GRACE NOTES: Monday, December 20, 2021

What if, today, we were grateful for everything? ~Charlie Brown

GRACE NOTES will return Monday, January 3.

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Holiday Highlights:

Monday, December 20

The Music Man, directed by Jerry Zaks, featuring Hugh Jackman (Professor Harold Hill), Sutton Foster (Marian Paroo), Shuler Hensley (Marcellus Washburn), Jefferson Mays (Mayor Shinn), Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Shinn), Marie Mullin (Mrs. Paroo), Remy Auberjonois (Charlie Cowell), Gino Cosculluela (Tommy Djilas), Emma Crow (Zaneeta Shinn), Benjamin Pajak (Winthrop), Kayla Teruel (Amaryllis), Garrett Long (Ethel Toffelmier), Linda Mugleston (Alma Hix), Jessica Sheridan (Maud Dunlop), Rema Webb (Mrs. Squires), Phillip Boykin (Olin Britt), Eddie Korbich (Jacey Squires), Daniel Torress (Ewart Dunlop), and Nicholas Ward (Oliver Hix), with Nick Alvino, Jordan Beall, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr, Maria Briggs, Audrey Cardwell, JT Church, Max Clayton, Kammie Crum, Aydin Eyikan, Carlee Flanagan, Ethen Green-Younger, Emily Hoder, Curtis Holland, Eloise Kropp, Ethan Lafazan, Kayla LaVine, Andrew Minard, Sean Montgomery, Tanner Quirk, Lance Roberts, Daniel Patrick Russell, Ann Sanders, Sherisse Springer, Mitchell Tobin, Kathy Voytko, Branch Woodman, and Ryan Worsing, begins previews at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.

Daniel Reichard: Let’s Christmas! concert, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Birdland.

“Reopening Night,” documentary covering The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Jocelyn Bioh’s Merry Wives, featuring Jocelyn Bioh, Saheem Ali,Oskar Eustis, Beowulf Boritt, FArai Malianga, Abigail Jean-Baptiste, and more, premieres on HBO and HBO Max.

Charles Troy’s “From Russia to Berlin: A Century of Irving 1888 – 1989” multimedia series, by Charles Troy, concludes streaming at Off-Broadway’s York Theatre.

Tuesday, December 21

“Being the Ricardos,” written & directed by Aaron Sorkin, featuring Nicole Kidman (Lucille Ball), Javier Bardem (Desi Arnaz), Nina Arianda (Vivan Vance), and J.K. Simmons (William Frawley), with Tony Hale, Linda Lavin, John Rubinstein, Alia Shawkat, Jake Lacy, and more, premieres on Amazon Prime.

Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, featuring Chanté Adams, Brandon J. Dirden, Adesola Osakalumi, Phylicia Rashad, and Joshua Boon, begins previews at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner, directed by Leigh Silverman, starring Cecily Strong, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Griffin Theatre.

Steven Brinberg’s Simply Barbra: A Christmas Show concert at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Green Room.

Wednesday, December 22

Keala Settle in concert, at 7:30 GMT at London’s Cadogan Hall.

Thursday, December 23

Manor, by Moira Buffini, directed by Fiona Buffini, featuring Effie Ansah, Michele Austin, Helen Barford, Chris Barritt, Mat Betteridge, Sophie Bradley, Peter Bray, Nancy Carroll, Sophie Cartman, Gillian Dean, Liadán Dunlea, Shaun Evans, Amy Forrest, Lewis Griffin, David Hargreaves, Edward Judge, Owen McDonnell, Shaniqua Okwok, closes at London’s National Theatre.

Selling Kabul, by Sylvia Khoury, directed by Tyne Rafaeli, featuring Dario Ladani Sanchez (Taroon), Francis Benhamou (Leyla), Mattico David (Jawid), and Marjan Neshat (Afiya), closes at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.

Christmas on the Rocks, with short plays by John Cariani, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jenn Harris & Matthew Wilkas, Jacques Lamarre, Theresa Rebeck, and Edwin Sanchez, directed by Rob Ruggiero, featuring Jen Cody (The Woman), Ted Lange (The Bartender) and Randy Harrison (The Man), closes at Theater Works Hartford.

A Musical Christmas Carol, directed by Scott Evans, featuring Richard Thomas (Ebenezer Scrooge), Emmett Kent (Tiny Tim), Jerreme Rodriguez (Bob Cratchit), Allison Cahill (Ghost of Christmas Past), Ben Cherington (Young Scrooge/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), Justin Fortunado (Fred), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Mrs. Cratchit), Kat Harkins (Martha Cratchit), Tim Hartman (Mr. Fezziwig/Ghost of Christmas Present), Daniel Krell (Marley’s Ghost/Young Marley), Alex Manalo (Alice), Benjamin Kent Pimentel (Pater Cratchit/Dick Wilkins), Allan Snyder (Tom Watkins), Erika Strasburg (Belle/Bess), and Terry Wickline (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig), with Kiara Lee, Billy Mason, J. Alex Noble, Susana Wickstrom, Nick Cortazzo, Zoey Johnson, and Jason Shavers, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.

Q Brothers Christmas Carol, featuring GQ (Scrooge), JQ (Marley /Belle/ Present/ Lil’ Tim), Jackson Doran (Fred/Dick Wilkins/Mamma Cratchit), Postell Pringle (Bob Cratchit/Past/Martha Cratchit), and Clayton Stamper (DJ), closes at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

Merry, Merry Chicago concert, conducted by Alastair Willis, starring Jessica Vosk, closes at Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Friday, December 24

A Christmas Carol, newly adapted by David Bell, directed by Leora Morris, featuring Andrew Benator (Ebenezer Scrooge), Chloe Gia Bremer (Tiny Tim), Austin Barocas (Lamplighter’s Son), Caleb Baumann (Mathew Watkins), Maggie Birgel (Martha Cratchit/Belle), Lena Castro (Wyatt Cratchit), Josh Clark (Fred/Young Scrooge), Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant (Tom Watkins/Mr. Fezziwig), Christopher Hampton (Mr. Pritchit), Caitlin Hargraves (Missy Watkins/Bess/Mudge), Margaret Ivey (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig), Clare Latham (Mrs. Cratchit), Rhyn McLemore (Ghost of Christmas Pas), Christopher L. Morgan (Bob Cratchit), Matthew Morris (Jacob Marley), Lizzy Park (Melinda Cratchit), Kevin Qian (Peter Cratchit/Young Wilkins), Lyndsay Ricketson (Ghost of Christmas Future), Asia Rogers (Alice/Fan), and Eugene H. Russell, IV (Ghost of Christmas Present), with Jake Berne, Elizabeth Beyer, Chase Byrd, James Arthur Douglas, Marissa Dunson, Jessi Little, and Parris Sarter, closes at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.

The Little Mermaid, directed by Dan Knechtges, featuring Delphi Borich (Ariel), Christina Wells (Ursula), Carla Wood (Sebastian), Lia Zityar (Flounder), Sofia Esphahani (alternate Flounder), Noah Ricketts (Prince Eric), Derrick Davis (King Triton), Paul Hope (Grimsby), Mark Ivy (Chef Louis), Logan Keslar (Flotsam), Blair Medina (Jetsam), and Christopher Tipps (Scuttle), with Mike Baerga, Courtney Chilton, Sophia Clark, Dwayne Cook, Trey Harrington, Karma Jenkins, Kaitlin Mayse, Miles Marmolejo, Christopher Sccurlock, Yasmyn Sumiyoshi, and Raven Justine Troup, closes at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars.

A Christmas Carol, adapted & directed by Mark Clements, featuring Lee E. Ernst (Ebenezer Scrooge), Mark Corkins (Marley’s Ghost), Todd Denning (Ghost of Christmas Present), Reese Madigan (Bob Cratchit), Chris Peltier (Young Scrooge), Jim Pickering (Mr. Fezziwig), Rána Roman (Mrs. Cratchit), Carrie Hitchcock (Mrs. Fezziwig), and Kevin Kantor (Ghost of Christmas Past), closes at Milwaukee Rep.

Norm Lewis (There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays) concert, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, closes at NYC’s 54 Below.

The Troubadour Theatre Company’s Santa Clause is Comin’ to Motown, directed by Matt Walker, featuring Rick Batalla, Terron Brooks, Tiffany Daniels, Malynda Hale, Luis Martinez, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Matt Walker, and Winter Warlock, closes at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theatre.

Saturday, December 25

A Country Christmas Carol “On Air,” The Musical, by Albert Evans & Ronald Kaehler, conceived & directed by James A. Rocco & Jayme McDaniel, will air at 8 PM ET on WBAI Radio (99.5 FM), hosted by Hal Linden and narrated by Terrance Mann.

Sunday, December 26

A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne, directed by Jamie Manton, featuring Francois Battiste (Ebenezer Scrooge), Nancy Opel (Ghost of Christmas Past), Amber Iman (Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig), Ben Beckley (Father/Marley), (Charlie Berghoffer IV and Gabriel Kong (alternating as Tiny Tim), Samuel Faustine (Ferdy/Nicholas), LeRoy S. Graham III (Fred), Monica Ho (Little Fan), Ramzi Khalaf (Bob Cratchit), Stephanie Lambourn (Mrs. Cratchit), Ash Malloy (Belle), Kris Saint-Louis (Young Ebenezer), Annie Sherman (Jess), Wiley Naman Strasser (George), and Colin Thomson (Fezziwig), with Rodney Earl Jackson Jr, and Helen Siveter, closes at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre.

Seven Guitars, by August Wilson, directed by Tazewell Thompson, featuring Dane Figueroa Edidi (Ruby), Joy Jones (Vera), David Emerson Toney (Hedley), Michael Anthony Williams (Canewell), Roderick Lawrence (Floyd Barton), Eden Marryshow (Red Carter), and Roz White (Louise), with Renee Elizabeth Wilson, and Kevin E. Thorne, closes at DC’s Arena Stage.

Monday, December 27

“I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

Tuesday, December 28

“Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect,
mirror what you admire.” ~Deb Sofield.

Wednesday, December 29

Origin of Love: The Songs and Stories of Hedwig concert, featuring John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask, opens at NYC’s Town Hall.

The Boys From Syracuse in Concert, with music direction by Michael Lavine, hosted by Michael Portantiere, and featuring John & Matthew Drinkwater (Antipholus brothers), Paula Leggett Chase, Katie Dixon (Luciana), Kenny Rahtz (Dromio), Janet Fanale (Luce), and Sara DiPasquale (Courtesan), Leah Horowitz, Jay Aubrey Jones, and more, and with special appearances by Steve Ross and Christine Pedi, at 9:45 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.

Robin Hood & Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto, by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, featuring Michael James Ryan (Robin Hood), Sohm Kapila (Maid Marion), Andrew Lynford (Sheriff of Nottingham0, Jo Osmond (Sherwood Sprite), and Jared Machado (Will Scarlett), closes at Laguna Playhouse.

Thursday, December 30

Make Your Own Party: The Songs of Marcy Heisler & Zena Goldrich concert, with special guests Scott Coulter, Alex Getlin, Joe Kinosian, Kelli Rabke and more, at 7 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below.

Company, directed by Antonio Banderas, featuring Antonio Banderas (Bobby), Maria Adamuz, Roger Berruezo, Alber Bolea, Lorena Calero, Lydia Fairén, Dulcinea Juárez, Silvia Luchetti, Anna Moliner, July Möller, Paco Morales, Marta Ribera, Carlos Seguí. Rubén Yuste, Nando González, Pepa Lucas, Beatriz Mur, Mariola Peña, and Ángel Saavedra, closes at Spain’s Soho CaixaBank Theatre.

Friday, December 31

Origin of Love: The Songs and Stories of Hedwig concert, featuring John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask, closes at NYC’s Town Hall.

A Christmas Carol, directed by Jessica Thebus, featuring Larry Yando (Ebenezer Scrooge), Gayatri Gadhvi (Tiny Tim), Allen Gilmore (Ebenezer Scrooge alternate), Rika Nishikawa (Belinda Cratchit), Milla Liss (Emily Cratchit alternate), Grier Burke (Turkey Child/Want), Kareem Bandealy (Ghost of Jacob Marley/Young Marley), Dee Dee Batteast (Frida), Terri Bell (Undertaker’s Assistant), Grier (Cratchit Child), Ariana Burks (Martha Cratchit. Catherine), Thomas J. Cox (Bob Cratchit), Amira Danan (Belle/Philomena), William Dick (Ortle/Old Joe), Cindy Gold (Mrs. Maud Fezziwig/Mrs. Dilber), Gregory Hirte (Dick Wilkins), Susaan Jamshidi (Mrs. Cratchit), Paris Stricklan & Milla Liss (alternating as Emily Cratchit), Andy Nagraj (Abe), Rika Nishikawa & Rika Nishikawa (alternating as Belinda Cratchit), Christopher Sheard (Young Scrooge/Chost of Christmas Future), Lucky Stiff (Ghost of Christmas Past), Bethany Thomas (Ghost of Christmas Present), and more, closes at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

Saturday, January 1

A Christmas Carol tour, adapted by adapted by Jack Thorne, directed by Matthew Warchus, featuring Bradley Whitford (Ebenezer Scrooge), Kate Burton (Ghost of Christmas Past), Alex Newell (Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig), Chante Carmel (Mrs. Cratchit), Dashiell Eaves (Bob Cratchit), Brandon Gill (Fred), Alex Nee (Ferdy/Nicholas), Sebastian Ortiz & Cade Robertson (alternating as Tiny Tim), Brett Ryback (George), Harry Thornton (Young Ebenezer), Glory Yepassis-Zembrou (Little Fan), Grace Yoo (Jess), Celia Mei Rubin (Standy for Jess and Mrs. Cratchit), and Andrew Mayer (Swing), closes at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.

Sunday, January 2

The Lehman Trilogy, adapted by Ben Power, directed by Sam Mendes, featuring Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley, and Adrian Lester, closes at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre.

Freestyle Love Supreme, featuring Andrew Bancroft a.k.a. Jelly Donut, Kurt Crowley a.k.a. The Lord and Lady Crowley, Tarik Davis a.k.a. Tardis Hardaway, Aneesa Folds a.k.a. Young Nees, Kaila Mullady a.k.a. Kaiser Rözé, Chris Sullivan a.k.a. Shockwave, and Veneziale a.k.a. Two-Touch, and special surprise guests, closes at Broadway’s Booth Theatre.

Jeff Daniels concludes his run as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre.

Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, by Timothy Allen McDonald, Christopher Gatelli & Paul William, directed & choreographed by Gatelli, featuring Colin Trudell (Emmet Otter), Cass Morgan (Ma Otter. Jordan Brownlee (Tiny Squirrel/Doc Bullfrog), Kevin Covert (Mayor Fox), LaVon Fisher-Wilson ),Mrs. Mink/Hetty Muskrat), Matt Furtado (Skippy Squirrel/Yancy Woodchuck/Stan Weasel), Jakeim Hart (Harvey), Steven Huynh (Wendell/Weasel), Maggie Lakis (Mrs. Fox), Anney Ozar (Nutella Squirrel/Old Lady Possum), J. Antonio Rodriguez (Charlie/Will Possum), and James Silson (Jiffy Squirrel/Fred Lizard), closes at Off-Broadway’s New Victory Theatre.

A Sherlock Carol, written & directed by Mark Shanahan, featuring Drew McVety (Sherlock Holmes) and Thom Sesma (Ebenezer Scrooge), with Dan Domingues, Anissa Felix, Isabel Keating, and Mark Price, closes at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.

York Theatre Company‘s Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, world premiere by Randy Skinner & Barry Kleinbort, directed & choreographed by Skinner, featuring Phillip Attmore, Jeremy Benton, Victoria Byrd, Kaitlyn Davison, Joseph Medeiros, and Melanie Moore, closes at NYC’s Theatre at St. Jean’s (150 East 76th Street).

Trevor the Musical, by Dan Collins & Julianne Wick Davis, directed by Marc Bruni, featuring Holden William Hagelberger (Trevor), Mark Aguirre, Aaron Alcaraz, Ava Briglia, Sammy Dell, Tyler Joseph Gay, Ellie Kim, Colin Konstanty, Brigg Liberman, Diego Lucano, Alyssa Emily Marvin, Isabel Medina, Echo Deva Picone, Dan Rosales, Aryan Simhadri, Yasmeen Sulieman, Sally Wilfert, Aeriel Williams, and Jarrod Zimmerman, closes at Off-Broadway’s Stage 42.

Rent, directed by Matthew Gardiner, featuring Jake Loewenthal (Mark Cohen), Vincent Kempski (Roger Davis), Arianna Rosario (Mimi Marquez, David Merino (Angel Dumott Schunard), Josh A. Dawson (Tom Collins), Katie Mariko Murray (Maureen Johnson), Ines Nassara (Joanne Jefferson), and Da’Von T. Moody (Benjamin Coffin III), with Kaiyla Gross, Imani Branch, Adelina Mitchell, Solomon Parker III, Usman Ali Ishaq, Jimmy Mavrikes, and Devin Bowles with swings Ricardo Blagrove, Alex De Bard, Emmanuel Kikoni, and Sarah Anne Sillers, closes at DC’s Signature Theatre.

Wilde: A Musical Becoming, by V (formerly Eve Ensler), Justin Tranter & Caroline Pennell, directed by Diane Paulus, featuring Idina Menzel (Bea), YDE (Sofia), Javier Muñoz (Mr. Custom), Brittany Campbell Oak), Deborah S. Craig Mrs. Maybe), Josh Lamon (Mr. Rail), Kingsley Leggs (Mayor Maybe), Paravi Das (Forte), Luke Ferrari (Possible), and Michael Williams (Bicker Rail), closes at Cambridge’s A.R.T.

Huntington Theatre‘s Teenage Dick, by Mike Lew, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, featuring Gregg Mozgala (Richard), Shannon DeVido (Barbara “Buck” Buckingham). Louis Reyes McWilliams (Eddie Ivy), Gregg Mozgala (Richard Gloucester), Portland Thomas (Clarissa Duke), Emily Townley (Elizabeth York), and Zurin Villanueva (Anne Margaret), closes at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.

A Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits, by Sandy Rustin, directed by Casey Hushion, featuring Major Attaway, Dan DeLuca, Kara Lindsay, Jarran Muse, Killy Simmons, Cailen Fu, and Dion Simmons Grier, closes at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.

Beauty and the Beast, directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, featuring Jade Jones (Belle), Evan Ruggiero (The Beast), Michael Burrell (Gaston), Bobby Smith (Lumiere), Dylan Arredondo (Cogsworth), John Sygar (Lefou), Iyona Blake (Mrs. Potts), Miranda Pepin (Chip), Jessica Lauren Ball (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Sasha Olinick (Maurice), and Hailey Ibberson (Babette), with Conor James Reilly, Rick Westerkamp, Ariel Messeca, Michael Wood, Selena Clyne-Galindo, Erica Hansen, Quynj-My Luu, Tyler White, Megan Tatum, Shiloh Orr, and Graciela Rey, closes at MD’s Olney Theatre.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by Johanna McKeon, featuring Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig) and Chani Wereley, closes at MD’s Olney Theatre Center.

Bay Street Theater‘s Becoming Dr. Ruth, by Mark St. Germain, directed by Scott Schwartz, starring Tovah Feldshuh, closes at NYC’s Museum of Jewish Heritage (Edmund J. Safra Hall)

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Rush tickets for The Music Man begin today at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre:

* Rush tickets are $49 and subject to availability.
* Available on a first come first served basis when the box office opens each day.
* A maximum of 2 tickets per person, and may only be purchased for that day’s performance.
* The availability of rush tickets and the policy are subject to change.

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Due to a change in the production schedule, the first preview of Second Stage Theater‘s production of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out, will now take place on Mar. 20, with an opening now on Apr. 4 at the Hayes Theater, directed by Scott Ellis.

Patrick J. Adams, Julian Cihi, Hiram Delgado, Brandon J. Dirden, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos, Tyler Lansing Weaks, and Jesse Williams.

When Darren Lemming, the star center fielder for the Empires, comes out of the closet, the reception off the field reveals a barrage of long-held unspoken prejudices. Facing some hostile teammates and fraught friendships, Darren is forced to contend with the challenges of being a gay person of color within the confines of a classic American institution. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question tradition, their loyalties, and the price of victory.

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The world premiere of Michael Hollinger’s Mr. Dickens’ Hat is now available to stream on Broadway OnDemand, directed by David Catlin.

Christine Bunuan (Lady Plume/Witslow), Cordelia Dewdney (Kit), Kasey Foster (Mrs. Prattle, Locksmith, Mother, Piggot), Mark David Kaplan (Mr. Garbleton, Gnat, Old Engineer, Polly), Ruchir Khazanchi (Ned, Countess, Styfflip, Mum), and Nick Sandys (Father, Fleece).

In a cozy Victorian shop sits the hat of Charles Dickens, who once used it to carry water to the victims of a train wreck (that’s true!). When a pair of bumbling thieves plots to steal it (that’s imaginary!), young Kit sets out to foil their plan, save the hat, and free her father from debtors’ prison. This warm winter’s tale is filled with original music, lovable characters, and loads of good cheer.

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A new studio cast recording of John Reeger & Julie Shannon’s The Christmas Schooner, will be released in 2022 (exact date TBA).

Audio: Opening number, “We All Have Song”

Jessie Mueller, James Monroe Iglehart, Joel Hatch, Vedant Ramesh, Daniel Yearwood, Patricia Noonan, Stephanie Jae Park, Tess Primack, John Edwards, De’onte Goodman, Robert Pendilla, and Kyle Sherman.

Inspired by a true story, this is the heartwarming holiday story of the first Christmas tree ship, and the family who risked their lives to fill Chicago with the Christmas spirit. This critically acclaimed musical features a powerfully moving story and an exquisite score of both original music and traditional holiday favorites. A timely and stirring tale of love and loss, The Christmas Schooner reminds us of tradition, family and responsibility.

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Little Girl Blue, written & performed by Laiona Michelle, will run Feb. 19 – May 20 (opening Feb. 28) at New World Stages, directed by Devanand Janki.

The new bio-musical focuses on the life of musician Nina Simone, and follows her life from her ascension as a classical music prodigy to “Thigh Priestess of Soul” to civil rights activist.

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John Lloyd Young: Mostly Soul will take place Jan. 7 & 8 at 8:30 PM PT at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, with music direction by Tommy Faragher.

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Emilie Kouatchou will be the first Black actor to play the role of Christine Daae in the Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre on Jan. 26.

Kouatchou will succeed Mghan Picerno, who departs on Jan. 23.

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& Off-Broadway’s Origin Theatre Company presents the 14th annual Origin 1st Irish Theatre Festival will run Jan 9-31, offering a new hybrid of digital and in-person formats that amplifies the Festival’s trans-Atlantic identity.

Details TBA.

The festival will host 20 live and virtual events – a mix of theatrical productions (live and online), films, online panels and Zoom events, as well as a select number of in-person special events in New York — bringing together companies and artists from Newry (Northern Ireland), Dublin, Cork, Wexford, Washington DC, The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan.

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Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company has added a benefit performance of Assassins on Sun. Jan. 9 at 2 PM ET, in support of The Actors Fund.

Tickets, priced at $125, will be available Dec. 22 at 12 PM ET online at The Actors Fund website and online at Classic Stage.

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The world premiere of Ingrid Michaelson & Bekah Brunstetter’s The Notebook: A New Musical will run Mar. 15 – Apr. 24 at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, directed by Michael Greif & Schele Williams, with

Casting TBA.

Beginning with a whirlwind summer romance, this is the decades-long love story between a mill worker named Noah and a privileged debutante named Allie, which spans a lifetime — in spite of the differences that threaten to pull them apart.

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Laiona Michelle’s Little Girl Blue, a new music inspired by Nina Simone’s Life Feb. 19 – May 22 (opening Feb. 28) at New World Stages, directed by Devanand Janki, with music direction by Mark Fifer.

Laiona Michelle, with Kenn Salters, and Saadi Zain.

From her ascension as classical music prodigy to “High Priestess of Soul” to civil rights activist, this story taps into the legend that is Nina Simone with an honest and powerful portrait of her rich life and her ultimate decline. Feel the passion, joy, and pain of a woman adored by millions – then and now.

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Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway has announced upcoming concert dates, all at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Town Hall.

Jane Krakowski (Jan. 31) here.
Vanessa Williams (Mar. 7) here.
Brian Stokes Mitchell (Apr. 4) here.

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The upcoming revival of Macbeth will switch theatres. The production, initially scheduled to play the Lyceum Theatre, will now run at the Longacre Theatre (taking advantage of the newly available space due to the early closing of Diana yesterday). Previews will still being as scheduled on Mar. 29, with the opening on Apr. 28. Daniel Sullivan directs.

Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, with more TBA.