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Peter Filichia, James Marino, and Michael Portantiere talk about the Chita Rivera Awards and Outer Critics Circle Award Winners. Reviews include Bus Stop @ CSC, Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole @ New York Theatre Workshop, and GODDESS @ The Public Theater
Dulé Hill in tech rehearsal for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole. Photo by Valerie Terranova.
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Panel:
Peter Filichia | [email protected] | Facebook
PETER FILICHIA is a playwright, journalist, and historian with a number of books. Peter’s new day-by-day desk calendar – A SHOW TUNE FOR TODAY – 366 Songs to Brighten Your Year – has been released! Peter also has columns at Masterworks Broadway, Broadway Select, and many other places.
Showtune for Today: from Amour
Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook
MICHAEL PORTANTIERE is a theater reviewer and essayist. He is the founder and editor of CastAlbumReviews.com. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other major publications. You can see his photography work at FollowSpotPhoto.com.
James Marino | [email protected] | Facebook
BroadwayStars
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Pre:
Reviews:
MP + PF: William Inge’s Bus Stop, a co-production by Classic Stage Company, the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO), and Transport Group. Directed by Jack Cummings III, Bus Stop will begin performances on May 8 with opening night set for May 18 for a limited run through Sunday June 8, 2025 at CSC’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater (136 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003).
Tech rehearsal for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole. Photo by Valerie Terranova.
MP: Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole @ New York Theatre Workshop, through June 15, 2025
Written by Colman Domingo and NYTW Artistic Director and Usual Suspect Patricia McGregor
Directed by Patricia McGregor
Dulé Hill in tech rehearsal for Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole. Photo by Valerie Terranova.
PF + MP: 2025 Outer Critics Circle Awards & Chita Rivera Awards
2025 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNERS
Outstanding New Broadway Play
Cult of Love
The Hills of California
**John Proctor Is the Villain**
Purpose
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Outstanding New Broadway Musical
Boop! The Musical
Death Becomes Her
**Maybe Happy Ending**
Operation Mincemeat
Real Women Have Curves
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
The Big Gay Jamboree
**Drag: The Musical**
We Live in Cairo
Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play
The Antiquities
Grangeville
Here There Are Blueberries
**Liberation**
Table 17
John Gassner Award (new American play preferably by a new playwright)
Amy Berryman, Walden
**George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Good Night, and Good Luck**
Marin Ireland, Pre-Existing Condition
Lia Romeo, Still
Emil Weinstein, Becoming Eve
Outstanding Revival of a Musical
**Cats: The Jellicle Ball**
Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Once Upon a Mattress
Sunset Boulevard
Outstanding Revival of a Play
Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Glengarry Glen Ross
Romeo + Juliet
**Vanya**
Yellow Face
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play
Kit Connor, Romeo + Juliet
**Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California**
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play
Kieran Culkin, Glengarry Glen Ross
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose
**Francis Jue, Yellow Face**
Mare Winningham, Cult of Love
Kara Young, Purpose
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
**Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical**
Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Boulevard
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical
Danny Burstein, Gypsy
**Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat**
Michele Pawk, Just in Time
Christopher Sieber, Death Becomes Her
Michael Urie, Once Upon a Mattress
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
**Nick Adams, Drag: The Musical**
Marla Mindelle, The Big Gay Jamboree
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Safety Not Guaranteed
Alaska Thunderfuck, Drag: The Musical
Taylor Trensch, Safety Not Guaranteed
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical
Ali Louis Bourzgui, We Live in Cairo
Paris Nix, The Big Gay Jamboree
Eddie Korbich, DRAG: The Musical
J. Elaine Marcos, DRAG: The Musical
**André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball**
Henry Stram, Three Houses
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play
Caroline Aaron, Conversations with Mother
F. Murray Abraham, Beckett Briefs: From the Cradle to the Grave
Jayne Atkinson, Still
**Adam Driver, Hold On to Me Darling**
Anthony Edwards, The Counter
Paul Sparks, Grangeville
Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Play
Betsy Aidem, Liberation
Sean Bell, The Beacon
**Michael Rishawn, Table 17**
Richard Schiff, Becoming Eve
Frank Wood, Hold On to Me Darling
Outstanding Solo Performance
David Greenspan, I’m Assuming You Know David Greenspan
Khawla Ibraheem, A Knock on the Roof
Sam Kissajukian, 300 Paintings
Andrew Scott, Vanya
**Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray**
Outstanding Book of a Musical
**Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending**
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour, We Live in Cairo
Bob Martin, Boop! The Musical
Marco Pennette, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Score
**Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending**
David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts, Operation Mincemeat
David Foster and Susan Birkenhead, BOOP! The Musical
Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez, Real Women Have Curves
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Orchestrations
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Doug Besterman, Death Becomes Her
Joseph Joubert and Daryl Waters, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Daniel Lazour and Michael Starobin, We Live in Cairo
**Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time**
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
**Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending**
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Robert Hastie, Operation Mincemeat
Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball”
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Trip Cullman, Cult of Love
Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California
Phylicia Rashad, Purpose
**Danya Taymor, John Proctor Is the Villain**
Outstanding Choreography
Jenny Arnold, Operation Mincemeat
Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Shannon Lewis, Just in Time
**Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! the Musical**
Outstanding Scenic Design
**Miriam Buether, Jamie Harrison, and Chris Fisher, Stranger Things: The First Shadow**
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Dane Laffrey, Maybe Happy Ending
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Costume Design
**Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical**
Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young, Real Women Have Curves
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Qween Jean, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball”
Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Lighting Design
Kevin Adams, Swept Away
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California
**Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow**
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her
Outstanding Sound Design
**Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow**
Adam Fisher, Sunset Boulevard
Peter Hylenski, Death Becomes Her
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
John Shivers, Swept Away
Outstanding Video/Projections
59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, Sunset Boulevard
**David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray**
Hana S. Kim, Redwood
Finn Ross, BOOP! The Musical
Special Awards
Patrick Hoffman, the recently retired curator of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, in honor of over three decades of service to the theater community, during which time he ensured the preservation of over 1,200 productions.
Note on Eligibility:
The following productions were considered in previous seasons, with only new elements eligible during this cycle: Buena Vista Social Club; Dead Outlaw; English; Hold On to Me Darling; Job; and Oh, Mary!. The following productions were not eligible for awards this season: All In: Comedy About Love, and Ben Platt: Live at the Palace.
Tally of Awards
4 – Maybe Happy Ending
3 – Boop! The Musical; Stranger Things: The First Shadow
2 – Cats: The Jellicle Ball; Drag: The Musical; John Proctor Is the Villain; The Picture of Dorian Gray
1 – Liberation; Good Night, and Good Luck; The Hills of California; Hold On to Me Darling; Just in Time; Operation Mincemeat; Table 17; Vanya; Yellow Face
2025 CHITA RIVERA AWARD WINNERS
BROADWAY
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BROADWAY SHOW
Joshua Bergasse, Smash
Warren Carlyle, Pirates! The Penzance Musical
**Patricia Delgado /Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Shannon Lewis, Just In Time
Jerry Mitchell, Boop! The Musical
Rickey Tripp / DeWitt Fleming, Jr., A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
OUTSTANDING DANCER IN A BROADWAY SHOW
Angélica Beliard, Buena Vista Social Club
**Kevin Csolak, Gypsy
Carlos Falú, Buena Vista Social Club
DeWitt Fleming, Jr., A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jonathan Groff, Just In Time
**Robyn Hurder, Smash
Héctor Juan Maisonet, Buena Vista Social Club
Ilda Mason, Buena Vista Social Club
Marielys Molina, Buena Vista Social Club
Jasmine Amy Rogers, Boop! The Musical
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A BROADWAY SHOW
A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Boop! The Musical
**Buena Vista Social Club
Death Becomes Her
Just In Time
Pirates! The Penzance Musical
Smash
OFF-BROADWAY
OFF-BROADWAY SPECIAL RECOGNITION
The Awarding Committee of the 2025 Chita Rivera Awards celebrates excellence in Off-Broadway musical theater by presenting a special award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Choreography.
**Arturo Lyons and Omari Wiles, Cats: “The Jellicle Ball”
FILM & DOCUMENTARY
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM
A Nice Indian Boy, Choreographers: Ziana D’Mello, Breanna English, Christian Lagasse
Emilia Perez, Choreographer: Damien Jalet
**Sh’ma: A Story of Survival, Choreographer: Suki John
Snow White, Choreographer: Mandy Moore
Wicked, Part 1, Choreographer: Christopher Scott
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A DANCE DOCUMENTARY
**A Resilient Man, Director: Stephane Carrel
Better Man, Director: Michael Gracey
Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story, Director: Bruce David Klein
Two Roads, Director: Susan Wittenberg
Who Cares About Pal Frenak, Director: Gloria Halasz
Amber Iman in the New York premiere production of GODDESS, with music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, a book and direction by Saheem Ali, choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie, and additional book material by James Ijames. Photo credit: Joan Marcus.
PF: GODDESS @ The Public Theater, through June 15, 2025
Music and Lyrics by Michael Thurber
Book by Saheem Ali
Additional Book Material by James Ijames
Choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie
Directed by Saheem Ali
GODDESS comes to The Public for its New York premiere featuring music and lyrics by Michael Thurber, book and direction by Associate Artistic Director/Resident Director Saheem Ali, additional book material by James Ijames, and choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie. A mysterious singer arrives at Moto Moto, a steamy Afro-jazz club in Mombasa, Kenya. She casts an entrancing spell on everyone, including a young man who has returned home from studying in America. Will the big plans for his life—stepping into a political legacy and marrying his fiancée—be upended? Inspired by the myth of Marimba, the Goddess who created beautiful songs from her heartbreak, this new musical is a rousing tale of romance, the supernatural, and the quest towards one’s truest self.
Amber Iman
Nadira
AMBER IMAN she/her (Nadira) Broadway credits include Lempicka (Tony and Drama League nominations), Soul Doctor, Shuffle Along. Off-Broadway credits include The Ford/Hill Project and Rent. Iman was in the national tour of Hamilton. Regional credits include Goddess (Berkeley Rep), Hippest Trip (A.C.T.), Little Shop of Horrors (Kennedy Center). Film credits include Steve and Blackberry Winter. Iman was featured in “High Maintenance” (HBO). She is the co-founder of Broadway Advocacy Coalition (Tony Award) and Black Women on Broadway. Iman is an alum of Howard University. @amberiman_
PF: 20th Annual Shubert Foundation & Music Theatre International Broadway Junior® Student Celebration
The 2025 Broadway Junior® Student Finale presented performances from middle school groups participating in the second year of the program:
Adrien Block Intermediate School (Queens)
The Brooklyn Green School
Joseph H. Wade Intermediate School 117 (Bronx)
MS 177 Yorkville East (Manhattan)
MS 301 Paul L. Dunbar (Bronx)
P138M @ IS 90 (Manhattan / District 75)
P224Q @ IS 266 (Queens / District 75)
P370K Jim Thorpe (Brooklyn / District 75)
PS 46 Arthur Tappan (Manhattan)
PS 181 (Brooklyn)
PS/IS 180 Hugo Newman Preparatory College (Manhattan)
PS/MS 219 Paul Klapper (Queens)
PS/MS 280 Mosholu Parkway (Bronx)
Restoration Academy (Brooklyn)
World Journalism Preparatory School (Queens)
Graduated Schools participating in the Shubert/ MTI Musical Theater Ensemble:
The Bronx School of Young Leaders MS 331
The Emerson School (Queens)
Hunter’s Point Community Middle School (Queens)
IS 72 P.O. Rocco Laurie School (Staten Island)
IS 392 (Brooklyn)
MS 72 Catherine & Count Basie School (Queens)
MS 101 Edward R. Byrne (Bronx)
MS 158 Marie Curie (Queens)
MS 202 Robert H. Goddard (Queens)
MS 319 Maria Teresa Mirabal (Manhattan)
MS 337 The School for Inquiry and Social Justice (Bronx)
MS 915 Bridges (Brooklyn)
PS/IS 30 Mary White Ovington School (Brooklyn)
PS/IS 48 William G. Wilcox (Staten Island)
PS/IS 218 Rafael Hernandez (Bronx)
PS/MS 31 William Lloyd Garrison School (Bronx)
Out of town productions coming up that are on our radar:
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) | A.R.T.
A Light at the Piazza @ The Huntington
Barrington Stage Camelot with Ali Ewoldt (Wed Jun 25, 2025 – Sat Jul 19, 2025)
News:
MP: Design Unveiled for West Side of Lincoln Center Campus
Removes Amsterdam Avenue Wall to Open Up
Lincoln Center with Welcoming Entrances, World Class Theater,
Vibrant Community Park, and More
Lead Gifts from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and
The Starr Foundation Mark Bold Investment in NYC and Share the Inspiration and Joy of the Arts with More New Yorkers
Design by Hood Design Studio, WEISS/MANFREDI, and Moody Nolan
Incorporates Feedback from Thousands of Community Members
Next Week:
Tony Award Predictions
Peter’s Brainteaser:
Actor A played a featured role in a Stephen Sondheim Tony-winning hit.
Actor B played the leading role in a Stephen Sondheim flop.
Within a dozen years, though, Actor A was playing the role that Actor B had originated in that flop at a revival in one of the nation’s premier regional Tony-winning theaters.
At the same time, Actor B was on Broadway playing the same role that Actor A had had in that Tony-winning Sondheim show.
Who are the performers, what are the shows, and what are the roles?
Michael’s Musical Moments
TalkinBroadway photo feature on the 2025 Spring Shout event at The Town Hall, honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda (Monday, May 19, 2025)
Music Opener:
OPENER: Title song/opening from IN THE HEIGHTS
Music Closer:
CLOSER: “Satisfied” from HAMILTON
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