GRACE NOTES will return Monday June 24
Upcoming Highlights:
Friday, June 14
Mother Road, by Octavio Soli, directed by David Mendizábal, featuring James Carpenter (William Joad) and Emilio Garcia-Sanchez (Martín Jodes), with Cher Alvarez, Scott Coopwood, Daniel Duque-Estrada, Branden Davon Lindsay, Marilet Martinez, Michael Moreland Milligan, Lindsay Rico, Kenny Scott, Benny Wayne Sully, Angel Villalobos, Courtney Walsh, and Kenneth Watkins, opens at CA’s Berkely Rep.
Pure Cinema, by David Neipris, directed by directed by Matt Ritchey, featuring Bill Chott, Aaron Caponigro, and Lindsay Seim, opens at LA’s Broadwater Black Box Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd.).
Sam, written & performed by Sam Labrecque, opens at Hollywood’s Broadwater Studio.
South Pacific, directed by Chay Yew, featuring Danielle Wade (Nelli Forbush), Omar Lopez-Cepero (Emile deBecque), Sky Vaux Fuller (Nagana), Mejay Roa (Jerome), Joan Almedilla (Bloody Mary), Alex Humphreys (Liat), Keven Quillon (Luther Billis), and Cameron Royal (Lt. Cable), with Ethan Hardy Benson, Kelly Berman, Eric Briarly, Chloe Fox, Graham Keen, Hannah Jewel Kohn, Danny Lindgren, Alexa Jane Lowis, John Michael Peterson, James Michael Reilly, Eric Shawn, Nicolette Shin, Phil Sloves, Ethan Van Slyke, John Barsoian, Alyssa Sunew, and Phoenix Noelle, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
NAATCO‘s Isabel, world premiere by reid tang, directed by Kedian Keohan, featuring Sagan Chen, Haruna Lee, NiNi, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Abrons Arts Center.
A Stephen Sondheim Spectacular event, an evening of games, memorabilia, music & libations, featuring a preview exhibition of “The Collection of Stephen Sondheim and Stage & Screen,” from 5-7 PM at Doyle New York (175 E. 87th St.). 
events@doyle.com.
Saturday, June 15
KiKi Ebson: My Buddy: The Other Side of Oz solo show, opens at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
Middletown, by Will Eno, directed by Ann Bronston, featuring Marwa Bernstein, Oscar Best, Sarah Brooke, Rebecca Crandal, Tania Getty, Martha Hackett, John Johannessen, Zachary Kanner, Jeff LeBeau, Linda Lodge, James Morris, Melissa Paladino, Tony Pasqualini,Michael Redfield, and Miranda Wynne, opens at Venice’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
This Bright Wilderness, an evening of readings, directed by Andy Chapman, featuring Brittany Bradford, Curtiss Cook, Gregg Daniel, Kimberly Hébert, Gregory Lovensky, Jean-Baptiste, Nija Okoro, Greg Alverez Reid, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Marcel Spears, Sha’leah Nikole, Stubblefield, and more, at 8 PM at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
Renée Fleming in Recital concert at 7 :30 PM at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Ben Platt: Live at the Palace concert, directed by Michael Arden, closes at NYC’s Palace Theatre.
Between Riverside and Crazy, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Michael Longhurst, featuring Danny Sapani (Pops), Ayesha Antoine (Church Lady), Tiffany Gray (Lulu), Martins Imhangbe (Junior), Daniel Lapaine (Lieutenant Dave Caro), Sebastian Orozco (Oswaldo), and Judith Roddy (Audrey O’Connor), closes at London’s Hampstead Theatre.
Bye Bye Birdie, directed by Marc Bruni, featuring Christian Borle (Albert Peterson), Krysta Rodriguez (Rosie Alvarez), Ephraim Sykes (Conrad Birdie), Caroline Aaron (Mae Peterson), Ashlyn Maddox (Kim MacAfee), Richard Kind (Harry MacAfee,), Miguel Gil (Hugo Peabody), Jennifer Laura Thompson (Doris MacAfee), Henry Kirk (Randolph MacAfee), Megan Sikora Gloria Rasputin), and Jackera Davis (Ursula Merkle) with Allison Blackwell, Sarah Chiu, Jalen Michael Jones, Evan Kinnane, Kevin Ligon, Kelly LoMonte, Luke Kolbe Mannikus, Kevin McAllister, Linda Mugleston, , Maria Cristina Posada Slye, Renell Taylor, Victor de Paula Rocha, and Dori Waymer, closes at the Kennedy Center.
New York Rep‘s The Opposite of Love, world premiere by Ashley Griffin, directed by Rachel Klein, featuring Danny Gardner and Ashley Griffin, closes at Off-Broadway’s Royal Family Performing Art Space.
Ventura Live!, offering one-night and short-run concerts, jam Sessions, new play readings, magic nights, comedy, and much more, concludes at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Sunday, June 16
N/A, world premiere by Mario Correa, directed by Diane Paulus, featuring Holland Taylor (N) and Ana Villafane (A), with Peggy J. Scott and Jamie Ann Romero, opens at Off-Broadway’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
Cock Tales: Straight Up, Dirty & Shaken Stories of Lust & Love, written & performed by Lori Hoeft & Macy Pitt, opens at Hollywood’s LGBT Center.
Coming of Age at 65, written & performed by Gerry Fishman, directed by Franscico Roel, opens at Hollywood’s Hudson Guild Theatre.
Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip benefit, directed by Kellen Stancil with 150 dancers, at 9:30 PM & Midnight at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Uncle Vanya!, newly translated by Heidi Schreck, directed by Lila Neugebauer, featuring Alison Pill (Sonya), Steve Carell (Uncle Vanya), Alfred Molina (Alexander Serabryakov), and Anika Noni Rose (Wife), Jonathan Hadary (Waffles), William Jackson Harper (Astrov), Jane Houdyshell (Mama Voinitski), Mia Katigbak (Marina), and Anika Noni Rose (Yelena), closes at Broadway’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre.
Three Houses, world premiere by Dave Malloy, directed & choreographed by Annie Tippe, featuring J.D. Mollison (Becket), Mia Pak (Sadie), Margo Seibert (Susan), Henry Stram (Grandfather), Scott Stangland (Wolf), and Ching Valdes-Aran (Grandmother), closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
The New Group‘s All of Me, by Laura winters, directed by Ashley Brooke Monroe, featuring Madison Ferris, Danny J. Gomez,Lily Mae Harrington, Florencia Lozano, Brian Furey Morabito, and Kyra Sedgwick, closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center.
Holmes & Watson, by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by David Ellenstein, featuring Richard Baird (Watson), Matt Koenig (Holmes #2), Matthew Floyd Miller (Holmes #1), Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (Dr. Evans), Mike Peebler, (Orderly/Moriarty/Inspector), Alice Sherman (The Matron/The Woman), and Christopher M. Williams (Holmes #3), closes at Laguna Playhouse.
Toni Stone, written & directed by Lydia Diamond, featuring Ryan Vincent Anderson (King Tut), Bobby Cius (Jimmy), Anthony T. Goss (Elzie), Stanley Andrew Jackson (Millie), Jonathan Kitt (Alberga), Al’Jaleel McGhee (Woody), Jennifer Mogbock (Toni Stone), Omar Robinson (Stretch), and Blake Anthony Morris (Spec), with Olutayo Bosede Dominic Carter, Todd McNeel, James Ricardo Milord, Hassiem Muhammad, and Eunice Woods, closes at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
The Subject was Roses, directed by Scott Wittman, featuring (real-life family) John Slattery, Talia Balsam, and Harry Slattery, closes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
West Side Story, directed & choreographed by Baayork Lee, featuring Sabina Collazo (Maria) and Spencer LaRue (Tony), Adriana Negron (Anita), Giuseppe Bausillio (Bernardo), Davis Wayne (Riff), Grace G. Arnold (Graziella), Jenniellen Beattie (Margarita), Ken Bolden (Doc), Bianca Bulgarelli (Consuelo), Emmanuel Cologne (Pepe), Ixchel Cuellar (Teresita), Joy Del Valle (Rosalia), Roberto Facchin (Chino), Mathew Fedorek (Big Deal), Harry Francis (Action), Brandon Halvorsen (A-rab), Miles Marmolejo (Baby John), Maggie McCown (Velma), Macy McKown (Anybodys), J. Alex Noble (Krupke), Maile C. Oravitz (Pauline), Coty Perno (Toro), Eric Rivas (Luis), Ronan Ryan (Snowbaby), Maya Santiago (Francisca), Allan Snyder (Schrank), BB Stone (Minnie), Dixie Surewood (Gladhand), and Cole N. Zieser (Diesel), with Drew Tanabe, David Grindrod, and John E. Viso, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.
Noises Off, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring Jennifer Cody (Dotty/Mrs. Clackett), John Bolton ((Freddy/Phillip), Marylou Henner (Belinda/Flavia), Richard Kline (Selsdon/Burglar), John Patrick Hayden (Lloyd Dallas), Roe Hartrampf (Garry Leueune/Roger), Amanda Kristin Nichols (Brooke/Vicki), Folami Williams (Poppy), and Barrett Riggins (Tim), with Lisa Birnbaum and Patricia Richwood, closes at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara‘s Alice, Formerly of Wonderland, world premiere by Mark Saltzman, directed by Jim Fall, featuring Matthew Greenwood (Caterpillar/Alfred Rowston), Margie Mays (Alice Liddell), Bree Murphy (Queen Victoria/Mrs. Pettigrew/Victor), Sam O’Byrne (Prince Leopold) Sawyer Patterson (Edward Brockett), and Brent Schindele (Dean Henry Liddell), closes at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
KiKi Ebson: My Buddy: The Other Side of Oz solo show, closes at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
VENTURA LIVE: Music, Laughter & Magic event series, concludes at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
The Troubies: Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra closes at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
Monday, June 17
Les Misérables, directed by directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, featuring John Riddle (Jean Valjean), Jordan Donica (Javert), Teal Wicks (Fantine), Red Concepción (Thénardier), Jade Jones (Madame Thénardier), Ken Page (The Bishop of Digne), Emily Bautista (Éponine), Gracie Annabelle Parker (Cosette), Peter Neureuther (Marius), James D. Gish (Enjolras), Kate Kappel (Little Cosette), Grace Moore (Young Éponine), and Will Schulte (Petit Gervais/Gavroche), with Lee H. Alexander, Leah Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Matías De La Flor, Chris Hunter, Dan Klimko, Ángel Lozada, Daniel Brooks McRath, Sydni Moon, Grant Pace, Sarah Pansing, Nicholas Pattarini, Tim Quartier, Shelby Ringdahl, Matt Rosell, Grace Marie Rusnica, Liv Shivener, Sydney Short, Cecilia Snow, Kyle Timson, Noah Van Ess and Annie Zigman, opens at the St. Louis Muny.
The American Popular Song Society‘s Annual Gala Benefit, honoring Richard Maltby Jr. & David Shire, directed, music directed & hosted by Michael Lavine, featuring Loni Ackerman, Danny Bacher, Barbara Blieier, Margery Cohen, Gretchen Cryer, Ed Dixon, Sean Harkness, Judy Kaye, Sally Mayes, Charlotte & Emily Maltby, Christiane Noll, Benjamin Pajak, Austin Pendleton, Steve Ross, Thom Sesma, Elena Shaddow, Jenny Lee Stern, Martin Vidnovic, Mark William, and Walter Willison, plus surprise guests, at 5:30 PM at NYC’s Cutting Room.
Kritzerland’s Supercalifragilistic! – A Tribute to the Late and Great Richard M. Sherman! concert, hosted by Bruce Kimmel, featuring Brent Barrett, Bonnie Gordon, Ava Madison Gray, Linda Hart, Danika Masi, Kerry O’Malley, Sophie Petersen, Isabella Sawoski, and Robert Yacko, at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Tuesday, June 18
Pre-Existing Condition, by Marin Ireland, directed by Maria Dizzia, featuring Tatiana Maslany, Maria Dizzzia & Tavi Gevinson, Deirdre O’Connell & Julia Chan (rotating as “A”), with Sarah Steele, Dael Orlandersmith, Greg Keller, Raquel Chavez, and Gregory Connors, opens at Off-Broadway’s Connelly Theatre.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying presentation by the National Asian Artists Project – NAAP. directed by Cassey Kikuchi Kivnick, featuring Delphi Borich (Rosemary), Cáitlin Burke (Miss Jones), Ariel Estrada (Ovington/Tackaberry), Rona Figueroa (Smitty), Kennedy Kanagawa (Bud), Darren Lee (Mr. Biggly), Whit K. Lee (Finch), Jay Paranada (Twimble), David Shih (Womper/Book Voice), Anne Fraser Thomas (Heddy), with Emily Ballou, Tuanminh Do, Brianna Kim, Joseph Lee, and Patricia Jane, at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Austen’s Pride, Carnegie Hall’s album concert presentation (Winter 2024) by Lindsay Warren Baker & Amanda Jacobs, featuring Mamie Parris, Olivia Hernandez, Andrew Samonsky, Jason Gotay, Beth Leavel, and more, released on most platforms.
Wednesday June 19
Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth FREE concert, featuring Blu Allen, Donovan Louis Bazemore, Jace Bently, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Maya Boyd, Tsilala Brock, Max Chambers, Taylor Colleton, Jay Copeland, Lorna Courtney, Charity Angél Dawson, Mariama Diop, Desmond Sean Ellington, Will Ervin Jr., Jerome Hermann-Hardeman, Dorian Harewood, Jackson Hayes, Najah Hetsberger, Afra Hines, Manny Houston, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Bre Jackson, Polanco Jones Jr., John-Michael Lyles, Mehret Marsh, Deja McNair, Alex Newell, Veronica Otim, Cristina Raé, Jelani Remy, William Rhem Jr., Albert Rhodes Jr., Walter Russell III, Antoine L. Smith, Nia Thompson, Lamont Walker II, Rachel Webb, NaTasha Yvette Williams, and Hailee Kaleem Wright, at 11 AM in Times Square.
Thursday, June 20
Cats: The Jellicle Ball, directed by Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch, featuring Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie), Emma Sofia Caymares (Skimbleshanks), André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy,) Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger), Antwayn Hopper (Macavity), Shereen Pimentel ( Jellylorum), Nora Schell (Bustopher Jones), Garnet Williams (Bombalurina), Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub), Xavier Reyes (Jennyanydots), Bebe Nicole Simpson (Demeter), and Daya Huesca (Rumpleteazer, with Tara Lashan Clinkscales, Frank Viveros, and Shelby Griswold, opens at Off-Broadway’s Perelman Performing Arts Center.
Ella The Ungovernable, by David McDonald, directed by David McDonald & Michele Baldwin, featuring Christian Neal, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theater for the New City.
tiny father, by Mike Lew, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, featuring Tiffany Villarin (Caroline) and Maurice Williams (Daniel), opens at LA’s Geffen Playhouse.
Transport Group‘s Follies in Concert, directed by Jack Cummings III, featuring Norbert Leo Butz, Len Cariou, Christine Ebersole, Katie Finneran, Santino Fontana, Jennifer Holliday, Rachel Bay Jones, Adriane Lenox, Donna Murphy, Karen Ziemba, Julie Benko, Mikaela Bennett, Michael Berresse, Alexandra Billings, Klea Blackhurst, Harolyn Blackwell, Stephen Bogardus, Carolee Carmello, Jim Caruso, Nikki Renée Daniels, Alexander Gemignani, Miguel Gill, Olivia Elease Hardy, Erika Henningsen, Grey Henson, Fernell Hogan, Isabel Keating, Norm Lewis, Ryan McCartan, Thom Sesma, Barbara Walsh, Nina White, and Jacob Keith Watson, at 8 PM at NYC’s Carnegie Hall.
Friday, June 21
Relax, let go, let fly…
Saturday, June 22
Proud Out Loud celebration, offering offering a weekend of programing honoring the achievements of Terrence McNally, opens at LA’s Theatre West.
My First Ex-Husband benefit, a series of monologues by Joy Behar, featuring Behar, Susie Essman, Tovah Feldshuh, Sherri Shepherd, and more. at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
“Every Act of Life,” documentary screening about Terrence McNally, followed by a discussion & talkback with Kaufman, producer Marcia Ross, and actress Tyne Daly, moderated by Michael Van Duzer. at 8 PM at LA’s Theatre West (also tomorrow at 2 PM).
Being Mr. Wickham, written & performed by Adrian Lukis, directed by Guy Unsworth, closes at London’s Jermyn Street Theatre.
Sunday, June 23
N/A, world premiere by Mario Correa, directed by Diane Paulus, featuring Holland Taylor (N) and Ana Villafane (A), with Peggy J. Scott and Jamie Ann Romero, opens at Off-Broadway’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
Little Bear Ridge Road, world premiere by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Joe Mantello, featuring Laurie Metcalf (Sarah), John Drea (James/Kenny), Meighan (Paulette/Vicki), and Micah Stock (Ethan), opens at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Opening Night at the Bowl: Henry Mancini 100th Celebration concert, with special guests Cynthia Erivo, Michael Bublé, Dave Koz, and Monica Mancini, at 7:30 PM at the Hollywood Bowl.
“Every Act of Life,” documentary screening about Terrence McNally, followed by a discussion & talkback with Jeff Kaufman, producer Marcia Ross, and actress Tyne Daly, moderated by Michael Van Duzer. at 2 PM at LA’s Theatre West.
Patriots, by Peter Morgan, directed by Rupert Goold, featuring Michael Stuhlbarg (Boris Berezovsky), Will Keen (Putin), Luke Thallon (Roman Abramovich), Stella Baker (Marina Litvinenko), Ronald Guttman (Professor Perelman), and Alex Hurt (Alexander Litvinenko), closes at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Encore’s Titanic, directed by Anne Kauffman, featuring Ashley Blanchard (Kate Mullins), Adam Chanler-Berat (First Officer Murdoch), Chuck Cooper (Captain E.U. Smith), Eddie Cooper (Henry Etches), Lilli Cooper (Kate Murphey), Andrew Durand (Jim Farrell), Drew Gehling (Edgar Beane), Alex Joseph Grayson (Harold Bride), Ramin Karimloo (Frederick Barrett), Emilie Kouatchou (Caroline Neville), Judy Kuhn (Ida Straus), Jose Llana (Thomas Andrews), Bonnie Milligan (Alice Beane), Ari Notartomaso (Bellboy) Nathan Salstone (Frederick Fleet), (A.J. Shively (Charles Clarke), Brandon Uranowitz (J. Bruce Ismay), Samantha Williams (Kage McGowan), and Chip Zien (Isador Straus), with Colin Anderson, Daniel Beeman, Brandon Contreras, Ali Ewoldt, Leslie Donna Flesner, Evan Harrington, Leah Horowitz, Amy Justman, Michael Maliakel, Timothy McDevitt, Grace Morgan, Kent Overshown, Lindsay Roberts, Matthew Scott, and Daniel Torres, closes at NY City Center.
An Enemy of the People, directed by Sam Gold, featuring Jeremy Strong (Thomas Stockman), Michael Imperioli (Peter Stockman), Victoria Pedretti (Petra Stockmann), Caleb Eberhardt (Hovstad), Matthew August Jeffers (Billing), David Patrick Kelly (Morton Kiil), Thomas Jay Ryan (Aslaksen), and Alan Trong (Captain Horster), with Katie Broad, Bill Buell, David Mattar Merten, and Max Roll, closes at Broadway’s Circle in the Square.
How Long Blues, world premiere conceived, choreographed, and directed by Twyla Tharp, featuring Michael Cerveris, Piper Dye, Jourdan Epstein, Oliver Greene-Cramer, Kyle Halford, Colin Heininger, Daisy Jacobson, Claude CJ Johnson, Pomme Koch, Skye Mattox, Nicole Ashley Morris, Hugo Pizano Orozco, Ryan Redmond, Victoria Sames, Frances Lorraine Samson, John Selya, Reed Tankersley, Andromeda Turre, John Bailey, Justin Goldner, Wayne Goodman, Dan Lipton, Mark Lopeman, Jay Rattman, George Rush, and Paul Wells, closes at NYC’s’s Little Island.
The Lehman Trilogy, adapted by Ben Powers, directed by Sam Mendes, featuring Aaron Krohn, Howard W. Overshown, and Adrian Schiller, with Rebekah Bruce and Ravi Aujla, closes at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre.
Jelly’s Last Jam, directed by Kent Gash, featuring John Clarence Stewart (Jelly Roll Morton), Cress Williams (Chimney Man), Jasmine Amy Rogers (Anita), Karole Foreman (Gran Mimi), Wilkie Ferguson III (Jack the Bear), Grasan Kingsberry (Buddy Bolden), Summer Nicole (Miss Mamie), Doran Butler (Young Jelly), Cyd Charisse Glover-Hill (Hunnie), Naomi C. Walley (Hunnie), Janaya Jones (Hunnie), Hannah Yosef (Too Tight Nora), Joe Aaron Reid (Foot-In-Yo-Ass Sam), and Eric B. Anthony (Three Finger Jake), with Davon Rashawn, Amber Liekhus, and Chante Carmel, closes at Pasadena Playhouse.
Metamorphoses, by Mary Zimmerman, directed by Psalmayene 24, featuring Edwin Brown III, Renea S. Brown, DeJeanette Horne, Yesenia Iglesias, Billie Kirshawn, Manu Kumasi, Miss Kitty, Jon Hudson Odom, Kalen Robinson, Gerrad Taylor, and Renee Elizabeth Wilson, closes at DC’s Folger Theatre.
Les Misérables, directed by directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, featuring John Riddle (Jean Valjean), Jordan Donica (Javert), Teal Wicks (Fantine), Red Concepción (Thénardier), Jade Jones (Madame Thénardier), Ken Page (The Bishop of Digne), Emily Bautista (Éponine), Gracie Annabelle Parker (Cosette), Peter Neureuther (Marius), James D. Gish (Enjolras), Kate Kappel (Little Cosette), Grace Moore (Young Éponine), and Will Schulte (Petit Gervais/Gavroche), with Lee H. Alexander, Leah Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Matías De La Flor, Chris Hunter, Dan Klimko, Ángel Lozada, Daniel Brooks McRath, Sydni Moon, Grant Pace, Sarah Pansing, Nicholas Pattarini, Tim Quartier, Shelby Ringdahl, Matt Rosell, Grace Marie Rusnica, Liv Shivener, Sydney Short, Cecilia Snow, Kyle Timson, Noah Van Ess and Annie Zigman, closes at the St. Louis Muny.
Long Way Down, world premiere by Dahlak Brathwaite & Khiyon Hursey, directed by Ken-Matt Martin, featuring Tyrese Shawn Avery (Will), IO Browne (Shari), and Victor Musoni (Shawn), Frick (Colin Carswell), Buck Parris (Mone’t Lewis), Dani (Cheryse Dyllan), Quincy Vicks (Mike), and Naiqui Macabroad (Uncle Mark), with Ciara Hargrove and Bryan Archibald, closes at MD’s Olney Theatre.
Yellow Face, by David Henry Hwang, directed by Ted Hewlett, featuring J.B. Barricklo (HYH), Michael Hissamoto (DHH), Alexander Holden (Marcus G. Dahlman), Jupiter Lé (Nwoaoc), Jenny S. Lee (Jane Krawkowski, and Mei Macquarrie (Leah Anne Cho), closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage.
The Little Mermaid, directed by Glenn Casale, featuring Leianna Weaver (Ariel), Coleman Cummings (Prince Eric), Trent Mills (King Triton), Dana Orange (Sebastian) Kevin Kulp (Flounder), Quintan Craig ((Scuttle), Regina Le Vert (Ursula), Mitchell Lam Hau (Flotsam, Christopher Diem (Jetsam, Jeff Skowron (Chef Louis/Pilot), and Kevin Symons (Grimsby), with Kevin Corte, Katie Cruz, Cristyn Dang, Daniel Dawson, Andrea Dobbins, Christopher Ho, Michael James, Kurt Kemper, Edgar Lopez, Tayler Mettra, Neema Muteti, Madison Miyuki Sprague, Candace J. Washington, Josh Zacher and Helen Tait, closes at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Proud Out Loud celebration, offering a weekend of programing honoring the achievements of Terrence McNally, concludes at LA’s Theatre West.
Cock Tales: Straight Up, Dirty & Shaken Stories of Lust & Love, written & performed by Lori Hoeft & Macy Pitt, closes at Hollywood’s LGBT Center.
The Explorers Club, by Nell Benjamin, directed by Melanie MacQueen, featuring David Hunt Stafford, Matt Landig, Christopher Franciosa, John Combs, Meghan Lewis, Hovannes John Babakhanyan, Kevin Dulude, Daniel Leslie, and Michael Mullen, closes at LA’s Theatre Forty.
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Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West has announced its 2025 season:
Jersey Boys (Feb. 14 – Mar. 2)
Into the Woods (Mar. 28 – Apr. 13)
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (July 11-27)
Hello, Dolly (Oct. 17 – Nov. 2)
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Dreamgirls will run June 27 – July 3 at the St. Louis Muny, directed by Robert Clater, with choreography by Lesia Kaye, and music direction by Anne Shuttlesworth.
Tiffany Mann (Effie Melody White), Aisha Jackson (Deena Jones), Courtnee Carter (Lorrell Robinson), Charl Brown (Curtis Taylor, Jr.), Nick Rashad Burroughs (James “Jimmy” Thunder Early), Ron Himes (Marty), Aramie Payton (C.C. White), Robby Clater (Wayne) and Natalie Kaye Clater (Michelle Morris) with Travante S. Baker, Lamont Brown, Ian Campayno, Kylie Edwards, Lexie Faith, Julia Grondin, Sophia Hillman, Kennedy Holmes, Dan Horn, Gabriel Kearns, ZaKeyia Lacey, Nathaniel Mahone, Collin Milfort, Pershard Owens, Alanna Porter, Kayla Rush, Ranease Ryann, Owen Scales, Duncan Smith, TJ Staten and Richard E. Waits.
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The Color Purple will run June 25-30 at Pittsburgh CLO, directed by Christopher D. Betts, with choreography by Tislarm Bouie, and music direction by Ilana Atkins.
Kayla Davion (Celie), Tamyra Gray (Sugh Avery), Maiesha McQueen (Sofia), Gerald Caesar (Harpo), Danyel Fulton (Nettie), Justus A. Payne (Young Harpo/Young Adam), Danyel Fulton (Nettie), Jason Shavers (Ol Mister), Saige Smith (Squeak), Cassia Hawkins (Young Celie), Keirsten Hodgens (Jarene), Saniya Lavelle (Young Nettie), Brady D. Patsy (Pa/Buster), Carlwell K. Redmon (Grady), Tripp Taylor (Prison Guard/Bobby), Jennifer Leigh Warren (Doris), Akron Lanier Watson (Mister), Savannah Lee Birdsong (Darline), and Nazear N. Brown (Adam), with Melessie Clark, Aamar-Malik Culbreath, Samantha A. Nelson, and Chanel Stone.
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Red Bull Theater will present its 2024 Annual Short New Play Festival on Mon. June 24 at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Lynn F. Angelson theater. The festival offers 6 brand new 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes inspired by this year’s theme, “Renewal,” directed by Evan Yiounoulis and Irvin Mason Jr.
Luke Brett, Amy Jo Jackson, Fleurette Modica, Paloma Nozicka, Emma Schillage, and Madison StranahanMadison Stranahan.
Shirine, Babb, Tina Benko, Jason Bowen, Leovina Charles, Amy Jo Jackson, Paloma Nozicka, Lux Pascal and Sarin Monae West, with Haley Huxley and Fiona Maguire.
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Broadway’s The Wiz 2024 cast album is now available on all streaming platforms.
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Video: Ramin Karimloo and Hadley Fraser sing “Dirty Rotten Number” from upcoming Dirty Rotten Scoundrels concert on Nov. 24 at the London Palladium.
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Penguin Rep will present Cary Gitter & Neil Berg’s The Sabbath Girl July 23 – Sept. 1 at 59E59 Theaters, directed by Joe Brancato.
Marilyn Caserta, Diana Dimarzio, Rory Max Kaplan, Lauren Singerman, and Max Wolkowitz.
Angie Mastrantoni has a lot going for her: her own art gallery, a new apartment, but not much time for romance … until a neighbor unexpectedly knocks on her door. A sparkling new musical about big-city life and the possibility of finding love when you’re least looking for it – maybe even right down the hall.
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Jelly’s Last Jam continues through June 23 at the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Kent Gash, with choreography by Dell Howlett, and music direction by Darryl Archibald.
John Clarence Stewart (Jelly Roll Morton), Cress Williams (Chimney Man), Jasmine Amy Rogers (Anita), Karole Foreman (Gran Mimi), Wilkie Ferguson III (Jack the Bear), Grasan Kingsberry (Buddy Bolden), Summer Nicole (Miss Mamie), Doran Butler (Young Jelly), Cyd Charisse Glover-Hill (Hunnie), Naomi C. Walley (Hunnie), Janaya Jones (Hunnie), Hannah Yosef (Too Tight Nora), Joe Aaron Reid (Foot-In-Yo-Ass Sam), and Eric B. Anthony (Three Finger Jake), with Davon Rashawn, Amber Liekhus, and Chante Carmel.
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Video: Cynthia Erivo was a recent guest at Ben Platt‘s current engagement marking the reopening of Broadway’s Palace Theatre.
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RIP: Four-time Tony Award-winning producer Ron Simons has died at age 63.
Mr. Simons did not set out to pursue theatre. He initially pursued business, graduating from Columbia Business School in 1989 with an MBA in marketing and international business. He was soon hired at Microsoft as a product manager in San Francisco, California. Then, when he was 39 years old, he decided to quit his tech job. He had gotten into tech in order to support his family, but in his heart, he wanted to be an actor.
After receiving an MFA in acting from the University of Washington, Mr. Simons moved from California to New York. There he became a company member of The Classical Theatre of Harlem. He also got an agent and started booking screen acting gigs (his screen credits include Marvel’s The Defenders, Daredevil, and multiple episodes of Law & Order and its spinoffs). Then, in 2009, dissatisfied with the kind of work he was getting and seeing, he decided to expand into producing, founding his company Simon Says Entertainment. His first foray into producing was on the 2010 film Night Catches Us, starring Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie. His first theatre producing credit was the 2012 revival of Porgy and Bess starring Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis. For the next decade, Mr. Simons would be a co-producer on numerous Broadway shows, and he would win Tony Awards as a producer for Porgy and Bess, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and Jitney. His other credits include producing on Ain’t Too Proud and the 2012 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, which featured a majority-Black cast for the Tennessee Williams classic.
In a 2022 interview with The Root, Mr. Simons spoke passionately about his personal mission to bring more Black storytellers and, crucially, more Black producers to Broadway: “It doesn’t have to be $25,000 or $10,000. But people need to stand up and recognize that without support, we could go away. We could really, seriously, truly go away. And what a loss that would be because if I went away, there would be nobody telling all the stories I‘ve been telling. Maybe somebody, probably not…One by one, show by show, it’s my job to make people understand that Black stories are not only important—they’re viable. I always want to get more Black people to see our stories, to tell our truths. And that’s why I support Black storytellers.”
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The Road Theatre Company will present its 15th Anniversary Summer Playwrights Festival, presenting 23 plays from July 12-21 at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia.
Click the link above for the entire schedule of events.
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Bye Bye Birdie continues through June 15 at the Kennedy Center. directed by Marc Bruni.
Christian Borle (Albert Peterson), Krysta Rodriguez (Rosie Avarez), Ephraim Sykes (Conrad Birdie), Caroline Aaron (Mae Peterson), Ashlyn Maddox (Kim MacAfee), Richard Kind (Harry MacAfee), Jennifer Laura Thompson (Doris MacAfee), and more.
Video: Highlights