Today’s Highlights:
Good Night Oscar, by Doug Wright, directed by Lisa Peterson, featuring Sean Hayes (Oscar Levant), Emily Bergl, (June Levant), Peter Grosz (Bob Sarnoff), Ben Rappaport (Jack Paar), and John Zdrojeski (George Gershwin), with Marchant Davis, Alex Wyse, Sam Bell-Gurwitz, Postell Pringle, and Max Roll, opens at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre.
Songs From Cabaret: Symphony Space’s 2023 Spring Gala, directed by Annette Jolles & Joel Fram, hosted by Danny Burstein, featuring Adrianna Hicks, Heath Saunders, Jeff Dready, Carolee Carmello, and Steven Skybell, with jerusha Cavazos, Dan Domench, Brian Flores, Marina Kondo, Sarah Meahl, Samantha Pollino, Christian Brobst, Alanna Saunders, and Emma Stratton, at 8 PM at NYC’s Symphony Space.
Easter Bonnet Competition benefit, in support of BC/EFA, directed by Paul Smith, featuring Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot); Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo); Micaela Diamond and Ben Platt (Parade); Bongi Duma and Lindiwe Dlamini (The Lion King); Kimberly Marable (Chicago); Stark Sands (& Juliet); Will Swenson (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical); and the current queens of Broadway’s Six: Bella Coppola, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Zoe Jensen, Taylor Imán Jones, Nasia Thomas, and Hailee Kaleem Wright, at 4:30 PM at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre (also Apr. 25 at 2 PM).
Eurydice benefit reading, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters, featuring Stephanie Hsu (Eurydice), Bill Irwin(Eurydice’s Father, Tom Sturridge (Orpheus), and Wallace Shawn (A Nasty Interesting Man/The Lord of the Underworld), with Cyril Creighton, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Heather Alicia Simms, at 6:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
Chita Rivera in conversation with Nathan Lane about the release of her new book, “Chita: A Memoir,” at 7 PM at NYC’s Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center (10 East 66th Street). 
here (ticket include a copy of the book)
John Forster in Concert: Too Clever by 20%, with special guest Julie Gold, at 7 PM at NYC’s Don’t Tell Mama (also May 1).
Karen Akers: About Time concert, directed by Sara Louise Lazarus, with music direction by Alex Rybeck. at 7 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Who’s Speaking? by Jim Bernhard
Match these voice roles in Broadway shows with the actors:
| 1. The Voice of Mr. Ziegfeld in The Will Rogers Follies | A. Bob Hope |
| 2. The Voice of the Narrator in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1995) | B. John Cleese |
| 3. FDR’s Voice in Flora, the Red Menace | C. Robert Prosky |
| 4. Voice of the Judge in Twelve Angry Men | D. Anderson Cooper |
| 5. The Voice of Friendship in Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 | E. Jeffrey Wright |
| 6. Stadium Voice in Damn Yankees | F. Gregory Peck |
| 7. Voice of God in Spamalot | G. Will Jordan |
| 8. The Voice of the Narrator in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011) | H. Art Carney |
| 9. The Voice in Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk | I. Walter Cronkite |
| 10. Ed Sullivan’s Voice in Bye Bye Birdie | J. Mel Allen |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Reviews for Prima Facie at Broadway’s Golden Theatre:
NY Times (Jesse Green): The neon image of a louche Lady Justice, in an electric blue robe and a hot pink mask, greets the audience at the Golden Theater as if the place were a strip joint for lawyers. In a way it is, at least while Prima Facie…is playing there. Over the course of the one-woman, 100-minute play, we watch a barrister — the story takes place in England — remove every piece of psychological armor from the women she cross-examines in sexual assault cases, then see the same armor stripped from her when she becomes a victim herself… Its star, Jodie Comer, late of “Killing Eve,” gives a performance of tremendous skill and improbable stamina, especially considering it is her first stage appearance. The production, directed by Justin Martin, is chic and accessible…
NY Daily News (Chris Jones): Jodie Comer, famous for her work on the British TV series “Killing Eve,” offers up a stunning performance [in]a taut and gripping legal thriller by Suzie Miller that offers compelling evidence on how to forge a solo show that can blow an audience away on Broadway… Lesson one: Cast an empathetic actor capable of revealing multiple colors and emotions, at once capable of driving the narrative forward but also deeply vulnerable to what befalls her character… Her [Jodie Comer] demonstrable range is utterly formidable… This is the system, Comer’s Liverpudlian character Tessa tells herself. Doing my job as a barrister. Moving on up from my working-class origins. Nothing personal. Until it becomes deeply personal, which is what this show is all about. Lesson three: A solo show does not have to be theatrically dull.
New York Stage Review (Elysa Gardner): Can you have a compelling case of “he said, she said” without the “he said”? Or to identify the dilemma raised by Suzie Miller’s new play, Prima Facie, more specifically, can an accusation of sexual assault be fairly judged if we hear only the plaintiff’s side, and not the defendant’s? These are far more delicate and complicated questions than they were even a few years ago, of course… the play is set in the U.K., where it premiered last year—who by this point, after a date that went terribly wrong, has become the complainant in a rape trial. The irony of this development is enhanced by the fact that Tessa, played in an astonishing stage debut by the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning actress Jodie Comer…
New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck): The “Killing Eve” star makes a triumphant Broadway debut… Comer instantly affirms herself as a top-rank theater performer with this dynamic star turn… You think that the actress couldn’t possibly sustain that level of intensity for the rest of the evening. But she does, infusing the often-stodgy monologue form with a relentless physicality that proves compelling from first minute to last. Even more miraculously, she neither wears out the audience’s energy nor her own.
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RIP: Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna) has passed away at the age of 89.
Over the course of his seven-decade-long career, Mr. Humphries created and performed as several satirical characters in addition to his notorious “Dame Edna Everage,” such as “Sir Les Patterson,” “Sandy Stone,” “Barry McKenzie,” and many more. His characters largely served as social commentary on Australian culture.
From a very early age, Mr. Humphries found joy in performing and playing dress-up in his family’s garden, earning the nickname “Sunny Sam” for his cheerful disposition. Throughout his early life, he was an avid reader, painter, and theatre fan. As he reached his teen years, he found himself dismayed by the lack of interest in art and creativity within the mundane constraints of suburban life. It was this observation that would later inspire the character of “Dame Edna,” who originally was a satirical representation of Australian suburban housewives, but became more outlandish in her fashion and personality throughout the years.
Humphries’ numerous stage appearances include his role in the original Broadway company of Oliver! as Mr. Sowerberry. He also brought his comedy special Dame Edna: The Royal Tour to Broadway in Oct. 1999, winning a Special Tony Award for a Live Theatrical Event at the 54th Annual Tony Awards.
He returned to Broadway in 2004 with Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance, and brought the character back in 2010 with All About Me, which also featured original songs co-written with Michael Feinstein. Mr. Humphries is survived by his wife Lizzie Spender and his four children.
In addition to his stage and screen success, Mr. Humphries penned many books throughout this career, including two autobiographies (“My Life As Me” and “More Please”).
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Private industry readings of Danny Curtis’ Final Day? The Musical will take place Mon. May 22 at 2 & 6 PM at NYC’s The Dramatist Guild, directed by Lou Scarpati, with music direction by Richard Danley. For reservations and more information, email finaldaythemusical@gmail.com.
Adrienne Haan and William Michals, with Kevin Bapp, Mark Bogosian, Danny Curtis, Jonathan Dickson, and Michael Townsend Wright.
The dramatic musical takes place on the final day of WWII in Europe, in a secret research laboratory of “The Uranium Project) (“Das Uranprojekt”), Germany’s attempt to build a Nuclear Bomb. Star-crossed lovers, a German soldier and a Jewis woman await liberation, but the Commandant has orders to eliminate everyone. Their love story began before the war. It may continue or it may end on the Final Day?
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Cambridge’s A.R.T. has announced that its 2023 Gala will take place Mon. May 8 at 6 PM at Allston, MA’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center. Additional information TBA.
Shoshana Bean
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RIP: Duane Poole, writer of “Hart to Hart” died on Apr. 1 at the age of 74, due to cancer.
Born on Sept. 15, 1948, in Prescott, Ariz., Poole was awarded first runner-up in the Gerber Baby Photo Search, marking the beginning of his career in show business.
Additional TV writing credits include “The Love Boat, “Lottery!,” “Glitter” and “Hotel.” Duane also contributed to children’s programs, such as “The Great Grape Ape,” A Flintstones Christmas,” “The Smurfs,” “Electra Woman and Dyna Girl,” “Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo,” Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “C.H.O.M.P.S.”
Duane served as a librettist for many theatrical adaptions, including A Christmas Memory, Scrooge in Love and Dorian: A New Musical.
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The world premiere of Harrison Harvey’s Jack Craddock is Having a Party will run May 12 – June 4 at Moving Arts Theatre, directed by Rachel McBath.
Erick Patrick Harper, Sally Hughes, Andy Schirmeister, and Morgan Thompson.
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Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine continues through June 3 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, directed by Matthew Dunster.
Sheridan Smith
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Steve Ross: They All Fall in Love will take place Mon. May 15 at 7 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
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The cast album for the Broadway production of Tom Kitt & Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous is now available on most platforms.
Chris Wood, Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling, Rob Colletti, and introduced Casey Likes. The company included Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Claire Kwon, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Kevin Trinio Perdido, Andrew Poston, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee.
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Broadway World’s 20th Anniversary Concert will take place Sun. May 28 at 8 PM at NYC’s Sony Hall, hosted by Chita Rivera & Richard Ridge, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, with choreography by Baayork Lee & Kyle Garvin, and music direction by Keven Stites.
Shoshana Bean, Laura Benanti, Liz Callaway, Mario Cantone, Jenn Colella, Kurt Domoney, Myles Frost, Debbie Gibson, Olivia Hardy, Brittney Johnson, Constantine Maroulis, Howard McGillin, Donn McKechnie, Orfeh, Seth Rudetsky, Marc Shaiman, Christopher Sieber, Blair St. Clair, Paulo Szot, Elizabeth Teeter, Natalie Toro, Jessica Vosk, Josh Walden, and some special surprises.
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Speakeasy Stage‘s The Prom will run May 5 – June 10 (opening May 10) at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion, directed by Paul Daigneault, with music direction by Paul S. Katz, and choreography by Taavon Gamble.
Mary Callanan, Johnny Kuntz, Amy Barker,Emily Cochrane, Abriel Coleman, Nate Haydel, Tori Heinlein, Liesie Kelly, Meagan Lewis-Michelson, Nolan Montgomery, Brogan Nelson, Nicholas Joseph C. Ochoa, Nina Osso, Anthony Pires, Jr., Victor Carrillo Tracey, Jared Troilo, and Lisa Yuen.
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Jonathan Hogue’s A Stranger Sings continues through May 7 at Playhouse 46, directed by Nick Flatto.
Jamir Brown (Lucas), Jeremiah Garcia (Dustin), Caroline Huerta (Joyce/Will), Jeffrey Laughrun (Mike), Garrett Poladian (Steve/Jonathan), Harley Seger (Eleven/Nancy), SLee (Barb), and Shawn W. Smith (Hopper), with Jean Christian Barry), Dashiell Gregory, and Hannah Clarke Levine.
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The world premiere of Harrison Harvey’s Jack Craddock Is Having a Party will run May 12 – June 4 at the Moving Arts Theatre, directed by Rachel McBath.
Eric Patrick Harper, Sally Hughes, Andy Schirmeister, and Morgan Thompson.
A comedy of contemporary manners set over the course of one turbulent evening. In an Austin, TX apartment haunted by a recent calamity, the unheralded homecoming of a mythic frat star heartthrob brings simmering tensions among ta tangled group of friends and ex-lovers to a rolling boil.
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London’s Menier Chocolate Factory has announced the remainder of its 2023 season. Casting, creative teams and additional details TBA.
The Third Man (June 10 – Sept. 9, opening June 19), world premiere by George Fenton, Christopher Hampton & Don Black, directed by Trevor Nunn. The musical is set in post-war Vienna as Holly Martins arrives at the invitation of his friend and hero, Harry Lime, only to discover that Harry has been killed in a car accident.
Close Up – The Twiggy Musical (Sept. 18 – Nov. 18, opening Sept. 27) world premiere written & directed by Ben Elton. The story of a kid from Neasden who became the most famous teenager on the planet and the face of the 1960s.
Pacific Overtures (Nov. 25 – Feb. 25, 2024), directed by Matthew White.
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Amanda McBroom: Up Close and Personal will take place Sat. May 13 at 7 PM at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre, with music direction by Michele Brourman.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Who’s Speaking?
1-F. The Voice of Mr. Ziegfeld in The Will Rogers Follies – Gregory Peck
2-I. The Voice of the Narratorin How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1995) – Walter Cronkite
3-H. FDR’s Voice in Flora, the Red Menace – Art Carney
4-C. Voice of the Judge in Twelve Angry Men – Robert Prosky
5-A. The Voice of Friendship in Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 – Bob Hope
6-J. Stadium Voice in Damn Yankees – Mel Allen
7-B. Voice of God in Spamalot – John Cleese
8-D. The Voice of the Narrator in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011) – Anderson Cooper
9-E. The Voice in Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk – Jeffrey Wright
10-G. Ed Sullivan’s Voice in Bye Bye Birdie – Will Jordan