Today’s Highlights:
I Can Get It For You Wholesale, by Jerome Weideman & Harold Rome, directed by Trip Cullman, featuring Santino Fontana (Harry Bogen), Judy Kuhn (Mrs. Bogen), Julia Lester as (Miss Marmelstein), Adam Chanler-Berat (Meyer Bushkin), Eddie Cooper (Tootsie Maltz), Adam Grupper (Maurice Pulvermacher), Greg Hildreth (Teddy Asch), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Ruthie Rivkin), Hayley Podschun (Miss Springer), Sarah Steele (Blanche Bushkin), Joy Woods (Martha Mills), and Victor de Paula Rocha (Sheldon/Young Harry), withDarron Hayes, Ephie Aardema, Jennifer Babiak, Billy Cohen, Darron Hayes, and John Plumpis, opens at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Jeff Ward, featuring Aubrey Plaza (Roberta) and Christopher Abbott (Danny), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Ode to the Wasp Woman, written & directed by Rider McDowell, featuring Sean Young, Douglas Everett Davis, Payton Georgiana, Jonathan Hartman, Josh Alscher, Anna Telfer, David Wenzel, and Rita Rehn, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s The Actors Temple Theatre.
Black Theatre United‘s BTU Gala, honoring Kandi Burruss, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robyn Coles, Dr. N Anthony Coles, and Dr. Indira Etwaroo, and featuring Vanessa Williams, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, LaChanze, Billy Porter, Capathia Jenkins, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Darius de Haas, Natasha Yvette Williams and Lillias White, at 6:30 PM at NYC’s Ziegfeld Ballroom.
Lea Michele in concert at 8 PM at Carnegie Hall, with music direction by Steven Jamail.
Steve Ross: Fall Collection concert, at 7 PM at NYC’s Birdland.
Alysha Umphress Swings Jeff Blumenkrantz concert, at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Lyrics & Lyricists’s Tale as Old as Time: The Songs of Howard Ashman concert, directed by Christian Borle, featuring Heather Ayers, John Cariani, Nadina Hassan, Manu Narayan, and Khadija Sankoh, concludes at NYC’s 92NY.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Red, White, and Blue, by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing word in these titles with red, white, or blue:
1. ____ Desert, Maxwell Anderson
2. Out of A ____ Sky, Leslie Howard
3. Flora, the ____ Menace, John Kander, Fred Ebb, George Abbott, Robert Russell
4. ____ Peppers, Noel Coward
5. The Loud ____ Patrick, John Perry Boruff Jr.
6. The ____ Room, David Hare
7. Two Little Girls in ____, Vincent Youman, Ira Gershwin, Frederick Jackson, Paul Lannin
8. The ____ Devil, John Webster
9. Men in ____, Sidney Kingsley
10. The ____ Mill, Henry Blossom, Victor Herbert
Scroll down for the answers…
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Initial casting has been announced for Ingrid Michaelson & Bekah Brunstetter’s The Notebook, to begin previews Feb. 10, 2024 and open Mar. 14 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Michael Greif, with choreography by Katie Spelman, and music direction byGeoffrey Ko.
Jordan Tyson (Younger Allie), Joy Woods (Middle Allie), Maryann Plunkett (Older Allie), John Cardoza (Younger Noah), Ryan Vasquez (Middle Noah), Dorian Harewood (Older Noah), and more TBA.
Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart.
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Jez Butterworth’s The Hills of California will run Jan. 27 – June 15, 2024 at the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes.
Casting TBA.
Set in 1976’s Blackpool, the play takes place in the driest summer in 200 years, with beaches and hotels packed to capacity. Far from the tourist thoroughfares, the Webb Sisters cram into the guest house of their former home as their mother lies dying.
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Joshua Henry: Get Up Stand Up will take place Sat. Nov. 18 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
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The Who’s Tommy, re-imagined by Pete Townshend & and Des McAnuff, will return to Broadway, with previews beginning Mar. 8, 2024 and an opening set for Mar. 28 at the Nederlander Theatre, directed by McAnuff, with choreography by Loren Latarro, and music direction by Rick Fox.
Casting TBA.
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SpeakEasy Stage’s The Band’s Visit will run Nov. 10 – Dec. 17 (opening Nov. 15) at Boston’s Huntington Theatre, directed by Paul Daigneault.
Brian Homas Abraham (Tewfiq), Jennifer Apple (Dina), Marianna Bassham (Iris), Fady Deman (Zelger), Kareen Elsmadlicy (Haled), Josephine Moshiri Elwood (Julia), Jesse Garlick (Papi), Noah Kieserman (Telephone Guy), Andrew Mayer (Camal), Zaven Ovian (Sammy), Emily Qualmann (Anna), James Rana (Simon), Robert Saoud (Avrum), and Jared Troilo (Itzik), with Sarah Corey, Jordana Kagan, Elliot Lazar, Steven Goldstein, Alex Poletti, Emily Qualmann, and Robert Saoud, begins previews at Boston’s Huntington Theatre.
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RIP: Joanna Merlin has died at the age of 92.
Click here to read about her life.
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“Titanic the Musical” film screenings will take place Nov. 4 & 8 at NYC‘s AMC Empire 25 (234 W. 42nd Street), followed by a talk-back with Maury Yeston & Martin Allanson.
Los Angeles screenings will take place Nov. 4 & 8 at various locations.
Video: Promo
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A presentation of Mimi Zieman’s The Post-Roe Monologues, in support of the Nation Abortion Hotline and Choice Matters, will take place Mon. Nov. 6 at 7 PM at NYC’s Merkin Hall, directed by Maria Torres. Discount offer: use code PRM50.
Amir Arison, Mary Bacon, Jeannette Bayardelle, Emily Bergl, Ari Brand, Lilla Crawford, Badia Farha, Judy Gold, Alex Joseph Grayson, Roberta Maxwell, Mary Beth Peil, Emma Pfitzer Price, Natalie Woolams-Torres, Daniel Troiano, and Allyson Tucker.
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Marcelo Dos Santos’ Backstairs Billy, currently in previews, and opens Nov. 7, will continue through Jan. 27, 2024 at the Duke of York’s Theatre, directed by Michael Grandage.
Penelope Wilton (Queen Mother) and Luke Evans (William “Billy” Tallon), with Emily Barber, Iwan Davies, Ian Drysdale, Ilan Galkoff, Eloka Ivo, Michael Simkins, and Nicole Sloane, with David Buttle, Amy Newton, Keanu Adolphus Johnson, Georgie Rhys, and Jacob Ethan Tanner.
The play, set in 1979 Britain, explores a pivotal moment in the 50-year relationship between the Queen Mother and her loyal servant William “Billy” Tallon, as strikes are bringing the country to its knees and things are about to seismically change under Margaret Thatcher. But it’s still business as usual for the Queen Mother and her loyal servant Billy. Two worlds are beginning to collide with dizzying consequences.
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A benefit reading of Kenneth Lonergan’s This Is Our Youth will take place Thurs. Nov. 16 at 7 PM at NYC’s The Center at West Park (165 W. 86th St.), directed by Mark Brokaw.
Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, and Missy Yager.
The story of three New York teenagers navigating a turbulent time in their lives on NYC’s Upper West Side.
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Video: Highlights from Cabaret, now starring Jake Shears and Rebecca Lucy Taylor at London’s Playhouse Theatre.
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Red Bull Theater will present a concert version of Maltby & Shire’s The Country Wife on Mon. Nov. 11 at 7 PM at NYC’s Symphony Space, directed by Maltby.
Nicholas Christopher, Carson Elrod, Angela Grovey, Eddie Korbich, Kristolyn Lloyd, Ellen Marie Marsh, Gabe Martinez, Jacob Ming-Trent, Brad Oscar, Julian Remulla, Jelani Remy, Christina Sajour, and Lauren Worsham.
A raucous musical reimagining of William Wycherly’s classic Restoration Comedy, the piece is set in the vibrant diversity of 1840 New Orleans, and features a sizzling modern score and irreverently explores the question of who owns the stories we call classics.
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A new Broadway revival of Our Town, directed by Kenny Leon, will run in the 2024-25 season.
Dates, casting, and theatre TBA.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Red, White, and Blue
1. White Desert, Maxwell Anderson
2. Out of A Blue Sky, Leslie Howard
3. Flora, the Red Menace, John Kander, Fred Ebb, George Abbott, Robert Russell
4. Red Peppers, Noel Coward
5. The Loud Red Patrick, John Perry Boruff Jr.
6. The Blue Room, David Hare
7. Two Little Girls in Blue, Vincent Youman, Ira Gershwin, Frederick Jackson, Paul Lannin
8. The White Devil, John Webster
9. Men in White, Sidney Kingsley
10. The Red Mill, Henry Blossom, Victor Herbert