Curtain Call: Soldiers, Emperors, and Politicians
David Alan Grier - Youtube
Broadway: New casting has been announced for the anticipated Charles Fuller play, A Soldier’s Play. Joining three-time Tony nominee, David Alan Grier is Blair Underwood and Jerry O’Connell. Directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon, the production follows an investigator trying to uncover who murdered a black sergeant on a Louisiana army base. A former NFL All-Pro defensive back will also make his Broadway debut in this show. Nnamdi Asomugha will portray Private First-Class Melvin Peterson when previews for A Soldier’s Play begin December 27 preceding a January 21 opening night at American Airlines Theater.
Although Hamilton opened on Broadway in 2015, it continues to make headlines. The original Aaron Burr, Leslie Odom Jr. teased fans by releasing that a film version of the revolutionary musical was filmed and will be released...eventually. So far, no tentative dates have been released, but the very prospect is exciting. Now, more fans will have the chance to witness the magic without the high price tag and those who have seen the show already can experience it again and again. The Hamilton alum will also be releasing his own solo album, Mr, in spring 2020.
Batter up! The upcoming revival of the Tony-winning drama centered around baseball, Take Me Out, has released its full cast. Brandon J. Dirden joins Jesse Williams, Julian Cihi and Hiram Delgado among others as they round out the entire cast. First released in 2003, the diamond drama follows the story of the complications that arise when a prominent ball player comes out of the closet. From Second Stage productions, Take Me Out will open at Hayes Theater on April 23, 2020 following previews beginning April 2. Will it be a home run? Buy tickets to find out!
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Off-Broadway/ Regional: Don’t cry for her because New York City Center gala production of Evita began on November 13. Running a limited engagement until November 24, the musical follows the life of the political leader, Eva Perón and her husband as they navigate the complexities of politics and living in the public eye. Hamilton alum Solea Pfeiffer shares the titular role with Argentinian recording artist Maia Reficco opposite Enrique Acevado. This specific production honors the original director of Evita- the late Hal Prince who envisioned multiple actors portraying Evita in different stages of her life.
The Pan Asian Repertory Theater will bring back its family-friendly production of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Emperor’s Nightingale. Adapted by Damon Chua and directed by Chongren Fan, the story portrays the origin story of the future Emperor Qianlong of China in the 18th century. The original cast will return including Leanne Cabrera and James Doan among others. This revival will celebrate the Lunar Year and premiere January 12, 2020 and run until January 26 at Off-Broadway’s theater role. The authentic production incorporates traditional Chinese lion dance along with the use of puppets and folk songs to recreate the 1840’s literary fairytale.
Emojis have infiltrated popular culture in just about every way possible. With its own language, emojis became a quintessential part of 21st century dialogue as more and more continue to get released with every passing year. Now that emojis can resemble your own appearance and even have their own movie, it seems sensical that the phenomenon would now move to the stage. The brand-new musical, Emojiland, will play a limited engagement from January-March of 2020 at The Duke on 42nd Street. New casting has been announced as to which Broadway actors will embody which emojis. Current casting announcements promise Lesli Margherita as Princess, George Abud as Nerd Face, Felicia Boswell as half of a loving couple and Ann Harada as Pile of Poo. The story, which was a Grand Jury Selection at the 2018 New York Musical Festival, follows a community of characters who refuse to look below the surface. What you see is what you get. Or is it? Winking face emoji.
Marc J. Franklin
International: Sydney, Australia’s Seymour Center has announced its staging of several off-Broadway productions in 2020. Among them is Ming Pfeiffer’s play, Usual Girls, making its Australian debut. Written in 2018, the play is broken up into vignettes and tracks the experience of growing up as an Asian American girl in 1980’s Ohio. The play was extended twice when staged in New York at the Roundabout Theater Company. Pfeiffer serves to unsettle her audience through the inclusion of humor when discussing serious matters including sexuality, rape and addiction. Now, Pfeiffer brings her raw and honest show across the globe to an entirely new audience who can relate to her experiences.
Mount view school senior, Noah Thomas, will become the next Jamie in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking about Jamie. Opening at the Apollo Theater in 2017, the new musical is based off the television documentary and true story, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16. It follows 16-year-old Jamie who decides he wants to attend his school prom wearing a dress. Jamie and his classmates, along with the town of Sheffield, come face to face with old traditions and new ideals.
A new musical is coming to London’s West End and has found its leading lady. Oliver nominee Beverly Knight will star in the new production entitled The Drifter’s Girl. The story follows the vocal group, The Drifters, as they rise to fame and stardom with the help of Knight’s character, Faye Treadwell who elevates the group into a global phenomenon. Following the trend of musicals tracking the success of real-life musicians including Jersey Boys and Ain’t Too Proud, the musical will feature classics such as “Stand by Me” and “Save the Last Dance for Me.” The Drifter’s Girl will make its world premiere at the Newcastle Theater Royal on September 5, 2020 then transfer to the Garrick Theater for a 20-week limited engagement starting October 1.
At the beginning of the month, Indian writer and director Nitin Mane premiered his newest play, #Feminist, at the Nritya Forum of Performing Arts in Banjara Hills and Gachibowli. The play follows five characters from different walks of life who discuss controversial topics of feminism and society in a humorous and entertaining way. The play explores whether India is ready to embrace such issues in time with International Women’s Day. Presented by The Nritya Theatre Ensemble, this work challenged social norms and allowed the audience to see themselves in the characters and the important conversations they were engaging in.