This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, October 1
Get Up, Stand Up! The bob Marley Musical, by Lee Hall, directed by Clint Dyer, featuring Arinzé Kene (Bob Marley), Gabrielle Brooks (Rita Marley), Shanay Holmes (Cindy Breatspeare), Sophia Mackay (Judy Mowatt), Melissa Brown-Taylor (Marcia Griffiths), Jacade Simpson (Bunny Wailer), and Natey Jones (Peter Tosh), with Daniel Bailey, Craig Blake, Charles Blyth, Maxwell Cole Athena Collins, Michael Duke, Kimmy Edwards, Raphel Estavia, Henry Faber, Cannon Hay, Savanna Jeffrey, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Cleopatra Rey, Julene Robinson, Nate Simpson, Archie Smith, Declan Spaine, Jaime Tait, and Teddy Wills, opens at London’s Lyric Theatre.
Soon, by Nick Blaemire, directed by Michael O’Brien, featuring Imani Moss (Charlie), Matt Donzella (Jonah), Carmen Castillo (Stevie), and Ebony Pullum (Adrienne), opens at Lancaster, PA’s Prima Theatre.
Have a Good One, world premiere by Stan Zimmerman & Christian McLaughlin, directed by Zimmerman, featuring Megan Cournoyer, Adrian Gamez, Tom Plumley, and Tanner Stine, opens at Hollywood’s The Complex.
Dana H., by Lucas Hnath, directed by Les Waters, and starring Deirdre O’Connell, begins previews at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.
Thoughts of a Colored Man, by Keenan Scott II, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, featuring Dyllón Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Luke James, Forrest McClendon, Tristan Mack Wilds, and Esau Pritchett, with Bjorn DuPaty and Garrett Turner, begins previews at Broadway’s Golden Theatre.
Diana: The Musical, by Joe DiPietro & David Bryan, directed by Christopher Ashley, featuring Jeanna DeWaal (Diana), Roe Hartrampf (Prince Charles), Erin Davie (Camilla Parker Bowles), and Judy Kaye (Queen Elizabeth), with Zack Adkins, Ashley Andrews, Austen Danielle Bohmer, Holly Ann Butler, Bruce Dow, Richard Gatta, Loren E.J. Hamilton, Shaye B. Hopkins, André Jordan, Gareth Keegan, Nathan Lucrezio, Tomás Matos, Chris Medlin, Laura Stracko, and Bethany Ann Tesacrk, begins streaming on Netflix.
Sherry Vine and Jackie Beat: Frenemies concert, at 8:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
“The Kennedy Center at 50” concert (which took place Sept. 14), directed & choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, hosted by Audra McDonald, with special guest Caroline Kennedy, and featuring Kelli O’Hara, Renée Fleming, Joshua Henry, Tony Yazbeck, Darren Criss, Abigail Barlow, Ben Folds, Punch Brothers, Emily Bear, Herman Cornejo, Randall Goosby, Cassandra Trenary, Ray Chen, Robert Glasper, Bettye LaVette, Gaby Moreno, Zhu Wang, the original cast of Soft Power, and more, airs at 8 PM on PBS (check local listings).
Saturday, October 2
Mystic Pizza, world premiere by Sandy Rustin, with pop songs from 1977, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Kyra Kennedy (Kat), Krystina Alabado (Daisy), and Gianna Yanelli (JoJo), Rayanne Gonzales (Leona), Joel Perez (Tim), Garrett Marshall (Bill), and Corey Mach (Charles), with Becca Petersen, Isabella De Souza Moore, Nicole Paloma Sarro, Jesse Swimm, Jake Swain, Graham Stevens, Forest VanDyke, Elaine Cotter and Joshua Bess, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, written & performed by Ronnie Marmo, directed by Joe Mantegna, closes at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68.
Sunday, October 3
SIX, by Toby Marlow & Lucy Mos, directed by Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, featuring Adrianna Hicks (Catherine of Aragon), Andrea Macasaet (Anne Boleyn), Abby), and Mueller (Jane Seymour), Brittney Mack (Anna of Cleves), Samantha Pauly (Katherine Howard), and Anna Uzele (Catherine Parr), with Nicole Kyoung-Mi Lambert, Courtney Mack, Mallory Maedke, and Keirsten Hodgens, opens at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
BC/EFA‘a Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction begins at 10 AM ET in Broadway’s Shubert Alley.
Blackbird, by David Harrower, directed by Kim T. Sharp, featuring Francesca Ravera and Lenny Grossman, closes at Off-Broadway’s New Ohio Theatre.
Darlin’ Cory, world premiere by Phillip Depoy & Kristian Bush, directed by Susan V. Booth, featuring Jeremy Aggers, Jimez Alexander, Marcello Audino, John Bobek, Jewl Carney, Katie Deal, Kelli Dodd, Rob Lawhon, Rhyn McLemore, Gillian Rabin, Maria Rodriguez-Sager, and Asia Rogers, closes at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
Kelli O’Hara in concert closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
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LA’s Center Theatre Group has announced its 2022 season at the Mark Taper Forum:
The Slave Play (Feb. 9 – Mar. 13, opening Feb. 16), by Jeremy O. Harris, directed by Robert O’Hara. Casting TBA.
The Lehman Trilogy (Mar. 3 – Apr. 10, opening Mar. 6), adapted by Ben Power, directed by Sam Mendes.
Blues for an Alabama Sky (Apr. 16 – May 8, opening Apr. 13), by Pearl Cleage, directed by Phylicia Rashad. 
Angel is a free-spirited Cotton Club singer who’s out of luck but never out of dreams. Guy is a costume designer waiting for Josephine Baker to invite him to join her in Paris. Delia, a young activist, is trying to give the women of Harlem a choice about their future. Sam, prominent physician, is either delivering babkes or out at the club letting the good times roll. And Leland, who recently arrive in Harlem from Alabama, is haunted by the wide-open skies and lost love he left behind. The lives and dreams of these men and women converge with passion and politics as the art and celebration of the Harlem Renaissance give way to the harsh realities of the Great Depression.
King James (June 1 – July 3), world premiere by Rajiv Joseph, directed by TBA. “King” LeBron James reign in Clevland brings promise, prosperity and renewal to a city in desperate need of all three. It also brings together two friends who communicate best they are talking and arguing about sport.
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (July 27 – Aug. 28, opening Aug. 3), world premiere written & performed by Mike Birbiglia, directed by Seth Barrish. A tale of life, death, and a highly chlorinated YMCA pool.
I’ll Be Seein’ Ya (streamed production – dates TBA), world premiere by Jon Robin Baitz, directed by Robert Egan. Allie Murchow dreams of a better yesterday, and bearable tomorrow in a rapidly changing urban America. It’s the summer of 2020 in Los Angeles, and this anxious, aging recluse is holed up in her meager apartment with little more than a million stories of her life in Hollywood’s yesteryear. But even the best makeup can’t cover up what’s really going on outside. Her neighbor is worried. Her brother needs peace and quit. And her fantasies quickly crash into reality.
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Amas Musical Theatre presents special invitation-only performances of Alice’s Wonderland: A New Musical, by J. Quinton Johnson & Julia Riew, to take place Oct. 11 (at 3 & 6 PM ET) and Oct. 12 (3 PM ET), directed by Stephanie Klemins, with music direction by Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh.
Celeste Costillo, Jonathan Grice, Alina Fontanilla, Matthew Kennedy, Ashley Lalonde, and Daniel Quadrino.
Brilliant teen coder Alice dreams of changing the world with her new video game Wonderland. When Rabbit suddenly emerges from the screen and offers her an escape from reality, Alice takes the leap – and land in her own viral world. To win the game, she must level up until she can confront the Queen of Hearts and save Wonderland from the clutches of oppression.
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After a weekend of canceled performances due to a positive COVID-19 case in the acting company of Rajiv Joseph’s Letters of Suresh, Second Stage has resumed preview performances. Opening night — originally slated for Oct. 4 — has now been postponed to Oct. 12 at Broadway’s Kiser Theatre.
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Off-Broadway’s Amas Musical Theatre has announced upcoming staged readings of J. Quinton & Julia Riew’s Alice in Wonderland: A New Musical, to take place Mon. Oct. 11 at 3 & 6 PM ET and Oct. 12 at 3 PM, directed by Stephanie Klemons, with music direction by Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh. The readings are by invitation only. For more information, email amas@amasmusical.org.
Celeste Castillo, Jonathan Grice, Alina Fontanilla, Matthew Kennedy, Ashley LaLonde, and Daniel Quadrino.
Brilliant teen-coder dreams of changing the world with her new video game, “Wonderland,” When Rabbit suddenly emerges from the screen and offers her an escape from reality, Alice takes the leap – and lands in her own virtual world. To win the game, she must level up until she can confront the Queen of Hearts and save Wonderland from the clutches of oppression.
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Get $49 tickets to Roundabout’s Caroline, or Change at Studio 54! Use code: COCBBW1 here.
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“Sister Act 3” is currently in development, written by Madhuri Shekar, and directed by Tim Federle. Stay tuned for further updates.
Whoopi Goldberg is set to star.
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A Christmas Carol will run Nov. 30 – Dec. 24 at Milwaukee Rep, adapted & directed by Mark Clements.
Lee E. Ernst (Ebenezer Scrooge), Mark Corkins (Marley’s Ghost), Todd Denning (Ghost of Christmas Present), Reese Madigan (Bob Cratchit), Chris Peltier (Young Scrooge), Jim Pickering (Mr. Fezziwig), Rána Roman (Mrs. Cratchit), Carrie Hitchcock (Mrs. Fezziwig), and Kevin Kantor (Ghost of Christmas Past).
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& 
in October:
AMAZON
“American Masters: Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage”
“The Graduate”
NETFLIX
“Diana The Musical” (begins today)
“Hairspray” starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Zac Efron
“Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” (Oct.12)
DISNEY+
“Black Widow,” starring Scarlett Johansson (Oct. 6)
“Muppets Haunted Mansion” (Oct. 8)
HBO MAX
“Billy Elliot”
“Cats” film
“Doubt”
“The Many Saints of Newark,”, starring Leslie Odom Jr., Billy Magnussen, Corey Stoll, Alessandro Nivola, Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta, John Magaro, and Michael Gandolfini
“Misery”
“In The Heights”
Hulu
“Waitress” film, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, and Eddie Jamison
Dopestick, starring Phillipa Soo and Sean Allan Krill
“Queens,” (Oct. 19 on ABC, Oct. 20 on Hulu), starring Brandy Norwood.
Paramount +
“Grease” film (1978)
Peacock
“Back to the Future” trilogy
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Karen Mason: Vaccinatin’ Rhythm will run Nov. 4-7 at Chicago’s Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret.
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Video: New clip from Diana: The Musical on Netflix.
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An industry reading (date not reported) of Kate Douglas & Grace McLean’s Against Women & Music, has been selected for the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat‘s Triple R program, directed by Jaki Bradley.
Nikki M. James, Joes Perez, and Krysta Rodriguez, Erik Lochtefeld, Mia Pak, and Natalie Walker.
An absurdist-horror Victorian chamber musical which centers on a mourning widow with a daughter diagnosed with melancholia.
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Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its ICONS Gala, which will take place Wed. Oct. 20 at 5:30 PM CT, directed by Michael Weber, with music direction by Linda Madonia.
Chita Rivera and the Bayless Family Foundation.
Ariel Dorsey, Alejandro Fonseca, Michelle Lauto, Mia Navarez, Laura Savage, Kyra Source, and Keely Vasquez.
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The world premiere stage adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Davinci Code, by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan Abel, will launch a UK tour in 2022, directed by Luke Sheppard. Click here for additional information.
Nigel Harman (Professor Robert Langdon), Hannah Rose Caton (Sophie Neveu), and Danny John Jules (Teabing), with more TBA.
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Moulin Rouge! will run at the Musical Dome in Cologne, Germany, performed in German, with plans to begin performances in Fall 2022.
Additional information TBA.
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The national tour of The Prom will launch Nov. 2-21 at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square.
Kaden Kearney (Emma), Kalyn West (Alyssa Greene), Courtney Balan (Dee Dee Allen), Patrick Wetzel (Barry Glickman), Emily Borromeo (Angie Dickinson), Bud Weber (Trent Oliver), Sinclair Mitchell (Mr. Hawkins), Ashanti J’Aria (Mrs. Greene), and Shavey Brown (Sheldon Saperstein), with Jordan Alexander, Gabrielle Beckford, Ashley Bruce, Olivia Rose Cece, Maurice Dawkins, Jordan De Leon, Shawn Alynda Fisher, James Caleb Grice, Megan Grosso, Chloe Rae Kehm, Braden Allen King, Brandon J. Large, Christopher McCrewell, Adriana Negron, Lexie Plath, Brittany Nicole Williams, Thad Turner Wilson, and Josh Zacher.
Click here for the complete tour schedule.
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Aaron Sorkin revealed that he is updating the script for Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird, keeping in mind the social justice movement that occurred throughout the country over the last 18 months.
Reports Sorkin, “Bart Sher and I have that in mind as we reapproach it. However, racism in this country didn’t begin in the last 18 months. It didn’t begin in 1960, when Harper Lee published the novel, or in ’61, when the film came out. So unfortunately, it’s a pretty sturdy story. But that said, there are things that we’re doing in this 2.0 production that I wouldn’t want to give away. But everything that’s gone on-George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, the BLM movement-is on our minds as we’re doing this.”
Sorkin also touched on the removal of Producer Scott Rudin from the production, stating, “Scott’s no longer compensated as a producer of the show-and he’s not pulling the strings from backstage.”
To Kill a Mockingbird will resume performances on Oct. 5 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre.