Today’s Highlights:
The West End’s Musical Theatre supergroup, The Barricade Boys in concert, featuring Kieran Brown, Scott Garnham, Craig Mather & Simon Schofield, with special guest Rachel Tucker, at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Maya Songs FREE concert (with a suggested $20 donation), a tribute to Maya Angelou, directed by Jacob Ming-Trent, featuring Aisha de Haas and Meecah, at at 7 PM at NYC’s St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery (131 East 10th Street).
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz: Oh, Henry! by Jim Bernhard
Match these characters named Henry with the shows in which they appear:
| 1. Henry Drummond | A. Henry, Sweet Henry |
| 2. Henry St. James | B. The Lion in Winter |
| 3. Henry Straker | C. King Henry V |
| 4. Henry Orient | D. The Skin of Our Teeth |
| 5. Henry of Monmouth | E. Oh Captain! |
| 6. Henry Higgins | F. Inherit the Wind |
| 7. Henry Plantagenet | G. Ragtime |
| 8. Henry Ford | H. Pygmalion |
| 9. Henry Percy | I. King Henry IV, Part 1 |
| 10. Henry Antrobus | J. Man and Superman |
Scroll down for the answers…
**********************
Liliana Padilla’s How to Defend Yourself will run Feb. 22 – Apr. 2 (opening Mar. 13) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Liliana Padilla, Rachel Chavkin & Steph Paul.
Amaya Braganza, Sebastian Delascasas, Jayson Lee, Ariana Mahallati, Teagan Meredith, Gabriela Ortega, Sarah Marie Rodriguez, and Talia Ryder.
Set in a DIY self-defense class, a group of college students learn “not to be a victim.” They moves they learn are meant to help fend off attackers, but they become ways to channel all sorts of things instead: anger, anxiety, trauma – and desire.
**********************
The Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour will take place Wed. Jan. 25 at 8 PM at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Concert Hall, with music direction by Christian Sands.
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling.
**********************
Kander & Ebb, David Thompson, Sharon Washington & Lin-Manuel Miranda’s new musical New York, New York will begin previews Mar. 24 and open Apr. 26 at the St. James Theatre, directed & choreographed by Susan Stroman.
Colton Ryan (Jimmy Doyle) and Anna Uzele (Francine Evans), with more TBA.
It is 1946, the war is over, and a resurgent New York is beginning to rebuild. As steel beams swing overhead, a collection of artists has dreams as big and diverse as the city itself. But do these singers, dancers, musicians and makeer have it takes to survive this place, let a long to succeed? If they can make it here, can make it anywhere.
**********************
First listen to songs from from John Kander, Fred Ebb, David Thompson, Sharon Washington & Lin-Manuwl Miranda’s upcoming Broadway production of New York, New York, directed by Susan Stroman.
The new musical is inspired by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion Picture “New York, New York.” It is 1946, the war is over, and a resurgent New York is beginning to rebuild. As steel beams swing overhead, a collection of artists has dreams as big and diverse as the city itself. Among them is Francine Evans, a young singer just off the bus from Philly, who is destined for greatness. At least, until she encounters New York native Jimmy Doyle, a brilliant but disillusioned musician looking for his “major chord” in life: music, money, love. The odds of both achieving all three are slim. But if they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.
Video: Anna Uzele performs “The World Goes ‘Round”
Video: Colton Ryan performs “Music, Money, Love”
*********************
Anything Goes will run Feb. 23 – Mar. 12 at San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon, directed by Nick Ishimaru, with choreography by Robyn Tribuzi, and music direction by Dave Dobrusky.
Ashley Cowl (Reno Sweeney), Matt Skinner (Billy Crocker), Jas Cook (Hope Harcourt), Gary Stanford,Jr. (Elijah J. Whitney), Nick Nakashima (Evelyn Oakleigh), Heather Orth (Moonface Martin) Juanita Harris (Mrs. Harcourt), Catrina Manahan (Angel), and Jill Smith (Erma), with Kyle Arrouzet, Page Collazo, Tony Conati, Renee Deweese, Roy Eiklyberry, Paul Hovannes, Dustin Riggs, Katherin Stein, and Chloe Wintersteen.
**********************
The world premiere of La Darrion Williams’ Katrina will run Jan. 27 – Feb. 19 at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble, directed by Jazmine Nichelle.
Antwan Alexander II, Cassandra Carmona, John Goodwin, Zenarra James, and Jessica Perkins.
When two desperate strangers find themselves trapped in an abandoned hospital on the verge of collapse during Hurricane Katrina, they must remember how they got there before they can get out.
**********************
Complete casting has been announced for Lorriane Hansberry’s The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, to run Feb. 4 – Mar. 19 (opening Feb. 23) at The Brooklyn Academy of Music, directed by Anne Kauffman.
Oscar Isaac (Sidney Brustein), Rachel Brosnahan (Iris Brustein), Gus Birney (Gloria Parodus), Julian DeNiro (Alton Scales), Glenn Fitzgerald (David Ragin), Andy Grotelueschen (Wally O’Hara), Miriam Silverman (Mavis Parodus Bryson), and Raphael Nash Thompson (Maz), with Joey Auzenne, Gregory Connor, Brontë England-Nelson, and Amelia Pedlow.
Set in 1960s Greenwich Village, Hansberry paints a portrait of the couple’s marriage and their progressive circle of friends whose ideals do not always match reality.
**********************
A workshop of Halley Feiffer & Neko Case’s Thelma & Louise: The Musical is currently taking place in NYC, directed by Trip Cullman.
Amanda Seyfried, Evan Rachel Wood, and others who were not reported.
**********************
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will run Feb. 24 – Mar. 31 (opening Mar. 5) at Theatre at St. Clements, directed by Joe Rosario.
Frederick Weller (Big Daddy), Matt de Rogatis (Brick), Courtney Henggeler (Maggie), and more TBA.
**********************
Listen: Learn about the real Fanny Brice in Mo Rocca’s latest “Mobituaries” podcast (47 min.)
**********************
Lukas Gage & Pheobe Fisher’s “Down Low” will premiere Mar. 10-19 at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX, written by Lukas Gage & Phoebe Fisher, and directed by Rightor Doyle.
Audra McDonald, Zachary Quinto, Judith Light, Lukas Gage, and Simon Rex.
The film follows the lives of a deeply repressed man, the uninhibited young man that gives him a happy ending, and all the lives they ruin along the way.
**********************
& 
Hilary Bettis’ Queen of Basel will run Feb. 3-26 (opening Feb. 9) at TheaterWorks Hartford, directed by Cristina Angeles. 
A streaming option will also be available Feb. 19-26.
Silvia Dionicio (Christine), Kelvin Grullon (John), and Christine Spang (Julie).
A bold adaptation of Strindberg’s Miss Julie set during Miami’s Art Basel.
**********************
Pippin: The 50th Anniversary Original Broadway Cast Reunion Concert will take place Tues. Feb. 6 and 7, at 7 & 9:30 PM (on both dates) at NYC’s 54 Below, directed by original cast member Walter Willison, with music direction by Michael Lavine.
John Rubinstein, Joy Franz, Candy Brown, Cheryl Clark, Gene Foote, Will D. McMillian, Jennifer Nairn-Smith, Pamela Sousa, Walter Willison, Leland Palmer, and Aaron Lee Battle.
**********************
The Labyrinth Theatre Company has announced its 23rd annual Barn Series Free Reading Festival, to run Jan. 31 – Feb. 12 at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theatres. Casting & some creative teams TBA.
No Easy Way to be Free (Jan. 31), by Sidney Williams, directed by Ross Klavan.
Kaleidoscope: A Diary Play (Feb. 1), by Madeline Barr, directed by Adrian Wattenmaker.
Fun With Shame (Feb. 2), by Florencia Lozano & Paul Martinez .
Love Lake (Feb. 3), by Dipti Bramhandkar, directed by Padraic Lillis.
Still (Feb. 4), by Lia Romeo, by Lia Romeo, directed by directed by Charles Goforth.
The Spaces in Between (Feb. 5), by Paula Pizzi, directed by John Gould Rubin.
Spin (Feb. 7), by Jake Brasch, directed by Padraic Lillis
Silence in the Mountains (Feb. 8), by Lyle Kessler, director TBA.
Untitled (Feb. 9), by Justin Reinsilber, directed by TBA. Note: the title of the play is Untitled.
Shoe Story The Musical (Feb. 10), by Ben Snyder & Will Stone, directed by Heidi Marshall.
Planet Mirth (Feb. 11), by Jen Cook, directed by John Ortiz.
Hidden (Feb. 11), by Margaret Ladd, directed by Erica Gould.
Next Stop Broadway (Feb. 12), by Melisa McGregor & Victor Almanzar, directed by
**********************
Ensemble Theatre Company will present Sylvia Khoury’s Selling Kabul Feb. 2 – Feb. 19 (opening Feb. 4) at Santa Barbara’s New Vic, directed by Nike Doukas.
Richan Dhamiia (Taroon), Nitya Vidyasager (Afiva), and Beejan Land (Jawid).
Troon, a former interpreter form the US military, is hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s home in Kabul, Afghanistan. As Taroon restlessly awaits news from the hospital on the birth of his first child, his family races to protect him from dangers lurking outside the apartment walls. Tension mounts as he plans his escape with his wife and infant child.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Oh, Henry!
1-F. Henry Drummond, Inherit the Wind
2-E. Henry St. James, Oh Captain!
3-J. Henry Straker, Man and Superman
4-A. Henry Orient, Henry, Sweet Henry
5-C. Henry of Monmouth, King Henry V
6-H. Henry Higgins, Pygmalion
7-B. Henry Plantagenet, The Lion in Winter
8-G. Henry Ford, Ragtime
9-I. Henry Percy, King Henry IV, Part I
10-D. Henry Antrobus, The Skin of Our Teeth