GRACE NOTES will return Tuesday, September 12
This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, September 8
No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh, world premiere by Christina Masciotti, directed by Rory McGregor, featuring Kellie Overbey, Carmen Zilles, and T. Ryder Smith, with Jeffrey Brabant, Annie Fang, and Megan Lomax, opens at Off-Broadway’s A.R.T./New York Theatres.
Josie de Guzman: Back Where I Started concert opens at NYC’s Green Room 42.
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, opens at Stages St. Louis.
In The Works – In The Woods Festival workshop opens at NY’s Forestburgh Playhouse.
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), opens at LA’s Theatre West.
A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Steve Jarrard, 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, opens at North Hollywood’s Sherry Theatre (11052 Magnolia Blvd.).
Rebecca Gilman, directed by Robert Falls, featuring Mary Beth Fisher (Peg), Kirsten Fitzgerald (Sheriff Kris), Anne E. Thompson (Dani) and Bubba Weiler (Ryan), with Laura T. Fisher, Jessica Ervin, and Jack Lancaster, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre.
The Half-God of Rainfall, by Inua Ellams, directed by Taibi Magar, featuring Jason Bowen (Sàngó), Kelley Curan (Hera), Mister Fitzgerald (Demi), Patrice Johnson Chevannes (Osún), Russell G. Jones (Elegba), Michael Laurence (Zeus), and Jennifer Mogbock (Modúpé), begins previews at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
The Twelve, by Robert Schenkkan & Neil Berg, directed by John Doyle, featuring Akron Lanier Watson (Pete), Wonzā Johnson (Andrew), Wesley Taylor (Tom), Etai Benson (Jimmy), Gregory Treco (Simon), Kyle Scatliffe (John), Kelvin Moon Loh (James), Mel Johnston Jr. (Tee), Brandon J. Ellis (Phil), Rob Morrison (Bart), F. Michael Haynie (Matt), Adrienne Walker (Mags), and Rema Webb (Mother Mary), with Matt Caplan, Dion Simmons Grier, and Aurelia Williams, begins previews at CT’s Goodspeed.
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, begins previews at CA’s Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Saturday, September 9
Celebration Theatre‘s The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen, written & performed by Les Kurkendaal-Barrett, directed by Tom Trudgeon, opens at LA’s LGBT Center.
Open Fist Theatre Company‘s Blood at the Root, by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Michael Shepperd, featuring Malik Bailey, Deandra Bernardo, Emma Bruno, Nychelle C.E. Hawk, Nicholas Heard, Jeremy Reiter II, Caroline Rose, Jack David Sharpe, Grace Soens, Amber Tiara and Azeem Vecchio, opens at LA’s Atwater Village Theatre.
An Evening with Justin Paul & Friends benefit concert, directed by Caley Beretta, with special guests Justin Paul, Kelli O’Hara, James Naughton, and Greg Naughton, along with Lauren Allred, Andrew Barth Feldman, Mykal Kilgore, Aaron Tveit, Jessica Vosk, Raissa Katona Bennett, John Treacy Egan, Ben Fankhauser, Jacob Heimer, and Stacie Morgain Lewis, at 8 PM at CT’s Westport Country Playhouse.
The Third Man, world premiere by George Fenton, Christopher Hampton & Don Black, directed by Trevor Nunn, featuring Edward Baker-Duly (Calloway), Simon Bailey (Crabbit), Natalie Dunne (Anna), Derek Griffiths (The Porter), Jonathan Andrew Hume (Paine), Rachel Izen (The Porter’s Wife), Gary Milner (Kurtz), Harry Morrison (Popescu), Sam Underwood (Holly), and Alan Vicary (Dr. Winkel), with Chanice Alexander-Burnett, Craig Bartley, Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong, Leah Harris, Aly Merali, Tom Sterling, Samantha Thomas, and Tim Walton, closes at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
Sunday, September 10
The Sound Inside, by Adam Rapp, directed by Cameron Watson, featuring Amy Brenneman (Bella Lee Baird) and Anders Keith (Christopher Dunn), opens at Pasadena Playhouse.
The Guys, by Anne Nelson, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, opens at Theatre Aspen.
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, opens at CA’s Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Julie Andrews & Emma Hamilton Walton’s new book, “The Enchanted Symphony” conversation with the authors, at 3 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Survivors presentation, by Wendy Kout, directed by Evie Abat, featuring Yahm Steinberg, Almanya Narula, Nyani Totty, Casey Adler, Michael Boose, and Andrew Abaria, with Sheer Aviram and Seth Keller, at 4:30 PM at LA’s Museum of Tolerance.
Death Note: The Musical in Concert, by Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy & Ivan Menchell, directed & choreographed by Nick Winston, featuring Aimie Atkinson, Rachel Clare Chan, Jessica Lee, George Maguire, Carl Man, Christian Ray Marbella, Dean John-Wilson, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes with an ensemble featuring Boaz Chad, Charlotte Coggin, Jade Copas, Eu Jin Hwang, Yojiro Ichikawa, Deena Kapadia, and Patrick Munday, closes at London’s Lyric Theatre.
A New Brain, directed by Joe Calarco, featuring Adam Chanler-Berat, Mayr Testa, Tally Sessions, Demond Green, Dorcas Leung, Salome Smith, and Justine Horihata Rappaport, closes at MA’s Barrington Stage Company.
In The Works – In The Woods Festival workshop concludes at NY’s Forestburgh Playhouse.
Josie de Guzman: Back Where I Started concert closes at NYC’s Green Room 42.
The Bridges of Madison County, directed by Hunter Foster, featuring Kate Baldwin (Francesca) and Nicholas Rodriguez (Robert), Bart Shatto (Bud), Thomas Cromer (Michael), Emily Pellecchia (Carolyn), Giuliana Augello (Marion/Chiara), Mark S. Megill (Charlie), Nikki Yarnell (Marge), and Sealth Grover (Paolo), with Natalie Myrick, Lucy Horton, Lara Hayhurst and Rutledge Varley, closes at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Monday, September 11
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), opens at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
LIVIN’ IT! — The Music of Julie Mandel FREE concert, conceived by Denise Puricelli, directed by Hannah Ryan, featuring Cassondra James, Sydney Borchers, Erica Spyres, and Nikita Burshteyn, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theater 555. 
(required) here: boxoffice@theater555.com
Linda Purl: This Could Be the Start concert, at 7 PM at NYC’s Green Room 42.
The Guys, by Anne Nelson, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy, closes at Theatre Aspen.
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Manhattan Theatre Club will present the world premiere of Jocelyn Bioh’s Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, to begin previews Oct. 12 and open Oct. 3 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Whiney White.
Somi Kakoma (Jaja), Brittany Adebumola, Maechi Aharanwa, Rachel Christopher, Kalyne Coleman, Lakisha May, Nana Mensah, Michael Oloyede, Dominique Thorne, and Zenzi Williams.
This dazzling world premiere welcomes you into Jaja’s bustling hair braiding shop in Harlem where every day, a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrant hair braiders are creating masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of their circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives and when it boils over, it forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home.
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Stevie Walker-Web will be the new Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage, as of Oct. 1.
He will succeed Interim Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin.
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LIVIN’ IT! — The Music of Julie Mandel will run Sept. 11-12 at Off-Broadway’s Theater 555, conceived by Denise Puricelli, and directed by Hannah Ryan. 
While the presentations are free, reservations are required here: boxoffice@theater555.com
Cassondra James, Sydney Borchers, Erica Spyres, and Nikita Burshteyn.
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Video: Katerina McCimmon (Funny Girl tour’s Fanny Brice) performs “Don’t Rain on My Parade”
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Antaeus Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Marlow Wyatt’s SHE, to run Oct. 15 – Nov. 20 (opening Oct. 20) at Glendale’s Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, directed by Andi Chapman.
Camille Ariana Spirlin (Sojourner Freeman), Lorenz Arnell (Davie Mansaw), Karen Malina White (Bernice), John Chaffin (Mr. Lonnie), Veronica Thompson (Miss Jane), and Gerard Joseph (Othalee).
Sojourner Freeman. Resilient and ever-optimistic, SHE overcomes her stifling small-town existence by re-imagining her reality through poetry. Her dreams take flight when she’s presented with the opportunity to attend the prestigious Vanguard Academy.
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Christine Andreas: Paris to Broadway will take place Sept. 15 & 16 (both at 7 PM) at NYC’s 54 Below.
Martin Silvestri and Charles Kirsch.
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Gingold Theatrical Group will present George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man Oct. 17 – Nov. 18 (opening Oct. 26) at Theatre Row, directed by David Staller.
Shanel Bailey, Delphi borich, Ben Davis, Keshay Moodliar, Thomas Jay Ryan, Evan Zes, and Karen Ziemba, with René Thornton Jr, and Matthew Zimmerman.
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Complete casting has been announced for the national tour of Company, to launch Oct. 8 at Schenectady’s Proctors, directed by Marianne Elliott, with choreography by Liam Steel, and music direction by Joel Fran. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
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.
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Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express will run Sept. 22 – Oct. 27 at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre, directed by Melissa Rain Anderson.
Bonnie Black (Princess Dragomiroff), Amy Bodnar (Greta Ohlsson), Andrea Morales (Mary Debenham), Robert Scott Smith (Colonel Arbuthnot / Samuel Ratchett), Anne Tolpegin (Helen Hubbard), Gisela Chípe (Countess Andrenyi), Edward Junier (Monsieur Bouc), Matthew McGloin (Hector MacQueen), Alec Ruiz (Michel the Conductor /Head Waiter), and John Tufts (Hercule Poirot).
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Casting has been announced for the return of Hadestown, to run Oct. 3-15 at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Rachel Chavkin.
Matthew Patrick Quin (Hades), J. Antonio Rodiguez (Orpheus), Amaya Braganza (Eurydice), Lana Gordon (Persephone) and Will Mann (Hermes), Matthew Patrick, Marla Louissaint (Fate), Lizzie Markson (Fate), (Hannah Schreer (Fate), with Sevon Askew, Jamal Lee Harris, Courtney Lauster, Daniel Tracht, Racquel Williams, Ian Coulter-Buford, KC Dela Cruz, Colin LeMoine and Cecilia Trippiedi.
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Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater has announced its 2023-24 season of readings, all available live & online:
Don Quixote (Oct. 3-8), at Repertorio Español (138 East 27th Street), directed by José Zayas, featuring Keith Hamilton Cobb, Darryl Gene Daughtry, Carson Elrod, Carol Halstead, Irene Sofia Lucio, Melissa Mahoney, Ismenia Mendes, Jacob Ming-Trent, Luis Moreno, David Ryan Smith and Arturo Luis Soria. Details here.
The Inn at Lydda (Nov. 13 at 7:30 PM, by John Wolfson, at Symphony Space, directed by Ben Prusiner, featuring Amir Arison, Rajesh Bose, Teagle Bougere, Leovina Charles, Anthony Michael Martinez, Alfredo Narciso, Jay O. Sanders, and Sam Tsoutsouvas. In The Inn and Lydda, the mortally ill Roman emperor Tiberius Caesar, hearing tales of a miraculous healer in the province of Judea, sets sail for Jerusalem for an audience with Jesus. Pausing en route in the nearby city of Lydda, he learns of the Nazarene’s crucifixion only a few days earlier and is devastated, not realizing that an event later known as the Resurrection will make the meeting he seeks a possibility.
The Revenge (Jan. 22, 2024, at 7:30, in person & online), by Edward Young. Additional information TBA. Zanga, a Moorish prince, wreaks revenge on Don Alonzo, the Spanish general who had captured him and murdered his father.
The Imaginary Invalid (Feb. 19 at 7:30 PM), adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Casting TBA.
Antony and Cleopatra (Mar. 25, in person only), with director and cast TBA.
The Tempest (Apr. 29). Director & cast TBA.
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Lloyd Suh’s The Far Country will run Apr. 26 – May 18, 2024 at Yale Rep, directed by Ralph B. Peña (replace Eric Ting).
Casting and additional information TBA.
In the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act, an unlikely family carries invented biographies and poems of longing on an arduous journey from rural Taishan to Angel Island Detention Center, in hopes of landing in San Francisco Bay.
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Broadway Bound: The Musicals That Never Came to Broadway will take place Fri. Oct. 13 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, featuring songs from musicals that closed out of town, co-hosted by Rob Schneider & Charles Kirsch.
Major Attaway, Allison Belinkoff, John Bolton, Mary Callanan, John Cariani, Lori Tan Chinn, Kevin Dolan, Rachel Dratch, Eric Michael Gillett, Lena Marano, Richard Maltby Jr., Eric Millegan, Estelle Parson, Christine Pedi, Michele Ragusa, Sean Stephens, and Talia Suskauer.