Theater News

Michael Shannon, Ruthie Ann Miles, and More to Participate in Fleet Week Follies

The event will take place on May 26.

Michael Shannon will take part in Fleet Week Follies.
Michael Shannon will take part in Fleet Week Follies.
(© David Gordon)

Waterwell has announced casting for its inaugural Fleet Week Follies, an annual festival of entertainment for the military community to be held on May 26 during Fleet Week (May 22-28).

The event will feature food, music, and family activities for one day only at Brooklyn's National Sawdust music venue. The day will begin with workshops and performances for kids of all ages 1pm-4pm, followed by a happy hour featuring 14th Star Brewing beginning at 5:30pm, and an evening of music hosted by Tony-nominated Broadway stars Celia Keenan-Bolger (To Kill a Mockingbird) and Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon).

Happy hour will feature dinner and drinks served by celebrity volunteers Happy Anderson, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Nichloas Braun, Ben McKenzie, Omar Metwally, Ruthie Ann Miles, David Morse, Pedro Pascal, and Michael Shannon. Performers during the variety show include Lemon Andersen, Mike Birbiglia, Darlesia Cearcy, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sandra Lee, Sherie Rene Scott, Sarah Steele, Will Swenson, Betsy Wolfe, the American Military Spouses Choir, and members of Freestyle Love Supreme.

Tickets to Fleet Week Follies are free to all members of the military community, including Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, veterans, and their families and caregivers. A limited number of tickets will also be available to civilians via a standby line on the day of the event. To register for free, click here.

Fleet Week Follies is inspired by the Stage Door Canteen, a club in the basement of the 44th Street Theater where from 1942-46, the Broadway community put on nightly entertainment for military service members. The stars who volunteered both performed and served food and beverages, all completely free of charge.