• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
  • Health
  • News
    • News
    • Announcements
    • Obituaries
    • The Official Dish
  • Opinions
  • Horoscopes
  • PODCAST
  • Subscribe

Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

  • Read All Articles
  • Print Archive
  • Old Archived Site
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Trodding the Boards May 19, 2020

May 23, 2020 By Brian Sands

Les Misérables, or The Sun’ll Come Out Tomorrow?

Bryce Slocumb and Hannah Rachal of We’ll Meet Again

How much have things changed in the past two months since everything shut down? Well, depending on who you are or what you’re asking about, a lot or a little. For, as some places begin to reopen, alas for live theater, it’s turning into a hard knock life. (Hmmm…two Annie references already, more than I’ve probably made here in the past two decades. Maybe we’ll get a new deal for Christmas…if not before!)

To go back a bit, the last show I saw before the shutdown was We’ll Meet Again, a tribute to the era’s blonde bombshell singers, at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen which I found to be a delightful bouquet of great songs terrifically tied together by Sean Patterson’s script and charmingly performed by Hannah Rachal (who also directed) and Bryce Slocumb.

The day after that, Friday the 13th ironically, productions began shutting down, sometimes with little warning. As I tried to juggle my schedule to squeeze in a few last shows before the inevitable stay-at-home order would go into effect, I did make it up to the North Shore to see one that, as of that afternoon, was going on that evening, but was cancelled less than two hours before curtain time. Oh well, I and a friend did have a wonderful meal at Trey Yuen.

Advertisement

Since then, it’s been a whole new world.

As theater is so ephemeral, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize those shows whose runs were cut short; those that never opened and, sadly, had to be canceled; and those that were postponed and which we can still look forward to seeing.

Runs cut short

The Complete History of Comedy (abridged), Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS)

Advertisement

The Miss Firecracker Contest, Slidell Little Theatre

Peter and the Starcatcher, Rivertown Theaters (rescheduled for Aug. 6-9)

The Piano Lesson, Le Petit Theatre

Advertisement

Rumors, 30 by Ninety Theatre

Canceled

Bazzar, Cirque du Soleil

Beauty and The Beast, New Orleans Ballet Theatre

Advertisement

The Boardinghouse, Café’ Luke

Cabaret, Loyola

Chaps!, Stage Door Canteen

Advertisement

Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, New Orleans Opera

The Demolition Downtown and The Chalky White Substance, Beaubourg Theatre

Dido & Aeneas, Loyola

Advertisement

Dina Martina’s Forgotten But Not Gone, Daniel Nardicio

Dreams, Radical Buffoons

Driving Miss Daisy, See ‘Em On Stage 

Advertisement

Edmund Bagnell–He Plays the Violin, Mark Cortale

The Elephant Man, UNO

Evita, Summer Lyric Theatre

Advertisement

Fiddler on the Roof, Saenger

Follies, concert version, Summer Lyric Theatre

God’s Favorite, Playmakers Theater

Advertisement

Good People, Playmakers Theater

Hedy!, Stage Door Canteen 

The Juilliard String Quartet, UNO

Advertisement

KindHumanKind (return engagement), Goat in the Road Productions and the CAC

Legally Blonde, Summer Lyric Theatre

Moby Dick Rehearsed, 30 by Ninety Theatre

Advertisement

Songs That Won the War (return engagement), Stage Door Canteen

Tennessee Williams and Saints & Sinners Festival

Troilus and Cressida, N.O. Shakespeare Festival

Advertisement

Twelfth Night, N.O. Shakespeare Festival

Urinetown, The Musical, Tulane

Postponed, with rescheduled dates when available

An American in Paris, JPAS

Advertisement

Anastasia, Saenger, Aug. 18-23

Angels in America Part 1: Millennium Approaches, Le Petit Theatre, October 2020

Chemin Du Bayou, Southern Rep, October 2020

Advertisement

The Drowsy Chaperone, Rivertown Theaters, Sept. 11-27

Fairykind; The Musical, Slotted Spoon Productions/Sisterhood Studios

42nd Street, JPAS

Advertisement

Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes, Stage Door Canteen

Jasper In Deadland, NOCCA

In the Bar of a Tokyo Hotel, Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of N.O., Mar/Apr 2021

Advertisement

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo,NOBA

The Magic Flute, New Orleans Opera, Mar. 19 & 21, 2021

Margaret Cho, Daniel Nardicio

Advertisement

Mean Girls, Saenger

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Radical Buffoons/Delgado, Aug. 26-31

Spring Collection, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Fall 2020

Advertisement

Sweet Potato Queens, JPAS

Treasure Island, NOLA Project/NOMA, May 2021

Trevor Noah, Saenger

Advertisement

Vessels, Junebug Productions

World’s Greatest Johnny Cash Experience, Stage Door Canteen

I want to acknowledge all the hard work that went into these productions, and hope that everyone’s talents will soon be seen again. Apologies to any productions I may have left out inadvertently.

Advertisement

Until our theaters do open again, many have moved online to provide entertainment and amusement for all the stay-at-home, I’m-about-to-go-stir-crazy people out there. 

Le Petit recently announced the launch of a series of radio plays. The first installment, Sorry, Wrong Number, debuts Friday, May 22, at 7:30pm. The drama will feature Leslie Castay as Mrs. Elbert Stevenson and Tracey Collins as the Telephone Operator as well as Curtis Billings and Helen Jaksch. 

Sorry, Wrong Number is the classic story of a bedridden woman who hears two men plotting a murder over crossed telephone lines (back in the days before cell phones!). Orson Welles called it “the single greatest radio script ever written”. To find out if Mrs. Stevenson will be able to stop the gruesome deed before it is carried out, you can join the watch party on Le Petit’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LePetitNOLA) or after the event when the video will be posted to social media.

Advertisement

Southern Rep’s long-running Debauchery! moved online last month. Conceived and written by Pat Bourgeois, this send-up of soap operas follows the exploits of sisters Chanel and Cartier as they flounce and fight their way through a maze of outrageous plot twists and turns. 

The cast features such local comic stalwarts as Robin Baudier, Tracey Collins, Kyle Daigrepont, Sean Glazebrook, Matthew Mickal, Sean Patterson, Allee Peck, Jessica Podewell, Hannah Rachal, Michael P. Sullivan and Mandy Zirkenbach, along with special guest stars. To find out when the next episode will be check out www.southernrep.com/debauchery or Debauchery’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WeloveDEBAUCHERY).

Not only has Goat in the Road Productions (GRP) been posting video playlets written by playwrights from here “and beyond” on its website (www.goatintheroadproductions.org), but it’s going ahead with its 11th Annual Play/Write Showcase which presents short works by students from area schools. 

Advertisement

This year’s Showcase will feature 14 scripts brought to life via virtual performances produced by eight local theater companies. The plays will go live on Wednesday, May 20, at 6 pm on the GRP website and will remain up throughout the summer.

Rivertown Theaters has been presenting its “Quarantunes Challenge”, a musical entertainment via a singing contest in which two performances are posted each day and viewers vote for their favorite; each vote costs $1. All videos are submitted by volunteers from their own self-isolation, so they’re, understandably, not finished products, but do offer a way for local talent to stay creative and connected with audiences. More info at www.rivertowntheaters.com

For The NOLA Project, check out A.J. Allegra’s PAST  PRESENT  FUTURE article here.

Advertisement

While a few events are still scheduled for June, at this point, I’m not sure if the shows will go on. I should have updates by our next issue along with any new online offerings that will be debuting. Till then stay safe’n’sane!

Filed Under: Trodding the Boards

Related Posts

Trodding the Boards
Trodding the Boards
Trodding the Boards

About Brian Sands

Brian Sands began writing for Ambush Magazine in 1996. He became Co-Theater/Performing Arts Editor in 2002, going solo in 2011 upon the retirement of his late colleague Patrick Shannon with whom he founded the Ambie Awards in 2003 and presented them through 2011. He is a member of the Big Easy Theater Committee. He currently co-hosts, with Brad Rhines, Stage Talk with Brian and Brad.

Primary Sidebar

Connect & Join the Conversation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent Print Editions

  • Volume 38 Issue 17
  • Volume 38 Issue 16
  • Volume 38 Issue 15
  • Volume 38 Issue 14
  • Volume 38 Issue 13
  • Volume 38 Issue 12
  • Volume 38 Issue 11
  • Volume 38 Issue 10
  • Volume 38 Issue 05
  • Volume 38 Issue 04

Recent Articles

  • The Rockford Files: Grammar Yahtzee – Why Syntax Is Sexy
  • Get Ready for a Fabulous Drag Brunch at The Origin Hotel Baton Rouge Downtown!
  • Trodding the Boards June 6, 2025
  • American Scare: An Interview with Robert W. Fieseler
  • The 2025 Official Gay Easter Parade raises over $14,000 for Food for Friends!

Experience Gay New Orleans

  • Gay New Orleans
  • Gay Mardi Gras
  • Gay Easter Parade
  • New Orleans Pride
  • Gay Appreciation Awards
  • Southern Decadence
  • Gay Halloween

Categories

  • A Community within Communities
  • Announcements
  • Arts & Culture
  • Bartender of the Month
  • Book Review
  • Business
  • Chop Chop
  • Commentary
  • Drag Queen Profile
  • Featured
  • Film Review
  • Financial
  • Geo Doing Geo Things
  • Health
  • Horoscopes
  • Interviews
  • Interviews from Key West
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Moments in Queer New Orleans History
  • Museum Spotlights
  • Music
  • Musings by Catherine
  • New to New Orleans
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinions
  • Pride Spotlight
  • Profiles & Spotlights
  • Sports
  • The Here and the Now
  • The Official Dish
  • The Real Cheese
  • The Rockford Files
  • Trodding the Boards
  • Uncategorized
  • Under The Gaydar

Footer

Ambush Magazine Logo

Ambush Magazine is New Orleans' and the Gulf Coast's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer entertainment, news, and travel guide since 1982.

Publisher TJ Acosta
Editor-In-Chief Reed Wendorf
Founding Publisher/Editor Rip Naquin-Delain
Senior Editor Brian Sands
Distribution George Bevan Jr

Email info@ambushpublishing.com
Phone (504) 522-8049

Recent Posts

  • The Rockford Files: Grammar Yahtzee – Why Syntax Is Sexy
  • Get Ready for a Fabulous Drag Brunch at The Origin Hotel Baton Rouge Downtown!
  • Trodding the Boards June 6, 2025
  • American Scare: An Interview with Robert W. Fieseler
  • The 2025 Official Gay Easter Parade raises over $14,000 for Food for Friends!

Proud Member

Gulf South LGBT Chamber Logo

Let’s Get Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 · Ambush Publishing LLC All Rights Reserved · Website Built by Reed Wendorf · Log in