Grace Aki (3:21)

Over at this theater, the Off Broadway celebrity renaissance is happening. It's insane, honestly, mainly due to Seaview, wjp, some other production and producing companies. But it is fascinating that this is working. Like, I'll be totally honest, it was, I'm sure, a very big gamble for these companies to do, but it's working. And I'm hoping that with a lot of this incredible success, it will also then in turn create, you know, recoupment. Right, for a lot of those shows that then allows for the producing of other original material because that seems to be the case. But it's smart and it's very exciting. So, yeah, I really like this also. This is so cool. Like I've been excited about it, this theater for a minute. So I'm happy that we're hearing about this inaugural production.

Matt Tamnini (4:18)

And it's so interesting because it's not stars doing incredibly well known pieces for the most part when it comes to the Off Broadway stuff, obviously we've had some of them pop up here or there, but in most cases, if they aren't new shows, they are kind of the lesser known shows of famous playwrights or they are shows that maybe never got the recognition that they should have the first time. So it is kind of different than what we're seeing on Broadway with all of these big stars, especially this season, going into things like Othello, going into Glengarry Glen Ross, even Good Night and Good Luck, which is a new play, is a property that we all know. So I really appreciate that while this one is a new show, a lot of the other things that we've seen with the hold on to Be Darling with Adam Driver, like that's a Kenny, Kenny Lonergan show, but it's not like one of the big Kenny Lonergan shows. So I'm excited that they are not only recouping with big stars, but also doing it with some shows that aren't the tried and true staples that we see all the time. All right, Grace. Well, that is exciting. This other one, it feels like a dagger in my back, in my heart, in my soul. Despite the fact that like, I kind of expected and talked about it, like I just assumed that this was going to happen. But yesterday it was confirmed that the Kennedy Center's previously planned upcoming production of Legally Blonde the musical as part of the Broadway Center Stage series has been postponed. They say not canceled, but I'll believe it when I see it. It was supposed to run from June 6th through the 15th. And in a statement, executive producer Jeffrey Fenn said, quote, I am disappointed to announce that the upcoming Broadway Center Stage production of Legally Blonde is being postponed to a future date. Then he goes on to be clear, this is not a Kennedy center cancellation and this is not due to any one person. I can't imagine what one person they are talking about involved with the show. Broadway Center Stage will continue our mission to deliver first class productions for our loyal patrons as well as the Broadway Creatives casts crew and amazing Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra musicians. I sincerely look forward to bringing this vibrant show to life in the near future. Ticket holders who'd already purchased tickets, whether through a season subscription or individual tickets, will be contacted beginning on Monday about what their options are. Now I could be funny and make jokes about like, you know, there's the whole women empowerment and power dynamics between Elle and Professor Callahan being problems with the show, let alone the song gay and your gay or European, which Trump doesn't like either of those. But I will let other people make those jokes, even though I just kind of did. But really, Grace, I, I, I have to believe, despite what Jeffrey Finn said in the statement, that not only is this production probably never happening, or at least not until at the earliest 2029, but I really am concerned about the future of Broadway Center Stage at Kennedy center at all. Not only because I'm just suspect of the ability for them to do shows that would be interesting, but I'm also just not sure what artists are going to want to be a part of this series under the Kennedy Center's current direction. And maybe I'm wrong, and I hope I'm wrong because this is such a great thing. I've seen one, was obviously looking forward to this one. But I just think in the world that we are living in now, that this could be the end, at least for now, of Broadway Center Stage at the Kennedy Center.

Grace Aki (7:44)

Yeah, I think it's a loss of energy for us to try to predict what will happen next with either this administration or the state of the arts. And I think that the only thing that we can do is buy tickets to things that we hope for the success of and want to support because that will make it harder to roll things backward. You know what I mean? If, if you're, if you're proving that there is an interest in these things, I guess if you're speaking to a businessman, in theory, you can't say no to, to the money. But. But I don't know, it's just, it's. It's hard to watch. But at the same time, hopefully this is going to be a signal for the fact that this is something that we should be paying attention to.

Matt Tamnini (8:30)

Yeah. So we will see what happens with this moving forward. I do wonder if this maybe ends up being a collaboration between Broadway Center Stage and Encores. I don't think Encores has announced its 2026 season yet. Maybe this gets thrown in there Instead and Matt DeCarlo, who is scheduled to direct it, comes in and does that there or just come straight to Broadway. Just bring Legally Blonde to Broadway and I will be happy and I won't have a second thought about Broadway Center Stage. But Grace, as you were saying, find events that you care about, support them, and make sure that you have the opportunity to show people what is important to you. Yesterday we got more announcements about an organization and an event that you and I both love and have supported in the past. That is MCC's miscast. We already knew some of the great names are going to be involved, like Titus Burgess, Cola Scola, Jordan Fisher, Steven Pasquale, Nicole Scherzinger, Britton Smith, Philippa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, Aaron Tveit, and Jordan Tyson. Now we know even more stars who are going to be a part of that. Those include Roela Sparza, Anna Gasteyer, Megan Hilty, Nick Jonas, Keisha Lewis, Adam Pascal, Helen J. Shin, and Jennifer Simard. They are going to be a part of this incredible event that will happen at the Hammerstein Ballroom on April 7th. And what's great about it is if you are unable to be there on the 7th for the event. It will stream for free worldwide beginning on April 21st. Grace, I have a flight to leave on April 6th. Like do I just extend for another day or two? Like, I hate missing this any year.

Grace Aki (10:06)

I know, I know, Matt. It's so hard. You just should have two apartments. That's what you need to do.

Matt Tamnini (10:11)

Oh my God. If I could pay in New York what I'm paying for my condo here in Orlando, I would. But I don't think that the, the, the rent in New York is in the same place that mine is down here. But nonetheless, I will definitely be watching on April 21st via MCC's social media channels. In other news, yesterday we did find out that the currently in previews Broadway production of John Proctor is the Villain has already announced a two week extension at the Booth Theater. This is the Broadway premiere of not only the show, but for playwright Kimberly Bellflower. The show has extended by two weeks and it will now play through July 6. Of course, it is directed by Danya Taymor and stars Sadie Sink along with Gabriel Ebert, Molly Griggs and others. And Grace, look, if we're not going to give Seth Radetzky and his husband James Wesley Jackson a Tony Award for all of their work, for everything they've already done, maybe this next round of Stars in the House announcements will do it. Because yesterday they announced a return to regular programming. Beginning this week, according to a press release, they're going to continue, quote, to serve as a platform for marginalized communities and organizations in need. Stars in the House will live stream several major upcoming events, delivering them to a national audience and bringing awareness to a wide variety of important issues. Just sounds great. Love this, love that. They are continuing to do Stars in the House and bring attention and some much needed fundraising to important organizations. And then I have a real quick recommendation, Grace, that I'm going to ask you to talk about a few things. The first is coming from the Keen Company. It is of the new Adam Gwan musical that is currently in previews called all the World's Stage. They have some rehearsal video that they've released that is including Eliza Pigel, John Michael Reese, Matt Roden and Elizabeth Stanley. So check that out. And then first, Grace, I know you went to the invited dress for Love Life from New York City Center Encores. Obviously it isn't open so you can't talk about the nitty gritty of the production itself, but it sounds like you had a good time. So what can you tell us?

Grace Aki (12:24)

Yeah, I just want to say that I know We've talked about City Center a lot on the show, and one of the takeaways that I've often relayed is the fact that, like, I wish that we could go back a little bit to the original conceit of what I believed City Center Arcores was meant to do, which is like, not just like, oh, will it transfer? Does it have legs? Like, they're just, you know, doing a piece of theater that has not been done in many, many years with an amazing cast, and you're kind of knowing that you're under the guise of. This is not meant to be a full professional production, but it is meant to be an homage and celebration of, you know, works that have been in the past. Love Life is absolutely those things. I was thrilled to be in the theater experiencing a piece that could otherwise be known as the Carousel of Progress, the musical. And I think that it makes true of something that I feel. I've felt very strongly about with the conceit of the entire series. So I just want to say shout out to everybody involved there and the selection and the history behind it. I love that the program describes all the things that it's jumped through. It's a fascinating history. Also, go watch my friends, the theater Lovers on Instagram. They did a great video about it, particularly Will Anderson, who kind of like heads up that historian space. So thrilled with all that. Not talking about the production. Just to say that often on the show I have talked about that as a criticism, and I was really, really thrilled to see this production particularly was owning true to what I think that the Encores and New York City center stands for.

Matt Tamnini (13:54)

So that's awesome. Something else is awesome is I know you have been working on a special project at this point for years. I mean, I don't even. I couldn't even tell you how many years, but it is finally happening. Tell us what this stage and screen event and series is that feels like the perfect culmination of every fiber of who you are.

Grace Aki (14:19)

Oh, my goodness. Thank you, Matt. So what he was just talking about is the fact that I have been so. I am so interested and invested in the original source material of film IP that is being used for stage adaptations that are either musicals or plays, especially in the current zeitgeist of the Broadway community, especially that we are experiencing. I think it's exciting that we are taking these known properties and adapting them in really smart and innovative ways. There are quite a few this Broadway season, and I have been very fortunate that I will be working with Nighthawk Cinema, located in Brooklyn at their Prospect park location for a series called Stage and Screen, where we will be screening certain films that have adaptations that are currently on Broadway, the first of which will be Sunset Boulevard happening in April. It is a Monday night, so you don't have any excuse to be at a show. The Screening starts at 7:15. We will have a pretty screening Q and A with members of the Broadway Company. We will be giving away tickets. There will be trivia. I love film very much and I also love the intersection of film and theater and art and media. And I've been trying to do this for literally two years. So the fact that Nighthawk is working with me, I'm so grateful for this collaborative process. There are more to be announced, films coming up and they may or may not sound like Death Becomes her and some other films. So please be on the lookout for that. But just to start in April, we do have Sunset Boulevard and I cannot wait to do it.

Matt Tamnini (15:45)

It. So you said they're going to be company members there and I know there's going to be a Q and A. Is the, is the Q and A going to be with like the company members? Is it going to be you leading it? What, what is that going to. How's that going to work?

Grace Aki (15:55)

I'll be hosting the Q and A and the, the trivia portion and I'll be posting a lot about social media. So if you are not in the New York area, we will be posting clips of this afterwards. But if you are, and you're obviously free on a Monday night, we would love to have you because also a lot of people may love this current production of Sunset Boulevard or ones in the past, but have never seen the film. And so I think it's an exciting exploration of, you know, promoting those things, but also what has been taken away, what has been added, what are people left with and how are those things kind of intersecting?

Matt Tamnini (16:30)

Yeah, absolutely. This is happening on Monday, April 14th at 7:15pm which is when the Q and A starts. And again, this is just a week after Miscast, so maybe I just need to extend by another week so I can go to both of those because this is amazing because I'm going to tell you something, Grace. I've never seen this movie so I. I know, I know, I know. So I feel like maybe I should but excited to see what these other ones are. Maybe maybe the one that sounds similar to Death Becomes her will be while I'm in town in May. So we'll have to wait and see. But we will have information on where you can get all the information about that. And I don't know, can people get tickets now or is it just kind of like you show up that night?

Grace Aki (17:09)

We went on sale today. We went on sale today. So get your tickets.

Matt Tamnini (17:12)

Perfect. All right. We will have that link in the show notes. All right, everybody, that's all that we have for today. Thanks for listening to Today on Broadway. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Broadway Radio. You follow me on Instagram. Bww Matt, Grace, where can people find you?

Grace Aki (17:22)

You can find me at. It's Grace. Aki.

Matt Tamnini (17:24)

All right, everybody, have a wonderful Thursday. We'll figure out what we're doing with Picture of Dorian Gray reviews, but they will be in the feed either for tomorrow's Today on Broadway or as a standalone episode. Have a great day and we will talk to you tomorrow.

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