This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, September 27
The 27th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival opens at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater.
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, opens at NJ’s George Street Playhouse.
This Piece of Ground, written & directed by Richard Hellese, starring John Rubinstein, opens at MD’s Olney Theatre.
No Love Songs, by Kyle Falconer, Laura Wilde & Johnny McKnight, directed by Andrew Panton, featuring John McLarnon (Jessie) and Anna Russell-Martin (Lana), begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
Saturday, September 28
FAUST: The Concert, by Randy Newman, featuring Ryan McCartan (Faust), (Lord), Reeve Carney (Devil), Javier Muñoz (Lord), Jordan Temple (Narrator), Veronica Swift (Martha), and Joanna Lynn-Jacobs (Margaret), opens at Northridge, CA’s Soraya.
Sunset Boulevard, by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Jamie Lloyd, featuring Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond), Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), Grace Hodgett (Young (Betty Schaefer), 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, begins previews at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
Fawlty Towers, adapted by John Cleese, directed by Caroline Jay Ranger, featuring Adam Jackson-Smith (Basil) Anna-Jane Casey (Sybil), Hemi Yeroham (Manuel), Victoria Fox (Polly), Paul Nicholas (The Major), Rachel Izen (Mrs. Richards), Steven Meo (Mr. Hutchinson (German Guest), Kate Russell-Smith (Miss Tibbs), Nicola Sanderson (Miss Gatsby), Greg Haiste (Mr. Thurston), Danny Bayne (Mr. Walt/Dr. Finn), Neil Stuart (Taxi Driver/Mr. Firkins/Mr. Kerr/Mr. Sharp), and Emma Fenney (German Guests), with Mia Austen, John Hasler, Dale Superville, Ben Jacobson, and Suzy Bloom, closes at London’s Apollo Theatre.
A Night with Janis Joplin, written & directed by Randy Johnson, featuring Mary Bridget Davies, Sharon Sexton, Kalisha Amaris, Georgia Bradshaw, Choolwe Laina Muntanga, and Danielle Steers, closes at the UK’s Peacock Theatre.
Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Adam Penford, featuring Ryan Kopel (Evan Hansen), Lauren Conroy (Zoe Murphy) Alice Fearn (Heidi), Helen Anker (Cynthia Murphy), Richard Hurst (Larry Murphy), Killian Thomas Lefevre (Connor Murphy), Tom Dickerson (Jared Kleinman), Vivian Panka (Alana Beck), and Sonny Monaghan (alternate Evan), with Lara Beth-Sas, Will Forgrave, Daniel Forrester, Jessica Lim, Sonny Monaghan, and Shakira Simpson, closes at the UK’s Nottingham Playhouse.
The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow, directed by Maria Aitken, featuring Tom Byrne (Richard Hannay), Safeena Ladha (Pamela/Annabella/Margaret), Eugene McCoy Clown 1), and Maddie Rice (Clown 2), with Jacob Daniels and Hannah Parker, closes at London’s Trafalgar Theatre.
Lifeline, by Robin Hiley & Becky Hope-Palmer, directed by Alex Howarth, featuring Matthew Malthouse (Alexander Fleming), Kirsty MacLaren (Jess), Scott McClure (Aaron / Clowes), Robbie Scott (Julian / Pryce), Nicole Raquel Dennis (Amalia), and Mari McGinlay (Layl), with Richard Lounds, Sarah Haddath, and Graham RIchardson. The show will also feature a chorus of New York-based scientists and healthcare professionals, closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center.
The 27th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival concludes at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater.
Sunday, September 29
The Hills of California, by Jez Butterworth, directed by Sam Mendes, featuring Laura Donnelly (Joan/Veronica), Leanne Best (Gloria), Ophelia Lovibond (Ruby), Helena Wilson (Jill,) Nancy Allsop (Young Gloria), Sophia Ally (Young Ruby), Lara McDonnell (Young Joan), and Nicola Turner (Young Jill), with Bryan Dick, Richard Short, David Wilson Barnes, Richard Lumsden, Ta’Rea Campbell, Sawyer Barth, Ellyn Heald, Cameron Scoggins, and Max Roll, with Erin Rose Doyle, Sadie Veach, Liz Pearce, Jessica Baglow, Liam Bixby, and Q. Smith, opens at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre.
Sugar Daddy, written & performed by Sam Morrison, directed by Stephen Brackett, opens at LA’s Wallis Annenberg Center.
Musical Theatre Guild‘s The Light in the Piazza concert presentation, directed by Kirsten Chandler, featuring Kim Huber (Margaret), Valerie Larson (Clara), Gabriel Navarro (Fabrizio), Tal Fox (Franca), Will Collyer (Guiseppe), Robert Yacko (Signor), Eydie Alyson (Signora), and Brent Schindele (Roy), with Maura M. Knowles, and David Zack, at 7 PM at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage.
Foundation for New American Musicals’ MusiCal, offering selections from new musicals, at 7:30 PM at LA’s Reefer Den (6555 Hollywood Blvd).
Table 17, by Douglas Lyons & Zhailon Levingston, directed by Levingston, featuring Kara Young, Biko Eisen-Martin, and Michael Rishawn, closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
York Theatre Company‘s Monte Cristo, by Peter Kellogg & Stephen Weiner, directed by Peter Flynn, featuring Alex Humphreys, Philip Hernandez, Anne L. Nathan , James Judy, Eliseo Roman, Grace Marie Rusnica, Danny Rutigliano, Trent Saunders, Pablo Torre, Lauren Worsham, and Daniel Yearwood, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jeans.
Cheyenne Jackson concert series closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
Cyrano De Bergerac, adapted by Martin Crimp, directed by Mike Donahue, featuring Chukwudi Iwuji (Cyrano), Rosa Salazar (Roxane), Will Hochman (Christian), Kimberly Scott (Madame Ragueneau), Larry Powell (Lignière), Jens Austin Astrup (Alastair/Act 3 Soldier), Aaron Costa Ganis (Le Bret), E.M. Davis (Usher/Denise/Medic), Christine Lin (Woman Sent By Roxane/Marie-Louise), Barry Livingston (Theatre Owner/Priest), Michael Nathanson (De Guiche), Kila Packett (Fencing Referee/Sentry), Sawyer Patterson (Valvert), Jonathan Slavin (Montfleury/Armande), and John Garet Stoker (Annoying Person), closes at Pasadena Playhouse.
Young Frankenstein, directed by Joel Ferrell, featuring Dan Deluca (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), Tim Hartman (Monster), Theo Allyn (Frau Blücher), Susana Cordón (Elizabeth Benning), Daniel Krell (Inspector Hans Kemp/Bertram Batram, The Hermit), and Alex Sheffield (Inga), with J. Alex Noble and Mandie Patsy, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.
FAUST: The Concert, by Randy Newman, featuring Javier Muñoz, Reeve Carney, and Veronica Smith, closes at Northridge, CA’s Soraya.
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John Logan & the Avett Brothers’ Swept Away will begin previews Oct. 7 and open Nov. 19 at the Longacre Theatre, directed by Michael Mayer, with choreography by David Neumann, and music direction by Will Van Dyke.
John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening), Stark Sands , Adrian Blake Enscoe, and Wayne Duvall, with Josh Breckenridge, Hunter Brown, Matt DeAngelis, John Michael Finley, Cameron Johnson, Brandon Kalm, Rico LeBron, Michael J. Mainwaring, Orville Mendoza, Chase Peacock, Robert Pendilla, Tyrone L. Robinson, David Rowen and John Sygar.
Video: In rehearsal
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The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will present Women’s Voices Sat. Nov. 9, 2024 at 3 PM at CA’s Culver City Veterans Memorial Building, Rotunda Room, 4117 Overland Ave, directed by Terrie Silverman.
here.
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A Streetcar Named Desire will run Nov. 14 – Dec. 1 at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre, directed by Stephen Hamilton.
TBA
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SpeakEasy Stage Company will present Steven Durkman’s Pru Payne, to run Oct. 18 – Nov. 26 at the Boston Center for the Arts, directed by Paul Daigneault,
Gordon Clapp, Karen MacDonald, Marianna Bassham, De’Lon Grant, and Greg Maraio.
The story of Prudence “Pru” Payne, a sharp-tongued intellectual and critic who recently signed on to share her extraordinary life in an eagerly awaited memoir. But when Pru’s memory starts to fade, her son sets her up in a state-of-the-art care facility, where love takes hold just as the world she once knew begins to slip away. With wit, verve, and above all, heart, Drukman’s deeply emotional and funny play explores questions of memory, identity, and connection.
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The world premiere of Michael B. Kaplan’s Four Top will run Oct. 17 – Nov. 24 at North Hollywood’s Group Rep, directed by Kathleen R. Delaney.
Jackie Shearn (Liz), Cassidy LeClair (Server), Jack Menzies (Brian), Rosie Byrne (Megan), and Luke Rampersad (Tony).
A relationship comedy about the sometimes confused, sometimes desperate and sometimes farcical search for love and meaning, and the realization that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have been bitten by a ferret at your ex’s engagement party.
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Medea: a Musical Comedy, written & directed by John Fisher, will begin previews Oct. 10 and open Oct. 17 at the Actors Temple Theatre, with music direction by Bobby Weil.
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, and Emerese Noel.
A queer theatre company is putting on a campy musical version of Medea. Paul, the super gay star and Elsa, playing the title role hate each other off-stage then suddenly find themselves falling in love, shockingly. The quintessential backstage story spirals out of control as the flamboyant director goes insane trying to keep the whole mess on track, with many twists, turns, and sequins along the way! Get tickets now and become one of thousands of theatergoers at one of the funniest and murderous musicals in town!
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Red Bull Theater will present a reading of Aaron Mark’s Another Medea (in-person only) on Tues. Oct. 8 at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center, directed by Aaron Mark.
Tom Hewitt
Marcus Sharp is a charismatic and enigmatic New York actor who recounts in gruesome detail how his obsessions with a wealthy doctor named Jason and the myth of Medea lead to horrific, unspeakable events. At once ancient and contemporary, this provocative mono-thriller is Grand Guignol horror in the style of Spalding Gray.
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Off-Broadway’s Primary Stages has announced its 2024-25 season:
The Light and the Dark (The Life and times of Artemisia Gentilschi) (Nov. 2-Dec. 15), by Kate Hammel, directed by Jade King Carroll
Amerikin (Mar. 1 – apr. 13, 2025), by Chisa Huth, directed by Jade King Carroll.
The launch of the Liff Lab (Mar. 1 – Apr. 13, 2025), a new play development program.
Primary Stages Variety Show (date TBA), directed by BD Wong .
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Tectonic Theater‘s A Tectonic Cabaret will take place Mon. Oct. 21 at 6:30 PM at NYC’s Current (Pier 59 Chelsea Piers), directed by Timothy Koch, with music direction by Anna Ebbsen.
Anthony Roth Costanzo, Claybourne Elder, Alyssa Fox, Prentice Powell, Ryan VanDenBoom, Sasha Velour, and Francise Voranger.
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Jason Alexander will star in the role of “Jesus” in Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney Reefer Madness The Musical, on Sat. Oct. 5 (at 8 PM) at Hollywood’s Whitley Theatre (6555 Hollywood Blvd.), directed & music directed by David Lamoureux.
Anthony Norman, Darcy Rose Byrnes, J. Elaine Marcos, Nicole Parker, Thomas Dekker, Bryan Daniel Porter, Andre Joseph Aultmon, Claire Crause, Jane Papageorge, Alex Tho, David T. Crane, and Natalia Holt MacDonald.
A look at the mass hysteria caused when two clean-cut kids, Jimmy and Mary, fall prey to the frightful toll of the new drug menace currently destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers, the insidious and murderous lure of our real public enemy number one, MARIJUANA! It tragically (and hysterically) leads them both into a downward spiral filled with wild jazz, chaos and mayhem, lurid sex and uncontrollable violence.