This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, February 25
IAMA Theatre Company‘s Celestial Events, world premiere written by members of the IAMA ensemble, directed by Tom Amandes & Adrian Gonzale, featuring Alex Alcheh, Ryan Garcia, Tina Huang, Bailey Humiston, Andria Kozica, Melissa Jane Osbourne, Kacie Rogers, Adriana Santos, Sonal Shah, Lexi Sloan, Margaux Susi, and Jamie Wollrab, opens at Actors Company LA.
Plaza Suite, directed by John Benjamin Hickey, featuring Sarah Jessica Parker (Karen Nash/ Muriel Tate/Norma Hubley), Matthew Broderick (Sam Nash/Jesse Kiplinger/ Roy Hubley), Danny Bolero (The Waiter), Molly Ranson (Jean McCormick/Mimsey Hubley), and Eric Wiegand (The Bellhop/Borden Eisler), with standbys Michael McGrath and Erin Dilly, and understudies Laurie Veldhee and Cesar J. Rosado, begins previews at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.
After the End, by Dennis Kelly, directed by Lyndsey Turner, featuring Nick Blood (Mark) and Amaka Okafor (Louise), begins previews at London’s Theatre Royal Stratford.
The Book of Will, by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Courtney O’Connor, featuring Ed Hoopman, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Will McGarrahan, Shani Farrell, Sarah Newhouse, Scot Colford, Grace Experience, Lewis D. Wheeler, Hector Toledo Jr., and Fred Sullivan Jr., begins previews at Boston’s Lyric Stage.
Hudson Stage Company‘s A Long Time Ago in a Dark Yard at Night reading, by Enid Graham, directed by Robert Sella, featuring Clea Alsip, Richard Hollis, Ben Horner, Fiona Robberson, and CJ Wilson, ET at 7:30 PM ET at Armonk’s Whippoorwill Hall Theatre.
Saturday, February 26
Rogue Machine Theatre‘s On The Other Hand, We’re Happy, by Daf James, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Rori Flynn, Alexandra Hellquist, and Christian Telesmar, opens at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
This Joint is Jumpin’, directed by Judy Rose, featuring Maybin Hewes, Anna Gagliardo, Nicole Gianuca, Arlene Parness, Mitchell Roché, Lauren Sullivan, and Sydney Swearengin, opens at LA’s Theatre West.
A Touch of the Poet, by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly, featuring Belle Aykroyd, Robert Cuccioli, Kate Fornes, Mary McCann, Andy Murray, James Russell, David Sitler, and John Venemma, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep.
Anna Karenina, directed by Anthony Lau, featuring Isis Davis (Dolly), Nick Fletcher (Karenin), Solomon Israel (Stiva), Chris Jenks (Count Vronsk), Adelle Leonce (Anna), Douggie McMeekin (Levin), Sarah Seggari (Princess Betsy), and Tara Tijani (Kitty), closes at London’s Crucible Theatre.
Joe Iconis & George Salazar’s updated version of Two-Player Game closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
Caissie Levy in concert closes at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center.
Sunday, February 27
The Book of Will, by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Courtney O’Connor, featuring Ed Hoopman, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Will McGarrahan, Shani Farrell, Sarah Newhouse, Scot Colford, Grace Experience, Lewis D. Wheeler, Hector Toledo Jr., and Fred Sullivan Jr., opens at Boston’s Lyric Stage.
sandblasted, world premiere by Charly Evon Simpson, directed by Summer L Williams, featuring Khandi Alexander, Marinda Anderson, Brittany Bellizeare, and Andy Lucien, opens at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
Ann Kittredge: Movie Nite in the Theater concert, with music direction by Alex Rybeck, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Birdland.
The “28th annual SAG Awards” airs at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on TNT and TBS.
Tambo and Bones, by Dave Harris, directed by Taylor Reynolds, featuring W. Tré Davis (Tambo) and Tyler Fauntleroy (Bones), with Brendan Dalton and Dean Linnard, closes at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.
The New Group‘s Black No More, by John Ridley & Tariq Trotter, directed by Scott Elliott, featuring Tariq Trotter, Brandon Victor Dixon, Lillias White, Jennifer Damiano, Tamike Lawrence, Theo Stockman, Tracy Shayne, Ephraim Sykes, Walter Bobbie. Leanne Antonio, Rhaamell Burke-Missouri, Elijah A. Carter, Ryan Fitzgerald, Polanco Jones Jr., Zachary Daniel Jones, Sarah Meahl, Mary Page Nance, Oneika Phillips, Nicholas Ranauro, Malaiyka Reid, Mars Rucker, Angela M. Sauers, Katie Thompson, Akron Watson, Nyla Watson, and Edward Watts, closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center.
Punk Rock Girl, world premiere by Joe Iconis & Rob Rokicki, directed & choreographed by Jennifer Werner, featuring Philippe Arroyo, Kayla Catan, Seth Eliser, Jaylan Evans, Kalonjee Gallimore, Ashley LaLonde, Lauren Marcus, Jackson Mattek, Jordan Leigh McCaskill, Kelly McIntyre, Natalie Powers, Mikaela Rada, Brooke Shapiro, and Brad Weatherford, closes at Long Island’s Argyle Theatre.
Gem of the Ocean, by Augst Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith, featuring 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), closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
High School Play: a Nostalgia Fest, by Vichet Chum, directed by Tiffany Nichole Green, featuring Daniel Velasco (Dara), Richard Dávila (Rich), Sabrina Koss (Kailee), Mai Lee (Allison), Melissa Pritchell (Ms. Blow/Mrs. Dimms), Kiaya Scott (Sophie), Jarred Tettey (Paul), and Todd Waite (Dirkson/Mr. Bland), concludes streaming at Houston’s Alley Theatre.
Dream House, by Eliana Pipe, directed by Laurie Woolery, featuring Darilyn Castillo (Julia), Jacqueline Correa (Patricia), Marianna McClellan (Tessa), with Katie Gonzalez, Kenneth C. Lewis, Blake Lowe, and Shelby Woolridge, concludes streaming at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
Toni Stone, by Lydia R. Diamond, directed by Tinashe Kajese-Boden, featuring by Lydia R. Diamond, directed by Tinashe Kajese-Boden, with choreography by Dell Howlett, featuring Kedren Spencer (Toni Stone), Melvin Abston (Alberga), Amar Atkins (Elzie), Dimonte Henning (Woody), Enoch King (Millie), Eric J. Little (King Tut), Laur-rie Roach (Jimmy), dane troy (Stretch), and Geoffrey D. Williams (Spec), closes at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
Teenage Dick, by Mike Lew, directed by Mortiz von Stuelpnagel, featuring Shannon DeVido, Louis Reyes McWilliams, Gregg Mozgala, Portland Thomas, Emily Townley, and Zurin Villanueva, concludes streaming at Pasadena Playhouse.
The Andrews Brothers, by Roger Bean, directed by Jeffrey Polk, featuring David Engel (Max Andrews), Larry Raben (Patrick Andrews), Jonathan Arana (Lawrence Andrews), and Krystle Simmons (Peggy Jones), closes at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West.
Piano Men, by Mark Clements, directed by Steve Watts, featuring Steve Watts and Nygel D. Robinson, closes at Milwaukee Rep.
Marry Me A Little, directed by Kari Hayter, featuring Katy Tang and Nick Tubbs, closes at Long Beach’s International City Theatre.
Coloropolis, world premiere by A.P. De La Caridad, directed by Travyz Santos Gatz & Tor Brown, featuring Brian Allman, Ben Anderson, Lemon Baardsen, Cassandra Carmona, Silas Jean-Rox, Sydney Jenkins, Jordan Klomp, Matt Lorenzo, Maia Luer, Matthew Monaco, Ignacio Navarro, Jazmine Nichelle, Bree Pavey, Mitch Rosander, and Sarah Sommers, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
**********************
Reviews for The Collaboration at London’s Young Vic:
Guardian (Arifa Akbar): …An ebullient production under Kwame Kwei-Armah’s direction… it has two star turns in the central performances… The friendship between the artists is a fascinating one – far spikier than in Julian Schnabel’s 1996 biopic Basquiat – but it does not have the same quietly cumulative force as that in The Two Popes… The first half is stilted – deliberately so – but feels a little slow and static… The second half is far more animated with intellectual arguments running alongside the human drama of their jagged friendship.
Evening Standard (Nick Curtis): Paul Bettany makes a triumphant return to the London stage in this account of Andy Warhol’s fraught 1984 collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat. His gorgeous performance as the etiolated peddler of silk-screen soup cans is matched by American hotshot Jeremy Pope’s expressive reading of the Haitian/Puerto Rican enfant terrible… then dense and fascinating script by Anthony McCarten, writer of biopics “The Two Popes,” “Darkest Hour” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” gives them plenty of big themes – art, commerce, identity, faith, death – to chew on.
Daily Mail (Patrick Marmion): …Paul Bettany and Jeremy Pope are simply made for each other. Stage chemistry like this is something you better just smoke… The remarkable chemistry between Bettany and Pope is, therefore, rooted in the fact that their characters were both eccentric personalities who understood and accepted each other’s fragility… Watching the unlikely convergence of their two souls as they are first stand-offish with each other, then bicker and slowly get down to work is at the centre of what feels like a very tender, super-kooky and entirely chaste love story.
**********************
Broadway Bares, a 30th anniversary in support of BC/EFA, will take place Mon. June 26 at 9:30 PM ET & Midnight at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom, directed by Laya Barak. 
here.
Special Guests, performers, and additional information TBA.
**********************
The Play You Want, by Bernardo Cubria, will run Mar. 1 – Apr. 17 (opening Mar. 4) at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia, directed by Michael John Garcés.
. Peter Pasco (Bernard0), Chelsea Gonzalez (Vera), Natalie Llerena (Chloe/Mija/J. Lo), Jonathan Nichols (Gilbert Cruz/Alfred Molina), Rolan Ruiz (Lin Manuel Miranda/Mijo/Pablo/John Leguizamo), Christopher Larkin (Sam Gold/Chay Yew/Variety Reporter), Stewart J. Zully (Oskar Eustis/Scott Rudin), and Presciliana Esarolini (Abuela/Gloria Estafan).
Fed up by the theatre world that desires to box him in, Mexican playwright Bernardo Cubría sarcastically pitches Nar-Cocos, a play about drug dealers on Dia de los Muertos. Much to his surprise, the Public Theater picks it up. With financial pressures mounting and a newborn at home, this is his chance at commercial success. But when Scott Rudin offers him a Broadway run on the condition he further exploit his identity and the headlines, he must decide just how much he’s willing to compromise in order to finally be accepted.
**********************
An industry reading of David Jonathan Glass’ Love and Science in the Time of HIV will take place Thurs. Mar. 3 at 2 PM ET in NYC, directed by Allen MacLeod. Email loveandscienceplay@gmail.com for details.
Matt Walker, Jason Gotay, Sharon Catherine Brown, Jonathan Burke, Ryan Knowles, Malika Samuel, and Jonathan Spivey.
Set in the early 1980s in New York city, a gay. gay medical students Matt and Jeff connect while working in a retro-virology lab. When HIV erupts, the fallout upends their relationship as their response to the rising epidemic pushes them along different paths, raising questions about their values as scientists and doctors and their responsibilities as gay men.
**********************
Atlantic Theater’s production of Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire’s Kimberly Akimbo will transfer to Broadway (a Shubert theater TBA), with previews beginning Oct. 12 and an opening set for Nov. 10, directed by Jessica Stone. Production link, creative team, and additional information TBA.
Victoria Clark (Kimberly), Justin Cooley, Steven Boyer, Alli Mauzey, Bonnie Milligan, Fernell Hogan, Olivia Elease Hardy, Michael Iskander, and Nina White.
A bright New Jersey teenager has an aging disease that makes her look like a 72-year-old lade.
**********************
Broadway capacity was at 89.8% for the week ending Feb. 20, with grosses at $28.1 million.
**********************
Lincoln Center Theater‘s world premiere production of Brina Turner’ At The Wedding, directed by Jenna Worsham, is offering $30 tickets for all performances from Mar. 5 – Apr. 17 at the Claire Tow Theatre.
Jorge Donoso, Rebecca S’Manga Frank, Keren Lugo, Carolyn McCormick, Will Rogers, Han Van Sciver, and Mary Wiseman.
Save the date! You’re invited to the best day of somebody else’s life. But what if also it’s the worst day of yours? A comedy about a heartbroken lesbian at her ex’s wedding.
**********************
Steven Spielberg’s “West Site Story” will be released Mar. 15 on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD (link for ordering TBA).
The film will also be available to stream on Disney+ on Mar. 2.
**********************
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s production of Paula Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive will begin previews Mar. 29 and open Apr. 19 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Mark Brokaw. 
Free exchanges and refunds!
Mary-Louise Parker, David Morse, Johanna Day, Alyssa May Gold, and Chris Myers.
A remarkably timely and moving memory play about a woman coming to terms with a charismatic uncle who impacts her past, present, and future life.
Video: Promo
**********************
Lydia Diamond’s Stick Fly continues through Mar. 6 at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, directed by Chanel Bragg.
Ricardy Fabre, Ron Himes, Bobbie Johnson, Blair Lewin, DeShawn Harold Mitchell, and Amber Reauchean Williams.
The LeVay family’s annual summer vacation to Martha’s Vineyard is thrown into a state of disarray by long-standing tensions, sibling rivalries, and a drunken game of Scrabble.
**********************
Mark Childers, Brian Childers & Seth Bisen-Hersh’s Love Quirks will begin previews June 16 and open June 27 at the AMT Theater (354 W. 45th Street), directed by Childers.
Maggie McDowell and Lauren Testerman, with Dylan Hartwell and Rori Nogee.
The musical, based on actual events, surrounds a group of people in their thirties as they explore love and friendship.
**********************
. North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble will present Stephen Kaplan’s Branwell (and the other Brontës): An Autobiography Edited by Charlotte Brontë Mar. 11-26, directed by Sarah Nilsen.
Marc Leclerc, Maia Luer, Naomi Phyl, Calvin Picou, Natasha Renae Potts, and Sarah Sommers.
Branwell Brontë has always been desperate to keep up with his brilliant sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. On his deathbed, the sisters use the magic of worlds created when they were children to keep them all distracted from the harsh reality of not only Branwell’s impending death, but the sisters’ recent literary successes – each has had a novel published. But the family discovers that the thing they love best and are best at, creating stories, is sometimes the very thing that causes the greatest destruction.
**********************
Broadway’s Plaza Suite is now offering $39 tickets through the TodayTix app.
**********************
Broadway Bares, in support of BCEFA, will return for its 30th anniversary celebration on Sun. June 26 at 9:30 PM ET & Midnight at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Special guests and casting TBA.
Enjoy full-out production numbers with more than 150 dances and Broadway stars. The event’s theme is TBA.
**********************
Video: “The Aging Ingenue,” Ep. 2, by Sara Jean Ford & Cameron Dingwall.