In which I share some thoughts with CBC News for their story regarding the blowback to the latest trailer for “Maestro.”
Appearances
Speaking Engagements
Henry Bial is a dynamic and entertaining speaker, offering presentations for general audiences as well as more specialized lectures and seminars for scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates.
past appearances
16
TMZ Live
Excited to talk to the TMZ Live guys about the latest “Jewface” controversy over Netflix’s new Leonard Bernstein biopic. Click here for link to the seven minute segment.
20
Cabaret
I’ll be making a rare stage appearance (first time since 2017) in KU’s production of Cabaret, running April 20-30. Details at: https://kutheatre.com/cabaret.
8
University of Texas
(Austin, TX)
I enjoyed the chance to speak at the University of Texas’s Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, thanks to the Gale Collaborative on Jewish Life in the Americas. Details here.
17
“Day 6”
CBC Radio, Canada
In Spring 2022, I spoke to Day 6, the weekly newsmagazine show on CBC/Radio-Canada, about Jesus Christ Superstar and its popularity as an Easter-themed entertainment.
12
“Morning Edition”
National Public Radio
In Fall 2021, NPR’s Morning Edition listeners got to hear me offer expert commentary on the phenomenon of non-Jewish actors playing Jewish roles.
4
Tsitsit Talks
(United Kingdom and online)
It was my honor to be the (virtual) guest of Tsitsit, The Jewish Fringe Festival, Britain’s first ever Jewish fringe theatre fest. My conversation with Ben Naylor of the Royal Central School was stimulating, touching on everything from the phenomenon of casting gentiles in Jewish roles to the comparative theatrical legacies of Shylock and Tevye. The session *was* recorded, and may be live-streamed as an ‘encore’ presentation at a later date. Watch this space for details.
5
The Leo Baeck Institute of London
(London, UK)
“Jewish on Demand: Representation and Difference in the Streaming Era”
17
Cornell University
(Ithaca, New York)
Delighted to have had the opportunity to give a University Lecture at Cornell. Click here for details.
3
Association for Theatre in Higher Education
(Boston, Massachusetts)
I was pleased to take part in a roundtable discussion on the Museum of the Bible, with John Fletcher, Megan Sanborn Jones, Jodi Kanter, and Scott Magelssen.
9
International Federation for Theatre Research
(Belgrade, Serbia)
Good house and great discussion for my paper, “The Gatekeepers: New York Theatre Critics and the Reception of European Theatre on the American State, 1920-1940” at the World Congress of the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR 2018).
6
Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses”
I had the privilege of directing Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman for the KU Theatre Department. October 6-12 in the William Inge Memorial Theatre.
7
Next to Normal
(Lawrence, KS)
Just finished a two week run as Dr. Madden in Kansas Repertory Theatre’s Next to Normal. Special thanks to Director Beth Turcotte and the entire company for a wonderful experience.
3
Converse College
(Spartanburg, SC)
Great to see so many Converse College students, faculty, and community members at my talk “Jesus Christ, Broadway Star” on Wednesday May 3.
4
The Making of Jewish Theatre @ Baruch College
(New York, NY)
I had a blast talking about “Jews and the Golden Age of Broadway” with fellow theatre mavens Alisa Solomon, Stuart Hecht, and Liz Wollman. Mazel tov to the Sandra Kahn Wasserman Center for Jewish Studies at Baruch College on a wonderful event.
14
Some Are Isthmuses: A Decade of Buran Theatre
(Albuquerque, NM)
Had a great time performing with Buran Theatre as we kicked off our 10th Anniversary Season.
13
Some Are Isthmuses: A Decade of Buran Theatre
(Albuquerque, NM)
I was delighted to help Buran Theatre Company celebrate our 10th anniversary with two nights of performance at TLab, 110 Gold Ave SW.
12
Book Signing, Association for Theatre in Higher Education
I will be signing copies of Playing God on August 12 at the annual meeting of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) in Chicago.
14
International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR)
(Stockholm, Sweden)
“That time Swedish actors wore blackface to act out the Bible”
8
Harvard University
(Cambridge, MA)
“Broadway and Blasphemy”
Public lecture in the Thompson Room of the Barker Center from 5:30 – 7:00 PM.
20
University of Washington
(Seattle, WA)
“Jesus Christ, Broadway Star”
25
Southwest Baptist University
(Bolivar, MO)
24
Drama Book Shop
(New York City)
The American Theatre and Drama Society presents the sixth annual “The Brilliance of the American Theatre” reading series, featuring authors Henry Bial, David Carlyon, and Dorothy Chansky. Click here for details.
6
American Society for Theatre Research
(Portland, ME)
Book-signing for Playing God, 3:00 pm.
15
Friends of the Lied Center Annual Dinner
(Lawrence, Ks.)
“Playing God: The Bible on the Broadway Stage”
28
International Symposium on George Tabori and the Theatre of the Holocaust
(Athens, Ga.)
“The Funny Thing About Jewish Performance Studies”
7
American Society for Theatre Research
(Dallas, Tx.)
“Wholly Theatre: Spectacle and Sincerity in the Biblical Epic”
17
University of Missouri
(Columbia, Mo.)
“Why is this night different from all other nights: four questions about arts, advocacy, and the university”
2
Muhlenberg College
(Muhlenberg, Pa.)
“Jew Media: Performance and Technology for the 58th Century”
3
Association for Theatre in Higher Education
(Orlando, Fl.)
“Presidential Address: The Bucket Brigade”
Testimonials
“Thank you again for the great talk at our Friends of the Lied dinner. People really enjoyed you, as we have received many compliments.” – Sue Mango, Development Director, Lied Center of Kansas
“I would like to thank you for your wonderful keynote. Your participation was key to the conference’s success.” – David Saltz, University of Georgia
“Thanks again for three great talks!! The students were really fascinated and engaged.” – Ted Merwin, Dicksinson College