Today’s Highlights:
Red Bull Theater‘s 20th Anniversary Festival, offering all-star performances of Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and more, opens at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
Scarlett Dreams, written & directed by S. Asher Gelman, featuring Brittany Bellizeare (Liza, Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Kevin), Caroline Lellouche (Scarlett), and Borris Anthony York (Milo), opens at Off-Broadway’s Greenwich House Theatre.
MCC Theater‘s MisCast24 benefit concert, featuring Gavin Creel, Brian d’Arcy James, Tyne Daly, Ingrid Michaelson, Lauren Patten, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Anika Noni Rose, Lea Salonga, Ryan Vasquez, Vanessa Williams, and Joy Woods, at 6 PM at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Roundabout Theatre‘s Kristin: An Evening With Friends for Todd benefit concert, directed & choreographed by Warren Carlyle, featuring Laura Benanti, Victoria Clark, Peter Gallagher, Jane Krakowski, Debra Monk, Kelli O’Hara, Vanessa Williams, with Philip Attmore, Rick Faugno, Drew King, and Richard Riaz Yoder, at 7:30 PM at Broadway’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
Broadway for Self Help Africa benefit concert, with music direction by Jacob Yate, featuring Daniel Assetta, Tristen Buettel, Brandon Contreras, Keri Rene Fuller, Kasie Gasparini, Mia Gerachis, Alexa Green, Jessica Hendy, Kolby Kindle, Gracie McGraw, CJ Pawlikowski, Ryann Redmond, Jelani Remy, Shae Rene, Carolina Rial, Emily Schultheis, Antoine L. Smith, B Noel Thomas, Brook Wood, and Alyssa Wray, at 7 PM at NYC’s Cutting Room.
York Theater presents Liz Callaway: Their Story Goes On: A Musical Celebration of the York benefit concert, with music direction by Alex Rybeck, at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jeans.
Red Bull Theater‘s How Shakespeare Saved My Life reading, written & performed by Jacob Ming-Trent, directed by Karen Ann Daniels, at 7:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.
Porchlight Music Theatre‘s Chicago Sings Broadway Pop II concert, directed by Michael Weber & Frankie Leo Bennett, featuring Neala Barron, Darilyn Burtley , Devin DeSantis, Tafadzwa Diener, Kelly Felthous, Desiree Gonzalez, Becky Keeshin, Nik Kmiecik Eric Lewis, Evan Tyrone Martin, David Moreland , Juwon Tyrel Perry, Billy Rude, Bethany Thomas, Aeriel Williams, Missy Wise Vanderzee, Emily Ling Mei, Nataki Rennie, and Jerod Turner, at 7 PM at Chicago’s House of Blues.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz: And Who? by Jim Bernhard
Match these pairs in the titles of plays and musicals:
| 1. Mack & ____, musical by Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman | A. Francesca |
| 2. Nick & ____, musical by Arthur Laurents, Charles Strouse, and Richard Maltby Jr | B. Clinton |
| 3. Romanoff and ____, play by Peter Ustinov | C. Mabel |
| 4. Charlie and ____, musical by David Rogers and Charles Strouse | D. Melisande |
| 5. Horowitz and ____, play by Henry Denker | E. The Angel |
| 6. Paolo and ____, play by Stephen Phillips | F. Nora |
| 7. Pelleas and____, play by Maurice Maeterlinck | G. Algernon |
| 8. Susan and ____, play by Rachel Crothers | H. Mrs. Washington |
| 9. Tobias and ____, play by James Bridie | I. Juliet |
| 10. Hillary and ____, play by Lucas Hnath | J. God |
Scroll down for the answers…
**********************
Reviews for Lempicka at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre:
NY Times (Jesse Green): …A machine because it argues, with streamlined efficiency, that in her groundbreaking portraits of the 1920s and ’30s, Lempicka forever changed the representation of women in art, and thus changed women themselves… Among the values compromised in the grinding of the musical’s gears are subtlety, complexity and historical precision… Does that matter in a musical that admits it is “inspired” by life, not faithful to it? Are there perhaps greater values than truth in play? Because yes, another reason the show is a “monster” is that it’s a jolly big sing, with superior belting from several excellent practitioners of the craft. As Lempicka, Eden Espinosa blows thrillingly through nearly a dozen songs. She has excellent company in Amber Iman as Lempicka’s lover Rafaela and Beth Leavel as a dying baroness who sits for a portrait…
Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones): Say the words “Art Deco” and most people think of buildings and Miami Beach hotels. But those words also apply to the chic, tubular paintings of the artist Tamara de Lempicka, the title character of the fervently ambitious but chaotically conflicted musical from the writer-lyricist Carson Kreitzer and the composer Matt Gould… it’s always hard to make painters and their work sing and dance unless you’ve got more reason than is apparent here… This potentially appealing show would have sat more easily as a feminist, non-musical drama in a less pressured space, where the director, Rachel Chavkin, and the performers, all too aware of their need to liven up this clunky bio-musical, did not have to push so darn hard… These are among the most overwrought and uncentered performances of the Broadway musical season so far, even though they come from some of the most talented actors…
Variety (Frank Rizzo): To the list of larger-than-life, survivalist women in musical theater, add Tamara de Lempicka — but with an asterisk… a long-in-development but still uneven musical… Certainly Eden Espinosa, starring in the title role, brings both luminosity and strength to her powerful performance as the ambitious, visionary and resilient artist known for capturing the women of her day in an aspirational light: perfectly poised, coiffed and seemingly glowing from within. But the musical’s titular character is not so polished. Rather she’s a complicated woman — to a fault. This might not be as much of a concern in a thick biography, but it’s harder to convey successfully in a musical where a clearer line is needed as it follows epochs of life, society and art…
Theatermania (Christian Lewis): A musical about a mid-20th century female painter you’ve probably never heard of sounds like a hard sell. But the life of artist Tamara de Lempicka makes fascinating fodder for writers Carson Kreitzer (concept, book, and lyrics) and Matt Gould (music/book)… t’s hard not to feel disappointed by her [Rachel Chavkin] latest creation, which lacks her signature touches. Gone is the cohesive but daring aesthetic, the evocative stage pictures, and the marvelous ensemble work…
**********************
Jan Silverman’s The Roommate will begin previews & open in Sept. (dates TBA) at the Booth Theatre (link TBA), directed by Jack O’Brien.
Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow.
Sharon, in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.
**********************
Varla Jean Merman’s Stand By Your Drag will take place Sun. Apr. 28 at 4 & 7 PM at TheaterWorks Hartford.
**********************
Michelle Tyrene Johnson’s The Green Book Wine Club Train Trip will run Apr. 19 – May 5 at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble, directed by Jazmine Nichelle.
Dominique Howard, Princess Ja’Net, Brieyonna Monét, Jazmine Nichelle, Elena Nicholson, and Tasia Williams.
During a weekend train trip with her wine and book club, Marie accidentally time travels to the 1940s, where she stays in a boarding house mentioned in her grandmother’s copy of “The Negro Motorist’s Green Book.” Not only has she traveled to Jim Crow Missouri, but she also finds herself staying in a boarding house that is actually a bordello, and where one of the working girls might be someone she knows.
**********************
Industry readings of Jonothon Lyons & Ben Bonnema’s The Apple Boys will take place Apr. 25 & 26 at NYC’s Open Jar Studios, directed by David Alpert, with music supervision by Rona Siddiqui.
Alex Gibson, Jelani Remy, Emily Skeggs, and Teddy Yudain.
A comedy set in turn-of-the-century Coney Island. When Jack, the grandson of Johnny Appleseed, sets out to save his family apple orchard with the help of hot dog magnate Nathan, strongman Warren, and aspiring roller coaster designer Hank, the unlikely friends are transformed by their collaboration.
**********************
California’s La Mirada Theatre (link TBA) has announced its 2024-25 season (casting and creative teams TBA):
Waitress (Sept. 20 – Oct. 13)
Fiddler on the Roof (Nov. 8 – Dec. 1)
The Play That Goes Wrong (Jan. 24 – Feb. 16, 2025)
Legally Blonde (Apr. 25 – May 18)
Frozen (June 6-29)
**********************
“My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert” will be released May 31 on all platforms.
Joanna Ampil, Michael Ball, Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Friedman,Audra McDonald, Julian Ovenden, Lucy St. Louis, Aaron Tveit, Marisha Wallace, and Patrick Wilson, with Anna-Jane Casey, Lily Kerhoas, Jonny Labey, Jordan Shaw, and more.
**********************
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends will run Feb. 28 – Mar. 9 2025 at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre …. then transfer to Broadway with previews beginning Mar. 25, 2025, with an opening date TBA, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, co-directed by Matthew Bourne & Julia McKenzie, with choreography by Stephen Mear.
Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, and more TBA.
**********************
Off-Broadway’s Red Bull Theater will present workshop performances of Macbeth on Sat. Apr. 20 (at 7:30 PM) and Sun. Apr. 21 (at 1 PM) at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center, directed by Nathan Winkelstein.
Jason Bowen, Jason C. Brown, Leovina Charles, Stephen Moyer, Kristine Nielsen, Jason O’Connell, Olivia Reis, Miriam Silverman, Derek Smith, Zuzanna Szadkowski, and Raphael Nash Thompson.
**********************
Open-Door Playhouse, which presents short plays in podcast form, will debut Grace, written & performed by Sandra Cruze, on May 14, directed by Bernadette Armstrong .
In the late 1960s, Grace has become a teen mom at 16. Her daughter has been taken away from her, against her will. Her boyfriend, the little girl’s father, has been killed on the battlefield while serving in Vietnam. Now, Grace is determined to do whatever is necessary to get her daughter back. First, Grace will have a reckoning with her own mother.
**********************
Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day will begin previews Nov. 25 and open on a date TBA at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by Anna D. Shapiro.
Casting TBA.
The play centers on a private elementary school in California that is forced to reconsider its liberal vaccine policy following an outbreak of the mumps.
**********************
Manhattan Theatre Club will present Erika Sheffer’s Vladimir at New York City Center, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Previews begin Sept. 24, with and opening date TBA.
TBA.
Set in Moscow, the play follows an independent journalist — covering Putin’s first term — who lands a potentially explosive story that could affect her career and life.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: And Who?
1-C. Mack & Mabel
2-F. Nick & Nora
3-I. Romanoff and Juliet
4-G. Charlie and Algernon
5-H. Horowitz and Mrs. Washington
6-A. Paolo and Francesca
7-D. Pelleas and Melisande
8-J. Susan and God
9-E. Tobias and the Angel
10-B. Hillary and Clinton