“When West End theatre reopens, fans of the long-running The Phantom of the Opera could be seeing a much different show than before. Rumors all but confirmed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, report that the show is being revamped. It’s unclear if these changes will also be made to the Broadway production.”

If you had asked me before last weekend which of the two shows I was going to see would have the most profound impact on me, I would have said Come from Away. The music and lyrics to that show moved me to tears before seeing it on stage. And yet it’s Dear Evan Hanson that caused the ugly crying (multiple times) and is the one I’m still pondering days later.

“West Side Story actor Ansel Elgort has responded to allegations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in 2014.”

So your friend has auditioned for your show.

Before casting them in the role that they have written down on the audition form, go through this checklist to make sure you’re not practicing nepotism, which in the workplace, is illegal!

“When people think of theatre, it’s probably one of the most well-known symbols that comes to mind with many interpretations that go beyond just the comedy and tragedy, happy and sad meaning. The comedy and tragedy symbol dates back to Greek Mythology and has been the central representation of the creative arts for decades.”

“I say we put the "community" back in community theatre, we welcome the new kids, we help others feel more comfortable at auditions, even if it takes away the focus from yours because the theatre community is why a lot of people fall in love with theatre, to begin with. “

“Theatre has a rich history of taking real-life incidents, dramatizing them, and subsequently making the audience truly look at the world around them. Now more than ever that is hugely important. When theatre returns, I implore theatres to tap into this history and having strong activists pieces in their season.”

“In a statement released on Twitter, a young woman claims she was sexually assaulted by actor Ansel Elgort.”

“You may possibly be dealing with a “Dictator Director” and you don’t even know it.”

“When the Broadway elite said they were listening, I took that with a grain of salt. BIPOC talent, design, and crew have been making these requests for years and hardly anything’s changed. So forgive me if I don’t jump to believe their promises of progress just yet. I want to see action. The first of which is for producers to rethink how upcoming and returning shows, for that matter, are cast. One of the most glaring of which is the scheduled revival of “The Music Man”.”

“Hamilton is an incredibly popular musical with a strong audience made up of all races and ethnicities, and while it’s acceptable (and encouraged!) for white people to consume and support art made by BIPOC, it’s not okay to take that art and use it for our own agendas.”

“I grew up in a predominantly white suburb of Chicago and went to an almost all-white middle school. When I was in seventh grade, my teacher gave us two options and we had to vote on which one to do. After deciding we didn’t have enough boys to do “West Side Story,” the class chose “Hairspray.” And so the nightmare began.”