This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, January 6
Which Way to the Stage, by Ana Nogueria, directed by Ethan Heard, featuring Dani Stolloer (Judy), Mike Millan (Jeff), Michael Tacconi (Mark), and Nina-Sophia Pacheco (Actress.Bachelorette/Casting Director), with Leah Platt and Stephen Russell Murray, opens at DC’s Signature Theatre.
New Los Angeles Theatre Company‘s Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, written & directed by Peter Ellenstein, starring John Rubinstein, re-opens at Hollywood’s Hudson’s MainStage Theatre.
Colin Quinn: Small Talk begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Preludes, by Dave Malloy, directed by Courtney O’Connor, featuring Aimee Doherty, Will McGarrahan, Anthony Pires jr., Dan Prior, Kayla Shimizu, and Dan Rodriguez, with Allison Beauregard and Matthew Zahnziger, begins previews at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company.
Saturday, January 7
Home Front, by Warren Leight, directed by Maria Bogetti, featuring Jonathan Slavin, Austin Highsmith Garces, and C.J. Lindsey, begins previews at Burbanks’ Victory Theatre Center.
Come From Away, featuring Jenna Boyd (Beulah and others), James Doherty (Claude and others), Mark Dugdale (Kevin T/Garth and others), Alice Fearn (Beverley/Annette), Kate Graham (Diane and others), Robert Hands (Nick/Doug and others), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Kevin J/Ali and others), Gemma Knight Jones (Hannah and others), Kirsty Malpass (Bonnie and others), Harry Morrison (Oz and others), Emma Salvo (Janice and others), and Lejaun Sheppard (Bob and others), with Chiara Baronti, Ricardo Castro, Stuart Hickey, Alexander McMorran, Sarah Morrison, Lucy Park, Jennifer Tierney, and Matthew Whennell-Clark, closes at London’s Phoenix Theatre, after 1,048 performances.
Good, by CP Taylor, directed by Dominick Cook, featuring David Tennant (Haler), Elliot Levey (Maurice), and Sharon Small (Helen), closes at London’s Harold Pinter Theater.
Elf the Musical, directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, featuring Simon Lipkin (Buddy), Georgina Castle (Jovie), Tom Chambers (Walter Hobbs), Rebecca Lock (Emily Hobbs), Kim Ismay (Debs), Nicholas Pound (Santa), and Dexter Barry, Logan Clark, Alfie Morwood & Frankie Treadaway (alternating as Michael), with Evonnee Bentley-Holder, Kyle Cox, Jade Davies, Bethan Downing, Francis Foreman, Morgan Gregory, Ryan Jupp, Ellis Linford-Pill, Shane O’Riordan, Theo Reece, Chloe Saunders, Heather Scott-Martin, Jessica Spalis, Michael Tyler, Katie Warsop, and Natalie Woods, closes at London’s Dominion Theatre.
Sunday, January 8
Allegiance, directed by Tara Overfield Wilkinson, featuring George Takei and Telly Leung, begins previews at London’s Charing Cross Theatre.
Into the Woods, featuring Sebastian Arcelus (Baker), Stephanie J. Block (Baker’s Wife), Joaquina Kaluango (Witch), Gavin Creel (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince), Joshua Henry (Rapunzel’s Prince), Diane Phelan (Cinderella), Ta’nika Gibson (Lucinda), Annie Golden (Cinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant’s Wife), Brooke Ishibashi (Florinda), Kennedy Kanagawa (Milky White), Albert Guerzon (Cinderella’s Father), Nancy Opel (Cinderella’s Stepmother), David Patrick Kelly (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Alysia Velez (Rapunzel), Ann Harada (Jack’s Mother), Cole Thompson (Jack), Katy Geraghty (Little Red Riding Hood), and Jim Stanek (Steward), closes at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
Beetlejuice return engagement, featuring Alex Brightman, Kerry Butler, David Josefsberg, Adam Dannheisser, Leslie Kritzer, Kelvin Moon Loh, Danny Rutigliano, Dana Steingold, Elizabeth Teeter, closes at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre, after 27 previews and 366 regular performances.
Almost Famous, by Tom Kitt, directed by Jeremy Herrin, featuring Chris Wook, Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Rob Colletti, and Casey Likes, with Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee, closes at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, after 30 previews and 77 regular performances.
Roundabout‘s 1776, directed by Jeffrey L. Page & Diane Paulus, featuring Crystal Lucas-Perry (John Adams), Gisela Adisa (Robert Livingston), Nancy Anderson (George Read), Becca Ayers (Col. Thomas McKean), Tiffani Barbour as (Andrew McNair), Carolee Carmello (John Dickinson), Allyson Kaye Daniel (Abigail Adams/Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon), Elizabeth A. Davis (Thomas Jefferson), Mehry Eslaminia (Charles Thomson), Joanna Glushak (Stephen Hopkins), Shawna Hamic (Richard Henry Lee), Eryn LeCroy (Martha Jefferson/Dr. Lyman Hall), Liz Mikel (John Hancock), Patrena Murray (Benjamin Franklin), Oneika Phillips (Joseph Hewes), Lulu Picart (Samuel Chase), Sara Porkalob (Edward Rutledge), Sushma Saha (Judge James Wilson), Brooke Simpson (Roger Sherman), Salome B. Smith (Courier), Sav Souza (Dr. Josiah Bartlett), and Jill Vallery (Caesar Rodney), with Ariella Serur, Grace Stockdale, and Imani Pearl Williams, closes at Broadway’s American Airline Theatre.
Stomp, by created & directed by Luke Cresswell & Steve McNicholas, featuring Alan Asuncion, Micah Cowher, John Gavin, Desmond Howard, Jayme Overton, Tamii Sakurai, Emmanuel “Manny” Scott, and Reggie Talley, closes after almost 29 years at Off-Broadway’s Orpheum Theatre.
Theatre for a New Audience‘s Des Moines, by Denis Johnson, directed by Arin Arbus, featuring Johanna Day, Michael Shannon, Heather Alicia Simms, and Arlis Howard, closes at Off-Broadway’s Polonsky Shakespeare Center.
Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, by Lee Hall, directed by Clint Dyer, featuring Arinzé Kene (Bob Marley), Michael Duke (alternate Bob Marley), Gabrielle Brooks (Rita Marley), Shanay Holmes (Cindy Breakspeare), Sophia Mackay (Judy Mowatt), Melissa Brown-Taylor (Marcia Griffiths/I Three), Jacade Simpson (Bunny Wailer), and Natey Jones (Peter Tosh), closes at London’s Lyric Theatre.
Patti LuPone: Songs From a Hat closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
Rogue Machine‘s Little Theatre, world premiere by Junstin Tanner, directed by Lisa James, featuring Ryan Brophy (Danny), Zachary Grant (James), and Jenny O’Hara (Monica Menlo), closes at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
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Complete casting has been announced for Sweeney Todd, which will begin previews Feb. 26 and open Mar. 26 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, directed by Thomas Kail, with music supervision by Alex Lacamoire, and choreography by Steven Hoggett.
Josh Groban (Sweeney Todd), Annaleigh Ashford (Mrs. Lovett), Jordan Fisher (Anthony), Gaten Matarazzo (Tobias), Ruthie Ann Miles (Beggar Woman), Maria Bilbao (Johanna), Jamie Jackson (Judge Turpin), John Rapson (Beadle Bamford), Nicholas Christopher (Pirelli/Sweeney Todd Standby), and Jeanna de Waal (Standby for Mrs. Lovett and Beggar Woman), with Galyana Castillo, Jonathan Christopher, Dwayne Cooper, Kyrie Courter, Taeler Cyrus, Timothy Hughes, Paul-Jordan Jansen, Alicia Kaori, Michael Kuhn, Raymond J. Lee, Patricia Phillips, Mia Pinero, Samantha Pollino, Lexi Rabadi, Nathan Salstone, Kristie Dale Sanders, Stephen Tewksbury, Daniel Torres, Felix Torrez-Ponce, DeLaney Westfall, and Hennessy Winkler.
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Adrienne Kennedy’s Ohio State Murders will close Sun. Jan. 15 at Broadway’s James Earl Jones Theatre.
Audra McDonald (Suzanne Alexander), Bryce Pinkham (Robert Hampshire), Lizan Mitchell (Mrs. Tyler/Miss Dawson/Aunt Lou), Mister Fitzgerald (David/Val), and Abigail Stephenson (Iris Ann), with Brett Diggs, Brooke Gardner, Christina Pedersen, and Gayle Samuels,
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Complete casting has been announced for Marcus Gardley’s black odyssey, to run Feb. 9 – Mar. 26 (opening Feb. 26) at Classic Stage Company, directed by Stevie Walker-Webb, with music direction by Linda Tillery & Molly Holm, with choreography by Aquila Kikora Franklin.
James T. Alfred (Deus), Tẹmídayọ Amay (Benevolence), Harriett D. Goy (Aunt Tee), Marcus Gladney Jr. (Malachai Lincoln), Sean Boyce Johnson (Ulysses Lincoln), Adrienne C. Moore (Alsendra Sabine), Keith Randolph Smith (Paw Sidin), Lance Coadie Williams (Artez Sabine), and D. Woods (Nella P. Lincoln).
This vibrant reimagining of the Odysseus saga is set in modern-day Harlem, telling the epic tale of Ulysses Lincoln, a soldier facing the most daunting of voyages to reunite with his family. While fate may seem in control of Ulysses’ destiny, his ancestors and their buried history will help guide his journey home.
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Theatre Communications Group‘s 2023TCG Gala: Our Stories will take place Mon. Jan. 9 at 6 PM at NYC’s Edison Ballroom.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson.
Sidney DuPong, Alex Newell, and Lillias White.
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Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses will run Jan. 25 – Feb. 12 (opening Jan. 28) at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre, directed by Judy Hegarty-Lovett.
Joe Spano (Bob), Faline England (Pony), Conor Lovett (John), and Sorcha Fox (Jennifer).
Meet Bob and Jennifer and their new neighbors John and Pony, two suburban couples who discover they have more in common than their identical homes and their surnames. Spare, suggestive, slyly hilarious, and strangely maddening, this profound play explores what is said, what is unsaid, and the role that denial plays in helping us navigate life’s chaos.
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A memorial service for Robert LuPone will take place Tues. Jan. 24 at 2 PM at Off-Broadway’s Peter J. Sharp Theatre (155 W. 65th St.)
here.
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Susan-Lori Parks, Perry Henzell & Trevor Rhone’s The Harder They Come (based on the film of the same name), will run Feb. 16 – Mar. 26 at The Public Theater, co-directed by Tony Taccone & Sergio Truijillo, with choreography by by Edgar Godineaux, and music supervision by Kenny Seymour.
Jeanette Bayardelle (Daisy), Andrew Clarke (Lyle), Dominique Johnson (Jose), Dudney Joseph Jr. (Ray), Meecah (Elsa), Jacob Ming-Trent (Pedro), and Ken Robinson (Hilton), with Shawn Bowers, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Dana Marie Ingraham, Chelsea-Ann Jones, Morgan McGhee, Alysha Morgan, and Housso Semon, with Dwight Xaveir Leslie.
The story of Ivan, a young singer who arrives i Kingston, Jamaica, eager to become a star. After falling in love and cutting a record deal with a powerful music mogul, Ivan soon learns that the game is rigged, and as he becomes increasingly defiant, he finds himself in a battle that threatens not only his life, but the very fabric of Jamaican society.
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RIP: Michael John McGann passed away on Dec. 28 at the age of 70.
He starred in the Broadway revivals of Arsenic and Old Lace, Hamlet and Annie. His career also included many TV and film appearances, including “See No Evil, Hear No Evil,” “84 Charing Charing Cross Road”, “Law & Order,” and many more.
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Two private industry readings (by invitation only) of Misha Mullany & Brent Morden’s Infernal: The Musical will take place Jan. 26 & 27 in NYC, directed by Alex Sanchez. For inquiries, email martin@pstheatricals.com.
Charmien Byrd, Hannah Duran, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Eddie Korbich, Julia Meadows, Misha Mullany, Goran Popovic, Jazz Sunpanich, and Luis Villabon.
A rock musical based on Dante’s Inferno that explores consequences, remorse, and our own inescapable demons. In this coming-of-age story, heaven and hell are made human. Lily dies and goes to Hell, but doesn’t understand why. Will Lily learn to let others in, or will she stay selfish for all eternity? And what happens when you learn the error your ways, but it’s too late to change the past? Can we learn to forgive ourselves?
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Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields’ Peter Pan Goes Wrong will run Mar. 17 – July 9 (opening Apr. 19) at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, directed by Adam Meggido.
Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields, Chris Leask, Ellie Morris, Charlie Russell, Greg Tannahill, and Nancy Zamit.
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Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM! will run Feb. 15 – Mar. 5 (opening Feb. 17) at Long Beach’s International City Theatre, directed by Kari Hayter, with music direction by Anthony Zediker.
Ernesto Figueroa, Phillip J. Lewis, and Samantha M. Lawrence.
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Video: Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee perform “You Can’t Have Me” from Some Like It Hot.
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Lissa Moira & Richard West’s Who Murdered Love? will run Feb. 2-19 at Theater for the New City, directed by Moira, with music direction by Peter Dizzoza and choreography by Olivia Palacios.
Louisa Bradshaw, William Broderick, Sage Buchalter, Jef Canter, Alisa Ermolaey, Eiyp Johnson, Rori Nogee, Amy Catherine Welch, John David West, and Chase Wolfe.
WWI veteran and private eye “Sleepy” Sam Speed, his girl, Gail Friday and his junior detective, Everett Greene, attempt to unravel the disappearance and possible murder of DaDa Love at the behest of their client, a stunning heiress named Honey Potts.
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Cameron Mackintosh has confirmed that he had heard the score to Stephen Sondheim‘s unfinished final Bourgeoisie musical just before the songwriter passed away.
“My last conversation with him was the Sunday before he died,” Mackintosh told WhatsOnStage editor Alex Wood. “He asked me to go through the entire score with him on the phone…What was interesting was that Steve had never gone through a full score with me before like that. I think he wanted to reinforce his view with me as to whether or not he was going to complete it, because of the amount of energy it would have taken.”
Mackintosh notes that what he had heard was “50 or 60 percent” finished. “When we went through it, I found so many vigorous tunes, but none that he had fully completed…There was a whole section in the musical that he told me he wanted to be ‘wall-to-wall music,’ like the Follies sequence. But, sadly, he never got to write that. There was a lot of music within what he’d already written that I’m sure he would have used for that specific section, but he died before he was able to do all that.”
Mackintosh is unsure whether the musical will ever land on stage, but he was grateful for the chat. “In a way, I was blessed that my last conversation with him was when his mind was working full tilt. And talking about some amazing stuff he’d written.”
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Manhattan Theatre Club‘s production of Anthony McCarten’s The Collaboration, starring Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany, which recently extended its Broadway run through Jan. 29, has extended its run again, now through Feb. 5 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
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Sunset Boulevard will run Feb. 1-8 at The Kennedy Center, directed by Sammi Cannold, with choreography by Emily Maltby and music direction by Ben Cohn.
Stephanie J. Block (Norma Desmond), Derek Klena (Joe Gillis), Auli’j Cravalho (Betty Schaefer), Nathan Gunn (Max von Mayerling), Michael Maliakel (Artie Green), Kevin Pariseau (Sheldrake), Tyley Ross (Manfred), and Paul Schoeffler (Cecil B. DeMille), with David André, Lauren Blackman, Julio Catano-Yee, Colin Cunliffe, Haile Ferrier, Emily Harvey, Wonza Johnson, Aubrie Knapp, Ryland Marbutt, Lance Roberts, Maria Cristina Posada Slye, and Kristin Yancy.