• GRACE NOTES: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

     

    Today’s Highlights:

     

      Beautiful, the Carol King Musical, directed & choreographed by Dan Knechtges, featuring Kyra Kennedy (Carol King), Dylan S. Wallach (Gerry Goffin), Teresa Zimmermann (Cynthia Weill), Barrett Riggins (Barry Man), Mark Ivy (Don Kirschner), Julia Bain (Carol King), Zachary Freier-Harrison (Gerry Goffin), Maidson Claire Parks (Cynthia Weil), Oliver Prose (Barry Mann), and Abe Goldfarb (Don Kirschner), opens at Pittsburgh CLO.

     

      Mamma Mia, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, featuring Chirstine Sherrill (Donna Sherican), Alisa Melendez (Sophie Sheridan), Carly Sakolove (Rosie), Jalynn Steele (Tanya), Victor Wallace (Sam Carmichael), Robert Marnell (Harry Bright), Jim Newman (Bill Austin), and Grat Reynolds (Sky), with Amy Weaver, Alessandra Antonelli, Blake Price, Carly Sakolove, Christine Sherrill, Collin Bradley, Patrick Dunn, Grant Reynolds, Jalynn Steele, Jim Newman, Justin Sudderth, Lena Owens, Rob Marnell, Victor Wallace, Louis Griffin, Patrick Park, L’Oréal Roaché, Haley Wright, Gabe Amato, Adia Olanethia Bell, Xavi Soto Burgos, Emily Croft, Madison Deadman, Jordan De Leon, Nico DiPrimio, Stephanie Genito, Tassy Kirbas, Danny Lopez-Alicea, Makoa, Faith Northcutt, Jasmine Overbaugh, Gray Phillips, and Dorian Quinn, begins previews at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.

     

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      First look at Xtravaganza, the new musical written by R. Eric Thomas & Khiyon Hursey, and directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, will offer a free concert on Wed. June  24 from 5-7 PM at Times Square.

     

    The musical, which has not been announced as either Broadway or Off-Broadway, although it is  scheduled to run May 7 — Jun 13 2027 at Baltimore Center Stage. (link TBA). 

     

       Not announced.

     

      The musical follows a community of Black and Latine artists who built a community of resilient chosen families through the 1980s and 1990s in the New York City Ballroom scene, which championed the beauty of self-expression while facing the extraordinary marginalization.

     

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      The Drilling Company will present  As you Like it Thursdays – Saturdays July 16 – Aug. 2 in parking lot at 145 Stanton Street (entrance  on Rivington), directed by Hamilton Clancy.

     

    Free performances will be offered July 16 through Aug.1 in the Parking Lot of Lower East Side Prep (145 Stanton St).

     

      Lia Bonfilio (Rosalind), Thammie Laine Guac (Celia), Andy Rowell (Touchstone), Patrick Hart (Orlando), Emanuel Elpenord (Oliver), Bob Arcaro (Adam), Chris Martel (both Duke Senior / Duke Frederick), Carly Grissom (Denise/Audrey), Raphael del Rio (Charles), David Marantz  Jacques), Elowyn Castle (Corinne), Adama Joy Sall (Amiens), Lizabeth Allen (Phoebe) and Dan Teachout (Silvius).

     

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       The world premiere of Sophie Swithinbank’s Sting continues through July 18 at the Young Vic, directed by Nancy Medina.

     

      Adelle Leonce (Ash), Nick Blood (Dom), and Phoebe Ladenburg (Lily).

      Power, belief and control collide in this bitingly funny and surreal new thriller that casts light on the systemic injustice that continues to permeate the institutions sworn to protect us.

     

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      NY’s Little Island has announced its 2026 season (July 29 – Sept. 6):

     

    Click here for the complete season.

     

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      Video:  Sneak Peek at Shrek The Musical at the St. Louis Muny.

     

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       Casting has been announced for Week 1 (July 9-12) of LA’s Blank Theatre‘s 34th annual Young Playwrights Festival at the Skylight Theatre.

     

     

       Rocky Hotdog Picture Show (by Townes Powell (age 18, from Louisville, KY), directed by Scott Lowell.   Ashley Dulaney, Jonathan Fishman,  Jonathan Grey, Lenny Jacobson, Rosie Ryden, and Ben Stillwell.    Philip MyTummy wants to be the next Joey Chestnut, but he is suffering the loss of his hotdog-eating father who drowned in mustard. With the help of a coach, will Philip be able to work through the death of his father and become the next World Champion Hotdog Eater?

     

       Forgotten Fields (by Kaizer Larson, directed by Erin Coleman).   Elizabeth Mae AlanCharlie Bodin, Ryan Padilla, and Cece Paige (Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Dirty John), and Nicole Wolf    A young woman remembers past negative experiences while on a first date with a new guy. Will she stay stuck in the cycle of trauma or find hope in the possibility of a new relationship?

     

       In the Name of Love by Charlotte Long (age 18, from Aldie, VA), directed by Erin Coleman.   Katie Burke, Fallon HeaslipRian Sheehy Kelly), and Alan Smyth.    A young woman remembers past negative experiences while on a first date with a new guy. Will she stay stuck in the cycle of trauma or find hope in the possibility of a new relationship?

     

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       Video:  Trailer for Broadway’s Just in Time, at Circle in the Square.

     

      Jeremy Jordan, Olivia Holt, Carrie St. Louis, Debbie Gravitte, Joe Barbara, Emily Bergl, Lance Roberts, and Caesar Samayoa.

     

      A meta-theatrical jukebox musical chorlicling the life of Bobby Darin. Rather than a traditional narrative, the actor playing Darin starts as themselves, directly addressing the audience before seamlessly transitioning into the role to guide them through Darin’s meteoric rise, romances, and music.

     

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        Shrek The Musical will run June 25 – July 2  at the St. Louis Muny, directed by Tartaglia.

     

        Nik Walker (Shrek), Kara Lindsay (Princess Fiona), Marcus M. Martin (Donkey), Troy Iwata (Lord Farquaad), Solomon Rosenthal (Young Shrek), Lake Schultz (Young Fiona), Amelie Lock (Teen Fiona), Aymee Garcia (Gingy), Tyler Joseph Ellis (Pinocchio), and Salome Smith (Voice of the Dragon), with Mathew Blasio, DeShawn Bowens, Monique Churchill, Matthew Davies, Kylie Edwards, Ryan Fitzgerald, Matt Gibson, Jack Gimpel, Shelby Griswold, Michael Harp, Gwen Hollander, Abby Linderman, Sean McManus, Shelby Ringdahl, Trevor Michael Schmidt, Kelly Sheehan, Caitlin Stebelman, and Jonah D. Winston.