A FUNNY THING HAPPENED WHILE WATCHING DIANA THE MUSICAL
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email:
HOT TOPICS: Students Behind Cancelled High School Production of INDECENT Frightened of Hateful Attacks; Ohio School Cancels 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE Production Following Concerns About LGBTQ Characters; Submissions Open for Cycle 3 of Next Wave Initiative; Early Career Designers, Applications Open for the 1/52 Project Grants; DANCIN', KIMBERLY AKIMBO, PARADE, and more participating in Broadway Bridges 2023, Offering $10 Tickets to NYC Students
BROADWAY BEAT: How the premiere of ‘THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK’ was different from any other Broadway opening; Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell & Kelli O'Hara to Star in RAGTIME Reunion Concert; Katie Holmes Is Ready to Show a More Mature Side of Herself in THE WANDERERS; What is the West End and How Does It Compare to Broadway?
SHOW’S YOU SHOULD KNOW: A Funny Thing Happened While Watching DIANA the Musical.
Hot Topics
STUDENTS BEHIND CANCELLED HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF INDECENT FRIGHTENED OF HATEFUL ATTACKS - Nearly one month later, the students of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts still want to put on Paula Vogel's play, but are struggling to find a safe avenue in Florida.
OHIO SCHOOL CANCELS 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE PRODUCTION FOLLOWING CONCERNS ABOUT LGBTQ CHARACTERS - The district superintendent cited "vulgarity" in the "dialogue and song lyrics" that are “not suitable for our preteen and teenage students."
SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR CYCLE 3 OF NEXT WAVE INITIATIVE – The developmental branch, founded by Douglas Lyons, of the Directors Company is committed to amplifying future Black voices in the American theatre.
EARLY CAREER DESIGNERS, APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 1/52 PROJECT GRANTS - Tony-winning designer Beowulf Boritt founded the financial grant program to foster early career designers from historically excluded backgrounds.
DANCIN', KIMBERLY AKIMBO, PARADE, AND MORE PARTICIPATING IN BROADWAY BRIDGES 2023, OFFERING $10 TICKETS TO NYC STUDENTS – The program, launched in 2017 by the Broadway League looks to ensure every NYC public high school student sees a Broadway show before graduation.
Broadway Beat
HOW THE PREMIERE OF THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK WAS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER BROADWAY OPENING - When the cast heard the audience’s reaction, at first, they wondered if they’d done something wrong.
AUDRA MCDONALD, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL & KELLI O'HARA TO STAR IN RAGTIME REUNION CONCERT - Kelli O’Hara will star in the role of “Mother”, originally performed by the late Marin Mazzie.
KATIE HOLMES IS READY TO SHOW A MORE MATURE SIDE OF HERSELF IN THE WANDERERS - Once Hollywood’s go-to ingenue, the star is exploring middle-aged dissatisfaction in the new Off-Broadway play.
WHAT IS THE WEST END AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO BROADWAY? - A crash course on all things London theatre.
Shows You Should Know
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED WHILE WATCHING DIANA THE MUSICAL
By Zach Dulli
I didn’t want to like the musical DIANA. It’s not really my thing, I already know the story, and while I enjoyed THE CROWN, the detail and intimacy captured in that TV show isn’t really something that can translate on to the stage. Then Netflix made a stage recording of the show before it opening, and after watching that version, I felt even more confident in my decision to not see the show live on Broadway.
Then something interesting began to happen, more and more friends kept telling me how much they liked the show. After a while people started telling me how much they loved that show. So, with only one performance left, I made a reservation for the closing night performance.
As the show began, something funny happened, I actually started to like it. It was the opposite of THE CROWN, but it a wonderful way. It was fun, creative, and told this story I knew well but in a totally new and different way. DIANA delivered me a memorial theatrical experience I will not soon forget.
DIANA is a musical about the life and legacy of one of the most beloved figures of the 20th century, Princess Diana. Exploring the challenges and triumphs of Princess Diana's life, from her fairytale wedding to her charitable work, Diana's story is one of love, loss, and hope.
The musical takes audiences on a journey through her life, touching on moments of great joy and heartbreak, and ultimately showing the impact she had on the world. The music is a mix of upbeat and emotional numbers that capture the essence of the time of the show. The score is a beautiful blend of contemporary pop, classical, and traditional musical theater styles, and it perfectly captures the spirit of the person and the story. The songs are powerful and touching, with lyrics that are both uplifting, poignant and even sometime funny.
DIANA is also about the power of love and how it can inspire change. Throughout the show, audiences see how Princess Diana's love for others, especially those in need, motivated her to make a difference in the world. We watch Princess Diana’s struggle to find her place and how she ultimately found the courage to speak out and make a difference. Her journey to self-discovery is a powerful message for all, and a good reminder that we all have the ability to make a positive impact in the world if we have the courage to be true to ourselves.
This show was truly a wonderful experience. Whether you are a fan of Princess Diana or not, DIANA is a must-see show for anyone who loves great theater and the power of storytelling.
Learn more about DIANA: THE MUSICAL