Today’s Highlights:
Sister Act, directed & choreographed by Denis Jones, featuring Bryonha Marie Parham (Deloris Van Cartier), Mamie Parris (Mother Superior), James T. Lane (Eddie Souther), Alan H. Green (Curtis Jackson), Thom Sesman (Monsignor O’Hara), Meredith Aleigha Wells (Mary Robert), Madeleine Doherty (Mary Lazarus), Katy Geraghty (Mary Patric), Brandon Espinoza (Pablo), Darron Hayes (TJ), Rob Colletti (Joey), and Melanie Loren (Deloris Van Cartier standby), with Lexi Baldachino, Collin J. Bradley, Michele Burdette Elmore, Brady Foley, Talya Groves, Nigel Jamal Hall, Austin Wong Harper, Anita Jackson, Zakeyia Lacey, Janna Linae, Kaitlyn Mayse, Adelina Mitchell, Lizz Picini, Amber Alexandra Rose, Ronan Ryan, Cordon Semeatu, Cameron Monroe Thomas, and Rebecca Young, opens at the St. Louis Muny.
Sammy & Me solo show, by Eric Jordan Young & Wendy Dann, starring Eric Jordan Young, opens at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: A Run for Your Money, by Jim Bernhard.
Fill in the missing words in these titles:
| 1. The Runner ____ – play by Milan Stitt | A. Wild |
| 2. Virginia Runs ____ – play by Sydney Rosenfeld | B. Deep |
| 3. The Sap Runs ____ – play by H. T. Porter and Alfred Henri White | C. Bank |
| 4. The ____ Runner – play by Matthew Spangler | D. Wife |
| 5. Still Waters Run ____ – play by Tom Taylor | E. Sheep |
| 6. Running for ____ – musical by George M. Cohan | F. Away |
|
G. Kite |
| 8. Run ____ Run – play by Raymond Knight | H. Stumbles |
| 9. Run for Your ____ – play by Ray Cooney | I. High |
| 10. A Run on the ____ – play by Charles E. Blaney | J. Office |
Scroll down for the answers…
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RIP: Tom Jones, best known for his work as the librettist and lyricist of The Fantasticks, which ran for 42 years off-Broadway, as well as other Broadway musicals including 110 in the Shade and I Do, I Do!, has passed away at 95.
With Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones wrote The Fantasticks for a summer theater at Barnard College. After its Off-Broadway opening in May 1960, it went on to become the longest-running production in the history of the American stage and one of the most frequently produced musicals in the world. Their first Broadway show, 110 in the Shade, was revived on Broadway in a new production starring Audra McDonald. I Do! I Do!, their two-character musical starring Mary Martin and Robert Preston, was a success on Broadway and is frequently produced around the country and the world. (One production, in Minneapolis, played for 22 continuous years with the same two actors in the leading roles.
For several years Jones and Schmidt worked privately at their theater workshop, concentrating on small-scale musicals in new and often untried forms. The most notable of these efforts were Celebration, which moved to Broadway, and Philemon, which won an Outer Critics Circle Award. They contributed incidental music and lyrics to the Off Broadway play Colette starring Zoe Caldwell, then later did a full-scale musical version under the title Colette Collage.
The Show Goes On, a musical revue featuring their theater songs and starring Jones and Schmidt, was presented at the York Theater, and Mirette, their musical based on the award-winning children’s book, was premiered at the Goodspeed Opera House.
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The Mischief Company’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong, directed by Adam Meggido, continues through Sept. 10 at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Bradley Whitford has joined the cast for the remainder of the run. The cast also includes Barltley Booz, Matthew Cavendish, Bianca Horn, Harry Kershaw, Chris Leask, Henry Lewis, Ellis Morris, Charlie Russell, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields, Greg Tannahill, Nancy Zamit, Stephen James Anthony, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Fred Gray, and Brenann Stacker.
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Sunset Boulevard will run Sept. 12 – Jan. 6, 2024 (opening Oct. 12) at the Savoy Theatre, directed by Jamie Lolyd.
Nicole Scherzinger (Norma), Rachel Tucker (Norma, on Mondays beginning Oct. 16), and more TBA.
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The Notebook, by Ingrid Michaelson & Bekah Brunstetter, is planning a Broadway production, to begin previews Feb. 6, 2024 and open Mar. 14 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Michael Greif & Schele Williams, with choreography by Katie Spelman.
Casting and additional information TBA.
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Video: In rehearsal for Sister Act at the Muny, directed & choreographed by Denis Jones, and featuring Bryonha Marie Parham (Deloris Van Cartier), Mamie Parris (Mother Superior), James T. Lane (Eddie Souther), Alan H. Green (Curtis Jackson), Thom Sesman (Monsignor O’Hara), Meredith Aleigha Wells (Mary Robert), Madeleine Doherty (Mary Lazarus), Katy Geraghty (Mary Patric), Brandon Espinoza (Pablo), Darron Hayes (TJ), Rob Colletti (Joey), and Melanie Loren (Deloris Van Cartier standby), with Lexi Baldachino, Collin J. Bradley, Michele Burdette Elmore, Brady Foley, Talya Groves, Nigel Jamal Hall, Austin Wong Harper, Anita Jackson, Zakeyia Lacey, Janna Linae, Kaitlyn Mayse, Adelina Mitchell, Lizz Picini, Amber Alexandra Rose, Ronan Ryan, Cordon Semeatu, Cameron Monroe Thomas, and Rebecca Young.
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Towards Zero, adapted by Agatha Christie & Gerald Verner, will run Sept. 21 – Oct. 22 (Thursdays – Saturdays) at Theatre 40 (link TBA), directed by Craig Hissong.
John Combs, Katyana Rocker Cook, Christopher Franciosa, Hisato Matsuyama, Michael Mullen, Kristin Towers Rowles, Jeremy Schaye, Michele Schultz, Holly Sidell and David Hunt Stafford.
A killer is at large. Can you guess whodunit? When a house party gathers at Gull’s Point, the seaside home of Lady Tressilian, Neville Strange finds himself caught between his old wife Audrey and his new flame Kay. A nail-biting thriller, the play probes the psychology of jealousy in the shadow of a savage and brutal murder. Superintendent Battle and his nephew are called in. A carefully unpeeled investigation before our eyes brings the story to a pointed ending.
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An encore run of A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters will take place this Fall at Irish Rep, directed by John Tillinger.
(rotating):
Cast One: Matthew Broderick & Talia Balsam (Sept. 5-8)
Cast Two: J. Smith-Cameron & Victor Garber (Sept. 19-24)
Cast Three: Brook Shields & John Slattery (Sept. 27 – Oct. 1)
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Jenn Colella: Out and Proud will run Sept. 28-29 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
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The lead role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard will be shared by 2 actresses at the Savoy Theatre, directed by Jamie Loyd. The musical begins previews Sept. 21 and opens Oct. 12.
Nicole Scherzinger stars in the musical, with Rachel Tucker performing Mondays Oct. 16 – Jan. 6, 2024. Complete casting TBA.
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Spamalot will begin previews Oct. 31 and open Nov. 16 at the St. James Theatre, directed & choreographed by Josh Rhodes, with music direction by John Bell.
Christopher Fitzgerald (Patsy), James Monroe Igelart (Kin Arthur), Leslie Rodrigues Krtitzer (Lady of the Lake), Ethan Slater (Historian/Prince Herbert), Jimmy Smagula (Sir Bedevere), Michael Urie (Sir Robin), Nik Walker (Sir Galahad), and more TBA.
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Video: Broadway’s Back to the Future performs “Only a Matter of Time”
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Write Out Loud: From Contest to Concert Volume 5, will take place Mon. Sept. 25 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, hosted by Taylor Louderman, with music direction by Alex “Goldie” Golden.
Performers TBA.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: A Run for Your Money
1-H. The Runner Stumbles– play by Milan Stitt
2-F. Virginia Runs Away – play by Sydney Rosenfeld
3-I. The Sap Runs High – play by H. T. Porter and Alfred Henri White
4-G. The Kite Runner – play by Matthew Spangler
5-B. Still Waters Run Deep – play by Tom Taylor
6-J. Running for Office – musical by George M. Cohan
7-A. Runnin’ Wild – musical by James P. Johnson, F. E. Miller, Aubrey Lyles, and Cecil Mack
8-E. Run Sheep Run – play by Raymond Knight
9-D. Run for Your Wife – play by Ray Cooney
10-C. A Run on the Bank – play by Charles E. Blaney