This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 28
Little Shop of Horrors, directed & choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, featuring China Brickey (Audrey), Will Roland (Seymour), David Darrow (Orin Scrivello), Gabrielle Dominique (Crystal), Robert Dorman (Mushnik), Erica Durhan (Chiffon), T. Mychael Rambo (Voice of Audrey II), and Vie Boheme Ronnette), with Time Brickey, Yvonne Freese, Koko, Laureano, and Joey Miller, opens at Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater.
Last of the Red Hot Mamas, world premiere by Susan Ecker, Harrison David Rivers & Lloyd Ecker, directed & choreographed by Shea Sullivan, featuring Ryann Redmond (Sophie Tucker), Rheaume Crenshaw (Mollie Elkins), DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Bojangles Robinson) and Stephanie Gibson (Nora Bayes), with Willie Clyde Beaton II, Lincoln Belford, Natalie Bellamy, Kelly Bolick, Jonathan Hadley, Jenny Kay Hoffman, Hannah Hubbard, Daniel Lopez, Bobby MacDonnell, Michael Persson, Danny Rutigliano and Rachel Stern, opens at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
The Year Without A Summer, world premiere by Greer Dubois, directed by Maia Luer & Daniel J. Parker, featuring Lemon Baardsen, Andrea Casamitjana, Isaac Deakyne, Silas Jean-Rox, Kirsten Jones, and Bethany Koulias, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Your Lie in April – The Musical, by Frank Wildhorn, Riko Sakaguchi, Carly Robyn Green, & Tracy Miller, directed & choreographed by Nick Winston, featuring Zheng Xi Yong (Kōsei Arima), Rumi Sutton (Kaori Miyazono),Rachel Clare Chan, Joanna Ampil, and Dean John-Wilson, with Eu Jin Hwang, Julie Yammanee, Jade Albertsen, Lauren Chia, Hannah Yun Chamberlain, Imogen Rose Hart, Yuki Abe, Chris Fung, Ernest Stroud, JoJo Meridith, Michael Lin, Samuel How and Jason Wang-Westland, begins previews at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre.
Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Matthew Xia, featuring Tobi Bamtefa (Reggie), Branden Cook (Dez), Pamela Nomvete (Faye), and Racheal Ofori (Shanita), begin previews at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, by Samantha Hurley, directed by Tyler Struble, featuring Tessa Albertson (Shelby), Kyle Birch (Brenda Dee Cankles), and Anders Hayward (Tobey Maguire), begins previews at London’s Southwark Playhouse.
King Nigel’s Nervous Breakdown, written & performed by Satu, directed by Rantz A. Hoseley, with the voices of Anzu Lawson, Farida Rautaharju, Siobhan Doherty, Steve J. Palmer, Jon Kita, Zach Tirone, Lola Darzens, and Bushra Laskar, closes at LA’s The Art of Acting Studio Blackbox ( Orange Drive)
Saturday, June 29
Slave Play, by Jeremy O. Harris, directed by Robert O’Hara, featuring Kit Harington, Olivia Washington, James Cusati-Moyer, Chalia La Tour, Annie McNamara, Irene Sofia Lucio, McNamra, La Tour, Fisayo Akinade and Aaron Heffernan, opens at London’ Noël Coward Theater.
Ella The Ungovernable, by David McDonald, directed by David McDonald & Michele Baldwin, featuring Christian Neal (Ella), Tyra Hughes (Alice), Ebony Nixon (Althea), Shadenia Sivad (Marie) and Michele Baldwin (Tempie), opens at Off-Broadway’s Theater for the New City.
Master Class, directed by Lisa Peterson, featuring Vicki Lewis, Stella Kim, Olivia Hernandez, Rodney Ingram, Brett Ryback, and Ben Rauch, opens at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Broadway in the Park concert, featuring Laura Benanti & Jordan Fisher, with Felicia Curry, Rayanne Gonzales, Katie Mariko Murray, Kevin McAllister, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Matthew Scott, and Toabias A. Young, at 8 PM at VA’s Wolftrap.
Jerry’s Girls, directed by Hannah Chissick, featuring Cassidy Janson, Julie Yammanee, and Jessica Martin, backed by an all-female band, closes at the UK’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
Bluets, by Maggie Nelson, adapted by Margaret Perry, directed by Katie Michell, featuring Emma D’Arcy, Kayla Meikle, and Ben Whishaw, closes at London’s Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.
A Little Night Music concert presentations, adapted & directed by John Doyle, featuring Susan Graham (Desiree Armfeldt), Cynthia Erivo (Petra), Ron Raines (Fredrik Egerman), Ruthie Ann Miles (Countess), Schuler Hensley (Count Carl Magnus), Marsha Mason (Madam Armfeldt), Kerstin Anderson (Anne Egerman), Jin Ha (Frid), Addie Harrington (Fredrika Armfeldt), Ellie Fishman (Mrs. Nordstrom), Samantha Hill (Mrs. Segstrom), Jonathan Christopher (Mr. Erlanson), Jason Gotay (Henrik Egerman), Andrea Jones-Sojola (Mrs. Anderson). and Ross Lekites (Mr.Lindquist), closes at Lincoln Center.
The World According to Micki Grant, compiled, adapted & directed by Nora Cole, featuring Matelyn Alicia, April Armstrong, Patrice Benn and Shawn Bowers, closes at its new home at Off-Broadway’s WPA Theatre.
Invasive Species, by Maia Novi, directed by Michael Breslin, featuring Raffi Donatich, Sam Gonzalez, Alexandra Maurice, and Julian Sanchez, closes at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
Aaron Tveit in concert closes at NYC’s Café Carlyle.
The Abnormal Heart, written & performed by Parker Mills, directed by Marilyn McIntyre, closes at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m Kinky, written & performed by Jean Franzblau, directed by Carly DW Bones, closes at North Hollywood’s Broadwater Second Stage (6300 Santa Monica Blvd.)
Sunday, June 30
Unbroken Blossoms, by Philip W. Chung, directed by Jeff Liu, Gavin Kawin Lee (James Leong), Ron Song (Moon Kwan), Alexandra Hellquist (Gish/Gilda), Ton Song (Moon Kwan), Arye Gross (D.W. Griffith), Alexandra Hellquist (Lillian Gish/Gilda), and Conlan Ledwith (Richard Barthelmess), with Paul Dateh, Ty Aldridge, and Valeries Rose Lohman, featuring Gavin Kawin Lee (James Leong), Ron Song (Moon Kwan), Alexandra Hellquist (Gish/Gilda), Ton Song (Moon Kwan), Arye Gross (D.W. Griffith), Alexandra Hellquist (Lillian Gish/Gilda), and Conlan Ledwith (Richard Barthelmess), with Paul Dateh, Ty Aldridge, and Valeries Rose Lohman, opens at LA’s East West Players.
Henry 6 One: Flowers and France, adapted & directed by Barry Edelstein, featuring Elizabeth A. Davis (Margaret), William DeMeritt (York), Sofia Jean Gomez (Warwick), Mahira Kakkar (Eleanor/Mortimer/ Iden, Ian Lassiter (Gloucester/Edward), Jake Millgard (Charles/Bolingbroke/King Louis), Keshav Moodliar (King Henry), Victor Morris (Salisbury), Gregg Mozgala (Suffolk/Richard), Mike Sears (Cardinal/Old Clifford/Father), Ella Serrano (Rutland), Tally Sessions (Talbot/ Cade), and Cassia Thompson (Joan/Prince Edward), opens at San Diego’s Old Globe.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ SOLID GOLD: Aretha Dianne & Whitney concert, featuring Super Queens of Drag (Priyanka and Latrice Royale), “Solid Gold Trio,” Summer Nicole, Greer, Jenelle, Lynn Randall, and Amber Wright, at 3 PM at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
A Little Night Music concert presentations, adapted & directed by John Doyle, featuring Susan Graham (Desiree Armfeldt), Cynthia Erivo (Petra), Ron Raines (Fredrik Egerman), Ruthie Ann Miles (Countess), Schuler Hensley (Count Carl Magnus), Marsha Mason (Madam Armfeldt), Kerstin Anderson (Anne Egerman), Jin Ha (Frid), Addie Harrington (Fredrika Armfeldt), Ellie Fishman (Mrs. Nordstrom), Samantha Hill (Mrs. Segstrom), Jonathan Christopher (Mr. Erlanson), Jason Gotay (Henrik Egerman), Andrea Jones-Sojola (Mrs. Anderson). and Ross Lekites (Mr.Lindquist), closes at Lincoln Center.
Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Lila Neugebauer, featuring Sarah Paulson, Corey Stoll, Natalie Gold, Elle Fanning, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Graham Campbell, Lincoln Cohen, Michael Esper, and Everett Sobers, closes at Broadway’s Haye’s Theatre.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Mary Jane, world premiere by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman, starring Rachel McAdams, closes at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Just Another Day, by Dan Lauria, directed by Eric Krebs, featuring Dan Lauria and Patty McCormack, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre 555.
Here There are Blueberries, by Moisés Kaufman & Amanda Gronich, directed by Kaufman, featuring Scott Barrow, Nemuna Ceesay, Kathleen Chalfant, Noah Keyishian, Jonathan Raviv, Erika Rose, Anna Shafer, Elizabeth Stahlmann, Charlie Thurston, and Grant Varjas, closes at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.
Molly Sweeney, by Brian Friel, directed by Charlotte Moore, featuring Rufus Collins (Mr. Rice), John Keating (Frank Sweeney), and Sarah Street (Molly Sweeney), closes at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep.
The Fires, written & directed by Raja Feather Kelly, featuring Beau Badu (Eli), Sheldon Best (Sam), Phillip James Brannon (Jay), Janelle McDermoth (Rowan), Ronald Peet (George/Sean/Kayne), Jon-Michael Reese (Maurice), Jason Beasey (Billy/Reggie), and Michelle Wilson (Leslie), closes at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Rep.
Mrs. Doubtfire national tour, directed by Jerry Zaks, featuring Rob McClure (Daniel Hillard/Eupheginia Doubtfire), Maggie Lakis (Miranda Hillard), Giselle Gutierrez (Lydia Hillard), Aaron Kaburick (Frank Hillard), Nik Alexander (Andre Mayem), Leo Roberts (Stuart Dunmire), Romelda Teron Benjamin (Wanda Sellner), Cody Sawyer Braverman & Axel Bernard Rimmele (alternating as Christopher Hillard, and Emerson Mae & Chan Kennedy Alexandra Pitney (Alternate as Natalie Hillard), with David Hibbard, Alex Branton, Jonathan Hoover, Sheila Jones, Julie Kavanagh, Jodi Kimura, Marquez Linder, Alex Ringler, Bianca Rivera-Irions, Lannie Rubio, Neil Starkenberg, Joey Stone, Gina Ward, Lauryn Withnell, and Julia Yameen, closes at LA’s Pantages Theatre.
A Strange Loop, by Michael R. Jackson, directed by Stephen Brackett, featuring Jordan Barbour (Thought 5), J. Cameron Barnett (Thought 2), Avionce Hoyles (Thought 3), Tarra Conner Jones (Thought 1), Malachi McCaskill (Usher), Jamari Johnson Williams (Thought 6), and John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4), with Alvis Green Jr. (Usher Alternate), Dave J. Abrams (Understudy, Thought 2 & 3), Angela Alisa (Understudy, Thought 1), Carlis Shane Clark (Understudy, Thought 5 & 6), Albert Hodge (Understudy, Thought 4), closes at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Kyra Kennedy (Carole King), Marrick Smith (Gerry Goffin), Samantha Massell (Cynthia Weil), Jacob Ben-Shmuel (Barry Mann), Brian Fenkart (Don Kirshner), and Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein), with Tavis Cunningham, Seth Eliser, Kevin Hack, Jana Djenne Jackson, Andrea Levinsky, Prentiss E. Mouton, Jay Owens, Olivia Palmer, Thomas Ed Purvis, Isaiah Reynolds, Tavia Riveé, Aaron Robinson, Danielle Summons, Bronwyn Tarboton, Giselle Amarisa Watts, and Mikayla White, closes at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
The Color Purple, directed by by Christopher D. Betts, featuring 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, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.
Spring Awakening, directed by Jay Santos, featuring Caitlin Sarwono (Melchior), Ricky Spaulding (also Melchior), Alexander Kilian (Moritz), Dedra D. Woods (Adult Woman), Lauren Drake (Ilse), Michael Sharon (Adult Men), Anabel Chacón (Thea), Andrew Nkickerbocker (Pit Singer), Anteia DeLaney (Anna), Ciara Alyse Harris (Martha), CJ Lorentz (Otto), Isaiah “Roze” Hsu (Georg), James Schilling (Hanschen), Sage Suzerris (Ernst), and Sophie Bee Kashman (Pit Singer), with Beth DeVries, Donovan Mahannah, Drew Bates, Lucas Delamarter, Megan May Chang, Nina Romano, and Richard Nguyen Sloniker, closes at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre.
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, directed by Tomé Cousin, featuring Gabrielle Lee, Kenney Green-Tilford, Scrappy Mason, Ayana Del Valle, and Alawna Mallory, closes at the Pittsburgh CLO.
Steel Magnolias, directed by Paige Price, featuring Amy Loui (M’Lynn), Taylor Quick (Shelby), Jilanne Marie Klaus (Truvy), Abigail Isom (Annelle), Zoe Vonder Haar (Ouiser), and Kari Ely (Clairee), with Lari White, Lexy Witcher, and Meme Wolff, closes at Stages St. Louis.
Being Alive: A Sondheim Celebration, conceived by Robert Kelley & William Liberatore, directed by Kelley, featuring Anne Tolpegin, Nick Nakashima, Melissa WolfKlain, Noel Anthony Escobar, Solona Husband, and Sleiman Alahmadieh, closes at CA’s TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.
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, closes at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Coming of Age at 65, written & performed by Gerry Fishman, directed by Franscico Roel, closes at Hollywood’s Hudson Guild Theatre.
Romeo and Juliet, directed by Claire Karpen, featuring Kendall Cafaro (Juliet), Ray Hugh (Tybalt), Noah Michal (Lady Capulet), Jahsiah Mussig (Mercutio), Jater Webb (Romeo), and Amelia Windon (Nurse), closes at Rowayton, CT’s Pinkney Park.
Sam, written & performed by Sam Labrecque, closes at Hollywood’s Broadwater Studio.
Ugly Lies the Bone, by Lindsey Ferrentino, directed by Lulenoxx, featuring Gabrielle Archambault, Sheer Aviram, Carver Folkes, Suni M!, and Hans Heilmann, closes at Hollywood’s McCaddden Place Theatre.
There’s something seriously wrong with Cyrus: How I Went from a Hot Mess to a Hot Bitch, written & performed by Cyrus Deboo, developed & directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, closes at LA’s Zepher Theatre.
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Chad Hodge’s Studio 54 The Musical is currently in development, directed & choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.
Casting TBA.
The new musical traces the astonishing ascent and sudden downfall of the most legendary club in nightlife history. In staggeringly short order, two scrappy impresarios turned an abandoned west side theater into the hottest club in the history of New York– utterly transforming music, nightlife, and celebrity culture in the process. It also transformed the lives of everyone who made it past the door, whether for one extraordinary night or every night. Until it all abruptly came to an end. The new musical will bring audiences past the velvet rope and into a world of unfathomable decadence, set to the thumping sound of the most iconic disco hits of the 1970s and populated by a cast of unforgettable characters, all having the time of their lives. Welcome to Studio 54.
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Jamie deRoy & Friends, in support of the Entertainment Community Fund, will take place Mon. July 1 at 7 PM at NYC’s Birdland, directed by Barry Kleinbort.
(updated): Jason Graae, Cory Kahaney, Moipei Jim Vallance, Catherine Porter, and A.J. Shively.
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Audio: Nick Cartell performs Jason Robert Brown’s “It All Fades Away”
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Tim Gilvin & Alex Kanefsky’s Cable Street will run Sept. 6 – Oct. 10 at the Southwark Playhouse, directed Adam Lenson, with choreography by Jevan Howard-Jones and music direction by Ellen Campbell.
Danny Colligan (Ron), Sha Dessi (Mairead), and Joshua Ginsberg (Sammy) with Davina Moon, Mia Overfield, Max Alexander-Taylor, Aiofe Mac Namara, Ethan Pascal Peters, and Jez Unwin.
Sammy, Mairead, and Ron live in the multi-cultural melting pot that is Cable Street. They are desperately trying to carve out their own futures, when Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists start to march on the East End. A diverse mix of residents unite to blockade Cable Street, taking a united stand against hatred.
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Musical Theatre Guild has announced concert presentations for its 2024-25 season at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage. Casting and creative teams TBA.
The Light in the Piazza (Sept. 29)
The Drowsy Chaperone (Mar. 23, 2025)
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A celebration of the life of composer Steven Lutvak, who died last year at the age of 64, will take place Mon. July 8 at 3 PM at NYU’s Skirball Center. The event will feature sons from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged here.
Broadway Inspirational Voices, Crystal Monee Hall, Bryce Pinkham, Catherine Walker, Scarlett Strallen, Catherine Porter, Lori Wilner, and Jenna Pastuszek.
The concert will feature songs from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Lutvak’s albums “Ahead of My Heart” and “The Time It Takes,” as well as some never-before heard works-in-progress.
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Jay Armstrong Johnson: ALiiVE at Webster Hall will take place Mon. Oct. 21 at 8 PM at NYC’s Webster Hall, in support of the Ali Forney Center.
Allison Godleski and Amanda Williams Ware.
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NYC’s Second Stage has chosen a new artistic director: Evan Cabnet.
Currently leading Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT3, Cabnet will join Second Stage in September and launch his first season of programming in fall 2025. Interim Artistic Director Bennett Leak will continue to oversee the upcoming 2024–2025 season.
Cabnet will succeed founding Artistic Director Carole Rothman, who announced her departure last year.
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Elvis Costello & Sarah Ruhl’s A Face in the Crowd, will run Sept. 10 – Nov. 9 (opening Sept. 17) at the Young Vic, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, with music supervision by Phil Bateman, and choreography by Lizzi Gee.
Ramin Karimloo (Lonesone), Anoushka Lucas (Marcia Jeffries), Stavros Demetraki (Joey D), Olly Dobson (Mel Miller), and Emily Florence (Betty Lou), with Howard Gossington, Andrew Coshan, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Chris Jenkins, Durone Stokes, Vicki Lee Taylor, Annie Wensak, Jasmin Colangelo and Bobby Windebank.
A radio producer gives a jailed drifter a spot on the airwaves only to find out the move is more than she bargained for.
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Delia Ephron’s Left on Tenth will begin previews Sept. 26 and open Oct. 23 at the James Earl Jones Theatre, directed by Susan Stroman.
Julianna Margulies (Delia) and Peter Gallagher (Peter), with Peter Francis James and Kate MacCluggage.
A true story about love, hope, and the wonder of second chances. When she least expected it, writer Ephron made a surprising connection with a man from her past and fell into her own romantic comedy.
Video: Margulies and Gallagher chat about the play.