This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, August 9
In the Heights, directed & choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, featuring Benji Santiago (Usnavi), Ariana Burks (Nina), Alex Joseph Grayson (Benny), Alysia Velez (Vanessa), Nancy Ticotin (Abuela Claudia), Miguel Gil (Sonny), Martín Solá (Kevin), Karmine Alers (Camila), Darilyn Castillo (Daniela) Marlene Fernandez (Carla), U.J. Mangune (Graffiti Pete) and Ángel Lozada (Standby for Usnavi), with Marissa Barragán, Angelica Maria Beliard, Ixchel Cuellar, Ralphie Rivera De Jesús, Adriel Flete, Reyna Guerra, Emily Madigan, Sebastian Martinez, Eddie Martin Morales, José J. Muñoz, Matthew Rivera, Kiana Coryn Rodriguez, Francisco Javier Thurston and Alora Tonielle, opens at the St. Louis Muny.
Are You Listening, by Mary Leeholland, directed by Chloe Babbes & Mary Leeholland, featuring Mary Leeholland, Daniel Kim, Freedom, Toni Deaver, Randahl Brisco, Jonas Grosserhode, Jessica Woehler, and Michael T. Kachingwe, opens at Hollywood’s Actors Co-op.
No Desire to Suffer Twice, by Cris Eli Blak, directed by Matt Lorenzo, featuring Antwan Alexander II, Xanxan Beneche, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, Harry Fakoura, Leah Haile, Andre Lamone, Thando Skwatsha, and Esteban Vasquez, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Grease, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring David Nick Alea, Brianna Ascaone, Giuliana Augello, Jordan Bollwerk, Sherrod D. Brown, Seth Clayton, Nathan Cockroft, Toni Dibuono, Tiffany Engen, Maya Kazzaz, Erin, Kommor, Stanley Martin, Keaton Miller, Joe Montoya, Brianna Brito Mooney, Stephanie Prestage, Lorenzo Pugliese, JP Qualters, Suayna Smith, and Alyssa Wray, previews at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Flayed presentation, written & performed by Josiah Blount, directed by David Bridel, at 8 PM at Hollywood’s LGBT Center (also Sept. 7).
Saturday, August 10
Grease, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring David Nick Alea, Brianna Ascaone, Giuliana Augello, Jordan Bollwerk, Sherrod D. Brown, Seth Clayton, Nathan Cockroft, Toni Dibuono, Tiffany Engen, Maya Kazzaz, Erin, Kommor, Stanley Martin, Keaton Miller, Joe Montoya, Brianna Brito Mooney, Stephanie Prestage, Lorenzo Pugliese, JP Qualters, Suayna Smith, and Alyssa Wray, opens at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Rogue Machine‘s Human Error, by Eric Pfeffinger, directed by Joshua Bitton, featuring Lauren Burns (Heather), Andrew Hawtrey (Dr. Hoskins), Kiel Kennedy (Jim), Kapil Talwakar (Sameer), and Dristen Vaganos (Madelyn), opens at LA’s Matrix Theater.
Illinoise, by Jackie Sibblies Drury & Suffan Stevens, directed & choreographed by Justin Peck, featuring Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Yesenia Ayala, Kara Chan, Ben Cook, Gaby Diaz, Jeanette Delgado, Carlos Falu, Christine Flores, Jada German, Zachary Gonder, Rachel Lockhart, Brandt Martinez, Dario Natarelli, Tyrone Reese, Craig Salstein, Ahmad Simmons, Byron Tittle, Ricky Ubeda, and Alejandro Vargas, closes at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
The Constituent, world premiere by Joe Penhall, directed by Matthew Warchus, featuring James Corden, Anna Maxwell, and Zachary Hart, closes at London’s Old Vic.
Pamela Palmer, world premiere by Walter Bobbie, directed by Walter Bobbie, featuring Tina Benko (Pamela Palmer), Clarg Gregg (The Dectective), Max Gordon Moore (The Husband), and Becky Ann Baker (The Mother), closes at the Williamstown Festival.
Sunday, August 11
The 128th Kritzerland Show concert, directed by Bruce Kimmel, featuring Ava Madison Gray, Sadie Reynolds, Rae Martinez, Marissa Margolis, Elena Bertacchi, Benji Katzke, Erin Choi, Sophie Peterson, Henry Witcher, Daniel Peters, Zo McNeeley, and Emerson McNeeley, at 1 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Renaissance Theater Company‘s From Here, written & directed by Donald Rupe, featuring Blake Aburn (Daniel), Becca Southworth (Becca), and Omar Cardona (Ricky, closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, world premiere by Taylor Mac & Jason Robert Brown, directed by Rob Ashford, featuring J. Harrison Ghee (Lady Chablis), Tom Hewitt (Jim Williams), Sierra Boggess (Emma Dawes), Lance Roberts (Bobby Lewis), Austin Colby (Danny Hansford), Bailee Endebrock (Corrine Strong), Shanel Bailey (Lavella Cole), Jessica Molaskey (Alma Knox Carter), Brianna Buckley (Minerva), Mary Ernster (Serena Barnes/Dawn Avery), McKinley Carter (Vera Strong), Maya Bowles (Stacey Brown), DeMarius Copes (Jereiah Jones), Sean Donovan (Luther Driggers), Jason Michael Evans CColonel Atwood/Burt), Christopher Kelley (Bubbles/Gregory), Andre Terrell Malcolm (Josiah Domingo), Aaron James McKenzie (Jethro Myles), Wes Oliver (Jack the One-Eyed Jill), Kayla Marie Shipman (Millicent/Mary), and Rory Shirley (Stefanie Davis), Calvin L. Cooper, with Daryn Whitney Harrell, Kayla Kennedy, Jake DiMaggio Lopez, Justin Thomas Rivers, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
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, closes at DC’s Kennedy Center.
South Pacific, directed by Chay Yew, featuring Danielle Wade (Nelli Forbush), Omar Lopez-Cepero (Emile deBecque), Sky Vaux Fuller (Nagana), Mejay Roa (Jerome), Joan Almedilla (Bloody Mary), Alex Humphreys (Liat), Keven Quillon (Luther Billis), and Cameron Royal (Lt. Cable), with Ethan Hardy Benson, Kelly Berman, Eric Briarly, Chloe Fox, Graham Keen, Hannah Jewel Kohn, Danny Lindgren, Alexa Jane Lowis, John Michael Peterson, James Michael Reilly, Eric Shawn, Nicolette Shin, Phil Sloves, Ethan Van Slyke, John Barsoian, Alyssa Sunew, and Phoenix Noelle, closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
Ask for the Moon, by Darko Tresnjak & Oran Eldor, directed by Tresnjak, featuring Jamison Stern (Schroeder/Persimmon?Misha/Grider), Luba Mason (Helene Huber), Ali Ewoldt (Clair), and Alex Dreschke (The Body Double), closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
Camelot (with new orchestrations by Steve Orich), directed by Jeffrey B. Moss, featuring Nick Apostolina ((Squire Dap/Mordred), Jacob Caltrider ((Sir Dinadin), Jason Heil (Merlyn/Sir Gareth), Scott Hurst, Jr. (Lionel), Brian Krinsky (Lancelot), Jered McLenigan (Arthur), Eben Rosenzweig (Tom of Warwick), Noah Weibel (also as Tom of Warwick), Lauren Weinberg (Guenevere), and Elias Wygodny (Sir Sagramore), with Cole Fletcher, closes at Laguna Playhouse.
Mrs. Mannerly, by Jeffrey Hatcher, featuring Linda Purl and Jordan Ahnquist, closes at Pinehurst, NC’s Judson Theatre Company.
The Prom, directed by Carl Andress, featuring Kate Baldwin (Dee Dee Allen), Danny Drewes (Trent Oliver), Hannah Jane Moore (Emma Nolan), Sophie Nassiri Morvillo (Alyssa Greene), Ryan Palmer (Sheldon Saperstein), Erick Pinnick (Tom Hawkins), Tracy Liz Miller (Mrs. Greene), John Scherer (Barry Glickman), and Savannah Stevenson (Angie), with Zoe Benjamin, Anissa Greigo, Ethan Pugh, Nick Traficante, Erik Daughterman, Mackenzie Farrell, Melissa Goldberg, Jonathan Reyes, Gabi Roller, and Henrique Sobrinho, closes at CT’s Sharon Playhouse.
Into the Woods, directed by Mary Jo Duprey, featuring Zoe Bright, Aaron Camitses, Peyton Crim, Lisa Dyson, Osher Fine, Ian Gibson, Zachary Harris, Timothy Hearl, Emily Jenda, Kailyn Leilani, Emma Rose Lutsky, Christian McCleary, Roni Paige, Brandon Schumann, Clare Snodgrass, Trance Thompson, Stephen L. Wilson, and Sarah Wolter, closes at LA’s Greenway Court Theatre.
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A new revival of Glengarry Glen Ross will open on Broadway in Spring 2025 at (dates and theater TBA), directed by Patrick Marber. Click here for updates.
Kieran Culkin (Richard Roma), Bob Odenkirk (Shelly Levene), Bill Burr (Dave Moss), and more TBA.
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Oli Forsyth’s Brace Brace will run Oct. 3 – Nov. 3 (opening Oct. 9) at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Daniel Raggett.
Phil Dunster, Craig Els, and Anjana Vasan.
A man hijacks a plane. The plane begins to fall. Fight or flight. Back on the ground, survivors Ray and Sylvia struggle to reconcile their responses to this life-changing event. As cracks appear in their relationship, one closes themselves off, the other can’t focus on anything else.
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Emily Goglia’s Musical Musings will take place Mon. Aug. 19 at 8 PM at Hollywood’s Moon Room on Melrose.
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Anything Goes will run Aug. 19-25 at the St. Louis Muny, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, with choreography by Jared Grimes, and Music Direction by Ben Whiteley.
Jeanna de Waal (Reno Sweeney), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Billy Crocker), Kevin Chamberlin (Moonface Martin), George Abud (Lord Evelyn Oakleigh), Kimberly Immanuel (Hope Harcourt), Adrianna Hicks (Erma), Ann Harada (Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt), Lara Teeter (Elisha J. Whitney), Eric Jordan Young (Captain), Danny Gardner (Ship’s Purser), Spencer Jones (Spit) and Joe Capstick (Dippy) with Colin Bradbury, Kristen Grace Brown, Lamont Brown, Alaman Diadhiou, C.K. Edwards, Marjorie Failoni, Kaitlyn Frank, Michael Harp, Candice Hatakeyama, Danielle Jackman, Madison Hilligoss, Ryan Lambert, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Nathaniel Mahone, John Manzari, Lauralyn McClelland, Alex Hayden Miller, Cole Newburg and Bethany Ann Tesarck.
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The world premier of Pippa Evans’ NOW That’s What I Call a Musical will begin previews Sept. 6 at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood. The production will be followed by a UK tour.
Nina Wadia (Gemma), Melissa Jacques (April), with Kieran Cooper, Christopher Glover, Chris Grahamson, Laura Hendricks, Shakil Hussan, Nikita Johal, Luke Latchman, Matthew Mori, Phil Sealey, Callum Tempest, Poppy Tierney, Emily Barnett-Salter, Lizzy Ives, Stefanos Petri, and Martha Pothen.
The new musical celebrates 40 years of the compilations brand “NOW That’s What I Call Music” through the story of school friends Gemma and April, with hits from stars like Whitney Houston, Wham!, Blondie, Tears for Fears, and more.
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Douglas Lyons & Zhailon Levingston’s Table 17 has been extended through Sept. 22 at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater, directed by Levingston.
Kara Young, Biko Eisen-Martin, and Michael Rishawn.
If your ex wanted to meet up again, would you? Previously engaged, Jada and Dallas reunite for dinner to hash out the good, the bad, and the ugly from their romantic past. Despite the intrusion of sassy waiters, complicated memories, and their best efforts to keep things casual, the estranged couple find themselves cornered by the truth.
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Black Theatre United‘s gala, Generations of Excellence, will take place Mon. Sept. 30 at 6:30 PM NYC’s Ziegfeld Ballroom, directed by Jerry Dixon, with music direction Joseph Joubert.
André De Shields, Leslie Uggams, Stephanie Mills, Ephraim Sykes, Nichelle Lewis, and Audra McDonald, with newcomers Sydney Terry, Gabrielle Rice, Darrin Scott, Savannah Lee Henry, and Caleb Mayers.
by Shoshana Bean, Telly Leung, Kristin Chenoweth, Danny Burstein, Mia Neal, Peggy Eisenhauer, Juliana Canfield, Raúl Esparza, Jeanine Tesori, Kara Young, and Mario Cantone, with BTU Founders Norm Lewis, Vanessa Williams, LaChanze, Michael McElroy, Tamara Tunie, Allyson Tucker Mitchell, Darius de Haas, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Schele Williams, Capathia Jenkins, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Wendell Pierce, and Lillias White.
The evening, celebrating the indelible mark Black culture has had on Broadway and multiple industries, will honor conductor, composer, and music director Linda Twine with the 2024 Accountability Award; Chief Diversity Officer of Meta Maxine Williams with the 2024 Advocacy Award; and 16-time Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys with the 2024 Aspire Award.
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Roundabout Theatre‘s production of Meghan Kennedy’s The Counter will run Sept. 19 – Nov. 17 (opening Oct. 9) at the Laura Pels Theatre, directed by David Cromer.
Anthony Edwards, Susannah Flood, and Amy Warren.
The play follows the unlikely friendship between a waitress and a diner patron that brings both of their secrets to light.
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Video: Highlights from the Kennedy Center production of Nine, starring Steven Pasquale and Carolee Carmello.
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Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee’s Inherit the Wind will run Sept. 14 – Oct. 13 (opening Sept. 23) at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Henry Godinez.
Harry Lennix (Henry Drummond), Alexander Gemignani (Matthew Harrison, Brady) Charín Álvarez (Mrs. Brady), Terry Bell (Sillers), Hamid Dehghani (Storekeeper), William Dick (Mayor), Meighan Gerachis (Elijah), Lawrence Grimm (Dunlap), Kevin Gudahl (Judge), Presley Rose Jones (Melinda), Christopher Kale Jones (Tom Davenport), Mi Kang (E.K. Hornbeck), Ryan Kitley (Reverend Jeremiah Brown), Tyler Meredith (Rachel Brown), Thomas Murphy Molony (Howard), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Bertram Cates), Robert Schleifer (Meeker), Eric Slater (Mr. Bannister), and Penelope Walker (Mrs. Krebs), with Chase Clevenger, Theo Gyra, Hannah Kato, John Lister, Michael Milligan, Kailey Danielle Morand, Aila Peck, Alex Benito Rodriguez, Eric Slater, and Cedric Young.
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The cast album of Picking Up Speed, written and performed by Alex Wyse, is now available on most platforms.
Click here for more information … and to listen to the album.
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Complete casting has been announced for Nancy Harris’ The Beacon, to run Sept. 11 – Nov. 3 at Irish Rep, directed by Marc Atkinson.
Kate Mulgrew (Biev), Zach Appelman (Colm), Sean Bell (Donal), David Mattar Merten (Ray), and Ayana Workman (Bonnie).
Beiv, a renowned artist, has left her suburban Dublin home for a secluded cottage on a rugged island off the coast of West Cork, Ireland. Her relative peace is disrupted when her estranged son, Colm, returns home with his new wife, searching for answers about his father’s mysterious death.