Curtain Call: New Voices, Recognition's and Delays
Broadway: Broadway Black debuted the first-ever Antonyo Awards on June 19th to celebrate the black theatre community. Adrienne Warren, Audra McDonald, LaChanze, Michael Benjamin Washington, among others, were awarded for their performances in shows that were presented both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. Tina- The Tina Turner Musical and The Public Theater’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/when the rainbow is enuf were prominent contenders during the visual ceremony, as winners were chosen by public vote.
The award ceremony was created by Broadway choreographer Darius Barnes and Drew Shade, creator of Broadway Black, with the purpose of recognizing African American theatrical talent. Nominations were announced on June 9th with the ceremony presenting new categories such as Best Lighting Design and Best Sound. Over 8,000 people voted online for the talent listed in almost 30 categories.
The musical Flying Over Sunset has been officially postponed until Spring 2021. The show, directed by James Lapin, had started previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at the Lincoln Center, before New York City shut down all productions due to COVID-19. The musical recounts a fictional meeting between Aldous Huxley, Clare Boothe Luce and Cary Grant, who all used the drug LSD.
The Lincoln Center also confirmed that the Off-Broadway show Intimate Apparel, directed by Bartlett Sher, has also been postponed until Spring. The announcements come as Broadway announced an extension of the shutdown through January 3, 2021. It was previously announced by the Broadway League that the shutdown would be extended until September 4.
Actors’ Equity Association announced the results of the 2020 National Council Election. Kate Shindle was re-elected President for a second term after previously functioning as the Eastern Vice President from 2009 to 2012. Shindle was first elected in 2015. Other members highlighted include Dee Hoty, Kelley Faulkner, and Doug Carfrae, who will function as the Eastern, Central, and Western Regional Vice Presidents respectively.
Tony winners Victoria Clark and Michele L. Pawk will function in the association as part of the Eastern Region Principal Counselor roles. The 2020 National Council Election campaign was launched in 2017 in order to modernize the Actors’ Equity Association and intensify its activist power in the national labor landscape.
Brandon Michael Nase has created a new non-profit organization Broadway for Racial Justice. The organization was founded in response to the absence of some of Broadway’s largest companies during the Black Lives Matter movement. The institution’s purpose is to fight for racial justice within the Broadway industry, as well as overall theatre communities throughout the country.
The organization is working to create an emergency fund for artists of color, regardless of union affiliation. Nase also stated that he will establish a hotline to report acts of racism in the workplace to an advocate. The Broadway Advocacy Coalition and Broadway Black have also been announced as partners in order to enhance these resources.
Off-Broadway/Regional: The 43rd annual Kennedy Center Honors has been postponed until next spring. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts also announced the cancellations of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the opening night gala of the National Symphony Orchestra. Both activities will resume in 2021, with the Kennedy Center Honors being held on March 7th, 2021, and the Mark Twain Prize on June 20th, 2021.
It was previously announced that a 14-week run of the Broadway hit Hamilton at the venue would be postponed, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, until further notice. The musical was set to open on June 16 and run through September 20th. The center stated it will give full refund for ticket-holders of all events canceled.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre launched a podcast titled Muse: Discover Musicals. The podcast aims to present new musicals in development by bringing their story and music to life with the help of the shows’ writers. Hosted by Ciera Ivenson, director of New Works, the show will feature table reads, performances of the original material, and interviews with the creative team.
The podcast comprises five episodes highlighting new musicals that have premiered through the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s festival. Muse: Discover Musicals is available in all main streaming platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Season two is currently in pre-production and aiming to be released later this year.
International: Cameron Mackintosh announced that four of the most acclaimed musicals in the West End will not reopen until next year. Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera, and Hamilton have all delayed their returns for 2021. Mackintosh stated that this is due to the uncertainty over safety issues for audiences, as well as not having a date for the withdrawal of social distancing measures.
Delfont Mackintosh Theatres are starting consultations with Mackintosh in order to discuss potential unemployment for all employees involved in all productions. Mackintosh has also asked the UK government for support, as he currently has no investors. The Creative Industries Federation stated that Britain is facing a catastrophe with more than 400,000 loss of jobs and a significant drop for creative ventures due to the ongoing shutdown.
Black Lives Black Words has announced a project to highlight current African-American and African experiences with an online series. The international project titled Plays for the People will showcase new works from seven Black playwrights including Reginald Edmund, Chisa Hutchinson, and Anya Pearson, among others. The first season will run July 8th to November 8th, 2020.
Each piece will be performed live for an audience of 50 on Zoom and will run for five days straight. Post-show Q&A with the playwright and co-founders Edmund and Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway will be available on the second day of performances. Tickets are currently available on Black Lives Black Words’ official website.
