This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, November 8
Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes opens at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall.
Orson’s Shadows, by Austin Pendelton, directed by Pendleton & David Schweitzer, featuring Brad Fryman (Orson Welles), Patrick Hamilston (Kenneth Tynan), Luke Hofmaier (Sean), Natalie Menna (Vivien Leigh), Cady McClain (Joan Plowright), and Ryan Tramont (Laurence Olivier), opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for the New City.
Linda Purl: Possibilities: Songs of Hope, Risk and Maybe, opens at London’s The Pheasantry.
To Sir with Love concert readings, by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Sheldon Epps, featuring Wayne Brady, John O’Hurley, Rachael Harris, Kelley Jakle, and Darcy Rose Byrnes, with Josh Adamson (Mr. Bell), Pat Towne (Mr. Weston), Nick Apostolina (Jackson), Isabella Blake-Thomas (Joseph), L.J. Benet (Denham), Anthony Carro (Sapiano), Jahbril Cook (Seals), Caiden Falstrup-Finney (Potter), Gus Pappas (Buckley), Rena Strober (Mrs. Dare) and Haley Wolff (Pegg), begins at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theater.
National Organization for Women (Hollywood Chapter)’s The Trans Diaries, by Lindsey Deaton, featuring Joshua Gershick, Shakina Nayfack, Lee Faelnar Te, Seth Gomez. B. Alexander and Jen Winslow, opens at West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers.
The Goddam Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas), by Mark Wilding, directed by Charlie Mount, featuring Cecil Jennings, Presciliana Esparolini, Sam Gregory, Dave Kumar, John Combs, Steve Nevil, Jill Remez, and Liv Denevi, opens at LA’s Theatre West.
The Z Team, by Jeff Foy & Jacob Foy, directed by Jeff Whiting, featuring Allie Trimm, Tyler Cruz, Ze’ev Barmor, Jakob Martinez-Cooper, Kaelee Albritton, Darby McDonough, Joe Mucciolo, Drew Starlin, Daniel Arana, and Gabrielle Filloux, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Lonny Price,featuring Jason Alexander (Tevye), Valerie Perri (Golde),Rachel Ravel (Tzeitel),Alanna J. Smith (Hodel), Emerson Glick (Chava), Cameron Mabie (Motel),Remy Laifer (Perchi), Sawyer Patterson (Fyedka), Eileen T’Kaye (Yente), nRon Orbach (Lazar Wolf,) Gregory North (Constable), Catherine Last (Shprintze), Ava Giselle Field (Bielke),David Prottas The Fiddler/Yussel), Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (Mordcha),Hayden Kharrazi (Mendel), Ryan Dietz (Avram), Marc Moritz (Rabbi), Daniel Stromfeld (Nachum), Jean Kauffman (Grandma Tzeitel). Gwen Hollander (Fruma-Sarah), Dana Weisman (Shaindel) and Hannah Nicole Sedlacek (Fredel),with Anthony Cannarella, Michael James, Bruno Koskoff, Gavin Leahy, Mark C. Reis, Michalis Schinas, Chad A. Vaught, and Michael Wells, with Bailey Herskowitz, Charley Rowan McCain, and Donovan Mendelovitz, previews at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Lumberjacks in Love, by Fred Alley & James Kaplan, directed by Jeffrey Herbst, featuring Ryan Cappleman (Dirty Bob), Doc Heide (Muskrat), Joe Picchetti (Minnesota Slim), Molly Rhode (Rosemary Rogers), and Chase Stoeger (Moonlight), begins previews at Milwaukee Rep.
Theatre Under the Stars 2024 Gala, with special guest Kelli O’Hara, at 7 PM at Houston’s The Post Oak.
Saturday, November 9
Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Lonny Price, featuring Jason Alexander (Tevye), Valerie Perri (Golde),Rachel Ravel (Tzeitel),Alanna J. Smith (Hodel), Emerson Glick (Chava), Cameron Mabie (Motel),Remy Laifer (Perchi), Sawyer Patterson (Fyedka), Eileen T’Kaye (Yente), nRon Orbach (Lazar Wolf,) Gregory North (Constable), Catherine Last (Shprintze), Ava Giselle Field (Bielke),David Prottas The Fiddler/Yussel), Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (Mordcha),Hayden Kharrazi (Mendel), Ryan Dietz (Avram), Marc Moritz (Rabbi), Daniel Stromfeld (Nachum), Jean Kauffman (Grandma Tzeitel). Gwen Hollander (Fruma-Sarah), Dana Weisman (Shaindel) and Hannah Nicole Sedlacek (Fredel),with Anthony Cannarella, Michael James, Bruno Koskoff, Gavin Leahy, Mark C. Reis, Michalis Schinas, Chad A. Vaught, and Michael Wells, Bailey Herskowitz, Charley Rowan McCain, and Donovan Mendelovitz, opens at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
A Face in the Crowd, by Elvis Costello & Sarah Ruhl, directed byKwame Kwei-Armah, featuring Ramin Karimloo, Anoushka Lucas, Jasmin Colangelo, Andrew Coshan, Stavros Demetraki, Olly Dobson, Emily Florence, Howard Gossington, Chris Jenkins, Sadie-Jean Shirley, Durone Stokes, Vicki Lee Taylor, Annie Wensak, and Bobby Windebank, closes at London’s Young Vic.
Super You, by Lourd Lane, directed & choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter, featuring Vicki Manser (Katie), Lane as (Rise), Aaliyah Monk (Young Katie/Lightning Girl), Will Bozier (Mi Roar), Kingsley Morton (Courtney Stapleton (Blast), B. Noel Thomas (Seven), Damien Walsh (Jay), Owen Lloyd (Matty), Belinda Lee Chapman (Mom), with Lu Anthony SuperYouman, Elizabeth Chalmers, Ellen Eckersley (Snow White) as Alternate Rise, Jacob Fisher, and Matty, Bayley Hart, closes at London’s Curve Theatre.
Linda Purl: Possibilities: Songs of Hope, Risk and Maybe, closes at London’s The Pheasantry.
Liz Callaway: Broadway & Beyond closes at Fayetteville’s Theatre Squared.
Prayer for the French Republic, by Joshua Harmon, directed by Karen Azenberg, featuring Robert Mammana (Patrick), Matthew McGloin (Lucien), Japhet Balaban (Daniel), Judith Lightfoot Clarke (Marcelle) Joel Leffert (Adolphe/Pierre), Kim Taff (Elodie), Alok Tewari (Charlie), Jayne Luke (Irma), Maggie Goble (Molly), True Leavitt (Young Pierre), and Zoe Lupcho (Elodie understudy), closes at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Playhouse.
National Organization for Women (Hollywood Chapter)’s The Trans Diaries, by Lindsey Deaton, featuring Joshua Gershick, Shakina Nayfack, Lee Faelnar Te, Seth Gomez. B. Alexander and Jen Winslow, closes at West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers.
Sunday, November 10
Strategic Love Play, by Miriam Battye, directed by Katie Posner, featuring Heléne Yorke and Michael Zegen, opens at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
Lumberjacks in Love, by Fred Alley & James Kaplan, directed by Jeffrey Herbst, featuring Ryan Cappleman (Dirty Bob), Doc Heide (Muskrat), Joe Picchetti (Minnesota Slim), Molly Rhode (Rosemary Rogers), and Chase Stoeger (Moonlight), opens at Milwaukee Rep.
East West Players‘ Pacific Overtures, directed by Tim Dang, featuring Jon Jon Briones (The Reciter) and Gedde Watanabe Shogun’s Mother/Old Man), Scott Keiji Takeda (Thief), Brian Kim McCormick (Kayama), Adam Kaokept (Manjiro), Kerry K. Carnahan (Lorde Abe), Ashley En-Fu Matthews (Tamate), Kavin Panmeechao (British Admiral), Kurt Kanazawa (Fisherman), Sittichai Chaiyahat (Warrior), Nina Kasuya (Dutch Admiral), Aric Martin (Madam/French Admiral) Gemma Pedersen (American Admiral/Boy), Kit Dezolt (Commodore Perry, and Norge Yip (Russian Admiral) with Jordan Fan and Jonah Meyer, opens at LA’s David Henry Whang Theater.
You Will Be Found – A Benefit Concert for NAMI Glac (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Greater Los Angeles County), with music direction by Brad Ellis, featuring Eydie Alyson, Owen Bakula, Scott Bakula, Roger Befeler, Chelsea Field, Kate Flannery, Julie Garnyé, Kim Huber, Jane Lynch, Maude Maggart, Andrea Marcovicci, Tracie Thoms and Nita Whitaker, at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Vladimir, world premiere by Erika Sheffer, directed by Daniel Sullivan, featuring Norbert Leo Butz, Francesca Faridany, Erik Jensen, Olivia Deren Nikkanen, Jonathan Walker, Erin Darke, and David Rosenberg, closes at Off-Broadway’s New York City Center.
Ragtime, directed by Lear deBessonet, featuring Joshua Henry (Coalhouse), Nichelle Lewis (Sarah), Caissie Levy (Mother), Brandon Uranowitz (Tateh), and Tabitha Lawing (Little Girl), with John Clay III, Rodd Cyrus, Colin Donnell, Matthew Lamb, Ben Levi Ross, Stephanie Styles, Shaina Taub, Nicholas Barrón, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Billy Cohen, Rheaume Crenshaw, Aerina DeBoer, Nick Gaswirth, Ta’Nika Gibson, Olivia Hernandez, Jana Djenné Jackson, David Jennings, Marina Kondo, Jeff Kready, Kai Latorre, Tiffany Mann, Morgan Marcell, Kane Emmanuel Miller, Tom Nelis, Ramone Nelson, Kent Overshown, John Rapson, Destinee Rea, Deandre Sevon, Kathy Voytko, Jacob Keith Watson, Alan Wiggins, Sharrod Williams, and Henry Witcher, closes at NY City Center.
Romeo and Juliet, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell, featuring Cole Taylor (Romeo), Caro Reyes Rivera (Juliet), Todd Scofield (Lord Capulet), Fran Tapia (Lady Capulet), Tony Nam (Lord Montague), Renee Elizabeth Wilson (Lady Mantague), Briovanna Alcântara Drummond (Confidant), John Floyd (Confidant) Alina Collins Maldonado (Tybalt), Luz Nicholas (Nurse), Brandon Carter (Friar Lawrence), Deidra LaWan Starnes (Prince), and Gabriel Alejandro (Paris), closes at DC’s Folger Theatre.
The Boy Who Loved Batman, world premiere by Asa Somer, directed by Jeff Calhoun, featuring Dan Fogler (Michael Uslan), Paul Adam Schaefer (Imaginary Friend), and Katherine Yacko (Nancy Uslan), with Kelly Bashar, Nicholas Perez-Hoop, and Hugh Timoney, closes at Tampa’s Straz Center.
To Sir with Love concert readings, by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Sheldon Epps, featuring Wayne Brady, John O’Hurley, Rachael Harris, Kelley Jakle, and Darcy Rose Byrnes, with Josh Adamson (Mr. Bell), Pat Towne (Mr. Weston), Nick Apostolina (Jackson), Isabella Blake-Thomas (Joseph), L.J. Benet (Denham), Anthony Carro (Sapiano), Jahbril Cook (Seals), Caiden Falstrup-Finney (Potter), Gus Pappas (Buckley), Rena Strober (Mrs. Dare) and Haley Wolff (Pegg), concludes at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theater. https://lythgoefamily.com/to-sir-with-love
Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress, directed by Hébert Gregory, featuring Rodrick Jean-Charles (Sheldon Forrester), Larry Eisenberg (Henry), Freedom (John Nevins), Sophia Kalugin (Judy Sears), JohnMarzilli (Bill O’Wray), Spencer Rowe (Al Manners), Brendan Shannon (Eddie Fenton), Lorinda Hawkins Smith (Millie Davis), and Kimi Walker (Wiletta Mayer), closes at Hollywood’s Actors Co -op.
Group Rep‘s The Orphan’s Revenge (or Abandoned at Cooper’s Crossing), by Suzanne Buhrer, Gene Casey & Jan Casey, directed by Stan Mazin, featuring Shared roles: Sean Babcock. Jackson Bethel (Orphan), George Bufford, Eas Bufford (Benjamin Cox), Joseph Eastburn (Victor Van Rooper), Lareen Faye, Brad Kahn, Jessica Kent, Hisato Masuyama, Casey Murry Belle, Tack Sappington, Rob Schaumann, Kyra Schwartz, Arden Shia, Suzan Solomon, Abigail Stewart, Melissa Strauss, Scarlett Strauss, Hannah Sun, Kristin Towers Rowles, and Janet Wood, closes at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre.
The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, featuring Nija Okoro (Berniece) and Kai A. Ealy (boy Willies), with LeShay Tomlinson Boyce, Jernard Burks, Madison Keffer, Alex Morris, Gerald C. Rivers and Evan Lewis Smith), closes at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
summertime an interlude, world premiere by aniello fontana, directed by Dayo Ade, featuring Michael Houston, Brianne Ingram, Hanna Isac, Princess Ja’net, Ritzi Lanier, Matt Lorenzo, Sean Alan Mazur, Asha Nataraj, Elena Nicholson, and Aya Washington, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
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Additional casting has been announced for David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, to begin in Spring 2025 (dates TBA) at a theater TBA, directed by Patrick Marber. Click here for the play’s website.
Kieran Culkin (Richard Roma), Bob Odenkirk (Shelly Levene), Bill Burr (Dave Moss), Michael McKean (George Aaronow), Donald Webber Mr. (John Williamson), Howard W. Overshown (Baylen), and John Pirrucello (James Lingk).
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York Theatre Company will present its 32nd Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala on Mon. Nov. 11 at NYC”s Edison Ballroom, directed by Stephen DeAngelis, and hosted by Michael Urie
Bernadette Peters and Ted Snowdon
Alex Newell, Andrew Rannells, Jelani Remy, Klea Blackhurst, Victor Carber, Julie Halston, James Lapine, Marilyn Maye, Eva Novezeda, Randy Rainbow, and Elizabeth Stanley
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Gingold Theatrical Group‘s The Devil’s Disciples, adapted & directed by David Staller, continues through Nov. 23 at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Nadia Brown, Susan Cella, Tina Chilip, Teresa Avia Lim, and Folami Williams, with Fiona Maguire, and Lauren Zbylski,
It’s 1777 in New Hampshire and the future of our country is at stake! What can one determined woman and two confused men do to ensure a Democratic future? In this new adaptation, female ferocity rules as this legendary and almost true historical adventure comedy by Bernard Shaw is told by five power-house women
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Billy Van Zandt’s memoir, “Because It’s Funny!: The Plays of Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore” will be released Nov. 18 on most platforms.
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The world premiere of The Lythgoe Family production of Rapunzel and her Holiday Wish will run Dec. 7 -29 (opening Dec. 8) at Laguna Playhouse, directed by Becky Lythgoe, with choreography by Becca Sweitzer, and music direction by Andy Street.
Sally Strughers (Madame Gothel), Darcy Rose Byrnes (Rapunzel), L.J. Benet (Pince Sebastian), and Larry Saperstein (Simple Simon).
Prepare for a spellbinding journey as Rapunzel tries to escape from her tower and the wicked Madame Gothel with the help of Prince Sebastian of Newport Beach, all the while learning her true identity and making her way to the Kingdom of Laguna for the Festival of Lights. Get set for Laguna’s favorite holiday event, filled with laughter, pop music from Taylor Swift to Stevie Wonder and of course snow!
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John Philip: Oceans of Love and Life will return Nov. 17, Dec. 16 & Dec. 21 to to NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama, directed by Marilyn Maye, with music direction by David Pear.
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Manhattan Teatre Club‘s Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector, will run Nov. 25 – Jan. 19, 2025 (opening Dec. 16) at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Anna D. Shapiro.
Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Bill Irwin, Thomas Middleditch, and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz.
Eureka Day is a private California elementary school with a Board of Directors that values inclusion above all else—that is, until an outbreak of the mumps forces everyone in the community to reconsider the school’s liberal vaccine policy. As cases rise, the board realizes with horror that they’ve got to do what they swore they never would: make a choice that won’t please absolutely everybody.
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John Philip: Oceans of Love and Life – A Fall Reprise will take place Nov. 17 (1 PM), Dec. 16 (at 3 PM) & Dec. 21 (at 3 PM) at NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama, directed by Marilyn Maye, with music direction by David Pearl.
Mary Poppins will run Nov. 22 – Dec. 26 at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, directed & choreographed by Matthew Smedal, and music direction by Matthew Smedal.
Mallory Cooney King (Mary Poppins), Danny Gardner (Bert), Bobbi Kotula (Mrs. Brill), Cristin J. Hubbard (Miss Smythe), Eric Andkrim (Geoge Banks), Jazmin Corsline (Winnifred Blanks), Gia Pellegrini & Maisie Marsh (Jane Banks), Liam Kuriatnyk & Omry Macon (Michael Banks), Nik Hagen (Robertson Ay), and Ty Willis (Admiral Boom/Bank Chariman), with Alyza DelPan-Monley, Annalisa Brinchmann, Ashley Lanyon, Bethanie Willis, Karen Skrinde, Katie J. Newbury, Krystle Armstrong, Mackenzie Neusiok, Madison Willis, Tori Gresham, Tricia Zuskind, Davione Gordon, Gabriel Corey, John David Scott, Jordan King, Kayden Oliver, Nehemiah Hooks, Nicholas Main, and Nick McCarthy.
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Matthew Lombardo’s Who’s Holiday will run Nov. 27 – Dec. 22 at Pittsburgh CLO, directed by Trey Compton.
Lara Hayhurst and Lu Zielinski.
Cindi Lou’s now a grown-up, with all the it brings. Cocktails and cursing and jokes are her things. By the enid we’re left with the thinks that we thought. which underscores all the laughter she wrought. Just like us all, Cindi Lou just needs kindness.