This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, June 9
Hope Has a Happy Meal, by Tom Fowler, directed by Lucy Morrison, featuring Laura Checkley, Mary Malone, Amaka Okafor, Felix Scott, and Nima Taleghani, opens at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Bernadette Peters in Concert opens at Pasadena Playhouse.
Into the Breeches!, by George Brant, directed by Brian Shnipper, featuring Meghan Andrews (Maggie), Nicholas Hormann (Ellsworth Snow), Leslie Stevens (Celeste Fielding), Emillie Doering (Grace), and Brooke Olivia Gatto (June), Sydney A. Mason (Ida Green), Holly Jeanne (Winifred), and Lee James (Stuart Lasker), opens at Long Beach’s International City Theatre.
Group Rep‘s Morning’s at Seven, by Paul Osborn, directed by Doug Engalla, featuring Barbara Brownell (Ida), Milda Dacys (Cora), Jeff Dinnell (Homer), Dawn Halloran (Arry), Belinda Howell (Esther), Stan Mazin (David), Bridget Murray (Myrtle), Lloyd Pederson (Carl), and Neil Thompson (Thor), begins previews at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre.
76th Annual Tony Awards will air at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT on CBS, and stream live on Paramount+ (for premium subscribers). Note: Paramount + essential tier users will be also able to watch the show on-demand on Mon. June 12.
Love Letters, directed b Ciarán O’Reilly, featuring Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti closes at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep.
Saturday, June 10
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Seared, by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Jonathan Fox, featuring Ronald Auguste (Rodney). Andrew Elvis Miller (Harry), and Angela Sauer (Emily), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
She Loves Me, directed by Peet Cocke, featuring Marah Stelo (Amalia), Sophia Alawi (Ilona), Will Giammona (Kodaly), Riley McFarland (Georg), Nick Nakashima (Sipos), Roeen Nooran (Arpad), Jourdán Olivier-Verdé (Headwaiter), and Lee Strawn (Maraczek), with Milo Boland, Bekah Lynn Broas, Ben Chau-Chiu, Daniel Gilmer, Deborah Rosengaus, Monica Rose Slater, opens at San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon.
Penelope presentation, by André Previn, starring Renée Fleming, at 7:30 PM at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Janine LaManna: Black and Gold concert, at 7 PM at NYC’s Green Room 42 (also June 26).
A Doll’s House, adapted by Amy Herzog, directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Jessica Chastain (Nora Helmer), Arian Moayed (Torvald Helmer), Jesmille Darbourze (Kristine Linde), Tasha Lawrence (Anne-Marie), Michael Patrick Thornton (Dr. Rank), Okieriete Onaodowan (Nils Krogstad), with with Franklin Bongjio, Carey Rebecca Brown, Melisa Soledad Pereyra, and Jose Joaquin Perez, closes at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.
Once On This Island, directed by Ola Ince, featuring Gabrielle Brook (Ti Moune), Stephenson Ardern-Sodje (Daniel), Courtney-Mae Briggs (Andrea), Jonathon Grant (Armand), Emilie Louise Israel (Erzulie), Chris Jarman (Tonton), Anelisa Lamola (Asaka), Natasha Magigi (Mama Euralie,) Ashley Samuels (Agwe), and Lejaun Sheppard (Papa Ge), with Bernadette Bangura, Hanna Dimtsu, Nay-Nay, Cassandra Lee, Cherece Richards, Mikel Sylvanus, and Marco Titus. The role of Young Ti Moune is shared by Janai Bartlett, Lexi Kowlessar, Nesisa Mhindu, Kirsten Muzvuru, Nielle Springer, and Olivia St Louis, closes at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Speakeasy Stage‘s The Prom, directed by Paul Daigneault, featuring Mary Callanan, Johnny Kuntz, Amy Barker,Emily Cochrane, Abriel Coleman, Nate Haydel, Tori Heinlein, Liesie Kelly, Meagan Lewis-Michelson, Nolan Montgomery, Brogan Nelson, Nicholas Joseph C. Ochoa, Nina Osso, Anthony Pires, Jr., Victor Carrillo Tracey, Jared Troilo, and Lisa Yuen, closes at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, directed by David Ruttuta, featuring Sarah Bockel (Carole King), Matthew Amira (Gerry Goffin), Taylor Aronson (Cynthia Weil), Ryan Farnsworth (Barry Mann), Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein), Matt Loehr (Don Kirshner), and Briana Brooks as (Lucille/The Shirelles), with Anthony Cataldo, J. Daughtry (Nick/Low Righteous Brother), with D’Marreon Alexander and Tyler Michael Breeding, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
Sunday, June 11
Antaeus Theatre Company‘s The Tempest, directed by Nike Doukas, featuring Peter Van Norden (Prospero), Anja Racié (Miranda), Peter Mendoza (Ferdinand), Elinor Gunn (Ariel), Leo Marks (Caliban), Bernard K. Addison (Antonio), John Allee (Sebastian), Adrian LaTourelle (Alonso/Stephano), Saundra McClain (Gonzala), and Erin Pineda (Trincula), begins previews at Glendale’s Kiki & David Gindler Performing Art Center.
Savin’ My Love for Fats Waller concert, created & hosted by Deborah Grace Winer, featuring Karrin Allyson, Aisha de Haas, and Tyreek McDole, at 5 & 7:30 PM PM at Lincoln Center‘s Dizzy’s Club.
The Thanksgiving Play, by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Rachel Chavkin, featuring D’Arcy Carden, Katie Finneran, Scott Foley, and Chris Sullivan, closes at Broadway’s Hayes Theatre.
Bees & Honey, by Guadalís del Carmen, directed by Melissa Crespo, featuring Maribel Martinez (Johaira) and Xavier Pacheco (Manuel), closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theatre.
Without You, written by & starring Anthony Rapp, directed by Steven Maler, closes at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Bernadette Peters in Concert opens at Pasadena Playhouse.
can i touch it, world premiere by francisca da silveira, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, featuring Safiya Fredericks (Shay), Suzen Baraka (Meeka/Beth), Iesha Daniels (Ruth/Lili), Scott Victor Nelson (Mark/Nicky/Leo), closes at LA’s Rogue Machine Theatre.
Asolo Rep‘s Man of La Mancha, directed by Peter Rothstein, featuring Mauricio Martínez (Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote), Aaron De Jesus (Sancho), Janely Rodriguez (Aldonza), Reese Britts (Anselmo/The Barber), Sydney Chow (Antonia/Fermina), Javier Ignacio (Pedro), C. Mingo Long (The Governor/The Innkeeper), Brian Kim McCormick (Paco/The Padre), Cathy Newman (Maria/The Housekeeper), Rodolfo Nieto (The Duke/Jose/Dr. Carrasco), Edward Staudenmayer (The Captain/Tenorio), Peter S. Raimondo (The Custodian/Juan), Sydney Story (Summoned Person), and Jerald Wheat (The Guard), with Bevin Bell-Hall, Christian Douglass, Pedro Ka’Awaloa, Celena Vera Morgan, and Robert Quiles, closes at Sarasota’s FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, directed by Victoria Pearlman, featuring Brad Greenquist (Vanya), Tania Getty (Sonia), Martha Hackett (Masha), Zach Kanner (Spike), Miranda Wynne (Nina), and Cyndy Fujikawa (Cassandra), with Taubert Nadalini (Spike alternate), closes at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
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Plaza Suite will run Jan. 15 – Mar. 31, 2024 at the Savoy Theatre, directed by John Benjamin Hickey.
Matthew Broderick and Sara Jessica Parker, with more TBA.
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Music Mondays will return this Summer at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater (all at 8 PM):
Derrick Davis (July 10)
Julie Benko (July 17)
Isaac Mizrahi (Aug. 7)
Melissa Erico (Aug. 21)
Charles McPherson Quartet, featuring Randy Brecker (Aug. 28)
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Ted Dyskstra & Richard Greenblatt’s 2 Pianos 4 Hands will run July 5-23 (opening July 9) at Laguna Playhouse, directed by Tom Frey.
Jefferson McDonald (Ted) and Matthew McGloin (Richard)
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James G. Hirsch & Robert A. Papazian’s Love Among the Ruins will run Oct. 6-29 (opening Oct. 8) at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre, directed by Michael Arabian.
JoBeth Williams (Jessica Medlicott) and Peter Strauss (Sir Arthur Granville Jones).
In this newly reinvented version, Jessica Medlicott, once a great actress, is now a beautiful and wealthy widow. She is accused of “breach of promise” by a handsome young Naval officer who claims she promised to marry him. Her only hope may be the greatest barrister at the Old Bailey, Sir Arthur Granville Jones. Jessica is no ordinary client and the sparks that fly as she drives Sir Arthur to distraction, which keeps the audience guessing, laughing and crying until the very end. Is she guilty of “breach of promise?” Only the great Sir Arthur can get to the truth.
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Harold Rome & Jerome Weidman’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale will run Oct. 10 – Dec. 2 (opening Oct. 30) at Classic Stage Company, directed by Trip Cullman.
Adam Chanler-Berat (Meyer Bushkin), Eddie Cooper (Tootsie Malz), Santino Fontana (Harry Bogen), Adam Grupper (Maurice Pulvermacher), Greg Hildreth (Teddy Asch), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Ruthie Rivkin), Judy Kuhn (Mrs. Bogen), Julia Lester (Miss Marmelstein), and Sarah Steele (Blanche Rushkin, with Ryah Nixon and more TBA.
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The Write Out Loud contest has announced its 2023 winners:
Callum Shannon (“I’ll Find Me”), Veronica Mansour & abs wilson (“Runaway Girl”), and Delaney Guyer & Kenny Youch (“Stone Cold Killer”).
The contest shines a spotlight on emerging musical theatre songwriters by giving them the opportunity to have a song performed by Broadway professionals and recorded in a NYC recording studio. Winning songs will be recorded by Broadway alumni, as well as be distributed digitally on Apple Music and Spotify. The winners will also have their submissions showcased in a concert on Sept. 25 at NYC’s 54 Below.
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Video: “Wine & Peaches” from Broadway’s New York New York.
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The Who’s Tommy, re-imagined by Pete Townshend & Des McAnuff, directed by McAnuff, has been extended through July 30 at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Ali Louis Bourzgui (Tommy), Adam Jacobs (Captain Walker), Alison Luff Mrs. Walker), John Ambrosino (Uncle Ernie), Bobby Conte (Cousin Kevin), and Christina Sajous (Acid Queen), with Jeremiah Alsop, Stephen Brower, Haley Gustafson, Sheldon Henry, Aliah James, Gabriel Kearns, Tassy Kirbas Lily Kren, Nathan Lucrezio, Alexandra Matteo, Morgan McGhee, Mark Mitrano, Reagan Pender, Daniel Quadrino, Jenna Nicole Schoen, Zach Sorrow, Ayana Strutz, and Andrew Tufano. The role of Young Tommy will be in rotation with Ava Rose Doty, Presley Rose Jones, Annabel Finch, and Ezekiel Ruiz.
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The Classical Theatre of Harlem will present Betty Shamieh’s Malvolio July 8-29 at Harlem’s Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park, directed by Ian Belknap & Ty Jones, with choreography by Dell Howlett.
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Allen Gilmore (Malvolio), John-Andrew Morrison (King Chadlio), Stephanie Berry (Olivia), Perry Gaffney (Viola), Paula Galloway (Maria), Mattthew J Harris (Fool), Marjorie Johnson (Nurse), Kineta Kunutu (Volina), Garbriel Lawrence (Orsino), Tony Macht (Valentin), Collin McConnell (Curious), JD Mollison (Prince Furtado), CB Murray (Rather Topas), Nathan M. Ramsey (Sebastian), and David Ryan Smith (Sir Toby Belch), with Déjà Anderson-Ross, Marcus Byers Jr., Taylor Collier, John DeFilippo, Brynlie Helmich, Valériane Louisy, Al-Nisa Petty, Duane Shabazz, Jonathan McClinton Smith, and Timothy Wilson.
An irreverent comedy sequel inspired by Twelfth Night.
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Video: I response to the orange skies over most of the east coast, Marc Shaiman & Trey Parker have written new lyrics to the song “Blame Canada” from the 1999 South Park film “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” Scroll down.
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LA’s Theater West will present its Proud Out Loud reading series of short plays and monologues June 23 & 24, both at 8 PM, and will span a wide range of the LGBTQIA experience, and range in form from traditional plays to personal stand-up routines, and musings on the community’s history. No reservations required.
Benjamin Scuglia, Dina Morrone, Mimi Kmet, Arden Etersa Lewis, Mara Wells, Michael Van Duzer, and more TBA.
Heidi Appe, Mimi Kmet, Mara Wells, Christopher Landis, Olivia Bates, Paul Cady, Benjamin Scuglia, Anne Ldyden, Leesa Freed, Sandra Tucker, Ashley Tay, Dina Morrone, and more TBA.
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Rogue Machine‘s Blue, world premiere by June Carryl, has been extended through July 3 at LA’s Matrix Theatre, directed by Michael Matthews.
John Colella (Sully) and Julanne Chidi Hill (Parker)
A suspense filled pursuit for truth which touches on the inextricable links between power, violence, and the conflict between guardianship.