This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 25
Aeschylus’ Trilogy (Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides), adapted & translated by Ellen McLaughlin, featuring Kathleen Chalfant, Obi Abili, Kelly Curran, Rad Pereira, and more, begins FREE streaming at Theatre for a New Audience.
New Faces Sing Broadway 1979 concert, directed by Brianna Borger, featuring Micah Beauvais, Adia Bell, Chloe Belongilot, Wesly Anthony Clergé, Haley Gustafson, Drew Mitchell, Mia Nevarez, Larua Quiñones, Christopher Ratliff, and Nathe Rowbotham, begins streaming at Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre.
The Designated Mourner audio play, by Wallace Shawn, directed by André Gregory, featuring Wallace Shawn, Larry Pine, and Deborah Eisenberg, begins FREE streaming on all podcast platforms.
Cinderella, world premiere by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Emerald Fennell & David Zippel, directed by Laurence Connor, featuring Carrie Hope Fletcher (Cinderella), Ivano Turco (Prince Sebastian), Rebecca Trehearn (The Queen), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (The Stepmother), Georgina Castle (Marie), Laura Baldwin (Adele), Claudie Onitiri (The Godmother), Caleb Roberts (Prince Charming), Georgina Onurorah (Alternate Cinderella), Sam Robinson (Dorian), Giovani Spano (Gawain), and Vinny Coyle (Arthur), with Michael Afemaré, Lydia Bannister, Lauren Byrne, Michelle Bishop, William Bozier, Sophie Campbell, Tobias Charles, Nicole Dion, Jonathan David Dudley, Dominic Adam Griffin, Michael Hamway, Leah Harris, James Lee Harris, Kate Ivory Jordan, Jessica Kirton, Kelsea-Rae Marshall, Andy Rees, Lauren Stroud, Georgia Tapp, Matthew Vinetot, Alexandra Waite Roberts, and Rodney Vubya, begins previews at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre.
“In the Light, A Faustian Tale” studio cast recording, by Michael Mott, Nathan Wright & Justin Silvestri, featuring Jeremy Jordan (Faustus) and Solea Pfeiffer (Gretchen), with Ciara Renée, Antonio Cipriano, Bobby Conte Thornton, Anne Fraser Thomas, Aisha Jackson, and Zachary James, released on Broadway Records.
Moonlighters filmed production, by Cin Martinez, directed by Jenn Thompson, featuring Janet Dacal, Herbert Newsome, Maribel Martinez, Julian Remulla, and Monica Rae Summers Gonzalez, concludes streaming at TheaterWorks Hartford.
Saturday, June 26
Springsteen on Broadway re–opens at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
Four Chords and a Gun benefit reading, by John Ross Bowie, directed by Jessica Hanna, featuring Michael Cassady, Ben Feldman, Lena Hall, Justin Kirk, and Bobby Conte Thornton, begins livestreaming at 7:30 PM ET on Play-PerView.
Minnesota, world premiere written & performed by Justin Tanner, directed by Lisa James, begins streaming at LA’s Rogue Machine.
The Progress of Pride Spectacular benefit event, hosted by Lea DeLaria, featuring BD Wong, L. Morgan Lee, Alex Newell, Blake Hammond, Brad Bradley, Christine Dwyer, Claybourne Elder, Eri Ulloa, Harvey Firestein, J. Cameron Barnett, Jenn Colella, Jerry Mitchell, Kathryn Gallagher, Mars Rucker, Nathan Lee Graham, Vishal Vaidya, David Correa, Sue Doster, and Kazz Alexander, streams for FREE at 8 PM ET here.
Stephanie J. Block in conversation & song benefit, hosted by Jason Graae & Jennifer Shelton, featuring Eileen Barnett, Doug Carfrae, Will Collyer, Kelley Dorney, Joshua Finkel, Zachary Ford, Julie Garnyé, Kelly Lester, Melissa Lyons Caldretti, Kevin McMahon, Gabriel Navarro, Monica Quinn, Glenn Rosenblum, Natalie Wachen, and Shannon Warne, streams for FREE at 6 PM PT at LA’s Musical Theatre Guild.
An Evening with Brad Simmons and Tonya Pinkins in person concert, at 8 PM ET at Westport Country Playhouse.
Shakuntala reading, by Lavina Jadhwani, directed by Sophiyaa Nayar, featuring Jesse Bhamrah (King), Anand Bhatt (Pandu/Durvasas), Vikram Konimalla (Boy), Shishir Kurup (Kanva), Miriam A. Laube (Mother Guatami/Queen Mother), Tina Muñoz Pandya (Priya), Aila Peck (Shakuntala), Jasmine Sharma (Anushka), and Levin Valayil (Madhavva), streams for FREE at 7 PM CT at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
American Voices New Play Festival concludes FREE streaming at Hartford Stage.
The Blues Brothers live drive-in show, directed by Kristine Bendul & Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva, featuring Charity Angel Dawson (Mrs. Murphy), Nick Rashad Burroughs (Reverend Cleophus James), F. Michael Haynie (Elwood Blues), Brian Charles Johnson (“Joliet” Jake Blues), Antoine L. Smith (Ray), Ladonna Burns (blues Sista), and Anne Fraser (Blues Sista), closes at Queen’s Radial Park.
Sunday, June 27
A Picture of Autumn filmed production, by N.C. Hunter, directed by Gus Kaikkonen, featuring Helen Cespedes, Christian Coulson, Barbara Eda-Young, Mark Emerson, Katie Firth, Jonathan Hogan, George Morfogen, Paul Niebanck, and Jill Tanner, concludes FREE streaming at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.
The Fatal Weakness filmed production, by George Kelly, directed by Jesse Marchese, featuring Cliff Bemis, Cynthia Darlow, Kristin Griffith, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Patricia Kilgariff, and Victoria Mack, concludes streaming at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.
Tales of the City, the Musical (2011 production), by Jake Shears, John Gordon & Jeff Whitty, directed by Jason Moore, featuring Betsy Wolfe (Mary Ann Singleton), Judy Kaye (Anna Madrigal), Wesley Taylor (Michael “Mouse” Tolliver), Mary Birdson (Mona Ramsey), Manoel Felciano (Norman Neal Williams), and Josh Breckenridge (Jon Fielding), with Keith A. Bearden, Jessica Coker, Kristoffer Cusick, Diane J. Findlay, Alex Hsu, Kimberly Jensen, Patrick Lane, Stuart Marland, Jeff McLean, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Pamela Myers, Julie Reiber, Andrew Samonsky, and Josh Walden, concludes streaming at San Francisco’s A.C.T.
Becoming Dr. Ruth, by Mark St. Germain, directed by David Ellenstein, starring Tovah Feldshuh, closes in person at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Reykjavík streamed production, by Steve Yockey, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, featuring Stephen Tyler Howell, Alaska Jackson, Carlos Lacamara, Brian Ibsen, Danny Lee Gomez, and Jacqueline Misaye, concludes on-demand viewing at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre Company.
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Video: Stars in the House, offering a Broadway Boys Game Night, with special guests Jesse Nager, Jamarice Daughtry, Brad Greer, Nick Cartell, Michael Williams, and Raymond Lee. (1:13:52)
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Douglas J. Lyons’ Chicken and Biscuits will run Sept. 23 – Jan. 2, 2022 (opening Oct. 10) at Circle in the Square, directed by Zhailon Levingston.
Norm Lewis (Reginald), Michael Urie (Logan), and more TBA.
The story of the two sisters who attempt to put their differences aside when it comes time to bury their father … until the sister they didn’t know existed arrives at the funeral.
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Katori Hall’s TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, will resume performances July 28 at the Aldwych Theatre.
Aisha Jawando, Angela Marie Hurst, Ashley Zhangazha, Ava Brennan, Cameron Bernard Jones, Chloe Chambers, Daniella Bowen, Derek Aidoo, Francesca Jackson, Gavin Alex, Hanna Jay-Allan, Irene-Myrtle Forrester, Jammy Kasongo, Jyme Lee-Zanoncelli, Josephy Richardson, Joshua Da Costa, Kibong Tanji, Lejaun Sheppard, Oscar Batterham, and Samuel J Weir.
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A Little New Music‘s next conversation & song will spotlight the music & lyrics of Bryan Blaskie, to stream Tues. June 29 at 7 PM PT here.
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The original Broadway cast recording of Girl From the North Country, recorded on Mar. 9, 2020, will finally be released on Aug. 20 on iTunes.
The musical is set to re-open on Sept. 13 at the Belasco Theatre.
Todd Almond, Jeanette Bayardelle, Jennifer Blood, Law Terrell Dunford, Matthew Frederick Harris, Caitlin Houlahan, Robert Joy, Marc Kudisch, Luba Mason, Ben Mayne, Matt McGrath, Tom Nelis, Colton Ryan, Jay O. Sanders, John Schiappa, Austin Scott, Kimber Elayne Sprawl, Rachel Stern, Chiara Trentalange, Bob Walton, Chelsea Lee Williams, and Mare Winningham.
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Video: The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: Wired: Pride 21 concert, with special guests RuPaul, Todrick Hall, Brandi Carlile, LeeAnn Rimes, HomoPhonics, and The Lollipop Guild. (1:26:30)
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The world premiere of Diane Warren, Louisette Geiss & Howard Kagan’s The Right Girl will run Oct. 13 – Nov. 1 at Albany’s Proctors, directed by choreographed by Susan Stroman.
Alysha Umphress, Ramin Karimloo, Paige Faure, Adam Jacobs, J. Elaine Marcos, Steve Rosen, Syndee Winters, and more TBA.
Join Eleanor Stark on her first day as Chief Creative Officer of the legendary film and television studio, Ambrosia Production. As Eleanor rises to the top working side by side for years with the industry’s most respected men, we learn that one of the is real trouble. What role does the play in the story of Hollywood’s most fiercely guarded secret?
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The Public Theater has announced its all-black production of Merry Wives, adapted by Jocelyn Bioh, to run July 6 – Sept. 18 (opening July 27) at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre, directed by Saheem Ali.
Abena (Anne Page), Shola Adewusi (Mama Quickly), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Mister Nduka Ford), Pascale Armand (Madam Ekua Page), MaYaa Boateng (Fenton/Simple), and Phillip James Brannon (Pastor Evans), Joshua Echebiri (Slender/Pitsol), Jacob Ming-Trent (Falstaff), Julian Rozell Jr. (Shallow), Kyle Scatliffe (Mister Kwame Page), David Ryan Smith (Doctor Caius), and Susan Kelechi Watson (Madam Nkechi Ford), with Brandon E. Burton, and Branden Lindsay.
A raucous spinoff featuring the Bard’s most beloved comic characters, this hilarious farce tells the story of the trickster Falstaff and the wily wives who outwit him in new celebration of Black joy, laughter, and vitality.
This year, free tickets will be distributed, two per person, entirely via an advanced digital lottery hosted by Goldstar. The lottery will accept entries through the Goldstar app and website each Tuesday and Friday, until 12 PM ET, one week prior to the next week’s scheduled performances, beginning Tues., June 29.
Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test is not required for entry; however, all patrons over the age of two must wear an approved mask to enter the theater in accordance with theatrical union requirements and under the guidance of our heal advisory consultants who are monitoring vaccination and infection rates locally in New York City. Click here for more information.
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The 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival, which will run Aug. 12-29, will present a hybrid festival model, offering both in-person and digital productions. Productions, creative teams, and casting TBA.
However, the Fringe will wait to release audience safety guidelines until tickets go on sale on July 16.
Registration is now open here,
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Joshua Henry‘s new album, “Grow” in now available on iTunes.
“Love Me
“Guarantee”
“Possible”
“Awe Of Her”
“Tomorrow”
“Holde Me”
“Stand Up
“Checking In”
“Take My Breath Away”
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Casting has been announce for Week 1 of Hollywood’s Blank Theatre‘s 29th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, which will stream July 10-16 on Vimeo:
Miss Diva Cup (by Anya Jimenez, age 17), directed by Laura Stribling, featuring Ashley De La Rosa, Sydney Veronica Lee, and Desiree Ross. Two friends in the bathroom at school confront diva cups, liquid eye liner, and sexuality in a quick casual and honest portrayal of friendship, support, and acceptance.
Quarter (by Kea Kamiya, age 18), directed by Angela Oh, featuring Saylor Bell and Matt Ukena. One quarter Japanese, three quarters white. Which box to check on a college application? A young woman with a visitor has a choice to make. Who gets severed? Who matters less? And when will we stop asking?
Tasmanian Devils (by Zachary Garfinkle, age 17). directed by Danielle Ozymandias, featuring Evan Michael, Sloane Morgan Siegel, Shian Tomlinson, and Sydney Viengluang. A presentation on Tasmanian devils is interrupted by a school shooting. While students respond as they’ve been trained to, they continue discussing the parallels between humans and other mammals in a palpable exploration of desensitization of normalized trauma.
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Springsteen on Broadway has just launched a digital lottery for performances beginning June 29 at the St. James Theatre (and continues through the show’s closing performance on Sept. 4).
Click here for the lottery.
* For each performance, 32 tickets will be sold for $75 each (limit 2 per winner).
* Seat selection may have partial, restricted, and/or obstructed view of the stage
* Tickets issued to the sinner may not necessarily be next to one another.
* Seats may be located anywhere in the Theatre, including sections accessible by stairs only.
* Winners who require accessible seating or other special accommodations should email help@luckyseat.com.
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NYC’s Gracie Mansion Conservancy has announced its 2021 Gala: Raising The Curtain – Theatre is Back, which will stream Wed. June 30 at 6 PM ET, hosted by Deena Jones & Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Brian Stokes Mitchell, who will be presented with the Key to the City.
Keenan Scott II, Steve H. Broadnax III and performers from Thoughts of a Colored Man, David Henry Hwang, Bobby Conte Thornton, Jessica Phillips, John Gallagher Jr., and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
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CA’s Coachella Valley Rep has announced its 2021-22 season:
Bakersfield Mist (Nov. 9-21), by Stephen Sachs, directed by Ron Celona. Maude, a fifty-something unemployed bartender living in a trailer park, as bought a painting for a few bucks from a thrift store. Despite almost trashing it, she’s now convinced it’s a lost masterpiece by Jackson Pollock worth millions. But when world-class art expert Lionel Percy flies over from New York and arrives at her trailer in Bakersfield to authenticate the painting, he has no idea what about to discover.
Life X 3 (Jan. 25 – Feb. 6, 2022), by Yasmina Reza, directed by Joanne Gordon. Henry and Sonia are having a difficult evening with Arnaud, their wakeful six-year-old son; but Henry has other worries. About to publish the results of two years’ research on the flatness of galaxy halos, he’s desperate to make a good impression on the distinguished astrophysicist Hubert Finidori, who wields a decisive influence over the question of Henry’s long-for promotion.
Closer Than Ever (Mar. 1-20), directed by Ron Celona, with music direction by Scott Storr.
Native Gardens (Apr. 12-24), by Karen Zacarias, directed by Michael Matthews.
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Once will run July 1-17 at Ithaca’s Hangar Theatre, directed by Shirley Serotsky.
Heath Saunders (Guy), Julie Benko (Girl), Linda Baird (Reza), Chris “Red” Blisset (Bank Manager), David Corlew (Eamon), Trevor Lindley Craft (Svec), Nicole D’Angelo (Ex-Girlfriend), Evan Harrington (Billy), Heidi Hayes (Baruska), Chibueze Ihuoma (Andrej), Craig MacDonald (Da), Tony Moreno (Emcee), Kestrel Lavine & Olive Haynes (Ivonka).