This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, December 3
Huntington Theatre‘s Teenage Dick, by Mike Lew, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, featuring Gregg Mozgala (Richard), Shannon DeVido (Barbara “Buck” Buckingham), Louis Reyes McWilliams (Eddie Ivy), Gregg Mozgala (Richard Gloucester), Portland Thomas (Clarissa Duke), Emily Townley (Elizabeth York), and Zurin Villanueva (Anne Margaret), opens at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Robin Hood & Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto, by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, featuring Michael James Ryan (Robin Hood), Sohm Kapila (Maid Marion), Andrew Lynford (Sheriff of Nottingham0, Jo Osmond (Sherwood Sprite), and Jared Machado (Will Scarlett), begins previews at Laguna Playhouse.
Sunset Boulevard concert, directed by Jordan Murphy, conducted by Alex Parker, and featuring Mazz Murray (Norma Desmond), Ramin Karimloo (Joe Gillis), Zizi Strallen (Betty Schaefer), and Jeremy Secomb (Max von Mayerling), with Geoffrey Aymer, Ashley Campbell, Perola Congo, Momar Diagne, Shailan Gohil, Chloe Hart, Aimee Hodnett, Freddie King, Sejal Keshwala, Evie Rose Lane, Kate O’Donnell, David Shaw Parker, Ashley Samuels, Cameron Sharp, and Bleu Woodward, at 7:30 PM GMT at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day event, directed by Bryan Campione, hosted by Karl Schmid, featuring Javier Muñoz, Lena Hall, Judith Light, Charles Busch, Rema Webb, Corey Mach, Hernando Umana, producer Tom Kirdahy, Alan Menken, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, and Beth Leavel, concludes FREE streaming here.
Saturday, December 4
A Ghost Story, by Danny Robbins, directed by Matthew Dunster, featuring Stephanie Beatriz, James Buckley, Elliot Cowan, and Giovanna Fletcher, opens at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
Little Christmas Miracles, by Ryan Paul James, Pat Denson, David DeVaul, Nathan Demarco Jacobson & Jamie Floyd, directed by Denson, featuring Glauco Araujo, Jackson Ark, Sara Gerding, Tisa Harriott, Skyler Marie, Rachel McAlpine, Sam Neagle, Trinity Posey, Courtney Reece, Jordan Richards, and David Rodriguez, opens at Off-Broadway’s Actors Temple Theatre.
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), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
The MisMatch Game benefit game show, featuring Julie Brown (Queen Elizabeth II), Dante (Jack Nicholson), Drew Droege (Tanya Roberts), Daniele Gaither (Wendy Williams), and Rebekah Kochan (Paris Hilton), opens at LA’s LGBT Center.
Hex, by Tanya Ronder, Rufus Norris & Jim Fortune, directed by Norris, featuring Rosalie Craig, Delroy Atkinson, Tamsin Carroll, Michael Elcock, Eleanor Kane, Daisy Maywood, Kat Ronney, Shaq Taylor, and Sargon Yelda, begins previews at London’s Olivier Theatre.
Bay Street Theater‘s Becoming Dr. Ruth, by Mark St. Germain, directed by Scott Schwartz, starring Tovah Feldshuh, begins previews at NYC’s Museum of Jewish Heritage (Edmund J. Safra Hall).
Shoshana Bean: Sing Your Hallelujah concert, at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 PM PT at London’s Cadogan Hall.
Betsy Wolfe: The Holiday Show concert, with special guests Andrew Rannells, and more, at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Green Room.
Klea Blackhurst: One of the Girls: The Worlds and Lyrics of Jerry Herman concert, directed by Mark Waldrop, at 8 PM ET at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Maxine Linehan: This Time of Year concert, at 7:30 PM ET at the Southern Vermont Arts Center.
Sunday, December 5
Mrs. Doubtfire, by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’Farrell & Wayne Kirkpatrick, directed by Jerry Zaks, featuring Rob McClure (Mrs. Doubtfire), Jenn Gambatese (Miranda Hillard), Peter Bartlett (Mr. Jolly), Charity Angél Dawson (Wanda Sellner), Mrk Evans (Stuart Dunmire), J. Harrison Ghee (Andre Mayem), Analise Scarpavi (Lydia Hillard), Jake Ryan Flynn (Christopher Hillard), Avery Sell (Natalie Hillard), and Brad Oscar (Frank Hillard), with Cameron Adams, Calvin L. Cooper, Kaleigh Cronin, Maria Dalanno, Casey Garvin, David Hibbard, KJ Hippensteel, Aaron Kaburick, Jodi Kimura, Erica Mansfield, Brian Martin, Alexandra Matteo, Sam Middleton, LaQuet Sharnell Pringle, Akilah Sailers, Jaquez André Sims, Travis Waldschmidt, and Aléna Watters, opens at Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
Seven Guitars, by August Wilson, directed by Tazewell Thompson, featuring Dane Figueroa Edidi (Ruby), Joy Jones (Vera), David Emerson Toney (Hedley), Michael Anthony Williams (Canewell), Roderick Lawrence (Floyd Barton), Roz White (Louise), and Eden Marryshow (Red Carter), with Renee Elizabeth Wilson, and Kevin E. Thorne II, opens at DC’s Arena Stage.
Wilde: A Musical Becoming, by V (formerly Eve Ensler), Justin Tranter & Caroline Pennell, directed by Diane Paulus, featuring Idina Menzel (Bea), YDE (Sofia), Javier Muñoz (Mr. Custom), Brittany Campbell Oak), Deborah S. Craig Mrs. Maybe), Josh Lamon (Mr. Rail), Kingsley Leggs (Mayor Maybe), Paravi Das (Forte), Luke Ferrari (Possible), and Michael Williams (Bicker Rail), opens at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
A Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits, by Sandy Rustin, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Major Attaway, Dan DeLuca, Kara Lindsay, Jarran Muse, Killy Simmons, Cailen Fu, and Dion Simmons Grier, opens at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
Robin Hood & Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto, by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, featuring Michael James Ryan (Robin Hood), Sohm Kapila (Maid Marion), Andrew Lynford (Sheriff of Nottingham0, Jo Osmond (Sherwood Sprite), and Jared Machado (Will Scarlett), opens at Laguna Playhouse.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” benefit table reading, featuring Jason Sudeikis (George Bailey), George Wendt (Uncle Billy), Jean Smart, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen, Mandy Patinkin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Phil Lamarr, Ben Mankiewicz, Ron Funches, and Ed Harris, livestreams at 5 PM PT here.
“Something’s Coming: West Side Story — A Special Edition of 20/20” TV special, featuring Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), and Ariana DeBose (Anita), Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Stephen Sondheim, Tony Kushner, casting director Cindy Toland, and Puerto Rican historians who consulted on the film, airs at 7 PM on ABC.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Mornings at Seven, by Paul Osborn, directed by Dan Wackerman, featuring Lindsay Crouse, Alma Cuervo, Alley Mills, Dan Lauria, Patty McCormack, Tony Roberts, John Rubenstein, Keri Safran, and Jonathan Spivey, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements.
The Visitor, world premiere by Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey & Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Daniel Sullivan, featuring Ahmad Maksoud (Tarek), David Hyde Pierce (Walter), and Alysha Deslorieux (Zainab), with Jacqueline Antaramian, Robert Ariza, Anthony Chan, Delius Doherty, C.K. Edwards, Will Erat, Brandon Espinoza, Sean Ewing, Crystal Joy, Marla Louissaint, Ahmad Maksoud, Sahar Milani, Dimitri Joseph Moïse, Takafumi Nikaido, Paul Pontrelli, and Katie Terza, closes at Off-Broadway’s The Public Theater.
Medicine, written & directed by Enda Walsh, Domhnall Gleeson, Clare Barrett, Aoife Duffin, and percussionist Seán Carpio, concludes streaming at Brooklyn’s St. Ann’s Warehouse. Note: Live performances continue through Dec. 12.
Paradise Square, by Christina Anderson, Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, Nathan Tysen, Masi Asare & Larry Kirwan, directed by Moisés Kaufman, featuring Joaquina Kalukango (Nelly O’Brien), Matt Bogart (Willy O’Brien), John Dossett (Frederick Tiggens), Sidney Dupont (Washington Henry), A.J. Shiveley (Owen Duignan) Kevin Dennis (Mike Quinlan), Nathaniel Stampley (Reverend Samuel Jacob Lewis), Chilina Kennedy (Annie Lewis), Gabrielle McClinton (Angelina Baker), Jacob Fishel (Milton Moore), Kevin Dennis (‘Lucky’ Mike Quinlan), with Hailee Kaleem Wright, with Kennedy Caughell, Colin Cunliffe, Chloe Davis, Josh Davis, Bernard Dotson, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Sam Edgerly, Jacobi Hall, Sean Jenness, Ben Michael, Jay McKenzie, Kayla Pecchioni, Eilis Quinn, Lee Siegel, Erica Spyres, Lael Van Keuren, Alan Wiggins, Kristen Beth Williams, Rashidra Scott, and Yasmeen Sulieman, closes its pre-Broadway engagement at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre.
As You Like It, with songs from the Beatles, adapted & directed by Daryl Cloran, featuring Melanie Brezill (Celia), Adam Wesley Brown (Forest Lord/Hymen/Danny O’Leary), Tony Carter (Oliver), Michael Daniel Dashefsky (Silvius/Forest Lord/Assassin), Austin Eckert (Charles/Amiens), Lachrisa Grandberry (Audrey/Mother Russia), Kevin Gudahl (Duke Senior/Duke Frederick), Deborah Hay (Jaques/Le Beau), Heifi Ketternring (Phoebe/Eleanor Rigby), Kayvon Khoshkam (Touchstone), Kieran McCabe (Forest Lord/William/Jaques de Boys), Steven Pringle (Adam/Martext), Liam Quealy (Orlando), Lakeisha Renee (Rosalind), Kurt Schweitz (Forest Lord/Assassin), and Nancy Voigts (Corin/Duke Frederick’s Assistant), with Bridget Adams-King, David Corlew, Jodi Gage, Conor Jordan, Michael Kurowski, Jeff Kurysz, Jeff Parker, Tom Ochocinski, and Janelle Villas, closes at Chicago Shakespeare.
Ebony Rep‘s Blues in the Night, by Sheldon Epps, directed by Wren T. Brown, featuring Vivian Reed (The Lady from the Road), Clinton Derricks-Carroll ( The Man in the Saloon), Karole Foreman (The Woman of the World), and Jenna Gillespie Byrd (The Girl with a Date), closes at LA’s Nate Holden PAC.
Dennis Hensley’s The MisMatch Game, featuring Drew Droege (Tanya Roberts), Nadya Ginsburg (Cher), Christopher Lyons (TBA), Felix Pire (Santa), Marc Samuel (Morgan Freeman), and Lory Tatoulian (Sharon Osbourne), closes at 7 PM PT at Hollywood’s LGBT Center.
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Click here (scroll down) to read reviews for “West Side Story,” directed by Steven Spielberg.
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Video: “Move On” from Stephen Sondheim’s 80th Birthday Celebration.
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Article: “Remembering Stephen Sondheim” by Peter Filichia.
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“Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas” (available now on Roku), featuring Alex Newell, Skylar Astin, Jane Levy, and Bernadette Peters.
“Chicago” film (available now HBO Max), starring Reneé Zellweger, Catherina Zeta Jones, Queen Latifah, and Richard Gere.
“The Wedding Singer” (available now on HBO Max), film, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
“The Princess Bride” (available now on Hulu), film, starring Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal, and Carol Kane.
“Single All the Way” (available now on Netflix), film, starring Michael Urie, Kathy Najimy, and Jennifer Coolidge.
“Music Box: Mr. Saturday Night” (begins Dec. 9 on HBO Max), a documentary that follows musical film producer Robert Stigwood, who produced classic movie musicals such as “Hair,” “Evita,” “Grease,” and more.
“And Just Like That…” (begins Dec. 9 on HBO Max), starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nison, Kristin Davis, Christopher Jackson, Sara Ramirez, Chris Noth, and more…
“Reopening Night” (begins Dec. 20 on HBO Max). The documentary follows the creation of a new production of The Public Theater’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
“Being the Ricardos” begins Dec. 21 on Amazon Prime), by Aaron Sorkin, starring Nicole Kidman (Lucille Ball), Javier Bardem (Desi Arnaz), Nina Arianda (Vivian Vance), and J.K. Simmons (William Frawley), with Clark Gregg, Tony Hale, Linda Lavin, and John Rubinstein.
“Emily in Paris” Season 2 (begins Dec. 22 on Netflix), starring Lily Collins, Jeremy O. Harris, and Ashley Park.
“Encanto” (begins Dec. 24 on Disney +), the animated film with 8 original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, and more.
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The Twelfth Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP will take place Mon. Dec. 13 at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Joe’s Pub, conceived & directed by Lynne Shankel, with music direction by Lynne Shankel.
Kate Baldwin, Montego Glover, Chester Gregory, Sierra Boggess, Alysha Umphress, David Josefberg, Kenita Miller, Kuhoo Verma, Eric William Morris, Gerard Canonico, Jantalie Joy Johnson, Lauren Marcus, Ben Roseberry, Becca Gottlieb, and Kennedy Kanagawa.
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Jon Jory’s adaptation of The Gift of the Magi will take place Thurs. Dec. 9 at 7 PM at Hollywood’s Actors Co-op, directed by Linda Kerns.
Elizabeth Alan, Michael T. Kachingwe, Caleb Lea, Madison Haughland, Bonnie Hellman, Phil Crowley, and Kendall Lloyd.
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“The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal” will stream Dec. 4 & 5 here.
David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Daniel J. Watts, Sharon D. Clare and Roe Hartrampf.
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Complete casting has been announced for Dave Harris’ Tambo & Bones, to run Jan. 12 – Feb. 20 at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons and May 1-29 at LA’s Kirk Douglas Theatre, directed by Taylor Reynolds.
W. Tré Davis and Tyler Fauntleroy, with Brendan Dalton and Dean Linnard.
The play roasts American capitalism’s desire for certain Black narratives, highlighting the narrow confines within which Black characters are placed. As Tambo and Bones test the limits of the frameworks they’re given, Harris’ play wrestles with the country’s racist past and present, and explodes its post-racial future.
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Amy Shumer‘s new “Life & Beth” series will premiere on Hulu (date TBA).
Laura Benanti (recurring), playing Jane, a struggling mother.
The series follows Beth, whose life appears to be perfect with her long-term relationship and job as a wine distributor. However, a sudden incident forces her to confront her past, changing her life forever. The series will feature flashbacks to Beth’s early life, causing her to reflect on who she is and who she wants to become.
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Chita Rivera will host “United in song: Celebrating the American Dream,” which will premiere Fri. Dec. 31 at 9 PM ET on PBS, with an encore broadcast at 10:30 PM ET (check local listing).
Lea Salonga, Paulo Szot, Drew Gehling, Judy Collins, Sandy Patty, Deborah Cox & Cassadee Pope, Delbert Anderson, David Archuleta, Amber Merritt, violinist Midor, guitarist Pepe Romero, and harpist Brandee Younger.