This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, April 18
Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, by Lonne Elder III, directed by Clinton Turner Davis, featuring Norm Lewis, Jeremiah Packer, Calvin M. Thompson and Bryce Michael Wood, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements.
Negro Ensemble Company‘s Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, by Lonne Elder III, directed by Clinton Turner Davis, featuring Norm Lewis, Felicia Boswell, James Foster Jr., Morgan Siobhan Green, Jeremiah Packer, Calvin M. Thompson, and Bryce Michael Wood, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements.
Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile concert opens at Virginia Stage Company.
The Totality of All Things, world premiere by Erik Gernand, directed by Taylor Nichols, featuring Christina Carlisi (Judith), Meeghan Holaway (DeeAnn), Gloria Ines (Ms. Carter), Gabriel Plama (Gregg), Victor Kallett (Micah), and Carlos Lacámara (Principal Benson), opens at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre.
Cybill Shepherd: Queen of the Lucky Club opens at LA’s Catalina Jazz Club.
A Fabulous 50th: Broadway’s Most Legendary Season concert, directed & hosted by Scott Coulter, featuring Tony Yazbeck, Eden Espinosa, Klea Blackhurst, Carole J. Bufford, Jason Graae, Stephany Park, and Max Clayton, at 8 PM at CA’s Segerstrom Center.
Saturday, April 19
Five Models in Ruins, 1981, world premiere by Caitlin Saylor Stephen, directed by Morgan Green, featuring Elizabeth Marvel (Roberto), Stella Everett (Chrissy), Maia Novi (Tatiana), Britne Oldford (Alex), Sarah Marie Rodriguez (Grace), and Madeline Wise (Sandy), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Claire Tow Theater.
“Dr. Strangelove” screening, starring Steve Coogan (playing 4 roles), at 3 PM at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre.
The Years, adapted & directed by Eline Arbo, featuring Deborah Findlay, Romola Garai (through March 8), Gina McKee, Anjli Mohindra, and Harmony Rose-Bremner, closes at Londons’s Harold Pinter Theatre.
Cybill Shepherd: Queen of the Lucky Club closes at LA’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Sunday, April 20
A.R.T.‘s The Lazours’ Nightside Songs concert, directed by Taibi Magar, featuring Jordan Dobson, Robi Hager, Brooke Iashibashi, Jonathan Raviv, and Mary Testa, closes at various Cambridge (M.A.) locations.
Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and the Shadow of Her Smile concert closes at Virginia Stage Company.
Hughie, by Eugene O’Neill, directed Bill Sehres, featuring Dan Frischman (Erie Smith), Andy Forrest (Charlie Hughes), and Scott MacDonell (Charlie Hughes) closes at North Hollywood Two Roads Theatre.
Rachmaninoff and the Tsar, written & performed by Hershey Felder, directed by Trevor Hay, closes at Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre Company.
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Video: Why Broadway’s upcoming Pirates! The Penzance Musical is set in New Orleans.
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. Life of Pi will run May 6 – June 1 (opening May 7) at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Lolita Chakrabarti.
The heart of Life of Pi is its unbelievable theatricality. Using masterful puppetry and innovative stagecraft, this production conjures storms at sea, drifting lifeboats, and a ferocious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. It’s a visual spectacle that has left audiences in awe and critics raving. Told with jaw-dropping visuals, world class, innovative puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, the Broadway and West End sensation Life of Pi creates a visually breathtaking journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy.
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Broadway Cares will present its annual Broadway Dream Roles concert on Mon. Apr. 28 at 7 PM at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre, hosted by Cara Young.
Erich Bergen, Liz Callaway, Tom Francis, Jennifer Holliday, Lesli Margherita, Jimin Moon, Zachary Noah Piser, Jasmine Amy Rogers, and Damson Chola Jr. , with more TBA.
The evening will feature a mix of Broadway favorites and rising stars stepping into roles they have longed to play, but never had the opportunity to. Each performance will have a story attached, whether it’s a role the artist narrowly missed, a wish never voiced aloud, or more.
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Alan James’ Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story will run July 11-27 (opening July 12) at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West, directed & choreographed by Keith Andrews, with music direction by: Ryan O’Connell.
Matt McClure (Buddy Holly), Danny Adams (Tommy Allsup), James Beaman (Hipockets Duncan), Brian Russell Carey (Joe B. Mauldin), Seth Eliser (Jerry Allison), and more TBA.
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater will present it annual Running of the Bulls Gala on Monday May 5 at 6 PM at NYC’s Bowery Hotel, directed by TBA, and hosted by Stephen DeRosa & Charlayne Woodard.
John Douglas Thompson and
Norbert Leo Butz.
TBA
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The ASCAP foundation Musical Theatre Fest will run May 5-6 at the Beverly Hills’ Wallis, hosted by Stephen Schwartz. The Fest offers a rare glimpse into the process and craft of musical theatre with some of Broadway’s biggest composers. Expect to hear hit Broadway composers share unheard gems.
The concert and workshop double bill are free and open to the public, with reservations required.
Click here to reserve the workshop ….. and here to reserve the concert.
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My Fair Lady in concert will take place Tues. July 15 at 7:30 & 10:30 PM the Aspen Music Festival and School, directed byMaggie Burrows, and conducted by Andy Einhorn.
Julie Benko (Eliza Dolittle), and more TBA.
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The Light in the Piazza will run May 8 – June 15 (opening May 14) at Boston’s Huntington Theatre, directed by Loretta Greco, with choreography by Daniel Pelzig, and music direction by Andrea Grody.
Emily Skinner (Margaret Johnson), Sarah-Anne Martinez (Clara Johnson), Joshua Grosso (Fabrizio Naccarelli), William Michals (Signor Naccarelli), Rebecca Pitcher (Signora Naccarelli), Alexander Ross ( Giuseppe Naccarelli), Rebekah Rae Robles (Franca Naccarelli), and Rob Richardson (Roy Johnson), with Kate Fitzgerald, Russell Garrett, Daniel A. Lopez, Sherée Marcelle, Morgan Mastrangelo, Sarah Oakes Muirhead, and Nick Sulfaro. Swings David Rosenthal and Tamara Ryan; and extras Yuma Feldman, Millie Grace Gibson, Elsa Hancock-Happ, Mary Niederkorn, and Odin Vega.
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The Town Hall Spring Shout Benefit Concert, honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda will take place Mon. May 19 at 8 PM at NYC’s Town Hall, directed by TBA, with music direction by TBA.
Jasmine Cephas Jones, Nicholas Christopher, Jordan Fisher, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Mandy Gonzalez, Julia Harriman, Chris Jackson, Phillipa Soo, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Aneesa Folds, Arthur Lewis, Kaila Mullady, Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan, Anthony Veneziale, Alex Lacamoire, Chris Jackson, Eliseo Roman, Janet Dacal, Mandy Gonzalez, Olga Merediz, Priscilla Lopez, and Robin De Jesús, Eisa Davis, Amber Gray, Aneesa Folds, Gizel Jiménez, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Julia Harriman, Kenita Miller, Phillipa Soo, and Sasha Hutchings.
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(Click here to read): Director Sam Pinkleton on the Art of recasting Oh, Mary!
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LA’s Blank Theater will present the winners of its 33rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival, in partnership with Delta Airlines, with details available by May 1.