This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, December 15
Macbeth, directed by Max Webster, featuring David Tennant (Macbeth), Cush Jumbo (Lady Macbeth), Moyo Akandé (Ross), Annie Grace (Musician/Gentlewoman), Brian James O’Sullivan (Donalbain/Soldier/Murderer/ Musician), Casper Knopf (Macduff’s Son/Fleance/Young Siward), Cal MacAninch (Banquo), Kathleen MacInnes (The Singer_, Alasdair Macrae (Musician/ensemble), Rona Morison (Lady Macduff), Noof Ousellam (Macduff), Raffi Phillips (Macduff’s Son/Fleance/Young Siward), Jatinder Singh Randhawa (The Porter/Seytan), Ros Watt (Malcolm), and Benny Young (Duncan/Doctor), opens at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
A Musical Christmas Carol, directed by Scott Evans, featuring Michael Cerveris (Ebenezer Scrooge), with John Paul Berry, Marissa Buchheit, Melessie Clark, Christian Clausnitzer, Susan Cordón, Justin Fortunato, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Lisa Ann Goldsmith, Ted Guzman, Kat Harkins, Tim Hartman, Maddie Kocur, Daniel Krell, Christine Laitta, J. Alex Noble, Brady D. Patsy, Benjamin Kent Pimental, Ason Shavers, Saige Smith, Erica Strasburg, Andrea Weinzierl, Emmett Kent, Aubree Liscotti, Leah Piccolino, Henry Thomas, and Savannah Wiles, opens at Pittsburgh CLO.
The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by directed by Jean-Marc Demmer, featuring Talia Gloster, Robert Eddy, Shaun Baker, Ben Martin, Jon Johannessen, Mary Polhemus, Beatrix Davinson, Alan Curelop, Peter Rockwell, Lily Rudnick, Bryan Marcelo, Jon Preston, Penny Safranek, Robert Levit, Tobias Echeverria, Elijah-Blu Smith, Dennis Madden, Laura Liguori, Katina Mastellos, and Rita Obermeyer, opens at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Saturday, December 16
Noises Off, by Michael Frayn, directed by Lindsay Posner, featuring Felicity Kendal (Dotty Otley), Jonathan Coy (Frederick Fellows), Alexander Hanson (Lloyd Dallas), Matthew Horne (Gerry Lejeune), Tamzin Outhwaite (Belinda Blair), Oscar Ratterham (Tim), Sasha Frost (Brooke Ashton), Pepter Lunkuse (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Tamzin Outhwaite (Belinda Blair), and Oscar Batterham (Tim), closes at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Mates in Chelsea, by Rory Mullarkey, directed by Sam Pritchard, featuring Amy Booth-Steel, Natalie Dew, Karina Fernandez, George Fouracres, Laurie Kynaston, Philipp Mogilnitskiy and Fenella Woolgar, closes at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Christmas in Connecticut, by Amanda Yesnowitz, Jason Howland & Patrick Pacheco, directed by Shelley Butler, featuring Alyse Alan Louis (Liz Sandor), David Girolmo (Felix Bassenak), Eric William Morris (Victor Beecham), RJ Vaillancourt (Dudley Beecham), Gerry McIntyre (Alexander Yardley), Tiffamy Denise Hobbs (Gladys Higgenbottom), Christian Magby (Jefferson Jones), Linda Mugleston (Norah O’Connor), and Jamen Nathakumar (Mario De Luca), with Andy Frank, Tyler Symone, Sophia Campagna, Evan Latta, Lila Prince, and Myles Tracy, closes at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre Company.
Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, by Howard L. Craft, directed by Joseph Megel, featuring J. Alphonse Nicholson, closes at LA’s Fountain Theatre.
The Madwoman of Chaillot, directed by directed by Jean-Marc Demmer, featuring Talia Gloster, Robert Eddy, Shaun Baker, Ben Martin, Jon Johannessen, Mary Polhemus, Beatrix Davinson, Alan Curelop, Peter Rockwell, Lily Rudnick, Bryan Marcelo, Jon Preston, Penny Safranek, Robert Levit, Tobias Echeverria, Elijah-Blu Smith, Dennis Madden, Laura Liguori, Katina Mastellos, and Rita Obermeyer, closes at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Sunday, December 17
The Night of the Iguana, by Tennessee Williams, directed by Emily Mann, featuring Tim Daly (Rev. Shannon), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Maxine Faulk), Lea DeLaria (Judith Fellowes), Austin Pendleton (Nonno), and Jean Lichty (Hannah Jelkes), Carmen Berkeley (Charlotte), Eliud Kauffman (Hank), Keith Randolph Smith (Jake), Bradley James Tejeda (Pedro), and Dan Teixeira (Pancho), opens at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
Charles Dickens: Speaking of Scrooge staged reading, by Dean Batali, featuring Haynes Brooke (Charles Dickens), at 2:30 & 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Actors Co-op.
Two Wong Foo, world premiere by Douglas Carter Beane & Lewis Flinn, directed by Beane, featuring Peter Caulfield (Vida Boheme), Gregory Haney (Noxeema Jackson), Pablo Gómez Jones (Chichi Rodríguez), Carolyn Maitland (Carol Ann), Duncan Burt (Sheriff Dollard), Alexander Kranz (Bobby Ray), Arthur Boan (Tommy Paul), Ayesha Maynard (Beulah June), Emily Ooi Bobby Lee), Jermaine Woods (Willie Joe/John Jacob), Lee Harris (Ed Earl/Crazy Elijah), Natalie Day (Mary Lou), Scott Hunter (Billy Budd), Susie Fenwick (Clara Pearl), Samantha Bingley (Rose of Sharon), and Theo Maddix (Rachel Tensions/Jimmy Jack), closes at the UK’s UK’sHope Mill Theatre.
The New Group’s Sabbath’s Theater, by John Turturro & Ariel Levy, directed by Jo Bonney, featuring John Turturro (Mickey Sabbath), Elizabeth Marvel (Drenka), and Jason Kravits (additional roles), closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
I Can Get It For You Wholesale, by Jerome Weideman & Harold Rome, directed by Trip Cullman, featuring Santino Fontana (Harry Bogen), Judy Kuhn (Mrs. Bogen), Julia Lester as (Miss Marmelstein), Adam Chanler-Berat (Meyer Bushkin), Eddie Cooper (Tootsie Maltz), Adam Grupper (Maurice Pulvermacher), Greg Hildreth (Teddy Asch), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Ruthie Rivkin), Hayley Podschun (Miss Springer), Sarah Steele (Blanche Bushkin), Joy Woods (Martha Mills), and Victor de Paula Rocha (Sheldon/Young Harry), withDarron Hayes, Ephie Aardema, Jennifer Babiak, Billy Cohen, Darron Hayes, and John Plumpis, closes at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company.
Stereophonic, world premiere by David Adjimi, directed by Daniel Aukin, featuring Will Brill (Reg), Andrew R. Butler (Charlie), Juliana Canfield (Holly), Eli Gelb (Grover), Tom Pecinka (Peter), Sarah Pidgeon (Diana), and Chris Stack (Simon), closes at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.
Scene Partners, world premiere by John J. Caswell, directed by Rachel Chavkin, featuring Dianne Wiest (Meryl), Eric Berryman (Dr. Noah) Drake (Johanna Day (Charlize), Josh Hamilton (Hugo), Carmen H. Herlihy (Cassie), and Kristen Sieh (Pauline), closes at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
An Axemas Story, by Patrick Spencer, Charlie O’Leary & Anthony De Angelis, directed by Mackenna Goodrich, featuring Charissa Bertels, Alex Canty, RJ Christian, Cat Greenfield, John Alejandra Jeffords, Isabel Julazadeh, Lucy Rossi, Brandon Roth, Brooke Searcy, Atticus Shaindlin, and Chris Trombetta, closes at Off-Broadway’s Players Theatre.
New York Rep’s War Words, world premiere by Michelle Kholos Brooks, directed by Sarah Norris, featuring David Alan Basche (John), Maggie Bofill (Jennifer), Donald Calliste (Nate), John Concado (Matt), Jennean Farmer (Amy), Bethany Geraghty (Kimberly), Brandon Jones (Steve), Kevin Loreque (Dan F.), Matthew Nititow (James), Haythem Noor (Janis), Alysia Reiner (Emily), Joshua David Robinson (Nash), John Siciliano (Pete), and Jakob Von Eichel (Danny), closes at Off Broadway’s A.R.T./New York.
SpeakEasy Stage‘s The Band’s Visit, directed by Paul Daigneault, featuring Brian Homas Abraham (Tewfiq), Jennifer Apple (Dina), Marianna Bassham (Iris), Fady Deman (Zelger), Kareen Elsmadlicy (Haled), Josephine Moshiri Elwood (Julia), Jesse Garlick (Papi), Noah Kieserman (Telephone Guy), Andrew Mayer (Camal), Zaven Ovian (Sammy), Emily Qualmann (Anna), James Rana (Simon), Robert Saoud (Avrum), and Jared Troilo (Itzik), with Sarah Corey, Jordana Kagan, Elliot Lazar, Steven Goldstein, Alex Poletti, Emily Qualmann, and Robert Saoud, closes at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
The Winter’s Tale, directed by Tamilla Woodard, featuring Cody Nickell (Camillo), Kate Eastwood Norris (Paulina), Reza Salazar, Kayleandra White (Perdita), Antoinette Crow-Legacy (Hermione), Jonathan Del Plamer (Florizell), Kate Eastwood Norris (Paulina), Nicholas Gerwitz (Shepherd’s Son), Reza Salazar (Autolycus), Cody Nickell (Damillo), Drew Kopas (Polixenes), Stephen Patrick Martin (Antigonus/Shepherd), Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Richard Bradford (Mammillius/Time), Hadi Tabbal (Leontes), and Clarence Payne (Mamillius), closes at DC’s Folger Theatre.
Having Our Say, by Emily Mann, directed by Laiona Michelle, featuring Inga Ballard (Sadie) and Rosalyn Coleman (Bessie), closes at NJ’s George Street Playhouse.
The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holliday, by Ken Ludwig, directed by Fred Sullivan Jr.,, featuring Remo Airaldi (Fexlis Geisel), Kelby T. Akin (William Gilette), Dana Garcia (Simon Bright), Maureen Keiller (Daria Chase), Pamela Lambert (Madge Geisel), Gabrielle McCauley (Aggie Wheeler), Peter Mill (Inspector Goring), and Sarah Sinclair (Martha Gillette), closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company.
The Sound of Music, directed & choreographed by Anthony C. Daniel, featuring Emilie Kouatchou (Maria), Robert Lenzi (Captain von Trapp), Allison Blackwell (Mother Abbess), Barrett Foa (Max Detweiler), Spencer LaRue (Rolf), Kate Loprest (Elsa Schraeder), and Elizabeth Teeter (Liesl von Trapp), with Jade April, Tommy Betz, Alexander Brown, Ella Capetta, Carlyn Connolly, Nathaniel Cummons, Clara Curtis, Chloe Ferraro, Alyssa Giannetti, Jack Hogan, Benjamin Howes, Sophia Kaiafas, Mary Malaney, Josie Marzilli, Jack Mastrianni, Cassie Maurer, Cassi Mikat, Isabella Pike, Casey Ross, Emily Royer, Paul Scanlan, Molly Scott, Gabriyel Thomas, Scarlett Thomas, Stephen Joshua Thompson, Christina Tompkins, Charlotte Van Ledtje, and Rhys Williams, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
Dial M for Murder, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Laura Braza, featuring Amanda Drinkall (Margot Wendice), Lipica Shah (Maxine Hadley), Marcus Truschinski (Tony Wendice), Alex Weisman (Captain Lesgate), and Jonathan Wainwright (Inspector Hubbard, closes at Milwaukee Rep.
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Ring of Fire: the Music of Johnny Cash, directed by Rand Redd, featuring Glenn Stanton, Valarie Larson, Sammy Linkowski, Kasper, and LJ Benet, closes at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Frozen Fluid, world premiere by Fly Jamerson, directed by Amanda McRaven, featuring Michael Budd, Nicole Delsack, J Valerione, Yvonne Cone, Steph LeHane, and Jalana Phillips, closes at Hollywood’s LGBT Center.
Bob’s Holiday Office Party, by Rob Elk & Joe Keyes, directed by Matt Roth, featuring Peter Breitmayer, Rob Elk, Mark Fite, Judy Heneghan, Andrea Hutchman, Sirena Irwin, Joe Keyes, J.P. Manoux, Johanna McKay, Chloe Taylor, and Pat Towne, closes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
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Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced its 2024 WTF Gala will take place on Mon. Feb. 12 at 6 PM at NYC’s City Winery (25 Eleventh Ave. at the Hudson River), directed by Daniel Goldstein, with music direction by Kris Kukul.
Jenny Gersten
Laura Benanti, Ty Burrell, Charlie Day, Kathryn Hahn, David Hornsby, Nate Mooney, Jimmi Simpson, and Alex Timbers.
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Audio: Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz, and more sing the opening from the Diary of Wimpy Kid musical.
The album cast also features Om Angarkar, Cody Braverman, Crede Cole Cooper, Michael Deaner, Winter Donnelly, Kai Edgar, Avery Espiritu, Corey J, Sid Kamat, Kylie Kuioka, Livvy Marcus, Soren Miller, Khadija Sankoh, Lily Nicole Tolchin, Colin Trudell, Samuel Li Weintraub, Norbert Leo Butz, Kevin Del Aguila, Sutton Foster, and Jessie Mueller.
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Kate Hamill’s Little Women will run Jan. 16 – Feb. 18, 2024 at Milwaukee Rep, directed by Marti Lyons.
Rebecca Cort (Amy March), Amelio García (Jo March), Macall Gordon (Hahhan/Mrs. Mingott), Chiké Johnson (Mr. Laurence), Colleen Madden (Marmee March), Cy Paolantonio (Meg March), Katie Peabody (Beth March), Richard Nguyen Sloniker (John Brookes), and Austen Winters (Laurie).
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A Broadway Birthday: Sondheim, Lloyd Webber, and Friends!, celebrating the Mar. 22 birthdays of Andrew Lloyd Webber & Stephen Sondheim, will take place Mar. 28, 2024 at 8 PM at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Hall.
Betty Buckley, Matthew Morrison, Liz Callaway, Alex Joseph Grayson, Aaron Lazar, and Kerry O’Malley.
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Make Me Gorgeous! The True Story of Kenneth “Mr. Madam” Marlowe, written & directed by Donnie, continues through Dec. 31 at Theatre at St. Lukes.
Wade McCollum
The fabulous and incredible true story of Kenneth Marlowe, an oft-overlooked trailblazer in LGBTQ history. Described as one of mid-Century America’s gayest and most openly homosexual personalities, Marlowe took on many roles in life. Kenneth was private hairdresser to the stars; the madam of a notorious gay prostitution ring in Hollywood; an author; a hustler; a female impersonator; a private in the U.S. Army, a call boy; a Christian missionary, a mortuary cosmetologist; a newspaper columnist … and for the final decade of an incredibly lived life, Marlowe was a woman, having transitioned to become Kate Marlow.
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The Los Angeles Drama Critic Circle has announced its new and returning members for the 2024 season:
New Members: F. Kathleen Foley (Stage Raw), Travis Michal Holder (TicketHoldersLA.xom), and Anita W. Harris (LATheatrix.com)
Returning Members: Click here for the complete list.
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The national tour of MJ The Musical will run Dec. 20 – Jan. 28, 2024 at the Pantages Theatre, directed & choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon.
Roman Banks (MJ. Jamaal Fields-Green (MJ Alternate), Brandon Lee Harris (Michael), Josiah Benson (Little Michael), Ethan Joseph (Little Michael), Devin Bowles (Joseph Jackson/Rob), Mary Kate Moore (Rachel), J. Daughtry (Berry Gordy/Nick), Josh A. Dawson (Tito Jackson/Quincy Jones), Jaylen Lyndon Hunter (Little Marlon), Matt Loehr (Dave), Da’Von T. Moody (Alejandro) Anastasia Talley (Katherine Jackson/Kate), Jacobi Kai (Jermaine Jackson), Jay McKenzie (Jackie Jackson), and Malcolm Miles Young (Randy Jackson, with JoJo Carmichael, Croix DiIenno, Kellie Drobnick, Kyle DuPree, Zuri Noelle Ford, Jahir L. Hipps, Rajané Katurah, Jordan Markus, Matteo Marretta, Janayé McAlpine, Kendrick Mitchell, Chelsea Mitchell-Bonsu, Zion Mikhail Pradier, Ayla Stackhouse, and Charles P. Way.
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Ruby Thomas’ The Animal Kingdom will run Jan. 25 – Feb. 10, 2024 (opening Jan. 30) at the Connelly Theater Upstairs, directed by Jack Serio.
David Cromer, Tasha Lawrence, Lily McInerny, Uly Schlesinger, and Calvin Leon Smith.
A struggling family finds themselves trapped in an inpatient clinic for family therapy, forced to find new ways to communicate.
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The national tour of Robert Horn, Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally Schucked will launch Nov. 5-10, 2024 at Tennessee’s Jackson Hall, directed by Jack O’Brien, with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, and music supervision, Jason Howland.
Casting and additional information TBA.
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The world premiere of Dave Malloy’s Three Houses will begin performances Apr. 30, 2024 at the Signature Theatre, directed & choreographed by Annie Tippe, with music direction by Or Matias.
J.D. Mollison (Becket), Mia Pak (Sadie), Margo Seibert (Susan), Henry Stram (Grandfather), Scott Stangland (Wolf), and Ching Valdes-Aran (Grandmother).
Susan is in Latvia. Sadie is in New Mexico. Beckett is in Ireland. All three are alone. All three are haunted by their grandparents. All three hear the Big Bad Wolf scratching at the door.
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Video: Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez perform “Old Friends” in Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along.
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Off-Broadway’s Second Stage Theater will present a reading of Jeremy J. King & Sam Salmond’s Eighty-Sixed on Tues. Jan. 16, 2024, directed by Kevin Newbury, with music direction by Cynthia Meng.
Casting TBA.
Set in 1986 New York City, BJ Rosenthal fights against the dreadful impact of the AIDS crisis as his previously sunny world is plunged into darkness.
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Video: Julia Lester performs a Pop ‘Hanukkah Medley’