Today’s Highlights:
Broadway Sings Whitney Houston concert, directed by Corey Mach, featuring Shoshana Bean, Aisha Jackson, Alex Newell, Kathryn Allison, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Ben Fankhauser, Amber Iman, Aisha Jackson, Corey Mach, Stephanie Torns, Raena White, Angela Birchett, Kayla Davion, Charity Angél Dawson, Kerie René Fuller, and Raena White, at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Sony Hall.
At This Performance concert (in-person & livestreamed), hosted by Stephen DeAngelis, with music direction by Eugene Gwozdz featuring Jordan Barbour, Delphi Broich, Ethan Lafazan, Martin Landry, Jay McKenzie, and Diane Phelan, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Green Room 42.
Lillias White: The Lillias White Effect concert, at 8 PM ET at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Rogue Machine Theatre‘s The Beautiful People, world premiere by Tim Venable, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, featuring Alexander Neher and Justin Preston, closes at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Yes or No, by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing words in these song titles with either “Yes” or “No.”
1. “I Wouldn’t Say ___,” from the Mystery of Edwin Drood
2. “____, Sir, That’s My Baby,” from Whoopee!
3. “Say ____ to This,” from Hamilton
4. “She Didn’t Say ___,” from The Cat and the Fiddle
5. “I Can’t Say ___,” from Oklahoma!
6. “I Said ___,” from Keep ‘Em Laughing
7. “Oh, My, ____,” from Earl Carroll’s Vanities
8. “I’ll Never Say ____,” from The Unsinkable Molly Brown
9. “____, My Heart,” from Carnival
10. “____, My Darling Daughter,” from Crazy with the Heat
Scroll down for the answers…
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Broadway’s Fall 2022 season:
Cost of Living, (begins previews Sept. 13, opens Oct. 3) at Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Samuel J. Freidman Theatre, by Martyna Majok, directed by Jo Bonney, featuring Brandon Uranowitz, Caissie Levy, Betsy Aidem, Seth Numrich, and more TBA.
Leopoldstadt (begins previews Sept. 14, opens Oct. 22) at the Longacre Theatre, directed by Patrick Marber.
1776 (begins previews Sept. 16, opens Oct. 6) at Roundabout‘s American Airlines Theatre, directed by Jeffrey L. Page & Diane Paulus.
Death of a Salesman (begins previews Sept. 17, opens Oct. 9) at the Hudson Theatre, directed by Miranda Cromwell, starring Wendell Pierce (Willy Loman) and Sharon D Clarke (Linda Loman).
The Piano Lesson (begins previews Sept. 9, opens TBA) at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre), directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson, starring Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker Charles), Danielle Brooks (Berniece), and John David Washington (Boy Willie).
Topdog/Underdog ( begins previews Sept. 27, opens Oct. 20) at the Golden Theatre, directed by Kenny Leon.
Almost Famous (begins previews Oct. 3, opens Nov. 3) at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre), directed by Jeremy Herrin.
Kimberly Akimbo (begins previews Oct. 12, opens Nov. 10) at the Booth Theatre), by David Lindsay-Abaire & Jeanine Tesori, directed by Jessica Stone, with choreography by Danny Mefford.
KPOP (begins previews Oct. 13, opens Nov. 20) at Circle in the Square, by Jason Kim, Helen Park & Max Vernon, directed by Teddy Bergman.
& Juliet (begins previews Oct. 28, opens Nov. 17) at the Sondheim Theatre, by Max Martin, directed by Luke Sheppard.
Some Like It Hot ( begins previews Nov. 1, opens Dec. 11) at the Shubert Theatre, by Matthew López, Amber Ruffin, Marc Shaiman &Scott Wittman, directed & choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.
A Beautiful Noise (begins preview Nov. 2, opens Dec. 4) at the Broadhurst Theatre, by Anthony McCarten, directed by Michael Mayer, starring Will Swenson.
Ain’t No Mo’ (begins previews Nov. 3, opens Dec. 1) at the Belasco Theatre, by Jordan E. Coope, directed by Stevie Walker-Webb.
The Collaboration ( begins previews Nov. 29, opens Dec. 20) at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, by Anthony McCarten, directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, starring Paul Bettany & Jeremy Pope.
Between Riverside and Crazy (previews begin Nov. 30, opens Dec. 19) at the Hayes Theatre, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, directed by Austin Pendleton..
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Porchlight Music Theatre will present its ICONS 2022 Gala on Fri. Sept. 23 at 5:30 PM CT at Chicago’s Ritz-Carlton.
Honorees, creative team, performers, and additional information TBA.
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Brandon Jacobs Jenkins’ Everybody will run Sept. 2 – Oct. 2 (opening Sept. 10) at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, directed by Susan V. Booth & Tinashe Kaiese-Bolden.
Andrew Benator (Death), Shakirah DeMesier (Love), Skylar Ebron (Girl/Time), and Deidrie Henry (Usher/God), with Brandon Burditt, Chris Kayser, Courtney Patterson, Bethany Anne Lind, and Joseph J. Pendergrast, with Soleia Howington, Parris Sarter, and Dellan Short.
An irreverent, rollicking, uproarious ride that asks BIG questions of all who see it. Everybody is a happy person, a free person who believes nothing but the best lies ahead. The Death comes calling, and Everybody must go on a journey to find what has had lasting significance in his lifetime. Inspired by the 15th century play Everyman, Everybody explores the meaning of life and the roles we play along the way. In keeping with life’s random twists and turns, the play’s performers draw names on stage each night to determine which actor will play each character in that performance… remixing the archetypal medieval morality play into an explosive experiment of wit and emotion.
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Video: First look at Chicago’s pre-Broadway run of The Devil Wears Prada, starring Beth Leavel and Taylor Iman Jones.
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. Broadway on Demand has partnered with Triple-B Media to launch for FREE in 20 million homes, with its new channel Broadway At Home. You can find this new free streaming channel on Smart TVs and other at-home platforms like Chromecast and Airplay. Click here to learn more.
Broadway On Demand will offer 24/7 content including Broadway, Off-Broadway, and West End shows; original series; and behind-the-scenes content.
No sign-up or purchase necessary! The channel is projected to be available on as many as seven platforms by the end of summer, with a goal of reaching more than 200 million homes by the end of 2023.
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Video: Bette Davis talks to Bryant Gumbel about Joan Crawford in a 1987 interview.
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Initial casting has been announced for Guys and Dolls, to run Oct. 7 – 16 at the Kennedy Center, directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Denis Jones, and music direction by Kevin Stites.
James Monroe Iglehart (Nathan Detroit), Jessie Mueller (Miss Adelaide), Steven Pasquale (Sky Masterson), Phillipa Soo (Sarah Brown), and more TBA..
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Kate Rockwell and husband Spencer Howard will welcome their first child this October.
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The world premiere of Lee Hall’s Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical, directed by Clint Dyer, which opened Oct. 20, 2021 at London’s Lyric Theatre, will close Jan. 8, 2023, with a U.K. tour to follow.
Arinzé Kene (Bob Marley), Gabrielle Brooks (Rita Marley), Shanay Holmes (Cindy Breatspeare), Sophia Mackay (Judy Mowatt), Melissa Brown-Taylor (Marcia Griffiths), Jacade Simpson (Bunny Wailer), and Natey Jones (Peter Tosh), with Daniel Bailey, Craig Blake, Charles Blyth, Maxwell Cole Athena Collins, Michael Duke, Kimmy Edwards, Raphel Estavia, Henry Faber, Cannon Hay, Savanna Jeffrey, Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Cleopatra Rey, Julene Robinson, Nate Simpson, Archie Smith, Declan Spaine, Jaime Tait, and Teddy Wills.
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The Lazarus Theatre Company will present Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus Sept. 1 – Oct. 1 (with a streaming option on Oct. 6) at Southwark Playhouse, adapted & directed by Ricky Dukes.
Jamie O’Neill (John Faustus), and David Angland (Mephistopheles), with Hamish Somers, Rachel Kelly, Candis Butler Jones, Charis Murray, Henry Mettle, Stefan Capper, Jordan Peedell, and Henrietta Rhodes.
John Faustus, in search of complete fulfilment, sells his soul to the Devil in return for 24 years of unlimited knowledge, power, and fame. As the clock strikes 12 on his final day, Mephistopheles enters, and repayment is due.
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“Carl Moellenberg’s Story: Broadway and Spirituality as a Path to Survival” will be released Oct. 1 on Amazon.
“For many years, I’ve had wonderful friends who were constantly prodding me to write a story about my life. I don’t view anything about myself as extraordinary. I also know so many people are dealing with debilitating health issues, as I have been for over 40 years. My friends believe I might be able to provide inspiration to others by sharing my personal journey. These experiences have created the person I am today. This is my life story—one of resilience, transformation, perseverance, surviving, adapting, healing, spirituality, love, faith, finding my passion and realizing dreams. It is a story about facing daunting obstacles head on and not losing hope.”
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The world premiere of Sesame Street the Musical, written & directed by Jonathan Rockefeller, will feature new songs by Tom Kitt, Helen Park & Nate Edmondson. The new musical will run Sept. 8 – Nov. 27 (opening Sept. 19) at Theatre Row.
Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Grover, Rosita, Bert, Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, The Count, and more…, with special guest stars.
Video: Trailer
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The PATH Fund will present Rockers on Broadway: She Rocks on Mon. Oct. 3 at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge (link TBA), honoring the legendary songwriter Diane Warren.
Jarrod Spector, Constantine Maroulis, Ari Groover, Tamika Lawrence, and Ryann Redmond.
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Audio: Broadway’s Best Opening Numbers. Scroll down.
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DUETS: The Concert Series Volume 8, offering both live & livestreamed options, will take place Fri. Aug. 19 at 9:30 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Maryanne Burr, Jordan Eagle, Al Gravina, Rose Hemingway, Katie Lemmen, Morgan Milone, Cariss Navarra, Mike Wartella, and Teal Wicks.
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Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater presents its benefit gala, An Evening at Topping Rose on Thurs. Aug. 18 at 6:30 PM ET at Bridgehampton’s Topping Rose House.
Bobby Conte Thornton & Alex Wyse, Madeline Myers (performing selections from Myers’ new musical, Double Helix), and Anna Schiavoni.
The evening celebrates the development of new works by both up-and-coming and established Broadway talent. Funds raised will go to support these exciting and creative endeavors.
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The Revue: A Special Cabaret Edition will take place Sat. Sept. 17 at 7 PM PT at LA’s Bourbon Room, conceived by Jim Dooley, directed by Dooley & Rick Batalla.
Katie DeShan, Tiffany Daniels, Isaac Robinson-Smith, and Philip McNiven.
A director and a producer audition the craziest musicals ever conceived in an effort to save their beloved theater from ruin with a sellout show. A revolutionary new parody of cinema and theater classics that pokes fun at the very fact that “Not everything should be a musical.” This special cabaret edition features all-new songs base on favorite movies turned into musicals, including “Top Gun,” “Caddyshack,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Aliens,” “Men in Black,” “The Princess Bride,” “There’s Something About Mary,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and many more.
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Video: Sara Bareilles & Brian d’Arcy James perform “It Takes Two” from Broadway’s Into the Woods.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Yes or No
1. “I Wouldn’t Say No,” from the Mystery of Edwin Drood
2. “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby,” from Whoopee!
3. “Say No to This,” from Hamilton
4. “She Didn’t Say Yes,” from The Cat and the Fiddle
5. “I Can’t Say No,” from Oklahoma!
6. “I Said No,” from Keep ‘Em Laughing
7. “Oh, My, Yes,” from Earl Carroll’s Vanities
8. “I’ll Never Say No,” from The Unsinkable Molly Brown
9. “Yes, My Heart,” from Carnival
10. “Yes, My Darling Daughter,” from Crazy with the Heat