Latest news with #Tony-award
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed Alabama drag ban could impact high school theater productions
House Minority Leader Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, speaks with staff on the floor of the Alabama Senate on Feb. 4, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Legislature began its 2025 session on Tuesday. His bill to ban drag performances in schools and libraries may also effect theater production, but he says he is working with an unnamed senator on an amendment to protect theater productions. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill last week that would ban drag performances in schools and public libraries. But it could also impact theater productions statewide. HB 67, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, defines drag performances as 'a performance in which a performer exhibits a sex identity that is different from the sex assigned to the performer at birth using clothing, makeup, or other physical markers.' According to the Alabama Educational Theatre Association (ALEdTA), with fewer boys participating in theater in high school, girls often play boys' roles to fill the cast. The association said the legislation could impact school theater productions. 'We all know that in the current environment where boys are not participating as much in theatre; this will have a negative impact on educational theatre,' ALEdTA wrote in a Facebook post Monday. Historically, the opposite was true. In Ancient Greece, women were considered inferior to men and unfit for the stage, so female roles were played by men. The same was true in the Elizabethan era for plays by William Shakespeare. Premature boys often played female roles because of women's limited social status. The association is calling on its members to advocate for an amendment to the legislation in the Alabama Senate that would exempt theater productions from the restriction on drag performances. The association provided a letter template on the post for its members to send to their senator. 'This bill without needed amendments will force teachers to provide less performance opportunities for students. It will also heavily reduce the plays and musicals that we can perform in Alabama,' the letter said. Stadthagen said in an interview Wednesday the legislation was not meant to impact theater and that he is working on an amendment for the Senate to make that explicit. 'It does not pertain to that at all,' he said. 'The intent is not to harm theater or anything like that. The intent, of course, is to eliminate drag.' Huntsville High School this fall planned to stage 'Peter and the Starcatcher,' a Tony-award winning play based on the backstory of Peter Pan but switched productions due to the possible implications of the legislation. 'This change was made thoughtfully and early in the planning process before casting occurred to ensure the production aligns with any legal and logistical considerations that may arise,' Craig Williams, a spokesperson for the school system, wrote in an email Wednesday. Stadthagen said in an interview Wednesday that he had not heard of any theater productions being cancelled and said that was not necessary. 'They don't need to be cancelling anything at all,' he said. 'They have nothing to worry about, I promise you.' The bill awaits consideration from the Senate Education Policy Committee, which did not have its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Killing Eve star, Jodie Comer, brings Prima Facie show to Edinburgh theatre
Killing Eve star, Jodie Comer, is set to come to the capital as her hit theatre show tours the UK and Ireland. Comer wowed audiences with her performances in the one-woman play, Prima Facie, which first debuted at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End. Suzie Miller's play explores a young, talented barrister, Tessa, as she works her way up from a working class background to a glittering legal career. During the play, Tessa is 'forced her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge.' READ MORE: Huge queues at busy retail park for opening of new Edinburgh The Range store READ MORE: Edinburgh boy, 16, rushed to hospital after youths embroiled in 'beach brawl' After winning the Olivier and Tony-award for her performances, Comer will be returning to her home city of Liverpool as well as travelling to multiple cities across the UK and Ireland in 2026. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Taking to Instagram, Comer posted: 'WE ARE GOING ON TOUR! 'We are getting the gang back together and taking this wonderful piece of theatre on the road. Myself and the team are all so unbelievably honoured and excited to have this opportunity. Liverpool, Tess and I are coming hoooooome.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox VENUES: Friday 23 – Saturday 24 January RICHMOND THEATRE, RICHMOND Tuesday 27 – Saturday 31 January THE GAIETY THEATRE, DUBLIN Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 February THE ROYAL LYCEUM, EDINBURGH Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 February NEW THEATRE, CARDIFF Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 February GRAND OPERA HOUSE, YORK Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 February THEATRE ROYAL, BATH Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 March MARLOWE THEATRE, CANTERBURY Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 March THE REP, BIRMINGHAM Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 March LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE Tickets will go on sale on March 25 at 10am for each individual venue. All details for the sale can be found here.
Axios
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
10 things to do in Richmond this weekend
It's shaping up to be another warm and gorgeous weekend in RVA. Let's get out there and do something. Friday ⚔️ Get ye olde outfits and swords ready, the Richmond Renaissance Faire is in Jackson Ward around Gallery5 all night. 5-10pm. Free. 🎭 The Tony-award winning " Moulin Rouge!" hit Altria this week as part of Broadway in Richmond's season. The musical started Tuesday and runs through March 16. Showtimes vary. Tickets start at $35. ⚽️ It's the Richmond Kickers' first game of the 2025 season. It's an away game, but you can join fellow fans for a watch party at Triple Crossing's downtown location. 7pm. Free. 🏀 If you're ready to pay attention to basketball now that it's March, VCU men's team has its last regular game of the season at the Siegel Center. 7pm. The game is sold out, but resale tickets are available starting around $65. Saturday 🎪 Do Portugal Circus is back in town and at The Diamond with its aerialists, trapeze artists, dancers, magicians, motorcyclists and more. Shows start Friday and run nightly through March 16 (with two shows on weekends). Tickets are $30 for anyone 13+ and $20 for kids 2 to 12. 🍷 The wine tasting portion of the Virginia Wine Expo — the Walk-Around Grand Tasting — is all day Saturday and Sunday at Main Street Station. Tickets start at $89 for Saturday evening and $65 for Sunday. 🍻 Hardywood is releasing its Richmond Lager with Lime for the season with a little party at its Ownby Lane brewery. Noon. Free. Sunday 🤤 Mobile Soul Sunday, the kick-off event for Richmond Black Restaurant Experience, brings together more than 30 food trucks to take over Monroe Park for a day of great food and even better vibes. Noon-5pm. Free. 🎷 Saxsquatch, which is a man playing cover songs on a saxophone while dressed as Big Foot, will be at The Broadberry for one night only. Doors open at 7pm. $20. 🚨 There's a Dolly Parton Drag Brunch at Starr Hill Richmond in Scott's Addition. Expect Dolly-themed performances, a food truck on-site, cocktails from the bar and emcee Michelle Livigne, aka "RVA's Best Drag Queen 2025," on the mic. 1pm. Free.
