This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, August 16
Calvin Leon Smith (Clifford Bradshaw), Adam Lambert (Emcee), and Auli’i Cravalho (Sally Bowles), begin their runs in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre.
The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by Maria Aitken, featuring Tom Byrne (Richard Hannay), Safeena Ladha (Pamela/Annabella/Margaret), Eugene McCoy Clown 1), and Maddie Rice (Clown 2), with Jacob Daniels and Hannah Parker, opens at London’s Trafalgar Theatre.
Mel Brooks “Young Frankenstein The Musical” FREE screening, at 4 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Saturday, August 17
Pretty Perfect Lives, by Gage Tarlton, directed by Gabi Carrubba, featuring Elizabeth, Zane Phillips, and Nic Ashe, opens at Off-Broadway’s Flea Theater.
Fowl Play, by Billy Recce & Yoni Weiss, directed by Recce, featuring Selma Nilla, Jayke Workman, Stephen Brower, Mamie Parris, Max Clayton, Darius Rose, William H. Martin, Daniel Quadrino, Burgandy Williams, and Maya Lagerstam, closess at Off-Broadway’s AMT Theater.
A Little Night Music, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring Julia Murney (Desiree Armfeldt), Lora Lee Gayer (Countess Charlotte), Mike McGowan (Fredrik Egerman), Lauren Maria Medina (Anne Egerman), Lily Philbrook (Fredrika), Mike Schwitter (Frid), Steven Telsey (Henrik Egerman), Nik Walker (Count Carl-Magnus), Gianna Yanelli (Petra), Jennifer Allen Mrs. Segstrom), Colin Anderson (Mr. Erlanson), Lianne Marie Dobbs (Mrs. Anderson), Michael Halling (Mrs. Lindquist), and Lillie Langston (Mrs. Nordstrom), with Scarlett Thomas, Whitney Daniels, Chad Marge, and Francesca Mehrotra, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
Sunday, August 18
Velour: A Drag Spectacular, by Sasha Velour & Moses Kaufman, directed by Kaufman, featuring Sasha Velour, Ezra Reaves, Moscato Sky, and Amber St. James, with Shaun Tuazon, opens at La Jolla Playhouse.
Songbook Sundays: Nothin’ But Duke Ellington concert, hosted by Deborah Grace Winer, featuring Aisha de Haas, Darius de Haas, and Anaïs Reno, at 7:30 PM at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
King Lear, London production, starring Ian McKellen, directed by Jonathan Munby, screens at 3 PM at UCLA’s James Bridges Theater.
The Manhattan Variations, by Chris Thile & Claire Coffee, featuring Tenzin Donsel, Julia Gu, Kewulay Kamara, Malcolm Opoku, Shubhra Prakash, Irwin Sánchez, and Dmitris Stefanidis, closes at NYC’s Little Island.
Company national tour, directed by Marianne Elliott, featuring Britney Coleman (Bobbie), Judy McLane (Joanne), Kathryn Allison (Sarah), Matt Bittner (David), Ali Louis Bourzgui (Paul), Derrrick Davis (Larry), James Earl Jones II (Harry), Marina Kondo (Susan), Matt Rodin (Jamie), Emma Stratton (Jenny), Jacob Dickey (Andy), and Tyler Hardwick (PJ), closes at LA’s Pantages Theatre.
Little Shop of Horrors, directed & choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, featuring China Brickey (Audrey), Will Roland (Seymour), David Darrow (Orin Scrivello), Gabrielle Dominique (Crystal), Robert Dorman (Mushnik), Erica Durhan (Chiffon), T. Mychael Rambo (Voice of Audrey II), and Vie Boheme Ronnette), with Time Brickey, Yvonne Freese, Koko, Laureano, and Joey Miller, closes at Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater.
What the Constitution Means to Me, by Heidi Schreck, directed by Matt Hawkins, starring Stacy Stoltz, with Paul Fagen, closes at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Jitney, by August Wilson, directed by Ken-Matt Martin, featuring Steve H. Broadnax III (Doub), Victor Musoni (Youngblood), Ryan Broussard (Booster), Robert Cornelius (Becker), Anthony Irons ( Turnbo), Ireon Roach (Rena), Aaron Smith (Fielding), and Will Adams (Shealy), closes at Arkansas Rep.
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Cats: The Jellicle Ball will resume performances on Aug. 22 (through Sept. 8) at Off-Broadway’s Perelman Performing Arts Center.
Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie), Baby Byrne (Victoria), André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy), Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger), Dava Huesca (Rumpleteazer), Dudney Joseph Jr. (Munkustrap), Capital Kaos (DJ), Junior LaBeija (Gus), Robert “Silk” Mason (Mistoffelees), Chasity Moore (Grizabella), Primo (Tumblebrutus), Xavier Reyes (Jennyanydots), Nora Schell (Bustopher Jones), Bebe Nicole Simpson (Demeter), Emma Sofia (Skimbleshanks), Garnet Williams (Bombalurina), Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub) with Tara Lashan (Clinkscales/Phumzile Sojola), with Bryce Farris and Kendall Grayson Stroud. Casting is by X Casting’s Victor Vazquez and Sujotta R. Pace.
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Amas Musical Theatre will present Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Chris Wiseman, Robert Lindsey-Nassiv & Michael Moricz’s Distant Thunder, to run Sept. 25 – Oct. 27 (opening Sept. 3) at A.R.T./New York Theatres, directed & choreographed by Lynn Taylor-Corbett.
Jeff Barehand, Spencer Battiest, Aubee Billie, Xander Chauncey, Bonale Fambrini, Brent Florendo, Chava Florendo, Angela Gómez, Irma-Estel Laguerre, Johnlee Lookingglass, Glenn Stanton, Michelle Rios, Sampwe Tarrant, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Chelsea Zeno.
A child is taken from his Blackfeet tribe and returns as a young attorney with an opportunity that unwittingly sets off a firestorm. Pop-rock merges with Native drumming and dancing, fusing cultures in this ultimately joyful first-of-its-kind musical.
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John Lloyd Young: Unchained Melodies returns to Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club on Tues. Aug. 20 at 8:30 PM.
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Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt will run Sept. 12 – oct. 13 at Boston’s Huntington Theatre, directed Carey Perloff.
Samuel Adams, Aaron Rosenbaum, Firdous Bamji, Sara Corey, Anna Theonni Digiovanni, Samuel Douglas, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Rachel Felstein, Nellie Jakobovicz Rosenbaum, BiRebecca (Hilde), and Rosa Kloster (Wilma & Ernst’s daughter), and many more …. (click the link above)
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The Foundation for New American Musicals‘ MusiCal, offering selections from new musicals, will take place Sun. Sept. 29 at 8:30 PM at LA’s Reefer Den (6555 Hollywood Blvd).
Comedy School, The Musical, by Selyna Warre, Marissa Read & Jason Currie
. Salem, by J.T. Pieffer & Shelby Soll & Lucy Cook.
The Manager, by Joni Ravenna & Ben Susskind
The Middle of Nowhere, by Oliviana Marie & Ellie Shakespeare
What’s The Word King, by Fermin Suero Jr. and Pete White
Following the performance, anyone is welcome to take the stage and sing their favorite song with a live pianist.
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Below is the correct casting for Urinetown, which will run Sept. 20 – Oct. 27 at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company, directed by Courtney O’Connor, with choreography by Christopher Shink, and music direction by Dan Rodriguez
Remo Airaldi (Senator Fipp/Joeseph “Ol Man” Strong ), Anneke Angstadt (Little Beck Two-Shoes), Christopher Chew (Caldwell B. Cladwell). Gabriel Graetz (Officer Barrel), Elliana Karris (Hope Cladwell), Kenny Lee (Bobby Strong), Tod McNeel, Jr. (Mr. McQueen), Paige O’Connor (Little Sally), Katie O’Reilly (Soupy Sue), Darren Paul (Hot Blades Harry), Anthony Pires, Jr. (Officer Lockstock), Kathy St. George (Josephine “Ma” Strong), James Turner (Dr. Billeaux/Tiny Tom), Lisa Yuen (Penelope Pennywise), and Brandon Lee Mr. (McQeen Cover 10/19 matinee).
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Gingold Theatrical Group will present Shaw’s Devil’s Disciples Oct. 15 – Dec. 23 (opening Nov.3) at Theatre Row, newly adapted & directed by David Staller.
TBA
In this new adaptation, female ferocity rules as five powerhouse women play out this legendary and almost true historical adventure comedy.
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Off-Broadway’s Urban Stages has announced its 2024-25 season:
People of the Book (Oct. 4-27, opening Oct. 10), by Yusses El Guindi. directed by John Langs. An author returns from war to literacy glory, but his celebrity status is underscored by his marriage to an Iraqi woman he saved.
Winter Rhythms Music Festival (Dec. 4-15). The festival will feature 22 different shows and over 100 performers, with selections from the Great American Songbook, pop tunes, Broadway favorites, holiday classics, and more. All proceeds go to Urban Stages’ outreach programs.
A new play (begins Mar. 2025)… from the winner of Urban Stages’ Dynamic Duo Festival contest. Details TBA.
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Harold Pinter’s Betrayal will run Feb. 8 – Mar. 16, 2025 2025, at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Susan V. Booth.
Helen Hunt (Emma), Ian Barford (Robert), Robert Sean Leonard (Jerry).
Emma, Robert, and Jerry have a history. As Emma’s marriage to Robert comes to an end, she reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend. The action unspools backward in time, uncovering hidden truths and revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about.
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The world premiere of Sam Henry Kass’ Brooklyn’s Way will run Sept. 6 – Oct. 13 (opening Sept. 7) at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68, directed by Ronnie Marmo.
Amye Partain (Brooklyn) and Jonathatn R. Freeman (Scoot).
They met on a studio lot. He’s a quirky veteran writer, emotionally fractured by his belief that he has “sold out” creatively… She’s a young and fierce writer’s assistant, intrigued by his talent, and fearful of his inability to avoid self-destructing. Two people now aligned forever, yet separated by life and the circumstance they both face. One needing desperately to confront his past, the other trying to define her future. Brooklyn’s Way…. An impossible choice with life-long regrets and repercussions.