This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, January 19
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Prayer for the French Republic, by Joshua Harmon, directed by David Cromer, featuring Betsy Aidem, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Anthony Edwards, Aria Shahghasemi, Ethan Haberfield, Richard Masur, Nael Nacer, and Daniel Oreskes, opens at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Royal Family Productions’ Women on Fire, written & directed by Chris Henry, featuring Gina Naomi Baez, Kathleen Chalfant, Charlotte Cohn, Maddie Corman, Linedy Genao, Julie Halston, Ann Harda, Melissa Leo, Kristolyn Lloyd, Lois Robbins, Dale Soules, Constance Shulman, Lianah Sta. Anna, Mary Testa, Desi Waters, with a dance ensemble of Emily Anne Davis, Kayla Hsu, Madison McLean, and Lily Sledge, opens at Off-Broadway’s Royal Family Performance Arts Space (45 West 46th St., 3rd floor).
Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams, written, directed by & starring Jacob Storm, opens at Off-Broadway’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.
(Im)migrants of the State, by Jeremie Loncka, Richard Loya & and more, opens at LA’s Actors Gang.
Death Trap, by Ira Levin, directed by Gillian Roberts, featuring Mark S. Megill (Sydney Bruhl), Cindy Chait (Myra Bruhl), Garrett Gallinot (Clifford Anderson), Laurd J. Cooke (Helga ten Dorp), and Brendan Flanagan (Porter Milgram), opens at NJ’s Algonquin Arts Theatre.
Job, by Max Wolf Friedlich, directed by Michael Herwitz, featuring Peter Friedman (Loyd) and Sydney Lemmon (Jane), re-opens at Off-Broadway’s Connelly Theater.
Unconditional: A Musical Memory, written & performed by Margot Rose, opens at LA’s Fountain Theatre.
La Cocina, by Tony Menéses, directed by Adam Chambers, featuring Biniyam Abreha, Ben Anderson, Emilie Crotty, Paul L. Davis, Berenice Diaz, Emelie Felina, Carlos Gomez Jr., Leah Haile, Jay Hoshina, Kirsten Jones, Sean Alan Mazur, Alejandro Mungaray, Elena Nicholson, Sarah Nilsen, Bree Pavey, Max Reed III, Rose Scalish, Matthew Scheel, Chloe Scott, Nate Thurman, Dani True, Esteban Vasquez, and Paige Willis, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
“Hazbin Hotel,” a new adult animated musical comedy, premieres on Amazon Prime.
The Perfect Game: A Slam Dunk New Musical, by John Grissmer, directed by directed by Danny Salles, featuring Anthony Sagaria (Jim Naismith), David Beach, Tyler Belo, Nick Bernardi, Milena J. Comeau, Jesse Lynn Harte, Akina Kitazawa, Alec Ludacka, Steve McCoy, Lukas Poost, Elena Ricardo, Jamal Shuriah, Danielle J. Summons, Scott Whipple, and EJ Zimmerman, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Mystic Pizza, by Amy Holden Jones & Sandy Rustin, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Gianna Yanelli (Jojo Barboza), Kyra Kennedy (Katherine Kat Arujo), Krystina Alabado (Daisy Arujo), Rayanne Bonzales (Leona Silvia), Jordan Friend (Bill Montijo), Michael Thomas Grant (Charles GordonWindsor, Jr.), and Chris Cardozo (Tim Travers), with Domo D’dante, Michael James, April Josephine, Louis Pardo, Monika Peña, Alyssa M. Simmons, Jeff Skowron, Jake Swain, Rachel Wirtz, Chachi Delgado, and Tayler Mettra, previews at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Saturday, January 20
The King and I, directed by Bartlett Sher, featuring Helen George (Anna Leonowens), Darren Lee (King of Siam), Cezarah Bonner (Lady Thiang), Maria Coyne (Alternate Anna), Am Jenkins-Shar (Captain Orton /Sir Edward Ramsy), Dean John-Willson (Lun Tha), Caleb Lagayan (Prince Chulalongkorn), Kok-Hwa Lie (Kralahome), Marienella Phillips (Tuptim), Harry Altoft (Louis Leonowens), Dexter Barry (Louis Leonowens), Max Ivemey (Louis Leonowens), and Charlie McGurie (Louis Leonowens), with Chi Chan, Jeffrey Chekai, Emily Grace-Ling, Cher Nicolette Ho, Daniel Len, Rachel Wang-Hei Lau, Candy Ma, Rachel Macdougall, Ynki Ozeki, Amelia Kinu Muus, Kitt Pakapom, Prem Rai, Ria Tanaka, Hiromi Toyooka, Jamsmine Triadi, Jensen Tudtud, Qinwen Xue, and Jason Yan-Westland, opens at London’s Dominion Theatre.
Highway Patrol, world premiere by Dane Laffrey & Jen Silverman, directed by Mike Donahue, featuring Dana Delany, Dot-Marie Jones, and Thomas Murphy Molony, opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Mystic Pizza, by Amy Holden Jones & Sandy Rustin, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Gianna Yanelli (Jojo Barboza), Kyra Kennedy (Katherine Kat Arujo), Krystina Alabado (Daisy Arujo), Rayanne Bonzales (Leona Silvia), Jordan Friend (Bill Montijo), Michael Thomas Grant (Charles GordonWindsor, Jr.), and Chris Cardozo (Tim Travers), with Domo D’dante, Michael James, April Josephine, Louis Pardo, Monika Peña, Alyssa M. Simmons, Jeff Skowron, Jake Swain, Rachel Wirtz, Chachi Delgado, and Tayler Mettra, opens at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Stand Up If You’re Here, written & directed by John Kolvenbach, starring Jim Ortlieb, opens at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
Liz Callaway: To Steve With Love concert at 7:30 PM at the Kennedy Center.
Cray, written & performed by Darrell Hammond, directed by Christopher Ashley, closes at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
Sunday, January 21
Aristocrats, by Brian Friel, directed by Charlotte Moore, featuring Roger Dominic Casey (Tom), Meg Hennessy (Claire), Tom Holcomb (Casimir), Colin Lane (Uncle George / Father), Shane McNaughton (Willie Diver), Tim Ruddy (Eamon), Danielle Ryan (Judith), and Sarah Street (Alice), with Susan Davey and Ed Malone, opens at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep.
The Perfect Game: A Slam Dunk New Musical, by John Grissmer, directed by directed by Danny Salles, featuring Anthony Sagaria (Jim Naismith), David Beach, Tyler Belo, Nick Bernardi, Milena J. Comeau, Jesse Lynn Harte, Akina Kitazawa, Alec Ludacka, Steve McCoy, Lukas Poost, Elena Ricardo, Jamal Shuriah, Danielle J. Summons, Scott Whipple, and EJ Zimmerman, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Kate, Kate Berlant’s solo show opens at Pasadena Playhouse.
Baby, It’s Frank Loesser concert, featuring Emily Skinner, Matthew Scott, and Ekep Nkwelle, at 5 & 7:30 PM at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club.
Musical Theatre Guild‘s benefit concert presentation of Duane Poole’s Live, Laugh, Love – A Sondheim Celebration, directed by Lewis Wilkenfeld, featuring Eydie Alyson, Eileen Barnett, Jennifer Bennett, Doug Carfrae, Barbara Carlton Heart, Will Colyer, Susan Edward Martin, Melissa Fahn, Joshua Finkle, Tal Fox, Julie Garnyé, Ron Christopher Jones, Melissa Lyons Caldretti, Tonoccus, McClain, Kevin C. McMahon, Dana Meller, Lisa Picotte, Glenn Rosenblum, Brent Schindele, Leslie Stevens, Mary VanArsdel, Paul Wong, Robert Yacko, and David Zack, at 7 PM at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
Here We Are, world premiere by Stephen Sondheim & David Ives, directed by Joe Mantello, featuring Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O’Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos, with Bradley Dean, Adam Harrington, Bligh Voth, Adante Carter, Mehry Eslaminia, and Lindsay Nicole Chambers, closes at Off-Broadway’s The Shed.
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical, by Lisa Loomer, Joy Huerta & Benjamin Velez, directed & choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, featuring Lucy Godínez (Ana), Shelby Acosta (Prima Flaca), Satya Chávez (Izel), Florencia Cuenca (Estella), Janet Dacal (Mrs. Spitz), Sandra Valls (Prima Fulvia), Carla Jimenez (Pancha), Justin Machado (Carmen), Edward Padilla and (Raúl), Sage (Henry), Jennifer Sánchez (Rosali), with Shadia Rairuz, Elisa Galindez, Michael Keyloun, Christopher M. Ramirez, Arusi Santi, Amy Lizardo, Kayla Quiroz, and Gus Stuckey, closes at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
The Journals of Adam and Eve, world premiere by Ed Weinberger, directed by Ben Donenberg, featuring Ben Donenberg, closes at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theater.
Unconditional: A Musical Memory, written & performed by Margot Rose, closes at LA’s Fountain Theatre.
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Additional casting has been announced for Cabararet at the Kit Kat Club, witch will begin previews Apr. 1 and open Apr. 20 at the August Wilson Theatre, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, with choreography by Julia Chen, and music direction by Jennifer Whyte.
Eddie Redmayne (Emcee), Gayle Rankin (Sally Bowles), Ato Blankson-Wood (Cliff Bradshaw) Bebe Neuwirth (Fraulein Schneider), Steven Skybell (Herr Schultz), Natascia Diaz (Fraulein Kost/Fritzie), and Henry Gottfried (Ernst Ludwig), Gabi Campo (Frenchie), Ayla Ciccone-Burnton (Helga), Colin Cunliffe (Hans), Marty Lauter (Victor), Loren Lester (Herman/Max), David Merino (Lulu), Julian Ramos (Bobby), MiMi Scardulla (Texas), and Paige Smallwood (Rosie)), with Hannah Florence, Pedro Garza, Christian Kidd, Corinne Munsch, Chloé Nadon-Enriquez, and Karl Skyler Urban.
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All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain, written & performed by Patrick Page, has been extended through Mar. 31 at Off-Broadway’s DR2 Theatre.
Patrick Page turns his attention to the twisted motivation and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly through the Shakespeare canon, Page illuminates the playwright’s ever-evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations.
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David Rossmer & Dan Lipton’s The Perfect Mate will run Feb. 2 – Mar. 17 at Pittsburg CLO, directed by Carolyn Cantor, with music direction by Greg Anthony Rassen.
Jimmy Nicholas (Perfect Mate), Autumn Hurlbert (Joan), Josie Miller (Susan), Marissa Buchheit (Moya), and Ryan Cavanaugh (Man), with Laura Frye and Connor Bahr.
What if when you’re ready for true love, you could design your perfect mate? Joan Sweete has always been drawn to the old-fashioned idea of true love with one person, which puts her at odds with the wild west of romance in 2063. When she’s chosen to try out the Perfect Mate, an emotionally savvy humanoid partner, she thinks she has found her match – but it turns out perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
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Ann Talman: Elizabeth Taylor and The Shadow of Her Smile will take place Sun. Feb. 25 at 2 PM at Off-Broadway’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.
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CT’s Goodspeed Musicals (link not yet available) has announced the participants for the 12th annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove, which will take place Jan. 22 – Feb. 18. Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence.
During this year’s exclusive retreat, 8 brand new musicals will be developed.
Trey Ellis, Matt Williams, Jimmy Vivino, Rona Siddiqui, Rose Oser, Anthony Fedorov, Veronica Mansour, Josh Kemp, Cheeyang Ng, and Oliver Houser.
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Becoming a Man, written & directed by P. Carl & Diane Paulus, will run Feb. 16 – Mar. 10 (opening Feb. 21) at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
Petey Gibson (Carl), Justiin Davis (Eddie), Elena Hurst (Lynette), Christopher Liam Moore (Carl’s Father), Stacey Raymond (Polly), Susan Rome (Carl’s Mother), and Cody Sloan (Nathan).
When we change, can the people we love come with us? For fifty years, P. Carl lived as a girl and then a queer woman, building a career and a loving marriage while waiting to realize himself in full. When he decides to affirm his gender at a pivotal political moment in America, his transition puts everything—family, career, friendships—at stake.
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Out of the Box Theatrics has announced readings of James Caverly & Andrew Morrill’s Trash, to run Feb. 5 (7 PM), Feb. 6 (1 PM), and Feb. 8 (7 PM) at Off-Broadway’s 154 Christopher St. (formerly the New Ohio Theatre), directed by Nathaniel P. Claidad.
James Caverly, Adelina Mitchell, Vishal Vaidya, Chris Ogren, Christopher Testers, and Joel Oramas.
Tim and Jake, deaf roommates sharing an apartment in the city, are polar opposites, each with different views on what it means to be Deaf in a hearing world.
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Disney Princess – The Concert will open Mar. 5 in Memphis, with music direction by Benjamin Rauhala. 
Click here for the tour schedule.
Lissa deGuzman, Syndee Winters, and Anneliese van der Pol, with Adam J. Levy.
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Complete casting has been announced for Brendan Pelsue’s adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, to run Feb. 21 – Mar. 17 (opening Feb. 28) at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, directed by Leora Morris.
Grant Chapman (Actor Track 5), Tiffany Hobbs (Actor Track 3), Tess Malis Kincaid (Actor Track 6), Joe Knezevich (Actor Track 8), Louis Reyes McWilliams (Actor Track 2), Lee Osorio (Actor Track 4), Brad Raymond ( Actor Track 7,) and Stephen Ruffin (Actor Track 1), with Brant Adams, Daniel Annone, Sean Dale, Rebecca Gunn, Danielle Montgomery, and Ryan Siegel.
The Dickens classic is set in London and Paris in 1787, before and during the French Revolution, and examines the ideals, motivations, and character of the rich and the poor. In Pelsue’s adaptation, eight actors play over fifty characters sharing the identities of the powerful and the powerless.
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Broadway Belts for PFF, in support of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, will take place Mon. March 18 PM at NYC’s Sony Hall, with an option to live-stream (for free, but require reservations here), directed by Carl Andress, with music direction by Christopher McGovern.
Julie Halston, Liz Callaway, Robert Creighton, Jose Llana, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Benjamain Pajak, Raena White, and more TBA.
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Roundabout Theatre has announced the playwrights for its 2024 Underground Reading Series, which will run Feb. 12-16, all at 5 PM at the Off-Broadway’s Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center.
A limited number of free tickets are available to the general public. Tickets can be reserved by emailing undergroundreadings@roundabouttheatre.org.
The Grief Eater Near North Bender, by Dylan Guerra
Data, by Mathew Libby
Chinese Republicans, by Alex Lin
No One Plays Badminton in America, by Ankita Raturi
The Present, by Arun Welandawe-Prematilleke
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Richard III will run Feb. 2 – Mar. 3 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, directed by Edward Hall.
Katy Sullivan (Richard III), Scott Aiello, Debo Balogun, Mark Bedard, Anatasha Blakely, E.M. Davis, Yao Dogbe, Sean Fortunato, Erik Hellman, Jaeda LaVonne, Libya V. Pugh, Mo Shipley, Demetrios Troy, and Jessica Dean Turner.