The Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 production Is set to be directed by Obie Award winner Danya Taymor (“Daddy”, Heroes of the Fourth Turning) for a limited engagement, with exact dates and casting to be announced in the coming weeks.

2018 Whiting Foundation Award winner Antoinette Nwandu, New York, New York, March 22, 2018. Photograph © Beowulf Sheehan www.beowulfsheehan.com

Drawing inspiration from Waiting for Godot and the Exodus story, PASS OVER is placed on a city street corner. Moses and Kitch stand around – talking shit, passing the time, and hoping that maybe today will be different. As they dream of their promised land, a stranger wanders into their space and disrupts their plans. Evoking heartbreak, hope, and joy over its 85 minutes, PASS OVER crafts everyday profanities into poetic and humorous riffs, illuminating the unquestionable human spirit of young men looking for a way out.

If you saw the play Off-Broadway, you’ll want to see it again as some things have changed. Playwright and producer Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu said:

“In the summer of 2017, soon after our nation had elected Donald Trump as president, my creative team and I opened a production of Pass Over that shocked the conscience of our audiences. It premiered in Chicago at Steppenwolf and was captured by Spike Lee for Amazon Prime.

In the summer of 2018, wanting to prick the conscience of liberal Americans who remain tentative in their condemnation of violence against Black people, I changed the ending of the play, and my team and I opened Pass Over at LCT3 in New York. That version of the play was then produced throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, London, and South Africa.

And now, as my team and I prepare to produce this play again, I’ve asked myself: when the state-sanctioned murder of Black people in the United States remains visible routine, and the world continues to reckon with the loss, trauma, and alienation caused by the global pandemic, how do I meet this moment?

Though much about Pass Over remains a lament over the lives of Black people stolen too soon, I am happy to confirm that my team and I, along with our producers, are presenting a new version that centers the health, hope, and joy of our audiences, especially Black people. We are re-uniting to envision this play again, to tell a version of the story on Broadway where Moses Kitch both survive their encounter with white oppression.”

To sign up to receive more information on PASS OVER, visit www.passoverbroadway.com 

PASS OVER will be produced on Broadway by Matt Ross, Jujamcyn Theaters, Lincoln Center Theater, Concord Theatricals, Renee Montgomery, Blair Underwood, Madeleine Foster Bersin, and Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu.

“As August Wilson did almost 4 decades ago, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu is leading us towards the Broadway of our best imagination,” said Jujamcyn Theaters president Jordan Roth. “Her brilliant vision, her unwavering voice, her galvanizing spirit show us the way forward, and all of us at Jujamcyn are so grateful that Antoinette and her exquisite play Pass Over are coming home to the August Wilson Theatre.”

The Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 (Andre Bishop, Producing Artistic Director/Evan Cabnet, Artistic Director LCT3) New York premiere of PASS OVER opened at the Claire Tow Theater where, where it had an acclaimed, sold-out, and extended run and received the 2019 Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. The world premiere was produced and presented at Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Anna D. Shapiro, Artistic Director and David Schmitz, Managing Director). A filmed version of Taymor’s Jeff Award-winning Steppenwolf production, directed by Spike Lee, premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and at SXSW.

The production reunites the full design team from the Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 production, with set design by Wilson Chin (Cost of Living, Wild Goose Dreams), costume design by Sarafina Bush (Plot Points in Our Sexual Development, Heroes of the Fourth Turning), lighting design by Marcus Doshi (Linda Vista) and sound design by Obie and Grammy Award winner Justin Ellington (Pipeline, Heroes of the Fourth Turning). Casting is by Daniel Swee.

Jujamcyn Theaters and the producers are deeply committed to the health and safety of our audiences, performers, and staff. Among many enhancements, Jujamcyn has now upgraded all of its auditorium ventilation systems with MERV 13 filters, created a contactless experience for guests at the box office, entering the theatre and in bathrooms, and established rigorous cleaning and sanitation protocols. Based on CDC and New York state guidelines at the time of performance, protocols may include contact tracing survey, vaccination or negative test verification, limitations on belongings in the theatre, proper mask usage, assigned entry times, contactless temperature check, social distancing, and more. Specific health & safety protocols are subject to change but will be clearly communicated to ticket holders in advance of their performance. Ticket holders who do not comply with venue protocols will not be admitted.

The post Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s PASS OVER Will Reopen Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre appeared first on Broadway Black.

Who I wish was performing at the Super Bowl.

– ChloeXHalle
– Lizzo
– Beyoncé
– Doja Cat
– Ariana Grande
– Lady Gaga

– A medley from a Broadway show that has been closed since March 2020

— Corner Office Troll (@Corner2016) February 4, 2021

In addition, the support offered by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, to revitalize the arts has received criticism due to the hiring of celebrity artists.

This is pointless. Hiring rich artists to revitalize the arts? Hire the starving artists who are struggling right now… they could use the gig.

— Swelltune Records (@Swelltune) February 8, 2021

The response to the attendance count was as you would imagine.

damn it’s crazy I’m watching the super bowl happen with 25,000 fans but 8 people can’t do a show on broadway right now.

— Roman Wellington Banks (@romanwbanks) February 8, 2021

What is happening…. and why is Broadway still shutdown if these peeps are out here in the stands?….

— JelaniAlladin (@JelaniAlladin) February 8, 2021

personally, I’d much rather put money into work that uplifts a community of folks who haven’t worked in almost a year. Not watching grown ass millionaires give each other brain damage for even more millions. But hey maybe that’s just me.

— celia r. gooding | ACAB (@celiargooding) February 8, 2021

In a post on NBC Sports’ website, they stated Super Bowl LV attendance would include a total of 25,000 and they would be provided and required to wear masks during the game. NBC Sports also mentioned the 25,000 included, “approximately 7,500 – vaccinated health care workers who were given free tickets by the NFL.”

The theatre community expressed both their frustrations and understanding of the situation on social media.

I understand. I can’t wait to see all of you back on stage. However the superBowl is in an open space outdoors.#jaggedlittlepill pic.twitter.com/Y50e43d0wR

— Just Jay (@Activist2016M) February 8, 2021

I’m good without watching this lil bowl… because 25,000 people are watching it in person as I sit at home wondering why I can’t perform but this fuckery can happen

— Khaila Anyè (@KhailaWilcoxon) February 8, 2021

i sympathize with the people on broadway that have been out of work for almost a yr but there’s no safe way to have broadway shows especially in these old theaters that don’t have proper ventilation. small theaters would have like 50 ppl, probably the same ppl indoor dining

— (@sakurieeee_) February 8, 2021

You can read NBC Sports’ full post on their website.

What do you think? If “the show must go” applies to the Super Bowl, should it apply to Broadway, too?

The post Super Bowls Over Broadway appeared first on Broadway Black.

For Broadway to reopen and for COVID to go away… and by go away, we are talking evaporate.

Bringing back the arts will provide a financial boost for artists and an uplift to the spirit of New York. The creativity of the performing and visual arts are vital to the soul.

— Bethani Wright (@WrightBethani) January 12, 2021

Don’t write. Don’t call. Don’t even tell us the time has come. Just go.

Yes, “evaporating COVID” is just a pipedream, but hopefully, in 2021, we can have Broadway back.

New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has announced a plan to revitalize the arts during his 2021 State of the State Address. “New York State will launch a public-private partnership that will organize “pop-up” performances and arts events across the state beginning in February.”

JFK once said: “I see little of more importance to the future of our country & our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist.”

In NYS we will bring the arts back to life through a new initiative: New York Arts Revival.#SOTS2021 pic.twitter.com/0Ja1YrgSE6

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 12, 2021

The Governor mentioned Chris Rock, Wynton Marsalis, The National Black Theatre, and Ars Nova among the list of artists and arts

Chris Rock in the production of The Motherf***er with the Hat. Photo Credit Joan Marcus 2011

organizations scheduled to participate.

Chris Rock made his Broadway debut in 2011 in the original Broadway production of The Motherf**ker With the Hat and was recently nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television.

Wynton Marsalis is a 9-time Grammy Award Winner and was a producer for After Midnight on Broadway in 2013.

The Governor also announced, “The State will partner with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to launch a Creatives Rebuild initiative,” which will, “put back to work 1,000 artists who have been impacted by the crisis.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wynton Marsalis (@wyntonmarsalis)

It is worth mentioning, on October 9th 2020, The Broadway League released a statement announcing the continued suspension of all ticket sales for Broadway performances in NYC through May 30, 2021.

However, it feels like everyone is aligned and we are one step closer to bringing the lights back up on Broadway… or maybe not. What do you think?

You can read a complete list of the details on the official website.

The post Brand New Day: New York Governor Announces Plan To Revitalize The Arts appeared first on Broadway Black.

Courtesy of Vlad Alexandru Popa

Imagine setting a goal to perform on Broadway and hours before the curtain is set to rise, the entire production comes to a halt. This is crazy, right? Unless it’s Monday (mostly), Broadway is never dark.

So you can imagine the devastation of being hours away from your official debut, only to have it canceled. A month eventually turns into a year and the hope is that Broadway will open up again, but of course, there is always uncertainty.  All of the choreography, your lines, the moments in between, the inside jokes with your castmates you now have to struggle to remember.

… Feels like a dream, perhaps.

And then there is a vaccine. It may seem like a life jacket, but it comes with complications.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. FDA but has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 16+. See conditions of use: https://t.co/OS1tgYopUj

— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) December 12, 2020

1. According to an article by The Associated Press, depending on the brand of vaccine you choose, it will take up to 6 weeks before you’re “fully protected.” Now you may be asking yourself, “why they put it in quotations like that?” This is why…
2. The Associated Press also reports (in the same article) that it’s possible that the vaccine could only prevent symptoms, but that infection and transmission of the virus could still be a possibility, even after the vaccine.

This is an issue for a multitude of reasons. Especially considering how many castmates passed on COVID before they knew what was happening. Entire casts caught the virus. In addition, if the rest of the world does not have confidence in this vaccine, but we are carrying on as if it’s the summer of 2019, it’s possible that other countries could place a travel ban on the US. According to BroadwayLeague.com, during the 2018-2019 season, 2.8 million Broadway patrons lived outside of the States.

Currently, the expected return date is set for Sunday, May 30, 2021. According to Playbill, Dr. Fauci anticipates that we may be “approaching close to normal as you get into the late summer and early fall.” Honestly, that is “if” this works.

What about the actors who want to return, but don’t want to take the vaccine? That’s an additional thought to consider. What if a producer makes it mandatory to rejoin the cast? If you think this isn’t possible, think again.

Thinking about a show I saw years ago that I hated, and how I’d give ANYTHING to see even that right now. #BroadwayShutdown #TheatreProblems

— Theatre Problems (@TheatreProblems) September 26, 2020

We are all ready for the lights to go back up on Broadway.

Full flights. Live studio audiences for TV shows. Stadiums full of fans for sports games – It’s not that they can’t figure out a way to get us back in the theatre. It’s that they don’t care. #SaveTheArts

— DeMarius R. Copes (@DeMariusR_Copes) October 19, 2020

So…will the Broadway community be eligible to get vaccinated before the NY sports teams since we bring in more money to NYC than they do, yet are still facing potential pay cuts when live theatre returns?

— Matthew Tiberi (@matthew_tiberi) December 22, 2020

My heart is broken once more… Broadway closed through next summer. . Check on your performer friends today. We are hurt. Over 97,000 out of work. This all could’ve been prevented.
•
Please VOTE! Wear a Mask and donate to @TheActorsFund #broadwayshutdown #stimulus #NewYork pic.twitter.com/lS5y4CGFuh

— NaTonia Monét (@NaToniaMonet) October 9, 2020

…but even with a vaccine, it won’t be as simple as we think.

The post Does a COVID Vaccine Mean It’s Time to Reopen Broadway? appeared first on Broadway Black.