Theater Update: Cynthia Erivo made a promise

London transfers; stagehands strike; Tony Kiser's new tenant

View in browser|nytimes.com January 15, 2025 Dear Theater Fans, Recently, you may have found yourself asking: "What's up with all those pans of London transfers?" After the implosion of "Tammy Faye," Jesse Green wondered the same in his zinger-filled essay about why acclaimed London productions keep failing to win over some New York critics. Michael Paulson wrote about two notable developments this week. Stagehands at Atlantic Theater Company in Manhattan went on strike, prompting the postponement of two new shows ("Grief Camp" and "I'm Assuming You Know David Greenspan"). And on Monday he reported that the commercial producer Seaview Productions is taking over the Tony Kiser Theater in Midtown Manhattan, which the nonprofit Second Stage Theater called home until just recently. "Experimentation is par for the course at the annual Under the Radar festival," Elisabeth Vincentelli wrote in her Critic's Notebook. Highlights include "Dead as a Dodo," a "gorgeously" told story about new beginnings involving a long-dead boy and a dodo, and "The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [Redux]," which takes place on a spaceship where a lone traveler finds himself in a pickle. (This is an in-person version of a pandemic-era production whose earlier version is still available on YouTube.) Please reach out to me at theaterfeedback@nytimes.com with suggestions for stories or to offer your thoughts about our coverage. And urge your friends to subscribe to this newsletter. Have a wonderful week, Nicole Herrington Theater Editor Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Critic's Notebook They Were Hits in London. Then They Got Smacked in New York. What happened to "Sunset Boulevard," "Back to the Future," "Cinderella" and "Tammy Faye" when they crossed the Atlantic? By Jesse Green Dana Scruggs for The New York Times Cynthia Erivo Made a Promise to See Her Characters Through Whether it's Elphaba in "Wicked" or Celie in "The Color Purple," the star doesn't choose parts "frivolously"; she wants roles that stay with viewers. By Salamishah Tillet Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. NEWS AND FEATURES Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Stagehands Walk Off the Job at Atlantic Theater Company The stage employees union accused the nonprofit theater of stalling talks. The strike forced the cancellation of Sunday performances of two new plays. By Michael Paulson Bess Adler for The New York Times Prolific Producer to Take Over Theater That Was Too Costly for Nonprofit Seaview, whose buzzy shows include "Romeo + Juliet," has seized a chance to have its own theater by taking over Second Stage's former Off Broadway home. By Michael Paulson Oksana Parafeniuk for The New York Times For These Teenagers in Ukraine, Hope Arrived at the Stage Door The students in a summer acting course performed a play set in America, called, "It's okay!" And it gave them hope that their lives would be OK, too. By Kim Barker and Dzvinka Pinchuk FROM THE CRITICS Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Critic's Notebook The Mothers on Broadway Are Finally More Than Monsters Onstage, the flip-side of filial devotion has often been contempt. But a wave of forceful and multidimensional mothers suggests that may be changing. By Laura Collins-Hughes Richard Termine Critic's Notebook Under the Radar: Venturing to Fantastical Universes With a Dodo and More Stories from refugee children, gloriously morbid puppets and a rooster who defies a dictator. These are some of the offbeat offerings this January. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Paula Lobo Critic's Pick Review: She's the Dancing Body, He's the Restless Mind Monica Bill Barnes and Robbie Saenz de Viteri ring in the New Year in their physical and introspective "Many Happy Returns." By Gia Kourlas OBITUARIES Abigail McGrath, Founder of an Experimental Theater, Dies at 84 She was an aspiring actor when she was cast in an Andy Warhol film called "Tub Girls." But she was best known for the beloved Off Center Theater. By Penelope Green Otto Schenk, Opera Director and Bulwark of Tradition, Dies at 94 A prominent practitioner of the historically grand productions that were once fashionable at the Met, he was especially well known for his stagings of Wagner. By A.J. Goldmann Mel Shapiro, Honored Stage Director of 'Two Gentlemen,' Dies at 89 He worked with the playwright John Guare in mounting his "House of Blue Leaves," and they helped turn "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" into a hit musical. By Richard Sandomir THEATER GUIDES Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Broadway Shows Closing Soon: 'Our Town,' 'Cult of Love' and More Thornton Wilder's classic, starring Jim Parsons, wraps up, as does Leslye Headland's angsty family drama. Catch these and other plays while you can. By Laura Collins-Hughes Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Broadway Shows to See This Winter: 'Gypsy,' 'Othello' and More A guide to every show on Broadway, including new musicals, Tony winning-dramas, quirky hits and veterans like "Hamilton" and "Chicago." By Laura Collins-Hughes Getty Images; Associated Press Hollywood Is Heading for Broadway (and Off). Here's a Cheat Sheet. George Clooney as Murrow! Denzel Washington as Othello! Mia Farrow as a larcenous landlord! So much to see! By Michael Paulson The Umbrella Rooms What to See on London Stages This Winter Some recommendations for visitors and residents who want to get the most from the city's varied theater scene. By Matt Wolf Need help? 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