#patrice johnson chevannes

[caroleditosti]

'Endgame' by Samuel Beckett at Irish Repertory Theatre

You don't want to miss 'Endgame' presented at Irish Repertory Theatre.

(L to R): Bill Irwin, John Douglas Thompson in the Irish Repertory Theatre’s Endgame (courtesy of Carol Rosegg) Nobel prize winner Samuel Beckett suffered years of rejection until his wife managed to sell his work which gradually put him on the map. Now we question how this rejection was possible because his work is timeless and exemplifies his genius. His particular greatness lies in his…

[mostunderratedawards]

Most Underrated Female Guest Star in a Drama Series Patrice Johnson Chevannes in Pose Joan Cusack in Homecoming Miley Cyrus in Black Mirror: Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too Rachel Hilson in This Is Us Pamela Andlon in This Is Us Jennifer Morrison in This Is Us

[lespenseesdepandee]

POSE - Episode 2x04

[insanityclause]

The Drama League has announced the 2020 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much- coveted Distinguished Performance Award.

The nominations were announced this evening during The Gratitude Awards by Beetlejuice's Alex Brightman and Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer. Voting is open for Drama League members from May 1 - May 22. Award winners will be announced by Gabriel Stelian-Shanks & Bevin Ross via livestream in June. The Drama League Awards Event Chair is Bonnie Comley.

The Drama League announced that the spirit of The Gratitude Awards will live on via a new honorary category for the 87th Annual Drama League Awards starting in 2021 with The Gratitude Award, for a person or organization who has shown fearless support and kindness to the theater community.

[...]

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY

Betrayal Directed by Jamie Lloyd Written by Harold Pinter Jacobs Theatre

for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Directed by Leah C. Gardiner Written by Ntozake Shange Public Theater

Fires in the Mirror Directed by Saheem Ali Written by Anna Deavere Smith Signature Theatre Company

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune Directed by Arin Arbus Written by Terrence McNally Broadhurst Theatre

Judgment Day Directed by Richard Jones Written by Ödön von Horváth, Adapted by Christopher Shinn Park Avenue Armory

Medea Directed by Simon Stone Written by Simon Stone after Euripides Brooklyn Academy of Music

Native Son Directed by Seret Scott Written by Nambi E. Kelley, based on the novel by Richard Wright The Acting Company

The Rose Tattoo Directed by Trip Cullman Written by Tennessee Williams Roundabout Theatre Company

A Soldier's Play Directed by Kenny Leon Written by Charles Fuller Roundabout Theatre Company

The Woman in Black Directed by Robin Herford Written by Stephen Mallatratt, based on the novel by Susan Hill The McKittrick Hotel

DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD

David Acton, The Woman in Black Jeffrey Bean, Dublin Carol Ato Blankson-Wood, The Rolling Stone and Slave Play Christian Borle, Little Shop of Horrors Danielle Brooks, Much Ado About Nothing Danny Burstein, Moulin Rouge! Rose Byrne, Medea Len Cariou, Harry Townsend's Last Stand Patrice Johnson Chevannes, runboyrun & In Old Age Liza Colón-Zayas, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Kate del Castillo, the way she spoke Edmund Donovan, Greater Clements Raúl Esparza, Seared Francesca Faridany, The Half-Life of Marie Curie Halley Feiffer, The Pain of My Belligerence Danyel Fulton, Broadbend, Arkansas Annie Golden, Broadway Bounty Hunter Donnetta Lavinia Grays, Where We Stand David Alan Grier, A Soldier's Play Jonathan Groff, Little Shop of Horrors Jake Gyllenhaal, Sea Wall/A Life Tom Hiddleston, Betrayal Paul Hilton, The Inheritance Kathryn Hunter, Timon of Athens Galen Ryan Kane, Native Son Brittney Mack, Six April Matthis, Toni Stone Susannah Millonzi, The Crucible Kate Mulgrew, The Half-Life of Marie Curie Joe Ngo, Cambodian Rock Band Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H. Brenock O'Connor, Sing Street Okwui Okpokwasili, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge! Larry Owens, A Strange Loop Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill Chris Perfetti, Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Ben Porter, The Woman in Black Isaac Powell, West Side Story Jonathan Pryce, The Height of the Storm Elizabeth Rodriguez, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven Michael Shannon, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune Tom Sturridge, Sea Wall/A Life Marisa Tomei, The Rose Tattoo Blair Underwood, A Soldier's Play Michael Urie, Grand Horizons Adrienne Warren, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Michael Benjamin Washington, Fires in the Mirror Portia, Stew

(Congratulations to all - and nice to see Tom and Jake’s names side-by-side... ☺️)

ETA: A quick note on the Distinguished Performance category - you can only win it once in your lifetime. It really is a case of the nomination being the reward for this one.

[pjamma-sf]

Nnamdi Asomughais joining his wife, Kerry Washington, on Broadway this fall! Well, off-Broadway. In a different play. But, running at the same time at the Vineyard Theater. Nnamdi has joined Good Grief, a play written by and starring Ngozi Anyanwu.

From playbill.com:

Ngozi Anyanwu will star in the Off-Broadway premiere of her play Good Grief at the Vineyard Theatre this October.

A playwright and actor, Anyanwu’s screen credits include Limitless, The Affair, and The Deuce; she returns to the lead role of Nkechi in Good Grief after having starred in the world premiere at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles.

The story of a Nigerian-American girl navigating her childhood home in Pennsylvania’s suburbs, the play is billed as a first-generation coming-of-age journey of love, loss, and growing into adulthood.

As previously reported, Awoye Timpo, who directed Anyanwu’s acclaimed The Homecoming Queen Off-Broadway last season, will direct Good Grief. Previews will begin October 11 ahead of an October 30 opening night.

Joining Anyanwu in the Off-Broadway production will be former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha (Crown Heights) as Bro, Patrice Johnson Chevannes (The Homecoming Queen, The Crucible) as NeNe, Hunter Parrish (Weeds, Godspell, Spring Awakening) as JD, and Ian Quinlan (The Long Road Home, Gotham, Sneaky Pete) as MJ. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

[tuseriesdetv]

Noticias de series de la semana

Renovaciones

Netflix ha renovado Love and Anarchy por una segunda temporada

Netflix ha renovado Cidade Invisível por una segunda temporada

CBS ha renovado The Equalizer por una segunda temporada

Apple TV+ ha renovado Central Park por una tercera temporada

Amazon ha rescatado la tercera temporada de Loudermilk que no llegó a emitir Audience Network

Cancelaciones

La segunda temporada de Special (Netflix) será la última

La quinta temporada de Queen of the South (USA Network) será la última

Fichajes

Claire Foy (The Crown) y Paul Bettany (WandaVision) protagonizarán la segunda temporada de A Very English Scandal. Serán los duques de Argyll, cuyo divorcio fue muy sonado en los años 60.

Josh Holloway (Lost, Colony) protagonizará Duster. Será el valiente conductor de las escapadas de una banda criminal en el suroeste de Estados Unidos en los años 70.

Dakota Fanning (The Alienist, I Am Sam) será Marge Sherwood, americana viviendo en Italia que sospecha de las motivaciones de Ripley (Andrew Scott), en Ripley.

Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, How I Met Your Mother) será Lake Edmunds, nueva agente de policía, en Ragdoll.

Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nashville), Dove Cameron (Liv and Maddie, Descendants) y Yana Perrault serán The Powerpuff Girls en The CW.

Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin, Kajillionaire), Jake Johnson (New Girl, Stumptown) y Kesler Talbot (50 States of Fright) protagonizarán Lost Ollie, la serie de Netflix híbrido entre acción real y animación. Serán Sharon y  James, los padres de Billy; y Billy, el niño que ha perdido a su conejo Ollie. Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter, Looking) pondrá voz a Ollie, que ha acabado en una tienda de segunda mano sin poder volver a casa. Mary J. Blige (The Umbrella Academy, Power Book II: Ghost) y Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) pondrán voz a Rosy y Zozo, una osita de peluche y un muñeco payaso que ayudan a Ollie a encontrar a Billy. La serie de cuatro episodios ha sido creada, escrita y producida por Shannon Tindle (Coraline, Kubo and the Two Strings). Será dirigida por Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Rise of the Guardians). La animación corre a cargo de Industrial Light + Magic (The Mandalorian).

Famke Janssen (How to Get Away with Murder, X-Men) será recurrente en Long Slow Exhale como la doctora Melinda Barrington, la rectora de la universidad.

Annie Murphy (Schitt's Creek, Kevin Can F*** Himself) y Carolyn Michelle Smith (House of Cards, Colony) se unen a la segunda temporada de Russian Doll. No se conocen detalles.

Connor Swindells (Sex Education, Emma.) protagonizará SAS: Rogue Heroes. Será David Stirling, un excéntrico soldado aburrido. Hospitalizado tras un ejercicio de entrenamiento que sale mal y convencido de que los comandos tradicionales no funcionan, decide crear otra forma de ataque y reclutar a los soldados más duros, valientes e imprudentes para una unidad encubierta. Le acompañarán Jack O'Connell (Skins, Godless), Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones, Jojo Rabbit), Sofia Boutella (Modern Love, Atomic Blonde), Dominic West (The Wire, The Affair), Amir El-Masry (Industry, Jack Ryan), Theo Barklem-Biggs (The First Team, Carnival Row), Corin Silva (The Bay), Jacob Ifan (Bang, Cuffs), Dónal Finn (Cursed, The Witcher), Jacob McCarthy (A.P. Bio), Michael Shaeffer (Bodyguard, The Salisbury Poisonings) y Miles Jupp (The Durrells, Rev.).

Leslie Bibb (Popular, Nobodies) y Kevin Dunn (Veep, Samantha Who?) serán Satán y Gene, el padre de Clark (Ben Falcone), que es el mensajero de Dios, en God's Favorite Idiot.

Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow, Watchmen) participará en la segunda temporada de See.

Katrina Law (Arrow, Hawaii Five-0) se une como recurrente a la decimoctava temporada de NCIS con posibilidad de convertirse en regular en la decimonovena. Será la agente especial Jessica Knight, experta en negociación en secuestros.

Snoop Dogg (Dolemite Is My Name), La La Anthony (Power, The Chi) y Serayah (Empire) serán recurrentes en Black Mafia Family como el pastor Swift, consejero espiritual de la familia Flenory; Markaisha Taylor, esposa de un traficante de drogas; y Lori Walker, novia de Demetrius Flenory (Lil Meech).

Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural, 13 Reasons Why) se une como regular a American Rust. Será Virgil Poe, marido de Grace (Maura Tierney).

Michelle Gomez (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Flight Attendant) se une como regular a la tercera temporada de Doom Patrol. Será Madame Rouge, excéntrica con una misión muy específica pero que no recuerda.

Lexi Underwood (Little Fires Everywhere) será recurrente como Malia, la hija de Michelle Obama (Viola Davis), en The First Lady. Aya Cash (The Boys, You're the Worst), Jake Picking (Hollywood), Cayden Boyd (Heathers, Awkward), Marc Hills (Snatchers), Ben Cook (Paterno), Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (Bridge and Tunnel), Thomas E. Sullivan (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Roswell, New Mexico) y Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Chambers) serán Esther Liebowitz, secretaria de prensa de Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer); la versión joven de Jerry Ford (Aaron Eckhart); Michael, Jack y Steven, los hijos de Betty Ford; Martha Graham, profesora de baile de Betty en 1939; Bill Warren, el primer marido de Betty y Clara Powell, la niñera de los Ford; en The First Lady.

Shar Jackson (Moesha) participará en los episodios finales de Shameless como Constance, una prima de Veronica (Shanola Hampton) que vive en Louisville.

Adelayo Adedayo (Timewasters, Origin), Ian Hart (My Mad Fat Diary, The Last Kingdom), MyAnna Buring (Ripper Street, The Salisbury Poisonings), Kerrie Hayes (The English Game, Tin Star), Warren Brown (Strike Back, Luther), Josh Finan y Emily Fairn protagonizarán The Responder junto a Martin Freeman.

Lizzie Broadway (Here and Now, The Rookie) y Jaz Sinclair (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) se unen al spin-off de The Boys que Amazon estaría a punto de encargar.

Barrett Carnahan (Cobra Kai, Alexa & Katie), Andrea Anders (Joey, Ted Lasso), Benjamin J. Cain Jr. y Nicole Bilderback (Dawson's Creek, Dark Angel) se unen como recurrentes a Cruel Summer.

Ruby Cruz (Castle Rock, Mare of Easttown) sustituye a Cailee Spaeny en el papel de Kit, la hermana melliza del príncipe secuestrado, en Willow.

Midori Francis (The Birch, Dash & Lily), Gavin Leatherwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Christopher Meyer (Tell Me a Story, The Affair), Ilia Isorelýs Paulino (Queenpins), Lauren "Lolo" Spencer (Give Me Liberty) y Renika Williams (Over-the-Rhine) se unen como regulares a The Sex Lives of College Girls. Serán Alicia, Nico, Canaan, Lila, Jocelyn y Willow, estudiantes de Essex College.

Babs Olusanmokun (The Defenders, The Widow), Christina Chong (Line of Duty, Bulletproof), Celia Rose Gooding (Jagged Little Pill), Jess Bush (Playing for Keeps) y Melissa Navia (Dietland) se unen a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Uyoata Udi será Inspectah Deck en la segunda temporada de Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

Joshua Caleb Johnson (The Good Lord Bird, Snowfall) se une como recurrente a Women of the Movement. Será Wheeler Parker Jr., el primo y mejor amigo de Emmett Till (Cedric Joe).

Dominique Fishback (The Deuce, Judas and the Black Messiah) será Robyn, amiga de la familia que ayuda a Ptolemy (Samuel L. Jackson), en The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

Sarah Catherine Hook (NOS4A2) y Imani Lewis (Star, The Get Down) protagonizarán First Kill. Serán Juliette Fairmont, una tímida y amable vampira adolescente; y Calliope Burns, una adolescente vulnerable y valiente cazadora de monstruos.

Pósters

       Nuevas series

Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Jackie) y Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave, Us) protagonizarán Lady in the Lake, limited series de Apple TV+ ambientada en Baltimore en los años 60 y adaptación de la novela de Laura Lippman (2019). Serán Maddie Schwartz, un ama de casa y madre que se reinventa como periodista de investigación tras un asesinato sin resolver; y Cleo Sherwood, una mujer muy trabajadora que combina la maternidad con varios trabajos y la meta de ayudar con el progreso de la comunidad negra en Baltimore. Escrita por Dre Ryan (Colony, The Man in the High Castle) y Alma Har'el, dirigida por Har'el (Honey Boy) y producida por Ryan (The Man in the High Castle, The Exorcist), Har'el, Portman y Nyong'o.

Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory, The Flight Attendant) protagonizará y producirá una limited series sobre Doris Day. Basada en su biografía 'Doris Day: Her Own Story' escrita por A.E. Hotchner (1976). Producida por Warner Bros TV y Greg Berlanti (The Flight Attendant, Brothers & Sisters). Aún no hay cadena asociada.

Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth, Saturday Night Live) protagonizará y producirá Expiration Date, drama de Peacock sobre un hombre roto que considera suicidarse para que su familia pueda cobrar el dinero del seguro y planea qué hacer en el año que todavía debe permanecer con vida. Escrito y producido por Harry y Jack Williams (The Missing, Liar).

Peacock encarga Langdon, serie precuela de The Da Vinci Code y adaptación de la novela de Dan Brown 'The Lost Symbol' (2009) en la que Robert Langdon (Ashley Zukerman; Succession, A Teacher) deberá resolver una serie de rompecabezas mortales para salvar a su mentor y frustrar una escalofriante conspiración global. Completan el reparto Valorie Curry (The Following, The Tick), Rick Gonzalez (Arrow), Eddie Izzard (Hannibal, Powers) y Sumalee Montano (This Is Us, Scandal). Escrita y producida por Dan Dworkin y Jay Beattie, guionistas de Criminal Minds y Revenge y creadores de Scream y Matador. Producida por Dan Brown, Brian Grazer y Ron Howard, que ya produjeron las adaptaciones cinematográficas de The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons e Inferno.

FX ha encargado nueve episodios de Fleishman Is in Trouble, limited series sobre un cuarentañero recién separado y con hijos cuya esposa desaparece sin dejar rastro y deberá afrontar qué pasó con su matrimonio para saber qué le ha ocurrido a ella. Escrita y producida por Taffy Brodesser-Akner y basada en su novela (2019).

ITV encarga tres episodios de The Tower, thriller criminal en el que un policía veterano y una adolescente mueren al caer desde lo alto de un edificio en Londres mientras quedan vivos en la azotea un niño de cinco años y una agente novata que desaparece horas después. Adaptación de 'Post Mortem' (2015), la primera novela de la saga de Kate London, antigua agente de la Policía Metropolitana en la unidad de homicidios y delitos graves. Escrito y producido por Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, Person of Interest) y dirigido por Jim Loach (Save Me, Victoria).

Amazon desarrolla Women of the Year, antología adaptación del proyecto 100 Women of the Year de Time. Cada episodio se centrará en una mujer. Creada y producida por Alma Har'el (Honey Boy).

OWN ha encargado The Kings of Napa, drama sobre una familia afroamericana cuyo patriarca abandona la empresa de viñedos dejando a sus tres hijos luchando por el control. Escrita por Janine Sherman Barrois (Claws, Criminal Minds) y producida por Oprah Winfrey. Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) dirigirá los dos primeros episodios.

Amazon desarrolla The Wives, thriller sobre una mujer localmente enamorada de su marido, aunque sepa que tiene dos esposas más que ella no conoce, que un día entabla una relación con la más joven y comienza a preguntarse quién es su marido exactamente. Adaptación de la novela de Tarryn Fisher (2019). Escrita y producida por Kayla Alpert (Code Black, Ally McBeal).

Searchlight Television ha adquirido la saga de novelas fantásticas The Inheritance Trilogy, donde los dioses moran entre los mortales y una familia poderosa y corrupta gobierna la Tierra, para su adaptación televisiva. Producida por Will Smith y Jada Pinkett Smith.

Bradley Walsh (Doctor Who, Coronation Street) y Joanna Scanlan (No Offence, Hold the Sunset) serán Pop y Ma en The Larkins, dramedia adaptación de la novela 'The Darling Buds of May' (1958) de H.E. Bates para ITV. Sabrina Bartlett (Bridgerton, Victoria) será Mariette Larkin, una de los seis hijos de esta familia de clase obrera. Tok Stephen (Grantchester, Holby City) será Cedric 'Charley' Charlton. Escrita por Simon Nye (The Durrells, Finding Alice). Producida por Bradley Walsh. Seis episodios.

Peacock desarrolla Wild Cards, adaptación de las novelas de George R.R. Martin que desarrolló previamente Hulu.

ITV encarga seis episodios de The Ipcress File, adaptación de la primera novela de la saga de Len Deighton (1962) protagonizada por el espía Harry Palmer (Joe Cole; Gangs of London, Peaky Blinders). Completan el reparto Lucy Boynton (The Politician, Sing Street), Tom Hollander (The Night Manager, The Missing), Ashley Thomas (Them, Top Boy), Joshua James (Industry, Life), David Dencik (Top of the Lake, Genius) y Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Dublin Murders, Love/Hate). Escrita y producida por John Hodge (Trainspotting, The Beach). Dirigida y producida por James Watkins (McMafia, Black Mirror).

HBO Max desarrolla Enjoy Your Meal, comedia que examina satíricamente la cultura tóxica de la industria food media. Inspirada en los escándalos del verano de 2020 en adelante, se centrará en un grupo de jóvenes asistentes negros que se alzaron para destrozar la cultura corporativa. Escrita y producida por Amy Aniobi (Insecure). Ryan Walker-Hartshorn (Bon Appétit) servirá como consultora.

ABC Signature y Searchlight Television han adquirido City of Ghosts, la novela de Victoria Schwab (2018) que sigue a una adolescente que se ve inmersa en una épica batalla entre fantasmas y humanos, para su adaptación. Escrita por David Lowery (A Ghost Story, Pete's Dragon) y Sehaj Sethi (Two Sentence Horror Stories) y dirigida por Lowery (A Ghost Story, Pete's Dragon). Producida por Schwab y Gerard Butler.

ALLBLK ha encargado seis episodios de Lace, que sigue a una prolífica y exitosa abogada de Los Ángeles (Maryam Basir) que no respeta los límites entre el bien y el mal al proteger a su rica y poderosa clientela. Completan el reparto Skyh Black (Sistas), Tanyell Waivers (Queen Sugar), Antoine Harris (Ballers, The Breaks), Terrell Carter (Empire), Leonard Roberts (Heroes, American Crime Story), Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show, Z Nation), Shanti Lowry (Family Time, The Game), Chris Attoh (A House Divided), Nate Walker, Jordan T. Johnson, Taylor Bynoe, Mollie Dolcimascolo y Isaac Stephen Montgomery. Creada, escrita y producida por Katrina Y. Nelson y Michelle Ebony Hardy y dirigida por Jamal Hill (Deuces, Brotherly Love).

 Fechas

Grace se estrena en ITV el 14 de marzo

La tercera temporada de Family Reunion llega a Netflix el 5 de abril

La quinta y última temporada de Queen of the South se estrena en USA Network el 7 de abril

Them llega a Amazon el 9 de abril

La quinta y última temporada de Van Helsing se estrena en Syfy el 16 de abril

La segunda temporada de Bigger se estrena en BET+ el 22 de abril

La segunda y última temporada de Special llega a Netflix el 20 de mayo

Tráilers y promos

Line of Duty - Temporada 6

Them

Family Reunion - Temporada 3

Van Helsing - Temporada 5 y última

[frontmezzjunkies]

NYTW's Expands the Cycle with a Crowded "runboyrun" & a Solidly Finished "In Old Age"

#frontmezzjunkies reviews: @NYTW79 #runboyrun directed by #LorettaGreco & #InOldAge directed by #AwoyeTimpo two one-act plays part of #TheUfotCycle by #MfonisoUdofia with #ChikeJohnson #PatriceJohnsonChevannes #RonCanada #KarlGreen

Chiké Johnson and Patrice Johnson Chevannes in runboyrun. Photo by Joan Marcus.

The Review: Mfoniso Udofia’s runboyrun & In Old Age

By Ross

I’ve been here before, in this place where playwright Mfoniso Udofia has dropped her fascinating and detailed characters down into, both worlds that are parallel universes of sorts projecting forward into the future through her detailed and dynamic saga, The…

[newyorktheater]

My ten favorite individual performances in New York stage shows that opened in 2019 are listed alphabetically, with explanations for my choices largely excerpted from my reviews.

Ian Barford‘s role as Wheeler, a recently divorced middle aged man  in “Linda Vista,” was remarkably demanding: Tracy Letts’ play lasted nearly three hours, and Barford never left the stage, often delivering long complicated monologues. He was also required to be cruel, to be rejected, to beg abjectly and to engage in simulated sex in the nude. But above all, the actor had to accept that may the audience would hate him.

Always a wonderful actress, Quincy Tyler Bernstine portrayed both the pioneering real-life 19th century nurse at the center of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s “Mary Seacoles,” and several 21st century caretakers, with shades of differences but always keeping a core for all of them that lets us know not just how complicated and heroic Mary Seacole was, but how much she shares with every Mary who has followed.

As Beatrice in the Public Theater’s all-black production of “Much Ado About Nothing,” Danielle Brooks proved herself a Shakespearean actress of a high order – and at the same time redefined what it means to be one. Best known for portraying Taystee in the Netflix series “Orange is the New Black” and for her 2016 Tony-nominated Broadway debut as Sofia in a revival of “The Color Purple,” Brooks is a Juilliard-trained actress. She took complete command of Shakespeare’s language, especially in the feisty character’s “merry war” and “skirmish of wit” with Benedick. But Brooks also created her own language – a body language, whose every expression and gesture brings us clarity and joy….and takes us to the state of Georgia in the year 2020.

Andre De Shields commands the stage of “Hadestown” from the get-go. The show begins in complete silence as the rest of the cast watches Hermes, in his elegant, grey silk suit, slide across the stage, pause, and open a button to show a loud and splendid vest, before trombone player Briane Drye lets out a blast from jazz heaven and De Shields launches into the get-down “Road to Hell.”

Raûl Esparza either had a day job  that we didn’t know about, or he spent a lot of time training with a real chef for his role as the hilariously persnickety chef in Theresa Rebeck’s culinary comedy “Seared.”. It is a surprisingly mesmerizing experience to witness the long wordless scene in which Esparza meticulously prepares and cooks a wild salmon dish.

 Santino Fontana is a charmer and a great talent – and in “Tootsie” he acted! he danced! he sang in different octaves! After an initial bumpy ride, Fontana seems clearly on his way to major stardom.

Samuel H. Levine makes a breathtaking Broadway debut in Matthew Lopez’s “The Inheritance” as both Adam, the naive adopted son of a rich family, and Leo,  a teenage hustler who’s had a hard life. The two characters actually have a scene together!

I normally hate child actors, just on principle, but I cannot deny the extraordinary performance by 12-year-old Aran Murphy in the title role of  Hamnet, a play that conjures up William Shakespeare only son, who died at the age of 11. Murphy seemed unfazed by all the elaborate avant-garde theatrics (video experimenting and the like), maintaining a professional self-assurance without being bratty or losing the sense of natural innocence.

Lois Smith as Margaret and Samuel H. Levine as Leo

Every single line Lois Smith utters in “The Inheritance” is more than persuasive; it’s an astonishment. You’re likely to cry just remembering her performance as a mother who rejected her son because he was gay, and has been making up for it since his premature death.  The 20 minutes Lois Smith is on stage would be rewarding even for people who didn’t care for the remaining six plus hours of the show. This is an actress who made her Broadway debut 67 years ago!

“Tina” belongs to the show’s Tina Turner, a star-making performance of extraordinary stamina. At the end, dressed in trademark tight red leather mini-dress, highest of heels and tallest of wigs, ascending a staircase of flashing lights backed by a raucous band each in his own Hollywood Square, Adrienne Warner delivers Tina Turner’s greatest hits –and we all rise as one, ecstatic, and swoon..

Amber Gray as Persephone and cast in Hadestown

Paul Hilton, who portrays both E.M . Forster and Walter

Joaquina Kalukango and Paul Alexander Nolan (

Toni Stone TONI STONE CAST Stretch Eric Berryman Alberga Harvy Blanks King Tut Phillip James Brannon Spec Daniel J. Bryant Elzie Jonathan Burke Jimmy Toney Goins Millie Kenn E. Head Woody Ezra Knight Toni Stone April Matthis u/s Alberga, Millie Melvin Abston u/s Toni Stone Jennean Farmer u/s Elzie, Jimmy, Spec Alex Joseph Grayson u/s Woody, Stretch, King Tut Damian Thompson TONI STONE CREATIVE Playwright Lydia R. Diamond Set Design Riccardo Hernandez Costume Design Dede Ayite Lighting Design Allen Lee Hughes Original Music & Sound Design Broken Chord Hair & Wig Design Cookie Jordan Choreography Camille A. Brown Fight Director Tom Schall Production Stage Manager Charles M. Turner III Director Pam MacKinnon Author of Original Book Martha Ackmann

Lauren Patten (center) as Jo, with the company of “Jagged Little Pill,” performing “You Oughta Know.”

Sarah Stiles as Sandy

Ephraim Sykes as David Ruffin

Michael Benjamin Washington

It’s impossible to cap an appreciation of New York stage performances in 2019 at only ten. There were enough good ones for another top ten, and here they are: Amber Gray in Hadestown, Joshua Henry in The Wrong Man, Paul Hilton in “The Inheritance,” Marin Ireland in Blue Ridge,  Joaquina Kalukango in “Slave Play,”April Mathis in “Toni Stone,” Lauren Patten in “Jagged Little Rock,” Sarah Stiles in “Tootsie,” Ephraim Sykes in “Ain’t Too Proud”, Michael Benjamin Washington in “Fires in the Mirror.”

Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Wanda Wheels), Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie), Benja Kay Thomas (Queen Sugar), Pernell Walker (Munchies), Victor Almanzar (Joey Fresco), Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge), Andrea Syglowski (Bella), Neil Tyrone Pritchard (Mr. Mobo), Wilemina Olivia-Garcia (Happy Meal Sonia), Sean Carvajal (Mateo), Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz), Viviana Valeria (Taina) and Esteban Andres Cruz (Venus Ramirez). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Also:  the entire casts of Generation NYZ, Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven, and Octet.

Favorite New York Stage Performances in 2019 My ten favorite individual performances in New York stage shows that opened in 2019 are listed alphabetically, with explanations for my choices largely excerpted from my reviews.

[tamarabeck]

Cruel and fierce

Photo © Joan Marcus Patrice Johnson Chevannes as Christine and James Udom, as John

Sometimes it’s the setting, the social fabric of a place, that reflects the context of a work. August Strindberg set his plays in his native Sweden; these settings are often remote and austere; Strindberg’s characters are motivated by a psychology both familiar and alienating, sometimes even chilling. 

Photo ©…

[caroleditosti]

'runboyrun' and 'In Old Age' Two Magnificent Works by Mfoniso Udofia

‘runboyrun’ and ‘In Old Age’ Two Magnificent Works by Mfoniso Udofia

Chiké Johnson, Patrice Johnson Chevannes in ‘runboyrun’ and ‘In Old Age,’ written by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by Loretta Greco, Awoye Timpo (Joan Marcus)

What is the impact of experiencing a genocidal civil war when one’s ancestry, bloodline and religion are used as targeted excuses for extermination? If one survives, is it possible to overcome the wartime horrors one experienced? Or is the…

[theatreforanewaudience]

Theatre for a New Audience's PERICLES - First Day of Rehearsal

The cast, crew, and creative team of Theatre for a New Audience's production of PERICLES assemble for the first day of rehearsal of Shakespeare's late romance, welcomed by Director Trevor Nunn and TFANA Founding Artistic Director Jeffrey Horowitz. Theatre for a New Audience presents PERICLES By William Shakespeare Music Composed by Shaun Davey Featuring Christian Camargo Directed by Trevor Nunn February 14 - March 27, 2016 www.tfana.org

[caroleditosti]

'Mies Julie' an Adaptation of August Strindberg's 'Miss Julie' by Yaël Farber at CSC

‘Mies Julie’ an Adaptation of August Strindberg’s ‘Miss Julie’ by Yaël Farber at CSC

(L to R): Elise Kibler, Patrice- Johnson Chevannes, James Udon in CSC, ‘Mies Julie,’ by Yaël Farber, adapted from the play ‘Miss Julie’ by August Strindberg, directed by Shariffa Ali (Joan Marcus).

The Classic Shakespeare Company is presenting two 19th century plays by August Strindberg in Repertory. The Dance of Death (see my review by “clicking here”in a new version by the award winning Conor…

[frontmezzjunkies]

Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven, with a Stop Midway.

#frontmezzjunkies reviews: #HalfwayBitchesGoStraightToHeaven #HalfwayBitchesATC @AtlanticTheater Company’s co-production with #LAByrinthTheater written by #StephenAdlyGuirgis directed by #JohnOrtiz #HalfwayBitchesLAB

Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Wanda Wheels), Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie), Benja Kay Thomas (Queen Sugar), Pernell Walker (Munchies), Victor Almanzar (Joey Fresco), Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge), Andrea Syglowski (Bella), Neil Tyrone Pritchard (Mr. Mobo), Wilemina Olivia-Garcia (Happy Meal Sonia), Sean Carvajal (Mateo), Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz), Viviana Valeria (Taina) and Esteban Andres Cruz…

[newyorktheater]

Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz), Esteban Andres Cruz (Venus Ramirez), Benja Kay Thomas (Queen Sugar) and Pernell Walker (Munchies). Photo by Monique Carboni

Wanda Wheels bristles when Mateo calls her “kind” in this sprawling, funny, foul-mouthed, messy, moving ensemble piece, Stephen Adly Guirgis’s first new play in New York since his Pulitzer Prize winning Between Riverside and Crazy five years ago. “Don’t pin a ‘kindness’ target on me,” Wanda says. “There’s a place for kindness. It’s not here.” Here is Hope House, a government-funded temporary residence in New York City for women who have been cruelly treated in life and now are junkies, drunks, ex-cons, former hookers, or mentally ill, or just New Yorkers who have nowhere else to go. Over the course of the three hour play, we come to learn more about their complicated lives, and wind up sharing the affection the playwright feels for them, even as they curse each other, confront one another, furtively drink or take drugs, get physically violent. But there is kindness too, just in disguise.

Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Wanda Wheels), Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie), Benja Kay Thomas (Queen Sugar), Pernell Walker (Munchies), Victor Almanzar (Joey Fresco), Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge), Andrea Syglowski (Bella), Neil Tyrone Pritchard (Mr. Mobo), Wilemina Olivia-Garcia (Happy Meal Sonia), Sean Carvajal (Mateo), Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz), Viviana Valeria (Taina) and Esteban Andres Cruz (Venus Ramirez). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Full review on DC Theatre Scene

Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie), Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge), Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz) and Pernell Walker (Munchies). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge) and Andrea Syglowski (Bella) Photograph by Monique Carboni

Sean Carvajal (Mateo) and Dave Anzuelo (Father Miguel). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Victor Almanzar (Joey Fresco) and Esteban Andres Cruz (Venus Ramirez). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Esteban Andres Cruz (Venus Ramirez) and Andrea Syglowski (Bella). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie), Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Wanda Wheels), Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz) and Benja Kay Thomas (Queen Sugar). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Elizabeth Canavan (Rockaway Rosie) and Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz). Photograph by Ahron R. Fost

Kristina Poe (Betty Woods) and Greg Keller (Vinny). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Sean Carvajal (Mateo) and Kara Young (Lil Melba Diaz). Photograph by Ahron R. Foster

Pernell Walker (Munchies) and Victor Almanzar (Joey Fresco). Photograph by Ahron R. Foster

Liza Colón-Zayas (Sarge) and Elizabeth Rodriguez (Miss Rivera). Photograph by Monique Carboni

Halfway Bitches Go Straight To Heaven by Stephen Adly Guirgis Wanda Wheels bristles when Mateo calls her “kind” in this sprawling, funny, foul-mouthed, messy, moving ensemble piece, Stephen Adly Guirgis’s first new play in New York since his Pulitzer Prize winning Between Riverside and Crazy five years ago.