Once Upon A One More Time - 2020 - Chicago Articles Page 20

Writer and activist Susan Sontag once famously referred to Larry Kramer as 'one of America's most valuable troublemakers.' His play The Normal Heart is now being revived at the National Theatre.

BroadwayWorld is checking in with theaters around the country as they prepare to reopen this summer. Next in our series we check in with Zach Theatre's Director of Marketing and Communications Drew Nebrig.

Casting is today announced for the world première of Robin Hooper's new drama 'Broken Lad', a comic and moving examination of masculinity in distress, directed by Richard Speir. It is Arcola Theatre's second production at their new venue, Arcola Outside.

The need for personal isolation during 2020 appears to have led to a plethora of solo shows being developed and performed online and in person in which performers create mostly autobiographical tales meant to unify their own experience with the rest of us. So when I heard about Rachel Parker's world premiere of her darkly funny, moving The Wolfe & The Bird premiering at the Matrix Theatre on September 18, I decided to ask her about its development as well as the many characters which play a part in her story via voiceover artists.

Soho Rep. today announced a robust 2021-22 season with which it will reopen its home at 46 Walker Street. The company welcomes full-capacity in-person audiences back for the first time since late 2019 with the presentation of works-in-progress from the Writer/Director Lab, a signature program of the theater for over two decades.

It has been a long wait, but audiences can prepare to have the time of their life again at North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) when Bill Hanney brings back MAMMA MIA! for an Encore Performance to re-open the award-winning theatre which has been closed for 18 months due to the pandemic.

With the slogan “Theatre In These Trying Times”, the 25th edition of the festival has set out to breathe fresh air into both the world of theatre and to theatre lovers with a programme of mostly new productions that look at the world, which is in search of a new normal, through the lens of theatre.

Both a celebration and a call to action, Expand the Canon demands space in the classical canon for more diverse playwrights, many of whom were underproduced or utterly un-produced in their lifetimes. Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre calls upon the national and international theater community to expand its definition of classical theater and include these brilliant writers and artists in their production seasons, publications, classrooms, and beyond.

The cast is led by Pierre Jean Gonzalez as Alexander Hamilton, with Ta'Rea Campbell, Marcus Choi, Jared Dixon, Desmond Sean Ellington, Warren Egypt Franklin, Neil Haskell, Elijah Malcomb Stephanie Jae Park, Paige Smallwood, and more.

Barlow & Bear have just released their highly-anticipated concept album, The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical. BroadwayWorld spoke with Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear about the process of creating The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical concept album, what's next for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical and more!

Performance artist John Fleck will present four live, work-in-progress performances of his musical cabaret/special event it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE! at the Odyssey Theatre starting September 18th. Had the chance to chat up this infamous NEA FOUR artist on his creativity, his patience in the makeup chair and his creative history with David Schweizer.

Blue13 Dance Company presents SHAADI, an interactive Indian wedding, on the private grounds and Victorian mansions of the Heritage Square Museum September 17th and 18th. The audience will participate in the celebratory nuptials partaking of provided drinks, music and a DJ. Had the chance to chat with Blue13’s Founder/artistic director Achinta S. McDaniel who choreographed these wedding festivities.

East West Players, in partnership with San Francisco’s EnActe Arts and New York City’s Hypokrit Productions, presents the virtual world premiere of Lavina Jadhwani’s THE SITAYANA (OR HOW TO MAKE AN EXIT) beginning September 25, 2021. Lavina’s updated, upending take on the Hindu epic The Ramayana recounts the story through Sita’s eyes, rather than Ram’s eyes as in the original. Audiences attending the livestreams will be given a choice to one of the three unique incarnations of Sita. Had the chance to pose a few questions to THE SITAYANA’s director Reena Dutt on her history with THE SITAYANA and what she’s been doing the last pandemic months to keep creatively sane.  

For the first time since March 2020, New Yorkers of all experience levels and backgrounds are invited to join in the dance at the Joan Weill Center for Dance – NYC’s largest building dedicated to dance – with their favorite instructors, inspiring guest artists and esteemed musicians. 

The first production to open The Pit, following its closure for over a year and a half due to the pandemic, is Poetry + Film / Hack – Rocks curated by Inua Ellams and Michelle Tiwo. The evening begins with a screening of the award-winning critically-acclaimed film Rocks, followed by readings of specially commissioned new work by outstanding Black female poets, including Barbican Young Poets alumni, who respond to the film's themes.

Pianist Richard D. Johnson presents his expressive new release, First Glance, due out August 27, 2021 via Afar Music

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts today announced artistic works celebrating iconic civil rights leaders, accessibility in the arts, and the rich history of dance in New York City coming to Restart Stages this September—the outdoor performing arts center created to champion the revival and recovery of New York City arts.

This week (August 9-15) in live streaming: Liz Callaway in concert, Laura Michelle Kelly teaches a master class, Next on Stage: Dance Edition Season 2 continues with the Top 3, and so much more!

Liverpool Theatre Festival runs between Wednesday 1 September and Sunday 12 September 2021, and is once again being staged at St Luke's Bombed Out Church in Liverpool city centre.  Tickets are on sale now!

For their 38th season at Undermain they are creating an exciting array of diverse performance opportunities to inspire and enrich our community and support artists in North Texas. They hope to be able to offer live performances in addition to the virtual streaming videos for each production. 

 Teatro San Diego premiers their inaugural production SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD via streaming from August 5th - 15th. Executive Director Julio Catano and the talented creative team talk about their roles in and some of their favorite moments while creating this show.

Liverpool's Laughterhouse Comedy Club has signed up for a return to the city's outdoor live entertainment festival in September. A line-up boasting some of Laughterhouse Comedy's most popular acts is sure to wow audiences at Liverpool Theatre Festival. 

Kimmel Cultural Campus has announced the much-anticipated return of in-person performing arts across their venues: the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater. On September 18, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Kimmel Cultural Campus will host a grand reopening event in Commonwealth Plaza to celebrate the start of the 2021-22 season.

Over the next few weeks, BWW is giving you an insider look at the reopening process as Broadway prepares to take the stage once more. This week we chat with Broadway League President, Charlotte St. Martin, and more about the reopening process from the administrative end, Covid-19 safety, the intersection of Broadway and the NYC economy and tourism sector, and more.

Visit our list of the best musicals & shows you can watch from home! We've got you covered with all the must-sees on streaming sites including Tony-award winners, favorite stars and top performances.