This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, February 2
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares opens at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
Richard III, directed by Edward Hall, featuring Katy Sullivan (Richard III), Scott Aiello (Clarence/Stanley), Debo Balogun (Ratcliffe), Mark Bedard (Murderer/Prince), Anatasha Blakely (Catesby), Yao Dogbe (Buckingham), Sean Fortunato (Lord Rivers/Duchess of Hastings), Erik Hellman (Lord Hastings/Duke of Norfolk), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Lady Anne), Ora Jones (Margaret), Mo Shipley (Edward, Prince of Wales), Demetrios Troy (ing Edward IV/Earl of Richmondz0), and Jessica Dean Turner (Elizabeth), opens at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
The Perfect Mate, by David Rossmer & Dan Lipton, directed by Carolyn Cantor, featuring Jimmy Nicholas (Perfect Mate), Autumn Hurlbert (Joan), Josie Miller (Susan), Marissa Buchheit (Moya), and Ryan Cavanaugh (Man), with Laura Frye and Connor Bahr, opens at Pittsburgh CLO.
Doubt, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Tyne Daly (Sister Aloysius), Liev Schrieber (Father Flynn), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Mrs. Muller), and Zoe Kazan (Sister James), begins previews at Broadway’s American Airlines Theatre.
Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams, written, directed by & starring Jacob Storm, closes at Off-Broadway’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Saturday, February 3
The Scarlet Letter, world premiere by Kate Hamill, directed by Shelley Butler, featuring Mary Bacon (Goody Hibbins), Nikki Calonge (Pearl), Kevin Isola (Chillingworth), Keshay Moodliar (Dimmesdale), Amelia Pedlow (Hester Prynne), and Triney Sanoval (Governor Hibbins), opens at NJ’s Two River Theatre.
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara‘s The Pianist of Willesden Lane, adapted & directed by Hershey Felder, featuring Mona Golabek, opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Pasadena Playhouse‘s Grumpy Monkey, The Musical, world premiere by Nina Meehan, Daniel Mertzlufft & Jacob Ryan Smith, directed by Nina Meehan, featuring Hao Feng (Jim Panzee), Marc Ginsburg (Norman), Kay Sibal (Snake), Ciarra Stroud (Marabou), and Frankie Zabilka (Lemur), with Danny Holmberg, opens at Pasadena’s Porticos Art Space.
J For J benefit reading, by Jenny Sullivan & Barry Sullivan, directed by Jenny Sullivan, featuring Jeff Kober, Eric Lange, and Nancy Travis, opens at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Between Two Knees, by The 1491s, directed by Eric Ting, featuring Rachel Crowl, Derek Garza, Justin Gauthier, Shyla Lefner, Wotko Long, James Ryen, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Sheila Tousey with Irma-Estel Laguerre, Jessica Ranville, John Scott-Richardson, Kholan Studi, Ryan Anthony Williams, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Perelman Performing Arts Center.
Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares closes at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
The Wooster Group‘s Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me, directed by Kate Valk, starring Eric Berryman, closes at Off-Broadway’s Performing Garage.
That’s What Friends are For: Nova Y. Payton Sings Burt Bacharach, directed by Mark G. Meadows, closes at VA’s Signature Theatre.
Sunday, February 4
J For J benefit reading, by Jenny Sullivan & Barry Sullivan, directed by Jenny Sullivan, featuring Jeff Kober, Eric Lange, and Nancy Travis, opens at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara‘s The Pianist of Willesden Lane, adapted & directed by Hershey Felder, featuring Mona Golabek, opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Between Two Knees, by The 1491s, directed by Eric Ting, featuring Rachel Crowl, Derek Garza, Justin Gauthier, Shyla Lefner, Wotko Long, James Ryen, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Sheila Tousey with Irma-Estel Laguerre, Jessica Ranville, John Scott-Richardson, Kholan Studi, Ryan Anthony Williams, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Perelman Performing Arts Center.
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch, by Ossie Davis, directed by Kenny Leon, featuring Leslie Odom Jr. (Purlie), Vanessa Bell Calloway Idella Landy), Billy Eugene Jones (Gitlow Judson), Noah Pyzik (Deputy), Noah Robbins (Charlie Cotchipee), Jay O. Sanders (Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee), Heather Alicia Simms (Missy Judson), Bill Timoney (Sheriff), and Kara Young (Gussie Mae Jenkens), closes at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre.
Harmony, by Barry Manilow & Bruce Sussman, directed & choreographed by Warren Carlyle, featuring Chip Zien, Sierra Boggess, Julie Benko, Sean Bell, Allison Semmes, Andrew O’Shanick, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zak Edwards, Dan Hoy, Bruce Landry, RhonniRose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Matthew Mucha, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Kyla Stone, Bronwyn Tarboton, Kate Wesler, Stuart Zagnit, and Lee Zarrett, closes at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre.
New York City Center Encores! Once Upon a Mattress, directed by Lear deBessonet, featuring Sutton Foster (Princess Winnifred), Michael Urie (Prince Dauntless), Harriet Sanson Harris (Queen Agravain), Nikki Renée Daniels (Lady Larken), J. Harrison Ghee (Jester), Cheyenne Jackson (Sir Harry), Francis Jue (Wizard), and David Patrick Kelly (King Sextimus the Silent), with Shavey Brown, DeMarius R. Copes, Kaleigh Cronin, Cicily Daniels, Ben Davis, Ta’Nika Gibson, Gaelen Gilliland, Jaquez, Paul Kreppel, Morgan Marcell, Abby Matsusaka, Adam Roberts, Ryan Worsing, and Richard Riaz Yoder, closes.
The Wooster Group‘s Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me, directed by Kate Valk, starring Eric Berryman, closes at Off-Broadway’s Performing Garage.
That’s What Friends are For: Nova Y. Payton Sings Burt Bacharach, directed by Mark G. Meadows, closes at VA’s Signature Theatre.
George Street Playhouse & Primary Stages’ Ibsen’s Ghost: An Irresponsible Biographical Fantasy, world premiere by Charles Busch, directed by Carl Andress, featuring Charles Busch (Suzannah Thoresen Ibsen), Thomas Gibson (Wolf Dahlquist), Jen Cody (Gerda), Christopher Borg (George Elstad/The Rat Wife,) Judy Kaye (Magdalene Kragh Thoresen), and Jennifer Van Dyck (Hanna Solberg), with Kate Hampton (understudy for Susannah Thoresen Ibsen), closes at NJ’s New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.
Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress, directed by Dawn M. Simmons, featuring Barlow Adamson, Patrice Jean-Baptiste, Allison Beauregard, Kadahj Bennett, McConnia Chesser, Davron Monroe, Bill Mootos, James Turner, and Robert Walsh, closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage.
J For J benefit reading, by Jenny Sullivan & Barry Sullivan, directed by Jenny Sullivan, featuring Jeff Kober, Eric Lange, and Nancy Travis, concludes at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Kansas City Actors Theatre‘s Gaslight, by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Cinnamon Schultz, featuring Ashlee LaPine, Matthew J. Williamson, and John Rensenhouse, closes at City Stage in Union Station.
Sukkot, world premiere by Matthew Leavitt, directed by Joel Zwick, featuring Natalie Lander (Eden Sullivan), Andy Robinson (Patrick Sullivan), Liza Seneca (Mairead Sullivan), and Jonathan Slavin (Asher Sullivan), closes at LA’s Skylight Theatre.
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MCC Theater‘s Miscast 24 will take place Mon. Apr. 15 at Off-Broadway’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Jason Robert Brown and MCC Youth Company Alum Nicole Suazo
Mel & Linda Brosterman, Chelsea Kellogg, Chelsea Kellogg, Rachel Masch, Peter McKown, Jac Scheiner.
Bradley Hames, Joseph Rokacz & Lawrence Gordon, and Jenni Swan.
Gavin Creel, Leslie Rodriguez-Kritzer, Brian D’Arcy James, Anika Noni Rose, Tyne Daly, Lea Salonga, Ingrid Michaelson, Ryan Vasquez, Lauren Patten, Vanessa Williams, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Joy Woods.
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The world premiere of Gloria Calderón’s One of the Good Ones will run Mar. 13 – Apr. 7 at Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Kimberly Senior.
Lana Parrilla (Ilana), Carlos Gomez (Yoli), Nico Greethman (Marcos), and Santino Jimenez.
When the “perfect” Latina daughter brings her boyfriend home to meet the parents, her family’s biases and preconceptions are put on full display. As tensions run high and hilarity ensues, everyone must navigate the ins and outs of family dynamics and the boundaries of acceptance — all while tackling the age-old question: what does it truly mean to be an American?
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“The 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors,” which aired Dec. 27 on CBS, is now available to stream for FREE HERE for the first time ever.
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A performance and Q&A of Orchestrating Maestro: Music and Conversation will take place Wed. Feb. 14 at 8 PM at NYC’s David Geffen Hall.
The evening will feature a live performance of selections from the film’s soundtrack played by the New York Philharmonic and conducted by Met Opera music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The film itself features the London Symphony Orchestra, despite the West Side Story and On the Town composer’s real-world connection to the New York Philharmonic (Bernstein was the ensemble’s music director from 1958 to 1969). Nézet-Séguin was at the podium for the soundtrack recordings, and served as Cooper’s conducting coach.
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Broadway Today!: Broadway Modern Masters will take place Sat. July 6 at 8 PM at MA’s Tanglewood, directed by Jason Danieley, with music supervision by Georgia Stitt.
Victoria Clark, Micaela Diamond, Mandy Gonzalez, Joshua Henry, Darius de Haas, and Bryce Pinkham.
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Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck & Jackie Sibblies’ Illinoise will run Mar. 2-23 at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory, directed by Jackie Sibblies.
Gaby Diaz, Ben Cook, Robbie Fairchild, Ahmad Simmons, and Ricky Ubeda
This musically ambitious work, which weaves together cinematic orchestral anthems, jazz riffs, and other musical influences to explore wide-ranging narratives about blossoming queerness and self-exploration is expanded upon through a mix of live music and impressionistic choreography to revisit the beloved album’s themes of self-discovery.**********************
Complete casting has been announced for the North American tour of Sandy Rustin, Hunter Foster, Eric Price & Michael Holland’s Clue, which will open Feb. 27 – Mar. 3 at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre, directed by Casey Hushion. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Mariah Burks Cook), John Treacy Egan (Colonel Mustard), Michelle Elaine (Miss Scarlet), Joanna Glushak (Mrs. Peacock), Tari Kelly (Mrs. White), Mark Price (Wadsworth), John Shartzer (Mr. Green), Jonathan Spivey (Professor Plum), Alex Syiek (Mr. Boddy), Teddy Trice (Cop), and Elisabeth Yancey (Yvette), with Greg Balla, Alison Ewing, Mary McNulty, and James Taylor Odom.
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Complete casting ash been announced for the world premiere of BATHHOUSE.PPTX, written & directed by Chay Yew, to run Mar. 19 – Apr. 22 (opening Mar. 23) at The Flea.
Sam Gonzalez (Presenter), Claudia Acosta (Chela), Manuel C. Alcazar (Daniel), Esteban Andres Cruz (Mx. Vazquez), Yonatan Gebeyehu (Shaun), and Gilbert Diego Sanchez (Carlos).
A queer latiné student, whose PowerPoint presentation on the history of cleanliness and bathing quickly starts to burst at the seams with appearances from the ghosts of a bathhouse at the end of the world, A Conquistador! Wearing One of Those Hats!, A Very Real Twink, and even Laura Linney.
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Maestra Music‘s annual Amplify concert will take place Mon. Mar. 25 at 8 PM at NYC’s Sony Hall, directed by Jessica Ryan, with music direction by Julianne B. Merrill.
Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Susan Birkenhead, Amanda Green, Rebekah Greer Melocik, Brandy Hoang Collier, Clare Fukuko Bierman and Erika Ji, Christine Lavin, and more
Performers TBA.
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Frank Wildhorn, Don Black. & Ivan Menchell’s Bonnie & Clyde will run Feb. 23 – Mar. 9 at Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company, directed & choreographed by Gerry McIntyre.
Alana Saunders (Bonnie Parker), Michael William Nigro (Clyde Barrow), Mary Fanning Driggs (Cumie Barrow), Gina Milo (Annie)Mary Fanning Driggs (Cumie Barrow; Daniel Simons (Henry Barrow/Frank Hamer), April Armstrong (Emma Parker), Christian Brailsford (Sheriff/Preacher) Dan DeLuca (Buck Barrow), and Ben Jacoby (Ted Hinton), with Alexander Ríos, and Summerisa Stevens.
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Vineyard Theatre‘s Annual Gala will take place Mon. Feb. 24 at 6:30 PM at NYC’s Edison Ballroom, directed by Rachel Chavkin, with music direction by Jon Spurney.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Sara Bareilles, Chelsea Clinton, Lea DeLaria, Crystal Dickenson, Brandon J. Dirden, Michael R. Jackson, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tony Kushner, Luke Macfarlane, Deidre O’Connell, Zachary Quinto, Rolanda Watts, Rosie’s Theatre Kids, and more TBA.
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Private industry readings of Michele Aldin Kushner’s Radio Galaxy will take place Fri. Feb. 2 at 11 AM at Lincoln Center’s Library for the Performing Arts, directed by David Esbjornson. 
Industry professionals who wish to attend should email: rsvp@
Leslie Margherita, Tony Danza, Ritisha Chakraborty, Ami Sheth, and Alok Tewari.
Tino, 17-year-old science prodigy, from a hard-working, blue-collar family, dreams, eats, and sleeps astronomy. Unexpectedly, his biological father, Raju, an astrophysicist, enters his life. Tino has the chance to help Raju’s sick daughter and – for the first time in his life – have his dreams of studying the cosmos realized – if only his dad would let him.