In honor of Women's History Month: 7 prolific and wildly talented music directors at BroadwayCon 2020
Clockwise (Top L): Lena Gabrielle, ME, Andrea Grody, Nadia DGiallonardo, Annbritt duChateau, Cherie Rosen, Meg Zervoulis, Wendy Cavett

Dear Family and Friends,

     When I left the theatre last Wednesday night, I didn't know that would be my last live theatre outing for a while. When Governor Cuomo announced just after 2PM ET on Thursday, March 12, that Broadway would close at 5PM to prevent the spread of coronavirus, my heart hurt, my eyes widened and then cried—for 30 minutes. Make no mistake, this was the right and safe call to make; but that necessity didn’t make it any less devastating. I thought of my friends and all those working tirelessly to open spring shows that would now halt; I thought of all the artists out of work across stages. I could just imagine the lights going out on Broadway, Times Square’s emptiness, and it felt like the lifeblood had been sucked from the city. As the press releases poured in over the next 28 hours of Off-Broadway closings (shows cut short that would not be able to eventually re-open), regional theatre closings from The Old Globe in San Diego to The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta to the Kenned Center in D.C., national tours canceled, every email felt like a weight, and by Friday night I felt discouraged and sad and anxious. And then, on Saturday, I spoke to my New York family.

     As scary as this pandemic is right now—and it is very scary—all is not lost. As Bob Marley said (and my yoga teacher frequently recites): “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” This is our time to be strong. This is a moment of opportunity—opportunity to reconnect (phones work! video chats work!), opportunity to care for ourselves (meditate, journal, read those books on your shelves, sleep), opportunity to appreciate nature (go on walks, stare out at the horizon, as my New York mama recommended: pick a flower and watch it grow over the next 30 days), opportunity to get our lives in order (clean out those closets, shred those papers, do those taxes). So often I find myself saying that I just wish I could press the “pause” button; this is the pause button.

     Let’s get creative. Is this the moment to re-learn that instrument? Is this the month to study a language? Do you want to perfect a dialect or sight-reading skills? Do you wish you had time to draw? Should you enroll in a Master Class, a virtual course through your congregation, or one of the 450 free Ivy League courses now available online? Do you want to master the smoky eye? Put those photos in an album? Figure out how to Rock the Audition? Improve singing harmony? Get curious. Get crafty. 

     And, for us theatre-lovers, there is plenty to watch while we wait for our stages to re-open. I just wrote a list of 11 musical TV shows to watch while quarantined; not to mention, Broadway shows like American Son and The New One are on Netflix, and Disney+ and BroadwayHD exist. Or, if you're fan of panels (as I am) scroll down for the links to longform videos of those I've led with your favorite stars.

     Performers like Tony winner Alice Ripley plan to livestream concerts from their couches. Seth Rudetsky is livestreaming with a special guest EVERY DAY at 2PM and 8PM ET until Broadway re-opens to raise money for The Actors Fund. The Met Opera will stream performances on their site. Pull out old DVDs of your high school production. Let’s inspire a new type of #tonightsbill. Tony winner Laura Benanti has asked for students whose high school productions have been canceled to sing their songs on tape and post them to social with #SunshineSongs, and Jennifer Garner made a similar request on Instagram with #heyjenlookatme. Follow those hashtags! This entertainment is for you, too!

    In the meantime, please be safe. Practice social-distancing (what that looks like, here). Wash your hands. (I’ve got a list of showtune clips that last the 20-30 seconds you need.) Check in with those you love. Keep those spirits up. A wise Disney movie once told me, “We’re all in this together.” We are. I’m here for you as you have always been here for me. With love and comfort, Ruthie

Recommendations: 

*If these recommendations inspire you to check out something new, I’d love to know! Tag your post about it with #ruthierecommends.

To bide your time until theatre comes back…

1. Broadway Podcast Network. There has never been a better time to discover a new podcast obsession. From “making of” podcasts like Dori Berinstein’s Deep Dive Broadway to one-on-one interviews sessions with The Theatre Podcast and Equity One, from series about being a mom and actor on Mamas Talkin’ Loud to audition tips on Justin Guarini’s Audition Secrets, from silliness on Broadwaysted to sincerity on The Untold Stories of Broadway (yes, like the books), you’ll find something to cater to every mood.

2. Beyond Broadway. This book by Stacy Wolf argues the claim that I’ve been screaming since I got to Playbill: that theatre happens everywhere. Theatre is not a local industry; it is as ubiquitous as the movies—MORE, even. Which is why I am beyond thrilled that Princeton professor Stacy Wolf put the time and research into showcasing the “presence and persistence of musical theatre in U.S. culture.” Through over 200 interviews, Professor Wolf chronicles the cultural touchstone and why it is so pervasive. Not to mention, I’m quoted! #BabysFirstIndex

3. One Day at a Time. In non-theatre land—but related—the new season of One Day at a Time (which started as a Netflix series and now moves to PopTV) debuts March 24. What does this have to do with theatre? Two words: Rita. Moreno. The West Side Story Oscar winner and general I-CON stars as Lydia, the matriarch of this Cuban-American family. Technically a “re-boot” of the original Norman Lear series, Lear is the mind behind this iteration that examines contemporary issues of an American family—three generations living under one roof, and their super who thinks he’s family—in this laugh out loud and poignant sitcom. Seriously, I want to wake up every day the way Lydia does.

4. Spinning Silver. My Playbill colleague Kerri Kearse kindly lent this novel to me for my recent vacation and I LOVED it. A fantasy meets historical fiction, the book jacket will tell you it’s a retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fable, but other than someone who turns something to gold (in this case silver) and a creature who won’t reveal his name, the similarities end there. Miryem is the daughter of a moneylender. As her family struggles to stay alive (her father is too kind or too foolish, you judge, to insist on paybacks), she takes matters into her own hands. But when the Staryk king hears her brag of being able to turn silver to gold (she means sell things for more than they’re worth; the monarch hears “transformative powers”) he steals her away to his kingdom. Still, the reason he needs the gold is far more complicated than you imagine, and the Staryk may not be the only enemy Miryem must face in the quest to save her family and country.

To see as soon as Broadway turns the lights back on…

1. SIX. This is exactly the show we need right now—and until it comes back and officially opens on Broadway, may I recommend the studio album? A remix of the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, the musical by 26-year-old Lucy Moss and 25-year-old Toby Marlow is the feminist pop antidote to all of the heavy in theatre right now. (Not that I’m against heavy, or that SIX is devoid of a message; I’m not and it is not.) It’s just that this is the high-voltage fun we need to balance the rest of the seriousness. The six queens compete for the top spot of their “girls’ group” through solo songs (Beyoncé-inspired anthems and Adele-like power ballades) dedicated to the trials they suffered under Henry. Who had it the worst? You decide. Lacquered in spandex and glowing in neon, these six ladies belt to the heavens and throw down. SIX is 80 minutes of empowerment, reclamation, and talent.

2. Sing Street. Inspired by the movie of the same name, the new musical—which played a sold-out run Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop this past winter—comes from the writing team behind Once. Directed by Tony winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent) and choreographed by Emmy nominee and Lortel winner Sonya Tayeh (So You Think You Can Dance, Moulin Rouge!), the musical begins with Conor, whose parents have lost their money and transfer him to a public school. There, he falls victim to the school bully and the headmaster’s malice, all while his parents teeter on the brink of divorce, his brother battles depression, and his sister crumbles beneath the pressure to succeed. But when he meets a beautiful girl and tries to impress her by telling her he’s in a band, he actually has to form one. The story is about seeing “hope in the world by falling in love with music and then falling in love with someone else,” says Tayeh. The choreographer describes it as “the happy/sad … a beautiful juxtaposition that gives so much depth to life.” Preview some of the music here.

My Philosophy

I believe in art's power to create change. Art—particularly theatre—can help us reflect, determine, and, sometimes, change our beliefs. I hope that you all continue to engage with the storytelling and art around you—wherever you are and whatever level—and that you entertain different points of view. Advocate for your principles while always leaving room to hear others and evolve. Let's stay engaged, thoughtful, and active. 

As always, if you need show recommendations or if you have theatre questions, please get in touch! I LOVE to answer. Keep tabs on Playbill.com and RuthieFierberg.com, and thank you for your enduring support.