Today’s Highlights:
The Coast Starlight, by Keith Bunin, directed by Tyne Rafaeli, featuring Mia Barron, Camila Canó-Flaviám Rhys Coiro, Jon Norman Schneider, Michelle Wilson, and Will Harrison, opens at Off-Broadway’s Lincoln Center Theatre.
How to Defend Yourself, writtenLiliana Padilla, directed by Liliana Padilla, Rachel Chavkin & Steph Paul, featuring Amaya Braganza, Sebastian Delacasas, Jayson Lee, Ariana Mahallati, Teagan Meredicth, Gabriela Ortega, Sarah Marie Rodriguez, and Talia Ryder, opens at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.
Layalina, world premiere by Yousif Zebari, directed by Sivan Battat, featuring Atra Asdou (Karima/Layal), Waseem Alzer (Sahir/Amin), Ali Louis Bourzgui (Young Mazain/Yousif), Mattico David (Yasir/Mazin), and Becca Khalil (Young Layal/Marwa), opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
LA Theatre Week begins at various locations.
Broadway Backwards BC/EFA benefit concert, directed by Robert Bartley, featuring F. Murray Abraham, George Abud, Philippe Arroyo, Corbin Bleu, Wayne Brady, Lec Cariou, Bradley Dean, Eden Espinosa, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Robbie Fairchild, Barrett Foa, Adrianna Hicks, Robyn Hurder, Jeigh Madius, Beth Leavel, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Bonnie Milligan, Samantha Pauly, Anthony Rapp, Turner Riley, Lea Salonga, Kyle Scatliffe, Alexandra Silber, A.J. Shively, Ali Stroker, Paulo Szot, and Paul C. Vogt, at 8PM at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre.
Dylan Mulvaney’s Day 365 Live! livestreamed benefit concert, directed by Katie Spelman, with special guests Reneé Rapp, L. Morgan Lee, Jonathan Van Ness, Dominique Jackson, Rachel Brosnahan, Sis, and Senator Sarah McBride, featuring, Samora la Perdida, Zachary A. Mayers, Mars Rucker, and Wren Rivera, at 8 PM at NYC’s Rainbow Room. 
$5 Livestream tickets here.
Broadway Brat Pack concert, featuring Kathryn Allison, Sam Gravitte, Luke Hawkins, and Jelani Remy, at 7 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
Festival of New American Musicals concert, featuring selections from new musicals, at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Bourbon Room.
“Remember This,” starring David Strathairn, airs at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Frankly Speaking, by Jim Bernhard:
Answer these questions about composer-lyricist Frank Loesser:
1. Loesser was expelled from City College of New York for failing every subject except English and…physics…music…gym…home economics
2. What Loesser song from the movie “Neptune’s Daughter” has been controversial because of lyrics that some people think suggest sexual harassment?…“Once in Love With Amy”… “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”… “Two Sleepy People”… “Standing on the Corner”
3. Whom did Loesser marry after she starred inThe Most Happy Fella?…Bernadette Peters…Barbara Cook…Ethel Merman…Jo Sullivan
4. Which of these pop songs did Loesser NOT write?… “On a Slow Boat to China”… “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”… “Don’t Fence Me In”… “Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year”
5. Loesser’s Thumbelina was from the movie…”Hans Christian Andersen”…”Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”…”Gulliver’s Travels”…”Tom Thumb”
6. Guys and Dolls was based upon short stories by….O. Henry…Ring Lardner…Booth Tarkington…Damon Runyon
7. What opera singer was the star of the original Broadway production of The Most Happy Fella?…Ezio Pinza…Robert Weede…Placido Domingo…Robert Merrill
8. Which of the following did NOT star on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying?…Robert Morse…Matthew Broderick…Michael J. Fox…Daniel Radcliffe
9. For which musical did Loesser win a Pulitzer Prize?…The Most Happy Fella…Guys and Dolls…How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying…Greenwillow
10. The musical Where’s Charley? was based upon… “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”…”Goodtime Charley”…”Charley’s Aunt”…”You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
Scroll down for the answers…
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The 2023 Oscar Award winners:
Click here for the complete list of winners
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Goodspeed Musicals has announced creative teams for its 2023-24 season:
Gypsy (Apr. 28 – June 18), directed by Jenn Thompson, with music direction by Adam Souza and choreography by Patricia Wilcox.
Summer Stock (July 7 – Aug. 27), world premiere adaptation by Robert Schenkkan, directed by Donna Feore, with music direction by Adam Souza.
The Twelve (Sept. 8 – Oct. 29), by Robert Schenkkan, directed by John Doyle, with music direction by Adam Souza.
Dreamgirls (Nov. 10 – Dec. 30), directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with music direction by Adam Souza, and choreography by Breon Arzell.
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The 38th annual Bistro Awards gala will take place Mon. Apr. 17 at 7 PM at NYC’s Gotham Comedy Club.
Ann Morrison, Melissa Errico, Ann Talman, Ronny Whyte, Danny Bacher, Danny Bolero, Tim Connell, Brandon James Gwinn, Beverley Church Hogan, Therese Lee, Scott F. Mason, Ann Morrison, Josephine Sanges, Daryl Sherman, Twanda, and Mark Winkler.
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Complete casting has been announced for the world premiere of Randy Rogel’s beatnik horror comedy musical Did You See What Walter Paisley Did Today?, to run Mar. 16 – Apr. 2 (opening on Mar. 18) at CA’s La Mirada Theatre, directed by BT McNicholl, with choreography by Connor Gallagher, and music direction by Kimberly Grigsby.
Steven Booth (Walter Paisley), Vanessa Sierra (Carla), Ross Hellwig (Maxell Brock), Kingsley Leggs (Leonard DeSantis), Kathy Fitzgerald (Mrs. Swickert), Janna Cardia (Lili von Vondergraff), Ashley Moniz (Beatnik Girl), and Josh Adamson (Detective Lou Raby), James Caleb Grice (Beatnick Guy), and Jamir Brown (Clive).
When a struggling beatnik sculptor in San Francisco stumbles upon a new style of art that thrusts him into fame, fortune, and perhaps some big trouble, well, – you’ll just have to see what Walter Paisley did today.
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The Metropolitan Opera will present Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier from Mar. 27 – Apr. 20.
Lise Davidsen, Erin Morley, Simon Young, René Barbera, Katharine Goeldner, Thomas Ebenstein, Brian Mulliban, and Kang Wang.
The performance on Sat. Apr. 15 will screen in movie theaters around the globe.
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PA’s Bucks County Playhouse has announced its 2023 mainstage season:
Tommy and Me (May 19 – June 17), by Ray Didinger, directed by Nick Corley. Magical things can happen when a boy meets his sports idol.
Tick, Tick … Boom! (June 23 – July 15), directed by Eric Rosen, with music direction by Rodney Bush.
ALiEN8 (July 27-30), by Kate Brennan & David Lee White, directed & choreographed by Kara Jonsson. The story of a wounded town reckoning with their shame and finding connection through forgiveness.
The Bridges of Madison County (Aug. 11 – Sept. 10), directed by Hunter Foster.
The Rocky Horror Show (Oct. 13-28), directed by Hunter Foster.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Nov. 17 – Dec. 31), directed by Hunter Foster.**********************
Alessandro Camon’s Scintilla will run Apr. 11 – June 4 (opening Apr. 13) at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky.
Taylor Gilbert (Marianne), Carlos Lacamára (Roberto), David Gianopolos (Stanley), Krishna Smitha (Nora), and Kris Frost (Michael), with Blaire Chandler, Wali Habib, Krishna Smitha, and Lance Guest.
Michael and Nora travel to visit his mother Marianne, a reclusive artist who lives at the edge of the woods in California’s Wine Country. As a raging wildfire approaches, Michael must deal with Marianne’s stubborn refusal to leave, and the arrival of two unexpected visitors. The rising tension exposes a complicated family history erupting into a larger question about our very survival on this planet.
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Samuel Becket’s Endgame has been extended again, now through Apr. 16 at Off-Broadway’s Irish Rep, directed by Ciarán O’Reilly.
Bill Irwin, John Douglas Thompson, Joseph Grifasi, and Patrice Johnson
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The Martha Graham Dance Company will present a rehearsal of Graham’s 1939 piece Every Soul is a Circus on Apr. 4 & 5 at 7 PM (with a livestream option on Apr. 5), at Off-Broadway’s Joyce Theater. The production will run Apr. 18-30.
The piece takes us into the imagination of a self-absorbed woman who sees herself as the star of a circus. The event will include an insider look at elements of the choreography as well as a complete rehearsal run of the dance.
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Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars has announced its 2023-24 season:
Jagged Little Pill (Aug. 29 – Sept. 10), directed by Diane Paulus.
Sweeney Todd (Oct. 17-29, directed & choreographed by Dan Knechtges
The Ugly X-mas Sweater Musical (Nov. 18 – Dec. 24), by Dan Knechtges & Megan Larche Dominick, directed & choreographed by Knechtges. Cheryl is the HR director of a large company that is being bought out by and international conglomerate. To save their jobs, her employees must come up with the best “Ugly- Xmas Sweater” ever.
Cinderella (Dec. 5-24), adapted by Tom Briggs, directed by Eboni Bell Darcy.
On Your Feet (Jan. 30 – Feb. 11, 2024), directed by Luis Salgado
The Cher Show (Apr. 16-28), directed by Jason Moore.
Newsies (May 21 – June 2), directed by Ryan Scarlata
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Frankly Speaking
1. Loesser failed every course except English and gym.
2. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” has been controversial because of its supposedly suggestive lyrics.
3. Loesser married Jo Sullivan.
4. Loesser did NOT write “Don’t Fence Me In.” Cole Porter wrote it.
5. “Thumbelina” was written for Hans Christian Andersen.
6. Guys and Dolls was based upon short stories by Damon Runyon.
7. Robert Weede was the original star of The Most Happy Fella.
8. Michael J. Fox did not star in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
9. Loesser won the Pulitzer Prize in 1962 (shared with Abe Burrows) for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
10. Where’s Charley? was based upon Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas.