WOMEN of BROADWAY

Theater, and the arts in general, often lead the cutting edge when it comes to challenging societal norms. It achieves this by looking at what exists and then considering the question of, “What if…?” This year, the concept of what is normal has been turned on its head, forcing all of us — the arts included — to meet these challenges in new and interesting ways.

One possible positive thing to come from this year’s pandemic is a shift in the idea of ‘local’ and ‘accessible.’

“[Theater] has been slow to adapt to the digital revolution,” said Bob Bursey, executive director of Texas Performing Arts. “Our field does have an accessibility problem. It requires you to show up at a certain place, at a certain time. There are questions about social norms. Will there be people who will look like me? We’re seeing so much performance online now, it’s just you, and the artist, and the content.”

In an effort to provide accessible entertainment to housebound audiences, while providing recovery and reopening efforts for the theater itself, Texas Performing Arts is one of a select group of nonprofit organizations presenting a threepart virtual concert series, Live from the West Side: Women of Broadway featuring two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone on Oct. 24, Tony Award winner Laura Benanti on Nov. 14, and critically acclaimed actress and singer Vanessa Williams on Dec. 5.

The shows, which will be available via livestream, will feature the artists themselves, plus an additional 72 hours of on-demand viewing of a video recording of the live performance. Single performance tickets are $30 per household for each livestream event. Subscription packages for all three performances are $75 per household.

Each show will be transmitted live in high definition with professional sound mixing, and will feature a mix of showtunes, pop songs and personal stories from the life of each artist. Performances will take place at The Shubert Virtual Studios on Manhattan’s West Side. Athome audiences will be able to email questions to the artist’s, which may be answered during the livestream.

Patti Lupone, who will perform via livestream at 7 p.m., Oct. 24, currently stars as Avis Amberg in the Netflix series Hollywood and has appeared in Pose, The Simpsons, and American Horror Story.

A veteran powerhouse of the stage, she has performed the roles of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, for which she won a Tony award, as well as the title role in Evita, for which she won a Tony and the Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical.