Xander wore a different costume each of the three days of BroadwayCon 2019: Lola from Kinky Boots on Friday, Aubrey II and Seymour from The Little Shop of Horrors on Saturday (left), and Usnavi from In The Heights on Sunday (right). Scroll to bottom for Scenes From BroadwayCon

At BroadwayCon 2 at BroadwayCon 1

“When the actor made his entrance, during the introductory number, “Alexander Hamilton,” it was the audience that stopped the show, with a prolonged, thunderous ovation. At the curtain call nearly three hours later, Miranda once again brought down the house, with a teary speech that ended with him pulling a large Puerto Rican flag from under his costume and holding it aloft.”- An emotional opening for ‘Hamilton’ in Puerto Rico — not just for Lin-Manuel Miranda but an island still reeling from a storm (Scroll below for a video report from Reuters)

The Week in New York Theater Reviews

Blue Ridge

In Abby Rosebrock’s “Blue Ridge,” a comedy that morphs into an intensely acted drama…Marin Ireland’s remarkable performance brings out the full range and force of Alison’s personality with every gesture and expression. And she is not alone. Rosebrock’s script feels flawed at times in two contrary ways — sometimes aimlessly meandering, sometimes abruptly implausible. But under the direction of Taibi Magar (Is God Is), the production serves as a stellar showcase for some riveting acting by all six members of the cas

Choir Boy

Pharus Jonathan Young is black, gay and gifted, like the playwright who created him, Tarrell Alvin McCraney, best known for the Oscar winning film Moonlight. McCraney is making his Broadway debut with Choir Boy, his sweet, sad, substantive play. With nimble direction by Trip Cullman and a lively cast mostly of Broadway newcomers performing some soulful music, it doubles as a glorious entertainment

Under the Radar:



Minefield

In an extraordinary work of theater put together by Argentine director Lola Arias, six veterans who fought on opposite sides of the 1982 war between Argentina and Great Britain met and, under Arias’ guidance, pieced together a show. “Minefield”…is ultimately a powerful and moving endeavor. It is also deeply odd.



Chambre Noir

Valerie Solanas, the mentally ill woman who shot Andy Warhol in 1968, has had a remarkably long run. Her SCUM Manifesto (Society for Cutting Up Men), which called for the overthrow of the government, the elimination of the money system, and the destruction of the male sex, has reportedly been translated into more than a dozen languages. She has been the subject of books, plays, musical compositions, TV shows and movies; both Lilli Taylor and Lena Dunham have played her.

And now, 30 years after her death at the age of 52 in a hotel in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, the Norwegian-French company Plexus Polaire, led by extraordinary artist Yngvild Aspeli, has turned Valerie Solanas into a puppet. Several puppets, actually.

It’s the best thing they could have done. Puppetry redeems “Chambre Noire,” as it does “King Kong” and “Frozen,” except more so, because nobody is likely to accuse those Broadway shows of glorifying a fictional reindeer or a giant ape.

The Week in New York Theater News

What the Constitution Means to Me, Heidi Schreck’s play about her personal connection to the founding document, will come to Broadway this spring for 12 weeks, beginning March 14, at the Helen Hayes Theater

Kathleen Chalfant & Ruthie Ann Miles are among the cast of @Waterwell‘s The Courtroom, a re-enactment of deportation proceedings, from actual court transcripts edited by @ArianMoayed.

It’s FREE, Jan 23-26, taking place in a real courtroom!https://t.co/k8OZnZUFP3 pic.twitter.com/xStmU2PT52 — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 10, 2019

Three new cast members for @aladdin: @iamMJScott takes over as Genie Feb 15; @ainsley_melham as Aladdin and @mike__longo as Kassim on Feb 19. (@TellyLeung & @steelburkhardt will play their final performances Feb 17) My review in 2014 (!)https://t.co/Z99LvNZsQ3 pic.twitter.com/JyN6iLyfW7 — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 8, 2019

How the federal shutdown is affecting the non-profit theater world, a “fragile industry.” (“The question about when @NEAarts will be distributing funds really hits home for us.” says @TheatreforaNewA managing director)https://t.co/Yaq7v4ssBE — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 10, 2019

Emily Mann, artistic director and resident playwright at McCarter, has announced her retirement in 2020, by which year she will have led the Tony-winning theater for three decades. Mann’s work as a writer and director is frequently presented on New York stages, currently “Gloria: A Life”

Patricia Kalember is the new star of that play about Gloria Steinem.

oh no. Shakespeare Theater in Stratford, Connecticut burns to the ground.

(before and after pictures)https://t.co/XdK6c9WRqU pic.twitter.com/i1gJYcHhrk — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 13, 2019

Made it there once. Christopher Walken, Anne Baxter, and Fred Gwynne in HAMLET. I plan on making it to the opening of the future Stratford Festival building. We lost some theatre history, but we will make new history in a stronger building. Sad for artifacts lost. — Cynthia Barry (@teachandact) January 13, 2019

Fosse/Verdon trailer: Sam Rockwell is Bob Fosse. Michelle Williams is Gwen Verdon. FX’s new limited series is coming soon.

﻿

Scenes from BroadwayCon 2019

Watch Beetlejuice, Hadestown, Tootsie, Kiss Me Kate: First Look

How They Create Their Characters: Watch Anthony Rapp, Donna Murphy and Melissa Errico

Playwriting gave me hope when I felt hopeless, so I hope my plays can give hope to people who see them – @donjarlove #broadwaycon2019 pic.twitter.com/1HIWGBHN0u — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 13, 2019

What is the biggest challenge in being a black female playwright? “Being called a black female playwright,” answers Dael Orlandersmith. “I’m proud of being a woman and being black, but there are so many things I want to write about….” #broadwaycon2019 pic.twitter.com/SG5KWiL4RK — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 12, 2019

This is the part I’ve wanted to do my whole life. This is my 13th Broadway show. I’ve been doing this since

I was 18. And I never ever really thought I’d get to play her. I’m not 20 anymore – @LauraBenanti about Eliza in @MyFairLadyBway #BroadwayCon2019 — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 13, 2019

“One made a billion dollars. The other lost a billion,” said ⁦@tommygreenwald⁩ whose firm designed both posters. (They were probably not the deciding factor) #broadwaycon2019. #bwaycon pic.twitter.com/QibIgvhIrb — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 11, 2019

Playing “Nothing Going To Harm You” from Sweeney Todd, sung by Patti LuPone and @ActuallyNPH — a highlight of #BroadwayCon2019 pic.twitter.com/pU00lIBe8d — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) January 12, 2019

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