Today’s Highlights:
Rent, directed & choreographed by Jennifer Weber, featuring Austin Turner (Roger Davis), Sam Primack (Mark Cohen), Alysia Velez (Mimi Marquez), Owen Scales (Tom Collins,) David Merino (Angel Schunard), Veronica Otim (Joanne Jefferson), Tiernan Tunnicliffe (Maureen Johnson) and Kevin Trinio Perdido (Benjamin Coffin III), with Dré Hinds, Aubrey Jones, ack Hopewell, Michael Marrero, Lauren Soto, and Sunayna Smith, opens at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse.
Meet Me in St. Louis, directed by Maggie Burrows, featuring Beth Leavel (Katie Connelly), Patti Murin (Mrs. Anna Smith), Colin Donnell (Mr. Alonzo Smith), Katerina McCrimmon (Esther Smith), Stan Brown (Grandpa Prophater), Andrew Poston (John Truitt), Kyla Stone (rose Smith), Ilan Eskenazi (Lon Smith), Lilah Levinson (Tootie Smith), Joylin Bass (Agnes Smith), and Lissa deGuzman (Lucille Ballard), closes at the St. Lous Muny.
**********************
A benefit reading of Captain Show Biz, by Bruce Vilanch, will take place Thurs. Aug. 20 at 8 PM at LA’s Harmony Gold, directed by Nell Teare.
Bruce Vilanch, Marilu Henner, Sally Struthers, Grant Show, Jai Rodriguez, Alec Mapa, Garrett Clayton, Sharon McNight, and Jason Michal Snow.
A gloriously fictionalized account of where it all began: Vilanch’s chaotic, hilarious first ceremony in 1989. He test-drove the play this January in front of a sold-out crowd in Wilton Manors, Florida — and walked away certain of one thing: this show’s true home is Los Angeles, the only audience guaranteed to catch every inside-Hollywood joke.
**********************
Catch Me If You Can, by Terrence McNally & Marc Shaiman, will run Sept. 17 – Oct. 18 at Burbank’s Colony Theatre, direccted by Michael Donovan.
Blake Jenner, Joe Abraham, Kevin Bailey, Leslie Stevens, Gabbie Adner, Brad Griffith and Whitney Kathleen Vigil, with Leonel Ayala, Matthew Mason Baker, Johnisa Breault, Luc Clopton, Sophie Liu David, Spencer Del Carmen, Jesse Graham, Anne Hart, Caleb Kocsis, Samantha Lawrence-Mata, Almand Martin Jr., and Lucy Schene.
Frank W. Abagnale, Jr., is a teenager who runs away from home for a glamorous life. Using charm and millions in forged checks, he poses as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. FBI agent Carl Hanratty relentlessly chases him in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.
**********************
Truly, Howard Hughes, by Frank Evans, Jennifer Paulson-Lee, James Scully & Chad Gorn, directed & choreographed by Jennifer Paulson-Lee, will run Sept. 9 – Oct. 4 (opening Sept. 17) at Theatre at St. Jeans.
Brenda Braxton (Rita Randolph), Matthew Eby (Boy Howard), David Elder (Noah Dietrich), Eric Michael Gillet (Howard Hughes, Sr.), Jill Paice ( Allene Hughes), Brenda Braxton (Rita Randolph), Matthew Eby (Boy Howard), David Elder Noah Dietrich, Eric Michael Gillet (Howard Hughes, Sr.), Jill Paice (Allene Hughes), Sean MacLaughlin (Howard Hughes), Madison Claire Parks (Ella Botts Rice), Abby Church (Katharine Hepburn), Melvin Tunstall (Glenn), Dana Winkle (Aunt Annette), Candice Hatakeyama (Nadine Henley), Antonio Beverly (Charles), and James Judy (Uncle Rupert) with Bryan Hunt, Kelly SheehanMadison Claire Parks (Ella Botts Rice), Abby Church (Katharine Hepburn), Melvin Tunstall (Glenn), Dana Winkle (Aunt Annette), Candice Hatakeyama (Nadine Henley), Antonio Beverly (Charles), James Judy (Uncle Rupert), with Bryan Hunt, Harrison Drake) and Kelly Sheehan.
An unconventional love story following one of the 20th century’s most fascinating figures: aviator, filmmaker, businessman, and recluse, Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. The story unfolds as Hughes revisits his extraordinary life during his final moments, confronting the one thing his power and fortune could never secure, and leaves us with a haunting question: …Would you, if you could?
**********************
Beauty and the Beast national tour, directed & choreographed by Matt West, continues through Sept. 6 at LA’s Pantages Theatre.
Kyra Belle Johnson (Belle, Fergie L. Philippe (Beast), aStephen Mark Lukas (Gaston), Danny Gardner (Lumiere), Javier Ignacio (Cogsworth), Harry Francis (Le Fou), Holly Ann Butler (Madame), Cameron Monroe Thomas (Babette), and Levi Blaise Coleman & Kanoa Edgar (alternating as Chip), Christina Rose Hall (Mrs. Potts), and Aaron Kaburick (Maurice), with Vinny Andaloro, Benjamin Cheng, Spencer Dean, Julian Marcus De Guzman, Michael Dikegoros, Leigh-Ann Esty, Masumi Iwai, Darrell T. Joe, Emily Larger, Lena Matthews, Caleb McArthur, Melaina Rairamo, Ellen Roberts, Grace Marie Rusnica, Ben Sears, Michael Seltzer, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel, and Kate Wesler.
**********************
LA Opera‘s Candide, conducted by Lina González-Granados, will run Nov. 21 – Dec. 13 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Duke Kim (Candide), Meghan Picerno (Cunegonde), Patti LuPone (Old Lady), Mario Manzo ( (Maximilian / Father), Kristen Choi (Paquette), Katie Trigg (Baroness / Vanderdendur), Vinícius Costa (James / Martin), Samuel Wallace (Cacambo), and Bernard Holcomb (Barron/Don Issachar/Govenor), with Erin Alford, Erin Alford, Andrea Beason, Julia Harnett, Amber Liekhus, Peter Murphy, and David Prottas.
**********************
Duncan Sheik & Leah Nanak0 Winkler’s Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen will run Sept. 25 – Jan. 3, 2027 (opening Oct. 15) at The Night Egg at the Culture Club (530 W. 27th St.), directed & choreographed by Rob Ashford.
Sophia Anne Caruso (Colette) and more TBA.
The play follows Colette, a witty young dreamer in 20th-century Paris who works at an elusive maison close called Night Egg. By chronicling the fantasies and sorrows of her eccentric clients, she transforms from an object into an observer turning perversions into art, while battling a destructive attachment to her toxic childhood love, Léon.
**********************
“Still, Bill: Gay Adventures From Cowboyland to Gay Adventures”, a new memoir by Bill Russell, will be released Oct. 27 on most platforms.