• GRACE NOTES: Monday, February 16, 2026

     

     

    Today’s Highlights:

     

      The Illusion, both in-person & simulcast, by Corneille, directed by Mirabelle Ordinaire, featuring Keith Hamilton Cobb, Sharlene Cruz, Russell Daniels, Christian DeMarais, Allen Gilmore, Michael Rishawn, Jay O. Sanders, Nik Walker, and Mia Wurgaft, at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Florence Gould Theater.

     

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       Open and Shut by Jim Bernhard

     

    Match each opening line with the closing line from the same play or musical.

     

     1. Who’s there?   A. On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being earnest.
     2. Why do you always wear mourning?   B. Empty. She is gone.  The most wonderful thing of all.
     3. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?   C. Yes, let’s go.
     4. Willy!…It’s all right, I came back.   D. We cannot call a mortal being happy before he’s passed beyond life free from pain.
     5. Nothing to be done.   E. You must take Madame Arkadina away–what I want to say is that Constantine has shot himself.
      6.  One of those no-neck monsters hit me with a hot buttered biscuit so I havet’ change!   F. I fell in love with James Tyrone and was so happy for a time.
       7. My children, latest generation born from Cadmus, why are you sitting here with wreathed sticks in supplication to me, while the city fills with incense, chants, and cries of pain?   G.The oldest hath borne most; we that are young / Shall never see so much nor live so long.
      8. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.   H. Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
      9. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed.   I. What you need is someone to take hold of you–gently, with love, and hand your life back to you, like something gold you let go of–and I can! I’m determined to do it–and nothing’s more determined than a cat on a tin roof–is there? Is there, baby?
      10. You’re a fine armful now, Mary, with those twenty pounds you’ve gained   J. We’re free and clear. We’re free…we’re free…we’re free.

    Scroll down for the answers.

     

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       Ryan Miller & Nick Blaemire’s Safety Not Guaranteed will run Mar. 3 – Apr. 12 at DC’s Signature Theatre, directed by Oliver Butler.

     

      Mia Pak (Darius), Gunnar Manchester (Kenneth), Preston Truman Boyd ( Jeff), Tyler Dobies (Arnau), Joshua Morgan (Tristan), and Erin Weater (Liz), with Steven Nicolás Franco, Sydne Lyons, and Scout Santoro.

     

      Based on the 1012 film of the same name, the play, this is an imaginative indie-rock musical. After seeing this classified ad, journalist Darius sets out to find its author. When she agrees to go along for the ride, however, Darius finds herself in way over her head on a time-traveling adventure that’s beyond what she’s ever imagined. Heartwarming and hilarious, with an electrifying score, Safety Not Guaranteed asks, if you could go back and change your story – would you?

     

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      Lorne Michaels & Cinco Paul’s Schmigadoon! will begin previews  Apr. 4 and open Apr. 20 at the  Nederlander Theatre, directed by Christopher Gatelli.

     

       Alex Brightman (Josh Skinner), Sara Chase (Melissa Gimble), Ana Gasteyer (Mildred  Layton), Ann Harada (Florence Menlove), Ayaan Diop (Carson), Brad Oxcar (Mayor Menlove), Isabelle McCalla (Emma Tate), Ivan Hernandez (Doc), Max Clayton (Danny Bailey), and  McKenzie Kurtz (Betsy), with Afra Hines, Becca Peterson, Brandon Block, Clyde Alves, Jess LeProtto, Joshua Burrage, Kaleigh
    Cronin, Keven Quillon, Kimberly Immanuel, Lauralyn McClelland,Lyrica
    Woodruff, Maria Briggs, Miles McNicoll, Nathan Lucrezio, Richard Riaz Yoder, Shina
    Ann Morris, and ZacharyDowner.

     

      New York doctors Josh and Melissa set out on a couples’ backpacking retreat to rekindle the flame, but instead find themselves in Schmigadoon, a magical town that’s a Golden Age musical come to life. The townspeople won’t stop singing, the bridge out leads nowhere, and the only way to escape is by finding true love—which may or may not be with each other.

     

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      Red Bull Theatre will present a reading of  Corneille’s,The Illusion (both live & livestreamed Feb. 7-22) in a new version by Ranjit Bolt, on Mon. Feb. 16 at Off-Broadway’s Florence Gould Theatre, directed by Mirabelle Ordinaire.

     

      Keith Hamilton Cobb, Sharlene Cruz, Russell Daniels, Christian DeMarais, Allen Gilmore, Michael Rishawn, Jay O. Sanders, Nik Walker, and Mia Wurgaft.
    How can an illusion feel so real? An aging lawyer, longing for his estranged son, engages a wizard who conjures scenes of romance, adventure, and peril from the younger man’s life, in this meta-theatrical tale of love and regret, passion and magic.

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    LA’s Blank Theatre is now seeking submissions from playwrights 19 years of age and younger for its 34th Annual Young Playwrights Festival (YPF). The festival is a nationwide competition that produces the work of 12 young writers each year. Click the link above for all submission details. Since 1993, the festival has produced 393 plays by playwrights 19 and younger from 39 states.

     

    Winning plays will be presented (four performances each) by professional actors and directors in July 2026.

     

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       Lindsey Ferrentino’s The Fear of 13 will being previews Mar. 19 and open Ar. 15 at the St. James Theatre, directed by  David Cromer.

     

      Adrien Brody, Tessa Thompson, Ephraim Sykes, Michael Cavinder, Eddie Cooper, Victor Cruz, Eboni Flowers, Joel Marsh Garland, Jared Wayne Gladly, Joe Joseph, Jeb Kreager, and Ben Thompson.

     

    The true story of Nick Yarris, an American man who spent 22 years on Pennsylvania’s death row for a 1982 murder he did not commit, untimately exonerated by DNA evidence in 2003. The narrative explores his wrongful conviction—stemming from a false claim made to police to avoid a DUI—his relentless fight for freedom, and his eventual, harrowing journey toward exoneration.

     

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      Yeller Tooth in concert will take place Thurs. Mar. 26 at 6:30 PM at Theater Works Hartford, directed by Rob Ruggiero.

    Performers TBA.

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      The world premiere of Robert Sternin & Prudence Fraser’s Somebody to Love: A New Musical will run Mar. 25 – Apr. 12 at CA’s Rubicon Theatre, directed by Sean Daniels, with music direction by Brett Ryback, and choreography Wendy Seyb.

     

     Sophie Alawi, Will Blum, Gizel Jimenez, Donovan Mendelovitz, F. Michael Haynie, Alexis Semevolos-Velaquez, and Desmond Newson, with  Jesse Graham, John Gregorio, Molly Kirschenbaum, Sydney Mucha, Presley Christine Nicholson, Soleil Perry, Kayla Christine Quiroz, & Mea Wilkerson.

     

      The musical is is set to the soundtrack of a generation: this funny, heartfelt new jukebox musical follows four friends who meet freshman year of college and vow to change the world, and to be there for each other… always. This World Premiere rock ‘n’ roll musical is a timely story about the choices we make, the trials, triumphs, and turning points that define a lifetime – and the one thing that matters most – somebody to love.

     

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      Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater will present Miscast26 on  place Mon. Apr. 27. at 7 PM  at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with music direction by Will Van Dyke.

      General show-only tickets ar now available.

     

      Tramell Tillman, Darren Criss, Jane Krakowski, Ruthie Ann Miles,  Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nicholas Christopher,Lea Michele, Caissie Levy, and more TBA.

     

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    Answers:  Open and Shut by Jim Bernhard

     

    1-H. Who’s there? – Go, bid the soldiers shoot. (Hamlet)
    2-E. Why do you always wear mourning? – You must take Madame Arkadina away—what I want to say is that Constantine has shot himself. (The Sea Gull)
    3-A. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane? – On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital importance of being earnest. (The Importance of Being Earnest)
    4-J. Willy!…It’s all right, I came back. – We’re free and clear. We’re free…we’re free…we’re free. (Death of a Salesman)
    5-C Nothing to be done. – Yes, let’s go. (Waiting for Godot)
    6-I.  One of those no-neck monsters hit me with a hot buttered biscuit so I havet’ change! –  What you need is someone to take hold of you–gently, with love, and hand your life back to you, like something gold you let go of–and I can! I’m determined to do it–and nothing’s more determined than a cat on a tin roof–is there? Is there, baby? (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)
    7-D. My children, latest generatiion born from Cadmus, why are you sitting here with wreathed sticks in supplication to me, while the city fills with incense, chants, and cries of pain? – We cannot call a mortal being happy before he’s passed beyond life free from pain. (Oedipus Rex)
    8-G thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. – The oldest hath  borne most; we that are young / Shall   never see so much nor live so long. (King Lear)
    9-B. Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed. – Empty. She is gone.  The most wonderful thing of all. (A Doll’s House)
    10-F. You’re a fine armful now, Mary, with those twenty pounds you’ve gained. – I fell in love with James Tyrone and was so happy for a time. (Long Day’s Journey Into Night)