This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, May 13
Legally Blonde, directed by Lucy Moss, featuring Courtney Bowman (Elle Woods), Michal Ahomka-Lindsay (Emmett), Lauren Drew (Brooke), Vanessa Fisher (Vivienne), Isaac Hesketh (Margot), Nadine Higgin (Paulette), Alȳbeta Matyšákoya (Enid), Eugene McCoy (Callahan), Grace Mouat (Pilar), Alistair Toovey (Warner), and Hannah Yun Chamberlain (Serena), with Gabriela Benedetti, Lucca Chadwick-Patel, Jasmin Colangelo, Allie Daniel, Joe Foster, Dominic Lamb, Esme Laudat, Liam McEvoy, Billy Nevers, Ashley Rowe, Shakira Simpson, Biancha Szynal, and Paulo Teixeira, opens at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
Anything Goes (London production), starring Sutton Foster and Robert Lindsay, premieres at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).
Hello, Dolly!, directed & choreographed by Karen Azenberg, featuring Paige Davis (Dolly Levi), Kris Coleman (Horace Vandergelder), Alexander Mendoza (Cornelius Hackl), Michael J. Rios (Barnaby Tucker), Kelly McCormick (Irene Molloy), Hannah Balagot (Ermengarde), and Miles Woolstenhume (Ambrose Kemper), with Lucy Anders, Kyle Caress, Lenny Daniel, Alex Joseph Stewart, Andy Frank, Akina Kitazawa, Mandy McDonell, Kelsie Engen, Elizabeth Falk, Reba Johnson, Serena Kozusko, Evan Latta, Niki Rahimi, Makena Reynolds, Peter Surace, Preston Taylor, Aathaven Tharmarajah, Caden Tudor, and Fynn White, opens at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre.
My Life’s Journey: An Evening with C.S. Lewis, by David Payne, starring Phil Crowley, opens at Hollywood’s Actors Co-op.
Beloved, world premiere by Arthur Holden, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Sam Anderson (Stephen), Taylor Gilbert (Dorothy), and Cherish Duke (Sylvia / Miriam / Marika), opens at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia.
Try Not to Think About It, Alice Childress, world premiere written & directed by Chris Haas, featuring Bridget Avildsen, Mace Bullington, Sean Durrie, Alex Frasier, Travyz Santos Gatz, Sydney Jenkins, Katy Laughlin, April Littlejohn, Max Marsh, Benjamin Marshall, Ignacio Navarro, Lex Nguyen, Sarah Nilsen, Natasha Renae Potts, Sarah Sommers, and Celin Celine Rosalie Zoppe, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Cabaret, directed by James Vásquez, featuring Jelani Remy (MC), Aline Mayagoitia (Sally Bowles), Bruce Landry (Cliffor Bradshaw), Jennifer Smith (Fraulein Schneider), Kevin Ligon (Herr Schultz), Tera C. MacLeod (Fraulein Kost), and Tim Fuchs (Ernst Ludwig), with Matt Allen, Shelby Finnie, Aurore Joly, Caroline Kane, Kathy Liu, Connor McRory, Christian Elán Ortiz, Antonia Raye, Adam Rogers, and Georgia Monroe, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
3-D Theatricals‘ Newsies, directed by T.J. Dawson, featuring Dillon Klena (Jack Kelly), Allison Sheppard (Katherine), Rod Bagheri (Davey), Kyle Frattini (Crutchie), Norman Large (Joseph Pulitzer), Allen Everman (Governor Roosevelt), Carrie Compere (Medda Larkin), and Colton Dorman (Les), with Ryan Addison, Candice Rochelle Berge, Lucas Blankenhorn, Rorey Chavarria, Louis Reyes Chavez, James Everts, Jeff Garrido, David Kirk Grant, Callum Gugger, Brandon Taylor Jones, Philly Kang, Jonathan Kim, Anthony Klinner, Anneke May, Ryan Marks, Ariel Silvana Murillo, Daniel Peters, Matthew Rayan D.J. Smith, Scott Spraggs, Jenna Stocks, Rico Velazquez, and Paul Zelhart, previews at CA’s Cerritos CPA.
Saturday, May 14
A Radical Invention of Shakespeare’s King Lear, directed by John Gould Rubin, featuring Joe Morton (King Lear), Mark Harelik (Gloucester), River Gallo (Cordelia/Fool), Zach Soloman (Edgar/King of France), Brie Eley (Regan), and Emily Swallow (Goneril), Rafel Jordan (Edmund), with Miguel Perez, Stanley Jackson, and Danielle Thorpe, opens at Beverly Hills’ The Wallis.
3-D Theatricals’ Newsies, directed by T.J. Dawson, featuring Dillon Klena (Jack Kelly), Allison Sheppard (Katherine), Rod Bagheri (Davey), Kyle Frattini (Crutchie), Norman Large (Joseph Pulitzer), Allen Everman (Governor Roosevelt), Carrie Compere (Medda Larkin), and Colton Dorman (Les), with Ryan Addison, Candice Rochelle Berge, Lucas Blankenhorn, Rorey Chavarria, Louis Reyes Chavez, James Everts, Jeff Garrido, David Kirk Grant, Callum Gugger, Brandon Taylor Jones, Philly Kang, Jonathan Kim, Anthony Klinner, Anneke May, Ryan Marks, Ariel Silvana Murillo, Daniel Peters, Matthew Rayan D.J. Smith, Scott Spraggs, Jenna Stocks, Rico Velazquez, and Paul Zelhart, opens at CA’s Cerritos CPA.
Metamorphoses, by Mary Zimmerman, directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, featuring Alan Blumenfeld, DeJuan Christopher, Geoff Elliott, Rafael Goldstein, Nicole Javier, Kasey Mahaffy, Sydney A. Mason, Trisha Miller, Cassandra Marie Murphy, and Erika Soto, opens at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
Marie Antoinette benefit reading, by David Adjmi, directed by Michael Kevin Baldwin, featuring Lauren Ambrose, Andrus Nichols, Pun Bandhu, Spencer Scott Barros, James Rose, Danny Tieger, and Lou Hagen, ET at CT’s Sharon Playhouse.
Jeremy Jordan in concert, at 7 PM ET at Palmetto, GA’s Art Farm at Serenbe.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, adapted by Joel Horwood, directed by Katy Rudd, featuring Ruby Ablett, James Banford, Emma Bown, Charlie Cameron, Jeff D’Sangalang, and Kieran Garland, closes at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre.
Grace, world premiere by Nikkole Salter & Nolan Williams Jr., directed & choreographed by Robert Barry Fleming, featuring David Hughey, Arica Jackson, Raquel Jennings, Rayshun Lamarr, Jarran Muse, Solomon Parker, Nova Y. Payton, and Virginia Woodruff, with LaDonna Burns, Jay Frisby, Duawne Starling, and Kai Brittani White, closes at DC’s Ford’s Theatre.
Titanic The Musical, directed by Mark Clements, featuring Emma Rose Brooks (Kate McGowan), Lillian Castillo (Alice), Matt Daniels (Pitman/Etches), Kelly Faulkner (Caroline), Nathaniel Hackman (Barrett), Evan Harrinton (Murdoch), Jeremy Landon Hays (Andrews), David Hess (Captain smith), Carrie Hitchcock (Ida Straus), Philip Hoffman (Isador Straus), Brian Krinsky (Jim Farrell), Steve Pacek (Bride), Tim Quartier (Charles), Julio Rey (Fleet), Rána Roman, Andrew Varela (Ismay), and Steve Watts (Edgar), with Jamey Feshold, Jared Brandt Hoover, Kyle Johnson, George Lorimer, Kelty Morash, Sophie Murk, Max Pink, Ogunde Snelling Jr., Vivian Vaeth, Paxton Haley, Zoah Hirano, James LaRoque, and Lainey Techtmann, closes at Milwaukee Rep.
A Very Broadway Mother’s Day concert, featuring Jana Robbins, Julie Reyburn, Layla Fields, Zina Goldrich, Rachel Stern, Lois Sage, Alexander Saage Oyen, Rachel Ulanet, Chirara Navazio, Alessia Navazio, Allison Posner, Walter Bolin, Stacy Sullivan, Joseph Agresta, Abigail Agresta, Tracy Sallows, Mairéad, O’Neill, Sally Ann Tumes, Gregory Skoric, Joseph Skoric, John Paul Skoric, Janet Metz, and Phoebe Unger, closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
Sunday, May 15
The Joy That Carries You, world premiere by Awa Sal Secka & Dani Stoller’, directed by Jason Loewith & Kevin McCallister, featuring Billie Krishawn (Alaia), Dani Stoller (Shiri), Michael Russotto (Martin), Susan Rome (Nancy), Bru Ajueyitsi (Ezekiel), Lolita Marie (Alaia’s Ma), and James J. Johnson (Beau), opens at MD’s Olney Theatre.
Antaeus Theatre Company‘s Hamlet, directed by Elizabeth Swain, featuring Ramón de Ocampo (Hamlet), Gregg T. Daniel (Claudius), Veralyn Jones (Gertrude), Jeanne Syquia (Ophelia), Peter Van Norden (Polonius), Michael Kirby (Laertes), and Adam J. Smith (Horatio), with Sally Hughes, Lloyd Roberson II, and Joel Swetow, begins previews at Glendale’s Gindler PAC.
Encores‘ Into The Woods presentation, directed by Lear deBessonet, featuring Heather Headley (Witch), Sara Bareilles (Baker’s Wife), Neil Patrick Harris (Baker), Julia Lester (Little Red), Jordan Donica (Rapunzel’s Prince), Shereen Pimentel (Rapunzel), Cole Thompson (Jack), Denée Benton (Cinderella), Gavin Creel (the Wolf / Cinderella’s Prince), Annie Golden (Cinderella’s Mother / Grandmother / Giant’s Wife), Ann Harada (Jack’s Mother), David Patrick Kelly (Narrator / Mysterious Man), Tiffany Denise Hobbs (Lucinda), Brooke Ishibashi (Florinda), Kennedy Kanagawa (Milky White), Lauren Mitchell (Cinderella’s Stepmother), and David Turner (Steward), closes at NY City Center.
A Chorus Line, directed by Antonio Banderas & Baayork Lee, featuring Manuel Bandera, Antonio Banderas, Angie Alcázar, Tomy Álvarez, Lucía Castro, Alex Chavarri, Javier Cid, Aaron Cobos, Anna Coll, Fran Del Pino, Daniel Délyon, Sonia Dorado, Roberto Facchin, Daniel Garod, Bealia Guerra, Pep Guillem, Cassandra Hlong, Ariel Juin, Flor Lopardo, Joan López-Santos, Juan José Marco, Graciela Monterde, Fran Moreno, Marcela Nava, Ivo Pareja-Obregón, Lucrecia Petraglia, Estibalitz Ruiz, Aida Sánchez, Lorena Santiago, Sarah Schielke, and Victor González, closes at Barcelona’s Teatre Tivoli.
The Vagrant Trilogy, by Mon Mansour, directed by Mark Wing-Davey, featuring Bassam Abdelfattah, Tala Ashe, Caitlin Nasema Cassidy, Ramsey Faragallah, Osh Ghanimah, Nadine Malouf, Rudy Roushdi, and Hadi Tabbal, closes at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater.
Conrad Ricamora concludes his run as Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at Off-Broadway’s Westside Theatre.
National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene‘s Harmony, by Barry Manilow & Bruce Sussman, directed by Warren Carlyle, featuring Sierra Boggess (Mary), Chip Zien (Rabbi), Jessie Davidson (Ruth), and Ana Hoffman (Josephine Baker), with Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Kenny Morris, Elise Frances Daniells, Zak Edwards, Abby Goldfarb, Eddie Grey, Shayne Kennon, Benjamin Harold Moore, Matthew Mucha, Tori Palin, Barrett Riggins, Kayleen Seil, Andrew O’Shanick, Nancy Ticotin, and Kate Wesler, closes at NYC’s Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White, by Alice Childress, directed by Awoye Timpo, featuring Brittany Bradford (Julia Augustine), Rosalyn Coleman (Lula Green), Veanne Cox (Herman’s Mother), Rebecca Haden (Annabelle), Brittany-Laurelle (Mattie), Sofie Nesanelis (Princess), Renrick Palmer (Nelson Green), Phoenix Noelle Reece (Teeta), Thomas Sadoski (Herman), Elizabeth Van Dyke (Fanny Johnson), and Max Woertendyke (Bell Man), closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for a New Audience.
The Sound of Music, directed by Glenn Casale, featuring Diane Phelan (Maria), Christopher Carl (Captain von Trapp), Suzanna Guzmán (Mother Abbess), Roland Ponce Rusinek (Max), Joanne Javien (Elsa), Kevin Symons (Franz), Cory Lingner (Rolf), Jenna Lea Rosen (Liesl), Weston Bagley (Friedrich), Erin Choi (Marta), Kayla Anjali (Gretl), Alma Marian (Brigitta), Ashley Gallo (Louisa), Oliver Stewart (Kurt), Gordon Goodman (Herr Zeller), Janna Cardia (Sister Sophia), Linda Griffin (Sister Margaretta), and Jennifer Leigh Warren (Sister Berthe), with Elizabeth Campbell, Chelle Denton, Grant Hodges, Adam Lendermon, Carter Michael, Monika Peña, Brad Rupp, and Erica Schaeffer, closes at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Into the Woods, directed by Addie Gorlin-Han, featuring Mimi Bessette (Jack’s Mother), Cooper Grodin (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf), Aidan O’Reilly (Mystery Man), Keith Watson (Baker), Ximone Rose (Baker’s Wife), Miranda Jane (Witch), Erica Durham (Cinderella), William Romain (Jack), Annslee Clay (Little Red Ridinghood), Monica Clark-Robinson (Narrator), Hannah Gothard (Rapunzel), Augustine Nguyen (Rapunzel’s Prince), Satia Spence (Stepmother), Hannah Fairman (Florinda), Bridget Davis (Lucinda), Shelton Harden (Cinderella’s Father), Karen Q. Clark (Cinderella’s Mother), Judy Trice (Granny), Ben Grimes (Steward), and Jacob Rivera (Milky White), with Hannah Hill, Ruby Reeves, Chad Bradford, Frederick Webb Jr…… and Hillary Clinton (The Giant), closes at Arkansas Rep.
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, by Anna Deveare Smith, directed by Chris Butler & Jenny Sullivan, featuring Chris Butler, closes at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
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The New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award winners have been announced for the 2021-2022 season:
Best Play: A Case for the Existence of God, by Samuel D. Hunter.
Best Musical: Kimberly Akimbo, by David Lindsay-Abaire & Jeanine Tesori
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for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf has extended its run through Sun. June 5 at Broadway’s Booth Theatre, directed & choregraphed by Camille A. Brown.
Amara Granderson (Lady in Orange), Tendayi Kuumba (Lady in Brown), Kenita R. Miller (Lady in Red), Okwui Okpolwasili (Lade in Green), Stacy Sargeant (Lady in Blue), Alexandrea Wailes (Lady in Purple), and D. Woods (Lady in Yellow).
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Grease will run July 8-24 at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West, directed by Snehal Desai, with choreography by Corey Wright, and music direction by Jan Roper.
Casting TBA.
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Additional casting has been announced for Broadway Backwards 2022, in support of BC/EFA, which will take place Mon. May 23 at 8 PM ET at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, written & directed by Robert Bartley, with music direction by Ted Arthur.
Previously announced: Alexandra Billings, Len Cariou, Jenn Colella, Matt Doyle, Claybourne Elder, Lena Hall, Lauren Patten, Bernadette Peters, George Salazar, Mary Testa, Brandon Uranowitz, and Lillias White.
Newly announced: Michael R. Jackson, Joaquina Kalukango, Veanne Cox, J. Harrison Ghee, Z Infante, Norm Lewis, Bill Nolte, Ken Page, Eve Plumb, John Riddle, MiMi Scardulla, BD Wong, and the Broadway Inspirational Voices.
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Mrs. Doubtfire will close May 29 at Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
(Principals): Robert McClure (Tony nomination as Mrs. Doubtfire), Jenn Gambatese (Miranda Hillard), Peter Bartlett (Mr. Jolly), Charity Angél Dawson (Wanda Sellner), Mark Evans (Stuart Dunmire), J. Harrison Ghee (Andre Mayem), Analise Scarpaci (Lydia Hillard), and Brad Oscar (Frank Hillard).
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The filmed version of the Off-Broadway stage production of Dan Collins & Julianne Wick Davis’ Trevor: The Musical will debut on Fri. June 24 exclusively on Disney+, directed by Robin Mishkin Abrams, with choreography by Josh Prince.
William Hagelberger (Trevor), Mark Aguirre, Aaron Alcaraz, Ava Briglia, Sammy Dell, Tyler Joseph Gay, Ellie Kim, Colin Konstanty, Brigg Liberman, Diego Lucano, Alissa Emily Marvin, Isabel Medina, Echo Deva Picone, Dan Rosales, Aryan Simhadri, Yasmeen Sulieman, Sally Wilfert, Aeriel Williams, and Jarrod Zimmerman.
The musical follows a charming 13-year-old on a turbulent journey of self-discovery. After an embarrassing incident at school, Trevor must summon the courage to forge his own path.
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A Chorus Line will run May 26 – June 12 (opening May 29) at Laguna Playhouse, directed & choreographed by Luis Villabon, with music direction by Rickey Pope.
Jonathan Van Dyke (Zach), James Vinson (Larry), Katie Van Horn (Cassie), Natalie Kastner (Sheila), Haley Ayers (Val), Daniella Castoria (Diana), Ava Cusitor (Judy), Presley Nicholson (Kristine), Kristen Daniels (Maggie), Ellery Smith (Bebe), Erika Harper (Connie), AJ Love (Mike), William Nelson (Richie), Johann Santos (Paul), Dorian Quinn (Don), Benji Godley-Fisher (Mark), Patrick Murray (Gregory), Ryan Mulvaney (Bobby), and Bryce Bayer (Al), with Samantha Borthwicke, Lucy Swinson, Kyle Urbaniak and Izzy Valdez Ayres-Kaplan.
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The Vineyard Theatre has announced the world premiere of Lessons in Survival: 1971, created with The Commissary, to run May 25 – June 30 (opening June 9), directed by Tyler Thomas.
Carl Clemons-Hopkins (James Baldwin) and Crystal Dickinson (Nikki Giovanni).
The work takes place in 1971 when young poet Nikki Giovanni interviewed James Baldwin on America’s first “Black Tonight Show,” “Soul.”
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“The Fantasticks: The First Complete Recording of the Entire Play,” by Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt, will be released this Fall (date & link TBA), and will feature the entire score as well as all of the dialogue and speeches. Musical direction will be by Craig Barna.
Brad Oscar (Bellomy), Telly Leung (Matt), Elzabeth Teeter (Luisa), Lewis Cleale (El Gallo), Ron Raines (Hucklebee), Tom Jones (The Old Actor), and more TBA.
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Sister Act will run July 19 – Aug. 28 at Eventim Apollo, directed by Bill Buckhurst, with choreography by Alistair David, and music supervision by Stephen Brooker.
Beverly Knight (Deloris Van Cartier), Lizzy Bea (Sister Mary Robert), Jennifer Saunders (Mother Superior), Keala Settle (Sister Mary Patrick), Lesley Joseph (Sister Mary Lazarus, Clive Rowe (Eddie Souther), and Lizzy Bea (Sister Mary Robert), with more TBA.
Video: Lizzie Bea performs ‘The Life I Never Led’
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Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre‘s world premiere of Samuel D. Hunter’s A Case for the Existence of God has been extended through May 29, directed by David Cromer.
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Cinderella is being developed as a limited series for Skydance Television, adapted by Rachel Shukert.
Casting, timeline, and additional information TBA.
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The Crucible will begin run Sept. 14 – Nov. 5 (opening Sept. 21) at the Olivier Theatre, directed by Lyndsey Turner.
Brendan Cowell (John Proctor) and Erin Doherty (Abigail), with Fisayo Akinade, Rachelle Diedericks, Nick Fletcher, Karl Johnson, Gracie McGonigal, Matthew Marsh, and Eileen Walsh.
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Manhattan Theatre Club‘s How I Learned to Drive has been extended through June 12 at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, starring Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse.
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The Mint Theatre will present Elizabeth Baker’s Chains, with previews beginning on June 7 and an opening set for June 23 at Theatre Row, directed by Jenn Thompson.
Jeremy Beck, Anthony Cochrane, Christopher Gerson, Olivia Gilliatt, Laakan McHardy, Ned Noyes, Brian Owen, Claire Saunders, Peterson Townsend, Amelia White, and Avery Whitte.
The stories of a few ordinary people yearning for a less ordinary life. Charley lives with his wife Lily in suburban London, sharing a cramped house with a lodger. They are both shaken when Charley’s lodger announces he’s tired of the grind and he’s leaving for Australia the day after tomorrow. His decision sends a tremor through the family that threatens to break the ties that bind Maggie and Charley to their ordinary lives.
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The Fire Island Dance Festival 2022 will take place June 15-17 at NY’s Fire Island Pines, in support of Dancers Responding to AIDS.
Click here to learn more…
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Dave Davidson’s That Is Not Who I Am will run June 10 – July 16 (opening June 16) at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Lucy Morrison.
Priyanga Burford, Jake Davies, and Siena Kelly.
When Ollie has his identity stolen on the internet, it’s bad enough. But soon it’s not just his online life collapsing – his real life is being stolen too. Who is the person really doing and saying these awful things? And who can Ollie trust to see the real him when the world sees him as a monster? Did the real him ever exist in the first place?