This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, October 18
Medea: a Musical Comedy, written & directed by John Fisher, featuring Jenna Arkontaky, Hunter Hope Barnett, Ryan Borgo-Christian, Anthony Chavers, John Fisher, Emily Sweeney Goldstein, Mike Kinzer, Darius Mullens, Laura Pachnos, and Bobby Weil, with Noah Hartwell, Daniel Kushner, Emerese Noel, and Joelle Smith, Actors Temple Theatre, opens at Off-Broadway’s Actors Temple Theatre.
SpeakEasy Stage Company‘s Pru Payne, by Steven Durkma, directed by Paul Daigneaul, featuring Gordon Clapp, Karen MacDonald, Marianna Bassham, De’Lon Grant, and Greg Maraio, opens at Boston’s the Boston Center for the Arts.
The Civil Twilight, by Shem Bitterman, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, featuring Taylor Gilbert (Ann Carlson) and Andrew Elvis Miller (John Pine), opens at LA’s Broadwater Studio Theatre, (1076 Lillian Way).
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, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Ain’t Misbehavin’, directed & choreographed by Ron Kellum, featuring Eric B. Anthony (André), Chante Carmel (Nell), Marty Austin Lamar (André), Amber Liekhus (Armelia), and Fredericka Meek (Charlaine), previews at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West.
Steve Ross & Karen Murphy: Best Of The Versed concert, at 9:30 PM at NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama.
“Warriors” concept album, by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Eisa Davis, featuring Billy Porter (Grander), Michaela Jaé (Yaya), Mykal Kilgore (Élan,) Utkarsh Ambudkar (Sully) Casey Likes (Jesse), Ghostface Killah, RZA Marc Anthony (Tato), Luis Figueroa (Miguel), Flaco Navaja (Jesús), Chris Rivers (The Bronx), Colman Domingo (Masai), Cam’ron (Manhattan), JamesRemar and David Patrick Kelly, released on Atlantic Records.
Saturday, October 19
Ain’t Misbehavin’, directed & choreographed by Ron Kellum, featuring Eric B. Anthony (André), Chante Carmel (Nell), Marty Austin Lamar (André), Amber Liekhus (Armelia), and Fredericka Meek (Charlaine), opens at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West.
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), opens at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
Tammy Faye, by Elton John, the Scissor Sisters, Jake Shears & James Graham, directed by Rupert Goold, featuring Katie Brayben (Tammy Fay), Christian Borle (Jim Bakker), Nick Bailey (Paul Crouch), Charl Brown (Steve Pieters), Mark Evans (Billy Graham), Allison Guinn (Jan Crouch), Ian Lassiter (Jimmy Swaggart/Ronald Reagan/Archbishop), Raymond J. Lee (John Fletcher), Max Gordon Moore (Thomas S. Monson/Marvin Gorman), Alana Pollard (Jessica Hahn), and Andy Taylor (Pat Robertson/Ted Turner), and Autumn Hurlbert (alternate Tammy Fay), with Amanda Clement, Michael Di Liberto, Jonathan Duvelson, Lily Kaufmann, Denis Lambert, Elliott Mattox, Brittany Nicholas, Kevin Quillon, Aveena Sawyer, Allysa Shorte, TJ Tapp, Daniel Torres, and Dana Wilton, begins previews at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.
Madame Butterfly: An Adaptation presentation, directed by JA Diaz, featuring Erin Brooks (Pinkerton), Michael Nansel (Sharpless), Anna Tonna (Suzuki, John Easterlin (Goro), and Ashley Galvani Bell (title role), along with members of the Suffolk Symphonic Choir, at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Prelude to a Kiss, world premiere by Craig Lucas, Daniel Messé & Sean Hartley, directed by Kenneth Ferrone, featuring Karen Ziemba (Rita’s Mom) Andrew Montomery Coleman (Taylor), Jonathan Gillard Daly (Julius), Julie Garnyé (Leah), Caitlin Houlahan (Rita), Chris McCarrell (Peter), and James Moye (Rita’s Dad), with Bella Hicks, Caroline Pernick, and Robert Zelaya, closes at Milwaukee Rep.
Sunday, October 20
Sunset Boulevard, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond), Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Schaefer), and David Thaxton (Max Von Mayerling), Mandy Gonzalez (Norma Desmond at select performances), Caroline Bowman (Norma Desmond standby), Olivia Lacie Andrews (Nancy Brandon Mel Borkowsky (John), Shavey Brown (Finance Man/Stan/DeMille), Hannah Yun Chamberlain (Young Norma), Cydney Clark (Joanna/Guard), Raúl Contreras (Finance Man/Frank), Tyler Davis (Sheldrake), E.J. Hamilton (Lisa), Sydney Jones (Dorothy), Emma Lloyd (Mary/Heather),Pierre Marais (Sammy),Shayna McPherson (Camera Operator/Katherine), Jimin Moon (Morino(Hog Eye), Justice Moore (Jean), Drew Redington (Myron/Jones/Camera Operator), and Diego Andres Rodriguez (Artie), with Giuseppe Bausilio, Kristina Garvida Doucette, Brandon LaVar, Maggie Likcani, Abby Matsusaka, and Rixey Terry, opens at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
The 24 Hour Plays gala performance, written by Douglas Lyons, Josh Koenigsberg, Mario Correa, Meredith Scardino, Rachel Bonds & Steve Yockey, Rachel Bonds, directed by David Auburn, Pippin Parker, Satya Bhabha, Sherri Eden Barber, Victor Malana Maog, & Will Frears, performed by Ari Graynor, Ato Blankson Wood, Avantika, Brett Azar, Cat David Burtka, David Krumholtz, Delaney Rowe, Devon Bostick, Dylan Belula, Faith Salie, Henri Esteve, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Jamie Neumann, Jen Tullock , Josh Hamilton, Larry Owens, Lois Smith, Margarita Levieva, Morgan Siobhan Green, Rachel Hilson, Sarah Steele and more, at 7 PM at NYC’s Town Hall.
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Pericles, directed byTamara Harvey, featuring Zach Wyatt (Prince Pericles), Miles Barrow (Thaliard/Boult), Philip Bird (Helicanus), Jacqueline Boatswain (Cerimon/Bawd), Rachelle Diedericks (Marina), Chyna‑Rose Frederick (Antiochus’ Daughter/Lychorida/Diana), Leah Haile (Thaisa), Felix Hayes (Anitochus/Pander), Kel Matsena (Lysimachus), Chukwuma Omambala (Cleon), Sam Parks (Escanes, Leonine), Christian Patterson (Simonides), and Gabby Wong (Dionyza), with Miriam O’Brien, Emmanuel Olusanya, and Sasha Ghoshal, opens at Chicago Shakespeare Company.
Swept Away, by The Avett Brothers, directed by Michael Mayer, featuring John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe, and Wayne Duvall, with Hunter Brown, Matt DeAngelis, Cameron Johnson, Brandon Kalm, Michael J. Mainwaring, Orville Mendoza, Tyrone L. Robinson, and John Sygar, Hunter Brown, Matt DeAngelis, Cameron Johnson, Brandon Kalm, Michael J. Mainwaring, Orville Mendoza, Tyrone L. Robinson, John Sygar, Josh Breckenridge, Rico LeBron, John Michael Finley, Chase Peacock, Robert Pendilla, and David Rowen, begins previews at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.
The Blood Quilt, by Katori Hall, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, featuring Crystal Dickinson, Mirirai, Adrienne C. Moore, Arsema Thomas, and Susan Kelechi Watson, begins previews at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
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), closes at DC’s Kennedy Center.
Red Bull Theater‘s Medea: Re-Versed, by Luis Quintero, directed by Nathan Winkelstein, featuring Sarin Monae West (Medea), Siena D’Addario, Melissa Mahoney, Mark Martin, Jacob Ming-Trent, Luis Quintero, and Stephen Michael Spencer, closes at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
Soup in the Second Act, world premiere written & directed by Barry Primus, featuring Paul Coates (Austin), Kip Gilman (Warren), Equiano Mosieri (Gavin), Zora Rasmussen (Rene), Connor Stewart (Stagehand), Bill Waters (Stagehand) and Sam Wiek, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre for the New City.
Blood of the Lamb, by Arlene Hutton, directed by Margot Bordelon, featuring Johanna Day and Meredith Garretson, closes at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters.
The Mulberry Tree, by Hanna Eady & Edward Mas, directed by Alexandra Aron, featuring Ramzi Khalif, Rachel Botchan, Laith Zuaiter, Najla Said, Khalifa Natour, and Haythem Noor, closes at Off-Broadway’s La MaMa.
Murder on the Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig, directed by Peter Amster, featuring Karole Foreman (Princess Dragomiroff), Sophia Obert (Greta Ohlsson), Andrew Sellon (Hercule Poirot), David Breitharth (Monsieur Bou), Ariella Kvashny ( Hungarian Countess Andrenyi), and Sam Ashdown (Col. Arbuthnot), closes at San Diego’s Old Globe.
Maggie, by Matt Murray, Johnny Reid & Rob Foster, directed by Mary Francis Moore, featuring Christine Dwyer (Maggie), Terra C. MacLeod (Betty), Sophia Clarke (Sadie), Kennedy Cuaghell (Jean), Wes Williams (Tommy), Jeffrey Kringer (Shug), Sam Primack (Wee Jimmy), Ryan Duncan (Sam Primack), and Matt Faucher (Tam), with Jodi Bluestein, Anthony Festa, Lyda Jade Harlan, Brian Michael Hoffman, Joshua Kring, Emma McGlinchy, Paul Scanlan, Sonya Venugopal, Nick Ziobro, Jenna Bienvenue, and Nathan Quay Thomas, closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
No Love Songs, by Kyle Falconer, Laura Wilde & Johnny McKnight, directed by Andrew Panton, featuring John McLarnon (Jessie) and Anna Russell-Martin (Lana), closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
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.
Urinetown, directed by Courtney O’Connor, featuring Remo Airaldi (Senator Fipp/Joeseph “Ol Man Strong ), Anneke Angstadt (Little Beck Two-Shoes), Christopher Chew (Caldwell B. Cladwell). Gabriel Graetz (Officer Barrel), Elliana Karris (Hope Cladwell), Kenny Lee (Bobby Strong), Tod McNeel, Jr. (Mr. McQueen), Paige O’Connor (Little Sally), Katie O’Reilly (Soupy Sue), Darren Paul (Hot Blades Harry), Anthony Pires, Jr. (Officer Lockstock), Kathy St. George (Josephine “Ma” Strong), James Turner (Dr. Billeaux/Tiny Tom), Lisa Yuen (Penelope Pennywise), and Brandon Lee Mr. (McQeen Cover 10/19 matinee), closes at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company.
Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Brian Kite, featuring Jared Goldsmith (Seymour), Emily Goglia ((Audrey) ,Tyler Matthew Burk (Orin Scrivello, DDS), Jay Brian Winnick (Mr. Mushnik), Rezia Landers (Crystal, Naya Ramsey-Clarke (Chiffon, Luz Rodríguez (Ronnette), and Mitchell Gerrard Johnson (Audrey II), with Sammy Linkowski, and Corinne Miller, closes at CA’s Thousand Oaks’ Bank of America Performing Arts Center.
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Kimberly Belfower’s John Broctor is the Villain will begin previews Mar. 20, 2025 and open Apr. 14 at the Booth Theatre, directed by Danya Taymor.
Sadie Sink, and more TBA.
At a high school in a rural town in Georgia, an English class is studying The Crucible, but the students are more preoccupied with navigating young love, sex ed, and a few school scandals. As they delve into the American classic, the students begin to question the play’s perspective and the validity of naming John Proctor the show’s hero. With deep wells of passion and biting humor, John Proctor is the Villain is a new comedy from a major new American voice, capturing a generation in mid-transformation, running on pop music, optimism, and fury, and discovering that their future is not bound by the past.
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Hugh Jackman – Live From New York with Love will run on various 2025 dates at Carnegie Hall.
Jan. 24-25
Apr. 18 – 19
May 23-24
June 2021
July 18-19
Aug. 15-16
Sept. 19-20
Oct. 3-4
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Marlow Wyatt’s ROBBIN, from the HOOD continues through Nov. 17 at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia, directed by Chuma Gault.
Iesha M. Daniels (Robbin), Enrike Llamas (Juan), Geri-Nikole Love (Margaret), Rob Nagle (Kyle), Joshau R. Lamont (Charles), and William L. Warren (Percy).
. In this reimagined, classic tale, corporate greed dominates the deceptive game of capitalism, until 17-year-old math genius, Robbin Woods, discovers how to level the playing field. Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason.**********************
Open-Door Playhouse’s Joan podcast, written & directed by Bernadette Armstrong, will be released Nov. 6. Link TBA.
Goreti da Silva (Joan Crawford), Gloria Tsai (Thana), and David Trice (Newsie).
Legendary actress, Joan Crawford awakes to finds herself in the Afterlife Bardo. As she adjusts to the fact that she has died, she reflects on the ups and downs of her life and those that she left behind., all the while interacting with two guardians who will assist her transition into the universe that awaits her.
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The recent Hudson Valley Dance Festival raised a record $170,629 for Dancers Responding to AIDS.
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Frozen will run Dec. 10-29 at Houston’s TUTS, directed & choreographed by Dan Knechtges, with music direction by Stephen W. Jones.
Jenn Lee Rosen (Elsa), Cailen Fu (Anna), Fergie Philippe (Kristoff), Mark Ivy (Olaf), Manuel Start Santos (Hans), Ben Lurye (Weleston), Tyler Ray Lewis ( Pabbie), and Sarah Sachi (Bulda), with Mike Baerga, Ben Chavez, Evin Johnson, Kelly Lomonte, Courtney Markowitz, Miles Marmolejo, Alex Quirreh, Rebecca Russell, Yasmine Sumiyoshi, Braden Tanner, Cassandra Zepeda, Teresa Zimmerman, Amelia Butterfras, Aria Carr, Mollie Diaz, Haley Griffin, Nicole Hiemstra, Julian Lammey, Asher Phelps, Abby Yadan, Riley Korfhage, Gavin Cabote, Will Merkle, Tessa Garcia, Zoe White, Jake Hurst, Khalid Trent, Matthew Call, and Kaavya Rajarathnam.
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Donald Steven Olson’s The Christine Jorgensen Show continues through Nov. 17 at HERE, directed by Michael Barakiva. 
here.
Jesse James Keitel and Mark Nadler.
The Story of Christine Jorgensen, America’s first transgender celebrity, and her professional and personal relationship with Myles Bell, who helped her create a nightclub act.
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Complete Broadway musicals (all on YouTube).
Click here for the complete list of musicals.
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Paul Muldoon & Hanff Korelitz’s The Dead, 1904 will run Nov. 20 – Jan. 5, 2025 (opening Nov. 26) at Irish Rep, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.
Estelle Parsons (Kate Morkan), Mary Beth Peil (Julia Morkan), Kate Baldwin( Greta Conroy), Christopher Invar (Gabriel Conroy), Heather Bixler (Miss Daly), Terry Donnelly (Mrs. Malins), Karen Killeen (Mary Jane), Michael Kuhn (Bartell D’Arcy), Adein Moloney (Molly Ivors), Michael Mallamphy (Mr. Browne), Jodie Sweeney (Lily), and Gary Troy (Freddy Malins).
The play follows a holiday gathering on Jan. 6, 1904, the Feast of the Epiphany, in the Dublin home of two elderly sisters, Kate and Julia Morkan, and their niece, Mary Jane. At the party are students, friends, a celebrated tenor, a lost alcoholic, and the couple, Gabriel and Gretta Conroy. Over the course of an evening, there are conversations, music, dancing, dining, speeches, and disagreements.
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Video: The cast of VA’s Signature Theatre perform “Comedy Tonight” from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (in rehearsal).