Today’s Highlights:
The Homecoming, by Harold Pinter, directed by Matthew Dunster, featuring Jared Harris (Max), Joe Cole (Lenny), Lisa Diveney (Ruth), David Angland (Joey), Robert Emms (Teddy), and Nicolas Tennant (Sam), begins previews at London’s Young Vic.
Billie the Kid semi-staged performance, by Conway McDermott & Gez Mercer, directed by Kerry Kyriacos Michael, featuring Natasha J Barnes, Kymberley Cochrane, Harvey Ebbage, Ki Griffin, Beth Hinton-Lever, Tony Jayawardena, Rob Kershaw, Ryan Kopel, Phoebe-Loveday Raymond, Aharon Rayner, Olivia Saunders, Jodie Steele, Yuki Sutton, Hannah Victoria, and Yasmin Wilde, at 7:30 PM at London’s Vaudeville Theatre.
Forbidden Sondheim: Merrily We Stole a Song, by Gerard Alessandrini, staged by Gerry McIntyre & Fred Barton, featuring Michael West, Dayna Jarae Dantzler, Chris Collins-Pisano, Jenny Lee Stern, and special guest Christine Pedi, closes at NYC’s Green Fig Cabaret Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Have A Scoop by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing words in these songs and shows—all of which are flavors of ice cream.
| 1. The ____ Soldier, musical by Oscar Straus, Rudolph Bernauer and Leopold Jacobson | A. Cherry |
| 2. ”____ Ice Cream,” song from She Loves Me | B. Banana |
| 3. “____ Fields,” song from Rain (A Beatles Tribute) | C. Pineapple |
| 4. “A ____ for me,” lyric from “It Couldn’t Please Me More” from Cabaret | D. Chocolate |
| 5. The Flowering ____, play by Clifford Odets | E. Tutti-Frutti |
| 6. “You’re the Cream in My ____,” song from Good News | F. Vanilla |
| 7. “____ Jazz,” song from The Passing Show of 1919 | G. Neapolitan |
| 8. “____ Tree Lane,” song from Mary Poppins | H. Coffee |
| 9. Top ____, musical by Hy Kraft and Johnny Mercer | I. Strawberry |
| 10. “____,” song from Uptown… It’s Hot | J. Peach |
Scroll down for the answers…
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CT’s Goodspeed has announced its 2024 season:
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Apr. 5 – June 2), by Rupert Holmes, directed by Rob Ruggiero.
South Pacific (June 14 – Aug. 11), directed by Chay Yew.
Maggie: The New Musical (Aug. 23 – Oct. 20), by Johnny Reid, Matt Murray & Bob Foster, directed by Mary Francis Moore. 
A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bonds and changing times. After suffering the unthinkable loss of her husband, Maggie must rely on her strength, sense of humor and fiercely loyal friends to protect her family from a harsh world. Spanning over 20 years, a hardscrabble working class life blossoms with a soul-stirring pop-folk score. A generation of courageous mothers is celebrated in this rousing American premiere! 
Listen to the music HERE.
A Christmas Story, The Musical (Nov. 1-29), by Joseph Robinette, Benj Pasek & Justin paul.
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A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty will run Dec. 14-16 at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center.
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Girl From the North Country, written & directed by Conor McPherson, will run Dec. 5-10 at Schenectady’s Proctors.
Alan Ariano (Dr. Walker), David Benoit (Mr. Burke), Ben Biggers (Gene Laine), Paul Jennifer Blood (Elizabeth Laine), Matt Manuel (Joe Scott), Sharaé Moultrie (Marianne Laine), Ali Regan (Swing), Jay Russell (Mr. Perry), John Schiappa (Nick Laine), Chiara Trentalange (Kate Draper), Jill Van Velzer (Mrs. Burke), Jeremy Webb (Reverend Marlowe), Aidan Wharton (Elias Burke), and Carla Woods (Mrs. Neilsen), with Ashley D. Brooks, Justin Michael Duval, Kelly McCormick, Rayla Garske, Paul Blankenship,Hosea Mundi, Warren Nolan Jr., and Danny Vaccaro.
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James A. Rocco’s new EP, “Holidays With Mom,” featuring pianist Rick Carlson, is now available here and on most platforms.
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Brandon Loeser & Shaun Loeser’s Santasia – A Holiday Comedy will run Dec. 1-23 at Sherman Oaks’s Whitefire Theatre, directed by Shaun Loeser.
Brandon Loeser, Shaun Loeser, Rusty Locke, Tara Jean O’Brien, Adam Slemon, and Omar Heywood.
The show features Broadway musical parodies, classic Rankin and Bass inspired
Claymation movies, and heartfelt sentiment.
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Death, Let Me Do My Show: Rachel Bloom in Conversation will take place Tues. Dec. 5 at 7 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
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Video: First look at A Christmas Carol at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, starring Larry Ynado.
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Group Rep‘s 70 Girls 70 continues through Dec. 23 at North Hollywoods’ Lonny Chapman Theatre, directed by Bruce Kimmel.
Cynthia Bryant, Regan Carrinton, Kay Cole, Fay DeWitt, Dawn Halloran, Doug Haverty, Suzy London, Hisato Masuyama, Barbara Minkus, Judy Nazemetz, Cynthia Payo, Lloyd Pedersen, Leota Rhodes, Rob Schaumann, Sara Shearer and Danica Waitley.
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Debbie Wileman as Judy Garland: We Need a Little Christmas tribute concert will take place Sun. Dec. 10 at 7:30 PM at Carnegie Hall, with music direction by Steve Orich.
Chita Rivera, Barry Bostwick, and Margaret O’Brien
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The world premiere of Actors Co-op Theatre‘s Lewis and Tolkien, written & directed by Dean Batali, has been extended through Dec. 10 at Hollywood’s Crossley Theatre
Phil Crowley (C.S Lewis), Michael Beattie (J.R.R. Tolkien) and Bianca Akbiyik (Veronica).
Set in Oxford, England in the autumn of 1963 at the famous “Rabbit Room” of the Eagle and Child Pub, this play is something of a return to the familiar for C.S. Lewis (author of The Chronicles of Narnia) and J.R.R. Tolkien (who wrote The Lord of the Rings). Filled with humor, rousing debate, and reconciliation, the two men learn the true value of their friendship with a little help from a few pints of beer and the energetically curious barmaid, Veronica.
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So Many Stars will run Dec. 2, 3, 9 & 10 at LA’s Theatre West, conceived & directed by Victoria Lavan.
Alyssa Rupert, Constance Mellors, Harleigh Ford, Michal Van Duzer, Paul Cady, Rick Simone-Friedland, Scottie Nevil, and Victoria Lavan.
Bryce Charles, Vertreace Sanders, Jaylen Ty’ron, and Charles Johnson.
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Company XIV‘s Nutcracker Rouge, hosted by J. Harrison Ghee, will continue through Jan. 27, 2024 at Théâtre XIV (383 Troutman St.), directed & choreographed by Austin McCormick.
Storm Marrero & Brandon Looney (Dosselmeyer), Megumi “Meg” Iwama & Ellen Akashi (Marie-Claire), Marcos Antonio & Jack Blackmon (Nutcracker Prince), Robyn Adele Anderson & Melike Konur (Susan Queens), Nolan (Candy Cane), Lola Carter (Cherries), Alisa Mae & Kylie Rose (Champagne), Uys du Buisson (Absinthe), TJ (Turkish Delight), Daniel Darling (Cotton Candy), and Duane Gosa (Mother Ginger), with Erin Dillon, Nicholas Katen, Clarisa Patton and Morgan Lee Wade.
Peppermint, Jared Dixon, Julie Benko, Danny Kornfeld, Steven Telsey, Sean Bell, Andrew O’Shanick, Kolton Krouse, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Linedy Genao, Jordan Dobson, Marti Cummings, Olivia Lux, Brita Filter and more.
This naughty take on the classic ballet returns for a 13th anniversary limited engagement at Théâtre XIV. Circus artists, enchanting chanteuses, burlesque dancers, and baroque extravagance fashion a dazzling symphony to liberate a familiar tale with sensual and opulent flair.
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Megan Hilty in Concert will run Dec. 1-4 at NYC’s Paradise Club.
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Alex Edelman: Just for Us has been extended through Dec. 23 at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
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.
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Group Rep‘s production of Kander & Ebb’s 70 Girls 70 continues through Dec. 23 at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre, directed by Bruce Kimmel.
Cynthia Bryant, Regan Carrington, Kay Cole, Fay DeWitt, Dawn Halloran, Doug Haverty, Suzy London, Hisato Masuyama, Barbara Minkus, Judy Nazemetz, Cynthia Payo, Lloyd Pedersen, Leota Rhodes, Rob Schaumann, Sara Shearer and Danica Waitley.
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Foundation for New American Musical‘s next Musi -Cal concert, offering songs from new musicals, will take place Mon. Dec. 4 at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Bourbon Room.
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Jason Graae‘s fabulous interview with Tregoney Shepherd:
1) Hello Broadway’s Tregoney Shepherd! Let’s start with the most important question- how did you meet me?
I met You for the first time on tour with Wicked and you fell in love with me when I told you I was a huge fan of your work on the Fifty Million Frenchmen CD.
2) I’ve gotten this question a lot- what the hell kind of a name is Tregoney Shepherd? (I can ask this since people ask me what the hell kind of name is Graae?)
Tregoney is the name of a town in Cornwall England. My mother, who was British and father saw my name on the front of a bus and the rest is history.
3) Tell us briefly your Broadway credits.
Madame Thenardier (Les Miserables), Vicar and u/s for the Queen and Stepmother (Bad Cinderella), Midwife and u/s for Madame Morrible (WICKED), and Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante (Phantom of the Opera)
4) Bad Cinderella is infamous! I hope you’ll talk about it in our show. You’ve done 2 shows with Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber! Any good anecdotes?
My favorite memory from Phantom of the Opera is when I truly learned the meaning of the show must go on! An actor threw up onstage and nothing stopped. Ballerinas danced through it, Phantom and Christine crawled through it until there was a scene where a drop covered it and those of us behind it saw stage managers on there knees madly wiping the floor to get it up before the next scene.
5) What has it been like rehearsing with me for this show? You in NYC and me in LA?
I love rehearsing long distance with you because it means we don’t just talk by phone or text, we actually FaceTime, which gives me such pleasure.
6) You are doing a tribute to your friend, Broadway and Cabaret composer Steve Lutvak who just passed. How did you know Steve?
Steve Lutvak and I met more than 20 years ago. He was my first vocal coach in NY and quickly became a fast friend. I actually used him and his journey to Broadway composer as the inspiration for my Doctoral thesis.
7) We first put a show together for a Broadway Cares fundraiser while on the Wicked tour in San Diego at Martini’s. That’s not a question but whatever.
8) You are one of the most versatile performers I know. What are you the most excited about getting to perform with me?
I love performing with you because I get so much pleasure watching you perform that it is just joyful to share the space with someone who loves what they do. It doesn’t feel like work at all, we just seem to celebrate each other.
Sweeeeet! I feel the same about you Treg. Thank you for taking the time to answer these brilliant questions Tregoney! I can’t wait to see you in person Wednesday!
Jason & Tregoney’s new show, Two’s Company, will take place Sat. Dec. 2 at 8 PM at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre, with music direction by Gerald Sternbach.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Have A Scoop
1-D. The Chocolate Soldier, musical by Oscar Straus, Rudolph Bernauer and Leopold Jacobson
2-F. ”Vanilla Ice Cream,” song from She Loves Me
3-I. “Strawberry Fields,” song from Rain (A Beatles Tribute)
4-C. “A Pineapple for me,” lyric from “It Couldn’t Please Me More” from Cabaret
- The Floweing Peach, play by Clifford Odets
6-H. “You’re the Cream in My Coffee,” song from Good News
7-G. “Neapolitan Jazz,” song from The Passing Show of 1919
8-A. “Cherry Tree Lane,” song from Mary Poppins
9-B. Top Banana, musical by Hy Kraft and Johnny Mercer
10-E. “Tutti Frutti,” song from Uptown… It’s Hot