This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, November 10
The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holliday, by Ken Ludwig, directed by Fred Sullivan Jr.,, featuring Remo Airaldi (Fexlis Geisel), Kelby T. Akin (William Gilette), Dana Garcia (Simon Bright), Maureen Keiller (Daria Chase), Pamela Lambert (Madge Geisel), Gabrielle McCauley (Aggie Wheeler), Peter Mill (Inspector Goring), and Sarah Sinclair (Martha Gillette), opens at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company.
Group Rep‘s 70 Girls 70, directed by Bruce Kimmel, featuring Cynthia Bryant, Regan Carrinton, Kay Cole, Fay DeWitt, Dawn Halloran, Doug Haverty, Suzy London, Hisato Masuyama, Barbara Minkus, Judy Nazemetz, Cynthia Payo, Lloyd Pedersen, Leota Rhodes, Rob Schaumann, Sara Shearer and Danica Waitley, opens at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre.
The Talented Tenth, by Richard Wesley, directed by Ben Guillory, featuring Nic Few, Tiffany Coty, Jessica Obilom, Monte Scalante, Stirling Bradley, Julio Hanson, Rogelio Douglas III, and Ben Guillory, opens at the LA Theatre Center.
Karen Mason: 25… and Counting concert opens at Chicago’s Davenports.
Alex Edelman’s Just For Us solo show, directed by Adam Brace, previews at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
Dream Girls, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, featuring Ta-Tynisa Wilson (Deena), Keirsten Hodgens (Lorrell), Trejah Bostic (Effie), Evan Tyrone Martin (Curtis), Jos N. Banks (CC), Mykal Kilgore (Jimmy), and Robert Cornelius (Marty), with Chuckie Benson, Shantel Cribbs, Arnold Harper II, Alia Hodge, Alfred E. Jackson, Diva LaMarr, Melanie Loren, Kwame M. Remy, Aalon Smith, Montria Walker, and Jalisa Williams with swings Joel Oliver and Sierra Wilson, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
New York Rep‘s War Words, world premiere by Michelle Kholos Brooks, directed by Sarah Norris, featuring David Alan Basche (John), Maggie Bofill (Jennifer), Donald Calliste (Nate), John Concado (Matt), Jennean Farmer (Amy), Bethany Geraghty (Kimberly), Brandon Jones (Steve), Kevin Loreque (Dan F.), Matthew Nititow (James), Haythem Noor (Janis), Alysia Reiner (Emily), Joshua David Robinson (Nash), John Siciliano (Pete), and Jakob Von Eichel (Danny), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s A.R.T.
Make Me Gorgeous, written & directed by Donnie, starring Wade McCollum, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s.
SpeakEasy Stage’s The Band’s Visit, directed by Paul Daigneault, featuring Brian Homas Abraham (Tewfiq), Jennifer Apple (Dina), Marianna Bassham (Iris), Fady Deman (Zelger), Kareen Elsmadlicy (Haled), Josephine Moshiri Elwood (Julia), Jesse Garlick (Papi), Noah Kieserman (Telephone Guy), Andrew Mayer (Camal), Zaven Ovian (Sammy), Emily Qualmann (Anna), James Rana (Simon), Robert Saoud (Avrum), and Jared Troilo (Itzik), with Sarah Corey, Jordana Kagan, Elliot Lazar, Steven Goldstein, Alex Poletti, Emily Qualmann, and Robert Saoud, begins previews at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, directed by David Ruttura, featuring Sara Sheperd (Carole King), Miles Jacoby (Gerry Goffin), Sara King (Cynthia Weil), Trevor James (Barry Mann), Valerie Perri (Genie Klein), and Brian Ibsen (Don Kirshner), with Briana Brooks, Fatima El-Bashir), Rsosharra Francis, David Ginlet, Cornelius Jones. Jr., James Larsen, Jazz Madison, Kenneth Mosley, Melissa Musial, Monet Sabel, Mictchell Lam Hau, Keturah McIntyre, and Michael Swain Smith, previews at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Coeurage Theatre’s Frozen Fluid, world premiere by Fly Jamerson, directed by Amanda McRaven, featuring Michael Budd, Yvonne Cone, and Nicole Delsack, with alternates Steph Lehane, Jalana Phillips, and J. Valerione, begins previews at Hollywood’s LGBT Center.
Saturday, November 11
The Winter’s Tale, directed by Tamilla Woodard, featuring Cody Nickell (Camillo), Kate Eastwood Norris (Paulina), Reza Salazar, Kayleandra White (Perdita), Antoinette Crow-Legacy (Hermione), Jonathan Del Plamer (Florizell), Kate Eastwood Norris (Paulina), Nicholas Gerwitz (Shepherd’s Son), Reza Salazar (Autolycus), Cody Nickell (Damillo), Drew Kopas (Polixenes), Stephen Patrick Martin (Antigonus/Shepherd), Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Richard Bradford (Mammillius/Time), Hadi Tabbal (Leontes), and Clarence Payne (Mamillius), opens at DC’s Folger Theatre.
Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Peter Flynn, featuring Howard Kaye (Tevye, replacing Ethan Watermeier), Rachel Stern (Golde), Sophie Schulman (Tzeitel), Ariana Galdwell (Chava), Sumié Yotsukura (Hodel), Michael Wood (Motel), Jay Frisby (Fyedka), Noah Keyishian (Perchik), Jason B. McIntosh (Lazar Wolf), Graciela Rey (Fiddler), Sasha Olinick (Rabbi), Cheryl J. Campo (Yente), Ariel Messeca (Mendel), Dylan Arrendondo (Avram), Robert Mintz (Inkeeper), Janine Baumgardner (Russian Soldier), Daniel Powers (Russsian Soldier), Russell Rinker (Constable), Pepin (Fruma-Sarah), Maisie Posner (Bielke), Daphne Wheeler (Sprintze), Oli & Tsaitami Duchicela (Grandma Tzeitel), withNaomi Biel, Daphne Wheeler, Olivia Fegler, Caroline Grahman, and Cristian Rodriguez, opens at DC’s Ford’s Theatre.
Alex Edelman’s Just For Us solo show, directed by Adam Brace, opens at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
A Christmas Carol, directed by Caitlin Hargraves, featuring Andrew Benator (Ebenezer Scrooge), Emberlynn Wood (Tiny Tim), Austin Barocas (Lamplighter’s son), Caleb Baumann (Matthew Watkins), Caleb Clark (Young Scrooge/Peter), Thomas Neal Antown Ghant (Tom Watkins/Mr. Fezziwig/Topper), Anne Marie Gideon (Missy Watkins/Bess/Mudge), Christopher Hampton (Mr. Crachit/Mr. Pritchitt), Clare Latham (Mrs. Cratchit/Mrs. Fezziwig), Lucy Long (Emma Cratchit), Maria Mae Lopez (Belle/Martha Cratchit), Robert Méndez (Lamplighter/Fouquet), Thyn McLemore (Ghost of Christmas Past), Matthew Morris (Jacob Marley), Adrienne Ocfemia (Melinda Cratchit/Child dick Wilkins), Mary Lynn Owens (Mrs. Dilber), Brad Raymond (Ghost of Christmas Present), Lyndsay Ricketson (Ghost of Christmas Future), Asia Rogers (Alice), and Dane Troy (Fred/Dick Wilkins), and more, opens at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, directed by David Ruttura, featuring Sara Sheperd (Carole King), Miles Jacoby (Gerry Goffin), Sara King (Cynthia Weil), Trevor James (Barry Mann), Valerie Perri (Genie Klein), and Brian Ibsen (Don Kirshner), with Briana Brooks, Fatima El-Bashir), Rsosharra Francis, David Ginlet, Cornelius Jones. Jr., James Larsen, Jazz Madison, Kenneth Mosley, Melissa Musial, Monet Sabel, Mictchell Lam Hau, Keturah McIntyre, and Michael Swain Smith, opens at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Madwomen of the West, by Sandra Tsing Loh, directed by Thomas Caruso, featuring Caroline Aaron, Marilu Henner, Melanie Mayron, and Brooke Adams, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Actors Temple Theater.
Dream Girls, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, featuring Ta-Tynisa Wilson (Deena), Keirsten Hodgens (Lorrell), Trejah Bostic (Effie), Evan Tyrone Martin (Curtis), Jos N. Banks (CC), Mykal Kilgore (Jimmy), and Robert Cornelius (Marty), with Chuckie Benson, Shantel Cribbs, Arnold Harper II, Alia Hodge, Alfred E. Jackson, Diva LaMarr, Melanie Loren, Kwame M. Remy, Aalon Smith, Montria Walker, and Jalisa Williams with swings Joel Oliver and Sierra Wilson, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
Manic Street Creature, by Maimuna Memon, directed by Kirsty Patrick Ward, featuring Maimuna Memon, Rachel Barnes, and Harley Johnston, closes at London’s Southwark Playhouse.
Chasing Happy, by Michel Wallerstein, directed by Alex Kelly, featuring Spencer Aste Jenny Bennett, Schyler Conaway, Christopher James Murray, and Elizabeth Shepherd, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Sunday, November 12
Scene Partners, world premiere by John J. Caswell, directed by Rachel Chavkin, featuring Dianne Wiest (Meryl), Eric Berryman (Dr. Noah) Drake (Johanna Day (Charlize), Josh Hamilton (Hugo), Carmen H. Herlihy (Cassie), and Kristen Sieh (Pauline), opens at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
Bedlam Theatre‘s Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard, directed by Eric Tucker, featuring Alan Altschuler, Lisa Birnbaum, Shaun Taylor Corbett, Caroline Grogan, Deychen Volino-Gyetsa, Mike Labbadia, Arash Mokhtar, Randolph Curtis Rand, Jamie “Smitty” Smithson, Zuzanna Szadkowski, Devin Vega, and Elan Zafir, opens at Off-Broadway’s West End Theatre.
Babbitt, world premiere by Joe DiPietro, directed by Christopher Ashley, featuring Matthew Broderick (George Babbitt), Genevieve Angelson (Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5), Anna Chlumsky (Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4), Julie Halston (Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/Oopal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Storyteller 6), Ann Harada (Myra Babbitt/Storyteller 1), Francis Jue (Paul Reisling/Doc Littlefield/Storyteller 2), Matt McGrath (Charlies McKelvey/Storyteller 3), and Chris Myers (Ted Babbitt/Stanley Graf/Fabio/Storteller 7), with Jalen Davidson, Iris Feng, Victor Flores, Kya Lee, and Linda Libby, opens at La Jolla Playhouse.
Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green, by Howard L. Craft, directed by Joseph Megel, featuring J. Alphonse Nicholson, opens at LA’s Fountain Theatre.
Ellen Hollander Sings the Beatles concert, at 3:30 PM at NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama.
Lights! Camera! Ante Up! Celebrity Poker Tournament, in support of the Entertainment Community Fund, hosted by Bryan Cranston, with special guests Jason Alexander, Reggie Austin, Annette Bening, Jesse Billauer, Adam Carolla, Mindy Cohn, Tony Denison, Hunter Doohan, Preston Flagg, Alexis Ford, Andy Garcia, Jon Hamm, Lilli Kay, Amy Landecker, Peter MacKenzie, Camryn Manheim, Steve Mason, Jeff Meacham, Kevin Nealon, Mehro, AJ McLean, Bob Odenkirk, Mekhi Phifer, Jesse Plemons, Kevin Pollak, Krysten Ritter, Andrea Savage, and Bradley Whitford, at 1 PM at LA’s Candela La Brea (831 South La Brea Ave.). Details here.
Roundabout Theatre‘s The Refuge Plays, world premiere by Nathan Alan Davis, directed by Patricia mcGregor, featuring Ngozi Jane Anyanwu, Jerome Preston Bates, Jessica Frances Dukes, Jon Michael Hill, Mallori Taylor Johnson, Lizan Mitchell, Nicole Ari Parker, Daniel J. Watts, Lance Coadie Williams, and JJ Wynderas, closes at OffBroadway’s Laura Pels Theatre.
Partnership, by Elizabeth Baker, directed by Jackson Grace Gay, featuring Gina Daniels, Joshua Echebiri, Gene Gillette, Olivia Gilliatt, Sara Haider, Christiane Noll, Tom Patterson, and Madeline Seidman, closes at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.
The Great Gatsby, by Kait Kerrigan, Jason Howland & Nathan Tysen, directed by directed by Marc Bruni, featuring Jeremy Jordan (Jay Gatsby), Eva Noblezada (Daisy Buchanan), Stanley W. Mathis (Meyer Wolfsheim), Samantha Pauly (Jordan Baker), Noah J. Ricketts (Nick Carraway), Paul Whitty (George Wilson), and John Zdrojeski (Tom Buchanan), with Lauryn Adams, Raymond Edward Baynard, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Austin Colby, Colin Cunliffe, Natalie Charle Ellis, Curtis Holland, Brianna Kim, Dariana Mullen, Pascal Pastrana, Mariah Reives, Julio Rey, Dan Rosales, Maya Sistruck, Jake Trammel, Jake Urban, Tanairi Vazquez, and Katie Webber, closes at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
Frankenstein, adapted by David Catlin, directed by Michael Barakiva, featuring Josh Bates, Madeline Calais, Ellen Grace Diehl, Gavin Michaels, and Kayodè Soyemi, closes at Cleveland Playhouse.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott & Geoff Elliott, featuring Zach Kenny (Theseus & Oberon), Tricia Miller (Hippolyta & Titania), Jeanne Syquia (Helena), Kasey Mahaffy (Puck), Cassandra Marie Murphy (First Fairy), Frederick STuart (Nick Bottom), Veralyn Jones (Peter Quince), Ed F. Martin (Flute), and Brendan Mulligan (Snug), with Hakop Mkhsian and Erick Valenzuela, closes at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
An Evening of One-Acts by Ethan Coen, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Elliot White, Harry White, Cooper McAdoo, Isabella Costa, Scott Thiede, Avan Delaney, and Will Fulginiti, closes at Hollywood’s Hudson Guild Theatre.
Monster, world premiere by April Littlejohn, directed by Bree Pavey, featuring Antwan Alexander II, Lara Blanco, Cassandra Carmona, Crismar Chacín-Ruiz, Nicole Craig, Bryanna Dewar, Angela Fairley, John Goodwin, Leah Haile, Barbera Ann Howard, Hanna Isac, Ritzi Lanier, April Littlejohn, Matt Lorenzo, Sean Alan Mazur, and Madylin Sweeten, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Jews R 2 Much Fun!, by Jerry Mayer, directed by Chris DeCarlo, featuring Evelyn Rudie, Paul Linke, Tara Brown, Patrick Censoplano, Jamie Gallo and Chris DeCarlo, closes the the Santa Monica Playhouse.
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William F. Brown, Charlie Smalls & Amber Ruffin’s The Wiz revival will begin previews Mar. 29, 2024 and open Apr. 17 at the Marquis Theatre, directed by Schele Williams, with choreography by Jaquel Knight, and music direction by Adam Blackstone.
Nichelle Lewis (Dorothy), Deborah Cox (Glinda), Melody A. Betts (Aunt Em/Evillene), Kyle Ramar Freeman (Lion), Phillip Johnson Richardson (Tinman), Avery Wilson (Scarecrow), and Wayne Brady (The Wiz), Maya Bowles, Shayla Alayre Caldwell, Jay Copeland, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Judith Franklin, Michael Samarie George, Collin Heyward, Amber Jackson, Olivia Jackson, Christina Jones, Polanco Jones, Kolby Kindle, Mariah Lyttle, Kareem Marsh, Alan Mingo Jr., Anthony Murphy, Cristina Rae, Matthew Sims Jr, Avilon Trust Tate, Keenan D. Washington, and Timothy Wilson.
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YOU AND I – Words and Music of Leslie Bricusse album release concert, featuring Dianne Fraser, will take place Wed. Nov. 15 at 8:3p PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
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Irving Berlin’s White Christmas will run Nov. 17 – Dec. 31 (opening Nov. 18) at PA’s Buck’s County Playhouse, directed by Hunter Foster, with choreography by Richard Riza Yoder, and music direction by Jeffrey Campos.
Jeremiah James (Bob Wallace), Jarran Muse (Phil Davis), Ashley Blanchet (Betty Haynes), Kaitlyn Frank (Judy Haynes), Nathan Lucrezio (Ralph Sheldrake), Richard E. Waits (General Waverly), and Ruth Gottschall (Martha), with Caitlin Belcik, Michael Harp, Jay Aubrey Jones, Kat Katona, Lauralyn McClelland, Stephanie Eve Parker, Joey Socci, Jesse Swimm, Renell Taylor, Tara Rajan, and MacKenzie Reff.
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Sally Mays – Now and then: The Teaser will take place Sat. Dec. 2 at 9:30 PM at NYC’s Green Room 42, with music direction by Ron Abel.
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J.T. Roger’s Corruption will begin previews Feb. 15, 2024 and open Mar. 11 at Lincoln Center‘s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, directed by Bartlett Sher.
Casting TBA.
The play is about a 2011 phone-hacking scandal in the British news media. Based on Tom Watson & Martin Hickman’s book “Dial M for Murdoch: News Corporation and The Corruption of Britain,” the play tells the true story of Parliament member Tom Watson fighting back against Murdoch’s New International after a smear campaign. In the process, he uncovers the criminal practices of the media giant.
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New York City Ballet‘s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will run Nov. 24 – Dec. 31 at Lincoln Center.
The company’s entire roster of more than 150 dancers and musicians, as well as more than 125 children, in two alternating casts, from the School of American Ballet (the official school of New York City Ballet), participate in the ballet.
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An industry reading of Ronni Mardor’s Anonymous Rose will take place Nov. 29 at 1 PM at NYC’s Open Jar Studios, directed by Will Nunziata, and starring Mardor.
The Israeli-American’s solo show chronicles the ways Mardor has confronted sexuality, mental health, grief, and the enigmatic terrain of love.
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Joshua Henry: Get Up Stand Up concert will take place Sat. Nov. 18 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
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Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club will begin previews Apr. 1 and open Apr. 21 at the August WilsonTheatre, directed by Rebecca Frecknall.
Bebe Neuwirth (Fraulein Schneider), Steven Skybell (Herr Schultz), Eddie Redmayne (The Emcee), Gayle Rankin (Sally Bowles), Ato Blankson-Wood (Cliff), and more TBA.
Additional information TBA.
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Sister Act The Musical will run Mar. 15, 2024 – Aug. 31 at the Dominion Theatre, directed by by Bill Buckhurst, with choreography by Alistair David, and music direction by Neil MacDonald.
Beverley Knight (Deloris Van Cartier, through June 8), Alexandra Burke (Deloris Van Cartier, June 10 – Aug. 21 ), and more TBA.
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J.T. Rogers’ Corruption will begin performances on Feb. 15, 2024 at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater, directed by Bartlett Sher.
Casting TBA.
The story behind the story of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in 2011, stunning the world and upending British politics. When Parliament member Tom Watson is maliciously smeared by the newspapers of Murdoch’s News International, he decides to fight back – taking on its larger-than-life leader Rebekah Brooks. But what he uncovers is far more insidious than he ever imagined. As Watson and a small band of journalists, lawyers, and politicians struggle to expose the endemic criminality at the heart of this media monolith, they risk their careers and, at times, their very lives.
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Updated casting has been announced for My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert, which will take place Tues. Dec. 12 at 2:30 & 7:30 PM at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, directed by Christopher Gattelli.
Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Marisha Wallace, Patrick Wilson, Daniel Dae Kim, Ashley Park, Aaron Tveit, and more TBA.
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Coldwell Banker has just listed the Connecticut home of Stephen Sondheim. Click here for more information.
The initial asking price is $3,250,000. The Connecticut house was Sondheim’s second home after his Turtle Bay townhouse, which went on the market in July. According to the listing, the house, which is “nestled on over 9 acres along a serene country road,” was built in 1792 and has been “lovingly restored.” It features three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, central air, and a working fireplace.