This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, July 28
Rent in Concert, directed by Sammi Cannold, featuring Ali Stroker (Maureen), Myles Frost (Benny), Jordan Donica (Collins), Awa Sal Secka (Joanne), Jimmie Herrod (Angel), Lorna Courtney (Mimi Márquez), Andrew Barth Feldman (Mark Cohen), Alex Boniello (Roger Davis), Ali Stroker (Maureen Johnson), Myles Frost (Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III), and Jimmie Herrod (Angel Dumott Schunard), closes at the Kennedy Center.
Saturday, July 29
A Tailor Near Me, world premiere by Michael Tucker, directed by James Glossman, featuring Richard Kind and James Pickens Jr., opens at New Jersey Rep.
Mike Birbiglia in person (working on new jokes and stories), at 7:30 & 9:30 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Jason Graae & Friends concert, with special guests Susanne Blakeslee, Michele Brourman, David Burnham, Amanda McBroom, Kerry O’Malley, and Jennifer Leigh Warren, at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Audible‘s Center of the Universe, by Joan Vail Thorne, directed by Christopher Gatelli, featuring Tituss Burgess and Jane Krakowski, closes at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
Classical Theatre of Harlem’s FREE Malvolio, an irreverent comedy sequel inspired by Twelfth Night, directed by Ian Belknap & Ty Jones, featuring Allen Gilmore (Malvolio), John-Andrew Morrison (King Chadlio), Stephanie Berry (Olivia), Perry Gaffney (Viola), Paula Galloway (Maria), Mattthew J Harris (Fool), Marjorie Johnson (Nurse), Kineta Kunutu (Volina), Garbriel Lawrence (Orsino), Tony Macht (Valentin), Collin McConnell (Curious), JD Mollison (Prince Furtado), CB Murray (Rather Topas), Nathan M. Ramsey (Sebastian), and David Ryan Smith (Sir Toby Belch), with Déjà Anderson-Ross, Marcus Byers Jr., Taylor Collier, John DeFilippo, Brynlie Helmich, Valériane Louisy, Al-Nisa Petty, Duane Shabazz, Jonathan McClinton Smith, and Timothy Wilson, closes at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park. 
here.
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, world premiere by Samantha Hurley, directed by Tyler Struble, featuring Tessa Albertson (Shelby), Janae Robinson (Brenda Dee Cankles), and Scott Thomas (Tobey), closes at Off-Broadway’s cell theatre.
Dial M for Murder, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Mark Lamos, featuring Kate Burton (Inspector Hubbard), Patrick Andrew (Tony Wendice), Kate Abbruzzese (Margot Wendice), Krystel Lucas (Maxine Hadley), and Denver Milord (Lesgate), closes at CT’s Westport Country Playhouse.
Sunday, July 30
Everybody Rise!: A Sondheim Celebration concert, conducted by Kevin Stites, featuring Patti LuPone, Sierra Boggess, Sutton Foster, Skylar Astin, Norm Lewis, and Brian Stokes Mitchell, at the Hollywood Bowl.
New York, New York, by John Kander, Fred Ebb & Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman, featuring Colton Ryan (Jimmy Doyle), Anna Uzele Francine Evans, Clive Alves (Tommy Caggiano), John Clay III (Jesse Webb), Janet Dacal (Sofia Diaz), Ben Davis (Gordon Kendrick), Oliver Prose (Alex Mann), Angel Sigala (Mateo Diaz), and Emily Skinner (Madame Veltri), closes at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
Grey House, by Levi Holloway, directed by Joe Mantello, featuring Laurie Metcalf (Raleigh), Titiana Maslany (Max), Paul Sparks (Henry), Sophia Anne Caruso (Marlow), Millicent Simmonds (Bernie), Cyndi Coyne (The Ancient), Colby Kipnes (Squirrel), Alyssa Emily Marvin (A1656), and Eamon Patrick O’Connell (The Boy), closes at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.
Gingold Theatrical Group‘s 2022 production of Shaw’s Candida, directed by David Staller, featuring R.J. Foster (Rev. James Morell), Peter Romano (Alexander “Lexy” Mills), David Ryan Smith (Mr. Burgess), Avanthika Srinivasan (Candida), Avery Whitted (Eugene Marchbanks), and Amber Reauchean Williams (Proserpine Garnet), concludes streaming.
Chanteuse, by Alan Palmer & David Leggs, directed by Dorothy Danner, featuring David Legg, closes at Off-Broadway’s HERE Arts Center.
Into the Woods, directed by Lear deBessonet, featuring Krysta Rodriguez (Cinderella), Montego Glover (Witch), Stephanie J. Block (Baker’s Wife), Sebastion Arcelus (Baker), Gavin Creel (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Cole Thompson (Jack), Katy Geraghty (Little Red Riding Hood), Nancy Opel (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Jason Forbach (Rapunzel’s Prince), Aymee Garcia (Jack’s Mother), David Patrick Kelly (Narrator), Josh Breckenridge (Cinderella’s Father), and Felicia Curry (Cinderlla’s Mother /Grandmother /Giant’s Wife), with Erica Durham, Eddie Lopez, Ximone Rose, Ellie Fishman, Marya Grandy, Paul Kreppel, and Sam Simahk, closes at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
Another Marriage, world premiere by Kate Arrington, directed by Terry Kinney, featuring Ian Barford, Caroline Neff, Tim Hopper, Judy Greer, Nicole Scimeca, Campbell, Krausen, Shaina Schrooten, Katherine Keberlein, and Chris Amos, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Evita, directed by Sammi Cannold, featuring Shereen Pimentel (Eva Perón), Gabriel Burrafato (Magaldi), Omar Lopez-Cepero (Che), Caesar Samayoa (Perón), and Naomi Rose (Mistress), with Martín Almiron, Julian Alvarez, Adrienne Balducci, Leah Barsky, bianca Bulgarelli, Camila Cardona (Melody Celatti, Estaben Domenichini, rebecca Eichenberger, Sean Ewim, Nicole Fernandez-Coffaro, David Michael Garry, Eddie Gutierrez, Eric Anthony Lopez, Jonatan Lujan, Caleb Marshall-villarreal, Ilda Mason, Jeremiah Valentino Porter, Leonay Shepherd, Maria Cristina Posada Slye, Sky Vaux Fuller, Marissa Barragán, Mathew Bautista, Isabella Lopez, Miguel Angel Vasquez, and Jeniysys Oliver-Joseph, closes at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
The Ants, world premiere by Ramiz Monsef, directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh, featuring Hugo Armstrong (The Brain), Nicky Boulos (Nami), Megan Hill (Meredith), Jeremy Radin (The Pizza Guy), and Ryan Shrime (Shahid), closes at LA’s Geffen Playhouse.
Once On This Island, directed & choreographed by Gerry McIntyre, featuring Frenchie Davis (Asaka), Melessie Clark (Mama Euralie), Zephaniah Divine (Agwe), Darius Harper (Papa Ge), Haja Hetsberger (Ti Moune), Mason Reeves (Daniel Beauxhomme), Hailey Thomas (Erzulie), Siggy Bijou (Andrea), Brady Patsy (Tonton Julian), LaTrea Rembert (Armand), and Eden Greene (Young TiMoune), closes at PIttsburg CLO.
Call Fosse at the Minskoff, written & performed by Mimi Quillin, directed by Michael Berresse, closes at Nantucket’s White Heron Theatre Company.
Antaeus Theatre Company‘s The Tempest, directed by Nike Doukas, featuring Peter Van Norden (Prospero), Anja Racié (Miranda), Peter Mendoza (Ferdinand), Elinor Gunn (Ariel), Leo Marks (Caliban), Bernard K. Addison (Antonio), John Allee (Sebastian), Adrian LaTourelle (Alonso/Stephano), Saundra McClain (Gonzala), and Erin Pineda (Trincula), closes at Glendale’s Kiki & David Gindler Performing Art Center.
Marry Poppins, directed by Eric Woodall, featuring Kara Lindsay (Mary Poppins), Keven Massey (Mr. George Banks), Anthony Wayne (Bert), Sara Jean Ford (Mar. Banks), Evie Brunelle (Jane Banks), Cameron Lewis (Michael Banks), Lucia Spina (Mrs. Brill/Birdwoman), Joshua Messmore (Robertson Ay), Blaire Thompson (Miss Andrew), Jesse Gephart (Admiral Boom/Chairman), LaDonna Burns (Mrs. Corry), Sam Faulkner (Nelus), Kelly Sheehan (Miss Lark), Abigail Isom (Katie Nana), Andrew Eckert (Von Hussler/Park Keeper), Ryan Lambert (Northbrook), and Jordan Radis (Policeman), with Joel Douglas, Gabe Logan, Chole Calhoun, Ella Huestis, Maria Reginaldi, Asali Smith, Eva Smedley, Ella Laurel, Ella Grace Gillette, Lourdes, closes at Raleigh’s North Carolina Rep.
Blank Theatre‘s 31st Annual Young Playwrights Festival concludes at LA’s Skylight Theatre.
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Manhattan Theatre Club has announced complete casting for Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, to begin previews on Sept. 12 and open on Oct. 3, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Whitney White.
Brittany Adebumola, Maechi Aharanwa, Rachel Christopher, Kalyne Coleman, Somi Kakoma, Lakisha May, Nana Mensah, Michael Oloyede, Dominique Thorne, and Zanai Williams.
The piece welcomes you in Jaja’s bustling hair braiding salon in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West Africa immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home.
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All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain, written by & starring Patrick Page, will run Sept. 29 – Jan. 7, 2024 (opening Oct. 16) at Off-Broadway’s DR2 Theatre, directed by Simon Godwin.
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. Thrilling, biting, hilarious, and enlightening, what Page delivers is a masterclass on the most terrifying subject of them all: human nature.
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RIP Jerome Coopersmith, Tony-nominated playwright & screenwriter, died July 21 at the age of 97 in Rochester.
Jerome began his writing career in TV, writing for the quiz show “Americana” in 1947. He would spend the rest of the ’40s and ’50s writing for a number of television programs of varying acclaim, including “The Gabby Hayes Show,” “Johnny Jupiter,” “Armstrong Circle Theater,” and others.
Jerome made his Broadway debut as the book writer for the 1965 musical Baker Street, an attempt to musicalize the detective stories of Sherlock Holmes, working with songwriters Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessel. The work was a modest success, and Coopersmith was rewarded with a 1965 Tony nomination for Best Author of a Musical for his book. The following year, Coopersmith was credited with “Additional Book Material” for The Apple Tree, a comedic Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick musical that has been better remembered in the years since its 1965 debut. Coopersmith reportedly wrote the script for the first of the musical’s three one-act tales, with Coopersmith’s portion based on Mark Twain’s The Diary of Adam and Eve and Eve’s Diary. Jerome would find his greatest success with TV’s “Hawaii Five-O.”
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The world premiere of Eric Simonson & Gordon Gano’s Run Bambi Run will run Sept. 13 – Oct. 22 at Milwaukee Rep, directed by Mark Clements,with music direction by Dan Kazemi,
John Carlin (Joe/Lawyer), Matt Daniels (Breier), Sarah Gliko (Christine/Gale), Douglas Goodhart (Ira/Eisenberg), Armando Gutierrez (Fred), Tommy Hahn McCann/Tom), Jessica Kantorowitz (judy), Ian Littleworth (Nick/Stu), Megan Loomis (Virginia/Sean), Ken All Neely (Peterson), and Erika Olson (Laurie).
An outrageous ‘true crime’ saga that took the nation by storm. Lawrencia “Bambi” Bembenek’s fall from Milwaukee Police Department cop to Playboy Bunny lands her in the slammer, convicted of a murder that she didn’t commit. Or did she?
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Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West has announced its 2024 season. Creative teams and casting TBA.
42nd Street (Feb. 9-25)
Million Dollar Quartet (Apr. 12-28)
Newsies (July 12-28)
Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Oct. 18-23)
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Video: Caissie Levy performs “I Miss the Mountains” from Next to Normal at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
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Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot will run Nov. 4 – Dec. 3 at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, directed by Arin Arbus.
Michael Shannon (Estragon), Paul Sparks (Vladimir), Jeffrey Biehl (Lucky) and Ajay Naidu (Pozzo).
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A Seance with Mom, written by & starring Nancy Redmond, will run Aug. 21 – Sept. 3 at Off-Broadway’s Chain Studio Theatre, directed by Austin Pendleton.
The piece is performed at an onstage table with a walker at its side. Its six characters are established with only the actor’s tools: voice, gesticulation and imagination. Nadine has prayed to deliver a message to her deceased mother, Gussie, and a hapless rabbi from the spirit world has been assigned to make the connection. This is not easy for him, since the afterlife is populated with so many Gussie Plotnicks. The appearance of the wrong mother is a big part of the fun. When the correct mom is finally located, there’s an abrupt recognition scene:
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Second Stage Theatre will present Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate, to begin previews Nov. 28 and open Dec. 18 at the Helen Hayes Theater, directed by Lila Neugebauer.
Sarah Paulson (Toni), and more TBA.
A group of siblings discover a photo album of Black men being lynched among their late father’s possessions.