This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday March 1
The Script in the Closet, written & directed by Joyce Griffen, featuring Ruth Kavanagh (Lynn), Mark DeRocco (Lionel), Isaih Stannard (Carlton), Kristin Johansen (Valerie), Tom Staggs (Noah), Jada Delgado (Gladys), Charlotte Jones (Governess/Russian Call Girl), Tina Harper (Visiting Performer), Patrick Huang (Visiting Performer), and Carrie Wilder (Housekeeper), opens at Off-Broadway’s La MaMa (66 East Fourth Street).
Something’s Afoot, by James McDonald, David Voss, Robert Gerlach &Ed Linderman, directed & choreographed by Bill Berry, featuring Porscha Shaw (Lettie), Brandon O’Neill (Flint), Ashley Lanyon (Hope Langdon), Yusef Seevers (Dr. Grayburn), Adam Standley (Nigel Rancour), Anne Allgood (Lady Grace Manley-Prowe), Allen Fitzpatrick (Colonel Gillweather), Sarah Rudinoff (Miss Tweed), Jonathan Luke Stevens (Geoffrey), and Jason Weitkamp (Clive), with Bianca Raso, Cassi Q Kohl, Karen Skrinde, Harter Clingman, and Jonathon Royse, opens at Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre.
The Club, world premiere by Chris Bohjalian, directed by David Saint, featuring Grace Experience (Marion Willows), Ryan George (Peter Kendricks), Ali Marsh (Anne Barrows), Brendan Ryan (John Willows), Samaria Nixon-Fleming (Angela Kendricks), Skyler Hensley (Olive Barrows), and Fred Weller (Richard Barrows), opens at NJ’s George Street Playhouse.
Power to the Queendom, world premiere by Shawanna Renee Rivon, directed by Diane Reneé, featuring Raymond Donahey, Angela Fairley, Michael Houston, Barbera Ann Howard, Shamya Jamerica, Ritzi Lanier, Matt Lorenzo, Ravyne Payne, Jessica Perkins, Trodarius Provo, Max Reed III, and Kyle Wallen, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Faithless, world premiere by John Klein, directed by Maria Gobetti, featuring John Idakitis, Jon Sprik, Melissa Ortiz, and Josee Gourdine, opens at Burbank’s Victory Theatre Center.
With Morrie, by Mitch Albom, directed by Erwin Maas, featuring Len Cariou (Morrie) and Chris Doming (Mitch), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s St. George’s Episcopal Church.
Footloose, directed by Barry Pearl, featuring Larry Cedar, Robin DeLano, Brady Fritz, Kelsey Lee Smith, Casey Anne Apregan, James Beardsley, Whitney Kathleen Vigil, Sammy Linkowski, Camie Del Rosario, Lauren Lorati, Michael Wells, Christopher Robert Smith, Karen Macarah, Lisa Dyson, Cindy Pearl and Ceron Jones, with Mary Kate Chapman, Madison Miyuki Sprague, Michael Riskin, Melvin Biteng, Christopher Ho, Noah Heie, Coby Rogers, Laura Aronoff, Veronica Carolina Leite, Callula Sawyer, Lauren Barette, Arielle Dettmer, Almand Martin Jr., and Mathew San Jose, previews at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
Saturday, March 2
Illinoise, by Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck & Jackie Sibblies, directed by Sibblies, featuring Gaby Diaz, Ben Cook, Robbie Fairchild, Ahmad Simmons, and Ricky Ubeda, opens at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory.
Soul Picnic: The Songs and Legacy of of Laura Nyro concert, co-conceived & written by Judy Kuhn, Trip Cullman & Kevin Carillo, directed by Cullman & Carillo, starring Kuhn, opens at NYC’s 92NY.
The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood, directed by JoAnn M. Hunter, featuring Aja Alcazar, Demetra Dee, Maya Lou Hlava, Noelle Kayser, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Helen Joo Lee, Tyler Meredith, Ericka Ratcliff, Andrea San Miguel, Laura Savage, Allison Sill, and Hannah Whitley, opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Footloose, directed by Barry Pearl, featuring Larry Cedar, Robin DeLano, Brady Fritz, Kelsey Lee Smith, Casey Anne Apregan, James Beardsley, Whitney Kathleen Vigil, Sammy Linkowski, Camie Del Rosario, Lauren Lorati, Michael Wells, Christopher Robert Smith, Karen Macarah, Lisa Dyson, Cindy Pearl and Ceron Jones, with Mary Kate Chapman, Madison Miyuki Sprague, Michael Riskin, Melvin Biteng, Christopher Ho, Noah Heie, Coby Rogers, Laura Aronoff, Veronica Carolina Leite, Callula Sawyer, Lauren Barette, Arielle Dettmer, Almand Martin Jr., and Mathew San Jose, opens at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
Primary Stages production of Charles Busch’s Ibsen’s Ghost: An Irresponsible Biographical Fantasy, directed by Carl Andress. featuring Charles Busch (Suzannah Ibsen), Thomas Gibson (Wolf), Jen Cody (Gerda), Christopher Borg (George Elstad/The Rat Wife), Judy Kaye (Magdalene Thoresen), and Jennifer Van Dyck (Hanna Solberg), with Kate Hampton, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s 59 E. 59 Theaters.
Maiden Voyage, by Cayenne Douglass, directed by Alex Keegan, featuring Arianne Banda, Georgia Kate Cohen, Brenda Crawley, Shimali De Silva, Rachel Griesinger, Nataxha Hakata, Kait Hickey, and Tricia Mancuso Parks, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Flea Theatre.
The King and I, directed by Bartlett Sher, featuring Helen George (Anna Leonowens), Darren Lee (King of Siam), Cezarah Bonner (Lady Thiang), Maria Coyne (Alternate Anna), Am Jenkins-Shar (Captain Orton /Sir Edward Ramsy), Dean John-Willson (Lun Tha), Caleb Lagayan (Prince Chulalongkorn), Kok-Hwa Lie (Kralahome), Marienella Phillips (Tuptim), Harry Altoft (Louis Leonowens), Dexter Barry (Louis Leonowens), Max Ivemey (Louis Leonowens), and Charlie McGurie (Louis Leonowens), with Chi Chan, Jeffrey Chekai, Emily Grace-Ling, Cher Nicolette Ho, Daniel Len, Rachel Wang-Hei Lau, Candy Ma, Rachel Macdougall, Ynki Ozeki, Amelia Kinu Muus, Kitt Pakapom, Prem Rai, Ria Tanaka, Hiromi Toyooka, Jamsmine Triadi, Jensen Tudtud, Qinwen Xue, and Jason Yan-Westland, closes at London’s Dominion Theatre.
The Enfield Haunting, by Paul Unwin, directed by Angus Jackson, featuring Catherine Take (Peggy Hodgson) and David Threlfall (Maurice Grosse), Ella Schrey-Yeats (Janet Hodgson), Grace Molony (Margaret Hodgson), Jude Coward Nicoll & Noah Leggott (sharing the role of Jimmy Hodgson), Mo Sesay (Rey), and Neve McIntosh (Betty Grosse), Daniel Stewart (Writer/Old Man), with Stacha Hicks, Jasmine Spence, and Gareth Radcliffe, closes at London’s Ambassadors Theatre.
Jelly’s Last Jam, by George C. Wolfe, Jelly Roll Morton, Susan Birkenhead & Luther Henderson, directed by Robert O’Hara, featuring Joaquina Kalukango (Anita), Billy Porter (Chimney Man), Nicholas Christopher (Jelly Roll Morton), John Clay III (Jack the Bear), Tiffany Mann (Miss Mamie), and Leslie Uggams (Gran Mimi), with Mamie Duncan-Gibbs (Hunnie), Stepahnie Pope Lofgren (Hunnie), and Allison M. Williams (Hunnie), closes at NY City Center Encores.
A Home What Howls (Or the House What Was Ravine), world premiere by Matthew Paul Olmos, directed by Laura Alcalá Baker, featuring Tim Hopper, Charín Álvarez , Leslie Sophia Pérez, Isabel Quintero, and Eddie Torres, closes at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre.
Richard III, directed by Edward Hall, featuring Katy Sullivan (Richard III), Scott Aiello (Clarence/Stanley), Debo Balogun (Ratcliffe), Mark Bedard (Murderer/Prince), Anatasha Blakely (Catesby), Yao Dogbe (Buckingham), Sean Fortunato (Lord Rivers/Duchess of Hastings), Erik Hellman (Lord Hastings/Duke of Norfolk), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Lady Anne), Ora Jones (Margaret), Mo Shipley (Edward, Prince of Wales), Demetrios Troy (King Edward IV/Earl of Richmondz0), and Jessica Dean Turner (Elizabeth), closes at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.
Mercury, by Steve Yockey, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, featuring Meghan Holaway (Pamela), Andrea Flowers (Heather), Justin Lawrence Barnes (Nick), Danny Lee Gomez (Brian), Billy Baker (Sam), Gloria Ines (Alicia and Christina Carlisi (Olive), closes at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre.
Sunday, March 3
A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green concert, directed by Maggie Burrows, featuring Mallory Portnoy and Nick Blaemire, opens at NYC’s Café Carlyle.
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.
Songs for a New World, by Jason Robert Brown, directed by Kai Wright, featuring Lizzy Parker, Eleanor Frances, Luke Walsh, and Christopher Camerson, with Elizabeth Chambers and Johan Sercombe, closes at London’s Upstairs as the Gatehouse.
The Apiary, world premiere by Kate Douglas, directed by Kate Whoriskey, featuring Gabby Beans, April Matthis, Carmen M. Herlihy, and Taylor Schilling, closes at Off-Broadway’s Tony Kiser Theatre.
Aristocrats, by Brian Friel, directed by Charlotte Moore , featuring Roger Dominic Casey (Tom), Meg Hennessy (Claire), Tom Holcomb (Casimir), Colin Lane (Uncle George / Father), Shane McNaughton (Willie Diver), Tim Ruddy (Eamon), Danielle Ryan (Judith), and Sarah Street (Alice), with Susan Davey and Ed Malone, closes at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep.
The Christine Jorgensen Show, by Donald Steven Olson, directed by Michael Barakiva, featuring Jesse James Keitel and Mark Nadler, closes at Off Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters.
Furlough’s Paradise, world premiere by a.k. payne, directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, featuring Asha Duniani and Kai Heath, closes at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
Group Rep‘s 12 Angry Jurors, by Sherman L. Sergel, directed by Tom Lazarus, featuring Linda Alznauer (Juror 4), Jane Bonem (Guard), Paul Cady (Juror 2), Belinda Howell (Juror 10), Stephanie Keefer (Juror 11), Stan Mazin (Juror 9), Bob McCollum (Judge), Richard Reich (Juror 7), Mark Stancato (Juror 3), Melissa Strauss (Juror 1), Neil Thompson (Juror 8), Cathy Diane Tomlin (Juror 6), Mouchette van Helsdingen (Juror 12), Tamir Yardenne (Juror 5), closes at North Hollywood’s Lonnie Chapman Theatre.
Brushstroke, world premiere by John Ross Bowie, directed by Casey Stangl, featuring James Urbaniak (Ted), Malcolm Barrett (Marvin), Brendan Hines (Allan), and Evangeline Edwards (Susan), closes at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
Sex With Strangers, by Laura Eason, directed by Kate Sargeant, featuring Sarah Wylie and Jonathan Dylan King, closes at Hollywood’s McCadden Place Theatre.
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Streaming Musicals will present a new musical or a new play on Youtube every Monday at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.
:
Rewind (Mar. 4), by Geoffrey Rose & Sam Rose.
Lady Capulet (Mar. 11), by Melissa Bell
Ocean In A Teacup (Mar. 18), by Joel Krantz
Queen of Sad Mischance (Mar. 25), by John Minigan
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Video: Highlights from Broadway’s Doubt.
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The world premiere of Tawni O’Dell’s Windows will run Mar. 25-27 at Town Hall, directed by Michell Maxwell.
Avantika, Craig Bierko Erin Darke, Jeffrey Donovan, Tovah Feldshuh, Adam Kantor Carolyn McCormick, Jesse Nager, and Tonya Pinkins.
A breathtaking new play that brings to light the enormous changes that have washed over us all during the past three years. Fear, hilarity, anger, love and loss were unfolding behind curtains, blinds, broken glass, and bars. Whether it’s the self-reflection born out of isolation, or the simple realization of how much we value our most basic connection with others, the great pandemic of 2020 forced us to change from the inside out. Stars of stage and screen delve into the new beginnings we find ourselves in after the world forced us to face an abyss together, but alone. What each of us endured as individuals when time suddenly stood still may differ, but we’ve all been changed by the experience. Our characters reshaped, for better or worse. Who have you become? Director Mitchell Maxwell says, “Windows opens up the soul of the human condition and allows for healing. We think we’ve moved past it all, but we’re still living with the anxieties and PTSD that crept into our psyches and took up a sort of permanent residence. We’re living hand to mouth physically and emotionally – and it all comes back to the fact that we haven’t collectively examined who we’ve become as a result of the events of the past three years. Windows opens the door to healing through art, allowing us to purge, regroup, and reinvent that which we have neglected to accept: There are dark clouds that remain untended. Once we face these dark clouds through conversation and art, it will put us on a path to newfound optimism and a lighter path for our future.”
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A reading of Christopher Monger’s Dear Mr. Thomas: A New Play for Voices, will take place Tues. May 14 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
Matthew Rhys (Dylan Thomas), Keri Russell, and more TBA.
The play details the back story of Thomas’ iconic play, Under Milk Wood, which premiered at 92NY’s 150th anniversary.
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Brian Belding & Natalie Brice’s White Rose: The Musical continues through Mar. 31 at Theatre Row, directed by Will Nunziata.
Ellen Pellman (Sophie Scholl), Mike Cefalo (Hans Scholl), Kennedy Kanagawa (Christoph Probst), Laura Sky Herman (Lila Ramdohr), Paolo Montalban (Prof. Kurt Huber), Sam Gravitte (Frederick Fischer), and Cole Thompson (Willi Graff), with Ellis Gage, and Dani Apple.
Based on a true story, the musical follows a group of university student activists who stood up to Hitler in Nazi Germany, risking everything by creating and distributing leaflets that challenged his propaganda.
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Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World will run Apr. 19 – May 25 (opening Apr. 27) at Hollywood’s LGBT Center, directed by Brittney S. Wheeler, with music direction by Anthony Lucca, and choreography by Brin Hamblin.
Christin Byrdsong, Kristyn Evelyn, Kasper, Kyle Montgomery, Hadiyyah Noelle, and Yassi Noubahar.
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A staged reading of Annie Loui’s Biddy Mason will take place Thurs. Mar. 7 at 7 PM LA’s Autry Museum (4700 Wester Heritage Way), directed by Loui. Doors open at 5:30 PM for an opportunity to visit the latest exhibitions and purchase food.
Casting TBA.
This 90-minute reading blends video projection, music, song, movement and dramatic storytelling to bring to life the powerful and inspiring true story of an extraordinary woman. In 1848, an enslaved woman in Mississippi marches on foot alongside her owner’s wagon train across the country to California, where she wins her freedom in court. With heroic determination and unearthly compassion for others, Biddy Mason works hard in Los Angeles and saves her money, transforming herself into a successful businesswoman and philanthropist. She builds schools, feeds the poor and helps launch the First AME Church, the landmark center of political and social action, earning Biddy the loving and respectful title throughout the City of Angels of “Grandma Mason.”
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Complete casting has been announced for Broadway Backwards, which will take place Mon. Mar. 11 at 8 PM at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, directed & choreographed by Robert Bartley, and hosted by Jenn Colella.
Shoshana Bean, Julie Benko, Jonathan Bennett, Todd Buonopane, Tituss Burgess, Norbert Leo Butz, Len Cariou, Bradley Dean, Darius de Haas, Robin de Jesús, Jordan Fisher, Joshua Henry, Arielle Jacobs, Casey Likes, John McGinty, Shoba Narayan, Alex Newell, Courtney Reed, Jelani Remy, Lillias White, Constance Wu, Tony Yazbeck and Chip Zien, the Inspirational Voices… and more.
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Video: Camille A. Brown, Heidi Schreck, Amber Iman, and Jessica Stone discuss being a woman in the theatre. (1.00:50)
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Complete casting has been announced for Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers, to run Mar. 6-24 at Virginia Stage Company, directed by Tom Quaintance.
Chandler Alston, Keighton Bell, Brandon Bradley, Joey Cassella, Jeff Davis, Derion Felton, Davis Haymes, Mia Haymes, Brooklynn Jacobs, Christopher Marquis Lindsay, Gabriel Mensah, Adam E. Moskowitz, Meredith Noël, Shad Ramsey, Meg Rodgers, Jason Paul Tate, Scott Witchmann, and Lauren Wilkerson.
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Shaina Taub’s Suffs will begin previews Mar. 26 and open Apr. 18 at the Music Box Theatre, directed by Leigh Silverman, with choreography by Mayte Natalio, and music direction by Andrea Grody.
Shaina Taub (Alice Paul), Nikki M. James (Ida B. Wells), Jenn Colella (Carrie Chapman Catt), Grace McLean (President Woodrow Wilson), Hannah Cruz (Inez Milholland), Kim Blanck (Ruza Wenclawska), Anastacia McCleskey (Mary Church Terrell), Ally Bonino (Lucy Burns), Tsilala Brock (Dudley Malone), Dandashi (Doris Stevens), and Emily Skinner (Alva Belmont/Phoebe Burn), with Hawley Gould, Dana Costello, Jenna Bainbridge, Monica Tulia Ramirez, Ada Westfall, Christine Heesun Hwang, Kirsten Scott, Housso Semmon, and D’Kaylah Unique Whitley.
The musical centers on the real-life women fighting for the right to vote in America.
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David Henry Hwang’s An American Soldier will run May 12-19 at NYC’s Perlman Arts Center, directed by Chay Yew, and conducted by Carolyn Kuan.
Brian Vu (Danny Chen), Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Danny’s Mother), Hannah Cho (Josephine Young), and Alex DeSocio (Sgt. Aaron Marcum), with Ben Brady, Cierra Byrd, James C Harris, Shelén Hughes, Joshua Sanders, Christian Simmons, Misoon Ghim, Luke Harnish, and Angela Yam.
The opera is based on the true story of Private Danny Chen, whose death in 2011 was followed by an investigation and subsequent court-martial of his fellow soldiers.