This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, February 3
Clint Holmes – Between The Moon and New York City: The Songs of Peter Allen concert, with music direction by Michael Orland, opens at San Francisco’s Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
Queen of Basel, by Hilary Bettis, directed by Cristina Angeles, featuring Silvia Dionicio (Christine), Kelvin Grullon (John), and Christine Spang (Julie), begins previews at CT’s TheaterWorks Hartford.
Saturday, February 4
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Selling Kabul, by Sylvia Khoury, directed by Nike Doukas, featuring Rishan Dhamija (Taroon), Nitya Vidyasagar (Afiya), Beejan Land (Jawid), and Christine Mirzayan (Leyla), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, by Lorriane Hansberry, directed by Anne Kauffman, featuring Oscar Isaac (Sidney Brustein), Rachel Brosnahan (Iris Brustein), Gus Birney (Gloria Parodus), Julian DeNiro (Alton Scales), Glenn Fitzgerald (David Ragin), Andy Grotelueschen (Wally O’Hara), Miriam Silverman (Mavis Parodus Bryson), and Raphael Nash Thompson (Maz), with Joey Auzenne, Gregory Connor, Brontë England-Nelson, and Amelia Pedlow, begins previews at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Mandela, world premiere by Laiona Michelle, Greg Dean Borowsky & Shaun Borowsky, directed by Schele Williams, featuring Michael Luwoye (Nelson Mandela), Danielle Fiamanya (Winnie Mandela), Gregory Armand (Vusi), Zion Battles (Bongani), Earl Carpenter (Prime Minister), Stewart Clarke (Warden), Hanna Dimtsu (Nomsa), Lerato Gwebu (Adelaide Tambo/Evelyn Mase), Prudence Jezile (Praise Singer), Akmed Junior Khemalai (Walter Sisulu), Blue Makwana (Gugu), Kayleigh McKnight (Susan/Erika), Posi Morakinyo (Thembi Mandela), Sneziey Msomi (Albertina Sisulu/Maki Mandela), Nomfusi Ngonyama (Zeni Mandela), Ryan O’Donnell (Joe Slovo), Adam Pearce (Kobus), Bolthale Phora (Kgatho Mandela), Shiv Rabheru (Ahmed Kathrada), Will Richardson (Piet), Leanne Robinson (Zindzi Mandela), and Ntsikelelo Nicholas Vani (Oliver Tambo), closes at London’s Young Vic.
Watch on the Rhine, by Lillian Hellman, directed by Ellen McDougall, featuring Kate Duchêne (Anise), Caitlin FitzGerald (Sara Muller), Patricia Hodge (Fanny Farrelly), John Light (Teck de Brancovis), Carlyss Peer (Marthe de Brancovis), Geoffrey Streatfield (David Farrelly), Mark Waschke (Kurt Muller), David Webber (Joseph), and Finley Glasgow (Joshua Muller), with Tamar Laniado & Chloe Raphael (sharing the role of Babette Muller), and Berti Caplan & Henry Hunt (sharing the role of Bodo Muller), closes at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, featuring Lydia Wilson, Paul Mescal, Anjana Vasan, and Dwane Walcott, closes at London’s Almeida Theatre.
The Appointment, by Alice Yorke, Eva Steinmetz, Scott R. Sheppard & Alex Bechtel, directed by Steinmetz, featuring Katie Gould, Jamie Maseda, Lee Minora, Brett Ashley Robinson, Scott R. Sheppard, Danny Wilfred, and Alice Yorke, closes at Off-Broadway’s WP Theater.
Clint Holmes – Between The Moon and New York City: The Songs of Peter Allen concert, with music direction by Michael Orland, closes at San Francisco’s Feinstein’s at the Nikko.
Sunday, February 5
Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, featuring Erika Soto (Beatrice), Joshua Bitton (Benedick), Alexandra Hellquist (Hero), Stanley Andrew Jackson III (Claudio), Rafael Goldstein (Don John), Wes Mann (Dogberry), Tony Pasqualini (Leonato), Nick Petroccione (Balthasar), Frederick Stuart (Don Pedro), Randy Thompson (Friar Francis), Jeanne Syquia (Margaret), and Michael Uribes (Borachio), with Alejandro Hernandez, and Arely Vianet, begins previews at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
Songbook Sundays: Rodgers & Hart concert, hosted b Deborah Grace Winer, featuring Emily Skinner, Kenita Miller, and Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., at 5 & 7:30 PM at Lincoln Centers Dizzy’s Club.
Take Me Out, by Richard Greenberg, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julian Cihi, Kiram Delgado, Brandon J. Dirden, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos, Tyler Lansing Weaks, and Bill Heck, with Michael Castillejos, Lance Takeshi, Stephen Wattrus, and Tim Wright, closes at Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre.
Not About Me, world premiere written & directed by Eduardo Machado, featuring Mateo d’Amato, Michael Domitrovich, Crystal Field, Ellis Charles Hoffmeister, Charles Manning, Drew Valins, and Heather Velazquez, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for the New City.
First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald, directed by Mark G. Meadow, featuring Ayo and Rochelle Rice, closes at DC’s Signature Theatre.
Urinetown, directed by directed by Ylaria Rogers, featuring Karen Vickery (Officer Lockstock), Natasha Vickery (Little Sally), Deanna Farnell (Penelope Pennywise), Joel Horwood (Bobby Strong), Max Gambale (Caldwell B. Cladwell), Petronella Van Tienen (Hope), Joe Dinn (Senator Fipp/Ma Strong), Tom Kelly (Officer Barrel/Tiny Tom), Dani Caruso (Pa Strong), Artemis Alfonzetti (McQueen), Benoit Yari (Hot Blades Harry), Barbra Toparis (Little Becky Two Shoes), Kira Leiva (Swing), and Danielle Matthews (Penelope Pennywise alternate), closes at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre.
Preludes, by Dave Malloy, directed by Courtney O’Connor, featuring Aimee Dahl, Will McGarrahan, Anthony Pires Jr., Dan Prior, Kayla Shimizu, Allison Beaureguard, and Matthew Zahnzinger, closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage.
The Thirty Nine Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by John Buchan, featuring James Taylor Odom, Kristen Hahn, Michael Di Liberto, and Steve Pacek, closes at Virginia Stage Company.
Albee/Pinter, directed by Elina De Santos & Marilyn Fox, featuring Jason Downs, Brad Greenquist, and Anthony Foux, closes at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Grand Horizons, by Bess Wohl, directed by Brian Robertson, featuring Dale Hodges (Nancy), Joneal Joplin (Bill), Nick Cearley (Brian), Jared Joplin (Ben), Shonita Joshi (Jess), Deb G. Girdler (Carla), and Dan Davidson (Tommy), closes at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
**********************
Now that Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt has extended its run through July 2 at the Longacre Theatre, new casting has been announced.
New cast members as of Mar. 14: Joshua Malina (Hermann), Dave Register (Fritz) and Cody Braverman ((Young Leo).
**********************
Light Up Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group‘s 2023 Gala, will take place Sat. Apr. 15 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Special guests and additional information TBA.
**********************
“Musical Analysis: Songs and Scores of Stephen Sondheim, Part 3” will run on Tuesdays Feb. 7 – Apr. 25 at NYC’s 92Y, moderated by Louis Rosen.
**********************
Musical Theatre Guild‘s concert presentation of Scott Frankel, Michael Korie & Doug Wright’s Grey Gardens will take place Mon. Feb. 27 at 7:30 PM at Glendale’s Alex Theatre, directed by Kirsten Chandler, with music direction by Anthony Zediker.
Eileen Barnett (“Big” Edith Bouvier Beale), Trisha Rapier (Edith Bouvier Beale/”Little Edie Beale), Zachary Ford (Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr./Jerry), Tal Fox (Young “Little” Edie Beale), Glenn Rosenblum (George Gould Strong), Robert Yacko (J.V. “Major” Bouvier/Norman Vincent Peale), Philip Brandon (Brooks Sr./Jr.), and Sophie Peterson (Jacqueline “Jackie” Bouvier).
**********************
A private industry reading of Rob Sedgwick’s Please Leave will take place Mon. Feb. 13 at Off-Broadway’s Theater Center, directed by Bob Balaban. 
jean.e.management@gmail.com
Tony Shalhoub, David Rasche, Clark Johnson, and Johanna Day.
A dark satirical comedy: a raw presentation of life as presented on TV, making art out of others’ misery.
**********************
A concert staging of Ragtime will run May 11-13 at MA’s Tanglewood, directed by Jason Danieley.
Alton Fitzgerald White (Coalhouuse Walker Jr.), Elizabeth Stanley (Mother), Nikki Renée Daniels (Sarah), A.J. Shively (Mother’s Younger Brother), David Harris (Father), and Klea Blackhurst (Emma Goldman), and more TBA.
**********************
Students at Ohio’s Cardinal High School were rehearsing for their production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, when the school board told directors the show was canceled. According to The Hill, Assistant Director Mandi Matchinga said Cunningham cited complaints against the production in a meeting in January. The concerns included the depiction of Jesus, explicit language, and the fact that one character’s parents are gay.
Original Spelling Bee cast member Jesse Tyler Ferguson responded: “I guarantee there’s someone at this school who’s maybe being raised by gay parents, but definitely more than one person at this school is gay or lesbian or bisexual. Ferguson goes on to share that he and his fellow Spelling Bee original Broadway company members are working on connecting with the cast via Zoom, though further plans have not yet been finalized.
**********************
Video: New Trailer for Broadway’s New York, New York, which begins previews Mar. 24 and opens Apr. 6 at the St. James Theatre.
**********************
A reading of Barbara Nell Beery’s How High the Moon will take place Tues. Feb. 7 at 7: 30 PM at LA’s Theatre West, directed by Asaad Kelada.
Jeanine Anderson, Saratoga Ballantine, Jim Beaver, Samantha Layton Gregory, Cecil Jennings, Konwalia Kotlinski, Hogan Mason, and Andrew Parks.
On July 4th, 1952, neighboring families fight over love, land, and the changing times in the San Fernando Valley.
**********************
Kissed by a Prince, a tribute to the late artist Prince will take place Sat. Mar. 11 at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre, featuring Dawnette Darden.
**********************
Lydia R. Diamond’s Toni Stone, currently in previews, opens on Feb. 6 and continues through Feb. 26 at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Ron OJ Parson.
Tracey Bonner (Toni Stone), Kai Ealy (King Tut), Joseph Aaron Johnson (Elzie), Chiké Johnson (Alberga), Travis Knight (Stretch), Victor Musoni (Jimmy), Jon Hudson Odom (Millie), Edgar Miguel Sanchez (Spec), and Terence Sims (Woody), with Jabari Khaliq, Krystel McNeil, and Matty Robinson, opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
**********************
Tickets for the upcoming West End transfer of the Almeida Theatre’s A Streetcar Named Desire went on sale Feb 1. and sold out in two hours, making it the fastest-selling production of for any Ambassador Theatre Group production or venue.
Although the limited run is sold out, producers encourage interested theatergoers to sign up here to find out if/when more tickets become available.
**********************
Video: Andrew Burnap, Phillipa Soo, Jordan Donica, and Bartlett Sher discus the legacy of Camelot.
**********************
Avenue Q will run Mar. 9 – Apr. 2 (opening Mar. 10) at Wilmette’s Music Theater Works, directed & choreographed by Christopher Pazdernik, with music direction by Eugene Dizon.
Jimmy Hogan (Princeton), Brandy Miller (Kate Monster), Adam Ross Brody (Rod), Andrews J. DeLeon (Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear), Melissa Crabtreee (Lucy/Mrs. Thistletwat/Bad Idea Bear), Thomas E. Squires (Brian), Mai Hartwich (Christmas Eve), and Whitney Dottery (Gary Coleman), with Zoe Maroko, David Blakeman, Rachel Livingston, Mark Bartishell, and Ashley Saul.
**********************
PA’s Bucks County Playhouse has announced 3 upcoming concerts:
Christy Altomare (Feb. 18 at 8 PM). 
here.
Elizabeth Ward Land: Still Within the Sound of My Voice – The Songs of Linda Ronstadt (Mar. 18 at 8 PM), here.
Carter Calvert: Viva La Diva (Apr. 1 at 2 PM). here.