Today’s Highlights:
The 2024 Red Bucket Follies benefit, in support of BC/EFA, begins at 4:30 PM at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre.
Titanique, by Marla Mindelle & Constantine Rousoul, directed by Tye Blue, featuring Darren Bennett (Victor Garber/Luigi), Lauren Drew ( Céline), Jordan Luke Gage (Cal), Stephen Guarino (Ruth)), Rob Houchen (Jack), Kat Ronney (Rose), Charlotte Wakefield (Molly Brown), and Layton Williams (the Iceberg), with Freddie King, Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan, Rodney Vubya, and Kristina Walz, begins previews at London’s Picadilly Circus.
South Pacific reunion concert, directed by Bartlett Sher, conducted by Ted Sperling, featuring Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot, Matthew Morrison, Danny Burstein, Loretta Ables Sayre, Victor Hawks, Luka Kain, Li Jun Li, George Merrick, Laurissa Romain, Skipp Sudduth, and Noah Weisberg. The concert will also include original cast menbers Becca Ayers, Wendi Bergamini, Genson Blimline, Grady McLeod Bowman, Charlie Brady, Matt Caplan, Christian Carter, Jeremy Davis, Margot de La Barre, Christian Delcroix, Laura Marie Duncan, Mike Evariste, Laura Griffith, Lisa Howard, MaryAnn Hu, Zachary James, Robert Lenzi, Garrett Long, Nick Mayo, William Michals, Kimber Monroe, Emily Morales, Darius Nichols, George Psomas, Andrew Samonsky, and Jerold E. Solomon, at 6:30 PM at NYC’s Lincoln Center Theatre.
New York Stage and Film‘s 2024 Annual Gala, honoring Amanda Lipitz (writer) and Raúl Esparza, with special guest Bernadette Peters, at 6:30 PM at City Winery NYC (25 11th Ave.)
“Jamie deRoy & Friends” concert, featuring footage from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and Broadway’s Elf: The Musical, featuring Norm Lewis, Michael Longoria, and more, airs at 8 PM ET on Spectrum Channel 1993 and Verizon FIOS Channel 37. (A 2nd airing will take place Mon. Dec. 16 at 8 PM ET).
Jocelyn Bioh’s Rebel with a Cause: The Artistry and Activism of Nina Simone concert, directed by Reggie D White, featuring Amber Iman, closes at NYC’s 92NY.
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Grace Notes Quiz: Gems, by Jim Bernhard
For these titles, provide the missing words, each of which is a gemstone: Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Opal, Pearl, Ruby, or Sapphire.
1. ____ Lil, play by Mae West
2. The ____ of Great Price, play by Robert McLaughlin
3. The ____ Isle, musical by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Edward German, and Basil Hood
4. ____ Orchid, play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
5. The ____ Ring, play by John Brougham
6. The Great ____, play by Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton
7. Everybody Loves ____, play by John Patrick
8. The ____ God, play by William Edwin Berry
9. The ____ Ring, play by Laszlo Lakatos
10. Legs ____, musical by Peter Allen, Harvey Fierstein and Charles Suppon
Scroll down for the answers….
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Complete casting for the national tour of Parade has been announced, directed by Michael Arden, with choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant & Christopher Cree Grant, and music direction by Charlie Alterman, will will launch Jan. 11-17 at Schenectady’s Proctors. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Max Chernin (Leo Frank), Talia Suskauer (Lucille Frank), Griffin Binnicker, Evan Harrington, Ramone Nelson, Jack Roden, Andrew Samonsky, Chris Shyer, Michael Tacconi, Alison Ewing, Olivia Goosman, Jenny Hickman, Oluchi Nwaokorie, Robert Knight, Prentiss E. Mouton (Broadway Revival of Parade), Danielle Lee Greaves, Ben Cherington, Emily Rose DeMartino, Bailee Endebrock, Caroline Fairweather, Trevor James, Sophia Manicone, Trista Moldovan, Ethan Riordan, Brian Vaughn and Jason Simon, with William Bishop, Jerquintez A. Gipson, Brianna Javis, Benjamin Magnuson, Jodi Snyder, Eden Witvoet and Jake Ziman.
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Boston’s Huntington Theatre will present its Free The Winter New Play Intensive Dec. 10-19 at the Calderwood Pavilion (RSVP required at the link above). The new work development series offers writers, theatre makers, and other performance artists a place convene and collaborate on new projects. Select readings and open rehearsals will be open to the public
Aunt Jo (Dec. 10 at 7 PM) written & directed by John Kolvenbach, 
Both of Jo’s brothers are a mess, her mother is losing it, and Jo’s charge, her eighteen year old nephew, has fallen dangerously in love. And it’s Christmas.
Draupadi (Dec. 16 at 7 PM), written & performed by Mahira Kakkar, directed by Danilo Gambini, featuring Sara Haide. The play reimagines a powerful thread of the Mahabharata, the ancient South Asian epic of feuding royal families.
Title TBA (Dec. 9 at 7 PM). With loop machines and a laptop, playwright Lenelle Moïse composes a story and sound collage inspired by the femme saints of Haitian Vodou. How will the audience be a part of the action? You’re invited to an open rehearsal to join her choir and find out! Be ready to hum and tune in as Moïse creates new characters for a hybrid theatre piece celebrating the spirits of love, strength, pleasure, departure, and destiny.
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Josh Gad’s “In Gad We Trust” book tour, has announced its tour schedule/solo show:
Jan. 14 at NYC’s Town Hall.
Jan. 15 at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Jan. 18 at LA’s Kirk Douglas Theatre.
Jan. 22 at Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center.
“In Gad We Trust” by Josh Gad will go on sale Jan. 14 on most platforms.
A heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays from the comedian and entertainer known for voicing Olaf in the phenomenon Disney franchise of Frozen, and for his award-winning turn as Elder Cunningham in the Broadway smash hit The Book of Mormon.
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Complete casting has been announced for the national tour of Parade, to launch Jan. 11-17 at Schenectady’s Proctors, directed by Michael Arden, with choreography by Lauren Yalango-Grant & Christopher Cree Grant.
Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Max Chernin (Leo Frank), Talia Suskauer (Lucille Frank), Griffin Binnicker, Evan Harrington, Ramone Nelson, Jack Roden, Andrew Samonsky, Chris Shyer, Michael Tacconi, Alison Ewing, Olivia Goosman, Jenny Hickman, Oluchi Nwaokorie, Robert Knight, Prentiss E. Mouton (Broadway Revival of Parade), Danielle Lee Greaves, Ben Cherington, Emily Rose DeMartino, Bailee Endebrock, Caroline Fairweather ), Trevor James, Sophia Manicone, Trista Moldovan, Ethan Riordan, Brian Vaughn and Jason Simon, with William Bishop, Jerquintez A. Gipson, Brianna Javis, Benjamin Magnuson, Jodi Snyder, Eden Witvoet and Jake Ziman.
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DC’s Folger Theatre has announced its 3rd annual Reading Room Festival, to run Jan. 30 – Feb. 2.
Barry Edelstein, Emily Lyon, Reynaldo Piniella, and Whitney White.
The festival will include staged readings, panel discussions, workshops, and community celebrations. This festival unites artists, critics, and scholars in a celebration of creative community, as they collaboratively explore the multifaceted nature of Shakespeare’s stories.**********************
A Musical Christmas Carol, by David H. Bell, will run Dec. 13-22 at Pittsburgh CLO, directed by Scott Evans.
Charles Shaughnessy (Ebenezer Scrooge), Theo Allyn (Mrs. Dilber/Mrs. Fezziwig), Christian Clausnitzer (Did Wilkins/Peter Cratchit), Allison Dorser, Justin Fortunato (Fred), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Bob Cratchit), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Mrs. Cratchit), Kat Harkins (Belle/A.lice), Daniel Krell (Marly’s Ghost), Aubree Liscotti (Tiny Tim), Saige Smith (Ghost of Christmas Past), Saige Smith (Ghost of Christmas Past), Aria Meinert (Melinda), and Leah Piccolino) Belinda), with Allison Dorsey, Kylie Edwards, Ted Guzman, Tim Hartman, Alex Manalo, J. Alex Noble, Brady D. Patsy, Benjamin Kent Pimental, Alexander Podolinski, Jason Shavers, Andrea Weinzierl, James Hopkins Coogan, Ramirra Jackson, and Emmett Kent.
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Paul gordon & Paul Gordon Book’s Estella Scrooge: A Christmas with a Twist continues free streaming here.
Betsy Wolfe (Estella Scrooge), Clifton Duncan (Philip Nickleby), Lauren Patten (Dawkins), Patrick Page (Mr. Merdle), Carolee Carmello (Maria Havisham), Danny Burstein (Ebenezer Scrooge), Megan McGinnis (Betty Cratchit), Em Grosland (Smike), Tom Nelis (Dedlock), Phoenix Best (Charity/Mercy Pecksniff), Meg Gibson (Molly), William Youmans (Bagstock), Kevyn Morrow (Jasper Jaggers), David Bryant (Mr. Podsnap), and Gabrielle Reid (Mrs. Pumblechook), with Samuel Lee Roberts, Marla Demonette, Sugarplum Fairy, Merdle Ghoul Michele Lee, Sarah Litzsinger, Joziyah Patrick Jean-Felix, Brooklyn Shuck, Adam Halpin, and Willow McCarthy.
Estella Scrooge is a young Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage loan and Estella fancies the idea of delivering the the news in person. Arriving at Harthouse, Estella discovers that the mortgage holder is none other than her childhood sweetheart, Pip Nickleby. Brought to life by some of Broadway’s brightest stars, Do not miss Estella Scrooge
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Amas Musical Theatre will present developmental readings of Charlie Romano & Harold Hodge’s Call Me From the Grave on Dec. 9 (6 PM) & Dec. 10 (12 & 5 PM) at NYC’s Ripley-Grier Studios (305 W. 38th St.), directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, with music direction by Paul Byssainthe, Jr.
Melvin Abston, Bradwin L. Amos, April Armstrong, Kris Coleman, John Harmon Cooper, Bradley Gibson, Danielle Lee Greaves, Alan H. Green, Danyele Yvonne James, Caitlyn Joi, Cameron Keitt, Ashley LaLonde, Aaron James McKenzie, Christiani Pitts, and Rick Younger.
The story of mysterious and influential Bluesman Robert Johnson and his legendary deal with the Devil at the Mississippi crosssroads.
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Grace Notes Quiz answers: Gems
1. Diamond Lil, play by Mae West
2. The Pearl of Great Price, play by Robert McLaughlin
3. The Emerald Isle, musical by Sir Arthur Sullivan, Edward German, and Basil Hood
4. Diamond Orchid, play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
5. The Emerald Ring, play by John Brougham
6. The Great Ruby, play by Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton
7. Everybody Loves Opal, play by John Patrick
8. The Jade God, play by William Edwin Berry
9. The Sapphire Ring, play by Laszlo Lakatos
10. Legs Diamond, musical by Peter Allen, Harvey Fierstein and Charles Suppon