This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, August 19
Waiting for Godot, directed by Joe Calarco, featuring Mark H. Dold (Vladimir), Kevin Isola (Estragon), Christopher Innvar (Pozzo), and Max Wolkowitz (Lucky), opens at Pittsfield, MA’s Barrington Stage.
Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles opens at Atlantic City’s Hard Rock Hotel.
Mud, world premiere written & directed by Bree Pavey, featuring Biniyam Abreha, Antwan Alexander II, Lemon Baardsen, Britt Crips, Emilie Crotty, Madylin Sweeten Currie, Travyz Santos Gatz, Barbera Ann Howard, Silas Jean-Rox, Robert Jolly, Matt Lorenzo, Maia Luer, Benjamin Marshall, Kristian Maxwell-McGeeyer, Ignacio Navarro, Sarah Nilsen, Danielle Ozymandias, Benjamin Rawls, and Mitch Rosander, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Into the Woods, directed by Terry Gilliam & Leah Hausman, featuring Alex Young (Baker’s Wife), Audrey Brisson (Cinderella), Nicola Hughes (Witch), Julian Bleach (Mysterious Man), and Rhashan Stone (Baker), Gillian Bevan (Jack’s Mother), Nathanael Campbell (Wolf / Cinderella’s Prince), Maria Conneely (Rapunzel), Lauren Conroy (Little Red Riding Hood), Phoebe Fildes (Lucinda), Samuel Holmes (Steward), Charlotte Jaconelli (Florinda), Henry Jenkinson (Rapunzel’s Prince), and Barnet Wilkinson (Jack), begins previews at London’s Theatre Royal Bath.
DUETS: The Concert Series Volume 8, offering both live & livestreamed options, featuring Maryanne Burr, Jordan Eagle, Al Gravina, Rose Hemingway, Katie Lemmen, Morgan Milone, Cariss Navarra, Mike Wartella, and Teal Wicks, at 9:45 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.
Saturday, August 20
Two Jews, Talking, world premiere by Ed. Weinberger, directed by Dan Wackerman, starring Hal Linden and Bernie Kopell, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements.
Liz Callaway & Jason Graae concert at 8 PM CT at Nashville’s Tennessee PAC.
The Panic of ’29, by Graham Techler, directed by Max Friedman, featuring Will Roland, Olivia Puckett, Erik Lochtefeld, Joyelle Nicole, Johnson, Jaela Cheeks-Lomax, Rachel B. Joyce, Julia Knitel, Jared Loftin, Jack Maloney, Will Turner, and RJ Vaillancourt, with Devin Kessler, Brian Morabito, Jacob Presson, and Rachel Ravel, closes at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters.
Sunday, August 21
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Curtain Up fundraiser, with special guest Linda Purl, at 5 PM PT at the Santa Barbara Club.
The Devil Wears Prada, by Elton John, Shaina Taub & Kate Wetherhead, directed by directed by Anna D. Shapiro, featuring Beath Leavel (Miranda Priestly), Taylor Iman Jones (Andy Sachs), Javier Muñoz (Nigel Owens), Christiana Cole (Lauren), Megan Masako Haley (Emily Charlton), Tiffany Mann (Kayla), Michael Tacconi (Nate Angstrom), and Christian Thompson (Christian Thompson), with Kyle Brown, JoJo Carmichael, Olivia Cipolla, Tyrone Davis Jr., Audrey Douglas, Hannah Douglass, Madiso Fendley, Cailen Fu, Michael Samarie George, Henry Gottfried, Marya Grandy, Jessie Hooker-Bailey, Liana Hunt, Amber Jackson, Chris Jaroz, Carlos A. Jimenez, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Anthony Murphy, Jim Ortlieb, Jonathan Rice, Sawyer Smith, Terrance Spencer, and CJ Tyson, closes at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre.
Here There are Blueberries, world premiere by Moisés Kaufman & Amanda Gronich, directed by Kaufman, featuring Scott Barrow, Charles Browning, Rosina Reynolds, Jeanne Sakata, Elizabeth Stahlmann, Charlie Thurston, Grant James Varjas, and Frances Uku, with Abby Huffstetler, Noah Keyishian, and Sabrina Liu, closes at La Jolla Playhouse.
Xanadu, by Douglas Carter Beane, Jeff Lynne & John Farra, directed & choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan, featuring Kristen Daniels (Kira/Clio), Dorian Quinn (Sonny), Jonathan Van Dyke (Danny/Zeus), Michelle Bendetti (Calliope/Aphrodite), and Judy Mina-Ballard (Melpomene/Medusa), with Daniella Castoria, Erika Harper, AJ Love, Alec Mittenthal, Patrick Murray, and Ellery Smith, closes at Laguna Playhouse.
Jersey Boys, directed by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, featuring Justin Scott Brown (Tommy DeVito), Brian Michael Henry (Nick Massi), Jeffrey Kringer (Bob Gaudio), Evan Jay Newman (Frankie Valli), Nick Anastasia (Franki Valli 2/ Joey Pesci), and Shayne David Cameris (Bob Crewe), with Josh DeMarco, Madalyn “Maddy” Montgomery, Shannon Rafferty, Nicole Zelka, Morgan Smith, and Jake Goodman, closes at Albany’s Capital Rep.
Remembering the Future, world premiere by Peter Lefcourt, directed by Terri Hanauer, featuring Michael Corbett, Fatima El-Bashir, David Jahn, Andrew Neaves, and Tarina Pouncy, closes at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
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Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out will have a limited return on Broadway Oct. 27 – Jan. 29, 2023 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Scott Ellis.
Jesse Williams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson return, with additional casting TBA.
When Darren Lemming, the star center fielder for the Empires, comes out of the closet, the rection off the field reveals a barrage of long-held unspoken prejudices dealing with sexuality and masculinity, money and power, and race and class. Facing some hostile teammates and fraught friendships, Darren is forced to contend with the challenges of being a gay person of color within the confines of a classic American institution. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties, and the price of victory.
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Dancers Responding to AIDS‘ Hudson Valley Dance Festival, in support of BC/EFA, will take place Sat. Oct. 8 at 2 & 5 PM ET at NY’s Catskill Point.
Choreographers and dancers TBA.
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Classic Stage Company has announced complete casting for Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Terrence McNally’s A Man of No Importance, to run Oct. 11 – Dec. 4 (opening Oct. 30), directed by John Doyle.
Shereen Ahmed (Adele Rice), Jim Parsons (Alfie Byrne), Mare Winningham (Lily Byrne), Alma Cuervo (Miss Oona Crowe), Kara Mikula (Mrs. Curtain), Da’Von T. Moody (Breton Beret), Mary Beth Peil (Mrs. Grace), Thom Sesma (Mr. Carney), A.J. Shively (Robbie Fay), Nathaniel Stampley (Father Kenny), Jessica Tyler Wright (Mrs. Patrick), Joel Waggoner (Ernie Lally), and William Youmans (Baldy O’Shea).
The story of an amateur theatre group in 1960s Dublin and their leader, bus driver Alfie Byrne, who is determined to stage a production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome despite the objections of local church authorities.
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Patti LuPone: Songs From a Hat will run Dec. 20-23 & 26-30 at NYC’s 54 Below, with music direction by Josph Thalken.
The evenings will feature an intimate concert, with the song list randomly chosen from a hat. Expect to hear songs, both new and old, and stories from her career. Each performance will feature a different set list.
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East West Players has announced that the world premiere of Inda Craig-Galvan’s The Great Jheri Curl Debate will run Sept. 15 – Oct. 9 (opening Sept. 17), directed by Scarlett Kim.
Julanne Chidi Hill (Veralynn Jackson), Ryun Yu (Mr. Kim), Ray Baker (Jheri Redding), Mildred Marie Langford (Lorraine), and Bruce A. Lemon Jr. (Marvin).
Veralyn Jackson knows hair, her neighborhood, and that the invention of the Jheri Curl marks the end of the world. When she takes a job in Mr. Kim’s Korean-owned Black beauty supply store and the posters start talking to her, Veralynn might finally come to know her true calling.
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Brooklyn’s St. Ann’s Warehouse has announced its 2022-23 season:
Wuthering Heights (Oct. 14 – Nov. 6), adapted by Emma Rice.
The Patient Cloria (Nov. 16 – Dec. 4), by Gina Moxley, directed by John McIlduff The punk-infused show addresses misogyny with cutting humor.
The Jungle (Feb. 18 – Mar. 19, 2023), by Joe Murphy & Joe Robertson, directed by Stephen Daldry & Justin Martin. In an improvised refugee camp in Calais, France, thousands of adults and children fleeing drought, war, and violence, seek their “good chance” – to reach the U.K.
Monsoon Wedding (May 2023, dates TBA), stage adaptation by Sabrina Dhawan, Arpita Mukherjee, Vishal Bhardwaj, Masi Asare & Susan Birkenhead. A father tries to marry off his daughter, Aditi, in the traditional manner. Aditi is having second thoughts, while her cousin Ayesha Varma, 17, is just beginning to realize she’s attractive to goys, and her other cousin, Ria, has a shocking revelation ready. Her brother, however, just wants to dance.
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Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli & Tye Blue’s Titanique will now run through Nov. 6 at Off-Broadway’s Asylum Theatre, directed by Tye Blue.
Marla Mindelle (Céline Dion), Constantine Rousouli (Jack), Frankie Grande (Victor Garber), Kathy Deitch (Molly Brown), Ryan Duncan (Ruth), Alex Ellis (Rose), John Riddle (Cal), and Jaye Alexander (The Iceberg), with Courtney Bassett, Donnie Hammond, and Dimitri Moise.
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Audio: Tom Kitt & Cameron Crowe’s “The Night-Time Sky’s Got Nothing on You” from their upcoming Broadway production of Almost Famous, performed by Chris Wood and Solea Pfeiffer.
The musical will begin previews Oct. 3 and open Nov. 3 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
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The psychological thriller “House of Spoils,” written & directed by Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle Krudy, is currently in development, starring Ariana DeBose. Timeline, casting, and additional information is TBA.
A chef who, upon opening her first restaurant, realizes that is has been cursed by the evil spirit of the previous owner.
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The world premiere of Jacob Perkins’ The Gold Room will run Oct. 14 – Nov. 5 (opening Oct. 16) at HERE, directed by Gus Heagerty.
Scott Parkinson and Robert Stanton.
Two middle-aged men become wrapped up in a haunting roleplay after a chance sexual encounter.
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In honor of Olivia Newton-John, who passed away earlier this month, “Grease” will be shown in 135 different AMC movie theaters beginning this weekend, with a ticket price of $5.
$1 from every ticket sold will support breast cancer research via the AMC Cares charitable fund.
Click here to find a theater near you.
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater has announced its 2022-23 season:
Lope De Bega & Shakespeare online discussion (Sept. 8 at 7:30 PM ET), FREE event. Who is Lopé and why did he and Shakespeare both write a pay about the Capulets and the Montagues?
The Capulets and the Montagues online reading (Sept. 12-18) newly translated by Dakin Matthews.
Shylock podversation (Oct. 3 at 7:30 PM ET), with F. Murray Abraham. FREE event.
Relapse reading (Oct. 24 at 7:30 PM ET) , by John Vanbrugh, in person & online, directed by Marc Vietor, featuring Chauncy Thomas, Michael Urie, and more TBA. A riotous Restoration comedy, in which a reformed rake succumbs to temptation with a new love affair while his wife is subjected to a determined seduction attempt. Meanwhile, the fabulous Lord Foppington flamboyantly flirts about town before leaving to marry a country wife – but his rakish brother is determined to get there first.
The Duchess of Malfi reading (Nov. 14 at 7:30 PM ET in person & online). Details TBA.
Bottom’s Dream podversation (Nov. 21 at 7:30 PM ET), with Jacob Ming Trent, FREE event. Additional information TBA.
Your Own Thing presentation (Dec. 12 at 7:30 PM ET), by Hal Lester, Danny Apolinar & Donald Driver. Casting TBA. In the late 1960s, a raging storm shipwrecks a young music duo, twins Viola and Sebastian. The pair end up in the land of Illyria, which looks much like New York City, and the rest is Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night – will, kind of.
Arden of Faversham (Winter 2023), author unknown, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher & Kathryn Walat, directed by Jesse Berger. The first true-crime story. A tale of illicit passion and slaughter that rocked the Elizabethan world. Valentine’s Day, 1551. Alice and her ambitious lover Mosby plot to murder her husband, engaging a cluster of inept killers to do the deed. It’s Macbeth meets Double Indemnity meets Fargo, featuring one of the strongest and most mercurial female protagonists in early drama. And – did Shakespeare write it? See this new version of a rarely stages classical thriller.
The Knight of the Burning Pestle (Spring 2023), by Francis Beaumont. Presented by Fiasco Theatre. One of the first parodies of the English theatre, this Elizabethan comedy is a joyful romp that celebrates our collective capacity to improvise our natural desire to be center stage. A play about the elopement of the star-crossed lovers called The London Merchant is about to be performed when an unexpected interruption occurs. The actors adapt ad invent a new story – an outrageous unexpected quest called The Knight of the Burning Pestle – which takes over the stage in hilariously disruptive ways.
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Complete casting has been announced for the Off-Broadway return of Jonathan Hogue’s Stranger Sings! (the parody of Stranger Things), which will begin previews Sept. 12 and open Sept. 22 at St. Luke’s Playhouse 46, directed again by Nick Flatto, with music direction by Michael Kaish, and choreography by Ashley Marinelli.
Caroline Huerta, Garrett Poladian, SLee, Jean Christian Barry, Jamir Brown, Jeremiah Garcia, Dashiell Gregory, Jeffrey Laughrun, Hannah Clarke Levine, Harley Seger, and Shawn W. Smith.
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“Renee Fleming’s Cities That Sing – Paris” will premiere Sept. 18 (beginning at 3 PM ET), which will broadcast live from New NYC’s AMC Lincoln Square IMAX, and will include a one-time-only conversation with Kelsey Grammer.
Repeat screenings are planned for Sept. 21.
Video: Trailer