Today’s Highlights:
Letters From Max, world premiere by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Kate Whoriskey, featuring Jessica Hecht (Sarah), and Ben Edelman & Zane Pais (alternating as Max), opens at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.
Elyria, world premiere by Deepa Purohit, directed by Awoye Timpo, featuring Nilanjana Bose, Sanjit De Silva, Gulshan Mia, Bhayesh Patel, Sanskar Agarwal, Honit Gautam, Mahima Saigal, Khyati Sehga, and Omar Shafiuzzaman, opens at Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company.
Mint Theater‘s Becomes a Woman, by Betty Smith, directed by Britt Berke, featuring Duane Boutté, Jeb Brown, Gina Daniels, Antoinette Lavecchia, Jack Mastrianni, Pearl Rhein, Phillip Taratula, Jason O’Connell, Peterson Townsend, Scott Redmond, Tim Webb, Christopher Reed Brown, Emma Pfitzer Price, and Madeline Seidman, opens at Off-Broadway’s NY City Center.
1 + 1, by Eric Bogosian, directed by Matt Okin, featuring Michael Gardiner, Katie North, and Daniel Yaiullo, opens at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse.
Musical Theatre Guild‘s Grey Garden concert presentation, directed by Kirsten Chandler, featuring Eileen Barnett (“Big” Edith Bouvier Beale), Trisha Rapier (Edith Bouvier Beale/”Little Edie Beale), Zachary Ford (Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr./Jerry), Tal Fox (Young “Little” Edie Beale), Glenn Rosenblum (George Gould Strong), Robert Yacko (JV “Major” Bouvier/Norman Vincent Peale), Philip Brandon (Brooks Sr./Jr.), and Sophie Peterson (Jacqueline “Jackie” Bouvier), at 7:30 PM at Glendale’s Alex Theatre.
Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove development program, with Peter Siebert, Heather Ragusa, Paula Cole, Scott Gilmour, aClaire McKenzie, Mark Governor, Jessie Burton, Barnaby Race, Emily Saliers, Jesse J. Sanchez, Katy Parry, Jessica Simpson Jonatha Brooke, Geoffrery Naufts, Jake Bernstein, Melis Aker, Jonathan Brielle, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Jasmine Joshua, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Marc Sambola, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III, and Pia Wilson, concludes at CT’s Goodspeed Musicals.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Lactose Tolerant, by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing words in these titles of shows and songs that mention dairy products:
| 1. Milk and ____, musical by Jerry Herman and Don Appell | A. Wood |
| 2. “____ Cream,” song from She Loves Me | B. Butter |
| 3. The Milk ____ Doesn’t Stop Here Any More, play by Tennessee Williams | C. Well |
| 4. “You’re the Cream in My ____,” song from George White’s Scandals of 1928 | D. Egg |
| 5. Under Milk ____, play by Dylan Thomas | E. Train |
| 6. ____ in the Cheese, play by Tom Cushing | F. Broadway |
| 7. The Butter and ____ Man, play by George S. Kaufman | G. Honey |
| 8. “____ Outta Cream,” song from Catch Me If You Can | H. Coffee |
| 9. ____ and Buttermilk, play with music by Willard Mack, Charles Grant, and Schuyler Green | I. Ice |
| 10. The Cream in the ____, play by Lynn Riggs | J. Devil |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Reviews for Sunday in the Park with George at Pasadena Playhouse:
LA Times (Charles McNulty): …A majestic new production… a true theater lover can never have too much Sondheim… Directed by Sarna Lapine, this sumptuous production boasts a full orchestra… This musical meditation on the mad, miraculous quest of a visionary artist is brought to life with stunning visual ingenuity. The production beautifully suggests the symmetry between Seurat’s story and Sondheim’s own… What prevents Lapine’s good production from being great? The answer lies in the subtlest of calibrations, but in general the direction leans too heavily on the book. That is not where the genius of this musical resides.
Theatermania (Linda Buchwald): …a loving tribute… with an almost entirely new cast, the performances are fresh… Sarna Lapine’s simple, straightforward production puts the focus on Sondheim’s brilliant words and music, but still allows the other elements to make an impression. The real treasure here is Krystina Alabado’s performance as Dot… The other star of the show is the orchestra, led by Andy Einhorn… Everything works in this production. There may not be anything groundbreaking about it, but then again, why reinvent something already so good?
Stage & Cinema (Marc Wheeler): …a gorgeous celebration of a work of art, about a work of art, that reminds us: art isn’t easy — and quality, much less legacy, doesn’t come without a cost… [Graham Phillips] transforms wonderfully as the dual Georges… Because of Dot’s inability to read and write, much less concentrate, I almost wonder if [Krystina] Alabado’s characterization is too poised and refined… This attention to detail is echoed throughout the work… a spectacular “Chromolume” electronic sculpture exhibit in Act Two.
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2023 SAG Awards: Click here for the complete list of winners.
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The Kennedy Center’s upcoming production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which was scheduled to run May 15-21, has been canceled. A replacement musical will be announced on Feb. 28.
The decision follows conversations with the rights holders and future plans for the show.
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An industry reading of Stephen Schwartz & Lindsey Ferrentino’s new musical The Queen of Versailles will take place Fri. Mar. 24 in NYC, directed by Michael Arden. The reading is in preparation for an out-of-town engagement (details TBA). Additional information TBA.
Kristin Chenoweth (Jackie Siegel), and more TBA.
The musical follows the life of beauty queen, socialite, and TV personality Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel. From computer engineer to Mrs. Florida, to billionairess, Jackie sees herself as the embodiment of the American Dream. Now, as the wife of David “The Timeshare King” and mother of their eight children, they invite us to behold their most grandiose venture yet: they’re building the largest private home in America in Orlando, Florida — a $100 million house big enough for the her dreams and inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David’s dreams begin to crumble, along with their lavish lifestyle.
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What’s Going On?: Songs of Change, featuring the songs of Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Billie Holliday, & Pharrell Williams, will run Mar. 25-27 at NYC’s 92Y.
Charl Brown, Valisia LeKae, Ryan Shaw, Naturi Naughton, Patrice Covington, and Eric B. Turner.
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Levi Holloway’s Grey House will begin previews Apr. 20 and open May 30 at the Lyceum Theatre, directed by Joe Mantello.
Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, Paul Sparks, Sophia Anne Caruso, Millicent Simmonds, and more TBA.
The play follows a couple whose car crashes on a mountain and subsequently seek shelter in an isolated cabin with somewhat unusual inhabitants. As the blizzard outside continues, the couple becomes less and less sure of what’s true and why a sound in the wall keeps getting louder.
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New casting has been announced for Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution at the London County Hall, directed by Lucy Bailey.
Harry Giubileo (Leonard Vole), Madeleine Walker (Romaine Vole), Jo Stone-Fewings (Sir Wilfrid Robarts), Crispin Redman (Mr. Mayhew), Nick Sampson (Mr. Myers QC), and Terence Wilto (Mrs. Justice Wainwright), with Bradley Adams, Nick Morrison Baker, Theo Holt-Bailey, Dafydd Gwn Howells, Ben Jacobson, Caitlin Kaur, Don Klass, Godiva Marshall, Pheobe Newlan, Jo Servi, David Shelley, and Tracy Wilkinson.
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Broadway Backwards, in support of BC/EFA, will take place Mon. Mar. 13 at 8 PM at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, directed by Robert Bartley, with choreography by Bartley, Lauren Gemelli, Robyn Hurder, Mimi Quillin, Adam Roberts, Luis Salgado and Tony Yazbeck.
George Abud, Philippe Arroyo, Corbin Bleu, Wayne Brady, Len Cariou, Lorna Courtney, Bradley Dean, Dormeshia, Adrianna Hicks, Robyn Hurder, Brittney Mack, Jeigh Madjus, Chris McCarrell, Samantha Pauly, Anthony Rapp, Turner Riley, Lea Salonga, Kyle Scatliffe, AJ Shively, Ali Stroker, Paulo Szot, and Betsy Wolfe.
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Video: In rehearsal for Broadway’s Camelot, featuring Phillipa Soo (Guenevere), Jordan Donica (Lancelot Du Lac), Dakin Matthews (Merlyn/Pellinore), Taylor Trensch (Mordred), Marilee Talkington (Morgan Le Fey), Anthony Michael Lopez (Sir Dinidan), Fergie Phiippe (Sire Sagamore), Danny Wolohan (Sir Lionel), Andrew Burnap (Arthur), and more.
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Festival of New Musicals will run Mar. 17-19 at CT’s Goodspeed Musicals. Casting & creative teams TBA.
Double Helix staged reading (Mar. 17 at 7:30 PM), by Madeline Myers, and directed by Scott Schwartz In the mid 20th century, the race to find the structure of DNA grips the scientific community. One brilliant young researcher, Rosalind Franklin, will stop at nothing to uncover one of life’s great mysteries. But will she sacrifice what makes her human to discover what makes us human?
Festival Cabaret (Mar. 17 at 10 PM), starring Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa, who will share material from their new projects, including a conversation with Adam Souza and David Krane,
The Music and the Mirror: The Art of Dance Arranging (Mar. 18 at 10 PM), conversation with Adam Souza and David Krane.
The Great Emu War staged reading (Mar. 18 at 7:30 PM), by Cal Silberstein & Paul Hodge. Remember that one time that the Australian government sent their army with machine guns to wage war on emus in Western Australia? Neither do most people…but when Edith, the headstrong warbler, and her flock begin to feed on the wheat of local farmers – the humans take up in arms against Australia’s favorite feathered friends. Think of it as Cats, but with emus…and less dancing…and a plot.
Little Miss Perfect staged reading (Mar. 19 at 1 PM), by Joriah Kwamé. Inspired by the viral single of the same name, the musical tells the story of Noelle, a bi-racial teen navigating her senior year of high school after her mom and stepdad invite a study abroad student to be her roommate. But when the classmate becomes the victim of systemic racism as her school, Noelle must decide whether she will be true to herself and an ally to her peers, or if she will settle for simply being “Little Miss Perfect.”
…and many more events….
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Lauren Gunderson’s Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight will run Apr. 6-30 at The Flea Theater, directed by Kathy Gail MacGowan.
Bonnie Black, Nigel Gore, Amy Michelle, Zaven Ovian, and Erika Vetter.
Emilie is one of History’s most undertold stories. One of the first female physicists, the 18th centure Marquise du Châtelet died from complications in childbirth in the midst of disproving Newton’s Laws of Physics. Her work became the basis for Einstein’s theory of relativity, but her long-time lover Voltaire, who wrote with, for, and about her, remained more noted for her work that she did, until very recently.
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AZUL EP Release Concert, by Jacinta Clusellas, Melis Aker, Tatiana Pandiani & Jacinta Clusellas, will take place Thurs. Mar. 23 at 9:30 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Mandy Conzalez, Robin de Jesús, Katerina McCrimmon, Robi Hager, David Merino, Martin Sola, Henry Gainza, Florencia Cuenca, and Xavier Cano.
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John Cameron Mitchell’s “Cancellation Island” podcast series will be released this Spring (date TBA) on all platforms.
The fictional series will explore Mitchell’s hypothesis that, “in the future, we will all be canceled for 15 minutes.”
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Lactose Tolerant
1-G. Milk and Honey, musical by Jerry Herman and Don Appell
2-I. “Ice Cream,” song from She Loves Me
3-E. The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Any More, play by Tennessee Williams
4-H. “You’re the Cream in My Coffee,” song from George White’s Scandals of 1928
5-A. Under Milk Wood, play by Dylan Thomas
6-J. Devil in the Cheese, play by Tom Cushing
7-D. The Butter and Egg Man, play by George S. Kaufman
8-B. “Butter Outta Cream,” song from Catch Me If You Can
9-F. Broadway and Buttermilk, play with music by Willard Mack, Charles Grant, and Schuyler Green
10-C. The Cream in the Well, play by Lynn Riggs