This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, May 10
Red Bull Theater‘s Titus Andronicus workshop production, directed by Jesse Berger, featuring Isabel Arraiza, Teagle F. Bougere, Jason Bowen, Kelley Curran, Clifton Duncan, Nate Miller, Alfredo Narciso, Patrick Page, Zachary Lopez Roa, and Derek Smith, opens at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
My True Love: A Perfect Musical Fairytale, by Ben Boecker, directed by by Carolyn Popadin, featuring Mairead Connor, Corey Jennings, Ruben Fernandez, Andrew McNamara, Camille Larsen, Livi Rose, Kate Keating, Julian Schenker, Phoenix Gould, and Joe Kassner, opens at Off-Broadway’s Players Theatre.
A Final Toast, world premiere by Michele A Miller, directed by Kathy Curtiss, featuring Jana Robbins, Jolie Curtsinger, Diane J Findlay, and Sachi Parker, opens at Off-Broadway’s Chain Theatre.
Write Act Rep‘s Write of Spring 2024, by Susan C. Hunter, Thomas J. Misuraca, Rochelle Perry, Jorge A. Pulido & Darrin Yalacki, directed by Alicia Marie Agramonte, Susan Eiden, Roxie Lee, Anne Mesa, and Darrin Yalacki, featuring Oraldo Austin, Leticia Carrasco, Taylor Dam, Dorian Frankel,Mary Nakanishi, Shawn Plunkett, Yvette Price, Matt Roussel,Courtney South, Adam Wasser, and Annie Zhang, opens at North Hollywood’s, Brickhouse Theatre.
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, directed & choreographed by Karen Azenberg, featuring Kevin Earley (Pierre), Ali Ewoldt (Natasha), Lucy Anders (Princess Mary/Opera Singer) Ginger Bess( Hélène), Mary Fanning Driggs (Marya/ Accordion), and Edward Juvier (Balaga Bolkonsky), Melanie Fernandez (Sonya), Justin Luciano (Dolokhov), and Aleks Pevec (Anatole), with Troy Valjean Rucker, Tyler Simone, Lenny Daniel, James Wong, Evan K. Beesley, Bennett Chew, Faith Driggs, Cameron Nies, Natalie Ruthven, and Jazmin Viquez, opens at Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company.
Shakespeare, Inc., by Joe Tyler Gold, directed by Kiff Scholl, featuring Marwa Bernstein, Frank Demma, Anthony Foux, Linda Lodge, Jay Paulson, Penny Safranek, William Salyers, Sharron Shayne, Carole Weyers, Susan Wilder, and Lesley Williams, opens at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
A Complicated Woman, by Ianne Fields Stewart, Jonathan Brielle & Sam Salmond, directed & choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, featuring Nora Brigid Monahan (John/Jean), L Morgan Lee (Nina Mae), Christian Brailsford (L Morgan Lee), Klea Blackhurst (Myrtle), Danny Rutigliano (Lee Shubert), Dashiell Gregory (Carl), Zachary A. Myers (Muhlaysia), and Arewà Basit (Diamond), with Bryan Munar and Siena Rafter, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
A Night with the cast of Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder and Sky-Pony concert, featuring (from A Gentlemen’s Guide): Lauren Worsham, Joanna Glushak, Jeff Kready, Lisa O’Hare, Bryce Pinkham, Catherine Walker, David Blasher, Eric Day, and Kyle Jarrow, and (from Sky Pony): David Blasher, Eric Day, Kyle Jarrow, Kristin Piacentile, Perry Silver, Jessi Suzuki, and Keven Wunderlich, at 11 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Saturday, May 11
Ventura Live!, offering one-night and short-run concerts, jam Sessions, new play readings, magic nights, comedy, and much more, opens at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Michael Weber, featuring Sean Allan Krill (Georges Seurat/George), Kathy Voytko (Dot/Marie), Daniel de Cranie-Pierre (Boatman/Charles Redmond), Devin DeSantis (jules/Bob Greenberg), Bella Branshaw (Louise), Daniel de Cranie-Pierre (Charles Redmond), Devin DeSantis (Jules/Bob Greenberg), Andres Enriquez (Mr./Lee Randolph), Veronica Garza (Nurse/Mrs./Harriet Pawling), Tiyanna Gentry (Celeste #1/Waitress), Cory Goodrich (Yvonne/Naomi Eisen), Cicliia Iole (Celeste #2/Elaine), Samual B. Jackson (Franz/Dennis), Chris Khoshaba (Soldier/Alex), Iris Lieberman (Old Lady/Blair Daniels), Chamaya Mooder (Frieda/Betty), and David Moreland (Louis/Billy Webster), with Neala Barron, Billy Dwyer, opens at the Chicago’s Porchlight Theatre.
The Hours are Feminine, world premiere written & directed by José Rivera, featuring Maribel Martínez (Evalisse), Hiram Delgado (Fernán), Donovan Monzon Sanders as Jaivín, Sara Koviak as Mirella, Robert Montano as Little Anthony, and Dan Grimaldi as Charlie, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Intar Theatre.
We’re Not Your Cup of Tea benefit, a fundraiser for Theatre West and Asian American Drug Addiction Program, featuring Evie Abat, Cyndy Fujikawa, Marcel Licera, Meg Lin, Pamela Najera, Apoorva, and Xtina, at 8 PM at LA’s Theatre West.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra, with Aaron Tveit concert, at 8 PM at Northridge’s Soraya.
Nye, by Tim Price, directed by Rufus Norris, featuring Michael Sheen (“Nye” Bevan), Remy Beasley, Matthew Bulgo, Dyfan Dwyfor, Roger Evans, Ross Foley, Jon Furlong, Daniel Hawksford, Bea Holland, Stephanie Jacob, Kezrena James, Tony Jayawardena, Michael Keane, Nicholas Khan, Rebecca Killic, Oliver Llewellyn-Jenkins, Mark Matthews, Rhodri Meilir, Ashley Mejri, Lee Mengo, David Monteith, Mali O’Donnell, Sara Otung, and Sharon Small. Casting is by Alastair Coomer and Chloe Blake, closes at London’s National Theatre.
Red Bull Theater‘s Titus Andronicus workshop production, directed by Jesse Berger, featuring Isabel Arraiza, Teagle F. Bougere, Jason Bowen, Kelley Curran, Clifton Duncan, Nate Miller, Alfredo Narciso, Patrick Page, Zachary Lopez Roa, and Derek Smith, closes at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
Fat Ham, by James Ijames, directed by Sideeq Heard, featuring Nikki Crawford (Tedra), Chris Herbie Holland (Tio), Billy Eugene Jones (Rev/Pap), Adrianna Mitchell (Opal), Marcel Spears (Juicy), and Benja Kay Thomas (Rabby, and Matthew Elijah Webb (Larry), closes at LA’s Geffen Playhouse.
Sunday, May 12
Just Another Day, by Dan Lauria, directed by Eric Krebs, featuring Dan Lauria and Patty McCormack, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre 555.
An American Soldier opera, by David Henry Hwang, featuring 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, opens at NYC’s Perlman Arts Center.
The Heroes: A reading to Benefit Freshly Brewed benefit reading, by Gerald Sibleyras, featuring Jason Alexander, Daniel Breaker, and Michael Kostroff, at 7:30 PM at Chicago’s Understudy Coffee & Books (5531 N Clark St.).
Red Bull Theater‘s Medea reading, directed by Daniel Fish, featuring Tina Benko, Dahlak Brathwaite, Bill Camp, Joan Macintosh, Elizabeth Marvel, Michael Rudko, and Greig Sargeant, at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
Prospect Theater Company‘s The Hello Girls concert presentation, by Peter Mills & Cara Reichel, directed by Reichel, featuring Ellie Fishman, Arlo Hill, Chanel Karimkhani, Andrew Mayer, Ben Moss, Lili Thomas, Ben Davis, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Savy Jackson, Asher Muldoon, Laura Jean Spineti, Matthew Weatherhead, and Kat Wolff, at 6:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Symphony Space.
Nicki Haris: A Mother’s Day Celebration concert at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Purpose, world premiere by Branden Jacob-Jenkins, directed by Phylicia Rashad, featuring Harry Lennix (Solomon “Sonny” Jasper), Tamara Tunie (Claudine Jasper), Alana Arenas (Morgan Jasper), Glenn Davis (Solomon “Junior” Jasper), Jon Michael Hill (Nazareth “Naz” Jasper), an Ayanna Bria Bakari (Angela Houston), closes at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
MCC Theater‘s Miscast24 benefit concert digital broadcast, honoring Jason Robert Brown and Nicole Suazo, featuring Gavin Creel, Leslie Rodriguez, Brian D’acy James, Lea Salonga, Ingrid Michaelson, Ryan Vasquez, Wayne Brady, Amber Iman, Mykal Kilgor, and Jinkx Monsoon, concludes its on-demand streaming broadcasts.
Lucky Stiff, by Ahrens & Flaherty, directed by Gerry McIntyre, featuring Patrick Brady (Harry), Missy Dowse (Annabell), Janine LaManna (Rita), and Robert Anthony Jones (Vinnie), Anania (Dominique), Narisa Budnick (Landlady), Alexander Carney (Uncle Anthony), Quinn Corcoran (Bellop), Eric Michael Gillett (Luigi), and Richard Rowan (Solicitor), closes at Off-Broadway’s AMT Theatre.
Oh, Mary, written by & starring Cole Escola, directed by Sam Pinkleton, featuring Conrad Ricamora (Mary’s Husband), James Scully (Mary’s Teacher), Bianca Leigh (Mary’s Chaperone), and Tony Macht (Mary’s husband’s assistant), with Hannah Solow and Peter Smith, closes at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Harry Clarke, by David Cale, directed by Leigh Silverman, starring Billy Crudup, closes at London’s Ambassadors Theatre.
Galilee, 34, by Eleanor Burgess, directed by Davis McCallum, featuring Amy Brenneman (Miriam of Nazareth), Erick Berryman (Yacov of Nazareth), Christopher Cruz (Linus/Stranger), Teresa Avia Lim (Miri of Magdala, Sharon Omi (Elishiva), Benjamein Pelteson (Shimon of Bethesida), Jeremy Rabb (Mattiyahu/Ezra, and Raviv Ullman (Saul of Tarsus), closes at Costa Mesa’sSouth Coast Rep.
Nina Simone: Four Women, by Christina Hamm, directed by Malkia Stampley, featuring Alexis J Roston (Nina Simone), Matthew Harris (Sam), Gabrielle Lott-Rogers (Sarah), Brittney Mack (Sweet Thing), and Toni Martin (Sephronia), closes at Milwaukee Rep.
Jersey Boys, directed by T.J. Dawson, featuring Noah Rivera (Frankie Valli), Taubert Nadalini (Bob Gaudio), Blake Burgess (Nick Massi), Chris Fore (Tommy DeVito), Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo (Joey), Adam Lendermon (Bob Crewe), Marlana Dunn (Mary Delgado), Maggie Ek (Francine), Michael Ray Fisher (Barry Belson), Mel Mehrabian (Lorraine), Dominic Pace (Gyp De Carlo), Quintan Craig (Hank Majewski), and Johnny diGiorgio (Norman Waxman), with Joe Abraham, Dayna Sauble, and Eran Scoggins, closes at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
The Drowsy Chaperone, directed & choreographed by Larry Sousa, featuring Joy Clark, Yasmeen Duncan, Kristian Espiritu, Danny Feldman, Maureen Keiller, Mark Linehan, Cristhian Mancinas-García, Paul Melendy, Katie Pickett, Nick Potts, Ilyse Robbins, Kathy St. George, Carolyn Saxon, Damon Singletary, Jared Troilo, and Todd Yar, closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company.
Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George, directed by Michael Weber, featuring Sean Allan Krill (Georges Seurat/George), Kathy Voytko (Dot/Marie), Daniel de Cranie-Pierre (Boatman/Charles Redmond), Devin DeSantis (jules/Bob Greenberg), Bella Branshaw (Louise), Daniel de Cranie-Pierre (Charles Redmond), Devin DeSantis (Jules/Bob Greenberg), Andres Enriquez (Mr./Lee Randolph), Veronica Garza (Nurse/Mrs./Harriet Pawling), Tiyanna Gentry (Celeste #1/Waitress), Cory Goodrich (Yvonne/Naomi Eisen), Cicliia Iole (Celeste #2/Elaine), Samual B. Jackson (Franz/Dennis), Chris Khoshaba (Soldier/Alex), Iris Lieberman (Old Lady/Blair Daniels), Chamaya Mooder (Frieda/Betty), and David Moreland (Louis/Billy Webster), with Neala Barron, Billy Dwyer, closes at Chicago’s Porchlight Theatre.
Group Rep‘s Can’t Live Without ‘Em, by Lee Redmond, directed by Mareli Mitchel-Shields, featuring Bert Emmett (Thomas Axelrod), Paul Anthony Kelly (Dr. Payne), Jessica Kent (Tammy), and Cynthia Payo (Maureen Axelrod), with Danny Saolay, Holly Seidcheck, Daisy Staedler, and Jazz Strong, closes at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre.
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The 68th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place Mon. June 10 at 6:15 PM at NYC’s NYU Skirball Center. Click here for more information.
Nathan Lane (Harold S. Prince Award for Lifetime Achievement), and André Bishop (William Wolf Award).
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RIP: Thomas J. Gates, production stage manager of Broadway’s Illinoise, was killed in collision with a subway train the morning of May 8. He was 51 years old.
Gates was a familiar face backstage at some of Broadway’s biggest hits, including Waitress, Newsies, and Hairspray. On Broadway, he also worked on the original Broadway productions of Brooklyn, The Visit, and High Fidelity, and on the revivals of Finian’s Rainbow, Noises Off, and Pippin.
On tour, he led productions of White Christmas, Chicago, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Grease, with countless regional credits in between.
Mr. Gates is survived by husband Rick Steiger, who is also a stage manager. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Broadway stage manager Lisa Iacucci, with raised funds to go to Steiger. Information on a public memorial is forthcoming.
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The Off-Broadway Alliance Awards has announced its 2024 Award nominations. The awards honor commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off Broadway during the 2023-2024 season.
Click here for the complete list of nominations.
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Spring Awakening will run June 7-30 at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, directed by Directed by Jay Santos, with choreography by Katy Tabb, and music direction by R.J. Tancioco.
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.
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The Subject Was Roses will run May 28 – June 16 (opening June 1)at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre, directed by by Scott Wittman.
(real-life family) John Slattery, Talia Balsam, and Harry Stattery.
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Twenty limited-edition prints from Al Hirschfeld are now open for bidding HERE, to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Al Hirschfeld Foundation.
The coveted pieces, published in extremely small editions, are signed by the Broadway and Hollywood luminaries featured in the classic works, including Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Kevin Bacon, Cher, Michael Crawford, Ellen Greene, Joel Grey, Mark Hamill, Jessica Lange, Jose Llana, Donna McKechnie, Ian McKellen, Liza Minnelli, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Linda Ronstadt, Lea Salonga, Patrick Stewart, Christopher Walken and John Williams.
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The Off-Broadway Alliance Awards has announced its 2024 Award nominations. The awards honor commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off Broadway during the 2023-2024 season.
Click here for the complete list of nominations.
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Two upcoming screenings of London productions will be presented at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre:
The Motive and the Cue (May 25 at 3 PM), by Jack Thorne, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Mark Gatiss (John Gielgud) and Johnny Flynn (Richard Burton). 
1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s exacting direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel. Tix here.
Nye (May 26 at 2 PM), a new play by Tim Price, directed by Rufus Norris. Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state. Confronted with death, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill. Tix here.
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A reading of Daniel Berrigan’s The Trial of the Catonsville Nine will take place Mon. May 18 at 7 PM at LA’s Mark Taper Forum, directed by Michael John Garcés.
Bull Pullman (Author Daniel Berrigan), Raymond Lee (Thomas Melville), and Amy Aquino (Judge).
During the Vietnam war, nine fiercely devoted Catholics burned draft files to hinder the war and perhaps save the lives of young American men. The Trial of the Catonsville Nine is a play written by one of the nine, depicting the courtroom aftermath in which the nine make their case for why they broke the law.
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The Abnormal Heart, written & performed by Parker Mills, will run June 6, 14, 19 & 29 at The Matrix Theatre, directed by Marilyn McIntyre.
A comedic journey chronicling the adventures of a #brave, unsuccessful, middle-aged homosexual, and his lifelong search for … something. The show celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the idea that a heart never truly breaks, it just gets banged up a little. Mature audiences only.
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Sam Shepperd’s Simpatico will run June 6-29 (opening June 8) at the Chain theatre, directed by David Zayas Jr.
Kirk Gostkowski (Carter), Brandon Hughes (Vinnie), Pete Mattaliano (Simms), Elizabeth Bays (Cecilia), Christina Elise Perry Rosie, and Monica Park (Kelly.
The play launches the audience into the netherworld of horse racing, where high society meets the low life and the line between winners and losers is as treacherously thin as a razor blade. Carter ought to be managing his thoroughbred business in Kentucky. Instead, he is in a desolate room in Cucamonga, Nowheresville, U.S.A., trying to get back in the good graces of his ex-best friend Vinnie, the one man who has the power to destroy him.
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Astrologically Screwed, written & performed by Pam Levin, will run June 9 – 29 at Hollywood’s Hudson Backstage Theatre.
How do you explain the unexplainable? What if a highly renowned Astrologer told you all these unbelievably AMAZING predictions, but the last thing she said about your 40th birthday shook you to the core. Would it concern you or consume you?
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A statement from Mia Farrow & Patti Lupone on Jack O’Brien’s Lifetime Achievement Tony Award:
We congratulate Jack on this Lifetime Achievement Award and, more importantly, on the lifetime of achievements that make him such a worthy honoree. As we’re spending the rest of the year working with him on The Roommate — his 30th Broadway production — we just hope it doesn’t go to his head.