Today’s Highlights:
Emojiland concert performance, by Keith Harrison Dworkin & Laura Schein, with music direction by Phil Cornwell, featuring Blake Patrick Anderson (Nerd Face), Laura Baldwin (Smize), Louise Dearman (Princess), Olly Dobson (Skull), Hiba Elchikhe (Pile of Poo), Renee Lamb (Police Officer), Hannah Lowther (Kissy Face), Tim Mahendran (Guard), Natalie Paris (Construction Worker), Oliver Savile (Prince), Jonny Weldon (Person in Suit Levitating), and Dean John Wilson (Sunny), at 7:30 PM at London’s Garrick Theatre.
Eureka Day, by Jonathan Spector, directed by Katy Rudd, featuring Helen Hunt (Suzanne), Kirsten Foster (May), Mark McKinney (Don), Ben Schnetzer (Eli), and Susan Kelechi Watson (Carina), closes at London’s Old Vic.
Rogue Machine Theatre‘s A Great Wilderness, by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Elina de Santos, featuring Jeffrey Delfin (Daniel), John Perrin Flyn (Walt), Tony Pasqualini (Tim), Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield (Eunice), Rachel Sorsa (Abby), and Tania Verafield (Janet), closes at LA’s Matrix Theatre.
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Reviews for A Man of No Importance at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company:
NY Times (Jesse Green): [Ahrens & Flaherty’s] second musical is as quiet, delicate and Irish as its predecessor (Ragtime) is loud, meaty and American. Instead of bleating big themes, it ekes feeling from repression in telling the story of a character who does the same… The lovely revival that opened on Sunday at Classic Stage Company, starring Jim Parsons and directed by John Doyle. Trimmer than the very fine original production at Lincoln Center Theater, and staged on a minimal set (also by Doyle) consisting of a few chairs, mirrors and statuary Marys, it’s a good fit for material that was always modest. Twenty years on, it’s also a good fit for a moment in which closet stories are beginning to lose their currency.
New York Sun (Elysa Gardiner): …Mr. Doyle has enlisted some superb actors who play musical instruments for supporting parts…among them Kara Mikula, who fiddles nimbly while pouring comic prowess into her role as an exhausted matron, and Da’Von T. Mood… The principals are just as strong, with one unfortunately conspicuous exception. Jim Parsons,…repeatedly upstaged by his co-stars… while Mr. Parsons is a competent singer (his role doesn’t require a great one), he is overshadowed by the superior chops and charisma of performers such as A.J. Shively, who sizzles scrappily as the bus driver Alfie fancies, and Shereen Ahmed, who brings a glistening soprano and a gentle but firm intelligence to the young woman cast as Salome…
Theatermania (Zachary Stewart): …a heartfelt love letter to community theater and an intimate look at the private desperation of one man… Parsons…gives Alfie a presence that is both authoritative and incredibly vulnerable… While Alfie is often made to stand onstage and watch as someone else sings, Parsons turns these moments into revelations; we know that he’s listening and absorbing everything. But he remains willfully unaware of himself, and in that way, he stands in for an entire generation of Internet lurkers… [Mare] Winningham is sweet, kooky, and just a little bit intense as the nosy sister… Shively is irresistibly charming as Robbie, delivering a powerfully understated rendition of “The Streets of Dublin”…
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Star Quality, by Jim Bernhard:
Fill in the missing word in these show titles, all of which mention a star, then match the titles with the descriptions:
| 1. Starlight ____ | A. Musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell |
| 2. ____ in the Stars | B. Play by Sean O’Casey |
| 3. ____ On A Star | C. Play by James McLure |
| 4. The ____ and the Stars | D. Musical by Richard Stilgoe, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and David Yazbek |
| 5. The Star-Spangled ____ | E. Musical by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill |
| 6. ____ Star | F. Musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 7. ____ Star | G. Revue by Johnny Burke, Michael Leeds, Jimmy Van Heusen et al |
| 8. The Star-____ | H. Play by Maxwell Anderson |
| 9. The _____ Star | I. Play by Neil Simon |
| 10. Jesus ____ Superstar | J. Play by Emlyn Williams |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Here I Am will take place Tues. Nov. 8 at 9:30 PM at NYC’s Green Room, conducted by Christian Cantrell.
Samantha Roberts, with special guests Alexia Correa, Jack Baugh, Max Bartos, Lauren Lyons, Francesca Panzara, with special guests Tyrell Beck.
“Celebrate new musicals in a night of laughs, cries, and texts! We will work our way through two musicals, Here I Am and Forget I Said Anything with some incredible friends joining us as we enjoy the importance of imperfection.”
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“To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim” is now available for pre-orders here. The album will also be available Nov. 11 for downloading and streaming on all digital platforms.
Says Liz, “The official release date is Nov. 11, but if you order soon, I might be able to get you the CD (which includes a 16-page booklet) a day or two early!”
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Rogue Machine Theatre presents the world premiere of Justin Tanner’s Little Theatre Dec. 3 – Jan. 8, 2023 at the Matrix Theatre, directed by Lisa James.
Ryan Brophy (Danny), Zachary Grant (James), and Jenny O’Hara (Monica Menlo).
The play spills the secrets in a hilarious backstage look at life in the intimate theatre scene during 90’s Los Angeles.
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The world premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’ Plays For the Plague Year will run Nov. 4-27 (opening Nov. 16) at Joe’s Pub, directed by Niegel Smith.
Suzan-Lori Parks (The Writer), Greg Keller (Actor 1), Leland Fowler (Actor 2), Kenita Miller (Actor 3), Pearl Sun (Actor 4), Orville Mendoza (Actor 5), Lauren Molina (Actor 6), and Martín Solá (Actor 7), with Edward Astor Chin, Danyel Fulton, and Will Stone.
On Mar. 13, 2020, as theaters shut their doors and so many of us went into lockdown, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and The Public’s Writer-in-Residence Suzan-Lori Parks picked up her pen and her guitar and set out to write a play every day. What emerged is a breathtaking anthology of plays and songs that chronicle our collective experience and the hope and perseverance that occurred throughout that troubling year.
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California Dreamin’: Jessica Vosk Sings the Songwriters of Lauren Canyon will run Nov. 5-7 at NYC’s 92Y, directed by James Darrah, with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and vocals by Marissa Rosen & Marty Thomas.
Jason Gotay (Nov. 5), Molly Cate Brown (Nov. 6), and Laura Benanti (Nov. 7).
The show is an intimate exploration of the legendary icons of of California’s Lauren Canyon in the 1960s and 70s, including the Mamas and the Papas, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills & Nash, and the Eagles.
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Video: Max von Essen performs “Lullaby of Broadway” in Goodspeed’s 42nd Street.
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The 24 Hour Plays will take place Mon. Nov. 21 at 8 PM at NYC’s Town Hall. Proceeds will benefit The 24 Hour plays’ year-round activities, which include education initiatives with students in middle school to college, professional development for emerging artists, and more.
Mario Correa, Lily Houghton, Roger Q Mason, Michael Mitnick, Nikkole Salter, and Jonathan Marc Sherman.
Jake Beckhard, Victor Malana Maog, Kathleen Marshall, Leigh Silverman, and more TBA.
Justin Bartha, Julie Benko, Julia Chan, Lilli Cooper, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Gallagher, River Gallo, Joel Marsh Garland, Mamie Gummer, Jin Ha, Amy Hargreaves, Rachel Hilson, Alex Moffat, Talene Monahon, Okieriete Onaodowan, Sarah Steele, and more TBA.
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My Body, My Choice, an evening of monologues, will run Nov. 2 & 3 (both at 8 PM) at the Fountain Theatre, directed by Judith Morland.
Lee Cataluna, Fatima Dyfan, Lisa Loomer, and Dael Orlandersmith.
Liza Fernandez, Tamika Katon-Donegal, Jenny O’Hara, Arianna Ortiz, Veralyn Jones, Amy Pietz, Pam Trotter, and Jenapher Zheng.
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Last summer’s production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will return Feb. 24 – Mar. 31, 2023 (opening Mar. 4) at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements, directed by Joe Rosario.
Matt de Rogatis (Brick) and more TBA.
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Antonio Banderas‘s second album of the Spanish production of Company is now available on streaming & digital platforms here.
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Albee/Pinter has been extended through Nov. 18 at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre, directed by Elina De Santos & Marilyn Fox.
Jason Downs, Brad Greenquist, and Anthony Foux
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Video: “No Friends” from Tom Kitt & Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous, featuring Casey Likes. The cast recording will be released Mar. 17, 2023.
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The world premiere of Kate Nash, Andy Blankenbuehler & Ted Malawer’s Only Gold will run Nov. 7-17 (opening Nov. 8) at MCC Theater, directed & choreographed by Blankenbuehler.
Kate Nash, Terrance Mann, Karine Plantadit, Gaby Diaz, Hannah Cruz, Ryan Steele, and Ryan VanDenBoom, with Haley Fish, Jennifer Florentino, Jacob Guzman, Tyler Hanes, Thayne Jasperson, Reed Luplau, Morgan Marcell, Ximone Rose, Ida Saki, Ahmad Simmons, DeAnne Stewart, Voltaire Wade-Greene, Katie Webber, Jacob Burns, Phil Colgan, Bradley Dean, Victoria Fiore, Samantha Pollino, and Eleri Ward.
An electrifying theatrical dance musical. Stirred by the seductive air of Paris, a princess, a queen, and a clockmaker’s wife rebel against tradition as the men in their life chase dreams they abandoned in their youth. Is it possible to truly follow your heart? And what must you sacrifice along the the way?
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A free teaser reading of Chase Peacocks & Jessica De Maria’s The Pretty Pants Bandit will take place Thurs. Nov. 17 at 2 PM at NYC’s Ripley Grier Studios, with music direction by Gillian Berkowitz.
Jelani Remy, Elena Ricardo, Xavier Reyes, Brian Charles Johnson, and Quentin Avery Brown, with Sophie Amelkin, Carla Mongado, Teddy Grey, Maggie Salley, Nina Jayashankar, and Jacob Locchaim.
Set against the economic and racial disparity of 1930s Miami, the musical concerns housewife Marie Baker. She decides to break bad, creating a gang and leaving the men she robs with their pants down.
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MCC Theater (link TBA) will produce a 4-week developmental workshop of Niko Tsakalakos & Ngozi Anyanwu’s Hearts Beat Loud Feb. 9-10, 2023, directed by Whitney White.
Casting TBA.
The play, based on the film of the same name, is about fathers and daughters, music and memory, the inevitability of change, and the bravery it takes to embrace it.
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Free concert presentations 44 – The unOfficial, unSanctioned OBAMA Musical, written & directed by Eli Bauman, will run Nov. 2-4 at 7:30 PM at Hollywood’s Bourbon Room. Use Code LETUSIN
TJ Wilkins (Barak Obama) and Shanice (Michelle Obama).
…as told through the hazy recollection of Barak Obama.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Star Quality
1-D. Starlight Express – Musical by Richard Stilgoe, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and David Yazbek
2-E. Lost in the Stars – Musical by Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill
3-G. Swinging On A Star – Revue by Johnny Burke, Michael Leeds, Jimmy Van Heusen et al
4-B. The Plough and the Stars – Play by Sean O’Casey
5-I. The Star-Spangled Girl – Play by Neil Simon
6-A. Bright Star – Musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell
7-C. Lone Star – Play by James McLure
8-H. The Star-Wagon – Play by Maxwell Anderson
9-J. The Morning Star – Play by Emlyn Williams
10-F. Jesus Christ Superstar – Musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber