great harmony!

a?oe1776a?? is now on sale at the Ahmanson Theatre. Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus and featuring a book by Peter Stone with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, a?oe1776a?? will begin a pre-Broadway engagement at the Ahmanson from July 21 through August 23, 2020.

Forget that other show. I was in the REAL room where it happened last weekend at the 4th Annual Junior Theater Festival West (JTF), which celebrates youth theatre and encourages students and teachers to keep theatre alive in their community. Each year it follows the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, which just finished its 15th season. Over 2,200 people participated in the three-day festival, some coming from as far away as Australia, England, and South Korea. Students and educators benefited from the knowledge of top Broadway professionals in the form of adjudications, workshops, and a discussion panel entitled Pathways to Success, in which the featured guests shared how they forged their own paths to Broadway and beyond.

The Marsh San Francisco presents Aren't Youa???, the newest solo show by actor Fred Pitts recounting his hilarious journey to visit all 21 California Mission churches, where he discovers being black makes him an instant celebrity a?" the question is which one? Set in the Summer of 2012, Pitts finds himself at one Mission after the next, encountering docents and fellow tourists.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 2/13/2020 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

On February 10, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe celebrated the grand opening of its newly-renovated theater. In attendance were WBTT leaders and supporters, civic and foundation leaders, and representatives from C. Alan Anderson Architect, PA and Willis Smith Construction.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the winner of the 2020 Blue Ink Playwriting Award is Recent Unsettling Events by Andrea Stolowitz. A staged reading of the play will be presented as part of the 2020 Blue Ink Playwriting Festival, along with new work by finalists Football Football Football Football (or I Love Lave Dash) by Kristoffer Diaz, The Mermaids' Parade by Gina Femia, and Crying on Television by R. Eric Thomas. The Blue Ink Playwriting Festival runs May 2-4, 2020 at 4809 N Ravenswood, Suite #126, in Chicago.

Just last night, Second Stage Theater celebrated its annual All-Star Bowling Classic.  For over 30 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts.

The York Theatre Company will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, a song and dance celebration featuring the music and lyrics of the legendary Irving Berlin, with book by Barry Kleinbort (13 Things About Ed Carpolotti) and music direction by David Hancock Turner (York's Desperate Measures), directed and choreographed by four-time Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Dames at Sea, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Ain't Broadway Grand). Performances begin Friday, April 17, 2020 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is set for Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 6:45 p.m. Cast and creative team will be announced shortly.

Earlier today, BroadwayWorld was saddened to report that Kevin Conway, actor and director on stage and screen, has died. He was 77.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) has announced the lineup for the 2020 Ted Snowdon Reading Series.

Good Theater continues its Second Stage series with the world premiere of Shannon Thurston's solo show MEN: THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT. The production will run in repertory with the main stage production, PACK OF LIES. MEN: THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT opens February 15th and plays through March 7th, 2020 at Good Theater's home, the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland. For tickets and information, please call the Box Office at (207) 835-0895 or visit www.goodtheater.com.

The Marsh San Francisco presents GRANDMA & ME: An Ode to Single Parents, the highly anticipated new solo show by award-winning playwright and actor Brian Copeland (Not a Genuine Black Man, The Waiting Period, The Scion, The Jewelry Box). Copeland, whose critically-acclaimed Not a Genuine Black Man has earned the title of longest running solo show in San Francisco history, unveils a new work that examines the issues of single parenting, and asks what it truly means to be a father.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 2/6/2020 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

Sundance Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for independent artists in film, theatre, and media to create and thrive, and Ucross, a prestigious artist residency program and creative laboratory for the arts, and have announced seven fellows participating in the 21st annual Sundance Institute Artist Residency at Ucross in Wyoming, currently taking place February 3-21, 2020. This year, the retreat was renamed (formerly the Sundance Institute Playwrights & Composers Retreat) to reflect its cross-disciplinary structure.

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced they will present the 2020 Horton Foote Playwriting Award to Lydia Diamond at the Dramatists Guild's awards presentations in July. The Richenthal Foundation is again sponsoring the award.

Country Music will take over Berry on the South Coast of NSW on Saturday 9 May 2020 for the 2nd annual Big Country Festival featuring a line-up of Australia's top country artists.

Pittsburgh Opera announces its 2020-21 season, the company's 82nd. The season continues Pittsburgh Opera's tradition of performing world-class productions from old favorites to exciting new works.

The newly formed J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company (Jim Jimirro, Executive Producer/Co-Founder; Robert W. Schneider, Artistic Director/Co-Founder) announced today a bonus series of programs for its inaugural 2020 season. Opening the season is Seesaw, which will play February 13-23, 2020, followed by No Strings (February 27 - March 8, 2020) and A Class Act (March 12-22, 2020) at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Free and open to ticket holders, Lagniappes, from the Louisiana French meaning a bonus or gift, are designed to enhance audience appreciation of classic works with cast talkbacks, visits with the producers, and interviews with the cast and personnel of the original productions.

Next up on The Players Club of Swarthmore's Main Stage is Next to Normal, a moving and intimate musical about the devastating effects of mental illness on a contemporary suburban family. Next to Normal features book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey (If/then, The Last Ship). Music by Tom Kitt (High Fidelity, From Up Here). Next to Normal won three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Next to Normal is directed by Ed Robins. Music direction is by Raquel Garcia. Choreography is by Julianna Schauerman. Tickets are available online at www.pcstheater.org. For group rates, contact groupsales@pcstheater.org.