Tag: nbc

theatre during the coronavirus holiday season
Broadway, Broadway At Home, General Theatre

Theatre During the Coronavirus Holiday Season

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The holiday season is typically a time where tourism booms for Broadway. However, as we all know, this holiday season will be a little different. There will be no trips to NYC to catch a Broadway show this November and December. And while we here at Musings About Musicals hope everyone will be staying home and enjoying a socially distanced holiday, there are still ways we can enjoy theatre during this time. Here are some theatrical events we’ll be watching this holiday season from the comfort of our own homes.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

While the iconic parade is not as much of a parade this year as it is a short walk down the block, the show must go on. And in this shortened “parade” we will still get to see the Broadway performances that we all look forward to every Turkey Day. Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill and Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations will all feature performances, getting together for the first time since everything shut down in March. These performances will be pre-filmed and follow strict social distancing protocols to ensure the safety of the performers.

Normally, Macy’s and NBC select shows to perform that have flashy numbers to show off to America. But since many performers left NYC when Broadway shut down, producers said they could not make it work this year, according to the New York Times. Luckily, we still get to see four performances – and NBC is paying them, giving everyone something to truly be thankful for.

One Night Only: The Best of Broadway

Once again NBC comes in to support theatre. As Page Six reported back in August, the network will be featuring a two-hour theatrical event on December 10 at 8 p.m. as a benefit to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tina Fey will be hosting, and the event will showcase performances from Broadway shows and single performers alike. Donations will provide financial assistance to theatre workers who are struggling through the pandemic, and NBC will be making a donation as well.

The casts of Ain’t Too Proud, Chicago, Diana, Jagged Little Pill, Jersey Boys, Mean Girls and Rent will all perform. Additionally, there will be an appearance from the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as sneak previews of the shows that will be coming to Broadway in 2021.

There will also be performances by by Kelly Clarkson, Brett Eldredge, and Patti LaBelle. Annaleigh Ashford, Lance Bass, Kristen Bell, Ron Cephas Jones, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Gallagher, Josh Groban, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sean Hayes, Nathan Lane, Camryn Manheim, Alanis Morissette, Jerry O’Connell, Leslie Odom Jr., Billy Porter, John Stamos, Aaron Tveit, Blair Underwood, Vanessa Williams and Susan Kelechi Watson will be all make appearances.

The Disney Holiday Singalong

The third version of Disney’s singalong will premiere on November 30 at 8 p.m. on ABC. This hour long holiday special will reunite the Broadway casts of The Lion King and Aladdin along with the touring cast of Frozen on the New Amsterdam Theatre stage to perform the Frozen hit “Let it Go” led by Caroline Bowman and Aisha Jackson.

Other holiday songs will be performed by Leslie Odom, Jr., Andrea Bocelli, BTS, Michael Bublé, Ciara, Chloe x Halle, Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert, Julianne Hough, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, P!NK, and Kerry Washington, with additional performers to be announced.

Tony Awards

This one is saved for last because it might be during the holiday season, but we don’t know – they still have not announced an actual airdate. We know the nominees, and we know it will be virtual, but we do not know when we will see it. Originally we were told this would happen before the end of the year, but now apparently there is no set date and the American Theatre Wing appears to be in no rush, since Broadway will not be opening for quite some time. Understandable in theory, but a bit confusing to announce the nominees without the actual ceremony occurring any time in the near future. Hopefully we will see the Tony Awards sooner rather than later, but we may see the 2019-20 Tony Awards occur in 2021.

What are you most looking forward to out of the holiday season? Let me know in the comments, and stay safe and healthy!

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Broadway, Broadway At Home

NBC is Reportedly Planning a Big Broadway Special

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Prepare to see a primetime Broadway special on NBC in October, according to Page Six. The network is apparently planning to “revitalize” Broadway with a special starring casts from Broadway shows.

Page Six reports that NBC has invited every Broadway show to perform, but the issue is trying to get casts together when actors have spread all over the country. Also, some producers are hesitant to spend money. Still, Page Six says a number of shows are confirmed, but some are unable to participate.

Now, the big question here is: is is true? Page Six is literally a gossip column, so not the most credible source. The fact that there are no named sources in the article plus NBC’s lack of a comment does concern me. But…I want it to be true! I want to see Broadway on my TV! NBC has had a connection with Broadway for years, and it seems like something that would be great for the network.

Operating under the assumption that this story is accurate, who will we see perform? I assume most of the big shows will be able to do it – the ones who are guaranteed to return when Broadway reopens, like Wicked and Hamilton. I, obviously, hope to see a performance from Hadestown, and it would be nice to see performances from the newer shows that never got their chance before Broadway was shut down, but I am unsure of the likelihood of that occurring.

Whatever happens, I hope this is real and I hope we get to see this on TV when October comes. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we miss Broadway, and I certainly would be happy with whatever we get. But let’s speculate and have some fun! Who do you think will perform? How will it go about being done? Let me know your thoughts!