Today’s Highlights:
King Hedley II, by August Wilson, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, featuring Aaron Jennings (King), Veralyn Jones (Ruby), Kacie Rogers (Tonya), and Evan Lewis Smith (Mister), Ben Cain (Elmore), and Gerald C. Ribers (Stool Pigeon), opens at Pasadena’s A Noise Within.
Cabararet at the Kit Kat Club, directed by Rebecca Frecknall, featuring Eddie Redmayne (Emcee), Gayle Rankin (Sally Bowles), Bebe Neuwirth (Fraulein Schneider), Ato Blankson-Wood (Cliff Bradshaw), Steven Skybell (Herr Schultz), Henry Gottfried (Ernst Ludwig), Natascia Diaz (Fraulen Kost/Fritzie), Gabi Campo (Frenchie), Ayla Ciccone-Burton (Helga), Colin Cunliffe (Hans), Marty Lauter (Victor), Loren Lester (Herman/Max), David Merino (Lulu), Julian Ramos (Bobby), MiMi Scardulla (Texas), and Paige Smallwood (Rosie), with Hannah Florence, Pedro Garza, Christian Kidd, Corinne Munsch, Chloé Nadson-Enriquez, and Karl Skyler Urban … along with the Prologue Company, which includes Alaïa, Will Ervin Jr., Sun Kim, Bryan Longchamp, Deja McNair, Ida Saki, and Spencer Weidie, begins previews at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre.
Patriots, by Peter Morgan, directed by Rupert Goold, featuring Michael Stuhlbarg (Boris Berezovsky), Will Keen (Putin), Luke Thallon (Roman Abramovich), Stella Baker (Marina Litvinenko), Ronald Guttman (Professor Perelman), and Alex Hurt (Alexander Litvinenko), begins previews at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Classics Gone Mad! 2024 benefit concert, directed by Cara Akselrad & Eric Ulloa, hosted by Jackie Cox, featuring Julie Benko, L Morgan Lee, Jose Llana, Bonnie Milligan, Jelani Remy, The Skivvies, Claybourne Elder, Krysta Rodriguez, Elad Kabilio, Anne Fraser Thomas, and Jessica Vosk, at 7 PM at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage.
Comedy Tonight! A Roast of Lee Roy Reams concert, both live & livestreamed, directed by Jim Brochu, featuring Jim Brochu, Mary Callanan, Melissa Errico, Penny Fuller, Anita Gillette, Judy Kaye, Karen Mason, Pamela Myers, Billy Stritch, and more, With a special video appearance from Nathan Lane and Brandon Maggart. at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
“The American Musical: Evolution of an Art Form” book, by Ben West, released on most platforms.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Where’s Shakespeare? by Jim Bernhard
Match these Shakespearean plays with their locales:
| 1. Measure for Measure | A. Troy |
| 2. The Comedy of Errors | B. Athens |
| 3. Much Ado About Nothing | C. Sicilia and Bohemia |
| 4. Love’s Labour’s Lost | D. Ephesus |
| 5. A Midsummer Night’s Dream | E. Illyria |
| 6. Twelfth Night | F, Venice And Cyprus |
| 7. The Winter’s Tale | G. Vienna |
| 8. Othello | H. Verona and Mantua |
| 9. Troilus and Cressida | I. Messina |
| 10. Romeo and Juliet | J. Navarre |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Ann Kittredge: Romantic Notions album release concert will take place Tues. May 14 at 5:30 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
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Initial casting has been announced for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which will run June 13 – July 14 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, directed by Zhailon Levingston & Bill Rauch, with choreography by Arturo Lyons & Omari Wiles, and music direction by William Waldrop.
Baby (Victoria), Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie), Emma Sofia Caymares (Skinbleshanks), André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy), Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger), Antwayn Hopper (Macavity), Dudney Joseph Jr. as (Munkustrap), Ballroom DJ Capital Kaos (DJ), Junior LaBeija (Gus), Robert Mason (Mistoffelees), Chasity Moore (Grizabella), Shereen Pimentel (Jellylorum), Primo (Tumblebrutus), Nora Schell (Bustopher Jones), Garnet Williams (Bombalurina), and Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub), with Tara Lashan Clinkscales, Frank Viveros, Dava Huesca, Kendall G. Stroud, and Dominique Lee, with more TBA.
A re-imagining of Cats, inspired by the Ballroom culture in New York City over 50 years ago that still rages on runways around the world. The show will be staged as an immersive competition.
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Stages St. Louis has announced its 2024 season. Casting and creative teams TBA.
Steel Magnolias (May 31 – June 30), directed by Paige Price.
Newsies (July 26 – Aug. 25), directed by Steve Bebout.
Ragtime (Sept. 20 – Oct. 20)
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MCC Theater‘s Miscast24 concert will take place live on Mon. Apr. 15 at 7 PM at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom, followed by a worldwide digital broadcast (via Digital Broadcast) Apr. 29 – May 5.
Jason Robert Brown and Nicole Suazo.
Gavin Creel, Leslie Rodriguez, Brian D’acy James, Lea Salanga, Ingrid Michaelson, Ryan Vasquez, Wayne Brady, Amber Iman, Mykal Kilgor, and Jinkx Monsoon.
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Raja Feather Kelly’s The Fires will run May 8 – June 16 (opening May 21) at SoHo Rep, directed by Kelly.
Beau Badu (Eli), Sheldon Best (Sam), Phillip James Brannon (Jay), Janelle McDermoth (Rowan), Ronald Peet (George/Sean/Kayne), Jon-Michael Reese (Maurice), Jason Beasey (Billy/Reggie), and Michelle Wilson (Leslie).
In 1971, 1998, and 2021, three different men in a South Brooklyn railroad apartment write, read, flirt, eat, and fight at the same time.
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Happy Hour: The Songs of Carter McPherson will take place Mon. Apr. 29 at 9:30 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, directed by Devi Peot, with music direction by Cater McPherson.
Rayven Bailey, Caleb Barnett, Dan Berry, Hoke Faser, Lily Kren, Ashlyn Maddox, Jimin Moon, Madison Thompson, and Alyssa Wray.
Set in your neighborhood bar, the piece examines the problems of eleven bar patrons, each with an issue and solution as distinct as they are. Happy Hour runs the musical gamut. Whether you fancy a classic torch song, ‘50s rock, an ‘80s Bond theme, or the soundtrack to your favorite French film, there’s something on the menu for everybody.
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The world premiere of Julia Blauvelt’s The Two Hander will run Apr. 18 – May 12 at New Jersey Rep, directed by Suzanne Barabas.
Ella Dershowitz and Jill Eikenberry.
Therapy first-timer Claire is reluctant to undergo psychotherapy. After a few sessions with Diana, her unorthodox, sharp-witted therapist, a fragile trust begins to form between the two, a trust that will easily turn to betrayal.
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Victoria Lavan: Dance Me to the End of Love will take place Sat. Apr. 27 at at 8 PM at LA’s Theatre West, directed by Brooks Almy.
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The Drowsy Chaperone will run Apr. 5 – May 12 at Boston’s Lyric Stage Company, directed & choreographed by Larry Sousa.
Joy Clark, Yasmeen Duncan, Kristian Espiritu, Danny Feldman, Maureen Keiller, Mark Linehan, Cristhian Mancinas-García, Paul Melendy, Katie Pickett, Nick Potts, Ilyse Robbins, Kathy St. George, Carolyn Saxon, Damon Singletary, Jared Troilo, and Todd Yar.
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Dance Lab New York will launch its Dance Lab Choreography Symposium, to take place June 8-9.
Chip Abbott, Josh Bergasse, Al Blackstone, Hope Boykin, Amanda Castro, Chloe Davis, Lucille DiCampli, Liam Francis, Karla Puno Garcia, Christopher Gattelli, Francisco Graciano, JoAnn M. Hunter, Rick Kuperman, Jeff Kuperman, Lorin Latarro, Dario Natarelli, Nubian NéNé, Ellenore Scott, Ali Solomon, Troy Schumacher, Katie Spelman, Maria Torres, and Brooke Wendle.
The program will consist of lectures, panel discussions, interactive learning labs, and social gatherings, all with the opportunity to engage with guest artists and fellow Symposium participants. Sessions will include topics suitable for choreographers from beginner to professional, such as “How to Trust Your Creative Instincts,” “Establishing Healthy Collaborations,” “The Secret to Great Resumes and Reels,” and “Tips on Making Dance for the Camera.” There will also be “Spotlight” opportunities, where choreographers will be invited to create and present work in real time for feedback and discussion.
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The world premiere of The Hours are Feminine, written & directed by José Rivera, will run May 11 – June 9 (opening May 20) at the Intar Theatre.
Maribel Martínez (Evalisse), Hiram Delgado (Fernán), Donovan Monzon Sanders as Jaivín, Sara Koviak as Mirella, Robert Montano as Little Anthony, and Dan Grimaldi as Charlie.
The autobiographical play explores female friendship and the price of assimilation through the lens of a Puerto Rican family of three following Hurricane Donna’s devastation in 1960.
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Ken Page: Right Here, Right Now will take place Wed. Apr. 3 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
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The J2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company will present Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green & Garsin Kanin’s Do Re Mi Apr. 19-28 at the AMT Theater, directed by Robert W. Schneider, with choreography by Andrew Winans, and music direction bMiles Plant.
Ian Lowe (Huey Cramm), Rebecca Spigelman (Kay Cramm), Caitlin Belcik (Tilda Wheeler), Tyler Okunski (Wheeler), Erick Michael Gillett (Fatso), John Leone (Skin), and Richard Rowas (Brains), with Caleb Funk, Mallory Nolting, and Kaylee Verble.
A minor-league con man decides to go (somewhat) straight by moving into the legitimate business of juke boxes and music promotion.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Where’s Shakespeare?
1-G. Measure for Measure – Vienna
2-D. The Comedy of Errors – Ephesus
3-I. Much Ado About Nothing – Messina
4-J. Love’s Labour’s Lost – Navarre
5-B. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Athens
6-E. Twelfth Night – Illyria
7-C. The Winter’s Tale – Sicilia and Bohemia
8-F. Othello – Venice and Cyprus
9-A. Troilus and Cressida – Troy
10-H. Romeo and Juliet – Verona and Mantua