GRACE NOTES: Monday, October 14, 2024

 

Today’s Highlights:

  The Mulberry Tree, by Hanna Eady & Edward Mas, directed by Alexandra Aron, featuring Ramzi Khalif, Rachel Botchan, Laith Zuaiter, Najla Said, Khalifa Natour, and Haythem Noor, opens at Off-Broadway’s La MaMa.

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Grace Notes QuizMeet the Governor by Jim Bernhard

Match these governors with the plays or musicals in which they appear:

1. Deputy Governor Danforth A. Bonnie and Clyde
2. Governor Alfred E. Smith B. Naughty Marietta
3. Governor of Alabama C. Candide
4. Governor of Buenos Aires D. First American Dictator
5. Governor of Harfleur E. Sunrise at Campobello
6. Governor Roosevelt F. Tamburlaine the Great
7. Lieutenant Governor Grandet G. Newsies: the Musical
8. Governor of Babylon H. The Crucible
9. Governor Ferguson I. King Henry V
10. Governor Huey P. Long J. The Scottsboro Boys

Scroll down for the answers…

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  Fatherland, written & directed by Stephen Sachs, continues through Nov. 23 at New York City Center Stage II.

Ron Bottitta (Father), Patrick Keleher (Son), Anna Kahja (US Attorney), and Larry Poindexter (Defense Attorney)

  Tthe true story of the 18-year-old son who turned the father he loves in to the FBI because of his militant role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Fast-paced and powerful, Fatherland lands Off-Broadway following a sold-out Los Angeles run. This compelling tale is told from public statements, case evidence, and official court transcripts from the explosive trial that ignited a media frenzy and grabbed headlines nationwide.

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  Broadway’s Suffs will close Jan. 5, 2025 at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre (after 24 previews & 301 regular performances).

A national tour will launch in Sept. 2025. Casting and additional information TBA.

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   An invitation-only industry reading of Ryan O’Connor’s The Cowards: A Marvelously Queer New Comedy will take place Fri. Dec. 6 at NYC’s Pearl Studios, directed by Michael Wilson, with music direction by Or Matias.

Ryan O’Connor (Lawrence Coward), Taylor Schilling (Maxine Coward), Eva Reign (Ruby Coward), Isaiah Standard (Spencer Coward), Veanne Cox (Kay Ritter), Brandon Uranowitz (Smith Myron), Charlie Barnett (Baldwin Greatham), Ari Notartomaso (Jackie Lester), and Makai Hernandez (Payn Tyler).

  A queer, modern take on Noël Coward’s Hay Fever, centering on a four-person dysfunctional chosen family unit that each invites a surprise guest to join them in Provincetown for the weekend.

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 The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop will showcase selections from  several new works on Thurs. Oct. 24 at 3 & 6 PM at Off-Broadway’s  Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater.   Performers TBA.

  Amber Treadway & Sarah Nelson … Asher Muldoon & Joel Chapman …  Celine Snippe & Jensen Krall …  Diallo Adams & Chris Blacker …  Diana Lawrence …  George Merrick … Ginny Mohler, …  & Connor Marsh …  Jack Coen …  Lauren Gundrum & Brandon Lambert …  Mason McDowell, Pance Pony & Ernie Bird … Ray Bokhour & Simon Gray … Rick Rea, RJ Christian, Sair Kaufman & George Luton,  and Tia DeShazor & Derrick Byars.

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  The world premiere of Mathilde Dratwa’s Dirty Laundry has been extended through Oct. 27 at Off-Broadway’s WP Theater, directed by Rebecca Martinez.

  Sasha Diamond (Red), Yvette Ganier (Blue,) Amy Jo Jackson (Green), Lakisha May (Me), Richard Masur (My Dad), and Constance Shulman (Another Woman)

  After the woman who unites them dies, three people grapple with love, loss, lust…and household chores. Meanwhile, a spin cycle of voices pings with questions: are you still a daughter when your mother dies? Are you still the other woman when the first woman is gone? And maybe more importantly–how do you clean all that Dirty Laundry?

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  Video:  Highlights From Broadway’s Our Town revival.

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 The third episode of “It Happened Here 2024,” the new 6-episode audio documentary from the future, adapted by Richard Dresser from his own novel, “It Happened Here,” is now available HERE and on all podcast platforms, directed by Joe Cacaci.  New episodes air every Wednesday through Oct. 30.

  Tony Shalhoub, John Turturro, Molly Babos, Molly Carden, Edie Falco, Santino Fontana, Luke Kirby, Tom Pecinka, and Marianne Rendon.

   In this pulse-pounding third installment, The Weeks family assembles for a final disastrous dinner at the General’s house. RJ writes an expose of the Great Leader before meeting his mysterious end; Isaac makes a wild attempt to stop school shootings; Kate slips into addiction following her accident; and Garret arrests Paul during his lecture at the University.

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 The Marvelous Marilyn Maye will take place Tues. Dec. 3 at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.

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  Commonwealth Shakespeare Company‘s A Christmas Carol, adapted by Steve Wargo, will run Dec. 8-22 at Boston’s Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, directed by Dan Rodriguez.

  Will Lyman (Scrooge) and more TBA.

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  Red Bull Theater‘s “Kate Burton  – in Conversation” with Randy Cohen, will take place Tues. Oct. 15 at 6:30 PM at Off-Broadway’s Sheen Center.

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 All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain, a new work created & performed by Patrick Page, continues through Nov. 17 at Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater.

  An investigation into the twisted motivation and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains.

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   Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner’s First Date will run Nov. 15 – Dec. 1 at the Zephyr Theatre, directed by James Esposito, with music direction by Jonny Perl, and choreography by Michael Marchak.

 Michael Angel, Christopher Baker, Troy Dailey, Olivia Leyva, Paloma Malfavon, Andreas Pantazis, Kendre Scott, Natalie Scott, and Rachel Yoffe.

  When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner.

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  Scripts & Sips, a casual, fun, immersive evening that will give audiences a taste of the creative process that brings new work to life, will debut Sun. Nov 17 at 7 PM at Burbank’s Colony theatre.

Casting TBA.

The first staged reading will be Fetch, by Alex Goldberg, directed by Michal Donovan, followed by a post-reading talkback.    A laugh-out-loud comedy about first year college student Ariel who returns to her barely functioning family for Thanksgiving, where they all learn that her new boyfriend may be the reincarnation of her Golden Globe-winning screenwriter father’s beloved dog … or … he may be hustling the family.

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  Longtime York Theatre Company Production Artistic Director  James Morgan, who has served in the position since 1997, has announced his abrupt and immediate resignation.  Artistic Director

  Though no reason has been given for the sudden departure, the news follows a Facebook post viewed by Playbill from Associate Artistic Director Gerry Mcintyre, published before news of Morgan’s resignation went out to press. Mcintyre’s post announces his own resignation after raising concerns about a lack of performers of color in recent York programming, including their performances of Christine Lavin and Alice Scovell’s musical InunDATEd and the one-night-only Noël Coward concert celebration I Like America. In the post, Mcintyre says his concerns were met with anger and yelling.

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  Grace Notes Quiz answersMeet the Governor

1-H.  Deputy Governor Danforth – The Crucible

2-E.  Governor Alfred E. Smith – Sunrise at Campobello

3-J.  Governor of Alabama – The Scottsboro Boys

4-C.  Governor of Buenos Aires – Candide

5-I.  Governor of Harfleur – King Henry V

6-G.  Governor Roosevelt – Newsies: the Musical

7-B.  Lieutenant Governor Grandet – Naughty Marietta

8-F.  Governor of Babylon – Tamburlaine the Great

9-A.  Governor Ferguson – Bonnie and Clyde

10-D.  Governor Huey P. Long – First American Dictator

 


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