With the uncertainty of when we will be able to enjoy a play on Broadway, Disney Studios is giving us another option. Announced through their twitter account today, Disney Studios will be releasing the original Broadway production of ‘Hamilton’ on July 3 to stream via Disney Plus.
Surprise! The original Broadway production of Hamilton, filmed LIVE onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, is now coming exclusively to @DisneyPlus this July 3rd. Shout it to the rooftops! #Hamilfilmpic.twitter.com/s43oW0hJGc
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 12, 2020
The release comes 15 months early, with the original release date set for Oct. 15, 2021. Due to the continuous cancellation of live performances and social distancing protocols, the expedited release was the only course to take.
“In this very difficult time, this story of leadership, tenacity, hope, love & the power of people to unite against adversity is both relevant and inspiring,” Disney executive chairman Robert Iger said on Twitter.
Featuring the original Broadway cast, the film is based on the live performance shot at the Richard Rodgers Theater June 2016. Like the stage production, the film is directed by Thomas Kail and written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also starred as the title character in that cast.
‘Hamilton’ has risen to blockbuster status since it first graced the Broadway stages in 2015. Since then it has won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 11 Tony Awards and grossed over $650 million on Broadway. Before the shuttering of mass gatherings started to occur, the play was also touring in London and around North America. Stream Hamilton on Disney Plus today.
11E1even Group and Live From Out There have announced the initial schedule for their new “Virtual Summer Tour Series.” Fans of groups including Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Goose, Twiddle, Kitchen Dwellers, Aqueous, Sunsquabi (with more to be announced) can look forward to original live music content with various aspects of the concert experience through digital platforms.
Over the summer, the multi-night virtual events will take place with fans having the chance and interact with bands like never before. Each artist has curated their own unique tour concept, merchandise and virtual VIP experience – which includes having a drink with the band, a post-show “green room” meet-and-greet or a private dinner with the band. The “Virtual Summer Tour Series” is designed to go beyond live performances and aims to replicate the intrinsic sense of community that concert-goers experience when attending shows in-person.
“With all of the uncertainty surrounding public gatherings, we look forward to providing artists with a new model for connecting with their fans in a digital space,” says Dave DiCianni of 11E1even Group. “Despite not being able to physically be in the same room, there’s a huge opportunity for artists to engage their fanbase in a truly unique and more intimate fashion than ever before, and we are excited to work with band’s in curating those experiences. Additionally, the series will provide acts and their respective crews with much needed revenue while the music industry works to determine new ways to safely host live events. “
Each artist will curate their own tour, with the first three series announced:
Twiddle’s Roots Tour, a celebration of the band’s fifteen years as a touring act, will pay homage to several establishments that were instrumental in the band’s ascendance to the national stage. The nine original concerts from July 9 to 26, will be filmed at various venues throughout the state of Vermont, including a return to Castleton University, where the band formed in 2005.
Following the postponement of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong’s annual festival Domefest, the band will bring their fans together for “Homefest,” a uniquely curated 3-night event starting June 11 and included 5 sets from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, with other acts to be announced.
Goose will host “Summer 2020 Bingo Tour” from June 19 to June 28 live at The Goose Community Rec Center. Fans will receive digital bingo boards filled with the band’s songs and cover material. The band’s performances will be dictated by bingo balls drawn on stage as fans at home can play along for a chance to win virtual VIP opportunities and merchandise.
More information on each band’s event and tickets can be found here, and the details for future series, including those from Aqueous, Kitchen Dwellers and Sunsquabi will be announced in the coming weeks.
This year Twiddle will celebrate 15 years as a band. The much loved jamband that started at Castleton State College in Vermont in 2005 have grown into a touring powerhouse, with fans from coast to coast and their own festival held annualy in July in Burlington, Tumbledown.
A summer tour that included shows with Vampire Weekend looks like it will likely be shuttered as the music industry continues to be affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, but Twiddle has something up their sleeve, as seen from a retrospective and still mysterious video posted to Facebook and Instagram late on Friday night.
The trip down memory lane is worth repeated views for faithful Twiddle fans, but no details are given beyond the dates July 9-26 which are found at the bottom of the tour graphic.
How will the Roots 2020 Virtual Tour unfold? How will it be brought to the faithful Twiddle fans found across the country? We’ll have to stay tuned to find out. Visit Roots 2020 to subscribe for updates in the meantime.
The 72nd annual 2020 City of Albany Tulip Festival is moving to the virtual field as many festivals and performances are due to the COVID-19 outbreak sweeping across the world. The festival will be presented by Citizens Bank and kicks off on Saturday, May 9th at 12p.m.
The virtual 2020 City of Albany Tulip Festival will feature musical performances from local artists like Sawyer Fredericks, The Age, Hartley’s Encore, Caity Gallagher and many others. There will also be City of Albany Gardeners who will be taking the viewer on a tour of the Tulip beds with their expert knowledge. Local businesses will also be joining the celebration with take-out specials. There is even something for kids during the festival with a performance from Melvin the Magnificent.
The festival will premiere on the Albany Events YouTube Page at noon on Saturday, May 9th. It’s also available to be found on Albany Events social media channels under @AlbanyNYevents! The festival can also be viewed on Open Stage Media’s Art’s channels: Channel 1302 on Spectrum Cable and Channel 37 on Verizon Fios.
People are encouraged to watch live and celebrate the Albany community in the live chat accompanying the streaming. Media sponsors for the event are WEXT Radio and Albany.com.
For more information on the 2020 City of Albany Tulip Festival please visit Albany Event’s website.
Throughout the many closings due to COVID-19, one that has particularly affected students interested in the arts is the cancellation of school musicals. The Proctors School of the Performing Arts, a celebration of regional scholastic productions, has decided to do something about it during their fourth annual High School Musical Theatre Awards. They plan to broadcast the awards over TV at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th.
Unfortunately many of the original participating schools were unable to stage their performances before schools closed due to state COVID-19 executive orders, making it impossible to complete adjudication and award student actors, technicians and ensembles. However there will be 27 schools participating in the 2020 HSMTA, represented by 1,400 students participating in musicals.
The televised broadcast features videos submitted by the schools showcasing rehearsals, solos, dance numbers and backstage activity. This televised event will end with a performance of “Finale B (No Day but Today)” from the musical Rent that will include at least one artist from each participating school. There is also a red-carpet-component on social media where students are also encouraged to participate from home in a virtual red carpet. Students can post a photo beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16 using the tag #HSMTAatProctors on Instagram to “walk” the red carpet on Proctors Instagram page.
The High School Musical Theatre Awards can be viewed live at 7 p.m. Saturday on May 16 several ways. Spectrum subscribers can view it on Channel 1302 in Albany and Schenectady. It will be rebroadcast at later dates. Verizon Fios subscribers in the Albany area can view it on Channel 37. And a livestream will be available at openstagemedia.org/channels/live-stream. There is a suggested donation of $10 per household for the event, and viewers can text HSMTA to 41444 to donate.
The hosts of the show are Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors Collaborative, and Rex Smith, editor at large of the Times Union, HSMTA’s presenting sponsor. The event is produced by the School of Performing Arts at Proctors and Collaborative Studios, an affiliate of Proctors Collaborative.
For more information please visit Proctor School’s Website.
The New York Guitar Festival has added Grammy-winning guitarist Warren Haynes to the already packed line up for ‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’. Slated to be a virtually accessible twelve song series, NYGF will release one video performance on their Youtube channel nightly at 4 PM EDT.
Listen to the full collection of audio recordings from Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer––as debuted yesterday on WNYC’s “New Sounds”––HERE.
While access is free, organizers are asking viewers that can, to make donations to MusiCares. Started by The Recording Academy’s MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, their goal is to help the music communities affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Listen below to Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal performing ‘Tryin To Get Home’
‘Reverend Gary Davis: In Search of the Harlem Street Singer’ Program Schedule
