Today’s Highlights:
Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon world premiere concert, by Will Friedwald, Adrian Galante, Tedd Firth & Jack Lewin, directed by David Zippel, featuring Hilary Kole, John Pagano, and Ta-Tynisa Wilson, opens at Off-Broadway’s Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater.
An Evening with Kelli O’Hara concert, directed by David Milnes, at 7 PM at NYC’s Lincoln Center Theatre.
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Grace Notes quiz: What Are You Waiting For? by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing words in these shows and song titles about waiting:
| 1. Waiting ____, play by Frederick Knott | A. for Godot |
| 2. “Waiting ____,” song from Follies | B. for Me |
| 3. Waiting____, play by Clifford Odets | C. for the Light to Shine |
| 4. Waiting ____, play by Samuel Beckett | D. for Lefty |
| 5.“Waitin’____,” song from Brigadoon | E. for It |
| 6. Wait ____, play by Hutcheson Boyd and Rudolph | F. in the Wings |
| 7. “Wait ____,” song from Hamilton | G. Until Dark |
| 8. “Wait ____,” song from Hadestown | H. Till We’re Married |
| 9. Waiting ____, play by Noël Coward | I. for the Girls Upstairs |
| 10. “Waitin’ ____,” song from Big River | J. for My Dearie |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Tom Dudzick’s Miracle on South Division Street will run Apr. 14 – May 10 (opening Apr. 19) at the Sheen Center, directed by Joe Brancato.
Coryn Carson, Grace Experience, Liz McCartney, and Joey Pittorino.
Meet the Nowaks of Buffalo, NY. They’re special — celebrities in their run-down neighborhood for the miracle that occurred in Grandpa’s barbershop in 1942. But their faith — and whole identity — is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. Full of twists, heart and humor, this comedy is as warming as a bowl of Matzoh Ball soup and reminds us that no matter our backgrounds, we’re all part of the same story.
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Concord Theatricals will release the digital recording of Broadway’s Ragtime, on Jan. 9, directed by Lear deBessonet.
The CD will be released Feb. 6, and the vinyl version on Apr. 3.
Click here to stream or download the album, or pre-order the 2-disc CD and 2-LP vinyl variants.
Click here to watch “Wheels of a Dream”
Click here to watch “Journey On”
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MCC Theater’s workshop production of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, by Peter Hedges, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Christopher Sears, Sydney Shepherd, & Regina Strayhorn, will run Mar. 30 – Apr. 17, directed by Anne Kauffman.
Theatre link TBA.
TBA.
Set in Endora, Iowa, during the summer of 1991, the story follows the Grape family in the days leading up to the 18th birthday of Arnie Grape, the ordinary-extraordinary-infamous Grape family gets tested in a myriad of ways.
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Theatre Aspen has announced its 2026 season. Casting and creative teams TBA.
Sylvia (June 15-27), by A.R. Gurney.
A Chorus Line (July 3-25)
Grease (July 31 – Aug. 29)
Summer Cabaret Series (June 28, July 19, and Aug. 16)
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The world premiere of Nico Juber’s Millennials Are Killing Musicals will run Apr. 30 – May 17 (opening May 2) at Burbank’s Colony theatre, directed by Kristin Hanggi, with music direction by Antony Lucca.
TBA
With a contemporary pop-rock score, this entirely original musical comedy offers a fierce, funny look at identity in the age of social media. Brenda, a single millennial mom, just wants to do better “adulting” (like the seemingly perfect Jake’s mom at her daughter’s school), when her younger #influencer sister Katrina shows up eight months pregnant and totally unprepared for motherhood. The three women work to shed the Greek Chorus of social media filters on their lives to achieve their dreams.
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David J Glass’ Spare Parts will run Feb. 26 – Apr. 10 (opening Mar. 8) at Theatre Row, directed by Michael Herwitz.
Rob McClure, Michael Genet, Matt Walker, and more TBA.
Set against the backdrop of radical aging research funded by a billionaire’s quest for eternal life, Spare Parts confronts the blurred lines between science, identity, and morality and asks the question: What does it cost to live forever?
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The Very Best of Elton John & Billy Joel will take place Mon. Jan. 26 at 5 PM at Minneapolis’ Crooners Supper Club (link TBA).
Jay Fuchs, Andy LaCasse, Reid Kennedy, and Kris Stauffer.
This special night will include hits life “Your Son,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,”, “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Sacrifice,” “My Life, Don’t Ask Me Why,” You’re My Home,” The Stranger”, Movin’ Out”, and many more.
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Tracy Letts’ Bug has been extended through Feb. 22 at Off-Broadway’s Manhattan Theatre Club, directed by David Cromer.
Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood, with Randall Arney, Jennifer Engstrum, and Steve Key.
What begins as a simple connection between two broken people in a seedy Oklahoma motel room twists into something far more dangerous. When reality slips out of grasp, paranoia, delusion, and conspiracy take over in this sexy psychological thriller.
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The world premiere of Robert Axlerod’s Lifeline will run Jan. 20 – Mar. 1 (opening Jan. 23 ) at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre Company, directed by Ken Sawyer.
Brittany Visser (Jen), Tommy Dickie (Drew), Amy tolsky (Patti), Clifton J. Adams (Kai), Naomi Rubin (Sarah Beth), and Xoë Sazzle (Maya).
In the aftermath of an unforeseen, life-changing event, Patti, a well-meaning mother, becomes a volunteer at a suicide hotline. Over the course of the intense and emotional training, through laughter and tears, a new understanding bridges the divide between people from very different perspectives and walks of life.
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Grace Notes quiz answers: What Are You Waiting For? by Jim Bernhard
1-G. Wait Until Dark, play by Frederick Knott
2-I. “Waiting for the Girls Upstairs,” song from Follies
3-D. Waiting for Lefty, play by Clifford Odets
4-A. Waiting for Godot, play by Samuel Beckett
5-J. “Waitin’ for My Dearie,” song from Brigadoon
6-H. Wait Till We’re Married, play by Hutcheson Boyd and Rudolph Bunner
7-E. “Wait for It,” song from Hamilton
8-B. “Wait for Me,” song from Hadestown
9-F. Waiting in the Wings, play by Noël Coward
10-C. “Waitin’ for the Light to Shine,” song from Big River