Profile for JoeW4

^And I would say Operation Mincemeat is quite a bit more UK-specific than Benjamin Button. I'd say Benjamin Button's themes have pretty universal appeal, and the style only feels British in the sense that the music seems to be drawn from nautical English folk (? maybe? I don't know if that's the correct description -- but that's also kind of my point: it doesn't feel specific to the point of being alienating) 

It seems like every season there’s at least 1 show that keeps running for weeks/months despite hemorrhaging money. And we never seem to learn the lesson:

We can’t try to apply regular fiscal logic to passion projects like this; RWHC for example has already demonstrated that minimizing financial loss isn’t their main MO. So we have no idea when they’ll close, because we have no idea how large their reserve and/or angel investment is. 

Both "Liberation" and "We Had a World" are ineligible because they premiered in 2025, whereas Monday's announcement will only consider shows that submitted for the calendar year of 2024. "Liberation" and "We Had a World" will both be eligible next year.

I was *about* to say I'm surprised that Jon Michael Hill wasn't put in lead, but I didn't realize he's above the title with Jackson and Harry Lennix. Glad to see it!

I did wonder if Marjan Neshat might go lead for English, but not terribly surprising that she didn't.

I posted a video on TikTok looking at a range of possible contenders, in case anyone is curious:

But yes as BroadwayGirl said, Liberation will be eligible next year.

Purpose's out of town run doesn't NECESSARILY mean it's eligible this year, as it's up to them whether they want to submit following their first run, or wait until a future (often NYC) run. However, in recent year' we've seen that Steppenwolf tends to submit for their runs, so I would guess that Purpose is eligible because it premiered at Steppenwolf specifically.

Sorry if I'm missing something in the article, but will this be open to the public? Or just an invite-only FYC event?

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Lee Sunday Evans directed that clunker of a musical about time travel recently in Brooklyn, so I'll pass.”

 

Not going to fight you on Safety Not Guaranteed, but did you see Oratorio For Living Things? Dance Nation? In the Green? I thought she did some great work on those shows!

^In a space like the Newhouse, I have no doubt that either of those actors would create lot of demand for tickets. Would love to see McDormand return to the stage in this or anything!

Devastatingly sad news — both the loss itself, and to know they were struggling so much. 
 

I’m not familiar with Snowfall, but BLKS showed their promising talent, and Teenage Bounty Hunter was a criminally dismissed Netflix gem (I know they were one of many writers, but the show was so strongly written all around)

raddersons said: "Soho Rep also has a contract with Signature Center, at least for at least their upcoming season (possibly more, Idon’t remember). Plus The New Group does shows there, and Signature Theater themselves. Wild for four non-profit theaters to be operating out of the same building. Good time to be them."

 

^Soho Rep is renting from Playwrights Horizons, not Signature

For my money: the best musical of the 2020s so far is "Oratorio For Living Things," by a wide margin. 

 

As for plays, that's a lot harder, but I'd like to throw "English" into the conversation!

bigbelterbaby said: "Uncle Vanya is soo over produced, it was just on Broadway last season and didn’t do well."

 

It averaged over $900k per week. For a non-profit run in a small house, that's quite good. We know that's largely because of Carrell, not because of the play, but still not really accurate to say it didn't sell. Unless you meant it didn't do well in terms of word of mouth / awards?

Jarethan said: "She was by listed as the only one cast."

 

It's based on a one-woman show, which was in turn based on a one-woman documentary, so I don't think we can infer anything from that.

But sadly, you're still probably right: for me, it's the lack of information on the film for the past several years, and the fact that IMDB will often specify "Filming" or "Post-production" accordingly.

 

Terrible news, but what a legendary life and career she's had! 

Does anyone know if they got around to filming the announced film adaptation of A German Life? I feel very fortunate to have seen it live, but I would've loved for the film adaptation to preserve that performance for posterity.