Lockdown - 2019 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

Rufus Norris’ stage production of Andrea Levy’s Small Island was hailed as a triumph on its debut in 2019. The epic story of race, friendship and betrayal set among the Windrush generation was a welcome distraction when streamed during lockdown and now makes an exultant return to the grandeur of the Olivier’s stage.

From the award-winning company behind family favourite Me & My Bee comes a brand new show to tour this Spring, aiming to open up conversations for those who are curious about sex and relationships.

Each year, award-winning touring company New Perspectives support a group of early career artists from the East Midlands through a year-long development programme from their Nottingham base.

Global drag icon and RuPaul's Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme, will embark on her biggest solo tour yet as star and Lead Producer – April 13 through July 16, 2022 – with her critically acclaimed, narrative-cabaret, “BenDeLaCreme is...READY TO BE COMMITTED” (produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents).

Deva Fest 2022 is promising to be the most spectacular and entertaining family festival in the region when it returns this summer, with a host of new attractions just announced.

Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights’ Arena join creative forces to present their second world premiere offering, Boni B. Alvarez’ APARTMENT LIVING opening March 12, 2022, live at the Skylight Theatre. Jon Lawrence Rivera directs the cast of Gabriel Leyva, Geri-Nikole Love, Charrell Mack,  Gigette Reyes, Andrew Russel and Rachel Sorsa. I had the opportunity to field a few queries to Boni on APARTMENT LIVING and his previous relationships with Skylight and Playwrights’ Arena.

Global drag icon and RuPaul's Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme, will embark on her biggest solo tour yet as star and Lead Producer – April 13 through July 10, 2022 – with her critically acclaimed, narrative-cabaret, “BenDeLaCreme is...READY TO BE COMMITTED” (produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents).

24th Street Theatre and The Wallis world premieres Olivier Award-winning playwright Mike Kenny’s RAPUNZEL ALONE March 5, 2022, with live performances alternating between 24th Street Theatre and The Wallis. I had the chance toss a few questions to Mike across the ocean on RAPUNZEL ALONE, as well as on his very lengthy resume of past plays.

At Birdland Jazz Club, catch The Cookers, Celebrating the Slide Hampton Octet, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Grace Fox Big Band, Maqueque, Sean Harkness Quartet, Monty Alexander, and Emmet’s Place Live.

After teasing his third album last year with the track “2gether,” “bbycakes” further introduces the new era from the groundbreaking artist and producer.  It also follows last year’s collaborations with Shygirl—on a rework of Lady Gaga’s “Sour Candy” for her remix album Dawn of Chromatica—and PinkPantheress—on “Just For Me” from her breakout debut.

 Bard SummerScape will return this year with eight weeks of live dance, theater, music, and opera in New York’s Hudson Valley, June 23–August 14, 2022. SummerScape 2022 presents the world premieres of new commissions in both dance and theater.

Los Angeles-via-Austin band Oliver Future is excited for the release of their new album  A Year at Home, their first new record in 14 years, out today Peak Dumb Recordings. The band released three pre-album singles, 'All We've Lost,' 'Flattened' and 'Phases of The Moon.' Listen to the new album now!

Award-winning singer-songwriter Shaina Taub has shared “The Last Song on Earth,” available now at all DSPs and streaming services; the gripping anthem – which takes a sardonic look at climate change and features Taub on accordion – is joined by an official animated video, animated by Gaia Alari. Pre-order the new album now!

This spring, Caroline Horton is touring the UK with her critically acclaimed solo show following a multi-award-winning Edinburgh run in 2019, a Twine adaptation and an audio version.

The first fruits of the sessions for new album ‘Imbecilica’ can be heard today in new single ‘Tiny Blue People’, a high-energy attack that explodes with vitality and melody. The Tiny Blue People in the video live an invisible existence at the bottom of swimming pools in the suburbs United States, cunningly camouflaged by their blue skin.

Just days before the COVID-19 lockdown shuttered theatres and businesses worldwide, Joshua Bell & The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields took to the stage in what would be The Soraya's final live performance for the next 18 months.  

After being postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 lockdown, The Last Five Years is finally going on stage at the beautiful Theatre on the bay from 29 March 2022 to 9 April 2022.

FERVOUR. presents Destroy, She Said, a surreal re-imagining of Marguerite Duras' 1969 novel, set to reopen Belvoir's 25A program in the Downstairs Theatre. After more than two years in development, and rescheduled seasons following both the 2020 and 2021 lockdown, FERVOUR. will finally bring this new work to the Belvoir stage.

Having joined the cast of Les Misérables at the newly refurbished Sondheim Theatre back in December 2019, Gerard Carey and Josefina Gabrielle have had quite the rollercoaster experience as everyone's favourite rogues, the Thénardiers. Between them, their list of theatre credits is impressive and despite having never met prior to the show, Carey and Gabrielle have united to create a strong partnership throughout multiple lockdowns and two different productions.

Los Angeles-via-Austin band Oliver Future is pleased to share 'All We've Lost' the final pre-release single from  A Year at Home, their first new record in 14 years. 'All We've Lost' follows singles 'Flattened' and 'Phases Of The Moon,' along with its accompaning video. Listen to the new single now!

Now, as the new school year dawns on me, I have had a lot of thoughts on the approach and eagerness to return to normalcy. South Africa and my university, Rhodes are so eager to return to normalcy as are most people. I agree, it's time to start easing back into a lockdown free world. But I do not agree that we can return to the world we once knew.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the 24th Street Theatre world premiere production of RAPUNZEL ALONE, a sophisticated reimagining of a classic fairy tale geared for adults and children (ages 7+) alike in seven performances from Saturday, March 12 through Saturday, March 19, 2022, in The Wallis' Lovelace Studio Theater.

Grammy Award-winning global superstar Oumou Sangaré makes her return to the World Circuit label for the release her new album Timbuktu. Recorded in multiple locations in the U.S., Mali and France, Timbuktu is her first new material since 2017’s critically acclaimed Mogoya. Listen to the album's lead single 'Sarama' and pre-order the new album now!

The Nasher Sculpture Center announces 'SCULPTING SOUND: Twelve Musicians Encounter Bertoia', a series of six historic concerts, from February 22–27, 2022, bringing together twelve master musicians to explore the expressive range of Harry Bertoia's sounding sculptures, in complement to the exhibition Harry Bertoia: Sculpting Mid-Century Modern Life on view at the Nasher January 29 – April 23, 2022. 

Kiri Pritchard-McLean has announced the Spring 2022 dates for the UK Tour of her brand new show (with further Autumn dates to be announced early in 2022).