This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 7
Marie Curie, by Jongyoon Choi & Tom Ramsay, directed by Sarah Meadows, featuring Ailsa Davidson (Marie), Chrissie Bhima (Anne Kowalska), Thomas Josling (Pierre Curie), and Ruben DeLong (Richard Meek), with Lucy Young, Isabel Snaas, Christopher Killik, Dean Makowski-Clayton, Maya Kristal Tenenbaum, Yujin Park, and Rio Maye, opens at London’s Charing Cross Theatre.
Dark Noon, by Tue Biering, co-directed & choreographed by Nhlanhla Mahlangu, featuring Bongani Bennedict Masango, Joe Young, Kaygee Letsholonyana, Lillian Tshabalala, Mandla Gaduka, Siyambonga Alfred Mdubeki, and Thulani Zwane, opens at Brooklyn’s St. Anne’s Warehouse.
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, opens at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre.
Dr. Glas, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, starring Daniel Gerroll, opens at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Troubadour Theater Company’s Duran DurAntony & Cleopatra, adapted & directed by Matt Walker, featuring Beth Kennedy, Rick Batalla, Mike Sulprizio, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, John Paul Batista, Katie Kitani, Mark McCracken, Philip McNiven, Suzanne Jolie, opens at Burbank’s Colony Theatre, opens at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
Pre-Existing Condition, by Marin Ireland, directed by Maria Dizzia, featuring Tatiana Maslany, Maria Dizzzia & Tavi Gevinson, Deirdre O’Connell & Julia Chan (all rotating as “A”), with Sarah Steele, Dael Orlandersmith, Greg Keller, Raquel Chavez, and Gregory Connors, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Connelly Theatre.
Broadway Today!: Broadway’s Modern Masters concerts, featuring Victoria Clark, Many Gonzalez, Joshua Henry, Darius de Haas, Bryce Pinkham, and Scarlett Strallan, closes at Boston’s Symphony Hall.
Saturday, June 8
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, opens at CA’s TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.
Ugly Lies the Bone, by Lindsey Ferrentino, directed by Lulenoxx, featuring Gabrielle Archambault, Sheer Aviram, Carver Folkes, Suni M!, and Hans Heilmann, opens at Hollywood’s McCaddden Place Theatre.
Pure Cinema, by David Neipris, directed by directed by Matt Ritchey, featuring Bill Chott, Aaron Caponigro, and Lindsay Seim, begins previews at LA’s Broadwater Black Box Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd.).
LA Opera‘s Turandot, conducted by James Condon, featuring A.M. Angela Meade (Turandot), Ashley Faatoalia (L’Impertore Altoum), Morris D Robinson (Timur), Russell Thomas (Calaf), Liù (Guanqun Yu), Ryan Wolfe (Ping), TC Terrence Chin0Loy (Pang), and Alan Williams (Un Mandarino), closes at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavlion.
Waitress, directed by Abbey O’Brien, featuring Desi Oakley (Jenna), Jimmy ray Bennett (Cal), Matt DeAngelis (Earl), Ben Jacoby (Dr. Pomatter), Gizel Jiménez (Dawn), Kennedy Kanagawa (Ogie), Maiesha McQueen (Becky), and Cleavant Dirricks (Joe), with Matthew Curiano, Daniela Durbin, Sam Hartley, Renee Jackson, Andrew Burton Kelley, Gabriella Marzetta, Thabitha Moruthane, Julia Rippon, Jake Urban, Chelsea Williams, and Evelyn Woodma, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
Dr. Glas, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, starring Daniel Gerroll, closes at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
Sunday, June 9
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, opens at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
David, A New Musical, by Martha Rosenblatt, Gary Glickstein & Al Tapper, directed & choreographed by Kyle Pleasant, featuring Danny Arnold (Saul), Jay Aubrey Jones (Achish), Jacob Louchheim (Jonathan), Caleb Mathura (Solomon), Kenny Morris (Nathan), Timothy Warmen (David), Olivia Vadnais (Michal), and Ethan Zeph (Young David), with Ashley Marie Arnold, Blair Alexis Brown, Bruce Blanchard, Scott Harrison, Garland Ray, and Jodi Snyder, opens at Off-Broadway’s AMT 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, opens at LA’s Zepher Theatre.
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, opens at LA’s The Art of Acting Studio Blackbox (1017 N. Orange Drive).
Atypical Grace, created, written & performed by Maria Fagan Hassani, directed by Heather Dowling, begins previews at Hollywood’s Zephyr Theatre.
Songbook Sundays: One for Johnny Mercer concert, with music direction by Billy Stritch, featuring Klea Blackhurst, Gabrielle Stravelli, and Robbie Lee, at 5 & 7:30 PM at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club.
The Lonely Few, by Zoe Sarnak & Rachel Bond, directed by Trip Cullman & Ellenore Scott, featuring Damon Daunno, Taylor Iman Jones, Peter Mark Kendall, and Lauren Patten, closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
The Hours are Feminine, world premiere written & directed by José Rivera, featuring Maribel Martínez (Evalisse), Hiram Delgado (Fernán), Donovan Monzon Sanders (Jaivín), Sara Koviak (Mirella), Robert Montano (Little Anthony), and Dan Grimaldi (Charlie), closes at Off-Broadway’s Intar Theatre.
Waitress, directed by Abbey O’Brien, featuring Desi Oakley (Jenna), Jimmy ray Bennett (Cal), Matt DeAngelis (Earl), Ben Jacoby (Dr. Pomatter), Gizel Jiménez (Dawn), Kennedy Kanagawa (Ogie), Maiesha McQueen (Becky), and Cleavant Dirricks (Joe), with Matthew Curiano, Daniela Durbin, Sam Hartley, Renee Jackson, Andrew Burton Kelley, Gabriella Marzetta, Thabitha Moruthane, Julia Rippon, Jake Urban, Chelsea Williams, and Evelyn Woodma, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
#CaseyAndTommyGetHitched, world premiere written by & starring Molly Wagners, directed by Natasha Renae Potts & Madylin Sweeten Durrie, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
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Dolly Parton & Maria S. Schlatter’s Hello, I’m Dolly will open on Broadway in 2026 (dates, theatre, and additional details TBA). Click here for more information.
The new musical borrows its title from the name of Parton’s first studio album released in 1967. Dolly Parton said, “Hello, I’m Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage. I’ve written many original songs for the show and included all your favorites in it as well. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll clap, you’ll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol’ Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don’t miss it!”
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Video: Watch Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer’s Complete Lady of the Lake Farewell Tour, including “Dueling Meadowlark,” directed by Randy Blair, with music direction by Adam Cole Klepper. (1:16:25)
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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, with music direction by Ron Abel.
Jason Graae, Cory Kahaney, Moipei Jim Vallance, and Catherine Porter.
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Les Misérables will run June 17 – 23 at the St. Louis Muny, directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, with choreography by Jesse Robb, and music direction by james Moore.
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.
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Williamstown Theatre has announced its WTF IS NEXT festival, to run Au. 1-4 throughout the community of Williamstown.
Too much to post here. Click the link above for details.
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Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip will take place Sun. June 23 at 9:30 PM & Midnight at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom, directed by Kellen Stancil, with choreography by Kellen Stancil, John Alix, Mike Baerga, Phil Colgan, Karla Puno Garcia, Billy Griffin, Amber Jackson, Jonathan Lee, Leo Moctezuma, Rachelle Rak, Michael Lee Scott, and Maleek Washington.
150+ (too many to post here).
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This Bright Wilderness, an evening of readings, will take place Sat. June 15 at 8 PM at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Andy Chapman.
Performers TBA.
The event will offer scenes from The Celebration by Bill Gunn ….. Lackawanna Blues by Ruben Santiago-Hudson ….. House Arrest and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith ….. Dream on Monkey Mountain by Derek Walcott ….. Neat by Charlayne Woodard ….. and Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson. In addition, songs will be performed from Micki Grant’s Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope.
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Cambridge’s A.R.T. has announced its 2024-25 season:
Romeo and Juliet (Aug. 31 – Oct. 6), directed by Diane Paulus.
Diary of a Tap Dancer (Dec. 12 – Jan. 4, 2025), by Ayodele Casel, directed by Torya Beard. A new production that interweaves dance, narrative, and song to share the story of her own life and honor the histories and legacies of the extraordinary women tap dancers who came before her.
The Odyssey (Feb. 9 – Mar. 16), world premiere by Kate Hamill, directed by Shana Cooper. This new play reimagines the stories of both Odysseus and his wife, Penelope, and asks how we can learn to embrace healing and forgiveness in order to end cycles of violence and revenge.
Night Side Songs (Mar. 27 – Apr. 13), world premiere byThe Lazours, directed by Taibi Magar. Illness is the night side of life, a more onerous citizenship. Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick.
…and more TBA.
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The Patricia Whiteman Award Celebrating Musical Performance Concert, awarded to Katrina Aguilar, will take place Sun. July 28 at 7:30 at Hollywood’s Catalina Bar & Grill.
Jason Graae and more TBA.
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Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre Company has announced upcoming events:
Eisenhower: This Piece of Land (July 11-14), by Richard Hellesen, directed by Peter Ellenstein, starring John Rubinstein. Click here for information.
What the Constitution Means to Me (Aug. 15-18), by Heidi Schreck, directed by Matt Hawkins, starring Stacy Stoltz, with Paul Fagen. Click here for information.
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Video: ‘Be a Lion’ and ‘Home’ From The Wiz‘s upcoming Broadway Revival Album
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Eli Bauman’s 44 – The (un) Official (un)Sanctioned Obama Musical, written & directed by Eli Bauman, with music direction by Anthony “Brew” Brewster, and choreography by Miss James Alsop, will have 4 invitation-only showcase performances on June 24 (7 PM), June 25 (7 PM) and June 26 (2 & 7:30 PM) at Racket NYC (431 West 16th St).
T. J. Wilkins (Barack Obama), Shanice as (Michelle Obama), Chad Doreck as (Joe Biden), Kevin Bailey as (John Boehner), Larry Cedar (Mitch McConnell), Marqell Edward Clayton (Brother Abe Lincoln), Kelley Dorney (Hillary Clinton), Summer Nicole Greer Voice of the People), Jane Papageorge (Sarah Palin), Dino Shorté (Herman Cain), Jeff Sumner (Lindsey Graham), and Michael Uribes (Ted Cruz), with Celeste Butler, Ally Dixon, and Scott Kruse
Soon Presidents 45 and 46 will share the stage for what promises to be a rational, civil, and refreshingly youthful debate. But before those sprightly Adonises do their thing, help us reminisce about the 44th presidency through music, comedy, and anxiety-fueled pizza and booze.
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Into the Woods will run July 19 – Aug. 11 (opening July 20) at the Greenway Court Theatre, directed by Mary Jo Duprey, with music direction Anthony Zediker.
Zoe Bright, Aaron Camitses, Peyton Crim, Lisa Dyson, Osher Fine, Ian Gibson, Zachary Harris, Timothy Hearl, Emily Jenda, Kailyn Leilani, Emma Rose Lutsky, Christian McCleary, Roni Paige, Brandon Schumann, Clare Snodgrass, Trance Thompson, Stephen L. Wilson, and Sarah Wolter.