Theatre Philadelphia hosts Philly Theatre Week: a celebration of the artists, organizations, and audiences that have made Greater Philadelphia one of the most vibrant theatre regions in the nation. Audiences will have an opportunity to try something new from our theatre community through a series of productions, readings, interactive events, and much more! This year, experience over 50 events with Pay What You Can tickets!

https://theatrephiladelphia.org/whats-on-stage/2023-philly-theatre-week

"‘Smash’ musical to open on Broadway in 2024-2025 season" by Broadway News' Ruthie Fierberg - "A stage musical adaptation of the NBC television series “Smash” will arrive on Broadway during the 2024-2025 season. Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron and Steven Spielberg will produce. The musical will feature a book co-written by … Rick Elice and … Bob Martin. … Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman … will pen the musical’s score, which will feature numbers from the TV show. … Susan Stroman will direct the “Smash” musical. … Joshua Bergasse … will choreograph. … Official dates, theater, creative team and casting for the “Smash” stage musical will be announced." https://bway.ly/1mw99z

"Broadway’s ‘SIX’ recoups ahead of its 600th performance" by Broadway News' Ruthie Fierberg - "In advance of its 600th Broadway performance on March 26, the Tony Award-nominated musical “SIX” has recouped its investment. According to a release from the production, the new musical about the six wives of King Henry VIII made back its investment in December of 2022. (Its initial capitalization in 2020 was reportedly $5 million.) The show is the first Main Stem production to share news of its recoupment since the industry’s reopening in September 2021." https://bway.ly/a9dbvx

"National Black Theatre to host special ‘Fat Ham’ performance; additional community nights announced" by Broadway News' Caitlin Hornik - "National Black Theatre has announced a special performance of “Fat Ham” on Friday, March 31. ... The evening will feature a post-show discussion and specifically welcomes members of Black theater institutions, artists and creatives to attend. ... The “Fat Ham” producing team also announced subsequent community nights: Queer Youth Night on March 24; Women’s History Night on March 30; Philly Phat Ham Night on the April 2 matinée performance and a Community Night on April 14." https://bway.ly/vel4rf

"Actors’ Equity Launches Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election" by The Hollywood Reporter's Caitlin Huston - "Actors’ Equity Association is forming its own political action committee. The union for more than 51,000 stage managers and actors will be launching the PAC in the first week of April, with the goal of contributing money to federal candidates who support Actors’ Equity priorities. These include more arts funding, expanded health care coverage, protecting the right to organize, and specific entertainment legislation, such as the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act. The PAC will be a separate organization from the union." https://bway.ly/u39un0

WORLD PREMIERE - ABANDON

https://theatreexile.org/shows/abandon/

Philadelphia rescinds bottled-water alert after chemical spill in the Delaware River

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/philadelphia-officials-alert-residents-drink-bottled-water-chemical-sp-rcna76736

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 3/14/23 Darnelle Radford 3/14/23

TBOT_S01E32 - All At Once

SHOWNOTES:

Let’s recap The Oscars as they relate to theater. Along with current events. Show closings and openings.

WORKING TITLE:

Everything Everywhere All At Once

REJECTED TITLES:

Every Drink Everywhere All At Once

Stay for the Sippy Cup

Theatre Development Fund

https://www.tdf.org/

Brendan Fraser Wins Academy Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role; See Which Stage Artists Won Big at the 95th Annual Oscars

Stage and screen star Brendan Fraser has won big at the 95th Annual Academy Awards, receiving the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for his performance in The Whale.

Samuel D. Hunter's The Whale — adapted from his 2012 play of the same name — received several nominations this evening. It took home the Best Makeup and Hairstyling award, in addition to Fraser's win.

Many other stars of the stage were nominated at the Oscars, such as Stephanie Hsu, Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, and Austin Butler, to name just a few. The biggest prize of the night, Best Picture, went to Everything Everywhere All At Once—which won seven Oscars. Though she didn't win, Broadway alum Hsu did perform the Oscar-nominated song "This Is a Life," with David Byrne during the ceremony.

https://playbill.com/article/brendan-fraser-wins-academy-academy-award-for-best-actor-in-a-leading-role-see-which-stage-artists-won-big-at-the-95th-annual-oscars

Oscar Winners - https://abc.com/shows/oscars/news/winners/oscar-winners-2023-list

Breaking News: The Atlanta Lyric Theatre closes its doors after 42 years

https://www.artsatl.org/breaking-news-the-atlanta-lyric-theatre-closes-after-42-years/?mc_cid=88ce0b4b4b&mc_eid=6b0d099eb9#new_tab

NPR: "Adults complained about a teen theater production and the show's creators stepped in" by NPR's Elizabeth Blair - "Spelling Bee creators Rebecca Feldman and Rachel Sheinkin called Vanessa Allen in Middlefield. "They found my contact information and offered to make changes," Allen says incredulously. "It's heartbreaking for the kids if you cancel it in the middle of rehearsals and construction and the rest," says librettist Sheinkin

BAD BEHAVIOR AT THE THEATRE

Marketing for popular musicals is to be tempered to avoid phrases such as "best party in town" and "dancing in the aisles" in a bid to tackle poor audience behaviour. Ambassador Theatre Group, the largest theatre operator in the UK, is working with producers to tone down marketing that might encourage bad behaviour ...

FAT HAM by Pulitzer Prize Winner, James Ijames

https://www.fathambroadway.com/

Updates to Equity Audition Protocols

https://actorsequity.org/resources/Producers/casting-call-how-to/

Meet the Black Women Reshaping American Theater

https://www.shondaland.com/live/money/a43028502/meet-the-black-women-reshaping-american-theater/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 2/15/23 Darnelle Radford 2/15/23

TBOT_S01E31 - Tell Me More, Tell Me More

WORKING TITLE:

Lift Every Voice and Sing

REJECTED TITLES:

Rihanna’s Baby Bump

Watch Sheryl Lee Ralph Sing 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' at the 2023 Super Bowl

https://playbill.com/article/watch-sheryl-lee-ralph-sing-lift-every-voice-and-sing-at-the-2023-super-bowl

John Travolta, Donald Faison and Zach Braff Might Take Their T-Mobile Super Bowl Show On The Road

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/john-travolta-donald-faison-and-zach-braff-super-bowl-commercial-1235520327/

"Actors’ Equity’s open membership program becomes permanent" by Broadway News' Ruthie Fierberg - "In a Feb. 8 email to members, Actors’ Equity Association declared that the union’s open membership initiative, Open Access, will go from a temporary program to permanent policy. When it began in July of 2021, Open Access allowed any actors and stage managers who are paid for work in those roles within Equity’s jurisdiction to be considered eligible for union membership. The rule was set to expire on May 1, 2023 but will instead continue indefinitely. …

Equity will “phase out” the EMC program over the next three years. Effective May 8, the union will not accept new EMC applicants. Current membership candidates will retain EMC status between now and May — which means these members will still receive priority access to Equity auditions. However, these EMC members will not accrue additional points towards Equity status as anyone can join the union through Open Access." https://bway.ly/3y0hkj

What is the Edinburgh Fringe and Why Is It So Big?

Playbill explores the history of the legendary arts festival, and how outsiders became the most popular people in town.

https://playbill.com/article/what-is-the-edinburgh-fringe-and-why-is-it-so-big

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 2/9/23 Darnelle Radford 2/9/23

TBOT_S01E30 - 30th

WORKING TITLE:

We were also producers on Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark

REJECTED TITLES:

Quiet Hiring is a No No

GRAMMYS

"‘Into the Woods’ wins Best Musical Theater Album — plus more Broadway Grammy wins" by Broadway News' Ruthie Fierberg - "The Grammy in that category went to “Into the Woods,” honoring producers Rob Berman and Sean Patrick Flahaven and principal vocalists Sara Bareilles, Brian d’Arcy James, Patina Miller and Phillipa Soo. …

[Lin-Manuel Miranda], along with vocalists Carolina Gaitán — La Gaita, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz and the cast of animated movie “Encanto” won for the film’s viral hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” “Encanto” also walked away with statues for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Tony nominee Renée Fleming won the Grammy for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album for her “Voice of Nature — The Anthropocene.”" https://bway.ly/4fe6k4

"Viola Davis earns coveted EGOT status with Grammy win" by Broadway News' Ruthie Fierberg - "At the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, actor Viola Davis won in the category Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording for the audiobook of her memoir “Finding Me.”" https://bway.ly/pzl5hd

CONGRESS-MAN: "George Santos Produced Broadway’s Ill-Fated Spider-Man Musical. At Least, He Claims He Did" by Bloomberg's Laura Davison - "Add Broadway producer to the long list of George Santos’s fabrications. While running for Congress in 2021, Santos told some potential donors he was a producer on the musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, according to people familiar with the discussions. ... The lead producer, Michael Cohl, denied Santos’s involvement, saying through an assistant that he wasn’t a producer on the musical. Santos’s name also never appeared in the playbills for the show. A spokeswoman for Santos referred questions to his lawyer, Joseph W. Murray, who didn’t immediately respond to a voicemail seeking comment." https://bway.ly/nelxfc

NPR: "Theater never recovered from COVID — and now change is no longer a choice" by NPR's Chloe Veltman - "Many of the problems facing the nonprofit theater industry in the U.S. right now — from scant resources to the lack of diversity — have been around for ages. But before the pandemic, performing arts groups were so focused on raising the curtain each night it was easier to ignore long-standing problems than fix them. Now, thanks to a combination of lackluster ticket sales and an end to government relief, they have no choice but to try out new things in order to secure a future." https://bway.ly/krxn75

More stocism, less drama.

"Chicago announces $11 million in new support for the arts" by The Chicago Tribune's Doug George - https://bway.ly/mvlqwy

CNBC: "Working 11-hour days backstage on Broadway: ‘You have to be a little bit crazy’ but ‘I love it’" by CNBC's Gili Malinsky - "[Annie] Schroeder’s main task every show is checking ticket sales and sending numbers up to the producers. But as assistant company manager, she has her hands in much of the behind-the-scenes logistics of the show as well. “She’s a sister girl,” says cast member Michael Ivan Carrier, and she’s “the mother that needs to stay out of my room.”" https://bway.ly/rqn77q

Between Riverside and Crazy

https://2st.com/shows/between-riverside-and-crazy

Quiet Hiring - The other side to quiet quitting

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/04/gartner-hr-expert-quiet-hiring-will-dominate-us-workplaces-in-2023.html

THE LIGHT by Loy A. Webb opens this week.

https://theatreexile.org/shows/the-light/

Resources:

https://www.artsjournal.com/

https://www.thestage.co.uk/

https://circle.tcg.org/home

https://www.theatricalindex.com/

https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 1/25/23 Darnelle Radford 1/25/23

TBOT_S01E29 - On The 45

WORKING TITLE:

ON THE 45

REJECTED TITLES:

HALP!

"The Public Theater Names Alexa Smith Senior Director of Anti-Racism, Equity, and Belonging" by Playbill's Logan Culwell-Block - "The Public Theater has named Alexa Smith its new senior director of anti-racism, equity, and belonging, a newly created position that is part of the Off-Broadway company's anti-racism and Cultural Transformation Plan. Smith will officially join the company March 6, reporting to and working with Executive Director Patrick Willingham and Artistic Director Oskar Eustis." https://bway.ly/sq0ql0

"West End workers threaten strikes as pay talks begin" by The Stage's Giverny Masso - "West End performers and stage managers are demanding a 17% pay rise and five-day rehearsal weeks, as a survey by Equity reveals that two thirds have recently considered leaving the industry due to working conditions and pay." https://bway.ly/9w3w3f

"How Do You Measure a Season on Broadway? In Cast Albums." by The New York Times' Jesse Green - "From “A Strange Loop” to “Funny Girl,” most Broadway musicals of 2022 were recorded, offering listeners a chance to love or hate them again." https://bway.ly/lsnfd9

Is theater’s traditional role of artistic director becoming obsolete?

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/theater/is-theaters-traditional-role-of-artistic-director-becoming-obsolete

What color was the dress?

https://slate.com/technology/2017/04/heres-why-people-saw-the-dress-differently.html#:~:text=Remember%2C%20the%20dress%20is%20actually,it%20as%20white%20and%20gold

The Business of Broadway

- Mitch Weiss and Perri Gaffney

https://em3ry.com/tbob

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.