This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, December 17
Spring Awakening, directed by Rubert Goold, featuring Laurie Kynaston (Melchior), Amara Okereke (Wendla, Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea (Hanschen), Asha Banks (Thea), Carly-Sophia Davies (Ilse), Kit Esuruoso (Otto), Bella Maclean (Martha), Joe Pitts (Georg), Maia Tamrakar (Anna), Stuart Thompson (Moritz), and Zheng Xi Yong (Ernst), with Taylor Bradshaw, Emily Ooi, Catherine Cusack, and Mark Lockyer, opens at London’s Almeida Theatre.
A Musical Christmas Carol, directed by Scott Evans, featuring Richard Thomas (Ebenezer Scrooge), Emmett Kent (Tiny Tim), Jerreme Rodriguez (Bob Cratchit), Allison Cahill (Ghost of Christmas Past), Ben Cherington (Young Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Justin Fortunado (Fred), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Mrs. Cratchit), Kat Harkins (Martha Cratchit), Tim Hartman (Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present), Daniel Krell (Marley’s Ghost/Young Marley), Alex Manalo (Alice), Benjamin Kent Pimentel (Pater Cratchit/Dick Wilkins), Allan Snyder (Tom Watkins), Erika Strasburg (Belle/Bess), and Terry Wickline (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig), with Kiara Lee, Billy Mason, J. Alex Noble, Susana Wickstrom, Nick Cortazzo, Zoey Johnson, and Jason Shavers, opens at Pittsburgh CLO.
Merry, Merry Chicago concert, conducted by Alastair Willis, starring Jessica Vosk, opens at Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Back Home for the Holidays concert, starring Kelli O’Hara, with special guest Brandon Michael Nase, conducted by Steven Reineke, at 8 PM ET at Carnegie Hall.
Judy Collins: Winter Stories concert, at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Town Hall.
Nice Work If You Can Get It FREE livestreaming benefit concert, in memory of Rebecca Luker, hosted by Judy Kaye, featuring Jesse Walker (Jimmy Winter), Ricky DeRosa (Cookie McGee), Dinanda Klaassen (Billie Bendix), Bemba Balsirow (Chief Berry), Estelle Balsirow (Duchess Estonia Dulworth), Serge Balsirow (Duke Mahoney), Helene Ciappetta (Millicent Winter), Cooper Grodin (Senator Max Evergreen), Lola Maltz (Jeannie Muldoon), and Haley Rice (Eileen Evergreen), at 8 PM ET here.
Joyful Spirits concert, starring Carole Demas and Eric Michael Gillett, livestreams at 7:30 PM ET (and then available on demand) here.
Caroline, or Change 2021 Broadway cast album, featuring Sharon D. Clarke, Alexander Bello, John Cariani, Joy Hermalyn, Arica Jackson,, Tamika Lawrence, Caissie Levy, Kevin S. McAllister, Harper Miles, N’Kenge, Nya, Jayden Theophile, Nasia Thomas, Samantha Williams, Stuart Zagnit , and Chip Zien, with Gabriel Amoroso, Adam Makké, and Jaden Myles Waldman, released digitally here. The CD will be released Jan. 14 (link TBA).
Saturday, December 18
Big Band Holiday! concert, featuring Bill A. Jones and Nancy Osborne, opens at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
Shoshana Bean: Sing Your Hallelujah concert, at 7 PM PT at LA’s Immanuel Presbyterian Cathedral.
Four Quartets, adapted, directed by & starring Ralph Fiennes, closes at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre.
Rare Earth Mettle, by Al Smith, directed by Hamish Pirie, featuring Carlo Alban, Marcello Cruz, Arthus Darvfill, Jaye Griffiths, Lesle Lemon, Rachael Ofori, Genevieve O’Reilly, and Ian Porter, closes at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Folger Theatre‘s A Medieval Christmas, concludes both live & on-demand at DC’s St. Mark’s Church.
Sunday, December 19
A Christmas Memory reading, by Truman Capote, directed by Michael Peretzian, featuring Alley Mills Bean and Michael Tulin, begins streaming at 4:30 PM PT at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
A Broadway Christmas concert, hosted by Eden Espinosa & David Burnham, featuring Will Collyer, Julie Garnyé, Dillon Klena, Valerie Perri. Alisan Porter, Chad Doreck, Kate Harmon, Bethany Joy Lenz, Nicole Santiago, Matt Zarley, and Ava Delaney, at 7:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical live & livestreamed concert, by Jordan Ross & Lindsey Rosin, directed by Lindsey Rosen & Kenneth Ferrone, featuring Constantine Rousouli (Sebastian Valmont), Janel Parrish (Kathryn Merteuil), Frankie Grande (Blaine Tuttle), Jenn Harris (Mrs. Bunny Caldwell), Emma Hunton (Cecile Caldwell), Carrie St. Louis (Annette Hargrove), Brian Logan Dales (Greg McConnell), and Israel Erron (Ronald Clifford), at 2 PM PT (live) & 6 PM PT (livestreamed) at LA’s Bourbon Room.
A Christmas Rose concert, starring Amanda McBroom & Michele Brourman, in person & livestreamed at 8 PM PT at Studio City’s Feinstein’s at Vitellos. Click here for live show tickets. Click here for streaming tickets.
“Crossovers Live!” benefit talk show season finale, with Brian Stokes Mitchell, and special guests Audra McDonald and Ariana Debose, livestreams at 8 PM ET here, then available on demand.
Diana The Musical, by Joe DiPietro & David Bryan, directed by Christopher Ashley, featuring Jeanna de Waal (Diana), Roe Hartrampf (Prince Charles), Erin Davie (Camilla Parker Bowles), and Judy Kaye (Queen Elizabeth), with Zach Adkins, Ashley Andrews, Austen Danielle Bohmer, Holly Ann Butler, Richard Gatta, Alex Hairston, Lauren E.J. Hamilton, Shaye B. Hopkins, André Jordan, Gareth Keegan, Libby Lloyd, Nathan Lucrezio, Tomás Matos, Chris Medlin, Anthony Murphy, Kristen Faith Oei, Laura Stracko, Bethany Ann Tesarck, and Michael Williams, closes after 16 previews and 33 performances, at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.
Little Women, by Allan Knee, lMindi Dickstein & by Jason Howland, directed by Bronagh Lagan, featuring Lydia White (Jo), Hana Ichijo (Meg), Anastasia Martin (Beth), Mary Moore (Amy), Bernadine Pritchett (Aunt March), Sev Keoshgerian (Laurie), Ryan Bennett (Professor Bhaer), Brian Protheroe (Mr. Lawrence), Lejaun Sheppard (John Brooke), Savannah Stevenson (Marmee), and Liv Andrusier, closes at London’s Park Theatre.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Morning Sun, world premiere by Simon Stephens, directed by Lila Neugebauer, featuring Blair Brown, Edie Falco, and Marin Ireland, closes at Off-Broadway’s NY City Center.
Red Bull Theater‘s The Alchemist, newly adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Jesse Berger, featuring Nathan Christopher, Stephen DeRosa, Carson Elrod, Manoel Feliciano, Teresa Avia Lim, Jacob Min-Trent, Louis Mustillo, Reg Rogers, Jennifer Sánchez, and Allen Tedder, closes at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Candlelight, world premiere by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Lori Kee, featuring John Cencio Burgos, Alfredo Diaz, Ivette Dumeng, Marc Reign, Darlene Tejeiro, and Christina Toth, with Taylor Grace and Randall Rodriguez, closes at Off Broadway’s New Ohio Theatre.
The Band’s Visit national tour, by Itamar Moses & David Yazbek, directed by David Cromer, featuring Sasson Gabay (Tewfiq), Joe Joseph (Haled), Clay Singer (Itzik), Yoni Avi Battat (Camal), Coby Getzug (Papi), Joshua Grosso (Telephone Guy), Kendal Hartse (Iris), David Studwell (Avrum), Billy Cohen (Zelger), Layan Elwazani (Julia), Marc Ginsburg (Sammy), Ariel Reich (Anna), and James Rana (Simon), with Ali Louis Bourzgui, Loren Lester, Dana Saleh Omar, Nick Sacks, and Hannah Shankman, closes at LA’s Dolby Theatre.
New Stages Festival closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Heidi Kettenring Sings Karen Carpenter concert closes at CT’s Goodspeed Musicals.
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, by Lauren Gunderson & Margot Melcon, directed by Michael Butler, featuring Will Block (Brian), Nike Doukas (Mrs. Reynolds), Kyle T. Hester (Wickham), Kodi Jackman (Cassie), Chelsea Kurtz (Lydia), Rebecca Mozo (Lizzie), and Adam Poss (Mr. Darcy), closes at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Salvage, by Tim Alderson, Mark Heard, Pat Terry & Randy VanWarmer, directed by Damian D. Lewis, featuring David Atkinson, Natale Llerena, Sam O’Byrne, and Leonard Earl Howze, closes at Hollywood’s Hudson Theatre.
Big Band Holiday! concert, featuring Bill A. Jones and Nancy Osborne, closes at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
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Danny Burstein (Harold Zidler) will depart the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! on Jan. 16 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
He will be replaced by Eric Anderson, who begins his run on Jan. 18.
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“Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist,” directed by John Caird, is now available through Jan. 31 on demand here.
Betsy Wolfe (Estella Scrooge), Lauren Patten (Dawkins), Carolee Carmello (Marla Havisham, Megan McGinniss (Betty Cratchit), Clifton Duncan (Philip “Pip” Nickleby), Patrick Page (Mr. Merdle), Danny Burstein (Ebenezer Scrooge), Tom Nelis (Dedlock), Em Grosland (Smike), Phoenix Best (Charity & Mercy), Samuel Lee Roberts (Mr. Flopson), Adam Halpin (Bob Cratchit), Sarah Litzsinger (Sissy Jupe), David Bryant (Mr. Podsnap), Gabrielle Reid (Mrs. Pumblechook), Michael Francis McBride (Mr. Dombey), Michele Lee (Mrs. Noggs), Kristen Faith Oei (Mrs. Skiffins), Meg Gibson (Molly), William Youmans (Magwitch/Bagstock), Kevin Morrow (Jasper Jaggers), Joziyah Jean-Felix (Young Pip), Brooklyn Shuck (Young Essy), and Willow McCarthy (Tiny Tammy)
You thought you knew Scrooge? You don’t know this Scrooge. Estella Scrooge is a Dickensian Musical Extravaganza in two acts, a modern retelling of “A Christmas Carol” with additional characters and plot lines from “Great Expectations,” “Little Dorrit,” “Bleak House,” and other great Dickens novels. This new musical arrives now at a time when Dickens’ passionate belief in the overwhelming power of human kindness is needed more than ever.
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In-person rush tickets will be available daily for The Music Man beginning on Mon. Dec. 20 at 10 AM ET at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.
* 49$ Rush tickets are subject to availability
* Available on a first come first serve basis when the box office opens each day.
* Limited to 2 tickets per person, and only available for that day’s performance.
* The policy is subject to change.
* Opening night is scheduled for Feb.10.
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Great holiday gift idea: TKTS Gift Certificates.
Click here to learn more and order.
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Lydia R. Diamond’s Toni Stone will run Jan. 4-30 at Milwaukee Rep, directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, and then move to Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Feb. 10-27.
Kedren Spence (Toni Stone), Melvin Abston (Alberga), Amar Atkins (Elzie), Dimonte Henning (Woody), Enoch King (Millie), Eric J. Little (King Tut), Lau’rie Roach (Jimmy), dane troy (Stretch), and Geoffrey D. Williams (Spec).
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater will film the closing performance of Jeffrey Hatcher’s world premiere adaptation of Ben Johnson’s The Alchemist, directed by Jesse Berger, for future on-demand streaming. The in-person run will close on Dec. 19 (see above listing in the Highlights section). The filmed version, available Jan. 12-26 (link TBA) will be offered as a pay-what-you-can option.
Nathan Christopher, Stephen DeRosa, Carson Elrod, Manoel Feliciano, Teresa Avia Lim, Jacob Min-Trent, Louis Mustillo, Reg Rogers, Jennifer Sánchez, and Allen Tedder.
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“The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal” will air Dec. 18 & 19 here.
Carmen Cusack, Katrina Lenk, Analise Scarpaci, Myles Frost, Caissie Levy, and Crystal Joy Brown.
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Video: “She Has Hope,” Tom Kitt and Brian d’Arcy James honor Rebecca Luker.
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The world premiere of Lisa D’Amour & Sxip Shirey’s Ocean Filibuster will run Feb. 18 – Mar. 13 (opening Feb. 24) at Cambridge’s A.R.T., directed by Katie Pearl.
Jennifer Kidwell (Mr. Majority/The Ocean), with a choir of six performers TBA.
The piece takes place inside the Senate chamber of a global governing body, where Mr. Majority introduces an “End of Ocean Bill” designed to shrink Earth’s oceans into a more manageable (and marketable) collection of inland seas. When the floor is opened for debate, the Ocean arrives to speak in its own defense…and so begins an epic Human-Ocean showdown.
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& 
Play-Per-View has announced a live and livestream reading of John Ross Bowie’s Brushstroke on Mon. Dec. 20 at 7 PM PT at LA’s Hayworth Theatre, directed by Casey Stangl. Proceeds will benefit the Lower Depth Theatre Company. 
(both live and livestreamed) here.
Jamie Denbo, John Ross Bowie, Ana Ortiz, and James Urbaniak.
It’s New York City, 1956. A daring, inventive painter meets an extraordinary nervous patron. But is the patron being followed? And is so … by whom?
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August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean will run Jan. 22 – Feb. 27 (opening Jan. 31) at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Chuck Smith.
Sharif Atkins (Citizen Barlow), Syndey Charles (Black Mary), Lisa Gaye Dixon (Aunt Ester), Gary Houston (Rutherford Selig), Kelvin Roston, Jr. (Caesar), A.C. Smith (Eli) and James A. Williams (Solly Two Kings).
Tensions flare into riots across Pittsburgh’s Hill District as chaos threatens a city desperate for freedom. It’s 1904, the dawn of the new century—yet slavery’s shadow looms large. There is solace to be found at the home of 285-year-old Ester Tyler, keeper and transmitter of African American history and cleanser of souls. When a suspicious traveler appears at her door in search of a new life, Aunt Ester guides him on a journey of spiritual awakening.
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The upcoming production of Macbeth has changed theaters. The production will now play the Longacre Theatre (rather than the previously announced Lyceum Theatre), directed by Sam Gold.
Daniel Craig (Macbeth) and Ruth Negga (Lady Macbeth), with more TBA.
The production will run Mar. 29 – July 10 (opening Apr. 28).
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Kansas City, MO’s Spinning Tree Theatre has announced the first 3 shows in its 2022 season:
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Feb. 4-13), by Kate DeCamillo,
21 Chump Street (Apr. 29 – May 8), by Lin-Manuel Miranda. A cautionary tale about an honors student who will do anything for his new crush.
3 Short Musicals TBA (June 24-26)
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The 2021 Steinberg Playwright Awards have been announced, given annually to up-and-coming American playwrights with distinctive voices. Each of the early to mid–career writers will be granted $10,000.
Jeff Augustin, Clare Barron, Eboni Booth, Idris Goodwin, Ike Holter, Paola Lázaro, Haruna Lee, Mike Lew, Ife Olujobi, and Jiehae Park.
Normally, the trust would honor only two writers with a total of $100,000, but given the impact of the pandemic on playwrights and the theatre industry, the awards were temporarily restructured to assist more writers.