WISHING YOU A SAFE & HEALTHY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
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SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE AUDITIONS WEEK #2
 Week 2 of the auditions for So You Think You Can Dance introduced us to several amazing dancers. As we shared last week, the format for the auditions round is slightly different this year. There were open calls this Spring in New York City, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Select dancers were invited to audition in LA to vie for a spot in the choreography round. The show opened with James ‘Lord Finn’ Thomas who had auditioned in the past, but decided he’d try again to get his girlfriend to audition. He was up first and if you’re squeamish, it was hard to watch his extreme bone-breaking, but he advanced to choreography. His very talented girlfriend, Brianna Gray followed, and she did not disappoint. She also moved to the next round. But the most inspiring story came from ballet dancer Zyiasia Knighton who shared how her father was murdered when she was just 10 years old. The paramedics were sent to the wrong house and it was too late to save him. She decided to become an EMT so she might be able to prevent another little girl from losing a parent. Zyiasia performed the most powerful solo of the night. This phase of auditions continues next week. Please be sure to tune in every Wednesday night at 9/8c. SYTYCD had its lowest ratings in 18 seasons for the premiere and if you’d like to keep the show on the air, make sure you set your DVR and tell your friends to watch.
MEGAN HILTY, KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ, BETH LEAVEL & MORE TAKE PART IN SMASH MUSICAL READING
 An industry reading of the new musical inspired by the Broadway-themed television drama Smash recently took place with a cast that included original star Megan Hilty, Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas, and more. Marc Shaiman, who penned the songs for the series and upcoming stage production with longtime writing partner Scott Wittman shared the news. Smash will have a book by Bob Martin and Rick Elice, with producers including Robert Greenblatt, Neil Meron, and Steven Spielberg. In addition to Hilty, Leavel, and Ashmanskas, the reading featured TV cast member Krysta Rodriguez, Nicholas Rodriguez, Kristine Nielsen, Christian Thompson, Maddie Baillio, and Bonnie Milligan. Choreographer Joshua Bergasse and musical director Stephen Oremus also took part. Created by Theresa Rebeck, Smash aired on NBC in 2012 and 2013 and told the story of a group of creatives putting together a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. The second season, which was run by Joshua Safran, followed the show’s journey to the Tony Awards, while also focusing on its competition.
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ARIANA DeBOSE, MICHAEL R. JACKSON, ANDREW GARFIELD AMONG TIME 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
 This year’s Time 100, Time magazine’s list of the most influential people in the world was announced May 22. The list includes A Strange Loop Tony nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Michael R. Jackson, Oscar winner and upcoming Tony host Ariana DeBose, Tony winner Andrew Garfield, current Plaza Suite star Sarah Jessica Parker, and more. Each was honored with a tribute written by a fellow trailblazer. Tony and Emmy-winning actor Billy Porter praised Jackson for the power of A Strange Loop. Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth shared her love for DeBose, who she recently worked with on Schmigadoon!. Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese penned his admiration for Garfield, who starred in the director’s 2016 film Silence. Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner Cynthia Nixon gave insight on her longtime co-star Sarah Jessica Parker.
2022 DRAMA LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED
 The Drama League announced the winners of the 2022 Drama League Awards on May 20. The ceremony took place at the Ziegfield Ballroom and was hosted by Frank DiLella. Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster, Ben Vereen, Shoshana Bean, Gabby Beans, and Lear deBessonet presented awards. Sutton Foster won the Distinguished Performance Award for her work in The Music Man; the well-respected honor can only be won once during an actor’s career. This year’s ceremony included inaugural nominees in two new categories; Outstanding Direction of a Play and Outstanding Direction of a Musical. A Strange Loop won the Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical. Company won Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical.
FILMED GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY TO BE RELEASED
The Tony-nominated musical Girl From the North Country, written and directed by Conor McPherson and featuring the music of Bob Dylan, has been preserved on film. Taping took place ahead of the musical’s April 29 reopening night at its Broadway home at the Belasco Theatre. Gavin Kalin of Totally Theatre Productions produced the film with Tim van Someren serving as director. The full original creative team, including Tony nominee McPherson, reunited to work with Kalin and Somerern. The cast includes 2022 Tony nominees Mare Winningham and Jeannette Bayardelle. More information, including when and where to watch, is to be announced.
The Broadway League has announced that the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theaters in New York City will extend the current mask requirement for audiences through at least June 30. Many theaters may no longer require audience members to provide proof of vaccination. Be sure to check the policies set for individual theaters…
ANGELA LANSBURY TO RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT TONY AWARD
 Angela Lansbury will receive a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award this year, presented during the ceremony on June 12. Lansbury is a five-time Tony Award winner in competitive categories, winning for Mame, Dear World, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, and Blithe Spirit. The 75th Annual Tony Awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall, on June 12, in a four-hour television and streaming event. The celebration will commence from 7pm to 8pm ET with exclusive content streaming only on Paramount Plus, hosted by Darren Criss and Julianne Hough. It will be followed by the presentation of the American Theatre Wing’s 75th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Ariana DeBose, from 8pm to 11pm ET on the CBS Television Network, and streaming live and on demand on Paramount Plus.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO TO PLAY BROADWAY’S BOOTH THEATRE THIS FALL
 David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo will play the Booth Theatre this fall on October 12 ahead of a November 10 opening. Directed by Jessica Stone and choreographed by Danny Mefford, the show is based on Lindsay-Abaire’s play of the same name. The Broadway cast of Kimberly Akimbo will feature the company from the Atlantic Theatre world premiere, including Tony Award winner Victoria Clark as Kimberly, Justin Cooley, Steven Boyer, Alli Mauzey, Bonnie Milligan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Fernell Hogan, Michael Iskander, and Nina White. Kimberly Akimbo’s world premiere received the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical, plus nine Drama Desk Award nominations and nominated for Best Musical at the Drama League Awards.
BROADWAY STARS TO PUT THEIR SPIN ON TAYLOR SWIFT
 The Broadway Sings concert series, in partnership with NYC Pride, has announced the lineup for its next original event Broadway Sings Taylor Swift on June 27 at 8pm ET at Sony Hall. The lineup, including Mr. Saturday Night Tony nominee Shoshana Bean, Six queen Samantha Pauly, The Devil Wears Prada-bound star Taylor Iman Jones, Hamilton’s Krystal Joy Brown, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical’s Ari Groover, Ginna Claire Mason, Jo Ellen Pellman, Noah J. Ricketts, and more, will sing new arrangements of the hits of the pop superstar Taylor Swift, accompanied by a 14-piece orchestra. Orchestrations and arrangements are by Joshua Stephen Kartes.
American Idol crowned their new winner on May 22 on the season finale on ABC. Noah Thompson, a 20-year old country singer and father of a one-year old son, won the competition… It’s estimated that over 800 hot dogs are eaten per second on Memorial Day. This means nearly 72 million hot dogs are eaten on this day alone...
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