This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, May 17
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, directed by Tomé Cousin, featuring Gabrielle Lee (Billie Holiday), Kenney Green-Tilford (Jimmy Powers), Scrappy Mason (Pepi), Ayana Del Valle (Billie Holiday Alternate) and Alawna Mallory (u/s Billie Holiday), opens at the Pittsburgh CLO.
Toni Stone, written & directed by Lydia Diamond, featuring Ryan Vincent Anderson (King Tut), Bobby Cius (Jimmy), Anthony T. Goss (Elzie), Stanley Andrew Jackson (Millie), Jonathan Kitt (Alberga), Al’Jaleel McGhee (Woody), Jennifer Mogbock (Toni Stone), Omar Robinson (Stretch), and Blake Anthony Morris (Spec), with Olutayo Bosede Dominic Carter, Todd McNeel, James Ricardo Milord, Hassiem Muhammad, and Eunice Woods, opens at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
Noises Off, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring Jennifer Cody (Dotty/Mrs. Clackett), John Bolton ((Freddy/Phillip), Marylou Henner (Belinda/Flavia), Richard Kline (Selsdon/Burglar), John Patrick Hayden (Lloyd Dallas), Roe Hartrampf (Garry Leueune/Roger), Amanda Kristin Nichols (Brooke/Vicki), Folami Williams (Poppy), and Barrett Riggins (Tim), with Lisa Birnbaum and Patricia Richwood, opens at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Title Waves: 2024 New Works Festival, presenting staged readings of new plays & readings in development, opens at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Roundabout Theatre Company‘s Home, by Samm-Art Williams, directed by Kenny Leon, featuring Todd Haimes Theatre, begins previews at Broadway’s Todd Haimes Theatre.
Bluets, by Maggie Nelson, adapted by Margaret Perry, directed by Katie Michell, featuring Emma D’Arcy, Kayla Meikle, and Ben Whishaw, begin previews at London’s Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.
IRONWEED: An Evening of Art & Humanity presentation, by William Kennedy, directed by Jodie Markell, featuring Mark Ruffalo (Francis Phelan) and Jessica Hecht (Helen Archer), at 7:30 PM at Brooklyn’s BAM.
Here We Are cast album, by Stephen Sondheim & David Ives, directed by Joe Mantello, featuring Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O’Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce and Jeremy Shamos, released on most platforms.
Saturday, May 18
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), opens at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
The Trial of the Catonsville Nine reading, by Daniel Berrigan, directed by Michael John Garcés, featuring Bull Pullman (Author Daniel Gerrigan), Daniel Berrigan), Raymond Lee (Thomas Melville), and Amy Aquino (Judge), at 7 PM at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
The Comeuppance, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Erin Ting, featuring Yolanda Kettle, Ferdinand Kingsley, Tamara Lawrance, Katie Leung, and Anthony Welsh, closes at London’s Almeida Theatre.
Betty Buckley in concert closes at NYC’s Joe’s Pub.
John Lloyd Young in concert closes at NYC’s Cafe Carlyle.
Sunday, May 19
“Merrily We Roll Along: Director Maria Friedman in Conversation with Jonathan Groff,” at 8 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
Lempicka, by Carson Kreitzer & Matt Gould, directed by Rachel Chavkin, featuring Eden Espinosa (Tamara de Lempicka), Amber Iman (Rafaela), Andrew Samonsky (Taduesz Lempi), George Abud (Marinetti), Natlalie Joy Johnson (Suzy Solidor), Zoe Glick (Kizette), Nathaniel Stamply (Baron), and Beth Leavel (Baroness), with Mariand Torres, Alex Aquilino, Lauren Blackman, Stephen Brower, Kyle Brown, Holli’ Conway, Abby Matsusaka, Jimin Moon, Khori Michelle Petinaud, Ximone Rose, Nicholas Ward, Veronica Fiaoni, Michael Milkanin, Mary Page Nance, and Julio Rey, closes at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre,
Cruel Intensions: The 90’s Musical, by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin & Roger Kumble, directed by directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, featuring Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky (Kathryn), Daniel Bravo (Sebastian), Abbie Budden (Annette) Rose Galbraith (Cecile), Josh Barnett (Blaine), Jess Buckby (Ms. Bunny Caldwell/Dr. Greenbaum), Nickolia King-N’Da (Ronald), and Barney Wilkinson (Greg), closes at London’s The Other Palace.
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, closes at NYC’s Perlman Arts Center.
Bring Them Back, written & directed by David Willinger, featuring Paul Korzinski (Paul), Carole Forman (Trudy), closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for the New City.
Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine, by Lynn Nottage, directed by Martavius Parrish, featuring Felicia Curry (Undine – Apr. 18 – May 6), Kedren A. Spencer (Undine – Apr. 19 – May 19), Stephanie Pope (Mother), Evander Duck Jr. (Father), Sharon Hope (Grandma), Mariyea Jaclson (Stephie), Roland Lane (Flow), Tito Livas (Hervé), and Blake Russell (Accountant), with Kimberlee Walker, closes at Brooklyn’s Billie Holiday Theatre.
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, by August Wilson, directed by Chuck Smith, featuring A.C. Smith (Herald Loomis), Harper Anthony (Reuben Mercer), Anthony Fleming III (Jeremy Furlow), TayLar (Bertha Holly), Gary Houston (Rutherford Selig), Kylah Jones (Zonia), Nambi E. Kelley (Mattie Campbell), Krystel V. McNeil (Molly Cunningham), Tim Rhoze (Bynum Walker), Shariba Rivers (Martha Loomis) and Dexter Zollicoffer (Seth Holly), with Sean Blake, Stacie Doublin, Kristin E. Ellis, Anthony Irons, Bill McGough, Jean-Luc Nazaire, André Teamer, and Riley Lauren Wells, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Title Waves: 2024 New Works Festival, presenting staged readings of new plays & readings in development, concludes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Lay It Down: The Music of the Everly Brothers, written by & starring Eric Anthony & Ben Hope, closes at Virginia Stage.
The Two Hander, world premiere by Julia Blauvelt, directed by Suzanne Barabas, featuring Ella Dershowitz and Jill Eikenberry, closes at New Jersey Rep.
High Maintenance, world premiere by Peter Ritt, directed by Stan Zimmerman, featuring Tommy Dickie (Thesbot Prime), Kris Frost (Alan), Alex Ingram (Samm), Ivy Khan (Laura), Merrick McCartha (Gus), Christian Prentice (Roger), and Amy Tolsky (Vera), closes at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia.
Mad Hatter The Musical, by Vincent Connor, Michael J. Polo & Victor Valdez, directed & choreographed by Joe Barros, featuring Dwayne Washington (Mad Hatter), Lauren Zakrin (Queen of Hearts), and Reanne Acasio (Mary Beth/Chrshire Cat Yola), with Tony Castellanos, Aria Kane, Mark Reis, Luis Villabon, Andreas Wyder, Ash Marie Alina, Raven Chareal, Alyssa Chiarello, Lydia Ruth Dawson, Rendell A. Debose, Trisha Ditsworth, Héctor Flores Jr., Liam Garrett, Amanda Lund, Anna Mettes, Chafik Jay, and Mathew Zimmerer, closes at Phoenix’s Herberger Theater Center.
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The recent New York City Center Encores! revival of Once Upon a Mattress, adapted by Amy Sherman-Palladino, will transfer to Broadway July 31 – Nov. 30 (opening Aug. 12) at the Hudson Theatre, directed again by Lear deBessonet.
Following the Broadway run, Foster will take the revival to Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre (Dec. 10 – Jan. 5, 2025).
Sutton Foster (Princess Winnifred), Michael Urie (Prince Dauntless), and more TBA.
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Pasadena Playhouse has announced its 2024-25 season:
Cyrano de Bergerac (Sept. 4-29), by Edmond Rostand, freely adapted by Martin Crimp. 
Modern poetry and sizzling rhythm collide in a scorching love triangle when Cyrano discovers the love of his life has eyes for another man.
La Cage aux Folles (Nov. 12 – Dec. 15)
Anything Goes in Concert (Jan. 24-25, 2025), featuring Jinkx Monsoon (Reno Sweeney).
Follies in Concert (Jan. 31 – Feb. 1, 2025)
Topdog/Underdog (Spring 2025)
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The world premiere of Jordan E. Cooper’s Oh Happy Day! will run Sept. 19 – Oct. 13 (opening Sept. 27) at Baltimore Center Stage, directed by StevieWalker Webb.
Jordan E. Cooper
A reimagining of the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark, reset to begin at a birthday barbecue in Laurel, Mississippi. An impending flood is the least of one family’s troubles.
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Renée Fleming in Recital will take place Sat. June 15 at 7:30 PM at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Tickets start at $29.
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The world premiere of Maltby & Shire’s The Story Goes On: The Songs of Maltby and Shire will run July 20 – 27 at New Hampshire’s Weathervane Theatre, directed by Richard Maltby Jr., with choreography by Valerie C. Wright, and music direction by Deniz Cordell.
Robert H. Fowler, Julia Bogdanoff, Jorge Donoso, Shinnerrie Jackson, Marisa Kirby, Ira Kramer, Ethan Paulini, and more TBA.
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Video: Jeremy Jordan & Eva Noblezada perform “My Green Light” from The Great Gatsby on “The Tonight Show”
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A Conversation with Jocelyn Bioh and Whitney White: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding will take place Tues. May 21 at 12:30 PM at NYC’s Museum of Broadway (145 W. 45th St.)
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The world premiere of Danny Strong, Michael Weiner & Zoe Sarnak’s Galileo continues through June 23 at CA’s Berkeley Rep, directed by Michael Mayer, with choreography by David Neumann, and music direction by Roberto Sinha.
Raúl Esparza (Galileo), Jeremy Kushnier (Bishop Maffeo Barberini), Madalynn Mathews (Virginia Galilei), Christian Magby (Alessandro Tarantola), Javier Muñoz (Cardinal Morosini), and Bradley Dean (Bishop Grasso), with Gabrielle Elisabeth, Adam Halpin, Michal Kolaczkowski, Claire Kwon, Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Michael J. Mainwaring, Alexander Mendoza, Brian Ray Norris, Chase Peacock, Noah Plomgren, David Rowen, DeMone Seraphin, Madeleine Spacapan, Erica Sweany, Zalah Brenae Vallien, and Adrian Villegas.
When maverick scientist Galileo Galilei makes celestial observations that challenge humanity’s understanding of its place in the universe, he’s summoned to Rome to defend his discoveries before the most powerful religious institution in the world, which is facing a rebellion of its own.
Video: Trailer
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LA’s Theatre 40 (link TBA) has announced its 2024-25 season. Creative teams and casting TBA.
Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear (Sept. 19 – Oct. 20), by David McGregor.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Nov. 14 – Dec. 15), by Agatha Christie, adapted by Mark Shanahan.
Listing (Jan. 16 – Feb. 16, 2025), world premiere by Russell Brown. Raymond is a real estate agent with a passion for historic preservation. His dream listing arrives when the owner of one of Los Angeles’ architecturally significant homes asks him to represent her modernist masterpiece. Open houses bring bumbling buyers and development speculators. When catastrophe strikes and the terms of the sale are hijacked, Raymond’s well-intentioned hopes and plans are thrown into chaos. Even the house itself seems to have its own nefarious agenda. Tragedy, societal tension, and ghosts of the home’s past all simmer to the surface, and the home’s good bones can’t hide the bad blood.
Beatnik Girl (Jan. 16 – Feb 16, 2025), in rep with Listing), world premiere by Leda Siskind. The story of a young woman of vision and principle, Edie Gordon, as she struggles with misogyny, antisemitism, and an unwanted pregnancy while trying to be a Beat poet. Set in New York’s lower east side in 1957.
Communicating Doors (Mar. 20 – Apr. 20), by Alan Ayckbourn. This intricate time traveling comic thriller by the British master of farcical comedy delighted London and New York audiences. A London sex specialist from the future stumbles into a murder plot that sends her, compliments of a unique set of hotel doors, traveling back in time. She and two women who were murdered in 1998 and 1978 race back and forth in time trying to rewrite history and prevent their own violent ends. The frantic race begins when Poopay is hired for an evening at the Regal Hotel by an old man who eschews a fling in favor of confessing his role in the demise of his wives. Now a target, Poopay flees into the vestibule and somehow triggers the time machine.
Becky’s New Car (May 22 – June 22), by Steven Dietz. Have you ever been tempted to flee your own life? Becky Foster is caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage—with no prospects for change on the horizon. Then one night a socially inept and grief-stricken millionaire stumbles into the car dealership where Becky works. Becky is offered nothing short of a new life… and the audience is offered a chance to ride shotgun in a way that most plays wouldn’t dare.
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The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards ceremony will take place Mon. May 20 at 2:30 PM at the NYC Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. 
here. All proceeds will benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation Scholarship Program.
Ben Vereen, Wayne Brady, Norm Lewis, Joe Morton, Debbie Allen Shoshana Bean, Corbin Blue, Kristin Chenoweth, Anthony Crivello, Joel Grey, Bebe Neuwirth, Kenny Ortega, David Hyde Pierce, Brook Shields, the cast of The Heart of Rock and Roll, and more…
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Kritzerland will present Back To Bacharach on Wed. May 22 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, with music direction by John Sawoski, and hosted by Bruce Kimmel.
Brittany Anderson, Jason Graae, Kerry O’Malley, Joan Ryan, Adrienne Steifel, and Robert Yacko.
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A reading of Cassandra Rose’s Billy To His Friends will take place Wed. May 22 at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s LGBT Center, directed by L. Elleseg.
Mario Burrell (Oliver “Billy” Sipple) and Ethan Crenshaw (Harvey Milk), with Brooke Seguin, Camila Camaleón, June Carryl, Tom Trudgeon, John Colella, and Blaire Battle.
Marine and war veteran Oliver Sipple, or “Billy” to his friends, stopped an assassin from killing President Gerald Ford in San Francisco on September 22nd, 1975. Two days later, Harvey Milk outed him as gay to the entire world. Years later, a diverse group of visitors at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco are compelled to share Billy’s story as a reminder of what being outed has cost us…both then and now.
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Video: The Wiz montage on Broadway.