This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 17
Pretty Woman tour, directed & choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, featuring Adam Pascal (Edward Lewis), Olivia Valli (Vivian Ward), Jessica Crouch (Kit De Luca), Kyle Taylor Parker (Happy Man/Mr. Thompson, and Matthew Stock (Philip Sutckey), with Nella Cole, Michael Dalke, Nico DeJesus, Christian Douglas, Danny Drewes, Alex Gibbs, Em Hadick, Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson, Chris Manuel, Alexa Xioufaridou Moster, Kaylee Olson, Amma Osei, Jonathan Ritter, Becca Suskauer, Kelsee Sweigard, Matthew Vincent Taylor, Brent Thiessen, Bria J. Williams, and Imani Pearl Williams, opens at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.
The Music Man, directed by Sandra Mae Frank & Michael Baron, featuring deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing artists James Caverly (Harold Hill), Adelina Mitchell (Marian), Vishal Vaidya (Marcellus) Florrie Bagel (Ethel Toffelmeier), Heather Marie Beck (Alma Hicks), Amelia Hensley (Eulalie Shinn), Matthew August (Tommy), Gregor Lopes (Olinn Britt), Andrew Morrill (Mayor Shinn), Anjel Piñero (Woman #1), Mervin Primeaux-O’Bryant (Maude Dunlap), Nicki Runge (Mrs. Paroo), Christopher Tester (Oliver Hicks), and Dylan Toms (Ewart Dunlop) with Jay Frisby, Sarah Ann Sillers, Sophia Early, Aarron Loggins, Jane Enabore, and Stephen Russell Murray, begins previews at MD’s Olney Theatre Center.
Conflict (2018 production), by Miles Malleson, directed by Jenn Thompson, featuring Jeremy Beck, Henry Clarke, Graeme Malcolm, James Prendergast, Jesse Shelton, Jasmin Walker, and Amelia White, begins FREE streaming at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.
Hudson Stage Company‘s Memory of Convenience staged reading, by Jeff McCracken, directed by McCracken & Ray Yeates, featuring Jon Colin, Barclay, Denise Bessette, Glenn Spears and Aoife Williamson, at 7 PM ET at Armonk’s Whipporwill Theatre.
Joe Iconis’ “Album” released here, featuring 70+ performers, including Aaron Tveit, Andrew Rannells, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Krysta Rodriguez, Kerry Butler, Danny Burstein, Annie Golden, George Salazar, Will Roland, and Andrew Barth Feldman.
Saturday, June 18
Isn’t This Bliss? Sondheim on Love concert & discussion, conceived, directed, hosted & music directed by Ted Sperling, featuring Ben Davis, Jordan Donica, Solea Pfeiffer, and Scarlett Strallen, opens at NYC’s 92Y.
Central Park Five opera, world premiere by Anthony Davis & Richard Wesley, directed by J. Ed. Araiza, featuring Cedric Berry (Yusef Salaam), William Powell III (Anthony McCray), Bernard Holcomb (Kevin Richardson), Orson Van Gay (Raymond Santana), Ashley Faatoalia (Korey Wise), Justin Ryan (The Masque), Lacey Jo Benter (District Attorney), Todd Strange (Donald Trump), Joelle Lamarre (Antron’s Mother/Kevin’s Mother), Lindsay Patterson (Yusef’s Mother), Jose Luis Maldonado (Raymond’s Father/Matias Reyes), and Corey Estelle (Ensemble), opens at CA’s Long Beach Opera.
The Colored Museum, by George C. Wolfe, directed by Jazmine Nichelle, featuring Antwan Alexander II, Cassandra Carmona, Bahasi Chapman, Dorothea Saint Fleur, Sean James, Zenarra James, Matt Lorenzo, Bianca Ostojich, Ravyne Demyra Payne, Jessica Perkins, Twon Marcel Pope, Quan ‘Darius, Jefferson Reid, and Katisha Sargeant, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
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.).
Female Troubles new musical presentation & conversation, by Jennifer Crittenden & Gabrielle Allen, featuring Ananda Green, Curtis Moore, Lesli Margherita, and more, at 7:30 PM ET at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Hangman, by Martin McDonagh, directed by Matthew Dunster, featuring Alfie Allen, David Threlfall, Tracie Bennett, Own Campbell, Jeremy Crutchley, Gaby French, Josh Goulding, John Hodgkinson, Richard Hollis, John Horton, and Ryan Pope, with Sebastian Beacon, Peter Bradbury, Katie Fabel, Colin McPhillamy, and Andy Nyman, closes at Broadway’s Golden Theatre.
Prima Facie, by Suzie Miller, directed by Justin Martin, starring Jodie Comer, closes at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre.
Straight Line Crazy, world premiere by David Hare, directed by Nicholas Hytner, featuring Ralph Fiennes, Alisha Bailey, Samuel Barnett, David Bromley, Al Coppola, Siobhán Cullen, Ian Kirkby, Alana Maria, Dani Moseley, Guy Paul, Helen Schlesinger, Mary Stillwaggon Stewart, and Danny Webb, closes at London’s Bridge Theatre.
Forestburg Under the Stars Broadway Concert Series, featuring Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jackie Burns, Ken Page, Kirsten & Matthew Scott, and Cady Huffman, closes at NY’s Forestburg Playhouse.
Sunday, June 19
THE FUNCTION: A Queer Juneteenth Concert Celebration, hosted by Ianne Fields Stewart, featuring Jaime Cepero, Courtney Daniels, J. Hoard, Alfonso Horne, Ianne Fields Stewart, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Jade Jones, Jay Jurden, Kristina Nicole Miller, Alex Newell, Jaida Valenciaga, Darnell White, and Khalifa White, livestreams at 9:45 PM ET at 54 Below.
Girl From the North Country, written & directed by Conor McPherson, featuring Mare Winningham, Todd Almond, Colin Bates, Jeannette Bayardelle, Jennifer Blood, Alex Joseph Grayson, Matthew Frederick Harris, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Marc Kudisch, Luba Mason, Ben Mayne, Matt McGrath, Tom Nelis, Jay O. Sanders, John Schiappa, Austin Scott, Housso Semon, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Edward Staudenmayer, Rachel Stern, Anastasia Talley, Chiara Trentalange, Bob Walton, Aidan Wharton, Chelsea, and Lee Williams, closes at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre.
!Americano!, by Carrie Rodriguez, Jonathan Rosenberg & Fernanda Santo, directed by Michael Bernard, featuring Sean Ewing (Valdovinos), Legna Cedillo, Yassmin Alers, Johanna Carlisle-Zepeda, Joseph Paul Cavazos, Lucas Coatney, Devin Cortez, Juan Luis Espinal, Justin Figueroa, Ruben Eduardo Flores, Megan Elysa Fulmer, Henry Gendron, Anne-Lise Koyabe, Alessandro J. Lopez, Edgar Lopez, Carolina Miranda, Alex Paez, Ryan Reyes, Lannie Rubio, Nicole Paloma Sarro, Robbie Serrano, Maria Cristina Posada Slye, and Pablo Torres, closes at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Man of God, by Anna Ouyang Moench, directed by Maggie Burrows, featuring Shirley Chen (Samantha), Emma Galbraith (Jen), Erin Rae Li (Mimi), Albert Park (Pastor), and Ji-young Yoo (Kyung-Hwa, closes at LA’s Geffen Playhouse.
Windfall, by Scooter Pietsch, directed by Jason Alexander, featuring Spencer Garrett (Glenn Brannon), Ro Boddie (Galvan Kidd), Badia Farha (Kate Rearden), Abigail Isom (Hannah Higley), Talia Thiesfield (Jacqueline Vanderbilt), and Dylan S. Wallach (Chris Hart), closes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Chicago, directed & choreographed by Denis Jones, featuring Sarah Bowden (Roxie Hart), J. Harrison Ghee (Velma Kelly), Adam Heller (Amos Hart), Emily Skinner (Matron “Mama” Morton), James T. Lane (Billy Flynn), and Ali Ewoldt (Mary Sunshine), with Mackenzie Bell, Joe Bigelow, Darien Crago, Abbey Friedmann, Anna Gassett, Valton Jackson, Madison Johnson, David Paul Kidder, Drew King, Tara Kostmayer, Brian Shimasaki Liebson, Lizz Picini, Michal James Reed, Trevor Michael Schmidt, Diana Vaden, Adam Vanek, Nathaniel Washington, Keli Youngman, Kamal Lado, Gabi Stapula, and Debby Lennon, closes at the St. Louis Muny.
Central Park Five opera, world premiere by Anthony Davis & Richard Wesley, directed by J. Ed. Araiza, featuring Cedric Berry (Yusef Salaam), William Powell III (Anthony McCray), Bernard Holcomb (Kevin Richardson), Orson Van Gay (Raymond Santana), Ashley Faatoalia (Korey Wise), Justin Ryan (The Masque), Lacey Jo Benter (District Attorney), Todd Strange (Donald Trump), Joelle Lamarre (Antron’s Mother/Kevin’s Mother), Lindsay Patterson (Yusef’s Mother), Jose Luis Maldonado (Raymond’s Father/Matias Reyes), and Corey Estelle (Ensemble), closes at CA’s Long Beach Opera.
Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Linda Kerns, featuring Elizabeth Mae Alan, John Paul Dunn, Sarah Gardner, Treva Tegtmeier, and Ethan Gilmore, closes at Hollywood’s Co-op Theatre.
The Play You Want, by Bernardo Cubria, directed by Michael John Garcés, featuring Peter Pasco (Bernard0), Chelsea Gonzalez (Vera), Natalie Llerena (Chloe/Mija/J. Lo), Jonathan Nichols (Gilbert Cruz/Alfred Molina), Rolan Ruiz (Lin Manuel Miranda/Mijo/Pablo/John Leguizamo), Christopher Larkin (Sam Gold/Chay Yew/Variety Reporter), Stewart J. Zully (Oskar Eustis/Scott Rudin), and Presciliana Esarolini (Abuela/Gloria Estafan), closes at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia.
The Pajama Game, directed by Annie Potter, featuring Nicholas Yenson, Nicole Tung, Katherine Stein, Tiana Paulding, Ben Jones, Renee Deweese, Jesse Caldwell, Tony Conaty, Tracy Camp, Ashley Garlick, James Mayagoitia, Nick Nakashima, and Daniel Thomas, closes at San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon.
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A concert presentation of Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear’s The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical will take place Tues. July 26 at 8 PM ET at The Kennedy Center, directed by Sammi Cannold, and accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, and more TBA.
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Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater has announced its 2022-23 season:
Only Gold (Oct. 2022), world premiere by Kate Nash, Andy Blankenbuehler & Ted Malawer, directed & choreographed by Blankenbuehler. 
A royal family’s arrival in Paris sets a flurry of activity into motion, forcing nobility and townsfolk alike to examine the choices they’ve made. As loyalties and loves are tested, will they find the courage to follow their hearts? Paris will never be the same.
Wolf Play (Jan. 2023), by Hansol Jung, directed by Dustin Wills. When an off-the-record adoption goes awry, Jeenu’s new parents learn just how far a wolf will go to defend its pack.
Bees and Honey (May 2023), world premiere by Guadalís Del Carmen, directed by Melissa Crespo. Married couple Manuel and Johaira are entering new phases in their lives. But as the challenges of life and marriage mount, the young and ambitious couple must answer the age-old question: Is love enough?
Wet Brain (May 2023), world premiere by John J. Caswell, Jr., directed by Dustin Wills. In a crumbling house in Arizona, a family haunted by addiction – and hardened into smart-asses – wrestles with the alcoholic ruin of its patriarch… who may or may not be repeatedly abducted by aliens.
Uncensored (Spring 2023), a Youth Company production. A celebration of young voices who speak to their experiences, hopes and dreams reflecting on today, while looking toward the future.
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(listen here): Danny Burstein sings “52” from Joe Iconis’ new “Album.”
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Casting has been announced for the Los Angeles engagement of Dear Evan Hansen, to run June 29 – July 31 (opening July 1) at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Anthony Norman (Evan Hansen), Coleen Sextion (Heidi Hansen), Lili Thomas (Cynthia Murphy), Pablo Laucerica (Jared Kleinman), Micaela Lamas (Alana Beck), John Hemphill (Larry Murphy), Nikhil Saboo (Conor Murphy), Alaina Anderson (Zoe Murphy), and Jeffrey Cornelius (Evan alternate), with Valeria Ceballos, Ian Coursey, Reese Sebastian Diaz, Gillian Jackson Han, Isabel Santiago, Daniel Robert Sulivan, Kelsey Venter, and Pierce Wheeler.
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A private industry reading of Marian, by Elkin Antoniou G, Chelsea Marie Davis, Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Victoria Theodore, and Emily Ruth Hazel, will take place today (at 11 AM & 3 PM ET) at NYC’s Sunlight Studios (321 W. 44th St., #202), directed by Tamara Tunie, with music direction by Victoria Theodore. Contact information was not reported.
Twenty-four years before D. Martin Luther King, J. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, a Black woman stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and sang before an unprecedented, racially integrated audience of 75,000 people. After struggling against societal forces to fulfill her dream of becoming a world-class singer, Marian Anderson reaches her greatest potential as an artist, only to risk everything during the 1930’s pre-civil rights movement. This is her story.
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The Public Theater‘s Richard III, will run June 21 – July 17 (opening July 11) at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre, directed by Robert O’Hara.
Danai Gurira (Richard III), Wyatt Cirbus (Prince of Wales), Sanjit De Silva (Buckingham), Sam Duncan (Duke of York),Monique Holt (Duchess of York), Gregg Mozgala (King Edward IV/Richmond), Paul Niebanck (George), Michael Potts (Lord Stanley), Ariel Shafir (Lord Hastings, Heather Alicia Simms (Queen Elizabeth), Ali Stroker (Anne), Sharon Washington (Queen Margaret), and Daniel J. Watts (Catesby Ratcliffe), with Maleni Chaitoo, Thaddeus Fitzpatrick, Skyler Gallun, Sara Nina Hayon, Matthew Jeffers, Matt Monaco, Xavier Pacheco, Marcus Rae Perez, Grace Porter, and N’yomi Stewart,
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Concert presentations of Harrison David Rivers & Ted Shen’s We Shall Someday will take place June 30 – July 2 at DC’s Signature Theatre, directed by Kelli Foster Warder, with music direction by Deborah Abramson.
Benjamin Harold Moore, Nova Y. Payton, Emmanuel Elliot Key, and Drake Leach.
A moving and unflinching look at resistance and resilience traced over three generations of Black American family.
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Video: Highlights from Yee haw! May We All: A New Country Musical at the Tennessee PAC, starring Lauren Pritchard and Heidi Blickenstaff.
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater has announced its 12th Annual Short New Play Festival 2022, which will take place Mon. July 11 at 7 PM ET at the Sheen Center. Casting TBA.
And There Shall Be No More Tears, by Montana Cypress. As the U.S. Cavalry approaches, a Medicine Man rushes to concoct a remedy to save his people.
With Visible Breath, by Larissa FastHorse. Inspired by one of the oldest stories of the L/D/Nakota people, Pté Sán Winyan has been sent from the spiritual world to Earth on a quest to help the people who will be known as the Oceti Sakowin.
Another Part of the Green Room, by Debra Fried. Orson Welles, in the figure of Mercury, finds a trio of Elizabethan actors who have magically transformed into the very roles they play (within the play) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and recruits them for his 1937 Mercury Theatre production of Faustus.
Cancel Me, by Stephen Adly Guirgis. An ancient King summons a long ago banished Alchemist to transmutate his greatest and worst possession – his son.
Vulgar Gold, by Kevin P. Joyce. Bitter Rosetta uses an alchemical elixir to seduce her sister’s husband with chaotic results.
Make Gold of That, by Nick Martorelli & Justin Muschong. A man arrives for his appointment with a modern Alchemist, where he meets other customers with items they want the Alchemist to transmute into the most valuable resource in the modern world: Time.
Medus Prays, by Zoë Rhulen. Medusa, having just turned her most recent lover to stone, begs Athena to reverse her curse.
Prosperita, by Elaine Romero. Prosperita has the unique gift of folding and understanding both time and war. Her inner transformation calls her to action as she prepares herself to intervene in a most brutal war.