This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, January 13
A Stranger Sings, by Jonathan Hogue, directed by Nick Flatto, featuring Jamir Brown (Lucas), Jeremiah Garcia (Dustin), Caroline Huerta (Joyce/Will), Jeffrey Laughrun (Mike), Garrett Poladian (Steve/Jonathan), Harley Seger (Eleven/Nancy), SLee (Barb), and Shawn W. Smith (Hopper), with Jean Christian Barry), Dashiell Gregory, and Hannah Clarke Levine, resumes performances at Off-Broadway’s Playhouse 46.
the ripple, the wave that carried me home, by Christina Anderson, directed by Jackson Gay, featuring Brianna Buckley (Gayle/Young Chipper/Ambitious Black Woman0, Christiana Clark (Janice), and Aneisa J. Hicks (Helen), opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
The Huntington Theatre‘s The Art of Burning, world premiere by Kate Snodgrass, directed by Melia Bensussen, featuring Adrianne Krstansky (Patricia), Michael Kaye (Mark), Viva Font (Katya), Rom Barkhordar (Jason), Clio Contogenis (Beth), and Laura Latrielle (Charlene), opens at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Home Front, by Warren Leight, directed by Maria Bogetti, featuring Jonathan Slavin, Austin Highsmith Garces, and C.J. Lindsey, opens at Burbanks’ Victory Theatre Center.
Final Interview, by Gabriel Oliva, directed by Katierose Donahue-Enriquez, featuring Dana Derrick, Colleen Foy, Frank Martinelli, Gabriel Oliva, and Brian Stanton, opens at LA’s Pico Playhouse.
Pictures from Home, adapted by Sharr White, directed by Bartlett Sher, featuring Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein and Zoe Wanamaker, begins previews at Broadway’s Studio 54.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, directed by Lindsay Posner, featuring Elizabeth McGovern (Martha), Dougray Scott (George), Charles Aitken (Nick), and Gina Branhill (Honey), begins previews at London’s Theatre Royal Bath.
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, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for the New City.
Brothers Play, by Matthew Doherty, directed by James Eckhouse, featuring Rob Nagle, Jeffrey Nordling, and Jamie Wollrab, previews at Legacy LA (1350 San Pablo St.).
Between the Lines cast album, by Timothy Allen McDonald, Elyssa Samsel & Kate Anderson, featuring Arielle Jacobs (Delilah), Jake David Smith (Prince Oliver), Vicki Lewis (Ms. Winx/Jessamyn Jacobs/Mrs. Brown/Kyrie), Hillary Fisher (Allie Princess Seraphima), Will Burton (Frump/Ryan), Jerusha Cavazos (Janice/Marina), John Rapson (Dr. Ducharme/Rapskulio), Wren Rivera (Jules/Ondine), Sean Stack (Martin/Troll/Dad/Delivery Person), and Julia Murney )Grace/Queen Maureen), released on all platforms.
Saturday, January 14
Brothers Play, by Matthew Doherty, directed by James Eckhouse, featuring Rob Nagle, Jeffrey Nordling, and Jamie Wollrab, opens at Legacy LA (1350 San Pablo St.).
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), opens at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
Without You, written & performed by Anthony Rapp, directed by Steven Maler, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Cabaret, directed by Michael Weber, featuring Josh Walker (The Emcee), Erica Stephan (Sally Bowles), Samuel B. Jackson (Clifford Bradshaw), Mary Robin Roth (Fraulein Schneider), Josiah Haugen (Ernst Ludwig), Mark David Kaplan (Herr Schultz), Neala Barron (Fraulein “Fritzie” Kost), Tim Foszcz (Herman), Frankie Leo Bennett (Emcee and Max standby), Morgan DiFonzo (Texas), Julia Fleckenstein (Helga), Haley Gustafson (Frenchie), Natalie Henry (Rosie), Shane Roberie (Max), Lance Spencer (Victor), TJ Tapp (Lulu), Shaun White (Bobby), and Evan Wilhelm (Hans), with Cam Turner and Jordan Beyeler, begins previews at Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre.
Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom radio theatre production performance, by Gregg Oppenheimer, directed by Brendon Fox, featuring Ellis Greer (Lucille Ball), Bill Mendieta (Ricky Ricardo), Laila Ayad (Vivian Vance), Tom Virtue (William Frawley). Ozzie Rodriguez (Harry Ackerman), and Gerard Marzilli (Jess Oppenheimer), with Paul Culos, Desiree Mee Jung, and Matthew Floyd Miller, at 2 PM at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Sunday, January 14
Andrea McArdle: Broadstreet to Broadway concert, at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
National Theatre Live’s The Seagull screening, directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Emilia Clarke, Tom Rhys Harries, Daniel Monks, Sophie Wu, and Indira Varma, at 3 PM at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre.
The Music Man, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, closes after 46 previews and 374 regular performances at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.
Death of a Salesman, directed by Miranda Cromwell, featuring Wendell Pierce (Willy Loman), Sharon D Clarke (Linda Loman), Khris Davis (Biff), McKinley Belcher III (Happy), André De Shields (Ben), Blake DeLong (Howard/Stanley), Lynn Hawley (The Woman/Jenny), Grace Porter (Letta/Jazz Singer), Kevin Ramessar (Musician), Stephen Stocking (Bernard), Chelsea Lee Williams (Miss Forsythe), and Delaney Williams (Charlie), closes at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.
The Old Man and the Pool, written by & starring Mike Birbiglia, directed by Seth Barrish, closes at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
Top Dog/Under Dog, by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Kenny Leon, featuring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Booth) and Corey Hawkins (Lincoln), closes at Broadway’s John Golden Theatre.
A Strange Loop, by Michael R. Jackson, directed by Stephen Brackett, featuring Jacquel Spivey, Antwayn Hopper, James Jackson, Jr., L Morgan Lee, John-Michael Lyles, John-Andrew Morrison, and Jason Veasey, closes at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre after after 13 previews and 301 regular performances.
Chopin in Paris, written & performed by Hershey Felder, directed by Joel Zwick, closes at Laguna Playhouse.
Beehive: The 60’s Musical, by by Larry Gallagher, directed by Laura Braza, featuring Jackey Boelkow, Sarah Lynn Marion, Tess Marshall, Jamie Mercado, Desiree Tolodziecki, and Amaya White, closes at Cleveland’s Stackner Cabaret.
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David Byrne, Alex Timbers, Fatboy Slim & Annie-B Parson’s Here Lies Love will begin previews June 17 and open July 20 at the Broadway Theatre, directed by Alex Timbers, with choreography by Annie-B Parson.
Casting TBA.
A groundbreaking musical about former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’ astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution.
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Complete casting has been announced for Alan Menken, David Zippel & Robert Horn’s Hercules, to run Feb. 16 – Mar. 19 at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse, directed by Ron Clements & John Musker, with music direction by Ted Arthur, and choreography by Chase Brock & Tanisha Scott.
Bradley Gibson (Hercules), Shuler Hensley (Hades), James Monroe Iglehart (Phil), Isabelle McCalla (Meg), Jeff Blumenkrantz (Panic), Reggie De Leon (Pain), Charity Angél Dawson (Clio), Tiffay Mann (Calliope), Anastacia McCleskey (Thalia), Destinee Rea (Terpsichore), Rashidra Scott (Melpomene), Kathryn Allison (Despina), Allyson Kaye Daniel (Aunt Tithesis/Lachesis), Lucia Giannetta (Atropos), Jesse Nager (Nessus), Kristen Faith Oei (Hera), Dennis Stowe (Zeus), and Anne Fraser Thomas (Clotho), with Joshua Buscher, Marcus Cobb, Zachary Downer, Ryan Fitzgerald, Kendall LeShanti, Chani Maisonet, Skye Mattox, Jason W. McCullum, Erin Moore, JJ Niemann, Gabrielle Reid, Adam Roberts, Ben Roseberry, Christine Shepard, Chiara Trentalange, and Lamont Walker II.
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New York Theatre Workshop has announced complete casting for Liliana Padilla’s How to Defend Yourself, which will run Feb. 22 – Apr. 2 (opening Mar. 13), directed by Rachel Chavkin & Steph Paul.
Amaya Braganza, Sebastian Delacasas, Jayson Lee, Ariana Mahallati, Teagan Meredicth, Gabriela Ortega, Sarah Marie Rodriguez, and Talia Ryder.
In a DIY self-defense class, college students learn to use their bodies as weapons. They learn to fend off attackers. They learn “not to be a victim.” Self-defense becomes a channel for their rage, anxiety, confusion, trauma and desire – lots of desire.
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The Public Theater has announced its 61st season of Free Shakespeare in the Park at Central Park’s Delecorte Theatre, offering Hamlet June 8 – Aug. 6, (opening June 28), directed by Kenny Leon.
Ato Blankson-Wood (Hamlet), and more TBA.
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The Wife of Willesden, adapted by Zadie Smith, will run Feb. 25 – Mar. 18 (opening Mar. 2) at Cambridge’s A.R.T., directed by Indhu Rubasingham.
Clare Perkins (Alvita), Marcus Adolphy (Winston/Mandela/Black Jesus), George Eggay (Pastor/Eldridge), Andrew Frame (Ian/Socrates/Bartosz), Troy Glasgow (Darren/Young Maroon), Claudia Grant (Polly/Sophie), Nikita Johal (Asma/Kelly), Scott Miller (Ryan/Colin), Jessica Murrain (Author/Zaire/Queen Nanny), and Ellen Thomas (Aunty P/Old Wife), with Sophie Cartman.
Alvita is a proper local legend who will tell her life story to anyone in the local West London pub — there’s no shame in her game. The question is: are you reading to hear it? Because this woman’s got the gift of gab: she can rewrite mistakes into triumphs, turn pain into parables. An her love life? It’s an epic poem. They call her the Wife of Willesden. Join her at the pub for an exuberant evening that celebrates the human knack telling elaborate tales, especially about our own lives.
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ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse has announced its Spring/Summer 2023 season. Casting and creative teams TBA.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (May 11 – June 10)
Singin’ in the Rain (June 15 – July 15)
On Your Feet (July 20 – Aug. 19)
The Da Vinci Code (Aug. 24 – Sept. 23), adapted by Rachel Waagstaff & Duncan Abel, directed by Luke Sheppard.
Tootsie (Sept. 28 – Oct. 29)
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Steve ross: Falling in Love…Again! will take place Mon. Feb. 13 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
KT Sullivan.
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Alice Scovell’s The Rewards of Being Frank will run Mar. 3-26 (opening Mar. 5) at ART/New York Theatres, directed by Stephen Burdman.
Christine Pedi (Lady Bracknell), Moboluwaji Ademide Akintilo (Frank), James Evans (Algernon), Kelly Mengelkoch (Gwendolyn), Tora Nogami Alexander (Cecily), and Jeremy Dubin (Ernest).
The play takes place seven years after The Importance of Being Earnest.
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Sunday in the Park with George will run Feb. 14 – Mar. 19 (opening Feb. 19) at Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Sarna Lapine, with choreography by Alison Solomon, and music direction by Andy Einhorn.
Graham Phillips (George Seurat/George), Krystina Alabado ((Dot/Marie), Michael Manuel (Jules/Bob), Emily Tyra (Yvonne/Naomi), Liz Larsen (Old Lady/Blair), Jenni Barber (Celeste #2/Elaine), Pippa Blaylock (Louise), Brian Calì (Boatman/Lee), Jennie Greenberry (Nurse), Trevor James (Soldier/Alex), Robert Knight (Louis/Charles), Deborah Lew(Frieda/Betty), Alexandra Melrose (Mrs./Harriet), Juliana Sloan(Celeste #1), Jimmy Smagula (Mr./Billy), and Jason Michael Snow (Franz/Dennis), with Marc Ginsburg, Armand Akbari, Allison Belinkoff, Savannah L. Jackson, Matthew McCoy, Brianna Pember.
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The world premiere of Phinneas Kiyomura’s NIMROD will run Feb. 8 – Mar. 19 (opening Feb. 10) at Hollywood’s Theatre of NOTE, directed by Alina Phelan.
Kirsten Vangness (Nimrod), Hiwa Chow Elms, Isaiah Alexander, Lisa Clifton, Shayne Eastin, Asha Noel Iyer, Sarah Lilly, Chloe Madriaga, Sierra Marcks, Edward Moraycski, Josh Odess-Rubin, Robert Paterno, Joel Scher, Niall Sulcer, and Dan Wingard.
NIMROD is the meeting place between Julius Caesar and “The Simpsons” movie. It explores the breakdown of language in this tendentious modern political age — this age of stupid likes, un-fake face news, alternate facts and real bone-chilling tragedy. A brute farce written in verse! that follows an imagined final year of an uncouth, bloviating, orange hued president’s administration from the point of view of the beleaguered First Lady. It’s a wild ride full of betrayals, unexpected violence, grand soliloquies (larded with even grander fart jokes.
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The New Group will present the world premiere of The Seagull/Woodstock, NY Feb. 7 – Mar. 26 (opening Feb. 28) at the Signature Center, adapted & directed by Scott Elliott.
Ato Essandoh, David Cale, Patrick Foley, Hari Nef, Daniel Oreskes, Parker Posey, Bill Sage, Aleyse, Amy Siller, and Nat Wolff.
The play follows a group of New York theatre people as the retreat to a house in the Hudson Valley hoping to get away from it all. But no matter what they wish for, they can’t seem to escape the ambitions, rivalries, and fragile egos that follow them everywhere.
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The world premiere of of Tina Landau & Kate Diaz’s Redwood will run Feb./Mar. 2024 (exact dates TBA) at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Landau.
Idina Menzel, and more TBA.
The musical focuses on one woman’s journey into the precious and precarious world of the redwoods. Jesse, a successful businesswoman, mother and wife, seems to have it all, but inside, her heart is broken. Finding herself at a turning point, Jesse leaves everyone and everything behind, gets in her car and drives. Thousands of miles later, she hits the ancient forests of Northern California, where a chance meeting and a leap of faith change her life forever. In the presence of the magnificent, towering redwoods, Jesse finds strange and powerful connections, an unexpected sense of community, and a chance at healing. Travel with Jesse to an intoxicating environment of dense greenery, fractured light and dizzying heights – a place where Nature can help us heal, if only we don’t destroy her first. An exhilarating new musical featuring one of Broadway’s greatest stars, Redwood will awaken your sense of adventure and lift you higher than the treetops.
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Samuel D. Hunter’s A Bright New Boise will run Jan. 31 – Mar. 12 at the Signature Theatre, directed by Oliver Butler.
Anna Baryshnikov (Anna), Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (Alex), Eva Kaminsky (Pauline), Peter Mark kendall (Will), and Angus O’Brien (Leroy).
Will is a young man who flees his Idaho hometown in search of a fresh start and a new community, free of the baggage of his youth. Ideas of divinity and intimacy, which can be seen throughout Hunter’s body of work, feature heavily in the piece.