#Susan Birkenhead

[glimeres]

Promotional pictures from Boop! The Musical

[ulrichgebert]

In der Musicalfassung von The Secret Life of Bees im berühmten, kleinen Almeida zeigen sich natürlich auch Abgründe der amerikanischen Seele, mit ihren Sklaven waren sie ja auch nicht weniger zimperlich als bei der Aneignung von Territorien der Ureinwohner, zaubern aber diesmal einen Theaterabend (bzw. Nachmittag) von außerordentlicher Schönheit daraus, in bester Musicaltradition lassen sie sogar May überleben (zu unserer Verwunderung, wo wir doch so wohlbereitet kamen, vgl. hier, mit Handlungsübersicht....), sind aber erfolgreich in der Kitschvermeidung und Spring Awakening- und American Psycho- Komponist Duncan Sheik findet noch mal zu einem ganz anderen, neuen musikalischen Tonfall, das ist auch schön. Die Lily auf dem Bild ist nicht Eleanor House, die fabelhafte Zweitbesetzung, die wir sahen, von der leider keine Photos gibt.

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ CATHERINE'S YEAR IN REVIEW : JANUARY ✧• ─

9 JANUARY - Catherine celebrated her 41'st Birthday.

11 JANUARY - Catherine was spotted driving in Windsor.

12 JANUARY - Catherine and William were received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside (Mr. Mark Blundell). They opened Royal Liverpool University Hospital and later visited the Open Door Centre in Birkenhead.

13 JANUARY - Catherine held an Early Years Meeting.

18 JANUARY - Catherine was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire (Mrs. Susan Lousada) as she visited Foxcubs Nursery in Luton

19 JANUARY - Catherine held an Early Years Meeting. Later in the afternoon she held a Reception for England Wheelchair Rugby Football League Team at Hampton Court Palace to celebrate the World Cup win.

25 JANUARY - Catherine held a Meeting with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood Advisory Group at Windsor Castle.

26 JANUARY - Catherine and William visited Windsor Foodshare in Berkshire. Later in the afternoon she held an Early Years Meeting. 28 JANUARY - Catherine appeared in a video for the Shaping Us Campaign. 29 JANUARY- Catherine visited Bethnal Green School in London. She also released an open letter explaining her work with the Early Years.

30 JANUARY - Catherine attended the Centre for Early Childhood "Shaping Us" Campaign Preview and Reception along with William.

31 JANUARY - Catherine appeared in a video message promoting the 'Shaping Us' Campaign of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The Princess of Wales also carried out the engagements in Leeds to launch the campaign. She was received by His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire (Mr. Edmund Anderson) as she visited Kirkgate Market. Subsequently, Catherine visited the University of Leeds.

[bestmusicalworldcup]

BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical plays a 5-week pre-Broadway tryout at Chicago's CIBC Theatre beginning November 19th. BOOP! features music by David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and a book by Bob Martin. It is directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.

[randomnessoffiction]

@shiningnorthernlights We've got our first proper trailer for the show!

[chiegetseven]

"If I Could've Been" from Working the musical originally by Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rogers, James Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead

[musicalsorwhatever]

The above video is a recording of the Tony Award Show performance of “That’s How You Jazz,” the ninth song in the 1992 musical biography Jelly’s Last Jam. This show featured music by Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Working), and a book by George C. Wolfe (The Wild Party). It was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won three: Best Leading Actor for Gregory Hines, Best Featured Actress for Tonya Pinkins, and Best Lighting Design for Jules Fisher.

[caroleditosti]

'The Secret Life of Bees,' a Heartfelt Musical Adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's Titular Novel

‘The Secret Life of Bees,’ a Heartfelt Musical Adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd’s Titular Novel

(L to R): )Elizabeth Teeter and Manoel Felciano in ‘The Secret Life of Bees,’ bOok by Lynn Nottage, Music by Duncan Sheik, Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, based on Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, directed by Sam Gold (Ahron R. Foster)

The World Premiere of The Secret Life of Bees(Book by Lynn Nottage, Music by Duncan Sheik,  Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead) spins Sue Monk Kidd’s best-selling novel into “A River of…

[writemarcus]

Savion Glover, Jason Robert Brown, Priscilla Lopez, More Join NYPL I'm Still Here Benefit

BY ANDREW GANS

JUN 16, 2021

The upcoming benefit, celebrating the New York Public Library's Billy Rose Theatre Division, honors George C. Wolfe and the late Harold Prince.

Additional artists have joined the upcoming I'm Still Here benefit, celebrating the 90th anniversary of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Billy Rose Theatre Division and the 50th anniversary of its Theatre on Film and Tape Archive.

Honoring Tony-winning directors George C. Wolfe and the late Harold Prince, I’m Still Here will stream on Broadway on Demand June 23 at 8 PM ET.

Jason Robert Brown, Savion Glover, Priscilla Lopez, Susan Stroman, Marisha Wallace, and Christopher Wheeldon have joined the starry roster of participants. The evening, as previously announced, will also feature archival content of several Broadway productions preserved in the archive, including the newly announced Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson in The Mountaintop; Bette Midler in I'll Eat You Last; Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot in South Pacific; Christian Borle and Tim Curry in Spamalot; and Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker in The Music Man.

Viewers can expect to see Glover, Jimmy Tate, Choclattjared, and Raymond King in Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; Meryl Streep, Marcia Gay Harden, and Larry Pine in The Seagull; Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robin de Jesús, Christopher Jackson, Karen Olivo, Andréa Burns, Janet Dacal, Eliseo Román, and Seth Stewart in In the Heights; and Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard.

Watch Stephanie J. Block Belt Out She Loves Me's 'A Trip to the Library' for NYPL I'm Still Here Benefit

Also taking part: Annaleigh Ashford (Sunday in the Park with George), Alexander Bello (Caroline, or Change), Laura Benanti (She Loves Me), Malik Bilbrew, Alexandra Billings (Wicked), Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam), Shay Bland, Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice), Matthew Broderick (Plaza Suite), Krystal Joy Brown (Hamilton), David Burtka (Gypsy), Sammi Cannold (Endlings), Ayodele Casel (Chasing Magic), Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza), Max Clayton (Moulin Rouge!), Calvin L. Cooper (Mrs. Doubtfire), DeMarius Copes (Mean Girls), Trip Cullman (Choir Boy), Taeler Elyse Cyrus (Hello, Dolly!), Quentin Earl Darrington (Once on This Island), Robin de Jesús (In the Heights), André De Shields (Hadestown), Frank DiLella (NY1), Derek Ege, Amina Faye, Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), Leslie Donna Flesner (Tootsie), Chelsea P. Freeman, Joel Grey (Cabaret), Ryan J. Haddad (The Politician), Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof), James Harkness (Ain’t Too Proud), Marcy Harriell (Company), Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Mark Harris (Mike Nichols: A Life), David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly), Cassondra James (Once on This Island), Marcus Paul James (Rent), Taylor Iman Jones (Hamilton), Maya Kazzaz, Tom Kirdahy (The Inheritance), Hilary Knight, Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party), Norman Lear (Good Times), Baayork Lee (A Chorus Line), Sondra Lee (Hello, Dolly!), Telly Leung (Aladdin), Ashley Loren (Moulin Rouge!), Allen René Louis, Brittney Mack (Six), Taylor Mac (Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus), Morgan Marcell, Aaron Marcellus, Joan Marcus, Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), Sarah Meahl, Joanna Merlin (Fiddler on the Roof), Ruthie Ann Miles (Sunday in the Park with George), Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Leilani Patao (Garden Girl), Nova Payton (Dreamgirls), Joel Perez (Kiss My Aztec), Bernadette Peters (Into the Woods), Tonya Pinkins (Jelly’s Last Jam), Jacoby Pruitt, Sam Quinn, Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun), Jelani Remy (Ain’t Too Proud), Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Beetlejuice), George Salazar (Be More Chill), Marilyn Saunders (Company), Marcus Scott (Fidelio), Rashidra Scott (Company), Rona Siddiqui (Tales of a Halfghan), Ahmad Simmons, Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), Bobby Conte Thornton (Company), Sergio Trujillo (On Your Feet), Kei Tsuruharatani (Jagged Little Pill), Ben Vereen (Pippin), Jack Viertel, Christopher Vo, Paula Vogel (Indecent), Nik Walker (Ain’t Too Proud), Shannon Fiona Weir, Helen Marla White (Ain’t Misbehavin’), Natasha Yvette Williams (Orange Is the New Black), and Ricardo Zayas (Hamilton).

The program will also feature interviews with Broadway artists plus the re-conception of classic musical theatre songs, including "A Trip to the Library," “Wheels of a Dream,” “Another Hundred People,” “Love Will Find a Way,” and, fittingly, “I’m Still Here.”

READ: The Woman Who Fought to Record and Preserve Broadway Shows

The virtual benefit is produced and conceived by Boardman and Doran and features direction by Steve Broadnax, Sammi Cannold, Nick Corley, Ty Defoe, Lorin Latarro, Mia Walker, and Jason Michael Webb, choreography by Ayodele Casel, Latarro, and Ray Mercer, with new music arranged by Rachel Dean and Annastasia Victory, arrangements and orchestrations by Brian Usifer, and casting by Peter Van Dam at Tara Rubin Casting.

Tickets are donate-what-you-can, with a recommendation of at least $19.31 in honor of the year the division was founded. Visit StillHereat90.com.

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

My guess for talented couple in that blind is Katherine McPhee and David Foster. Would explain the sudden friendship so strong that David is now a father figure. Katherine is a musical theatre actress these days and David is deeply embedded in music world and is currently writing two broadway musicals for Jewel and Susan Birkenhead respectively.

Thanks!

[keepingupwithlinmanuel]

Encores! Off-Center to Present 1-Night-Only Working Panel with Stephen Schwartz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, More

Continuing New York City Center's 75th anniversary celebration, members of the creative team behind Working will gather for a one-night-only panel June 17 to discuss the show ahead of its Encores! Off-Center run.

Set to appear are Stephen Schwartz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Susan Birkenhead, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, and Off-Center Creative Advisor and Founding Artistic Director Jeanine Tesori.

Working cast member Mateo Ferro will sing "Delivery," written for the reworked version of the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, during the presentation.

In addition to Ferro, the cast of the Off-Center presentation, running June 26–29, will feature Andrea Burns, David Garrison, Helen Hunt, Christopher Jackson, Javier Muñoz, and Tracie Thoms.

Those hoping to attend can enter to win a pair of tickets by signing up on City Center’s website and posting a message on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #WorkingNYCC.

[bestmusicalworldcup]

Additional casting has been announced for the Jelly's Last Jam, the second show in the 2024 Encores season.

The cast features Nicholas Christopher as Jelly Roll Morton, John Clay III as Jack the Bear, Joaquina Kalukango as Anita, Tiffany Mann as Miss Mamie, Billy Porter as the Chimney Man and Leslie Uggams as Gran Mimi. Original cast members Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Stephanie Pope Lofgren, and Allison M. Williams will reprise their roles as the Hunnies.

Jelly's Last Jam features music from Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and a book by George C Wolfe. The Encores production is directed by Robert O'Hara and runs from February 21 to March 3, 2024

[belizedeservesbetter]

Bees!

If you need me, I’ll be spreading the good news of Secret Life of Bees!

Oh my goodness. This show is incredible. 

Like really incredible. 

Lately I’ve found that the shows I like most are the ones that feel less like musicals and more like elaborate rituals or religious services or meditations. Most recently, Octet felt less like a musical and more like a ritual. I felt the same way about Oklahoma! too. Angels in America and Torch Song feel like meditations. Sleep No More falls into this category too. All these shows make me feel like every cell in my body is full of electricity and keep me in a trance that doesn’t break till the lights go up, or in Oklahoma!’s case, when Damon Daunno struts off stage with his guitar, or in Sleep No More’s case when a character grabs my hand and takes me out of the show and back into the bar. Each of these shows make me feel full of hope and power, like I could do that. Like I could create something so powerful and so moving. 

All of this is to say that The Secret Life of Bees didn’t feel like a musical so much as a church service, and I loved every single moment of it. 

I mean, let’s talk about that creative team first and foremost. A score by Duncan Sheik?? Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead?? A book by Lynn Nottage?? Directed by Sam Gold?? I should’ve known right from the first announcement of the show that it’d be spectacular. 

This is honestly Sheik’s best score since Spring Awakening. And Birkenhead’s lyrics are divine. Just about every song is amazing. Every song is filled with so much heart and so much soul. Every song was so layered and so complex and went places I didn’t expect. You could feel how much time and research they put into these songs to get the tone and feel of the show just right. And the orchestrations are just incredible. Shows with the whole band on stage is slowly becoming a favorite thing of mine, and it worked so well in Bees. I honestly could listen to “River of Melting Sun,” “Tek A Hol A My Soul,” “Our Lady of Chains,” “What Do You Love?” “Frogs and Fireflies” and “The Secret Life of Bees” on repeat all day every day. Each song felt so different, yet had a musical through line that connected it all, which is something I loved so so much. There was one song about a car that really wasn’t needed in the show, but I feel like Sheik really fought hard for them to keep it in the show, so I’ll give him a bonus point for it. 

Lynn Nottage! My love! My life! The book of the musical was spectacular, as expected. Every scene was so well written. While I’m a little sad Nottage’s first Tony will be for a musical and not a play, I’m still thrilled about the idea that there is no way she won’t win awards for this stellar book of a musical. This is how it’s supposed to be done! I don’t know why we don’t always have playwrights write the books of musicals? They’re the best with words, so let them write it! 

Oh Sam Gold, I was beginning to lose faith in you. King Lear was so so so so so so bad that I was ready to never trust you again. But you redeemed yourself with Secret Life of Bees. Gold’s direction is very simple, and that’s just how it should be. To be fair, Gold’s direction sometimes falls under the category “stand here and face forward and sing” but it mostly worked! His best decision was letting the material and cast shine, which is exactly what he needed to do.

The cast. Wow. Not a single weak link. I honestly can’t single out one particular person because this show works so well as a unit and team? Every single person on that stage gave their all and they were all incredible. Scrap what I said about not singling anyone out though because LaChanze as August blew me away. She commands the stage so completely. There’s a particular way she moves that was so stunning in this show. I also wanna shout out Saycon Sengbloh as Rosaleen. It was also great to see Jai’len Josey (most recently in the Spongebob musical as Pearl) and hear her incredible voice again.

There is so much in this musical that is so lovely, from the stagecraft to the candle lighting to the beautiful wooden madonna statue and the way it shines when they pour honey over it. The way they do the bees is lovely too, but my big complaint with the bees was that I wanted more of them. I wanted that whole stage filled with those beautiful beautiful bees. I think this show has such a great opportunity to fill a theatre to the brim with its magic and its spirit, and I’m waiting for them to really take the leap and do it. 

I love how much of this show is about the spiritual and the renewing nature one can find in it. It’s not a “religious” show per say, but so much of it is about a renewed spirit and a joining together and a surrender of emotions in order to gain strength. There’s so much power in this show. I love that it has a happy ending. I love that the last twenty or so minutes is about good things happening. It was such a relief to see these characters not in pain. Honestly and truly this show felt like a baptism. And it was so wonderful.

Catch The Secret Life of Bees at Atlantic Theatre Company (that TodayTix lotto yo!) and I’m almost certain it will transfer to Broadway next season.

And for those of you who have seen it, will the “Za Za Zas” in the title song be the new “La La Las” from Hadestown of the next season? 

[blackonbroadway]

A world premiere musical written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Sweat), with music by Tony and Grammy Award winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), lyrics by two-time Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam), and directed by Tony winner Sam Gold (Fun Home); based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd.