Today’s Highlights:
A Sign of the Times, featuring the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield & other 1960s artists, directed by Gabriel Barre, featuring Chilina Kennedy (Cindy), Ryan Silverman (Brian), Justin Matthew Sargeant (Matt), Crystal Lucas-Perry (Tanya), and Akron Lanier Watson (Cody), with Cassie Austin, Erica Simone Barnett, Alyssa Carol, Melessie Clark, Jeremiah Ginn, Kuppi Alec Jessop, Lena Matthews, Maggie McDowell, J Savage, Justin Showell, Michael Starr, and Edward Staudenmayer, opens at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
An Evening with Maria Friedman & Friends benefit concert, directed by Christopher Gattelli, with special guests Santino Fontana and Savy Jackson, at 8 PM at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.
Dynamic Duos FREE staged reading series, written by Maria Mileaf, Vincent Scott, Leigh Selting, Kim T. Sharp, Daniela Thome, and José Zayas, directed by Augusto Federico Amador, Lynda Crawford, Ian McRae, Juan Ramirez Jr., John Scavone, and Sam Walsh, and featuring Christopher Daftsios, Dave Droxler, José Febus, Michael James, Antoinette LaVecchia, Eric Perceval, Joel Ripka, Isabella Rojas, Reza Salazar, Socorro Santiago, Claire Siebers, and Jehan O. Young, closes Off-Broadway’s Urban Stages.
A Party With Betty Comden & Adolph Green concert, re-created by Mallory Portnoy & Nick Blaemire, directed by Maggie Burrows, closes at NYC’s Café Carlyle.
Soul Picnic: The Songs and Legacy of Laura Nyro concert, starring Judy Kuhn, closes at NYC’s 92NY.
Rogue Machine Theatre‘s Middle of the World, by Juan Jose Alfonso, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, featuring Cheryl Umaña (Victoria), Christian Telesmar Glenn Joyne), Leandro Cano (Bob Gonzalez), Jennifer Pollono (Barbara Blanchard), and Dan Lin (Warren Lim), closes at Hollywood’s Matrix Theatre.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz: Adjectives Galore, by Jim Bernhard
Pick the right adjective to complete these titles of plays and musicals:
| 1. The ____ Molly Brown | A. Beautiful |
| 2. The ____ Crichton | B. Naughty |
| 3. ____ Johnny Jones | C. Dangerous |
| 4. ____ Marietta | D. Merry |
| 5. ____Ladies | E. Remarkable |
| 6. The ____ Galatea | F. Sophisticated |
| 7. The ____ Mr. Pennypacker | G. Little |
| 8. A ____ Maid | H. Imaginary |
| 9. The ____ Widow | I. Admirable |
| 10. The ____ Invalid | J. Unsinkable |
Scroll down for the answers…
**********************
The world premiere production of Stephen Sondheim & David Ives’ Here We Are (which debuted in 2023) was filmed at Off-Broadway’s The Shed, directed by Joe Mantello, is now available and free to view by anyone with a library card at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O’Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos, with Adante Carter, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Bradley Dean, Mehry Eslaminia, Adam Harrington, and Bligh Voth, with Adante Carter, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Bradley Dean, Mehry Eslaminia, Adam Harrington, and Bligh Voth.
**********************
Freya Catrin Smith & Jack Williams’ Ride will run Mar. 30 – Apr. 28 (opening Apr. 5) at San Diego’s Old Globe, directed by Sarah Meadows, with music direction by Daniel Green, and choreography by Jennifer Jancuska.
Alex Finke (Annie), and Livvy Marcus (Martha), with Aubrey Matalon.
The musical follows Annie Londonderry’s endeavor to ride a bicycle around the world, accompanied by her unwitting secretary, Martha.
**********************
Shimmy Braun, Moshiel Newman Daphna & Billy Recce’s FIVE: The Parody Musical has been extended through Apr. 21 at Off-Broadway’s Theater 555, directed & choreographed by Jen Wineman.
Anyae Anasia (Ivana), Gabriella Joy Rodriguez (Marla), Jaime Lyn Beatty (Melania), Gabi Garcia (Stormy), and Hannah Bonnett (Ivanka), with a special appearance by drag legend Jasmine Rice LaBeija (Hillary Clinton).
Look out SIX, here come FIVE: The Parody Musical. Henry VIII and his six wives had nothing on Donald, the 45th, and these five ladies. Poised to make America laugh again, this 80-minute, irreverent musical comedy revue stars some of the women in life of America’s past President. Ivana, Marla and Melania ar joined by the crowd favorite Stormy and daddy’s little girl Ivanka as they each take the spotlight and sing their hearts out for your vote.
**********************
Spirited Away, adapted by John Caird & Maoko Imai, will transfer to the London Coliseum Apr. 30 – Aug. 24, directed by Caird.
Kanna Hashimoto, Mone Kamishiraishi, Kotaro Daigo, Hiroki Miura, Fu Hinami, Tomorowo Taguchi, Satoshi Hashimoto, Mari Natsuki, Romi Park, Kenya Osumi, Sunao Yoshimura, Obata, Yuya Igarashi, and Mayu Musha, with Rina Kawaei, Momoko Fukuchi, Atsuki Mashiko, Hikaru Yamano, Yuki Hana, Rion Misaki, Tomu Miyazaki, Hitomi Harukaze, Toshihiko Ito, and Seiya Motoki, with Miyu Ayahashi, Kaito Arai, Yoko Ose, Wataru Oshige, Motoko Orii, Akino Konno, Ryo Sawamura, Mayu Suetomi, Rico Takahashi, Hayato Takehiro, Saya Chinen, Hanano Teshirogi, Ayame Nakagami, Yuuki Nishinomiya, Rei Hanashima, Yoshiki Fujioka, Norihide Mantani, Eiji Mizuno, Miffy, Maki Morita, Yuna Yasuno, Yamato, Kazuma Kimura, Annakanako Mohri, Marina Mori, and Toshiki Hirose. Spirited Away follows 10-year-old Chihiro, who moves to a new home with her parents. After they get lost in a mysterious world and her parents are turned into pigs, the young girl must survive in the strange land and return to the human world.**********************
Come Spirit, Come Charm, a memorial benefit concert celebrating Lucy Simon, will take place Mon. Mar. 25 at 7 PM at NYC’s Joe’s Pub, directed by Jamie McGonnigal, with music direction by David Chase
Laura Benanti, Stephen Bogardus, Sierra Boggess, Paul Leggett Chase, Ali Ewoldt, Derrick Davis, Greg Hildreth, Emily Hoder, Sunny Hoder, John Riddle, Arbender Robinson, and Lauren Ward.**********************
Half Hard, Half Soft, written & performed by Jsoseph Vecsey will take place Sat. Apr. 27 at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater.
If you are easily offended, this is not the show for you. This will be a live taping that potentially goes to Netflix or other streaming outlets. All attendees will be required to sign a film/photography consent release.
**********************
Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew will run June 28 – Aug. 24 (opening July 4) at at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by Matthew Xia.
Casting TBA.
**********************
MCC Theater‘s MisCast24 benefit concert will take place Mon. Apr. 15 at 6 PM at NYC’s Hammerstein Ballroom.
Jason Robert Brown and Nicole Suazo
Mel & Linda Brosterman, Chelsea Kellogg, Judith Manocherian, Rachel Masch, Peter McKown, and Jac Scheiner.
Bradley Hames, Joseph Rokacz, and Lawrence Gordon
Jenni Swan.
Gavin Creel, Brian d’Arcy James, Tyne Daly, Ingrid Michaelson, Lauren Patten, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Anika Noni Rose, Lea Salonga, Ryan Vasquez, Vanessa Williams, and Joy Woods.
**********************
Patti LuPone: A life in Notes will take place Sat. Apr. 20 at 8 PM at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with music direction by Joseph Thalken.
A powerful musical memoir of songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America—from a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to becoming a Broadway icon.
**********************
Sunday in the Park with George will run Mar. 8-24 (0pening Mar. 9) at NJ’s Axelrod Performing Arts Center, directed & choreographed by Eamon Foley, with music direction by Jacob Yates.
Graham Phillips (George), Talia Suskauer (Dot), Joy Haermalyn (Old Lady), and Bernard Dotson (Jules), with Kevin Arnold, Giuliana Augello, Anthony Cataldo, Katie Davis, Bridget Cooley, and James C. Harris, Isabel Lagana, Ella Mangano, Dylan Randazzo, Allie Seibold, Alyssa Harris, Giana Carroll, Lindsay Jorgensen, Olivia Miranda, Sarah Takash, and Gillian Worek.
**********************
Alex Edelman: Just for Us comedy show, will run Mar. 26 – 31 at LA’s Mark Taper Forum, directed by Adam Brace.
In the wake of a string of anti-Semitic rhetoric pointed in his direction online, standup comic Edelman decides to go straight to the source; specifically, Queens, where he covertly attends a meeting of White Nationalists and comes face-to-face with the people behind the keyboards. What happens next forms the backbone of the shockingly relevant, utterly hilarious, and only moderately perspirant stories that comprise Just for Us.
**********************
GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Adjectives Galore
1-J. The Unsinkable Molly Brown
2-I. The Admirable Crichton
3-G. Little Johnny Jones
4-B. Naughty Marietta
5-F. Sophisticated Ladies
6-A. The Beautiful Galatea
7-E. The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker
8-C. A Dangerous Maid
9-D. The Merry Widow
10-H. The Imaginary Invalid