Today’s Highlights:
Being Mr. Wickham, written & performed by Adrian Lukis, directed by Guy Unsworth, opens at London’s Jermyn Street Theatre.
My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m Kinky, written & performed by Jean Franzblau, directed by Carly DW Bones, opens at North Hollywood’s Broadwater Second Stage (6300 Santa Monica Blvd.)
The 68th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony, honoring Nathan Lane (Harold S. Prince Award for Lifetime Achievement), and André Bishop (William Wolf Award), hosted by Sutton Foster & Aaron Tveit, at 6:15 PM at NYC’s NYU Skirball Center.
The 24 Hour Musicals event, featuring George Abud, Sherz Aletaha, Angelique Cabral, John Carrafa, Carolyn Cantor, Jonathan Coulton, Kayla Davion, Jesse Eisenberg, Kareem Fahmy, Will Frears, Kathryn Gallagher, Kirsten Guenther, Olli Haaskivi, Emily Xu Hall, Jakeim Hart,Josh Koenigsberg, Allie Levitan, Leigh Ann Larkin, Andrew Leeds, Julia Nightingale), Ryan Scott Oliver, Heath Saunders, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Will Swenson, Natalie Walker, and many more, at 7 PM at Off Broadway’s Classic Stage.
An Evening with Maltby & Shire and Friends, in celebration of Joshua Rosenblum’s new book, “Closer Than Ever,” featuring Kate Baldwin, Liz Callaway, Daniel Jenkins, Joanne Lessner, Christiane Noll, and Bryonha Marie, at 7 PM at NYC’s Symphony Space.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz: Standing By by Jim Bernhard
Match these Broadway stars with their standby performers.
| 1. Patti LuPone in Evita | A. Gretchen Wyler |
| 2. Bernadette Peters in Follies | B. Carol Teitel |
| 3. Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame | C. Bernadette Peters |
| 4. Angela Lansbury in Mame | D. Florence Lacey |
| 5. Heather North in The Girl in the Freudian Slip | E. Nancy Opel |
| 6. Vivien Leigh in Tovarich | F. Lainie Kazan |
| 7. Lauren Bacall in Applause | G. Charlotte Fairchild |
| 8. Uta Hagen in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? | H. Kate Reid |
| 9. Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl | I. Joan Copeland |
| 10. Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes | J. Haila Stoddard |
Scroll down for the answers…
**********************
77 th Annual Tony Awards (Sun. June 16 at Lincoln Center)
Pre-show: begins at 6:30 PM ET and streams for free on Pluto TV, hosted by Julianne Hough & Utkarsh Ambudkar.
Awards Ceremony: 8 PM ET on CBS (and streaming on Paramount+), hosted by Ariana DeBose.
**********************
Hello, I’m Dolly, starring Dolly Parton, will open in 2026 at a theatre TBA. Click here to learn more.
The musical has a score that will include both new, original songs penned by Parton, and some of her greatest hits. Parton has also collaborated on the musical’s book with Maria S. Schlatter.
**********************
Broadway Celebrates Juneteenth will take place Wed. June 19 at 11 AM in Times Square, hosted by Michael James Scott.
Blu Allen, Donovan Louis Bazemore, Jace Bently, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Maya Boyd, Tsilala Brock, Max Chambers, Taylor Colleton, Jay Copeland, Lorna Courtney, Charity Angél Dawson, Mariama Diop, Desmond Sean Ellington, Will Ervin Jr., Jerome Hermann-Hardeman, Dorian Harewood, Jackson Hayes, Najah Hetsberger, Afra Hines, Manny Houston, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Bre Jackson, Polanco Jones Jr., John-Michael Lyles, Mehret Marsh, Deja McNair, Alex Newell, Veronica Otim, Cristina Raé, Jelani Remy, William Rhem Jr., Albert Rhodes Jr., Walter Russell III, Antoine L. Smith, Nia Thompson, Lamont Walker II, Rachel Webb, NaTasha Yvette Williams, and Hailee Kaleem Wright.
**********************
An industry reading of Celeste Bedford Walker’s Reunion in Bartersville will take place Thurs. June 13 at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center, directed by Jerry Dixon.
Charlotte d’Amboise (Liz), Clifton Davis (Perry), Marchánt Davis (Ronnie), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (AJ), Larry Marshall (Cous), Lizan Mitchell (Janie Mae), and Lillias White (Pollina), with Lakisha May. 
A whodunit set within a group of senior citizens who come together for their 50th high school class reunion.**********************
Jethro Compton & Darren Clark’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will transfer to London’s Ambassadors Theatre, with performances beginning Oct. 10, directed by Compton, with choreography by Chi-San Howard, and music supervision by Mark Aspinall.
John Dagleish (Benjamin Button), with Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Ann Marcuson, Jack Quarton, Benedict Salter, Elliot Mackenzie, and more TBA.
**********************
Kritzerland will present Supercalifragilistic! – A Tribute to the Late and Great Burt Bacharach on Mon. June 17 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, hosted by Bruce Kimmel, with music direction by John Sawosdi & Richard Allen.
Brent Barrett, Bonnie Gordon, Ava Madison Gray, Linda Hart, Danika Masi, Kerry O’Malley, Sophie Petersen, Isabella Sawoski, and Robert Yacko.
**********************
August Strindberg’s Miss Julie 1925 will run June 27-July 7 at Theater for the New City, adapted & directed by Robert Greer.
Natalie Menna (Julie), Mike Roche (Jean), and Holly O’Brien (Christine).
Strindberg originally set the play in a Swedish manor house in 1888. However, Theater for the New City will present this production, translated from the Swedish and adapted by Robert Greer, that transplants Strindberg’s story to a Long Island country estate in 1925. In this Americanized retelling, the engagement of the Governor’s daughter, Julie, to the County District Attorney has just been broken off. It’s Fourth of July and an extravagant party is underway, parallel to the midsummer festivities in Strindberg’s play.
**********************
Listen to 2 tracks from Broadway’s The Wiz:
“Be a Lion” listen here.
“Home” listen here.
**********************
LA’s Theatre West will screen the “American Masters” documentary “Every Act of Life,” about Terrence McNally, produced, written, and directed by Theatre West member Jeff Kaufman. The film will be shown Sat. June 22 (8 PM) and Sun. June 23 (2 PM), followed by a discussion and talkback (June 22 only) with Kaufman, producer Marcia Ross, and actress Tyne Daly, moderated by Michael Van Duzer.
**********************
CT’s Goodspeed Musicals has announced 2 upcoming productions:
Ask for the Moon (July 19 – Aug. 11), by Darko Tresnjak & Oran Eldor, directed by Tresnjak, with choreography by Karla Puno Carcia, and music direction by Ian Axness. Set sail on the Jewel of the Sea ocean liner with a scheming widow, a vengeful lawyer, and a volatile nurse. Enjoy the vocal stylings of Misha and Grisha, the squabbling Carpathian twins. Get the latest fashion tips from Persimmon De Vol, stylist par excellence. But only venture into the Poseidon Suite at your own peril…Madness and hilarity abound in a diabolical new musical comedy that is sure to make waves. Bon voyage! Casting TBA. Details here.
No Love Songs (Sept. 27 – Oct. 20)m by Laura Wilde, Johnny McNight & Kyle Falconer, directed by Andrew Panton & Tashi Gore. In a hopeful and empowering tale of modern romance, No Love Songs tells the story of Jessie and Lana – young and in love one second and pregnant the very next. When Jessie is called away to tour with his band in America and post-partum depression sets in for Lana, they must learn to navigate the unique challenges of their new lives as parents. Through a powerful blend of humor, heart and indie rock music, you’ll be taken on a journey that captures the essence of love and realities of early parenthood. Details here.
**********************
Listen to the first 3 tracks from The Great Gatsby.
**********************
Cambridge’s A.R.T. has announced its 2024-25 season:
Romeo and Juliet (Aug. 31 – Oct. 6), directed by Diane Paulus, with choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
Diary of a Tap Dancer (Dec. 12 – Jan. 4, 2025), world premiere by Ayodele Casel, directed by Torya Beard. The show interweaves dance, narrative, and song to share the story of her own life and honor the histories and legacies of the extraordinary women tap dancers who came before her.
The Odyssey (Feb. 8 – Mar. 16), world premiere, newly adapted by Kate Hamill, directed by Shana Cooper.
Night Side Songs (Mar. 27 – Apr. 13), world premiere by Daniel & Patrick Lazour, directed by Taibi Magar. The new musical gives voice to doctors, patients, researchers, and caregivers to meld the realms of the well and the sick.
One more production TBA.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Standing By
1-E. Patti LuPone in Evita – Nancy Opel
2-D. Bernadette Peters in Follies – Florence Lacey
3-J. Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame – Haila Stoddard
4-G. Angela Lansbury in Mame – Charlotte Fairchild
5-C. Heather North in The Girl in the Freudian Slip – Bernadette Peters
6-I. Vivien Leigh in Tovarich – Joan Copeland
7-A. Lauren Bacall in Applause – Gretchen Wyler
8-H. Uta Hagen in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Kate Reid (actually an alternate who played matinee performances)
9-F. Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl – Lainie Kazan
10-B. Elizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes – Carol Teitel