tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50936615832419409052024-01-11T17:51:55.360-05:00Reflections in the LightTheater and Broadway with an added Christian perspective.LaurenYargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00709980425007243824noreply@blogger.comBlogger119413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093661583241940905.post-56931335957293744532023-10-04T16:15:00.005-04:002023-10-04T16:31:55.023-04:00Theater Review: The 12 -- Goodspeed Musicals, CT<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2B1WCEMvgGXyTq8r4rePHVMklnGM1hEt2CeJ4o6tKJvEh3V15_M6YRAMxVcvuEt4RTSBQS0m8clojxmc8M5uFucrMABjaDUZOdGuS994NQ68Vyjvio6dQW6-wgdN5IM-IjaB8s9dXrs3-d9stjtkoK87Hk3EXjCyPr2Vg8ZMXOPi1OdUab4pe6MDOQ4u/s2048/the%2012.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2B1WCEMvgGXyTq8r4rePHVMklnGM1hEt2CeJ4o6tKJvEh3V15_M6YRAMxVcvuEt4RTSBQS0m8clojxmc8M5uFucrMABjaDUZOdGuS994NQ68Vyjvio6dQW6-wgdN5IM-IjaB8s9dXrs3-d9stjtkoK87Hk3EXjCyPr2Vg8ZMXOPi1OdUab4pe6MDOQ4u/w400-h258/the%2012.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span face=""Atlas Grotesk Web", "Atlas Grotesk", AtlasGrotesk, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1918; text-wrap: nowrap;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">The cast of Goodspeed's THE 12. Photo: Diane Sobolewski</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">The 12</span></i></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Music and Lyrics by Neil Berg<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Book and Lyrics by Robert Schenkkan<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Directed by John Doyle<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Goodspeed Musicals <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Through Oct. 29, 2023</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">By Lauren Yarger</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A compelling story about religion without an agenda? In the
theater world, <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">this is nothing short of a miracle!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">But with a book and lyrics by Robert Schenkkan, told to the
beat of a pop-rock score<br />and lyrics from Neil Berg, that is exactly what
Goodspeed Musical audiences witness<br />in <i>The 12</i>, a moving story of how
Jesus’s disciples walk through a journey of sorrow <br />and faith following his
death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This tale, emotionally staged by Director John Doyle (who
doubles as scenic designer), <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">focuses on the disciples as they hide out in the
upper room (an abandoned industrial <br />space covered in graffiti) after the crucifixion
of Jesus (called Teacher, rather than by name).<br />They arrive devastated, angry,
uncertain and scared about what will happen to them if they <br />are identified as
being affiliated with Jesus. They have conflicts with each other, as well as<br />a
crisis of faith over the loss of their leader. For those not up to speed on who
the 12 were, <br />they are listed in a neat cheat sheet in the show program (which
offers more details than here):</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Andrew (Wonza Johnson), a fisherman</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Bart” (Robert Morrison) a.k.a.
Bartholomew</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">James (Kelvin Moon Loh), brother of John</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Jimmy” (Etai Benson) the other James,
often called the brother of Jesus</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">John (Kyle Scatliffe) brother of James</span></li><li><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Matt (F. Michale Haynie) the tax
collector Matthew</span></li><li><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Pete (Akron Lanier Watson) Simon
Peter, brother of Andrew</span></li><li><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Phil (Brandon J. Ellis) Philip, friend
of Bartholomew</span></li><li><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Simon (Gregory Treco) the zealot</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Tee” (Mel Johnson Jr.) a.k.a. Thaddeus</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">“Tom” (Wesley Taylor) doubting Thomas</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">For those of you who are counting, Judas doesn’t make an
appearance. The action takes <br />place after his death too – possibly at the hands
of one of the group. The 12<sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> disciple <br />completing a last-supper tableau,
subtly created by Doyle, is Mary Magdalene (Adrienne <br />Walker), called “Mags” by Jimmy,
who might be more than just a friend, and the rest. <br />In a nice choice, Mary, the mother of Jesus (Rema Webb), also gets some stage time and <br />the two women have
some of the most moving and melodic songs of the production.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mags sings:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">So much pain <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Heart so sore<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Thoughts so bleak<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Please, no more.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Neared his tomb<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Lightening flashed;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Heard a savage roar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The earth rose up!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">An awful sound.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Choked by dust<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Fell to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I heard the stones go crashing by;<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Terrified that I would die.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The shaking stopped<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then broke the dawn<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Revealed his grave -<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The rock was gone.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Powerful stuff in there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The storytelling, even with some more modern elements like
guitars on stage and police<br />sirens blaring while the disciples wear more modern
looking clothing in dark hues<br />(Ann Hould-Ward, costumes), never loses its way
because it stays anchored in the scriptures<br />and pure human emotion to which
everyone can relate. Who hasn’t suffered a devastating<br />loss? Who hasn’t felt betrayed?
Who hasn’t felt terrified of what lies ahead? If you ever have<br />experienced a
real-life nightmare from which you can’t awaken, you’ll relate to the emotions<br />being expressed by each character. Excellent storytelling by Schenkkan (who has
a Pulitzer <br />for <i>The Kentucky Cycle</i> and a Tony for <i>All the Way</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">This also isn’t a feel-good, just-have-faith tale either.
There is no attempt to convert or <br />condemn. Much like God himself, the creators
of this work give free choice. What you <br />believe is up to you (and this show will
unlikely offend regardless of what religion you <br />follow). Instead, they offer a
genuine story of human emotion and the search for something<br />in which to believe,
then cling to, even when faith has been dashed. Despite their renewed <br />hope, the
disciples are very much aware of the price they will pay for following their
beliefs.<br />When they leave the safety of their hideout to go out into the world
to share their faith, it’s an<br />inspiring moment, thanks to the direction of Doyle
who brings his Tony-award-winning <br />experience -- and apparently some long-ago
hopes of becoming a priest -- to this project. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 3.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 3.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Honesty, I kept
waiting for the story to veer off in the way most Christian-hostile theater
<br />does: Jesus and Mary Magdalene were lovers and had a child; Jesus never claimed
to be <br />the son of God or was illegitimate and it all was a ruse by Mary to avoid
hide her <br />pre-wedding sexual activity; Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead
and the disciples <br />carried out a hoax, etc. But it never did. And Thomas, with
his many doubts and questions, <br />gives a voice to those watching who might be
skeptical, whether or not they come from a <br />believing background:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Where’s the proof?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“Could have been a coincidence…”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">“What if he made a mistake?"</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> "Why did he have to die?"</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The 12</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> is a <i>Godspell</i>/<i>Jesus
Christ Superstar</i> for a new generation. It had a successful run <br />in Denver,
where it won a Henry Award for Outstanding New Musical. You can catch it <br />at <a href="https://www.goodspeed.org/">Goodspeed</a> in East Haddam, CT through Oct.
29. Or, if prayers are answered, perhaps <br />someday on Broadway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Additional credits: </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Greg Jarrett, Music
Supervisor/Orchestrator; Adam Souza, Music <br />Director; Ben Covello, Associate Music
Director; Japhy Weideman, Lighting Designer; <br />Jay Hilton, Sound Designer.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></p></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 39.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt 39.5pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_2Ov3E-EUA?si=8yUnDZcCug96x8bG" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Reflections in the Light copyright 2007- 2019 by Lauren Yarger. All rights reserved. </div>LaurenYargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00709980425007243824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093661583241940905.post-88960024502287758092023-09-15T11:22:00.001-04:002023-09-15T11:22:16.980-04:00Off-Broadway Review: Out of the Apple Orchard<p> </p><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4y9nD34EJVHZbY1TeSvDNLakkbLiccst-pchTCb7uHWow7J0YSn9VbHZnt0Q9jzijXmKu85iJv0NEZVVyYxuKHfyo6IJdpxDR6v5uGrK0xMwj4HIkE3HgbVkjUIc6f6kYDJCrLCijz9igSnophwoCWolHNI6yPEmRRAQqqnYVUoPm3AG7dfarOypiHF4/s1280/apple%20orchard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="826" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4y9nD34EJVHZbY1TeSvDNLakkbLiccst-pchTCb7uHWow7J0YSn9VbHZnt0Q9jzijXmKu85iJv0NEZVVyYxuKHfyo6IJdpxDR6v5uGrK0xMwj4HIkE3HgbVkjUIc6f6kYDJCrLCijz9igSnophwoCWolHNI6yPEmRRAQqqnYVUoPm3AG7dfarOypiHF4/w259-h400/apple%20orchard.png" width="259" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Out of the Apple Orchard</span></i></b><br />By Ellen W. Kaplan, based on the book by Yvonne David<br />Directed by Nicole Raphael<br />Actors Temple<div><br /></div><div>By Lauren Yarger</div><div>A sweet tale of forgiveness offers a breath of fresh air for theater goers in the New York premiere of Ellen W. Kaplan's <i>Out of the Apple Orchard</i> which recently had an all-too-short run at the Actors Temple in New York.</div><div><br /></div><div>Based on the first in a series of children's books written by Yvonne David, and themselves inspired by Joseph Stein's <i>Fiddler on the Roof</i>, Sholom Aleichem’s “Tevye the Dairyman," and Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol," the stories follow the Jewish Bieman family which immigrates to the lower east side of Manhattan in 1910, then moves to the Catskills.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Papa (Erik Endsley) is too sick to continue working on the fine suits he tailors, Mama (Lori Leifer), Bubbe (Alyssa Simon), Adam (Caleb Hafen) and Sarah (Emma Kantor) all offer to pitch in. They offer the doctor (Gershon Tarabulus) a pair of trousers in payment, but how will they ever have money to buy ingredients for a holiday cake to bring in a sweet new year?</div><div><br /></div><div>Adam decides that stealing apples from the orchard of Farmer Friedland (Ken Dillion) is the solution, but he soon finds that his actions have unexpected consequences. His guilt leads him to seek counsel from the family's rabbi (also played by Tarabulus), who tells him he must confess to Friedland and see what he can do to make up for his crime. But will the farmer forgive him?</div><div><br /></div><div>Directed by Nicole Raphael of The Mesaper Theatre, the tale unfolds with music and puppetry (Victoria Chaieb, violinist, who also composes original music and arrangements; Rebecca Porticello, red bird -- puppets by Vandy Wood) set against paintings by Robert Sauber and lighting by Maarten Cornelis. Choreography is by Hafen and Kantor.</div><div><br /></div><div>This charming tale, told in about 80 minutes without intermission, bakes a perfect pie by blending the ingredients of wholesome family values, vivid storytelling and lighthearted entertainment whose aroma will appeal to audiences of all ages. The run at the Actors Temple was just seven performances. Here's hoping it returns or has runs in other cities. And maybe the other books in the series will find their way t the stage as well. <a href="http://appletreeseries.com/AppleTree/index.htm" target="_blank">For info in the books click here</a>.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Reflections in the Light copyright 2007- 2019 by Lauren Yarger. All rights reserved. </div>LaurenYargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00709980425007243824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5093661583241940905.post-41323653337032162282023-05-16T10:29:00.001-04:002023-05-16T10:33:24.651-04:002023 Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced: Some Like it Hot, Leopoldstadt Lead Honors<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FMkuHQZ90ykl2YeSYJkeiYCvlpZEF2vr0q_rktbbLTkzLXct9jRFik0QTERyYtDsmaqjbdKEUqTtvfPl3rVWNpg5qxeFHIveB-JfYHcQ9xVS0F-Mn0H0OBL_5FI2qygv9UnA7saPDIooZbXrlPF9hIo0O4w6et2z6MD1StR1MjSRnBXlEXwOtyul6w/s399/5%20Leopoldstadt0008r%20%281%29.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FMkuHQZ90ykl2YeSYJkeiYCvlpZEF2vr0q_rktbbLTkzLXct9jRFik0QTERyYtDsmaqjbdKEUqTtvfPl3rVWNpg5qxeFHIveB-JfYHcQ9xVS0F-Mn0H0OBL_5FI2qygv9UnA7saPDIooZbXrlPF9hIo0O4w6et2z6MD1StR1MjSRnBXlEXwOtyul6w/s399/5%20Leopoldstadt0008r%20%281%29.jpg" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FMkuHQZ90ykl2YeSYJkeiYCvlpZEF2vr0q_rktbbLTkzLXct9jRFik0QTERyYtDsmaqjbdKEUqTtvfPl3rVWNpg5qxeFHIveB-JfYHcQ9xVS0F-Mn0H0OBL_5FI2qygv9UnA7saPDIooZbXrlPF9hIo0O4w6et2z6MD1StR1MjSRnBXlEXwOtyul6w/s400/5%20Leopoldstadt0008r%20%281%29.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FMkuHQZ90ykl2YeSYJkeiYCvlpZEF2vr0q_rktbbLTkzLXct9jRFik0QTERyYtDsmaqjbdKEUqTtvfPl3rVWNpg5qxeFHIveB-JfYHcQ9xVS0F-Mn0H0OBL_5FI2qygv9UnA7saPDIooZbXrlPF9hIo0O4w6et2z6MD1StR1MjSRnBXlEXwOtyul6w/s399/5%20Leopoldstadt0008r%20%281%29.jpg" style="display: inline !important; padding: 1em 0px;"><i style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: small;"><span face="Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">J</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">oshua Satine in </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Leopoldstadt<i>. Photo: Joan Marcus</i></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekvWGZcTa0fMUMMMOp9QFzp1lp6yTQjLd_eJQ02WAswRK4ibYLUVRDDX1V7Asn1GvgcWgx1UXxHqMftgJFBNJ3Ale6zXnwce2mSOpwlGPaRwwczmCflU1ttf8FL9lEW9UE3ga2nAix4tKmnwZCw8rkrzs0R-pRz_9lJkMIC2pDaGSPhJRTs8DKczAA/s6720/5_Some_Like_It_Hot_Credit_Marc_J_Franklin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRekvWGZcTa0fMUMMMOp9QFzp1lp6yTQjLd_eJQ02WAswRK4ibYLUVRDDX1V7Asn1GvgcWgx1UXxHqMftgJFBNJ3Ale6zXnwce2mSOpwlGPaRwwczmCflU1ttf8FL9lEW9UE3ga2nAix4tKmnwZCw8rkrzs0R-pRz_9lJkMIC2pDaGSPhJRTs8DKczAA/s320/5_Some_Like_It_Hot_Credit_Marc_J_Franklin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The cast of </i>Some Like it Hot<i>. Photo: Marc J. Franklin</i></span></div><br /></div><p style="background: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Outer Critics Circle</span></strong> (OCC),
the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town
newspapers and national publications, is pleased to announce the winners of
the <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">72nd Annual Outer
Critics Circle Awards</span></strong>, honoring the 2022-2023 Broadway and
Off-Broadway season. <i>Some Like it Hot</i> and <i>Leopoldstadt</i> take top musical and play honors.</span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">The awards ceremony honoring the winners will take place on <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Thursday, May 25</span></strong> at
3 pm in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for The Performing
Arts</span></strong>. Lauren Yarger serves as
the ceremony's executive producer.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">2023 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNERS</span></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">The Marjorie Gunner Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>& Juliet</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Shucked</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**Some Like It Hot**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding New Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Good Night, Oscar</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**Leopoldstadt**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Life of Pi</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Peter Pan Goes Wrong</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Summer, 1976</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>The Bedwetter</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Between the Lines</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**The Harder They Come**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Only Gold</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Without You</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Becomes a Woman</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>A Case for the Existence of God</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Chester Bailey</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**Downstate**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Letters from Max, a ritual</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">John Gassner Award for New American Play (Preferably by a New Playwright)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Dark Disabled Stories</em> by Ryan J. Haddad</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Epiphany</em> by Brian Watkins</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**</strong><em><strong>Fat Ham</strong></em><strong> by James Ijames**</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Wolf Play</em> by Hansol Jung</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>You Will Get Sick</em> by Noah Diaz</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Revival of a Play (Broadway or Off-Broadway)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Death of a Salesman</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Endgame</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Ohio State Murders</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**Topdog/Underdog**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Wedding Band</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>A Man of No Importance</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Into the Woods</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Merrily We Roll Along</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>**Parade**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><em>Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Micaela Diamond – <em>Parade</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**J. Harrison Ghee – </strong><em><strong>Some Like It Hot**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Caroline Innerbichler – <em>Shucked</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Colton Ryan – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anna Uzele – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kevin Del Aguila – <em>Some Like It Hot</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Julia Lester – <em>Into the Woods</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Alex Newell – </strong><em><strong>Shucked**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">NaTasha Yvette Williams – <em>Some Like It Hot</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Betsy Wolfe <em>- & Juliet</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hiran Abeysekera – <em>Life of Pi</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jessica Chastain – <em>A Doll's House</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Corey Hawkins – <em>Topdog/Underdog</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Sean Hayes – </strong><em><strong>Good Night, Oscar**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Audra McDonald – <em>Ohio State Murders</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Danielle Brooks – <em>The Piano Lesson</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sharon D Clarke – <em>Death of a Salesman</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Michael Potts – <em>The Piano Lesson</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Brandon Uranowitz – </strong><em><strong>Leopoldstadt**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">David Zayas – <em>Cost of Living</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ephraim Birney – <em>Chester Bailey</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brittany Bradford – <em>Wedding Band</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Marylouise Burke - <em>Epiphany</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Bill Irwin – </strong><em><strong>Endgame**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Emma Pfitzer Price – <em>Becomes a Woman</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Veanne Cox – <em>Wedding Band</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Glenn Davis – <em>Downstate</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**K. Todd Freeman – </strong><em><strong>Downstate**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Francis Guinan - <em>Downstate</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Susanna Guzman <em>- Downstate</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nicholas Barasch – <em>The Butcher Boy</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Callum Francis – <em>Kinky Boots</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Jonathan Groff – </strong><em><strong>Merrily We Roll Along**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Natey Jones – <em>The Harder They Come</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Marla Mindelle – <em>Titanique</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vicki Lewis – <em>Between the Lines</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Lindsay Mendez – </strong><em><strong>Merrily We Roll Along**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Daniel Radcliffe – <em>Merrily We Roll Along</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A.J. Shively – <em>A Man of No Importance</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mare Winningham – <em>A Man of No Importance</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Solo Performance</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mike Birbiglia – <em>The Old Man & the Pool</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Jodie Comer – </strong><em><strong>Prima Facie**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jefferson Mays – <em>A Christmas Carol</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sam Morrison – <em>Sugar Daddy</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anthony Rapp – <em>Without You</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding New Score</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kate Anderson and Elyssa Samsel – <em>Between the Lines</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally – <em>Shucked</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Lin-Manuel Miranda – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adam Schlesinger and Sarah Silverman – <em>The Bedwetter</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman – </strong><em><strong>Some Like It Hot**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Book of a Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli - <em>Titanique</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*<strong>*Robert Horn – </strong><em><strong>Shucked**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Matthew López and Amber Ruffin – <em>Some Like it Hot</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Suzan-Lori Parks – <em>The Harder They Come</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">David West Rea<em>d - & Juliet</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jason Ardizzone-West – <em>Wedding Band</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John Lee Beatty - <em>Epiphany</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Beowulf Boritt – </strong><em><strong>New York, New York**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mimi Lien – <em>Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Simon Scullion – <em>Peter Pan Goes Wrong</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dede Ayite – <em>Topdog/Underdog</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Gregg Barnes – </strong><em><strong>Some Like it Hot**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Brigitte Reiffenstuel – <em>Leopoldstadt</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paloma Young - <em>& Juliet</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Donna Zakowska – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Neil Austin – <em>Leopoldstadt</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ken Billington – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ben Stanton – <em>A Christmas Carol</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Natasha Katz – <em>Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Tim Lutkin – </strong><em><strong>Life of Pi**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">John Gromada - <em>Jasper</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kai Harada – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Daniel Kluger <em>– Epiphany</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">André Pluess – <em>Good Night, Oscar</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Joshua D. Reid – </strong><em><strong>A Christmas Carol**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Christopher Ash and Beowulf Boritt – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Andrzej Goulding – </strong><em><strong>Life of Pi**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lucy Mackinnon – <em>A Christmas Carol</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Isaac Madge - <em>Leopoldstadt</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sven Ortel – <em>Parade</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Orchestrations</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Bryan Carter and Charlie Rosen – </strong><em><strong>Some Like It Hot**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sam Davis and Daryl Waters – <em>New York, New York</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jason Howland – <em>Shucked</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dominic Fallacaro and Bill Sherman <em>- & Juliet</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jonathan Tunick – <em>Merrily We Roll Along</em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Director of a Musical</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Michael Arden – </strong><em><strong>Parade**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Maria Friedman – Merrily We Roll Along</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Casey Nicholaw – Some Like It Hot</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jack O'Brien – Shucked</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Susan Stroman – New York, New York</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Choreography</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andy Blankenbuehler – Only Gold</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Edgar Godineaux – The Harder They Come</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Casey Nicholaw – Some Like It Hot</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Susan Stroman – </strong><em><strong>New York, New York**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jennifer Weber - & Juliet</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Outstanding Director of a Play</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kenny Leon – Topdog/Underdog</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pam MacKinnon – Downstate</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong>**Patrick Marber – </strong><em><strong>Leopoldstadt**</strong></em></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Adam Meggido – Peter Pan Goes Wrong</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Max Webster – Life of Pi</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Special Achievement Award</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To <strong>B.H. Barry</strong>, one of the world's foremost fight directors, in recognition of a distinguished six-decade career capped off with Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">About the OCCs:</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Founded during the 1949-50 Broadway season by respected theater journalist John Gassner, The Outer Critics Circle is an esteemed association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations, and online news organizations, in America and abroad.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12px;">As previously announced, this is the first season with newly reconstructed acting categories, which have removed gender specifications, and been expanded to separately include off-Broadway performers. In the previous configuration, actors in Broadway and off-Broadway productions had been nominated together in the same category.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Led by its current president </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">David Gordon</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">, the OCC Board of Directors also includes Vice President </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Richard Ridge,</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Recording Secretary </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Joseph Cervelli,</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Corresponding Secretary </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Patrick Hoffman,</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> Treasurer </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">David Roberts,</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Harry Haun, Cynthia Allen, Janice Simpson</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> and </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Doug Strassler.</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Simon Saltzman</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> is President Emeritus & Board Member (Non-nominating) and </span></span><strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Stanley L. Cohen</span></span></strong><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> serves as Financial Consultant & Board Member (Non-nominating).</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Reflections in the Light copyright 2007- 2019 by Lauren Yarger. All rights reserved. </div>LaurenYargerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00709980425007243824noreply@blogger.com0