GRACE NOTES: Monday, December 1, 2025

 

Today’s Highlights:

 

  The 21st annual Fred Ebb Award will be presented to Sophie Boyce & Veronica Mansour at 6 PM in an invitation-only ceremony at NYC’s 54 Below (link not provided).

 

  Gingold theatrical Group‘s 20th Anniversary Grand Celebration, honoring Danny Burstein, Donna McKechnie, and Gray Coleman, directed by David Staller, featuring Charles Busch, John-Andrew Morrison, Christine Pedi, and Thom Sesma, with a special performance by Stephen Schwartz, and surprise guests, at 6 PM at Off-Broadway’s The Players.

 

**********************

 

  In Loco Parentis  by Jim Bernhard

 

Match these nannies and governesses with their young charges:

1.  Maria Rainer in The Sound of Music	A.   Jane and Michael
2.  Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins	B.   Elizabeth and Margaret
3.  Miss Giddens in The Innocents	C.  Flora and Miles
4.  Jean Muir in The Night Governess	D.  Christopher, Lydia, and Natalie
5.  Nana in Peter Pan	E.  Adèle
6.  Anna Leonowens in The King and I	F.  Nellie
7.  Marion Crawford in The Queen’s Nanny	G.  Chulalongkorn and more than a   dozen others
8. Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker	H.  Liesl, Brigitta, Louisa, Marta,   Friedrich, Kurt, and Gretl
9.  Jane Eyre in Jane Eyre	I.  John, Michael, and Wendy
10. Mrs. Doubtfire in Mrs. Doubtfire	J.  Helen

 

Scroll down for the answers…

 

**********************

 

  Winter Rhythms 2025  will run Dec. 5 & Dec. 13 (at 3 PM) at Off-Broadway’s Urban Stages, directed by Sara Louise Lazarus. Tix Part 1 here …… Part 2 here.

 

Part 1 (Dec. 5 at 7 PM), featuring character songs from Delphi Or Bust … Ludlow Ladd …  North Atlantic … Other Lives … Say It With Musica …  The Human Heart, They Chose Me … and Where There’s a Wall.  Cast: Nikita Burshteyn, Tommy Ferolano, Eddie Dorbich, John Lalonde, Taylor May, Katie Claire McGrath, N’kenge, Mark Nadler, Rita Neidich, T. Oliver Reid, Isabel Robin, Craig Rubano, Jane Seaman, Meghan Sstyrna, and Mariana Yiannourus.

 

Part 2  (Dec. 13 at 3 PM) featuring character songs from Boyton Beach Club, Charlotte Sweet, Dangerous, Happy Haunting, Mrs. McThink, Other Lives, The 1st Family of 2nd Avenue, and Tales of Tinseltown. Cast: Stephen Berger, Joel Blum, Nat Chandler, Gina D’Acciaro, Ann Harada, Adam Heller, Leah Hocking, Nicolas King, Hohn Lalonde, Michael McCormick, Jill Paice, Craig Pomranz, Jane Seaman, Jennifer Smith, ad Jegan Styrna.

 

**********************

 

  Stephen Schwartz & Lindsey Ferrentino’s The Queen of Versailles,  directed by Michael Arden,will close Jan. 4 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre, after 32 previews and 65 regular performances.

 

  Kristin Chenoweth (Jackie), Murray Abraham (David), Melody Butiu (Sofia), Stephen DeRosa( John), Greg Hildreth (Gary), Tatum Grace Hopkins (Jonquil), Isabel Keating (Debbie), and Nina White (Victoria).

 

**********************

 

  Kris Liythgoe’s A Snow White Christmas panto will run Dec. 6-28 at CA’s Laguna Playhouse, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe.

 

  Marcelle LeBlanc (Snow White), Nick Delzompo (The Prince), Kimberly Locke The Queen), Barry Pearl (Herman), Jonathan Meza (Muddles), and John O’Hurley (the voice of the “Magic Mirror”), with Mia Alvarez, Addison Chang, Becca Lind, Rae Martinez, Brandon Maxwell, Rasha Willes Samaha, and Jarod H Smith.

 

**********************

 

  Off-Broadway’s  New York Stage and Film‘s 40th Anniversary Gala will take place Mon. Dec. 8 at 6:30 PM.

 

  Douglas Harmon and Jane Harman.

 

  Miguel Cervantes, Heather Christian, Kathryn Gallagher, John Gallagher Jr. Crystal Monee Hall, Amber Iman, Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown), Brian Quijada (Mexodus), and more TBA.

 

  by Sopan Deb, Santino Fontana, Peter Gallagher Jessica Hecht, Vanessa Kai, Mark Linn-Baker, Julianna Margulies, Max Mayer, Rob Morrow, Reg Rogers, Richard Schiff ,Tony Shalhoub, John Patrick Shanley. John Slattery, Jon Tenney, Leslie Urdang, Frank Wood.

 

  The event will feature selections from musicals that had their start with New York Stage and Film,  including American Idiot … Goddess … Hadestown … Hamilton …  Mexodus, None: A Practical Breviary …  and Shelter.

 

**********************

 

   Ben Platt: Live at the Ahmanson! will run Dec. 12-14 at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre, and is now offering $25 tickets.

 

  Ben will offer a mix of his signature songs, Broadway classics, and special guests dropping in each night.

 

**********************

 

  Nona Hendryx & Lynn Nottage’s new rock opera, Labelle, is currently in development.

 

  The piece is inspired by the groundbreaking, era-defining trio of the same name is currently in development. , the forthcoming theatrical event captures how Labelle broke barriers of race, gender, and genre—blending rock, funk, soul, and glam to forge a bold new sound that transformed the music industry and inspired generations of artists to follow.  From their beginnings in the 1960s to their glitter-drenched reinvention in the 1970s, Labelle shattered conventions with their fearless artistry, fierce vocals, Afrofuturist style, and massive hits, including “Lady Marmalade,” “What Can I Do for You?” and “Nightbirds.” This new rock opera will bring their story—and their sound—to the stage in a vibrant, genre-defying celebration of innovation, sisterhood, and power.

 

**********************

 

  Video: Sneak peak of A Sherlock Carol at Boston’s Lyric Stage.

 

**********************

 

  A Noel Coward Celebration, starring Steve Ross and friends, in support of the The Actors Fund, will take place Mon. Dec. 8 at 7 PM at NYC’s Guild Hall (1 East 29th St.).

 

Special guests TBA.

 

**********************

 

  LA Opera‘s La Bohème, conducted by Lina González-Granados, continues through Dec. 14 at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

 

   Janai Brugger (Mimì), Oreste Cosimo (Rodolfo), Erica Petrocelli (Musetta), Gihoon Kim (Marcello), Emmett O’Hanlon (Scharnard), William Guanbo Su (Colline), Rod Gilfry (Benoit/Alcindoro), and Nathan Bowles (Parpignol).

 

**********************

 

 Red Bull Theater‘s Richard II, directed by Craig Baldwin, continues through Dec, 14 at the Astor Place Theatre.

 

Michael Urie, Grantham Coleman, Ron Canada, Kathryn Meisle, David Attar Merten, Lux Pascal, Ron Canada, Kathryn, Meisle, David Attar Merten, Lux Pascal, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Jamoes Seol, Ryan Spahn, Emily Swallow, and Sarin Monae West.

 

**********************

 

  Amahl and the Night Visitors will run Dec. 16 – Jan. 4 (opening Dec. 18) at Broadway’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, directed by Kenny Leon.

 

  Joyce DiDonato (Amahl’s Mother), Albert Rhodes (Amahl), Philip Boykin (King Balthazar), Bernard Holcom (king Kaspar), Todd Thomas (King Melchior), and Jonathan McCullogh (The Page), with Jesse Barrett, Miastasha Gonzalez-Colón, Brian Jeffers, Kathryn McCreary, Manuel Palazzo, Bryanna Strickland,  Natalie Trumm, Miguel Ángel Vásquez, Olivia Vote, and Jason Zacher, with Patrick Bessenbacher, Tynan Davis, Kingston Nahm-Korn, and Madeline Wright.

 

  In the desert lands of the first century, a young boy catches the sight of a giant star. Later that evening, as his mother prays for the family’s future, they are visited by three wondrous kings whose unexpected arrival opens the way for Amahl’s heartfelt generousity to shine as brightly as the star itself. This is the tale of how a simple gift can become a miracle that transforms the world.

 

**********************

 

  Answers  Mary, Mary! by Jim Bernhard