This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, October 29
Macbeth In Stride, world premiere by Whitney White, directed by Whitney White, Tyler Dobrowsky Taibi Magar & Steven Cuevas, featuring Whitney White (Woman), Charlie Thurston (Man), Phoenix Best (Witch), Kira Helper (Witch), and Reggie D. White (Witch), opens at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
Speakeasy Stage‘s BLKS, by Aziza Barnes, directed by Tonasia Jone, featuring Thomika Marie Bridwell, Kesley Ferdinand, Meghan Hornblower, Sandra Seoane-Seri, Shanelle Chloe Villegas, and Sharmarke, opens at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Roundabout Theatre‘s Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, featuring LaChanze (Wiletta Mayer), Chuck Cooper (Sheldon Forrester), Millie Davis (Jessica Francis Dukes), Simon Jones (Henry), Don Stephenson (Bill O’Wray), Michael Zegan (Al Manners), Danielle Campbell (Judy Sears), Brandon Michael Hall (John Nevis), and Alex Mickiewicz (Eddie Fenton), begins previews at Broadway’s American Airlines Theatre.
Mamma Mia, directed by T.J. Dawson, featuring Marie-France Arcilla (Donna Sheridan), Eric Kunze (Sam Carmichael), Gabriela Carrillo (Sophie Sheridan), Taubert Nadalini (Sky), Danny Bernardo (Harry Bright), Michael Cavinder (Bill Austin), Emily King Brown (Tanya), Candi Milo (Rosie), Joi D. McCoy (Ali), Momoko Sugai (Lisa), Rodrigo Varandas (Pepper), Dillon Klena (Eddie), and Dylan Pass (Father Alexandrios), with Chris Bona, Gillian Bozajian, Markesha Chatfield, Juan Guillen, Brandon Halvorsen, Michael James, Ashley En-Fu-Matthews, Jonathan McGill, Isabella Olivas, Christina Papandrea, Kelly Powers-Figueroa, Hannah Jean Simmons, Scott Spraags, Fana Tesfagiorgis, and Adam Turney, previews at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
“Goosebumps: The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium” studio cast recording, by Danny Abosch & John Maclay, featuring Krystina Alabado, Alex Brightman, Noah Galvin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Will Roland, Stephanie Styles, Arianny Escalona, Alex Gibson, AJ Lewis, Armenia Sarkissian, Shuba Vedula, and Aika Zabala, released on iTunes and all digital platforms.
Song for Nature concert, conceived to raise awareness of climate change, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, featuring Janie Dee, Rob Brydon, Sheila Atim, Kerry Ellis, David Suchet, Akram Khan, Michelle Terry, Brian May, Danielle De Niese, Gerald Finley, Beth Porch, Nathan Evans, and more, concludes streaming at the London Coliseum.
Saturday, October 30
Mamma Mia, directed by T.J. Dawson, featuring Marie-France Arcilla (Donna Sheridan), Eric Kunze (Sam Carmichael), Gabriela Carrillo (Sophie Sheridan), Taubert Nadalini (Sky), Danny Bernardo (Harry Bright), Michael Cavinder (Bill Austin), Emily King Brown (Tanya), Candi Milo (Rosie), Joi D. McCoy (Ali), Momoko Sugai (Lisa), Rodrigo Varandas (Pepper), Dillon Klena (Eddie), and Dylan Pass (Father Alexandrios), with Chris Bona, Gillian Bozajian, Markesha Chatfield, Juan Guillen, Brandon Halvorsen, Michael James, Ashley En-Fu-Matthews, Jonathan McGill, Isabella Olivas, Christina Papandrea, Kelly Powers-Figueroa, Hannah Jean Simmons, Scott Spraags, Fana Tesfagiorgis, and Adam Turney, opens at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.
Pump Boys & Dinettes, directed by Daryl Brooks, featuring Rafe Bradford (Eddie), Shantel Cribbs (Prudie Cupp), Ian Custer (Jim), Frederick “Ricky” Harris (L.M.), Melanie Loren (Rhetta Cupp), and Billy Rude (Jackson), with Caitlin Dobbins, J.J. Smith, and Kelan Smith, begins previews at Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre.
A Hit Dog Will Holler, world premiere by Inda Craig-Gálvin, directed by John Lawrence Rivera, featuring Donna Simone Johnson & Kacie Rogers (sharing the role of Dru) and Cheri Vandenheuvel (Gina), begins previews at LA’s Skylight Theatre.
Camp Siegfried, world premiere by Bess Wohl, directed by Katy Rudd, featuring Patsy Ferran and Luke Thallon, closes at London’s Old Vic.
The Tragedy of Macbeth, current London production, starring James McArdle and Saoirse Ronan, concludes streaming at the Almeida Theatre.
Hamlet, directed by Greg Hersov, featuring Cush Jumbo (Hamlet), Jonathan Ajayi (Laertes), Joana Borja (Guildenstern/Osric), Adrian Dunbar (Claudius/The Ghost), Tara Fitzgerald (Gertrude), Norah Lopez Holden (Ophelia), Jonathan Livingstone (Horatio), Joseph Marcell (Polonius), Adesuwa Oni (Bernardo), Taz Skylar as (Rosencrantz / Fortinbras / Marcellus), and Leo Wringer (Fortinbras Captain / Player / Gravedigger), concludes livestreaming at London’s Young Vic.
Leopoldstadt, by Tom Stoppard, directed by Patrick Marber, featuring Cara Ballingall (Jana), Arty Groushan (Leo), Aidan McArdle (Herman), Macy Nyman (Hermine), Sebastian Armesto (Jacob/Nathan/Ludwig), Jenna Augen (Rosa), Rhys Bailey (Young Nathan), Faye Castelow (Gretl), Joe Coen (Policeman/Zac), Felicity Davidson (Hilde), Mark Edel-Hunt (Civilian/Fritz), Clara Francis (Wilma), Ilan Galkoff (Pauli), Caroline Gruber (Emilia), Sam Hoare (Percy), Natalie Law (Hanna), Avye Leventis (Sally), Noof Ousellam (Otto), Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Eva), Jake Neads (Mohel/Policeman), Aaron Neil (Ernst), Alexander Newland (Kurt), Sadie Shimmin (Poldi), Griffin Stevens (Aaron), and Eleanor Wyld (Nellie), closes at London’s Windham’s Theatre.
Mr. Saturday Night developmental presentations, by Lowell Ganz, Babloo Mandel, Jason Robert Brown & Amanda Green, directed by John Rando, featuring Billy Crystal (Buddy Young), Randy Graff (Elaine Young), David Paymer (Stan Yankelman), Alysha Umphress (Susan Young), and Chasten Harmon (Annie Wells), with Jordan Gelber, Brian Ganzales, and Mylinda Hull, concludes its developmental workshops at Pittsfield, MA’s Barrington Stage.
The Calorie Counters, world premiere by Molly Wagner, directed by Danielle Ozymandias, featuring Tor Brown, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, Carlos Gomez Jr., Matt Lorenzo, Natasha Renae Potts, and Matthew J. Tucker, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
Sunday, October 31
Persuasion, adapted by Sarah Rose Kearns, directed by Eric Tucker, featuring Sarah Rose Kearns, Rajesh Bose, Caroline Grogan, Nandita Shenoy, Jamie Smithson, Randolph Curtis Rand, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Claire Hsu, Annabel Capper, and Yonatan Gebeyehu, opens at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Halloween Spooktacular concert, with music direction by Brian Fitzsousa, and featuring Treshelle Edmond, Liam Forde, Jared Goldsmith, Dickie Hearts, Jim Hogan, Sky Lakota-Lynch, JJ Maley, Alexandra Nader, Rocky Paterra, Dave Resultan, Will Roland, J’Kobe Wallace, and Eleri Ward, at 9:45 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1920 silent film), with organist Clark Wilson, at 7:30 PM PT at LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Adrienne Warren concludes her run as Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Bedlam’s Persuasion, adapted by Sarah Rose Kearns, directed by Eric Tucker, featuring Sarah Rose Kearns, Rajesh Bose, Caroline Grogan, Nandita Shenoy, Jamie Smithson, Randolph Curtis Rand, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Claire Hsu, Annabel Capper, and Yonatan Gebeyehu, closes at Off-Broadway’s Connelly Theatre.
Sh-Boom! Life Could Be a Dream, by Roger Bean, directed & choreographed by Jonathan Van Dyke, featuring Willie Beaton II (Wally), Alex Fullerton (Denny), Noah A. Lyon (Eugene), Dorian Quinn (Duke), and Sophia Swannell (Lois), closes at La Jolla Playhouse.
It’s a Grand Night for Singing, directed by Jason Graae, featuring Joan Almedilla, Richard Bermudez, Kelley Dorney, Jacob Haren, and Natalie Wachen, closes at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West.
Someone Else’s House, written & performed by Jared Mezzochi, directed by Margot Bordelon, concludes livestreaming at Theater Works Hartford.
Young Frankenstein, directed & choreographed by Jeff Whiting (recreating Susan Stroman’s original direction & choreography), featuring John Bolton (Frederick Frankenstein), Sally Struthers (Fray Blücher), Soara-Joye Ross (Elizabeth), Will Burton (Igor), Hannah Cruz (Inga), David Baida (Inspector Kemp), and Zachary James (The Monster), with Anthony Cannarella, Jeremiah Ginn, Sarah Elizabeth Gold, Nigel Jamal Hall, Aliah James, Graham Keen, Missy Marion, Erica Perez-Barton, and Noah Ruebeck, closes at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
The Thanksgiving Play, by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell, featuring Megan Graves (Logan), Parker Drown (Jaxton), David Schlumpf (Caden), and Dani Stoller (Alicia), closes at MD’s Olney Theatre.
Under Construction 2 reading series concludes at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre.
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Complete casting has been announced for The Music Man, which will begin previews Dec. 20 and open Feb. 10, 2022 at the Winter Garden Theatre, directed by Jerry Zaks, with choreography by Warren Carlyle, and music direction by Patrick Vaccariello.
Hugh Jackman (Professor Harold Hill), Sutton Foster (Marian Paroo), Shuler Hensley (Marcellus Washburn), Jefferson Mays (Mayor Shinn), Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Shinn), Marie Mullin (Mrs. Paroo), Remy Auberjonois (Charlie Cowell), Gino Cosculluela (Tommy Djilas), Emma Crow (Zaneeta Shinn), Benjamin Pajak (Winthrop), Kayla Teruel (Amaryllis), Garrett Long (Ethel Toffelmier), Linda Mugleston (Alma Hix), Jessica Sheridan (Maud Dunlop), Rema Webb (Mrs. Squires), Phillip Boykin (Olin Britt), Eddie Korbich (Jacey Squires), Daniel Torress (Ewart Dunlop), and Nicholas Ward (Oliver Hix), with Nick Alvino, Jordan Beall, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr, Maria Briggs, Audrey Cardwell, JT Church, Max Clayton, Kammie Crum, Aydin Eyikan, Carlee Flanagan, Ethen Green-Younger, Emily Hoder, Curtis Holland, Eloise Kropp, Ethan Lafazan, Kayla LaVine, Andrew Minard, Sean Montgomery, Tanner Quirk, Lance Roberts, Daniel Patrick Russell, Ann Sanders, Sherisse Springer, Mitchell Tobin, Kathy Voytko, Branch Woodman, and Ryan Worsing.
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“Camp” the HBO Mox film adaptation of Lev Rosen’s novel, will now be written by Robert O’Hara and directed by & starring Billy Porter.
Casting and timeline TBA.
The film follows Randy Kapplehoff one summer at Camp Outland, a summer hangout for queer teens, as he changes his persona to attract the attention of another camper, and comes to realize that might not be the best move.
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Verdi’s Otello, a world premiere re-imagination, will stream on demand Nov. 18 – 25 at NYC’s The Town Hall. 
This new “Opera at Home” virtual series presents operas in under an hour, sung by a diverse group of singers who have graced the stages of the great opera houses.
Allison Charney (Desdemona), Errin Brooks (Otello), and Jordan Charney (The Narrator).
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Off-Broadway’s York Theatre will present a 4-part multimedia series — Historian Charles Troy’s “From Russia to Berlin: A Century of Irving 1888 – 1989,” which will stream Monday evenings Nov. 2 – Dec. 13, all at 5:30 PM ET.
Nov. 22: Irving Berlin: The Ultimate Jewish Immigrant (1888-1925)
Nov. 29: Irving Berlin Beats the Depression (1926-1934)
Dec. 6: Irving Berlin in Tinseltown (1935-1945)
Dec. 13: Irving Berlin Goes Out with a Bang (1946-1989)
This four-session series explores the 101-year life of the ultimate Jewish immigrant, Irving Berlin. Charles Troy’s seamless multimedia presentations feature slides of photos and original graphics, video clips from memorable movie scenes, and audio tracks of Berlin’s fabulous songs, accompanied by a dramatic narrative.
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CT’s Goodspeed Musicals has announced its 2022 season, with casting, creative teams and additional information TBA.
Cabaret (May 13 – July 3)
Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical (July 15 – Sept. 4), world premiere by Matte O’Brien & Matt Vinson.
42nd Street (Sept. 16 – Nov. 6)
World Premiere Holiday Event (Nov. 18 – Dec. 30).
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Excerpts from Broadway’s Caroline or Change, with Sharon D. Clarke, Caissie Levy, and company:
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Video 5
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Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac, freely adapted by Martin Crimp, will run Apr. 5 – May 22, 2022 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, directed by Jamie Lloyd. The production is told in the style of rap battle-meets-slam poetry.
James McAvoy (Cyrano), Evelyn Miller (Roxane), and Eben Figueiredo (Christian), with Michele Austin, Adam Best, Sam Black, Nari Blair-Mangat, Vaneeka Dadhria, Adrian Der Gregorian, Tom Edden, Jon Furlong, Tazmyn-May Gebbett, Carla Harrison-Hodge, Mika Onyx Johnson, Joseph Langdon, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Nima Taleghani, and Brinsley Terence.
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Hedwig and the Angry Inch will run Nov. 26 – Jan. 2, 2022 at MD’s Olney Theatre Center, directed by Johanna McKeon, with music direction by Christopher Youstra.
Mason Alexander Park and Chani Wereley.
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RIP: Robin McNamara, one of the stars of the original Broadway production of Hair died Oct. 21 at the age of 74. He replace original Claude (Jim Rado) from 1969-71.
In addition to his Broadway credit, McNamara is also well known for his 1970 pop radio hit, titled “Lay a Little Lovin’ on Me,” At its peak, the song reached No. 11, and charted in Canada and Australia.
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Jessica Scott & Erik Patterson’s new film, “Abandoned,” has recently wrapped production, although a release date is TBA.
Michael Shannon, John Gallagher Jr, and Emma Roberts.
The psychological film follows a mother, father, and infant son as they move into a remote farmhouse, which harbors a dark, tragic history. As their home’s past is revealed, the mother’s fragility escalates to a state of psychosis that jeopardizes her own safety and that of her newborn son.
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Red Bull Theater‘s production of The Alchemist, newly adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, will run Nov. 7 – Dec. 19 (opening Nov. 21) at New World Stages, directed by Jesse Berger.
Nathan Christopher, Stephen DeRosa, Carson Elrod, Manoel Feliciano, Teresa Avia Lim, Jacob Min-Trent, Louis Mustillo, Reg Rogers, Jennifer Sánchez, and Allen Tedder.
London. 1606. It’s plague time again. When a wealthy gentleman flees to the country, his trusted servant opens his house to a pair of con artists and sets up a den of criminal capitalism. Claiming alchemical powers, the quick-witted trio fleece an onslaught of greedy sheep with their virtuosic ability to improvise amidst increasingly frantic comings and goings. It’s comic gold with dupes, double-dupes, duels, disguises, and a lucky flea named “Lewis.”
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Clark Young & Derek Goldman’s Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski will run Nov. 3-14 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Goldman.
David Strathairn
World War II hero Jan Karski survived the devastation of his native Poland by Nazi Germany, and risked his life to carry the first eyewitness reports of the Holocaust to the White House, only to be met with inaction and disbelief.
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The season finale of Brian Stokes Mitchell’s “Crossovers Live!” will livestream on Stellar on Mon. Dec. 19 at 8 PM ET, and will also be available on demand. The event will support The Actors Fund.
Audra McDonald and Ariana Debose.
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Complete casting has been announced for Lynn Nottage’s MJ The Musical, to begin previews Dec. 6 and open Feb. 1, 2022 at the Neil Simon Theatre, directed & choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, with music direction by Jason Michael Webb.
Miles Frost (Michael Jackson), Quentin Earl Darrington (Joseph Jackson/Rob), Whitney Bashor (Rachel), Gabriel Ruiz (Alejandro), Walter Russell III & Christian Wilson (alternating as Little Michael), Antoine L. Smith (Berry Gordy/Nick), Joe Sorge (Dave), Tavon Old-Sample (Michael), John Edwards (Jackie Jackson), Ayana George (Katherine Jackson), Appollo Levine (Quincy Jones), Lamont Walker II (Jermaine Jackson), Zelig Williams (Marlon Jackson), and Devin Trey Campbell (Little Marlon).