This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, September 29
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, directed by Mathew Bourne & Julia McKenzie, featuring Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Haydn Gwynne, Damian Humbley, Bradley Jaden, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Christine Allado, Janie Dee, Bonnie Langford, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Jac Yarrow, Marley Fenton, Beatrice Penny-Touré,Harry Apps, Bella Brown, and Monique Young, opens at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
Lizzie, by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer, Tim Maner & Ala Stevens Hewitt, directed by Lainie Sakakura, featuring Kim Onah (Alice Russell), Nora Schell (Bridget Sullivan), Sydney Shepherd (Lizzie Borden), and Courtney Bassett (Emma Borden), opens at TheatreWorks Hartford.
The Pianist, newly adapted & directed by Emily Mann, featuring Daniel Donskoy (Wladyslaw Szpilman), Claire Beckman (Mother), Austin Pendleton (Father), Paul Spera (Henryk), Arielle Goldman (Regina), Georgia Warner (Halina/Woman), Charlotte Ewing (Magda/Boy), Tina Benko (Janina and others), Robert David Grant (Majorek and others), and Jordan Lage (Jaworski), opens at NJ’s George Street Playhouse.
Parental Advisory: a breakbeat play, world premiere by Idris Goodwin, directed by Kyle Haden, featuring Amire Abdullah (The MC) and Marvin Quijada (Timeless), opens at Milwaukee Rep.
Shooting Hedda Gabler, by Nina Segal, directed by Jeff James, featuring Antonia Thomas (Hedda), Christian Rubeck (Henrik), Avi Nash (Ejlert), Anna Andresen (Berta), Matilda Bailes (Thea), and Joshua James (Jørgen), begins previews at London’s Rose Theatre.
All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain, written by & starring Patrick Page, directed by Simon Godwin, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s DR2 Theatre.
Sea of Terror, world premiere, written & directed by Sam Catlin, featuring John Ales, Julie Dretzin, Paul Schulze, and Amy Scribner, begins previews at Hollywood’s Hudson Mainstage.
Guys and Dolls London cast recording, featuring Daniel Mays (Nathan Detroit), Cedric Neal (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Andrew Richardson (Sky Masterson), Celinde Schoenmaker (Sarah Brown), Marisha Wallace (Miss Adelaide), Jordan Castle (Harry the Horse), Cornelius Clarke (Lieutenant Brannigan), Cameron Johnson (Big Jule), Anthony O’Donnell (Arvide Abernathy), Mark Oxtoby (Benny Southstreet), Ryan Pidgen (Rusty Charlie), Katy Secombe (General Cartwright), and many more, released on most platforms.
Jenn Colella: Out and Proud concert, closes at NYC’s 54 Below.
Saturday,September 30
Partnership, by Elizabeth Baker, directed by Jackson Grace Gay, featuring Gina Daniels, Joshua Echebiri, Gene Gillette, Olivia Gilliatt, Sara Haider, Christiane Noll, Tom Patterson, and Madeline Seidman, opens at Off-Broadway’s Mint Theatre.
Hair, directed by James Vásquez, featuring Andrew Polec (Berger), Tré Frazier (Hud), Janelle McDermoth (Dionne), Olivia Oguma (Jeanie), Olivia Puckett (Shelia), Angel Sigala (Woof), Bailey Day Sonner (Crissy), Jordan Dobson (Claude) and Bailey Day Sonner (Crissy), with Darius Wright, Deviin Cortez, Tiffany Frances, and Delaney Love, opens at NJ’s Two River Theater.
The Brothers Paranormal, by Prince Gomolvilas, directed by Hallie Gordon & Aria Velz, featuring Tommy Bo (Max), Eymard Cabling (Visarut), Lolita Marie (Delia), Justine “icy” Moral (Ghost), DeJeanette Horne (Felix), Cindy Chang (Tasanee), Joey Ledonia (Max/Visarut), and Sally Imbriano (Jar/Tasanee), and Terrestia Edwards (Delia understudy), opens at MD’s Olney Theatre.
The Human Comedy, written & directed by Thom Babbes, featuring Laura Esterman, Lee Guthrie, Mark Rosenthal and Jane MacIver, returns to Hollywood’s Actors Co-op.
Interact Theatre Company‘s Life Sucks, by Aaron Posner, directed by Barry Heins, featuring John Ross Bowie (Vanya), Anne Gee Byrd (Babs), Steve Vinovich (The Professor), Olivia Castanho (Sonia), Erin Pineda (Ella), Lily Rains (Pickles), and Marc Valera (Dr. Aster), opens at LA’s Broadwater Main Stage (1076 Lillian Way).
Sea of Terror, world premiere, written & directed by Sam Catlin, featuring John Ales, Julie Dretzin, Paul Schulze, and Amy Scribner, opens at Hollywood’s Hudson Mainstage.
Pay the Writer, by Tawni O’Dell, directed by Karen Carpenter, featuring Ron Canada (Cyrus Holt), Marcia Cross (Lana Holt), Bryan Batt (Bruston Fischer), Steven Hauck (Jean Luc), Miles G. Jackson (Young Bruston/Taz), Garrett Turner (Young Cyrus), Danielle J. Summons (Gigi), and Stgephen Payne (Homeless Man), closes at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
Joaquina Kalukango in concert, with music direction by Michael Orland, concludes at NYC’s Cafe Carlyle.
Death, Let Me Do My Show, created & performed by Rachel Bloom, directed by Seth Barrish, closes at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald, closes at the Kennedy Center.
Sunday, October 1
Saw the Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw, by Cooper Jordan, Zoe Ann Jordan, Patrick Spencer & Anthony De Angelis, directed by Stephanie Rosenberg, featuring Bart Shatto (Gordon), Adam Parbhoo (Adam), Jill Owen (Amanda/Alli/Jugsaw/), and Donnell Johnson (Voice of Detective Tapp), with Danny Durr, Gabrielle Goodman, Patric Voss Davis, James Lynch, Thomas Skea, Morgan Traud, Jessica Morilak, and more, opens at Off-Broadway’s AMT 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, opens at New Orleans’ Saenger Theatre.
Songbook Sundays: Harold Arlen concert, featuring Karen Ziemba, Allison Blackwell, and Georgia Heers, at 5 & 7:30 PM at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club.
Broadway Acts for Abortion benefit concert, directed by Greg Santos, featuring Bonnie Milligan, John Cameron Mitchell, Kelli O’Hara, Miriam Silverman, Ann Dowd, Michael Emerson, Carrie Preston, Javier Muñoz, Amanda Green, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, and Marissa Rosen, at 6:30 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Musical Theatre Guild‘s Follies concert presentation, directed by Jason Graae, featuring Anastasia Barzee (Sally), Roger Befeler (Buddy), Teri Bibb (Phyllis), Brent Schindele (Ben), Will Collyer (Young Ben), Ashley Fox Linton (Young Sally), Gabriel Navarro (Young Buddy), Chelsea Morgan Stock (Young Phyllis), Eydie Alyson (Emily), Brad Ellis (Theodore), Helen Geller (Hattie), Barbara Carlton Heart (Stella), Susan Edwards Martin (Solange), Glenn Rosenblum (Weismann), Mary VanArsdel (Heidi), Jennifer Leigh Warren (Carlotta), and Paul Wong (Roscoe), with Ricky Bulda, Jasmine Ejan, and Michael James Brown, at 7 PM at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center.
York Theatre Company‘s Golden Rainbow: The Musical, by Ernest Kinoy & Walter Marks, directed by Stuart Ross, featuring Felipe Barbosa Bombanato, Jonathan Brody, Nick Cearley, Robert Cuccioli, Mara Davi, Max von Essen, Danielle Lee Greaves, Jillian Louis, Gina Milo, Benjamin Pajak, Maria Wirres, and more, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jeans.
Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical, world premiere by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Kamilah Forbes, featuring Angela Birchett (Delores), Quentin Earl Darrington (Don Cornelius), Kayla Davion (Jody Watley), Sidney DuPont (Tony Cornelius), Cameron Hah (Cheryl Song), Amber Iman (Pam Brown), Richard James (Tyrone Proctor), Jaquez (Jeffrey Daniel), Alain “Hurrikane” Lauture (Don Campbellock), Mayte Natalio (Rosie Perez), and Charlene “Chi-Chi” Smith (Damita Jo), with Terence Archie, Jennifer Marie Frazier, McKenzie Frye, Justin Jorrell, Jahi Kearse, Alora Tonielle Martinez, Miki Michelle, Aché Richardson, Roukijah Rooks, SeQuoiia, Maleek Washington, Unissa Cruse, Amanda Le Nguyen, and Aya Travick-Best, closes at San Francisco’s A.C.T.
The Sound Inside, by Adam Rapp, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Amy Brenneman (Bella Lee Baird) and Anders Keith (Christopher Dunn), closes at Pasadena Playhouse.
The Value, by Nicholas Dunn, directed by Calvin Picou, featuring Hanna Isac, Ingacio Navarro, Matthe Scheel, and Nate Thurman, closes at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble.
A slight Ache, by Harold Pinter, directed by Jack Heller, featuring Susan Priver, Henry Olek, and Shelly Kurtz, closes at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by , featuring German Flores Alcala, RJ Cortana, Kathy Bell Denton, Joshua Farrell, Chuy Garcia, Wendy Garcia, Mark V. Jones, Harish Mandyam, Eve Richards, Jason Sino, Jennifer Skiffington, Kevin Grant Spencer and Meg Wallace, closes at North Hollywood’s Sherry Theatre (11052 Magnolia Blvd.)
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Reviews for Melissa Etheridge: My Window at Broadway’s Circle in the Square:
New York Times (Laura Collins-Hughes): …in our high-definition, multi-screen world, refreshingly analog: just Etheridge, life-size and in three dimensions, sharing the room with us. Share it she does, superbly… this rock concert spliced with memoir has gained a striking intimacy, as if Etheridge had shrunk an arena to fit in the palm of her hand… Circle in the Square never struck me as a warm, embracing theater, but Etheridge makes it one, paying graceful, diligent attention to every section of the 726-seat audience, and occasionally coming down off the stage to sing and stroll… The show is shorter, more polished and more assured than it was Off Broadway…
New York Daily News (Chris Jones): Playing one of what feels like a dozen different guitars, along with piano at times, this formidable musician sings in front of projected images of her youth but otherwise protects the often famous names of those with whom she shared friendships or children or times good and bad. It’s not that we don’t already know… Etheridge rolls through her interesting life and her interesting times, sprinkling the biography with her hits: “I’m the Only One,” “I Want to Come Over,” and, of course, ” “Come to My Window,” which is precisely what we all had just done… This charming show, playing for just nine weeks, is both a valediction and an introduction, perhaps for a younger audience, to a folk-rock artist who kept everyone’s faith, including her own.
Theatermania (David Gordon): The more fame you achieve as a singer, Melissa Etheridge says, the farther the audience gets. In concert halls and stadiums, there’s a vast distance between performer and spectator… So, the opportunity to see Etheridge up close, personal, and shredding her guitar strings right in your face at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre is a rare one, and one that should be taken… Etheridge premiered My Window, her musical biography, last year at New World Stages. It felt like a great party then, and it feels like an even more intimate one now… you can feel Etheridge’s joy radiating through every single moment… Best of all is Shannon Slaton’s crystal-clear sound design. Not only do we get every single lyric, but it often sounds like Etheridge is being backed by a thousand other players, when it’s just her own virtuosity. And that’s what we’re really coming for.
The Observer (David Cote) …a combination solo concert and live memoir, where the rock goddess keeps the audience in thrall for more than two hours of storytelling, jokes, and wailing on her Ovation Standard 12-String. As for philosophy, Etheridge advances an agreeable theory: “All is love, all is choice”… Thanksgiving. Not limiting herself to the stage at Circle in the Square, Etheridge struts down the center aisle, parks her butt on a ticketholder’s armrest, and (the night I attended) slings an audience member’s leg over a shoulder while serenading her… Let’s be real: that voice is why we’re here, raspy compound of whiskey, gravel and gasoline. Like its owner, it has mellowed, lessened in force and range, but still calls to our window from the darkness, an alley cat wail of raw desire and the will to never back down.
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Complete casting has been announced for the world premiere of David Foster, Susan Birkenhead & Bob Martin’s BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical, to run Nov. 19 – Dec. 24 at Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, directed & choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
Jasmine Amy Rogers (Betty Boop), Faith Prince (Valentina), Ainsley Melham (Dwayne), Eric Bergen (Raymond), Stephen DeRosa (Grampy), Angelica Hale (Trisha), and Anastacia McCleskey (Carol), with Lawrence Alexander, Tristen Buettel, Colin Bradbury, Joshua Burrage, Gabi Campo, Dan Castiglione, Rebecca Corrigan, Josh Drake, RJ Higton, Phillip Huber, Nina LaFarga, Aubie Merryless, Morgan McGhee, Ryah Nixon, Christian Probst, Ricky Schroeder, Gabriella Sorrentino, Brooke Taylor, Courtney Arango, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Sydney Jones, Derek Jordan Taylor, and Amy Van Norstrand.
Betty’s dream of an ordinary day off from the super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to an adventure of color, music, and love in New York City—one that reminds her and the world, “You are capable of amazing things.”
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A Musical About Star Wars—or Why Star Wars is the Greatest Thing in the Galaxy, Much Much Better than Star Trek has extended the through Jan. 21, 2024 at Off-Broadway’s AMT Theater.
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Complete casting has been announced for Rory Mullarkey’s Mates in Chelsea, to run Nov. 3 – Dec. 16 (opening Nov. 9) at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Sam Pritchard.
Amy Booth-Steel, Natalie Dew, Karina Fernandez, George Fouracres, Laurie Kynaston, Philipp Mogilnitskiy and Fenella Woolgar.
This riotous new play takes inspiration from Wilde and Wodehouse to create a contemporary comedy of manners set among the dwellers of south west London who – somehow – remain our country’s ruling class.
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Video: “Harmony” …”Every Single Day” …. “Hungarian Rhapsody,” … “Where You go” … and “Stars in the Night” from Broadway’s Harmony.
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Pulse Theatre will present Michel Wallerstein’s Chasing Happy Oct. 11 – Nov. 11 (opening Oct. 19) at Theatre Row, directed by Alexa Kelly.
Spence Aster, Jenny Bennett, Schyler Conaway, Christopher James Murray, and Elizabeth Shepherd.
A modern comedy about personal identity, love, acceptance …and the elusive pursuit of happiness. Nick is in love with another man’s boyfriend. (Oops.) Nick’s mother says George Clooney wants to date her. (Really?) Nick’s ex-wife says she has to have surgery.( Now?) …It’s a laugh a minute on an unexpected merry-go-round when you’re chasing happy.
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Gingold Theatrical Group will present its Golden Shamrock Gala 2023 on Sun. Oct. 29 at 6 PM at NYC’s Robert Restaurant (2 Columbus Circle). Additional information and performers TBA.
Ethan E. Litwin, Dr. Brian R. Saltzman, and Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel.
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The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway will take place Mon. Oct. 23 at NYC’s Town Hall. Casting and creative teams TBA.
Warren Leight
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Lyrics & Lyricists will present Tale as Old as Time: The Songs of Howard Ashman Oct. 28-30 at NYC’s 92NY, directed by Christian Borle, with music direction by Nate Patten, and choreography by Beth Crandall.
Heather Ayers, John Cariani, Nadina Hassan, Manu Narayan, and Khadija Sankoh.
Archival material from the Ashman family will be included in the concert, including material from an unproduced musical by Ashman and Alan Menken about Babe Ruth, and one from “Sesame Street.”
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Some Like it Hot will close Dec. 30 at the Shubert Theatre, after 483 performances.
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The Rocky Horror Show will run Oct. 20-31 at Utah’s Pioneer Theatre Company, directed & choreographed by Karen Azenberg.
David Beach (Dr. Scott), Ginger Bess (Magenta), Micki Martines (Columbia), Alanna Saunders (Janet), Alex Walton (Brad), Michael Kalke (Rocky), Jeremiah James (Frank), Andre Jordan (Eddie), and Hernando Umana (Riff Raff), and a rotating selection of notable Utahns as the Narrator.
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Audra McDonald: Musings will take place Oct. 12 & 13 at NYC’s 92NY, with music direction by Andy Einhorn.
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Paul Slade Smith’s The Angel Next Door will run Oct. 18 – Nov. 5 (opening Oct. 22) at Laguna Playhouse, directed by David Ellenstein.
Thomas Edward Daugherty (Victor Pratt), Erin Noel Grennan (Olga Molnar), Elinor Gunn (Margot Bell), Taubert Naudalini (Oliver Adams), James Newcomb (Arthurs Sanders), and Barbara E. Robertson (Charlotte Sanders).
It is 1948 and an unlikely group of characters has assembled in a Newport mansion. An unexpected development threatens to doom a buddy romance and one woman is destined to make things right – no matter what madcap antics she must pursue! Brace yourself for a perfect storm of comedic chaos and get swept away by irresistible charm and rapid-fire banter.