This Weekend’s Highlights:

Friday, August 1

  Jesus Christ Superstar in concert, directed & choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, featuring Cynthia Erivo (Jesus), Adam Lambert (Judas), Raul Esparza (Pilate)Phillipa Soo (Mary Magdalene), and Josh Gad (Herod), Milo Manheim, Zachary James (Caiaphas), Tyrone Huntley (Simon), and Brian Crum (Annas), with Isaiah Bailey, Brad Sharp, John E. Lucas (Pries),  Summer Greer (Soul Singer), and Emily Goglia (Maid by the Fire), with John Krause, Nathan Madden, Chris Hernandez, Morgan Marcell, Jennifer Fionentino, Brandan Leffler, Damian Caraballo, Ayana Haviv, Gracie Laboy, Natalie Taylor, and Sara Gome, opens at the Hollywood Bowl.

  Committed: A Ritual for Robbie, written & performed by Lisa Robins, directed by Mitch Levine, opens at LA’s Beverly Hills Playhouse. Call: 310 – 620-1134.

Saturday, August 2

  Giant, by Mark Rosenblatt, directed by Nicholas Hytne, featuring John Lithgow and Elliot Levey, closes at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

Sunday, August 3

  Honky Tonk Angels, by Ted Sweindly, directed by David Ellenstein, featuring Darcy Rose Byrnes (Darlene), Alexandra Melrose (Angela), and Shelley Regner (Su Ellen), opens at CA’s Laguna Playhouse.

  Trophy Boys, by Emmanuelle Mattana, directed by Danya Taymor, featuring Emmanuelle Mattna (Owen), Terry Hu (David), Louisa Jacobson Jared), and Esco Jouléy (Scott), closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theatre.

  Beth Leavel Sings Sondheim concert closes at NYC’s 54 Below.

  Jesus Christ Superstar in concert, directed & choreographed by Sergio Trujillo,featuirng Cynthia Erivo (Jesus), Adam Lembert (Judas), Raul Esparza (Pilate)Phillipa Soo (Mary Magdalene), and Josh Gad (Herod), Milo Manheim, , Zachary James (Caiaphas), Tyrone Huntley (Simon), and Brian Crum (Annas), with Isaiah Bailey, Brad Sharp, John E. Lucas (Pries),  Summer Greer (Soul Singer), and Emily Goglia (Maid by the Fire), with John Krause, Nathan Madden, Chris Hernandez, Morgan Marcell, Jennifer Fionentino, Brandan Leffler, Damian Caraballo, Ayana Haviv, Gracie Laboy, Natalie Taylor, and Sara Gome, closes at the Hollywood Bowl.

  The Color Purple, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, featuring Brittney Mack (Celie), Aeriel Williams (Shug Avery), Evan Tyrone Martin (Mister), Nicole Michelle Haskins (Sofia), Gilbert Domally (Harpo), Shantel Renee Cribbs (Nettie), Daryn Whitney Harrell (Squeak), Jos N. Banks (Grady), Curtis Bannister (Buster), Sean Blake (Ol Mister), Sharriese Hamilton (Darlene), Ariya Hawkins (Olivia), Reneisha Jenkins (Jarene), Eric Lewis (Bobby), Michael Earvin Martin (Pa), and Juwon Tyrel Perry (Preacher), with Aalon Daeja Smith, Marta Bady, Richaun Shamar Stewart, and Shelbi Voss, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

  The 2025 Williamstown Theatre Festival concludes. Click here for complete information.

  Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Rob Ruggiero, featuring Michael Fabisch (Evan Hansen), Jackie Burns (Heidi Hansen), Maggie Lakis (Cynthia Murphy), Rob McClure (Larry Murphy), Afra Sophia Tully (Zoe Murphy), Joshua Bess ( Connor Murphy), Bryan Munar (Jared Kleinman), and Savy Jackson (Alana Beck), with Kaley Bender, Vera Brown, Alex Daspit, Samuel Gerber, Josh Hoon Lee, Spencer Davis Milford, Zoë Brooke Reed, Gabi Stapula, Essence Anisa Tyler, and Oscar Williams, closes at the St. Louis Muny.

  The 2025 Young Playwrights Festival concludes at LA’s Skylight Theatre.

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Ted Swindly’s Honky Tonk Angels continues through Aug. 17 at CA’s Laguna Playhouse, directed by David Ellenstein.

  Darcy Rose Byrnes (Darlene), Alexandra Melrose (Angela), and Shelley Regner (Su Ellen).

  This feel-good, boot stompin’ musical celebrates the enduring power of music and friendship. Armed with only their dreams and a bus ticket, three sassy gals leave their thankless lives behind and head to Nashville to become country music singers. Revisit dozens of pop-country favorites like “Stand By Your Man,”  “Ode To Billy Joe”, “Delta Dawn,” and many more.

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   Manhattan Theatre Club will present David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters begining in Spring 2026 (dates TBA) at the Friedman Theatre, directed by Kenny Leon.

Casting and additional information TBA.

  The play centers on a small-town neighborhood association experiencing some big drama—namely, the concept of installing a new stop sign on the neighborhood’s most bucolic block.

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     LA’s Theater Forty will present a series of play readings (Aug. 20, Aug. 27  & Sept. 3) at the historic Greystone Mansion ( 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills).

  Click the link above for the complete schedule.

  Sharron Shayne, Scott Facher, Larry Eisenberg, and Miss Eliot Hambsch.

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  Joel Sinensky’ Slam Frank will run Sept 27 – October (closing date TBA) at Asylum NYC, directed by Sam LaFrage.

  TBA.

  Inspired by a real 2022 Twitter thread asking, “Did Anne Frank ever acknowledge her white privilege?”, Slam Frank takes aim at the intersection of art, absurdity, and identity. The show reimagines Anne Frank’s life through a self-aware lens of overzealous inclusivity: Anita Franco is now a pansexual Latinx girlboss with a hip-hop diary flow; Peter Van Daan is a non-binary dancer struggling against gender norms; and Mister Van Daan, the lone cishet male, is literally worse than the Nazis. Slam Frank takes aim at the intersection of art, absurdity, and identity. The show reimagines Anne Frank’s life through a self-aware lens of overtzealous inclusivity: Anita Franco is now a pansexual Latinx girlboss with a hip-hop diary flow; Peter Van Daan is a non-binary dancer struggling against gender norms; and Mister Van Daan, the lone cishet male, is literally worse than the Nazis.

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  MJ has announced complete casting for the 3rd year of its national tour.  Click here for the tour’s website and additional information.

 Jordan Markus (MJ), Melvin Gray Jr. (MJ Alternate), Quentin Blanton Jr. (Little Michael), Bryce A. Holmes (Little Michael), Erik Hamilton (u/s MJ, u/s Michael), Brandon Lee Harris (Michael), Devin Bowles (Joseph Jackson/Rob), Kevin Cruz (Alejandro), J. Daughtry (Berry Gordy/Nick), Rajané Katurah  (Katherine Jackson/Kate), Michael Nero (Tito Jackson/Quincy Jones), Austin Rankin (Little Marlon),  Jed Resnick (Dave), and Kristin Stokes (Rachel), with an ensemble that includes Omarion BurkeKolby Colmary, Joshua Dawson , Ghrai DeVore-Stokes (Swing), Zuri Noelle Ford, Ui-Seng François, Andy Golden, Treston J. Henderson, Jahir L. Hipps, Skye Jackson-Williams, Faith Jones,  Jacobi Kai, Rachel Lockhart, Michaela Marfori, Matteo Marretta, Kendrick Mitchell, Zion Mikhail Pradier, Daria Pilar Redus, Tyrone Reese, Avilon Trust Tate, and Brion Marquis Watson.

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   A Chorus Line will run Sept. 5 – Oct. 26 (opening Sept. 17) at CT’s Goodspeed, directed by Rob Ruggiero, with choreography by Parker Esse, and music direction by Adam Souza.

  Trante S. Baker (Larry), Haley Bjorn (Kristine) Aaron Patricrick Craven )Don),  Karli Dinardo (Cassie), Alex Drost (Al), Lisa Finegold (Bebe), Diego Guevara (Paul), Patrick Higgins (Mark), Beatrice Howell (Val), Caroline Kane (Judy), Liesie Kelly (maggie), Ryan Mulvaney (Bobbie), Jonah Nash (Richie), Emma X. O’Loughlin (Connie), Mario Rizzi (Mike), Clifton Samuels (Zach), Sammy Schechter (Greg), Mikeaela Secada (Diana), and Scarlett Walker (Shelia), with Maggie Mergman, Christian Feliciano, Abbey Friedmann, and Erica Peréz-Gotay.

Today’s Highlights:

 Fra Fee (The Emcee) and Amy Lennox (Sally Bowles) begin their runs in Cabaret at London’s Kit Kat Club.

  Lincoln Center‘s At the Wedding, world premiere by Bryna Turner, directed by Jenna Worsham, featuring Mary Wiseman (Carlo) and Rebecca S’Manga (Frank), with Keren Lugo, Carolyn McCormick, Will Rogers, and Han Van Sciver, opens at Off-Broadway’s Claire Tow Theatre.

  Good Night, Oscar, world premiere by Doug Wright, directed by Lisa Peterson, featuring Sean Hayes (Oscar Levant) Emily Bergl (June Levant), Ben Rappaport (Jack Paar), Peter Grosz (Bob Sarnoff), Ethan Slater (Max Weinbaum), Tramell Tillman (Alvin Finney), and John Zdrojeski (George Gershwin), opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

  Stephen Sondheim and Hal Prince 1975 interview, hosted by Brendan Gill, streams for FREE at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT. Registration required here.

  Broadway By the Year: The New Wave concert, created, written, hosted & directed by Scott Siegel, celebrating the work of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Benji Pasek & Justin Paul, Bobby Lopez, Jeff Marx, Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison, featuring Joe Iconis and Family, Sara Neimietz, Danny Gardner, Gunhild Carling, Quentin Earl Darrington, Jenny Lee Stern, Ben Jones, Jeanine Bruen, Adan Gallegos, The Broadway by the Year Chorus (led by Tyler McCall), and The Broadway by the Year Dance Troupe, at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Town Hall.

  Lyrics & Lyricists’ David Loud: Facing the Music concert, featuring Heidi Blickenstaff, Laura Darrell, David Garrison, Alex Joseph Grayson, and Matthew Scott, closes at NYC’s 92Y.

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GRACE NOTES Quiz:  By Hammerstein and… by Jim Bernhard

Match these songs that have lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II with their composers.

Scroll down for the answers…

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  The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced the eligibility status of 7 Broadway productions for the 2021-22 season:

. Rob McClure and Jenn Gambatese are eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for their performances in Mrs. Doubtfire.

 Patti LuPone are eligible in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her performance in Company.

. Harry Hadden-Paton, Tony Yazbeck, and Carmen Cusack are eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for Flying Over Sunset.

  Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions are eligible jointly in the Best Scenic Design of a Musial for Flying Over Sunset.

 Myles Frost is eligible in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in MJ.

  Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini are jointly eligible for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for MJ.

  Sutton Foster is eligible for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The Music Man.

The awards will be broadcast live on Sun. June 12 at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT with exclusive content streaming exclusively on Paramount+, followed by the live presentation of the Awards  at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT live on CBS and streaming live and on demand on Parmount+

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   Lana Gordon (Persephone) will depart Broadway’s Hadestown on Apr. 3 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

She will be replaced by Jewelle Blackman on Apr. 5.

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  Impro Theatre presents Jane Austen Unscripted Apr. 16 – May 8 in the new outdoor stage in the garden at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theatre, directed by Sara Mountjoy-Pepka and Paul Rogan.

 TBA

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Stars in the House will host a 10 hour telethon on Sat. Mar. 26 from 12 Noon – 10 PM ET to raise money and awareness for those affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.  Watch the benefit here.

Donations will benefit the International Rescue Committee and their humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war.

  Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Laurie Metcalf, Tituss Burgess, Kristin Chenoweth, David Hyde Pierce, Kelli O’Hara, Robin de Jesús, Donna Murphy, Annaleigh Ashford, Jessie Mueller, Josh Groban, Judith Light, John Stamos, Lindsay Mendez, Laura Benanti, Norman Lear, Betty Buckley, Rosie Perez, Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody, Rachel Bloom, Patrick Wilson, Shoshana Bean, James Monroe Iglehart, Brittney Johnson, Miranda Sings, Debra Monk, Bonnie Milligan, Alli Mauzey, Adam Pascal, Donna Lynne Champlin, Javier Muñoz, Norbert Leo Butz, Rick Lyon, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Katie Finneran, Ruthie Ann Miles, Andy Karl, Morena Baccarin, Christine Pedi, Colin Donnell, Dagmara Doiminczk, Santino Fontana, Judy Kuhn, Kevin Chamberlin, Anika Larsen, Jenn Gambatese, Sepideh Moafi, Danielle De Niese, Orfeh, Patti Murin, Susan Kelechi Watson, Yuriy Saradoy, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Dr. Jon LaPook, and many more TBA.

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  The Fire Island Dance Festival, in support of Dancers Responding to AIDS, will run July 15-17 at NY’s Fire Island Pines,

Performers TBA.

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 ELTON UNDRESSED: Todd Alsup Sings Elton John will run Apr. 1-3 at TheaterWorks Harford, directed by Rob Ruggiero.

Flamboyant. Outrageous. Decadent. Elton John and his music are many things. But What’s behind the costumes, the larger than life persona, and the lush recordings? Join Todd Alsup on an acoustic journey through the soulful songbook of the Rocket Man. Join us for a stripped down experience that gets closer to the heart and soul of Elton’s timeless music. Don’t forget your glasses!

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 Sam Harris: Openly Gray will run Mar. 25-26 at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, with music direction by Todd Schroeder.

Brenna Whitaker (Mar. 25 only)

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  The cast album of Antonio Banderas, Teatro del Soho CaixaBank and John Breglio’s Spanish production of A Chorus Line, the first-ever Spanish language recording of the iconic musical, which has been released on CD in Spain and on streaming and digital platforms worldwide here.

 Video: Laura Benanti, Antonio Banderas and company perform “What I Did For Love”

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 Kinky Boots will run Sept. 1-24 at the UK’s New Wolsey Theatre, and Sept. 28 – Oct. 22 at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, directed by Tim Jackson.

Casting and additional information TBA.

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  The 45th anniversary production of Elizabeth Swados’ Nightclub Cantata will run Apr. 23 – May 22 (opening May 2) at the cell theatre, directed & choreographed by Bill Castellino, with music direction by Miles Plant.

Sarah Nandola, Pearl Rhein, Noah Ruebeck, Hansel Tan, Miles Whittaker, Noreen Crayton, and Victoria Casillo.

Based on texts by Sylvia Plath, Pablo Neruda, and other poets, Nightclub Cantata is a joyful song cycle of world literature about survival: what compels us back to life and to living as one.

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 To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim will be livestreamed Sat. Mar. 26 at 7 PM ET at 54 Below.

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 The Broadway community honors the memory of Elizabeth Ireland McCann, better know as Liz, the Tony Award-winning producer and general manager who was among the first successful female leaders on Broadway.

Ms. McCann passed away on Sept. 9, 2021 at the age of 90. On Mar. 29, 2022, what would have been her 91st birthday, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of Broadway theaters in New York City for one minute at exactly 6:30 PM ET, in her honor.

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  Carole J. Bufford: Vintage Pop! has announced concerts in 3 locations:

Wed. Mar. 30 at 8:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.

  Fri. Apr. 1 at 8 PM PT Palm Springs’ The Purple Room.

  Sat. Apr. 2 at 8 PM PT at San Diego’s Martinis.

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  Video: Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and James Lapine discuss Sunday in the Park with George on “CBS Sunday Morning.”

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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers:  By Hammerstein and…

1-E. “Indian Love Call” (lyrics with Otto Harbach)  – Rudolf Friml (Rose-Marie)

2-G. “Stouthearted Men” – Sigmund Romberg (The New Moon)

3-I. “All the Things You Are”- Jerome Kern (Very Warm for May)

(Very Warm for May)

4-F. “Lift ‘Em Up and Put ‘Em Down” – Georges Bizet (Carmen Jones)

5-B. “The Gentleman Is a Dope” – Richard Rodgers (Allegro)

6-H. “My Boy and I” (lyrics with William Carey Duncan) – Vincent Youmans (Mary Jane McKane)

7-J. “I’ll Collaborate With You” (lyrics with Otto Harbach) – Herbert Stothart  (Wildflower)

8-D. “I Love Him, the Rat” – Richard A. Whiting (Free for All)

9-A. “A Kiss to Build a Dream On”  – Harry Ruby (movie The Strip)

10-C. “Song of the Flame” (lyrics with Otto Harbach) – George Gershwin (Song of the Flame)

Today’s Highlights:

  The Last Five Years, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, featuring Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson, opens at London’s Vaudeville Theatre.

  I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, written & performed by Ronnie Marmo, directed by Joe Mantegna, opens at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68.

  The Mirror and the Light, by Dame Hilary Mante, directed by Jeremy Herrin, featuring Ben Miles (Thomas Cromwell), Nathaniel Parker (Henry VIII), Melissa Allan, Samuel Awoyo, Ian Drysdale, Jo Herbert, Andrew Hodges, Niamh James, Umi Myers, Liam Smith, Nicholas Tizzard, Nicholas Boulton, Matt Pidgeon, Giles Taylor, Rosanna Adams, Paul Adeyefa, Aurora Burghart, Terique Jarrett, Jordan Kouamé, Geoffrey Lumb, Olivia Marcus, Tony Turner, Leo Wan, and Nicholas Woodeson, begins previews at London’s Gielgud Theatre.

  The Normal Heart, by Larry Kramer, directed by Dominic Cooke, featuring Ben Daniels (Ned Weeks), Robert Bowman, Richard Cant, Liz Carr, Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Dino Fetscher, Daniel Krikler, Daniel Monks, Elander Moore, Luke Norris, Henry Nott, Lucas Rush, Freddie Stabb, Samuel Thomas, and Danny Lee Wynter, begins previews at London’s Olivier Theatre.

  Chicken and Biscuits, by Douglas Lyons, directed by Zhailon Levingston, featuring Norm Lewis (Reginald Mabry), Michael Urie (Logan Leibowitz), Cleo King (Baneatta Mabry), NaTasha Yvette Williams (Brianna Jenkins), Devere Rogers (Kenny Mabry), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Beverly Jenkins), Aigner Mizzelle (La’trice Franklin), and Alana Raquel Bowers (Simone Babry), with Dean Acree, Jennifer Fouché, Michael Genet, Miles G Jackson, and Camille Upshaw, begins previews at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre.

  Closer Than Ever, newly filmed production, featuring Dalton Harris, Lee Mead, Kerry Ellis, and Grace Mouat, begins streaming on BroadwayHD.

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  Video:  Stars in the House, offering Encore: In Honor of Willie Garson & You Gotta Believe.   (41:16)

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Sally Wilfert: Just in Time – I Happen to Like New York will take place Fri. Sept. 24 at 7:30 PM ET at NYC’s Merkin Concert Hall, with music direction by Joseph Thalken.

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Keenan Scott II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man will begin previews Oct. 1 and open Oct. 31 at the Golden Theatre, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III.

Esau Pritchett (replacing Keith David, who departed due to a family issue), Dyllón Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Luke James, Forrest McClendon, and Tristan “Mack” Wilds.

  As the sun rises on a single day in the pulsing heart of Brooklyn, seven Black men are about to discover the extraordinary – together.

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  Off-Broadway’s Keen Company has announced its 2021-22 season, with both live and livestreamed productions:

  22nd Annual Benefit Gala (Oct. 25), a virtual event, honoring Pearl Cleage. Ticket packages include meal delivery, party favors, and access to the full evening of performances for up to 3 days.

  Hear/Now: LIVE! (Dec. 10-19, 2021, opening Dec. 15) offering 2 newly commissioned in-person audio plays be Mashuq Mushtap Deen and Deb Margolin. Each piece will be performed by a small cast in front of a live audience, with live foley sound effects, and live music.

  This Space Between Us (in person Feb. 22 – Apr. 2, 2022), world premiere by Peter Gil Sheridan, directed by Jonathan Silverstein. Casting TBA. Nobody understands why Jamie wants to leave his cushy law office to work for a non-profit. His best friend is confused, his boyfriend is concerned, and his conservative Cuban-American family are sure they know what’s best. As Jamie announces his plans to serve those less fortunate, one shocking afternoon at the racetrack spars unexpected and irreversible consequences for them all. This intergenerational comedy follows a raucous attempt to reach for something more without leaving the people you love behind.

…and more TBA…

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  Mischief’s Magic Goes Wrong will run Oct. 21 – Feb. 27, 2022 at the Apollo Theatre.

Louise Beresford (Peg), Scott Hunter (Mel), Shane David-Joseph (Sophisticato), Henry Lewis (Mind Mangler), Jane Milligan (Madame Escapade), Genevieve Nicole (Eugenia), Sydney K Smith (Mickey), Kazeem Tosin0Amore (The Blade), and Nancy Zamit (Martina).

The play follows a hapless gang of moderately skilled and accident-prone magicians presenting a charity fundraiser. As the accidents spiral out of control, so does their fundraising target!

  Trailer.

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  Ebony Rep presents Sheldon Epps’ Blues in the Night, to run Nov. 12 – Dec. 5 (opening Nov. 13) at the Nate Holden PAC, directed by Wren T. Brown, with choreography by Keith Young and music direction by William Foster McDaniel.

Vivian Reed (The Lady from the Road), Clinton Derricks-Carroll ( The Man in the Saloon), Karole Foreman (The Woman of the World), and Jenna Gillespie Byrd (The Girl with a Date).

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  The Gingold Theatrical Group‘s production of Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession will run Oct. 12 – Nov. 20 (opening Oct. 27) at Theatre Row, directed by David Staller.

Karen Ziemba, Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Alvin Keith, Nicole King, and Raphael Nash Thompson, with Katya Collazo and Max Roll.

In a world where women have no legal rights, the play examines a woman who, coming from nothing, has become one of the most wealthy and powerful of executives running an international string of high-class brothels, keeping her life hidden from her daughter. Only when the truth is revealed does the house of cards topple.

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MD’s Olney Theatre Center will present Hedwig and the Angry Inch Nov. 26 – Jan. 2, 2022, directed by Johanna McKeon.

Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig), and more TBA.

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  Milwaukee Rep has announced its Fall 2021 season:

  Dad’s Season Tickets (Oct. 29 – Jan. 2, 2022), by Matt Zembrowski, directed by Ryan Quinn, with music direction by Dan Kazemi, featuring Jonathan Gillard Daly, Jackson Evans, Kelley Faulkner, Sophie Grimm, Jamie Mercado, and Rick Pendzich. A new musical comedy for football fanatics and the people who love them. Who will inherit Frank’s treasured season tickets at Lambeau Field? The Kosinski sisters employ every trick in the playbook, on the way to relearning that family isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.

  Steel Magnolias (Nov. 9 – Dec. 5), directed by Laura Braza, featuring Janet Ulrich Brooks (M’Lynn), Phoebe González (Shelby), Rebecca Hirota (Truvy), Maeve Moynihan (Annelle), Meg Thalken (Ouiser), and Tami Workentin (Clairee).

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&   The National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s 2021 Festival of New Musicals will stream Oct. 21-22, with presentations offered in an in both live and digital formats. The digital presentations will stream on Broadway On Demand.

Initial casting for 4 of the 8 musicals has been announced:

  AZUL, by Melis Aker, Tatiana Pandiani & Jacinta Clusellas, directed by Elena Araoz, with music direction by Kurt Crowley, features Danny Bolero, Blanca Camacho, Renata Eastlick, Henry Gainza, Robi Hager, Claudia Mulet, Martin Sola, and Claudia Yanez. The bilingual piece explores the immigrant father-daughter relationship, the place of art in capitalism, and more.

  Fanny & Stella, by SEVAN & Eamonn O’Dwyer, directed by Stephen Brackett, with music direction by Emily Marshall, features Jake Boyd, Graham, Eddie Korbich, Kuhn, Orville Mendoza, Mason Alexander Park, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, and Heath Saunders.  Based on the lives of Frederick Park and Ernest Boutlon.

  Missing Peace, by Kalani Queypo & Kyle Puccia, directed by Jesca Prudencio, with music direction by Steven Cuevas, features Phoenix Best, Nick Dalton, Carolyn Dunn, Kyla Garcia, Rouleau, and Glenn Stanton.  The musical follows a young man as he recovers from a suicide attempt.

  Senior Class, by Melvin Tunstall III & Greg Borowsky, directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, with music direction by Andrew Bourgoin, features Amina Faye, Olivia Hardy, Emma Lord, Jose Luaces, Madison McBride, Zachary Noah Piser, Darius Wright, and Daniel Yearwood. Two high school theatre nerds put on a one-night-only, royalty-free staging of Pygmalion — and meet real-life Eliza Doolittle —after their production of My Fair Lady is canceled.

Click here for the complete list of musicals (click “Musicals” at the menu at the top).

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  BC/EFA‘a Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returns Sun. Oct. 3 starting at 10 AM ET in Shubert Alley.

* The silent auction will open at 10 AM ET in the Times Square pedestrian plaza between 45th -46th Streets.
* The live auction will start at 5 PM ET. Click here to view available items.
* Create your own virtual flea market table by joining the new Facebook group “The Heart of Broadway,”

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  The Skylight Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Inda Craig-Gálvin’s A Hit Dog Will Holler Oct. 30 – Dec. 12 (opening Nov. 6), directed by John Lawrence Rivera.

Donna Simone Johnson & Kacie Rogers (sharing the role of Dru) and Cheri Vandenheuvel (Gina).

The play explores the effects of a never-ending barrage of trauma on the women who are continually looked at to lead a movement of resistance and change. A social media influencer and a boots-on-the-ground activist form a complex bond of friendship to help each other survive as American racism manifests into physical form.

This Weekend’s Highlights:

Friday, July 24

* She Loves Me (Broadway 2016), starring Laura Benanti, Zachary Levi, Gavin Creel, and Jane Krakowski, airs at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).

* R&H Movie Night’s “Cinderella,” live viewing party, starring Julie Andrews, streamed at 8 PM ET here.

* Julie Halston’s “Virtual Halston,” variety show, with special guests Marilu Henner and Justin Squigs Robertston, streams at 5 PM ET here.

Saturday, July 25

* Misalliance FREE benefit reading, hosted & narrated by David Staller, featuring Marc delaCruz, Dan Domingues, Midori Francis, Peter Francis James, Teresa Avia Lim, Jamie Sanders, Thom Sesma, Ryan Spahn, and Sharon Washington, streamed at 8 PM ET here.

* Songs for a New World concert, featuring Rachel John, Ramin Karimloo, Cedric Neal, and Rachel Tucker, streams at 3:30 PM ET here.

* John Lloyd Young in concert, streams at 9 PM ET on BroadwayOnDemand.

Sunday, July 26

* Megan Hilty & Seth Rudetsky in concert, streams at 8 PM ET here (also July 27).

* Pacific Resident Theatre‘s FREE conversation with playwright Christopher Hampton, streamed at 3 PM PT.

* Is God Is, audio production, by Aleshea Harris, directed by James Ijames, featuring Danielle Leneé (Racine), Brett Ashley Robinson (Anaia), Melanye Finister (She), Akeem Davis (Chuck Hall), Anthony Martinez-Briggs (Scotch), Aaron Bell (Riley), Taysha Marie Canales (Angie), and Lindsay Smiling (Man), concludes at Philadelphia’s Wilma Theatre.

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  Lynn Nottage’s newest play (as yet untitled) will open in Fall 2021 at 2nd Stage‘s Helen Hayes Theatre, directed by Kate Whoriskey.

Casting, dates, and additional information TBA.

  A truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot a reclaiming their lives. Even as the shop’s callous owner tries to keep them under her thumb, the staff members are given purpose and permission to dream by the enigmatic, zen-like chef and his belief in the possibility of the perfect sandwich.

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  Video: “Stars in the House,” a “Fame” film cast reunion, featuring composer Michael Gore, lyricist Dean Picthford, and cast members Debbie Allen, Lee Curreri, Laura Dean, and Antonia Franceschi. (1:22:04) 

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  The Ojai Playwrights Conference has announced its 2020 season:

The season will include a total of 15 plays and playwrights, with public presentation planned for 2021.

  Click here for more information.

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  BOD+, Broadway On Demand‘s new theater-focused streaming platform, is putting Broadway back to work by calling on performers, writers, composers, designers, technicians, and other industry professionals to join their subscription series lineup by submitting pitches for anything from masterclasses, docuseries and original narratives, to concerts, sketch material, and more.

Show formats for pitches can be long-form or episodic but must be conducive to the streaming market

 Click here for more information and to submit.

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  C.P. Taylor’s GOOD will run in Spring 2021 at the Playhouse Theatre, directed by Dominic Cooke.

David Tennant, Fenella Woolgar, and Elliot Levey.

Set in WWII, a German professor must rationalize his decision to join the Nazi party.

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 Video  “The Road to Broadway” (2007) documentary, by Dorie Berinstein.  One of my favorites.  (1:43:28)

  Then look at the menu on the right for a vast selection of other theatre documentaries.

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 MA’s Barrington Stage has announced its Summer 2020 schedule:

 BSC will employ best safety practices, including reducing the 520-seat Mainstage to 163 seats, increasing the distance between rows and seats, and deep cleaning the theatre after every performance. Patrons will be required to wear masks until further notice.

* Summer 2020 Outdoor Concerts: The Hills Are Alive with Rodgers & Hammerstein, (Aug. 19-23), directed by Julianne Boyd, with choreography by Shea Sullivan, and music direction by Darren R. Cohen, featuring Alan H. Green, Storm Lever, Nicholas Rodriguez, Alexandra Silber, and Alysha Umphress.   The production will employ social distancing protocols and will be performed in an outdoor tent in Downtown Pittsfield at the Polish Community Club.

* Harry Clarke (Aug. 5-15), which has received approval from AEA to perform indoors, by David Cale, directed by Julianne Boyd.

* Eleanor reading (Sept. 5 & 5), by Mark St. Germain, starring Harriet Harris

* Three Viewings (Sept. 9-20), by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Julianne Boyd, starring Debra Jo Rupp.

* The Price (Oct. 1-18), directed by Julianne Boyd.

Concert Series:
* Marilyn Maye (Aug. 24)
* Ann Hampton Callaway, with Billy Stritch (Aug. 31 & Sept. 1)
* Leslie Kritzer (Sept. 6)

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  Video: “I Wish I Could Go Back to Theatre”

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  “Shining Girls,” a series adaptation of the novel, has been ordered by Apple TV.  The timeline and additional information TBA.

Elisabeth Moss will star as a Chicago reporter who survived a brutal assault only to find her reality shifting as she hunts down her attacker.

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  Video:  Liz Callaway performs a 14-song medley

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  A Conversation with Harry Connick, Jr. will take place Wed. July 29 at 7 PM ET here.

Following the livestream, the event will be available here.

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  #WhileWeBreathe: A Night of Creative Protest will premiere Wed. July 29 at 9 PM ET here, offering an evening of virtual world premieres benefiting justice-focused organizations, followed by a live discussion.

 Azure D. Osborne-Lee, Liza Jessie Peterson, Lee Edward Colston II), Arvind Ethan David, Cheryl Davis, Nathan Alan Davis, Steve Harper), Bianca Sams, Keenan Scott II, Aurin Squire, Khari Wyatt, and Karen Zacarias.

Carl Cofield, Kirya Traber, Tamara Tunie, Steve Broadnax III, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Patricia McGregor, Pratibha Parmar, and Charles Randolph-Wright.

Patina Miller, Lynn Whitfield, Alfie Fuller, Will Swenson, Marcus Henderson, Birgundi Baker, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Bryan Terrell Clark, Neil Brown Jr, Keith Eric Chappelle, Kevin R. Free, Chris Herbie Holland, Ty Jones, Lori Elizabeth Parquet, Esau Pritchett, Michele Shay, Hailey Stone, and TL Thompson.

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Boston’s Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will present a script-in-hand online performance of The Tempest on Thur. Aug. 6 at 7 PM ET, directed by Steven Maler.

John Douglas Thompson (Prospero), Miguel Cervantes (Ariel), Maurice Emmanuel Parent (Sebastian), Siobhan Juanita Brown (Gonzala), Fred Sullivan Jr. (Stephano), Remo Airaldi (Antonio), Nora Eschenheimer (Miranda), John Kuntz (Trinculo), Nael Nacer (Caliban), Richard Noble (Alonso), and Michael Underhill (Ferdinand).

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Alvin Ailey’s Blues Suite ballet is now available through July 30 here. (29:39)

This broadcast of Blues Suite is from “Three by Three,” a 1985 PBS Great Performances television special.

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  The Kennedy Center has announced its upcoming concert series.

Artists will perform from a stage extension built into the front of the orchestra-seating level of the hall while concertgoers, entering through the loading doors on the Center’s front plaza, will be seated in physically distanced pairs on the Opera House stage.  These hour-long concerts will take place once a week for a ticketed audience of under 200 once the District of Columbia reaches phase three of reopening.

Renée Fleming, Vanessa Williams, Tiler Peck, Camille A. Brown, and more TBA.

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  Michael Burdette, Robert Scott & Brendan Cull’s Sleepless, the new musical based on “Sleepless in  Seattle,” will run Aug. 25 – Sept. 27 (opening Sept. 1) at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, directed by Morgan Young, with music direction by Chris Walker, and choreography by Charlotte Gale.

  Jay McGuiness (Sam), Kimberley Walsh (Annie), Daniel Casey (Walter), Harriet Thorpe (Eleanor), Tania Mathurin (Becky), Jake Sharp (Rob), and Theo Collis, Mikey Colville & Jobe Hart (sharing the role of Jonah), with Matt Holland, Ross McLaren, Gary Murphy, Dominique Planter, Annie Wensak, and Benjamin Wong. Theo Collis, Mikey Colville, Jobe Hart, and .

The tests, from Polish biotech company GeneMe, are known as FRANKD, standing for Fast, Reliable, Accurate, Nucleic-based Kit for COVID-19 Diagnostic Detection. Samples are collected on-site via throat or nasal swab, with results sent within one hour to individuals through an app developed by Yoti, a tech company working with the NHS. GeneMe claims that tests are “100 percent specific to COVID-19 and 97 percent sensitive.”

The system is currently in its trial phase in Europe, and is being tested with U.K. airports, sports teams, and various multinational companies and government departments.

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  Video: Megan Hilty, Shoshana Bean, and Katharine McPhee perform an Andrew Lloyd Webber mashup.

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  CA’s North Coast Rep presents its iPhone version of Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, in support of The Actors Fund, to run July 29 – Aug. 2, directed by Jenny Sullivan.  here.

Linda Purl

  The deeply personal story of Joan Didion’s experience with the life-threatening illness of her daughter and the death of her husband… and a though-provoking philosophical exploration of the meaning of mortality, the fragility of life, and the mutability of everything that surrounds us.