This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, October 11
Attack on Titan: The Musical, by Masafumi Hata & Kaori Miura, directed by Miura, featuring Kurumu Okamiya (Eren Yeager), Sara Takatsuki (Mikasa Ackerman), Eito Konishi (Armin Arlert), Ryo Matsuda (Levi), and Takuro Ohno (Erwin Smith), with Shota Matsuda, Kazuaki Yasue, Yuuri Takahashi, Sena, Mitsu Murata, Takeshi Hayashino, Masanori Tomita, Mimi Maihane, Mitsuru Karahashi, Riona Tatemichi and more, opens at New York City Center.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed & choreographed by Danny Mefford, featuring Philippe Arroyo (Chip Tolentino), Beanie Feldstein (Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre), Noah Galvin (Leaf Coneybear), Alex Joseph Grayson (Mitch Mahoney), Taran Killam (Vice Principal Douglas Panch), Kevin McHale (William Barfee), Bonnie Milligan (Rona Lisa Peretti), Nina White ( Olive Ostrovsky, and Anna Zavelson (Marcy Park), opens at DC’s Kennedy Center.
Orlando, by Nora Brigid Monahan, Cynthia Saunders & Tricia Dunn, directed by Kimille Howard, featuring Emily Young (Virginia), Matty Balkum, LaDonna Burns, Jessie Cannizzaro, Tymothee Harrell, Micki Hardenberg, Evie Schuckman, Ariella Serur,and Anita Welch-Smith, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Robbin, From The Hood, world premiere by Marlow Wyatt, directed by chuma Gaul, featuring Iesha M. Daniels (Robbin), Enrike Llamas (Juan), Geri Nikole-Love (Margaret), Rob Nagle (Kyle), Joshua R. Lamong (Charles), and William L. Warren (Percy), opens at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia.
Saturday, October 12
Spells of the Sea, by Guinevere Govea & Anna Pickett, directed & choreographed by Rachel Klein, featuring Brittney Mack (The Mermaid), Lance Roberts (Crank), Ryan Knowles (Dad/Pirate King), Livvy Marcus (Finley), Elisa Galindez (Princess), and Celia Mei Rubin (The Doctor), with Bianca Rose and Nicholas Lancaster Parker, opens at The Kennedy Center.
Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen, directed by directed by Jamie Torcellini, featuring Casey J. Adler (Actor 1), Jann Cardia (Actor 2), Regina Fernandez (Actor 3), Adam Hagenbuch (Dracula), and Josh Odsess-Rubin (Actor 4), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.
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), begins previews at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
SpeakEasy Stage‘s Laughs in Spanish, by Alexis Scheer, directed by Mariela López-Ponce, featuring Dominic Daniel (Walter Lee Younger), Jaquai Wade (Beneatha Younger), Kathy Tyree (Lena Younger), Vanessa R Butler (Ruth Younger), Judah Asher (Travis Younger), Tony N. King (Joseph Asagai), Jordan Williams (George Murchison), Justin Fletcher (Mr. Karl Lindner), and Justin Stewart (Bobo), closes at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
I Wish You Well: The Gwyneth Paltrow Ski-Trial Musical, by Roger Dipper & Rick Pearson, directed by Shiv Rabheru, featuring Diana Vickers (Gwyneth), Marc Antolin (Terry), Tori Allen-Martin (Kristen), and Idress Kargbo (Judge Jude), closes at London’s Criterion Theatre.
Shifters, by Benedict Lombe, directed by Lynette Linton, featuring Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole, closes at London’s Duke of York’s Theatre.
Jane Austen in 89 Minutes, world premiere written & directed by Syrie James, featuring Katyana Rocker-Cook, Holly Sidell, Michael Mullen, Shayna Gabrielle, Steven G. Frankenfield, Alison Blanchard, and Todd Andrew Ball, with Megan Deford, closes at Beverly Hills Theatre 40.
Sunday, October 13
I, Daniel Blake, adapted by Dave Johns, directed by Simon Levy, featuring JD Cullum, Makara Gamble, Janet Greaves, Wesley Guimarães, Pyilicia Saunders, and Adam Segalle, opens at LA’s Fountain Theatre.
Dancers Responding to AIDS‘ The Hudson Valley Dance Festival benefit event, at 2 & 5 PM at NY’s Historic Catskill Point.
The (Mostly) True Story of a Common Scold presentation, by Mike Teverbaugh, directed by Natalia Lazarus, featuring Dendrie Taylor (Anne Royall), Zuri Alexander (Hazel), Satiar Pourvasei (Reverend Stiles), Tom Waters (Nicholas Biddle), Scott Parkin (Duff Green), Jake O’Flaherty (George Waterston), and Scott Burkholder (John Eaton), at 1 PM at LA’s Promenade Playhouse.
Attack on Titan: The Musical, by Masafumi Hata & Kaori Miura, directed by Miura, featuring Kurumu Okamiya (Eren Yeager), Sara Takatsuki (Mikasa Ackerman), Eito Konishi (Armin Arlert), Ryo Matsuda (Levi), and Takuro Ohno (Erwin Smith), with Shota Matsuda, Kazuaki Yasue, Yuuri Takahashi, Sena, Mitsu Murata, Takeshi Hayashino, Masanori Tomita, Mimi Maihane, Mitsuru Karahashi, Riona Tatemichi and more, closes at New York City Center.
Age is a Feeling, written & performed by Haley McGee, directed by Mitchell Cushman, closes at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
Ghost of John McCain, by Scott Elmegreen & Drew Fornarola, directed by Catie Davis, featuring Jason Tam (John McCain), Luke Kolbe Mannikus (Donald Trump), Aaron Michael Ray (Donald Trump’s Brain), Zonya Love (Kamala Harris/Karen/Eva Peron), Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Hillary Clinton/Daughter-Wife/Sexy Lady Fox News Anchor), and Ben Fankhauser (Roy Cohn/Lindsey Graham/Joe Biden), with Anthony Zambito, Gisela Adisa, and Joshua David Robinson, closes at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse.
York Theatre Company‘s InunDATEd, by Alice Scovell & Christine Lavin, directed by Christine Pedi, featuring Kate Rockwell and Taylor Crousore, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jean’s.
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Whitney White., featuring Melanie Adrienne Brezill (Michelle/Chrissy/Laniece), Victoire Charles (Jaja), Yao Dogbe (James/Franklin/Olu/Eric), Mia Kiri Ellis (Jennifer), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Aminata), Zamo Mlengana (Miriam), Colby N. Muhammad (Vanessa/Sheila/Radia), Jordan Rice (Marie), Awa Sal Secka (Bea), and Aisha Sougou (Ndidi), closes at DC’s Arena Stage.
Inherit the Wind, directed by Henry Godinez, featuring Harry Lennix (Attorney Henry Drummond), Alexander Gemignani (Matthew Harrison Brady), Charín Álvarez (Mrs. Brady), Terry Bell (Sillers), Hamid Dehghani (Storekeeper), William Dick (Mayor), Meighan Gerachis (Elijah), Lawrence Grimm (Dunlap), Kevin Gudahl (Judge), Presley Rose Jones (Melinda), Christopher Kale Jones (Tom Davenport), Mi Kang (E.K. Hornbeck), Ryan Kitley (Reverend Jeremiah Brown), Tyler Meredith (Rachel Brown), Thomas Murphy Molony (Howard), Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (Bertram Cates), Robert Schleifer (Meeker), Eric Slater (Mr. Bannister), and Penelope Walker (Mrs. Krebs), with Chase Clevenger, Theo Gyra, Hannah Kato, John Lister, Michael Milligan, Kailey Danielle Morand, Aila Peck, Alex Benito Rodriguez, Eric Slater, and Cedric Young, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard, directed by Carey Perloff, featuring Samuel Adams, Aaron Rosenbaum, Firdous Bamji, Sara Corey, Anna Theonni Digiovanni, Samuel Douglas, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Rachel Felstein, Nellie Jakobovicz Rosenbaum, BiRebecca (Hilde), and Rosa Kloster (Wilma & Ernst’s daughter), and many more, closes at Bostons’ Huntington Theatre.
LA Opera‘s Madame Butterfly, conducted by James Conlon, directed by Mario Gas, featuring Karah Son (Cio-Cio-San), Jonathan Tetelman (B.F. Pinkerton), Michael Sumuel (Sharpless), Hyona Kim (Suzuki), Rodell Aure Rosel (Goro), Hyungiin Son (Prince Yamadori), Wei Wu (Bonze), Vinciius Costa (Imperial Comissioner), and Gabrielle Turgeon (Kate Pinderton), closes at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
What the Constitution Means to Me, by Heidi Schreck, directed by Laiona Michelle, featuring Kate Baldwin, with Nick Rodriguez, Niara Beckwith, and Wobirba Ekuba Sarpey, closes at NJ’s George Street Playhouse.
Tituss Burgess: The Indecisive Warrior concert closes at London’s Phoenix Arts Club.
Waitress, directed by Abbey O’Brien, featuring Desi Oakley (Jenna), Ben Jacoby (Dr. James Pomatter), Brian Krinsky (Earl), Cleavant Derricks (Joe), Dominique Kent (Becky), Brian Calì (Cal), Rianny Vasquez (Dawn), Jared Gertner (Ogie), Ashley Moniz (Jenna’s Mother) Ashley Támar Davis (Nurse Norma), and Johnisa Breault (Francine), with Annabelle Bergold, Rose Cowden, Ricky Bulda, Michael Bullard, Grant Hodges, Michael James, Tayler Mettra, Emma Nossal and Alec Talbott, closes at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Brooklyn’s Way, world premiere by Henry Kass, directed by Ronnie Marmo, featuring Amye Partain (Brooklyn) and Jonathatn R. Freeman (Scoot), closes at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68.
Hamilton national tour, featuring Michael Luwoye (Alexander Hamilton), Joshua Henrey (Aaron Burr), Rory O’Malley (King George), Solea Pfeiffer (Eliza Hamilton), Emmy Riaver-Lampman (Angelica Schuyler), Isaiah Johnson (George Washington), Amber Iman (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Jordan Donica (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Mathenee Treco (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Rubén J. Carbajal (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Nicholas Christopther (Aaron burr), Joanna A. Jones (Eliza Hamilton), Taylor Iman Jones (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reyholds), Carvens Lissaint (George Washington), Simon Longnight (Marquis de Lafayetter/Thomas Jefferson), Rory O’Malley (King George III), Sabrina Sloan (Angelica Schuyler), Ebrin R. Stanley (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), and Jamael Westman (Alexander Hamilton), with Sam Aberman, Gerlad Avery, Remmie Bourgeois, Cameron Burke, Yossi Chaikin, Trey Curtis, Karlee Ferreira, John Michael Fiumara, Tré Frazier, Aaron Alexeander Gordon, Vincent Gordon, Vincent Jamal Hooper, Jaren Howelton, Sabrina Imamura, Jennifer Locke, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Yvette Lu, closes at LA’s Pantages Theatre.
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Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends will run Mar. 25 – May 11, 2025 (opening Apr. 18) at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed & musically staged by by Matthew Bourne, and music direction by Stephen Mear.
Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga
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Sunday in the Park with George original Broadway production, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, streams on YouTube.
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Green Day’s American Idiot has been extended through Nov. 16 at LA’s Mark Taper Forum., directed by Snehal Desai.
Steven-Adam Agdeppa, L.J. Benet, Will Branner, Jerusha Cavazos, Lark Detweiler, Daniel Durant, FKaia T. Fitzgerald, Landen Gonzales, Tyler Hardwick, Otis Jones IV, Milo Manheim, Josué Martinez; Giovanni Maucere, James Olivas, Mason Alexander Park, Monika Peña; Mars Storm Rucker, Mia Sempertegui; Angel Theory, and Ali Fumiko Whitney.
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Celebration Theatre will present a reading of Boni Alfarez’s Sticky Rice on Wed. Oct. 16 at 7 PM at Hollywood’s LGBT Center, directed by Michael Matthews.
Reggie Lee (Wayland), Boni Alvarez (Carlo), David Tran (Ricky), Daniel Chung (Louie), Alexis Camins (Sampson), Tom DeTrinis (Mason), and Richardson Cisneros-Jones (Heath).
The play centers on a group of San Francisc o gaysian friends who have internalized such popular depictions and explores that happens when they are forced to confront their self-hatred and prejudices
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Troubies’ Home Alone-ly Hearts Club Band will run Dec. 5-22 at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
A holi-DAY IN THE LIFE of 8-year-old Kevin McAllister and his wacky family including mom, Lucy. But soon SHE’S LEAVING HOME (bye bye), and little Kevin has to say, “GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING!” to nobody, while FIXING A HOLE where the burglars get in! Instead, LUCY’S IN THE SKY with DIAMONDS in first class, while Kevin’s in the house with criminals, pondering life without his family, “WHEN I’M 64.
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TDF’s Broadway Breakfast Benefit will take place Wed. Oct. 23 at 8 AM at NYC’s City Winery, hosted by Frank DiLella & Irene Gandy.
The event will also celebrate Seth Rudetsky & James Wesley Jackson, Union Settlement, and Sony Corporation of America.
Ana Gasteyer, Laura Benanti, and(Norm Lewis.
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Red bull Theatre has announced a reading of Lord Byron’s Sardanapalus, to take place Thurs. Oct. 24 at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center, directed by Raz Golden. 
The reading will also be available on-demand (Oct. 25-30).
Amir Arison, Atra Asdou, Merritt Janson, Amir Malaklou, Paul Niebanck, Zachary Lopez Roa, Omar Shafiuzzaman, Sanjit De Silva, AhDream Smith, and Shayvawn Webster.
The tragic fall of the last Assyrian king and his decadent reign: a story of love, betrayal, and self-discovery as told by the most notorious of the Romantic poets. Produced in partnership with the Byron Society of America, the Keats-Shelley Association of America, and the Keats-Shelley House in Rome.
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Gregory Thirloway & Maurice Godin’s Holiday Tradition OY! To the World ~ Christmas With a Twist! will run Dec. 12-22 at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre, directed by Maurice Godin, with choreography by Jeffrey Polk, and music direction by Gerald Sternbach.
Sarah Uriarte Berry, Jay Brian Winnick, Cameron J. Armstrong and Maya Sofia.
Shelly Abrams (Jay Brian Winnick) has inherited a shuttered Catskills lodge. He has high hopes of bringing it back with a big holiday show, like the ones his Grandparents used to stage. He has fond childhood memories of holiday celebrations at the lodge which mixed Hanukkah with other traditions. He gathers his three most talented friends from The Big Apple and an ageless accompanist that came with the place, and together they provide a mix of cultures to rekindle the spirit of the place with a show called Christmas With A Twist, seeking to recreate the warmth, love, and laughter that once filled the hall in its heyday.