This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, August 2
Nine, by Maury Yeston & Arthur Kopit, directed & choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, featuring Steven Pasquale (Guido Contini), Shereen Ahmed (Claudia), Carmello (Liliane La Fleur), Sasha Hutchings )Our Lady of the Spa), Lesli Margherita (Saraghina), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Guido’s Mother), Jen Sese (Stephanie Necrophorus), Elizabeth Stanley (Luisa Contini), Michelle Veintimilla (Carla Albanese) and, Charlie Firlik (Young Guido), with Allison Blackwell, Dylis Croman, Haley Fish, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Lucia Giannetta, Morgan Marcell, Yani Marin, Georgina Pazcoguin, Marina Pires, and Kamille Upshaw, opens at DC’s Kennedy Center.
Mrs. Mannerly, by Jeffrey Hatcher, featuring Linda Purl and Jordan Ahnquist, opens at Pinehurst, NC’s Judson Theatre Company.
SkyPilot Theatre Company‘s Honeymoon Suite (with Apologies to Neil Simon), by Kelli Bowlden, directed by Jenna Hoffman, featuring Jerry Campisi, Whitney Montgomery, Chris Periko, Lilly Weak, Lindsay Shelton, Piper Major, Grace Neiswander, Pete Navis, Stevie Kincheloe, Lindsay Gentile, Erin Astin, and Alex Borja, opens at Hollywood’s 905 Cole Theater.
Saturday, August 3
Young Frankenstein, directed & choreographed by Gerry McIntyre, featuring Sean Bell (The Monster), Aaron Choi (Hermit), Veanne Cox (Frau Blücher), Matthew Hydzik (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), James Romney (Igor), Kyla Stone (Inga, and Aléna Watters (Elizabeth Benning), with Savannah Cooper, Bradley William Gibbins, Brady Miller, Linda Neel, Christina Emily Jackson, Cullen J. Zeno, opens at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
26th Annual Broadway Barks annual adoption event, in support of BCEFA, from 3-6 PM in Broadway’s Shubert Alley.
Boys From the Blackstuff, by James Graham, directed by Kate Wasserberg, featuring George Caple (Snowy/Kevin/Scotty), Dominic Carter (Molloy/Marley/Landlord/Catholic Priest/Policeman), Helen Carter (Miss Sutcliffe/Freda/Margaret), Aron Julius (Loggo), Nathan McMullen (Chrissie), Lauren O’Neil (Angie/Jean/Lawton/Student/Lollipop Lady), Jamie Peacock (Moss/Anglican Reverend), Barry Sloane (Yosser), and Mark womack (Dixie), with Liam Tobin. closes at London’s Garrick Theatre.
Romeo & Juliet, directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Tom Holland (Romeo), Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (Juliet), Freema Agyeman (Nurse), Michael Balogun (Friar), Tomiwa Edun (Capulet), Mia Jerome (Montague), Daniel Quinn-Toye (Paris), Ray Sesay (Tybalt), Nima Taleghani (Benvolio), and Joshua-Alexander Williams (Mercutio), with Harriet Bunton, Nathaniel Christian, Shardé Neikaiya, and Philip Olagoke, closes at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre.
Gatsby, world premiere by Florence Welch, Thomas Bartlett & Martyna Majok, directed by Rachel Chavkin, featuring Isaac Powell (Gatsby), Charlotte MacInnes (Daisy), Ben Levi Ross (Nick), Cory Jeacoma (Tom), Eleri Ward (Jordan), Solea Pfeiffer (Myrtle), Matthew Amira (Wilson), Adam Grupper (Wolfsheim), and Sam Simahk (standby for Gatsby), with Nick Bailey, Kailey Boyle, Runako Campbell, Jada Clark, Joshua Grosso, Alex Haquia, Gabriel Hyman, Matt Kizer, Lorenzo Pagano, Chris Ralph, Christopher M. Ramirez, Shea Renne, Aliza Russell, Shota Sekiguchi, Maya Sistruck, Cameron Burke, Jacob Burns, Mia DeWeese, Paige Krumbach, and Justin Gregory Lopez, closes at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
Sunday, August 4
A Jerry Herman Evening concert, starring Andrea Marcovicci, with special guest Jason Graae, at 8 PM at Hollywood’s Gardenia.
222: A Ghost Story, by Danny Robbins, directed by Matthew Dunster & Isabel Marr, featuring Donna Air (Lauren), Stacey Dooley (Jenny), James Buckley (Ben), and Joe McFadden (Sam), closes at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
Little Bear Ridge Road, world premiere by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Joe Mantello, featuring Laurie Metcalf (Sarah), John Drea (James/Kenny), Meighan (Paulette/Vicki), and Micah Stock (Ethan), closes at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Seussical, directed by Michael Heittzman, featuring Beth Malone (Cat in the Hat), Jacob Keith Watson (Horton), Kate Loprest (Mayzie), Susana Cordón (Gertrude), Darius Harper (Sour Kangaroo), and Henry thomas (Jojo), with Brett Barthelemy, Sky Bennett, Kristen Grace Brown, Justin Deparis, Zephaniah Divine, Ian Dominguez Ball, Kylie Edwards, Lucas Fedele, Laura Guley Jessica Ice, Linnea McKinney, Devin Neilson, Samantha Nelson, Rory Prichard, Brittany Pent Rohm, Kai Sachon, Megan Sell, BB Stone, and Davis Wayne, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company‘s The Winter’s Tale (FREE production), directed by Bryn Boice, featuring Nael Nacer (Leontes), Marianna Bassham (Hermione), Omar Robinson (Polixenes), Paula Plum (Paulina/Time), Tony Estrella (Camillo), Richard Snee (The Shepherd), Robert Walsh (Antigonus), Ryan Winkles (Autolycus), Joshua Olumide (Florizel), Nettie Chickering (Emilia). Clara Hevia (Perdita), Cleveland Nicoll (Clown), John Blair (First Lord), Bella Grace Harris (Gaoler/Bohemian Servant), Ednilson Tavares (Second Lord), Ryan Richard Doyle (Cleomenes), Dyce Stephens (Dion), Chloe Boyan (First Lady/Dorcas), Rilyn Gardner (Second Lady/Mopsa), Anne Borzner (Doctor/First Gentleman), and Eviva Rose (Mamillius), closes at The Boston Commons.
The Blank Theatre‘s 32nd Annual Young Playwrights Festival concludes at Hollywood’s Skylight Theatre.
The Pitch, by Tom Alper, directed by Louie Liberti, featuring Tom Alper, Albie Selznick, William Warren, Joe Lorenzo, Connor Killeen, Rachel Butera, Chris Cox, Darian Michael Garey, Grant Hall, Isabella Dibernardino, Johnathan R. Freeman, and Katie Silverman, closes at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
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Waiting for Godot will open in Fall 2025 (dates TBA) at at theater TBA, directed by Jamie Lloyd. Click here for updates.
Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
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The York Theatre Company will present an invitation-only developmental reading of Bryan Leys & Clare Cooper’s Desperation, or The Return of the Black crook!: A Musical Comedy Fantasy on Mon. Aug. 12 at 7 PM at Off-Broadway’s Pearl Studios, directed by Bryan Lyes, with music direction by Frank Lindquist. For further information: boxoffice@yorktheatre.ort.
Nikki Casseri, Robert Cuccioli, Laura Danniel, Michael Kirk Lane, James Lynch, Brandon Schraml, Robert Vest, Bridget Welch, and Babs Win.
It’s Halloween, 1888, in Desperation, Colorado. A sorcerer-turned-gunfighter is pledged to deliver one innocent soul to the devil by midnight. The entanglements involve con men, killers, gold diggers, unlucky heroines, a fairy princess, and a pig transformed into a man. There is plenty of dark humor, satire, and catchy musical comedy.
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Jeffrey Roberson, Ricky Graham & Jacques LaMarre’s Varla Jean Merman: The Errors Tour will run Oct. 8-9, both at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, directed by Michael Schiralli.
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Boston’s Lyric Stage has announced its 2024-25 season:
Urinetown (Sept. 20 – Oct. 20)
Noises Off (Nov. 15 – Dec. 22)
Crumbs from the Table (Jan. 10 – Feb. 2, 2025), by Lynn Nottage. Two sisters and their recently widowed father struggle to find their place in the world while holding tight to the love they have for each other.
Was It Worth It (Feb. 21 – Mar. 16), by Yasmina Reza. Three life-long friendships are faced with the reality that maybe they never had anything in common to begin with.
The Great Reveal (Apr. 4-27), by David Valdes. A dramedy exploring the ways a diverse group of people who love each other navigate family dynamics and gender identity.
Hello, Dolly (May 16 – June 22)
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Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding will run Sept. 6 – Oct. 13 (opening Sept. 12) at DC’s Arena Stage, directed by Whitney White.
Melanie Adrienne Brezill (Michelle/Chrissy/Laniece), Victoire Charles (Jaja), Yao Dogbe (James/Franklin/Olu/Eric), Mia Kiri Ellis (Jennifer), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata), Zamo Mlengana (Miriam), Colby N. Muhammad (Vanessa/Sheila/Radia), Jordan Rice (Marie), Awa Sal Secka (Bea), and Aisha Sougou (Ndidi).
The uproarious escapades of a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders as they shape masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. A beautiful reflection of the ins, outs, and hustle of everyday life, this hilarious workplace satire unravels the complexities of cultural identity.
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Simply Barbra: The Book Tour – Starring Seven Brinberg will take place Wed. Oct. 16 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
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Arsenic and Old Lace will run Sept. 4-22 at Virginia Stage Company, directed by Nicolas Minas.
Victoria Alev (Elaine Harper), Alvan Bolling II (Officer Brophy), John Cauthen (Rve. Dr. Harper), Dan Cimo (Officer Klein), Ryan Clemens (Teddy Brewster), Arthur Lazalde (Jonathan Brewster), Steven Minow (Dr. Einstein), Darius Nelson (Officer O’Hara), Ron Newman (Mr. Gibbs), Tom O’Reilly (Mr. Witherspoon), Michael Raver (Mortimer Brewster), Scott Rollins (Lieutenant Rooney), Linda Slade (Abby Brewster), and Kathryn Strouse (Martha Brewster).
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The Civility of Albert Cashier, by Jay Paul Deratany, Coyote Joe Stevens & Keaton Wooden, will run Aug. 31 – Sept. 22 (opening Sept. 7) at Burbank’s Colony Theatre, directed by Richard Israel, with music direction by Anthony Lucca & Anthony Zediker.
Josh Adamson, Cameron J. Armstrong, Tanner Berry, Evan Borboa, John Bucy, Cid Cullens, Brett Calo, Gabrielle Dahlen, Andrea Daveline, Lisa Dyson, Fatima El-Bashir, Michael Guarasci, Blake Jenner, Phillip J. Lewis, Jonah Robinson, and Dani Shay.
In August of 1862, Private Albert Cashier enlisted in the Union Army and fought valiantly during the Civil War, until being honorably discharged on August 17, 1865, at which point he received a military pension in recognition of his service. But there was more to Albert than most people knew … he had a secret … this heroic American soldier was born Jennifer Hodgers.
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Marilyn May in concert will take place Tues. Dec. 3 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
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Kenneth Lonergan’s Hold on to Me Darling will run Sept. 24 – Dec.22 (opening Oct. 16) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, directed by Neil Pepe.
Adam Driver, and more TBA.
On learning of his mother’s death, country music icon Strings McCrane (Driver) finds himself in an existential tailspin. The only way out, he decides, is to abandon superstardom in favor of the simple life, so he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. The simple life turns out to be anything but simple in this brilliantly observed tragicomedy, as the consequences of Strings’s success and mind-bending effects of his fame prove all but impossible to outrun.
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Musical Theatre West will present Broadway in the Park on Sun. Aug. 18 at 5 PM at Long Beach’s The Grand (401 East Willow).
Performers and additional information TBA.
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Rogue Machine‘s production of Eric Pfeffinger’s Human Error will run Aug. 10 – Sept. 8 at the Matrix Theatre, directed by Joshua Bitton.
Lauren Burns (Heather), Andrew Hawtrey (Dr. Hoskins), Kiel Kennedy (Jim), Kapil Talwakar (Sameer), and Dristen Vaganos (Madelyn).
Madelyn and Sameer are NPR-listening, latte-sipping blue-staters who are planning a family. Or they were, until they learn that because of a mix-up at the fertility clinic, Madelyn’s embryo was accidentally implanted in another client’s uterus. That news is hard to take; fostering a relationship with the other couple, NASCAR-loving NRA cardholders, is even harder. Can these polar opposites make it through nine months of gestation without killing one another?