GRACE NOTES: Friday, October 6, 2023

 

This Weekend’s Highlights:

Friday, October 6

  Stereophonic, world premiere by David Adjimi, directed by Daniel Aukin, featuring Will Brill (Reg), Andrew R. Butler (Charlie), Juliana Canfield (Holly), Eli Gelb (Grover), Tom Pecinka (Peter), Sarah Pidgeon (Diana), and Chris Stack (Simon), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.

  Love Among the Ruins, by James G. Hirsch & Robert A. Papazian, directed by Michael Arabian, featuring JoBeth Williams and Peter Strauss, with Tony Abatemarco, Gigi Bermingham, Nima Dabestani, C.J. Blaine Eldred, Martin Kildare, Amir Talai and Wendy Worthington, begins previews at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.

  On Your Feet, by Emilio & Gloria Estefan, directed & choreographed by Luis Salgado, featuring Gaby Albo (Gloria), Samuel Garnica (Emilio), Kristen Tarragó (Gloria Fajardo), Max Cervantes (José Fajardo), Adela Romero (Consuelo), Emaa Heistand (Rebecca Fajardo), Sophia Yacap (Young Gloria), Javier Iván (Young Emilio), and Jake Dylan (Phil), with  Camila Aldet, Miguel Flores, Madelin Marchant, Sara McGuire, María Moreras, Ralphie Rivera De Jesús, Khi’Shawn Robinson, Angelliz M. Rosado Ramos, Cami Taleisnik, Glendaliris Torres-Greaux, Josué Torres Ortiz, and Sebastian Treviño.  The Swings are Brian Márquez, Matt Rivera, and Maya Santiago, previews at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.

  An Evening with Audra McDonald concert, at 7:30 PM at Lyric Opera Chicago.

Saturday, October 7

  On Your Feet, by Emilio & Gloria Estefan, directed & choreographed by Luis Salgado, featuring Gaby Albo (Gloria), Samuel Garnica (Emilio), Kristen Tarragó (Gloria Fajardo), Max Cervantes (José Fajardo), Adela Romero (Consuelo), Emaa Heistand (Rebecca Fajardo), Sophia Yacap (Young Gloria), Javier Iván (Young Emilio), and Jake Dylan (Phil), with  Camila Aldet, Miguel Flores, Madelin Marchant, Sara McGuire, María Moreras, Ralphie Rivera De Jesús, Khi’Shawn Robinson, Angelliz M. Rosado Ramos, Cami Taleisnik, Glendaliris Torres-Greaux, Josué Torres Ortiz, and Sebastian Treviño.  The Swings are Brian Márquez, Matt Rivera, and Maya Santiago, opens at CA’s La Mirada Theatre.

  The Lifespan of a Fact, by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell & Gordon Farrell, directed by Simon Levy, featuring Ron Bottitta, Jonah Robinson, and Inger Tudor, opens at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.

  Ensemble Theatre Company‘s The Thanksgiving Play, by Larissa FastHorse, directed by Brian McDonald, featuring Meghan Andrews (Logan),  Adam Hagenbuch (Jaxton), Ashley Platz (Alicia), and Will Block (Caden), opens at Santa Barbara’s New Vic.

  Cindy & The Disco Ball: The Musical, by Joseph Leo Bwarie & Lori Marshall, directed by Joseph Leo Bwarie & Christine Lakin, featuring Karis Brizendine, Audrey Lyn Crabaño, Saylor Bell Curda. Bobby Hogan, Jorchual Gregory Vargas, Thomas Whitcomb, and Cloie Wyatt Taylor, opens at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.

  Jews R 2 Much Fun!, by Jerry Mayer, directed by Chris DeCarlo, featuring Evelyn Rudie, Paul Linke, Tara Brown, Patrick Censoplano, Jamie Gallo and Chris DeCarlo, returns the the Santa Monica Playhouse.

  Daphne, world premiere by Renae Simone Jarrett, directed by Sarah Hughes, featuring Jasmine Batchelor (Daphne) and Keilly McQuail (Winona), with Denise Burse, Naomi Lorrain, and Jeena Yi, begins previews at Lincoln Center’s Claire Tow Theater.

  The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical, by Dave Stewart, Nick Finlow & Kait Kerrigan, directed by Bill Buckhurs, featuring David Hunter (Henry), Joanna Woodward (Clare), Tim Mahendran (Gomez), Hiba Elchikhe (Charisse), Ross Dawes (Henry’s Dad), Sorelle Marsh (Henry’s Mum), Alwyne Taylor (Librarian), Irfan Damani (Clare’s Dad), Alexandra Doar ( Clare’s Mum), Alex Lodge (Jason/Mark), Helena Pipe (Dr. Kendrick), and Ava Critchell, Lily Hanna, Poppy Pawson, and Holly-Jade Roberts (sharing the role of Young Clare), begins previews at London’s Apollo Theatre.

  York Theatre Company‘s When We Get There, by Robert P. Young III, Richard Lasser & Charlie Barnett, directed by Janeece Freeman Cark, featuring Cicily Daniels, Ashley LaLonde, Cal Mitchell, Julius Thomas III, Michael D. Turner, and Lori Wilner, previews at Off Broadway’s Theater at St. Jean’s.

  Hudson Valley Dance Festival, in support of Dancers Responding to AIDS, at 2 & 5 PM at NY’s Catskill Point.

  Dr. Semmelweis, by Stephen Brown & Mark Rylance, directed by Tom Morris, featuring Mark Rylance (Ignaz Semmelweis), Roseanna Anderson (Marja Seidel/Baroness Maria-Teresa), Joshua Ben-Tovim (Hospital Porter/Death), Ewan Black (Franz Arneth), Chrissy Brooke (Lisa Elstein), Megumi Eda (Aiko), Suzy Halstead (Violet-May Blackledge), Felix Hayes (Ferdinand von Hebra), Pauline McLynn (Anna Müller), Jude Owusu (Jakob Kolletschka), Millie Thomas (Agnes Barta), Max Westwell (Hospital Porter/Death), Amanda Wilkin (Maria Semmelweis), Alan Williams (Johann Klein), and Daniel York Loh (Karl von Rokitansky), with Zoe Arshamian, Oxana Panchenko, Patricia Zhou, Helen Belbin, Jason Hogan, and Andrew McDonald, closes at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre.

  Next to Normal, directed by Michael Longhurst, featuring Caissie Levy (Diana Goodman), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine), Jamie Parker (Dan Goodman), Eleanor Worthington-Cox (Natalie), Jack Wofe (Gabe), and Jack Ofrecio (Henry), closes at London’s Donmar Warehouse.

  The Playwrights Realm‘s Mary Gets Hers, world premiere by Emma Horwitz, directed by Josiah Davis, featuring Octavia Chavez-Richmond (Ephraim), Kai Heath (The Soldier), Susannah Perkins (Abraham), Claire Siebers (Master of the Inn), and Haley Wong (Mary), closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.

  Bulrusher, by Eisa Davis, directed by Nicole A. Watson, featuring Jordan Tyson (Bulrusher), Shyla Lefner (Madame), Jeorge Bennett Watson (Logger), Cyndii Johnson (Vera), Rob Kellogg (Boy), and Jamie LaVerdiere (Schoolch), with Jamella Cross, Kyla Tucaya Garcia, David Everett Moore, and Brennan Pickman-Thoon, closes at NJ’s McCarter Theatre Center.

  Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson, featuring Bonnie Black (Princess Dragomiroff), Amy Bodnar (Greta Ohlsson), Andrea Morales (Mary Debenhan), Robert Scott Smith (Colonel Arbuthnot/Samual Ratchett), Anne Tolpegin (Helen Hubbard), with Gisela Chípe (Countess Andrenyi), Edward Juvier (Monsieur Bouc), Matthew McGloin (Hector MacQueen), Alec Michel the Conductor/Head Waiter), and John Tufts (Hercule Poirot), closes at Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company.

Sunday, October 8

  Company national tour, directed by Marianne Elliott, featuring Britney Coleman (Bobbie), Judy McLane (Joanne),Kathryn Allison (Sarah), Matt Bittner (David), Ali Louis Bourzgui (Paul), Derrick Davis (Larry), Javier Ignacio (Peter), James Earl Jones II (Harry), Marina Kondo (Susan), Matt Rodin (Jamie), Emma Stratton (Jenny), Jacob Dickey (Andy), Tyler Hardwick (PJ) and David Socolar (Theo), with Matthew Christian, Christopher DeAngelis, Kenneth Quinney Francouer, CJ Greer, Elysia Jordan, Beth Stafford Laird and Christopher Henry Young, launches at Schenectady’s Procters.

  York Theatre Company‘s When We Get There, by Robert P. Young III, Richard Lasser & Charlie Barnett, directed by Janeece Freeman Cark, featuring Cicily Daniels, Ashley LaLonde, Cal Mitchell, Julius Thomas III, Michael D. Turner, and Lori Wilner, opens at Off Broadway’s Theater at St. Jean’s.

  Love Among the Ruins, by James G. Hirsch & Robert A. Papazian, directed by Michael Arabian, featuring JoBeth Williams and Peter Strauss,  with Tony Abatemarco, Gigi Bermingham, Nima Dabestani, C.J. Blaine Eldred, Martin Kildare, Amir Talai and Wendy Worthington, opens at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.

  The Value, by Nicholas Dunn, directed by Calvin Picou, featuring Hanna Isac, Ingacio Navarro, Matthe Scheel, and Nate Thurman, opens at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.

 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott & Geoff Elliott, featuring Zach Kenny (Theseus & Oberon), Tricia Miller (Hippolyta & Titania), Jeanne Syquia (Helena), Kasey Mahaffy (Puck), Cassandra Marie Murphy (First Fairy), Frederick STuart (Nick Bottom), Veralyn Jones (Peter Quince), Ed F. Martin (Flute), and Brendan Mulligan (Snug), with Hakop Mkhsian and Erick Valenzuela, begins previews at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.

  Daybreak concert presentation, by Bobby Cronin, directed by L. Morgan Lee, featuring Anne Brummel, E. Clayton Cornelious, Morgan Siobhan Gerrn, and Mason Olshavsky, at 7 PM at Off-Broadway’s Laurie Beechman Theatre.

  Infinite Life, by Annie Baker, directed by directed by James Macdonald, featuring Marylouise Burke, Kristine Nielsen, Mia Katigbak, Christina Kirk, Brenda Pressley, and Pete Simpson, closes at Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theatre.

  A Wonderful World, world premiere by Christopher Renshaw & Andrew Delaplaine, directed by Christopher Renshaw, featuring James Monroe Iglehart (Louis Armstrong), Ta’Rea Campbell (Lucille Wilson), Jennie Harney-Fleming (Lil Hardin), Brennyn Lark (Alpha Smith) Khalifa White  (Daisy Parker), DeWitt Fleming, Jr. (Lincoln Perry), Gavin Gregory (King Joe Oliver), Matthew Greenwood (Johnny Collins), Lindsey Corey (Rachel the Reporter), and Matt Wolpe (Joe Glaser), with Ronnie Bowman, Eean Cochran, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Alexandra Frohlinger, Afra Hines, Alan Kelly, Ashley McManus ), Aurelia Michael, Alysha Morgan, Jarran Muse, Aaron Michael Ray, Khadijah Rolle, Dave Schoonover, Brett Sturgis, Renell Taylor, and Dori Waymer, closes at New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre.

  Prayer for the French Republic, by Joshua Harmon, directed by Loretta Greco, featuring Amy Resnick (Marcelle Salomon Benhamou), Barzin Akhavan (Charles Benhamou), Carly Zien (Elodie Benhamou), Joshua Chessin-Yudin (Daniel Benhamou), Tony Estrella (Patrick Benhamou), Talia Sulla (Molly), Will Lyman (Pierre Salomon),  Will Lyman (Pierre Salomon/Marcelle/Patrick’s Father), Phyllis Kay (Irma Salomon), Peter Van Wagner (Adolphe Salomon), Jaren Troilo (Lucien Salomon), and Jesse Kodama (Young Pierre Salomon), with Fady Demian, Josephine Elwood, David Kelly, Zach Kelley, Adrianne Krstansky, and Nael Nacer, closes at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.

  The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, world premiere by Joe Iconis & Gregory S. Moss, directed by Christopher Ashley, featuring Gabriel Ebert (Hunter S. Thompson), George Abud (Nixon), Jeanette Bayardelle (Jann), Giovanny Diaz de Leon (Kidd), Marcy Harriell (Sandy), Lorinda Lisitza (Virginia), Lauren Marcus (Flower Child), George Salazar (Oscar), Ryan Vona (Juan), and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Ralph), with Summer Broyhill, Josiah Cajiudo, and Kürt Norby, closes at La Jolla Playhouse.

  The Rainmaker, by N. Richard Nash, directed by Andrew Branicle, featuring Richard Baird (Noah Curry), Andrew Barnicle (Sheriff Thomas), Andy Hoff ((File), Jeffrey Markle (H.C. Curry), James Taylor Odom (Bill Starbuck), Nick Tag (Jimmy Curry), and Lizzie Zerebko (Lizzie Curry), closes at Laguna Playhouse.

  Million Dollar Quartet, featuring Edward La Cardo (Elvis Presley), Scott Moreau (Johnny Cash), Brady Wease (Jerry Lee Lewis), Jeremy Sevelovitz (Carl Perkins), Shelby Ringdahl (Dyanne), Jeff Cummings (Sam Phillips), Chuck Azyas (Jay Perkins), and Dave Sonnenborn (W.S. “Fluke” Holland), with Joe Boover, Garret Forrestal, Peter Gunn, Michael Siktberg, and Lari White, closes at Stages St. Louis.

  Walking in Space, world premiere by Garry Michael Kluger, directed by Arden Teresa Lewis, featuring  Mary Elisabeth Somers (Patti), Cecil Jennings (Kirby), Hogan Mason (Mathew), Liv Deneyi (Lori), Kathie Barnes (Francine), Andrew Cereghino (Keith Schwartz), and David Mingrino (Dr. Collar), closes at LA’s Theatre West.

  What the Constitution Means to Me, by Heidi Schreck, directed by Kristen van Ginhoven, featuring Kim Stauffer, with Izzy Brown, closes at Albany’s Capitol Rep.

  The Right Is Ours!, world premiere by Lloyd J. Schwartz & Adryan Russ, directed by Schwartz, featuring Anna Mintzer (Susan B. Anthony), Emily Abeles (Elizabeth Cady Stanton), Suffragists Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield (Emmeline), Carlin Castellano (Christabel), and Paige Berkovitz (Ida), with Katherine Chatman, closes at CA’s Sierra Madre Playhouse.

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Make Me Gorgeous, written & directed by Donnie, will run Nov. 10 – Dec. 31 (opening Nov. 15) at Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s.

  Wade McCollum.

  The fabulous and incredible true story of Kenneth Marlow, an oft-overlooked trailblazer in LGBTQ history. Described as one of mid-Century America’s gayest and most openly homosexual personalities, Marlowe took on many roles in life. Kenneth was private hairdresser to the stars; the madam of a notorious gay prostitution ring in Hollywood; an author; a hustler; a female impersonator; a private in the U.S. Army, a call boy; a Christian missionary, a mortuary cosmetologist; a newspaper columnist … and for the final decade of an incredibly lived life, Marlowe was a woman, having transitioned to become Kate Marlow.

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  Gingold Theatrical Group‘s Golden Shamrock Gala 2023 will take place Sun. Oct. 29 at 6 PM at NYC’s Robert Restaurant (2 Columbus Circle).

Ethan E. Litwin, Dr. Brian R. Saltzman, and Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel.

Performers and additional information TBA.

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  James G. Hirsch & Robert A. Papazian’s Love Among the Ruins, directed by Michael Arabian, has been extended through Nov. 5 at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.

  Tony Abatemarco, Jobeth Williams, Gigi Bermingham, Nima Dabestani, C.J. Blaine Eldred, Martin Kildare, Amir Talai and Wendy Worthington.

 In this newly reinvented version, Jessica Medlicott (Jobeth Williams), once a great actress, is now a beautiful and wealthy widow. She is accused of “breach of promise” by a handsome young Naval officer who claims she promised to marry him. Her only hope may be the greatest barrister at the Old Bailey, Sir Arthur Granville Jones (Peter Strauss).   Jessica is no ordinary client and the sparks that fly as she drives Sir Arthur to distraction keeps the audience guessing, laughing and crying until the very end. Is she guilty of ‘breach of promise?” Only the great Sir Arthur can get to the truth.

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   Dr. K’s Motown Revue will take place Sat. Oct. 28 at 8 PM at Long Island’s Bay Street Theater.

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  Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Dial M for Murder will run Nov. 14 – Dec.17 at Milwaukee Rep, directed by Laura Braza.

  Amanda Drinkall (Margot Wendice), Lipica Shah (Maxine Hadley), Marcus Truschinski (Tony Wendice), Alex Weisman (Captain Lesgate), and Jonathan Wainwright (Inspector Hubbard.

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  Crimson Square Theatre Company has announced the world premiere of  Outrage, written & directed by Allen Barton, to run Oct. 20 – Nov. 12 at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.

Peter O’Connor (Ethan), Cameron Meyer (Lori), Terri Parks (Elaine), Hope Brown Phillip/Doug), Derrick VanDerMillen (Jeremy), Whitney Nielsen (Jamie), Sara Ball (Emily), Kirk Fogg ( Tom), Evan Ewing (Bryan), and MPeter Zizzo (Murray), with Freya Adams, Nancy Paley, Sam Seba, and Nicole Varona.

  Ethan is an acting and writing teacher who runs a prestigious school. He confronts increasing tensions in his life, as friends and students seem eager to lash out in anger and recrimination over the election of a controversial President, all while Los Angeles anxiously awaits the verdict in an incendiary criminal trial involving a racially charged police shooting.

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  Video: Clips from the national tour of Funny Girl starring Katerina McCrimmon.

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  The Foundation for New American Musicals2023 Benefit will take place Sun. Oct. 15 at 2 PM at a private home in the Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
 here.

  Jason Robert Brown & Georgia Stitt, and Marcia Seligson

Billy Crystal

Anastasia Barzee, Wayne Brady, Therese Curatolo, Chris Mann, and Cheeyang NG.

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  Complete casting has been announced for the world premiere of Joe DiPietro’s Babbitt, to run Nov.7 – Dec. 3 (opening Nov. 12) at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Stephen Buescher.

  Matthew Broderick George Babbitt), Genevieve Angelson (Tanis Judique/Zilla Riesling/Eunice Littlefield/Storyteller 5), Anna Chlumsky (Seneca Doane/Tinka Babbitt/Lucille McKelvey/Storyteller 4), Julie Halston (Mrs. Frink/Mrs. Bumbleworth/Oopal Mudge/Miss McGoun/Storyteller 6), Ann Harada (Myra Babbitt/Storyteller 1), Francis Jue (Paul Reisling/Doc Littlefield/Storyteller 2), Matt McGrath (Charlies McKelvey/Storyteller 3), and Chris Myers (Ted Babbitt/Stanley Graf/Fabio/Storteller 7), with Jalen Davidson, Iris Feng, Victor Flores, Kya Lee, and Linda Libby.

  The play follows Goerge F. Babbitt, a middle-aged real estate broker who is plagued by the thought that he has amounted to nothing. Searching for more to life, he leaps into the most spectacular rebellion of his life – one that could end up costing him everything.

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  The Cole Porter Festival: A Celebration of The Man and His Music will run Jan. 13 – Feb. 25, 2024 at Chicago’s Porchlight Theatre.

Too much to list here.  Click on the link above.

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Amas Musical Theatre will presen The Post Roe Monologues Mon. Nov. 6 at 7 PM at NYC’s Merkin Concert Hall, directed by Maria Torres.

Casting TBA.

  The evening will explore the real wold consequences of overturning of Roe v. Wade, based on interviews and the experience of the playwright as an OB/GYN. A play with music, this is an intimate character-driven performance that compels conversation and compassion.

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  An Evening with jason Robert Brown will take place Oct. 13 & 14 (both at 8:30 PM) at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.

 

 


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