Today’s Highlights:
Carousel, directed by Joanna Bowman, featuring Carly Bawden (Julie Jordan), Declan Bennett (Billy Bigelow), Christina Modestou (Carrie Pipperidge), John Pfumojena (Enoch Snow), Joanna Riding (Nettie Fowler), Natasha May Thomas (Louise Bigelow), Brendan Charleson (Mr. Bascombe), Joe Eaton-Kent (Mrs. Mullin), Sam Mackay (Jigger Craigin), and Ediz Mahmut (Young Enoch), with Chanelle Anthony Craig Armstrong, William Atkinson, Shay Barclay, Sarah Benbelaid, Madeline Charlemagne, Freya Field, Sebastian Goffin, Amie Hibbert, Tim Hodges, Lukas Hunt, Tessa Kadler, Lindsay McAllister, Matthew McKenna, Jack Mitchell, Charlotte Riby, Lisa Ritchie, and Daisy West, opens at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The Public Theater‘s Merry Wives, adapted by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Saheem Ali, featuring Abena (Anne Page), Shola Adewusi (Mama Quickly), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Mister Nduka Ford), Pascale Armand (Madam Ekua Page), MaYaa Boateng (Fenton/Simple), Phillip James Brannon (Pastor Evans), Joshua Echebiri (Slender/Pitsol), Jacob Ming-Trent (Falstaff), Julian Rozell Jr. (Shallow), Kyle Scatliffe (Mister Kwame Page), David Ryan Smith (Doctor Caius), and Susan Kelechi Watson (Madam Nkechi Ford), with Brandon E. Burton, and Branden Lindsay, opens at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre.
“The Show Must Go On” benefit documentary screening, written & directed by Dori Berinstein, with performances by Sierra Boggess, Ariana DeBose, Ali Ewoldt, Shereen Pimentel, Adrienne Warren, Isa Antonetti, Courtney Bassett, Rebecca Hargrove, Joomin Hwang, Emile Kouatchou, Adam Richardson, Joseph DePietro, Luke Grooms, Ayaka Kamei, Eric Anthony López, and Curt Olds, at 6:30 PM ET at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre, in support of The Actors Fund.
A Hedwig and the Angry Inch 20th Reunion Celebration, with special guests John Cameron Mitchell, Stephen Trask, Miriam Shor, costume designer Arianne Phillips, cinematographer Frankie DeMarco, makeup artists Mike Potter, film editor Andrew Marcus, and music supervisor Alex Steyermark, streams for FREE at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT here.
Liz Callaway in concert (both live and livestream) at 7 PM ET at 54 Below.
Live show. Streaming option.
The Sound of Music, directed by Matt Kunkel, featuring Kate Rockwell (Maria), Michael Hayden (Captain von Trapp), Bryonha Marie Parham (Mother Abbess), Jenny Powers (Elsa), John Scherer (Max), Elizabeth Teeter (Liesl), Andrew Alstat (Rolf), Leah Berry (Sister Margaretta), David Hess (Franz), Michael James Reed (Herr Zeller), April Strelinger (Frau Schmidt), Jerry Vogel (Admiral von Schreiber), Jillian Depke (Brigitta), Parker Dzuba (Kurt), Abby Hogan (Marta), Amelie Lock (Louisa), Kate Scarlett Kappel (Gretl), and Victor de Paula Rocha (Friedrich), with Jordan Bollwerk, Emma Gassett, Madison Geiger, Ta’Nika Gibson, Julie Hanson, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Beth Kirkpatrick, Debby Lennon, Eric Jon Mahlum, Leann Schuering, Blakely Slaybaugh, and Taylor Tveten, closes at the St. Louis Muny.
Marie Antoinette reading, by David Adjimi, directed by Rebecca Taichman, featuring Marin Ireland, David Greenspan, Jennifer Ikeda, Karl Miller, Will Pullen, Steven Rattazzi, Chris Stack, Kat Elizabeth Williams, Carmen Zilles and Jo Lampert, concludes streaming at 9 PM ET here.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: It’s Elementary by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing words in these titles of plays and musicals — each of which is one of the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, or Water:
1. The Good _____, play by Owen Davis & Donald Davis based on a novel by Pearl S. Buck.
2. The _____ Engine, play by David Mamet
3. Music in the _____, musical by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II
4. Under _____, play by Roi Cooper Megrue
5. A Little _____ on the Side, play by William Collier and Grant Stewart
6. Mother _____, musical revue by Toni Tenille and Ron Thronson
7. A Glass of _____, play by Eugene Scribe
8. Thunder in the _____, play be Robins Millar
9. A Woman of _____, play by Theodore Kremer
10. Take the _____, musical by Dave Stamper, Anne Caldwell & Gene Buck.
Scroll down for the answers…
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Video: Stars in the House, a “Grey’s Anatomy” encore, with special guests Jon LaPook, Chandra Wilson, Jim Pickens, Kim Raver, Kevin McKidd, Anthony Mloy, Kelly McCreary, Richard Flood, Greg German, Chris Carmack, Jake Borelli, and Jessica Capshaw, (2:17:13)
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“Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes From Stage and Screen” is now open in Times Square. The exhibit will run through Sept. 26 at 234 West 42nd Street. here.
Displays include costumes from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tours, including A Soldier’s Play, Aladdin, Chicago, Come From Away, The Cher Show, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Golden Child, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Phantom of the Opera, SIX, and Wicked…… TV’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, “Dickinson, and “Saturday Night Live,” along with films “Respect” and “No Time to Die,” and the films “Respect” and “No Time to Die”…… the dance world’s American Ballet Theatre, the Martha Graham Dance Company, New York City Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet—— along with Opera, Disney World, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Broadway Bares, and more.
The 20,000 square foot space will spotlight the incredible and oftentimes under-recognized costume contribution to the entertainment industry, pull back the curtain on the hundreds of costuming experts who create, supply and care for them, an infuse much-needed vitality back into the Theater District. All proceeds from the exhibition will support the Costume Industry Coalition Recovery Fund, which continues to support one of the hardest hit sectors of the entertainment industry.
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NY’s Forestburgh Playhouse will present the world premiere of Douglas Carter Beane‘s new adaptation of Babes in Arms, to run Aug. 24 – Sept. 5, directed by Beane with choreography by Ellenore Scott, and music direction by T.C. Kincer.
Eric Siegle (Valentine LaMar), Aliza Ciara (Dolores Reynolds), Liat Shuflita (Baby Rose), Tia Karapalis (Billie Smith), Jeffrey Marc Atkins (Marshall Blackstone), GraceAnn Kontak (Mitzi), Joseph Monseur (Petey), Dan Kelley (Booker), Logan Schmucker (Lincoln), and M.L. Catwell (Gus).
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The filmed version of Come From Away will premiere Sept. 10 on Apple TV+.
Petrina Bromley (Bonnie and others), Jenn Colella (Beverley/Annette and others), De’lon Grant (Bob and others), Joel Hatche (Claude and others), Tony LePage (Kevin T. and others), Caesar Samayoa (Kevin J./Ali and others), Q. Smith (Hannah and others), Astrid Van Wieren (Beulah and others), Emily Walton (Janice and others), Jim Wlaton (Nick/Doug and others), Sharon Wheatley (Diane and others), and Paul Whitty (Oz and others).
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RIP: Jane Withers has died at the age of 95.
Withers was best known for her time as a child star in the 1930s and 1940s, but in addition to her work on screen, she also appeared on stage, making her debut in late 1944 in the musical comedy Glad To See You. The show was originally intended for Broadway, but closed after 7 weeks of out-of-town tryouts. However, Withers did make her Broadway debut in Sure, Sure, Shirley (1971).
Withers began her career at the age of three. During the Golden Age of Radio, she hosted her own children’s radio program in her home city of Atlanta. She moved to Hollywood with her mother in 1932, appearing as an extra in films until she landed her breakthrough role as Joy Smythe opposite Shirley Temple in “Bright Eyes) (1034).
After her stint as a child actor, Withers returned to the screen, gaining new popularity from 1963-1974 as Josephine the Plumber in a series of TV commercials for Comet cleanser, In the 199os and early 2000s, she did voice work for Disney animated films.
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Video: An inside look at the spectacular costumes on display at the NYC’s Showstoppers! Exhibition. (6:22)
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“Together Apart” is available through Aug. 20 at Broadway on Demand.
A collection of ten 7-minute musicals all bout connecting on Zoom at the beginning of the pandemic. Composed & directed by Brown University alumni, including Julie Bowen, Josh Hamilton, Ann Harada, JoBeth Williams, Lisa Loeb, and more.
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Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater has announced its first Freshplay Online Summer Festival, which will stream Aug. 16-20.
The festival features 4 writers who have a lot on their minds and hearts and bravely share their work. This year, more than ever, it has been important to have a creative space to explore, process, and share with each other. This series is a collection of plays written by members of the Playwrighting Lab and selected for a full workshop process and staged readings.
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Video: Gene Wilder speaks with Robert Osborne (2013) about his disdain for the “Willy Wonka” remake, working with Richard Pryor and Mel Brooks, being married to Gilda Radner, the making of “Young Frankenstein,” and more. (28:30)
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“In Their Own Words: Episode 3 – Princess Diana” is now available on PBS.
Meet those closest to Princess Diana and follow her story as she grew from a shy aristocratic schoolgirl into a dynamic force for change. This is a journey from the inside of her life and the story of a woman who defied expectations and evolved into one of the most impactful icons of our time.
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It looks like the revival of Funny Girl seems to finally be happening in 2022, with previews to begin Apr. 2, directed by Michael Mayer, with music direction by Michael Rafter, choreography by Ellenore Scott, and tap choreography by Ayodele Case.
It has been reported that the roles of Fanny Brice and Nick Arnstein have already been cast, but an official announcement has yet to be released.
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Tom Stoppard’s Leopoldstadt continues through Oct. 30 at Wyndham’s Theatre, directed by Patrick Marber. The world premiere opened in Jan. 2020, and performances are now being resumed.
Cara Ballingall (Jana), Arty Groushan (Leo), Aidan McArdle (Herman), Macy Nyman (Hermine), Sebastian Armesto (Jacob/Nathan/Ludwig), Jenna Augen (Rosa), Rhys Bailey (Young Nathan), Faye Castelow (Gretl), Joe Coen (Policeman/Zac), Felicity Davidson (Hilde), Mark Edel-Hunt (Civilian/Fritz), Clara Francis (Wilma), Ilan Galkoff (Pauli), Caroline Gruber (Emilia), Sam Hoare (Percy), Natalie Law (Hanna), Avye Leventis (Sally), Noof Ousellam (Otto), Dorothea Myer-Bennett (Eva), Jake Neads (Mohel/Policeman), Aaron Neil (Ernst), Alexander Newland (Kurt), Sadie Shimmin (Poldi), Griffin Stevens (Aaron), and Eleanor Wyld (Nellie).
Set over several decades in Vienna, following the lives of a singular extended family, the play explores the human condition and its resilience in the face of traumatic history before and after World War II.
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Video: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and Simon Helberg in conversation with Annette Insdorf about “Florence Foster Jenkins.” (53:57)
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: It’s Elementary
1. The Good Earth, by Owen Davis & Ronald Davis, is based on a novel by Pearl S. Buck.
2. The Water Engine, by David Mamet
3. Music in the Air, by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II
4. Under Fire, by Roi Cooper Megrue
5. A Little Water on the Side, by William Collier & Grant Stewart
6. Mother Earth, by Toni Tennille & Ron Thronson
7. A Glass of Water, by Eugene Scribe
8. Thunder in the Air, by Robins Millar
9. A Woman of Fire, by Theodore Kremer
10. Take the Air, by Dave Stamper, Anne Caldwell & Gene Buck.