The first publicity shot from Steven Spielberg’s movie remake of “West Side Story,” planned for December 2020, came on the same week as the death of Franco Zeffirelli, whose 1968 film of “Romeo and Juliet,” cast with actual teenagers, was a huge hit.

Tony Awards 2019 Tony Awards 2016

Two shows have announced their closing, after failing to win any of the Tony Awards for which they were nominated at the 73rdannual Tony Awards, which attracted only 5.47 million viewers, a decline from the previous year – and a sharp decline from 2016, the last time that James Corden served as host. But even winners have cause to complain: One of the Tony winning producers of Hadestown, who each had to pay thousands of dollars for their trophies:

Nothing more humbling than winning a Tony Award, and then having to ask your parents for a loan so you can pay for said Tony Award. — April Lavalle (@imatoofbrush) June 14, 2019

The Week in New York Theater Reviews and Previews

A Strange Loop Review: Black, big, gay writer gets navel-gazy and tuneful

Eilin O’Dea as Molly Bloom by James Joyce at The Theater at 244.

The Week in New York Theater News

Girl from The North Country, a musical with a book by Conor McPherson featuring the music of Bob Dylan, will open on Broadway’s Belasco Theater on March 5, after an acclaimed run at the Public.

“Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” by Taylor Mac closed Sunday, June 16th, having played 45 preview performances and 65 regular performances. A groundbreaking if challenging and gooey play worth it for shaking up Broadway. Gary was nominated for seven Tony Awards, though it won none. (I was rooting for Santo Loquasto to win for scenic design, the pile of corpses a delicious contrast to his previous Tony nod — for all those pastel costumes in Hello, Dolly!)

“Hillary and Clinton” will play its final performance this Sunday June 23 (a month earlier than planned), having played 37 preview and 77 regular performances. It failed to win the one Tony Award for which it was nominated, best actress in a play.

Detroit Public Theater production of Birthday Candles by Noah Haile.

Debra Messing returns to Broadway in “Birthday Candles” by Noah Haidle, as Ernestine, a woman we follow from the age of 17…until 101. Each scene is set on one of the woman’s birthdays. First produced last year at the Detroit Public Theater, it will open at Roundabout’s American Airlines Theater on April

The actress of the moment, Oklahoma musical’s Tony winner Ali Stroker, will make a special appearance at the 13th annual Broadway Rising Stars concert July 22, at Town Hall, featuring 20 students from nine performing arts schools. Ten years ago, Ali Stroker was one of those students.

Ed Harris

Ed Harris will succeed Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, starting November 5. Daniels last performance is on Nov 3.



“Derren Brown: Secret” is opening on Broadway. The show by the British mentalist and illusionist, featuring mind reading and other psychological feats, will run at the Cort Sept 6 2019 to Jan 4

On World Refugee Day, June 20th, “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish will offer a special performance, filling every seat in the Stage 42 theater with refugees from all parts of the world. A post-show talk will be moderated by Luis A. Miranda Jr.

Gary Busey will play the role of God in the musical “Only Human” at Theatre at St. Clements, Oct 8 – Jan 5, a role he tells us is “easy because I’m not acting, I’m just believing”

Comedian Dave Chappelle is making his Broadway debut! H3 will be performing July 9 – 13 as part of the “In Residence on Broadway” series, which is the pompous name for short gigs at the Lunt Fontanne.

Meanwhile “Rain” has been canceled for the “In Residence on Broadway” series. (And my guitar gently weeps; not really)

“One Giant Leap,” short play by J.T. Rogers (Oslo),part of the New York Times celebration of 1st moon landing. Stars (wow) Lauren Ambrose, Jeff Daniels, Dana Gurira, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Dakin Matthews, Arian Moayed. Town Hall July 21.

Nambie E Kelley Jiehae Park Leah Nanako Winkler

Congratulations to the 3 finalists for the ATCA Francesca Primus Prize for emerging women playwrights:

Nambie E. Kelly for her play Jazz; Jiehae Park for Hannah and the Dread Gazebo; Leah Nanako Winkler for Two Mile Hollow (Let’s bring these plays to NYC!)

King Kong will open a second production in Shanghai in 2021. where I hope the puppetry and production values will be more fully appreciated.

This and She’s Gotta Have It on Netflix, and best friend on A Star Is Born, and forthcoming In The Heights film. This Hamiltonian is getting big. Let’s hope Anthony Ramos finds time for the stage again

Republic Records Sign Singer-Songwriter and Actor Anthony Ramos https://t.co/hYSgn5gpTA pic.twitter.com/MbUSEs1S8L — Music Connection (@musicconnection) June 13, 2019

Rest in Peace

RIP Gloria Vanderbilt, 95, heiress, model, socialite, designer, entrepreneur, mother of @AndersonCooper….and Broadway veteran: She performed in William Saroyan’s “The Time of Your Life” in 1955. pic.twitter.com/EAfk7qpUXd — New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) June 17, 2019

RIP Franco Zeffirelli, 96, four-time Broadway director AND scenic designer, best known for his staging of operas and films, including the 1968 Romeo and Juliet, which cast actual teenagers and made a fortune.

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