Dear theatre friends,
Sorry to have been out of touch, but I imagine you’ve heard that millions have lost power and the Internet since the hurricane blew through earlier this week, affecting Northern New York, as well as Connecticut, New Jersey and much of the East Coast of the U.S. I’m limping along with terribly slow cell service, but needed to get news to you today!
This afternoon, 4pm our time, and every Friday in August, you can get a taste of the virtual Edinburgh Fringe. Please support individual artists, or the entire Fringe Fund, by buying a ticket for a variety show by Fringe performers.
Then,at 8pm tonight, “In the Heights” will be on PBS. Look ahead for their future streaming options.
Tomorrow night, there’ll be a reunion reading of the 2007 Cherry Lane Production of “Dutchman.” You might be curious to see if it remains as shocking today as when it was written by LeRoi Jones in 1964.
A new-to-me resource for Edinburgh-like performances is The Electric Dreams Festival. Browse the program, and perhaps try “Rich Kids: Shopping Malls in Tehran” or “Beatbox Academy”– two much talked about shows from last August’s Festival.
I’ll be missing August’s venerable Edinburgh International Book Festival, too (which I often do even when there, because I’m too busy seeing plays!) You can purchase tickets for a conversation which might have been held in Charlotte Square, but now will be available without leaving home– Ian McKellen and Armistad Maupin will be talking about art, activism, LGBTQ rights, who knows what else? If you, too, would pay to see Sir Ian speak about almost anything, mark your calendars for August 12th.
For more choice– there’s the streaming service Digital Theatre. Browse their 100-plus shows to see if you’d like to subscribe, or perhaps try the free trial. You can also purchase “tickets” for an individual show, i.e. “Beckett Double Bill”– see below.
The comprehensive OffWestEnd.com has recently listed Roz Blessing’s “The Delights of Dogs and the Problems of People.” It received multiple fine reviews when it premiered in London in January of this year.
Saving the best for last— do not miss Beckett Double Bill, which had a sold out run at the Jermyn Street Theatre this past February. It was directed by Trevor Nunn, and starred two Olivier Award-winning actors, my dear friend, Niall Buggy, and the revered David Threlfall.
That’s all for now– as I receive news I’ll pass it along. But don’t completely fill your calendars yet– more shows are continuing to find their way to our screens.
Aren’t we fortunate to be living during this plague and not Sophocles’? Or, are you overwhelmed by choice?
Again, if you discover other theatre-related news– please get in touch: Carol@BestofEdinburgh.org.
And, need I reiterate? I’d like to continue to write because so many have expressed their enjoyment of reading– but I must have content!
Please send other theatre related information, or do try to recall a story you’d like me to post.
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.