This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 10
Ragtime: A Concert Performance, directed by Stafford Arima, featuring Oliver Woodruff (Little Boy), JP Thibodeau (Father), Jessica Eckstadt (Mother), David Webb (Mother’s Younger Brother), Doug McKeag (Grandfather), Tenaj Williams (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Misha Maseka (Sarah), Steven Jackson Jr. (Booker T. Washington), Tim Howar (Tateh), Ella Wilson (Little Girl), Eric Wigston (Harry Houdini), Joel Schaefer (J.P. Morgan), Troy Goldthorp (Henry Ford), Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan (Emma Goldman), Katie McMillan (Evelyn Nesbit), Jessica Horkas (Sarah’s Friend), Michelle Rawlings (Houdini’s Mother), Billy Brown (Stanford White), EJ Candelaria (Harry K. Thaw), Doug McKeag (Admiral Peary), Joel Schaefer (Judge), Robyn Ord (Jury Foreman), Layne Labbe (Kathleen), Troy Goldthorp (Policeman), Rae Bernakevitch (Trolley Conductor), Eric Wigston (Conductor), Shaquille Pottinger (Coalhouse Follower), and Izuchi Otuka (Little Coalhouse), with Grace Ajele, Rae Bernakevitch, Billy Brown, EJ Candelaria, Stanesha Deligence, Simone Denny, Layne Labbe, Jenhene Morgan, Robyn Ord, Christopher Parker, Shaquille Pottinger, and Michelle Rawlings, opens at Theatre Calgary.
NAATCO‘s Queen, by Madhuri Shekar, directed by Aneesha Kudtarkar, featuring Stephanie Janssen, Ben Livingston, Keshav Moodliar, and Avanthika Srinivasan, opens at Off-Broadway’s A.R.T.
Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Linda Kerns, featuring Elizabeth Mae Alan, John Paul Dunn, Sarah Gardner, Treva Tegtmeier, and Ethan Gilmore, opens at Hollywood’s Co-op Theatre.
The Legend of Georgia McBride, by Matthew Lopez, directed by Jamie Torcellini, featuring Taubert Nadalini (Casey), Karese Frizell (Jo), Tom Trudgeon (Eddie), Jeff Summer (Jess Sumner), and Donzell Lewis (Rexy), opens at Long Beach’s International City Theatre.
Happy Birthday, Judy Garland concert, starring Debbie Wileman, opens at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Hamlet, directed by Richard Icke, starring Jennifer Ehle (Gertude), begins previews at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory.
That Is Not Who I Am, by Dave Davidson, directed by Lucy Morrison, featuring Priyanga Burford, Jake Davies, and Siena Kelly, begins previews at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Seth Sikes and Friends: Judy Garland’s 100th Birthday concert, with special guests Charles Busch, Jeanna de Waal, Nia Drummond, and Max von Essen, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.
Mr. Saturday Night cast album released here.
Rufus Does Judy concert, starring Rufus Wainwright, with special guests Justin Vivan Bond, Laura Benanti, Lorna Luft, Molly Ringwald, and Sharon D. Clarke, closes at NYC’s City Winery.
Saturday, June 11
The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Shana Cooper, featuring Armando Durán (Baptista), Felicity Jones Latta (Tranio), Orville Mendoza (Grumio), Jesse J. Perez (Gremio), Cassia Thompson (Bianca), John Tufts (Hortensio/Biondello/Merchant), James Udom (Petrucio), and Deborah Ann Woll (Katherine), along with students in The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, opens at San Diego’s Old Globe.
Hood, by Douglas Carter-Beane & Lewis Flinn, directed by Mark Brokaw, featuring Anthony Chatmon II (Robin), Savy Jackson (Marian), Billie Aken-Tyers (Much), Caitlin Humphreys (Lady Ann), Erin Kei (Lady Jane), Aury Krebs (Meg), Daniel Lopez (Troubadour), Jamen Nanthakumar (Friar Tuck), Luke Anthony Neville (Will Scarlet), Nick Rehberger (Sheriff of Nottingham), Zachary Francis Stewart (Little John), and Imani Youngblood (Gamble Gold), with Jordan Sam Rich, Michail Roberts, Darius Vines, Danielle Vivcharenko, and Taylor Erin Wade, opens at FL’s Asolo Rep.
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Sleuth, directed by Jenny Sullivan, featuring Daniel Gerroll (Andrew Wyke), Matthew Floyd Miller (Milo Tindle), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
Lonesome Traveler: Generations, world premiere by George Grove & James O’Neil, directed by O’Neil, featuring George Grove, Rick Dougherty, Jerry Siggins, Sylvie Davidson, Andrew Huber, Alexcia Thompson, and Trevor Wheetman, opens at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Rogue Machine Theatre‘s The Beautiful People, world premiere by Tim Venable, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, featuring Alexander Neher and Justin Preston, opens at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
Life After, by Britta Jonson, directed by Annie Tippe, featuring Samantha Williams (Alice), Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Fury), Lauryn Hobbs (Fury), Paul Alexander Nolan (Frank), Lucy Panush (Hannah), Bryonha Marie Parham (Beth), Jen Sese (Mrs. Hopkins), Skyler Volpe (Kate), and Chelsea Williams, with Ariana Burks, Alanna Chavez, Antoinette Comer, Claire Kwon, and Stef Tovar, begins previews at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Encompass New Opera Theater‘s Benefit Concert for Ukraine, featuring Ukrainian singers and musicians, at 3 PM ET at NYC’s Christ and Saint Stephen’s Church (120 W. 69th St.)
2econd Stage‘s Take Me Out, by Richard Greenberg, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J. Adams, Julian Cihi, Hiram Delgado, Brandon J. Dirden, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos, and Tyler Lansing Weaks, closes at Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre.
Ragtime: A Concert Performance, directed by Stafford Arima, featuring Oliver Woodruff (Little Boy), JP Thibodeau (Father), Jessica Eckstadt (Mother), David Webb (Mother’s Younger Brother), Doug McKeag (Grandfather), Tenaj Williams (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Misha Maseka (Sarah), Steven Jackson Jr. (Booker T. Washington), Tim Howar (Tateh), Ella Wilson (Little Girl), Eric Wigston (Harry Houdini), Joel Schaefer (J.P. Morgan), Troy Goldthorp (Henry Ford), Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan (Emma Goldman), Katie McMillan (Evelyn Nesbit), Jessica Horkas (Sarah’s Friend), Michelle Rawlings (Houdini’s Mother), Billy Brown (Stanford White), EJ Candelaria (Harry K. Thaw), Doug McKeag (Admiral Peary), Joel Schaefer (Judge), Robyn Ord (Jury Foreman), Layne Labbe (Kathleen), Troy Goldthorp (Policeman), Rae Bernakevitch (Trolley Conductor), Eric Wigston (Conductor), Shaquille Pottinger (Coalhouse Follower), and Izuchi Otuka (Little Coalhouse), with Grace Ajele, Rae Bernakevitch, Billy Brown, EJ Candelaria, Stanesha Deligence, Simone Denny, Layne Labbe, Jenhene Morgan, Robyn Ord, Christopher Parker, Shaquille Pottinger, and Michelle Rawlings, closes at Theatre Calgary.
SpeakEasy Stage‘s The Inheritance (Parts 1 & 2), by Matthew López, directed by Paul Daigneault, featuring Eddie Shields (Young Man 9 / Eric Glass), Jared Reinfeldt (Toby), Benjamín Cardona (Young Man 2 / Jason 1 / Paul / Doorman), Brandon Curry (Young Man 6 / Trisan / Stage Manager), Travis Doughty (Young Man 3 / Young Henry), Kees Hoekendijk (Young Man 5 / Charles Wilcox / Peter West / Toby’s Agent), Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin (Young Man 8 / Jason 2), Greg Maraio (Young Man 7 / Jasper), Paula Plum (Margaret Avery), Jo Michael Rezes (Young Man 4 / Young Walter), Dennis Trainor Jr. (Henry Wilcox), Mishka Yarovoy (Young Man 1 / Adam / Leo), and Mark H. Dold (Morgan / Walther), closes (in rep) at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, directed by Roy Marsden, starring Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl, closes at the UK’s Theatre Royal Glasgow.
Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!, by Dario Fo & Franca Rame, directed by Bob Turton, featuring Kaili Hollister (Antonia), Lynde Houck (Margherita), Jeremie Loncka (Giovanni), Steven M. Porter (Agent, Old Man, Sergeant, Undertaker), Luis Quintana (Luigi), and Stephanie G. Galindo (Officer, Agent, Nurse, Assistant), closes at LA’s The Actors Gang Theater.
Happy Birthday, Judy Garland, starring Debbie Wileman, closes at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Sunday, June 12
2022 Tony Awards presentation, at 8 PM ET on CBS (check local listings), featuring performances by A Strange Loop… Company… Girl from the North Country… MJ… Mr. Saturday Night… Music Man… Paradise Square... and SIX.
Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You, directed by Jeramiah Peay, featuring Shayna Gabrielle, Lea Madda, Michael Mullen, Will Potter, Chris Ramirez, and Liam Risinger, opens at LA’s Studio|Stage (520 N. Western Ave.)
Miscast: Right Singer, Wrong Song benefit concert, featuring Mandy Kaplan, Teya Patt, Joshua Skidmore, Jeffrey Polk, Mona Chatterjee, Graham Kurtz, Mandy Fabian, Liviera Lim, Casey Clavens, Rena Strober, Justin Michael Wilcox, Brittany Anderson, and Anthony Lucca, at 7 PM PT at North Hollywood’s Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel, directed by Mark Brokaw, featuring Mary-Louise Parker, David Morse, Johanna Day, Alyssa May Gold, and Chris Myers, closes at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
The Lucky Star, by Karen Hartman, directed by Noah Himmelstein, featuring Skye Alissa Friedman (Genka), Danny Gavigan (Joseph), Nina Hellman (Mania), Eva Kaminsky (Klara/Felicia), Alexa Shae Niziak (Luisa), Alexandra Silber (Dola/Vita), Steven Skybell (Richard), Sky Smith (Craig), Dale Soules (Berta/Arnold), and Stuart Zagnit (Salo/Blaustein), closes at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters.
Seagull, adapted & directed by Yasen Peyankov, featuring Sandra Marquez, Caroline Neff, Jeff Perry, Karen Rodriguez, Eric Simonson, and Namir Smallwood, closes at Chicago’s Steppenwolf.
Come From Away national tour, featuring Marika Aubrey, Kevin Carolan, Harter Clingman, Nick Duckart, Chamblee Ferguson, Christine Toy Johnson, Julie Johnson, James Earl Jones II, Julia Knitel, Sharone Sayegh, Danielle K. Thomas, Jeremy Woodard, Jenny Ashman, Jane Bunting, Amelia Cormack, Aaron Michael Ray, Kilty Reidy, and Brandon Springman, closes at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
A Chorus Line, directed & choreographed by Luis Villabon, featuring Jonathan Van Dyke (Zach), James Vinson (Larry), Katie Van Horn (Cassie), Natalie Kastner (Sheila), Haley Ayers (Val), Daniella Castoria (Diana), Ava Cusitor (Judy), Presley Nicholson (Kristine), Kristen Daniels (Maggie), Ellery Smith (Bebe), Erika Harper (Connie), AJ Love (Mike), William Nelson (Richie), Johann Santos (Paul), Dorian Quinn (Don), Benji Godley-Fisher (Mark), Patrick Murray (Gregory), Ryan Mulvaney (Bobby), and Bryce Bayer (Al), with Samantha Borthwicke, Lucy Swinson, Kyle Urbaniak and Izzy Valdez Ayres-Kaplan, closes at La Jolla Playhouse.
The Joy That Carries You, world premiere by Awa Sal Secka & Dani Stoller’, directed by Jason Loewith & Kevin McCallister, featuring Billie Krishawn (Alaia), Dani Stoller (Shiri), Michael Russotto (Martin), Susan Rome (Nancy), Bru Ajueyitsi (Ezekiel), Lolita Marie (Alaia’s Ma), and James J. Johnson (Beau), closes at MD’s Olney Theatre.
The Realistic Joneses, by Will Eno, directed by Max Mayer, featuring Melissa Webber Bales, Terry Walters, Brian Letscher, and Bruce Nozick, closes at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
**********************
Click here to download your 2022 Tony Award ballot.
**********************
Complete casting for the world premiere of Matte O’Brien, & Matt Vinson’s Anne of Green Gables, to run July 15 – Sept. 4 (opening July 27) at CT’s Goodspeed, directed by Jenn Thompson, with choreography by Jennifer Jancuska, and music direction by Matthew Smedal.
Juliette Redden (Anne Shirley), Michelle Veintimilla (Diana Barry), Sharon Catherine Brown (Marilla Cuthbert), Aurelia Williams (Rachel Lynde), Pierre Marais (Gilbert Blythe), and D.C. Anderson (Matthew Cuthbert), with Emily Agy, Jarred Bedgood, Tristen Buettel, Giovanni Da Silva, Amanda Ferguson, Patrick Oliver Jones, Nick Martinez, Morgan McGhee, Jenna Lea Rosen, Avery Sobczak, Elaine Cotter, and Sam Pickart.
**********************
The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle nominations for Theatrical Excellence for 2020 & 2021 have been announced here (scroll down).
**********************
“The Broadway Show with Tamsen Fadal” will air June 11 & 12 here.
Hugh Jackman, Rachel Dratch, Myles Frost, Jeanette Bayardelle, Gabby Beans, Michael Oberholtzer, Jaquel Spivey, Joaquina Kalukango, Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rob McClure, Uzo Aduba, and more.
**********************
Video: Funny Girl‘s Julie Benko shares her experience as a standby and survival jobs.
**********************
Virginia Stage Company has announced its 2022-23 season. Casting, creative teams, and additional information TBA.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Sept. 14 – Oct. 2).
The Hobbit (Oct. 9 – Nov. 6), adapted by Greg Banks & Tom Johnson.
A Merry Little Christmas Carol (Nov. 30 – Dec. 24), by Mark Shanahan.
The 39 Steps (Jan. 25 – Feb. 12, 2023), adapted by Patrick Barlow.
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Mar. 8-26),
Henry V (Apr. 9 – May 7)
No Fear and Blues Long Gone: Nina Simone (May 10-14), by Howard L. Craft
**********************
Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre will be re-named the Lena Horne Theatre.
Horne will be the first black woman to have a theater named after her.
The change brings the Nederland Organization into compliance with an agreement reached last year between Broadway leaders and Black Theater United, under which all three major Broadway landlords pledged that at lease one of their theaters would be named for a Black artist.
**********************
Audrey: The New Musical , written by & starring Danielle E. Moore, will run July 28 – Aug. 28 at The Players Theatre.
The musical re-examines the life of legend Audrey Hepburn through song dance, and the technicolor lens of her most iconic screen performances.
**********************
Legally Blonde will run July 25-31 at the St. Louis Muny, directed by Maggie Burrows, with choreography by William Carlos Angulo, and music direction by Lon Hoyt.
Kyla Stone (Elle Woods), Fergie Phillipe (Emmett Forrest), Patti Murin (Paulette), Sean Allan Krill (Professor Callahan), Harley Pdschun (Brooke Wyndham), Dan Tracy (Warner Huntington III), Kelsey Ann Brown (Margot), Khailah Johnson (Pilar), Gabi Camp0 (Serena), and Kerry George (Enid).
**********************
Casting has been announced for Matt Cox’s Puffs, to run June 17 – July 31 at Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret, directed by Scott Evans.
Victor Aponte (Ernie Mac), Allison Elaine (Sally), Jessie Wray Goodman (Megan), Michael Greer (Cedric), Kat Harkins (Susie), Jack Holmes (Wayne), Greta Kleckner (Hannah), Saige Smith (Leanne), Charlie Thompson (J. Finch), and Tru Verret-Fleming (Oliver), with Rocky Paterra, Jason Shavers, and Lu Zielinski.
There once was a boy wizard who went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs… who happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.
