Today’s Highlights:
The Roommate, by Jen Silverman, directed by Jack O’Brien, featuring Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow, begins previews at Broadway’s Booth Theatre.
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Elton John, the Scissor Sisters, Jake Shears & James Graham’s Tammy Faye will begin previews Oct. 19 and open Nov. 14 at the Palace Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold, with choreography by Lynne Page, and music supervision by Tom Deering. Note: Andrew Rannells (originally cast as Jim Bakker), has dropped out following contract disputes.
Katie Brayben (Tammy Fay), Christian Borle (Jim Bakker), Nick Bailey (Paul Crouch), Charl Brown (Steve Pieters), Mark Evans (Billy Graham), Allison Guinn (Jan Crouch), Ian Lassiter (Jimmy Swaggart/Ronald Reagan/Archbishop), Raymond J. Lee (John Fletcher), Max Gordon Moore (Thomas S. Monson/Marvin Gorman), Alana Pollard (Jessica Hahn), and Andy Taylor (Pat Robertson/Ted Turner), and Autumn Hurlbert (alternate Tammy Fay), with Amanda Clement, Michael Di Liberto, Jonathan Duvelson, Lily Kaufmann, Denis Lambert, Elliott Mattox, Brittany Nicholas, Kevin Quillon, Aveena Sawyer, Allysa Shorte, TJ Tapp, Daniel Torres, and Dana Wilton.
Based on the life of American evangelist Tammy Faye Messner, Tammy Faye tells the story of Messner’s rise to national recognition atop a Christian television empire. She and her then-husband and fellow televangelist Jim Bakker founded The PTL Club (Praise the Lord) in 1974, a platform they used to preach to millions. Messner, who died in 2007, was noted for her compassion for the LGBTQIA+ community during the AIDS epidemic, despite conflict between the community and the church.
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Center Theatre Group & Deaf West Theatre will present Green Day’s American Idiot, to run Oct. 2 – Nov. 10 (opening Oct. 9) at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Snehal Desai, with choreography by Jennifer Weber.
(featuring an ensemble of both Deaf and hearing actors performing simultaneously in American Sign Language and Spoken English): Steven-Adam Agdeppa, L.J. Benet, Will Branner, Jerusha Cavazos, Lark Detweiler, Daniel Durant, FKaia T. Fitzgerald, Landen Gonzales, Tyler Hardwick, Otis Jones IV, Milo Manheim, Josué Martinez; Giovanni Maucere, James Olivas, Mason Alexander Park, Monika Peña; Mars Storm Rucker, Mia Sempertegui; Angel Theory, and Ali Fumiko Whitney.
Three best friends try to find meaning in their lives after 9/11. They want to leave their suburban live behind and move to the city, but their paths quickly diverge. Through powerful performances and immersive staging, the show explores themes of identity and rebellion while amplifying the voices of Deaf and multi-cultural communities. With nods to contemporary culture, this electrifying interpretation pushes boundaries and celebrates the diversity of human experience.
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The world premiere of Shit. Meet. Fan., written & directed by Robert O’Hara, will run Oct. 10 – Nov. 17 (opening Oct. 28) at MCC Theater.
Garret Dillahunt, Genevieve Hannelius, Billy Magnussen, Debra Messing, Tramell Tillman, and Constance Wu.
The play, which unfolds in real time, every text, every email, every call must be shared aloud. That’s what a group of long-time friends gather to play on the night of the eclipse. With the cocktails flowing, outrageous secrets and skeletons begin to emerge.
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Kevin Murphy & Dan Studney’s Reefer Madness the Musical has been extended through Oct. 27 at Hollywood’s Whitley Theatre, directed & choreographed by Spencer Liff.
Anthony Norman (Jimmy Harper), Darcy Rose Byrnes (Mary Lane), J. Elaine Marcos (Sally De Bain), Nicole Parker (Mae Coleman), Thomas Dekker (Ralph Wiley), and Bryan Daniel Porter (The Lecturer/Jack/Jesus), with Andre Aultman, Claire Crause, Jane Papageorge, Alex Tho, David T. Crane, and Natalie Holt MacDonald
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The world premiere of Ron Bass & Jonathan Harvey’s My Best Friend’s Wedding will run Sept. 26 – Oct. 27 at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse, directed by Kathleen Marshall, with music direction by Andrew Sotomayor.
Krystal Joy Brown (Julianne), Matt Doyle (Michael), Lianah Sta. Ana (Kimmy), Morgan Bryant (Samantha), Zoe Jensen (Amanda), Telly Leung (George), Mark Lotito (Walter), Austin Phillips (Scotty), and Soara-Joye Ross (Isabelle), with Kailey Boyle, Daniel Brackett, Runako Campbell, Deanna Cudjoe, Aaron Graham, Harris Matthew, Jessica Sheridan, Mikayla Thrasher, and Craig Waletzko with Kaitie Buckert and Raphe Gilliam.
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CA’s Musical Theatre West has announced its 2025 season:
Creative teams and casting TBA.
Jersey Boys (Feb. 14 – Mar. 2)
Into the Woods (Mar. 28 – Apr. 13)
The Buddy Holly Story (July 11-27)
Hello Dolly (Oct. 17 – Nov. 2 )
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Daniel Lazours & Patrick Lazours’ We Live in Cairo will run Oct. 9 – Nov. 24 (opening Oct. 27) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Taibi Magar, with music direction by Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh, and choreography by Ann Yee.
Ali Louis Bourzgui, Drew Elhamalawy, John El-Jor, Nadina Hassan, Michael Khalid Karadsheh, and Rotana Tarabzouni.
The musical is inspired by the young Egyptians who took to the streets amidst the throes of the Arab Spring.
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The world premiere of John Mullican’s In The Unlikely Event of an Actual Emergency will run Sept. 19 – Oct. 26 at Hollywood’s Hudson Guild Theatre, directed by Rickie Peete.
Dolores Aguanno, Stacy Aung, Jason Leon-Baptista, John Mullican, Katheryn Peña, Glenn Ratcliffe, and Amoni West.
What if you were a passenger on a crashing plane?
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The world premiere of Shit. Meet. Fan., written & directed by Robert O’Hara, will run Oct. 10 – Nov. 17 (opening Oct. 28) at MCC Theater.
Garret Dillahunt, Genevieve Hannelius, Billy Magnussen, Debra Messing, Tramell Tillman, and Constance Wu.
In the upcoming play, which unfolds in real time, every text, every email, every call must be shared aloud. That’s what a group of long-time friends gather to play on the night of the eclipse. With the cocktails flowing, outrageous secrets and skeletons begin to emerge.
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The world premiere of Jillian Blevins’ The Polycule: A Comedy of Manners will run Sept. 13 – Oct. 6 at North Hollywood’s Loft Ensemble, directed by Sean Alan Mazur.
Bita Arefnia, Andres Garcia Arriola, Macedonia Bullington, Alejandro Mungaray, Ignacio Navarro, Rosie Ryden, Matthew Scheel, and Josh Thrower, with Andrea Casamitjana, Madylin Sweeten Durrie, and Silas Jean-Rox.
Fern attends a dinner party to meet her new boyfriend’s family — which consists of his wife and the other members of their polyamorous household. An outsider to their world of consensual non-monogamy and its unfamiliar rules and norms, Fern struggles to keep up and to fit in. Written in rhyming verse and inspired b
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We Live in Cairo, by The Lazours (Daniel & Patrick), will run Oct. 9 – Nov. 24 (opening Oct. 27) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Taibi Magar, with choreography by Ann Yee, and music direction by Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh.
Ali Louis Bourzgui, Drew Elhamalawy, John El-Jor (Mean Girls), Nadina Hassan, Michael Khalid Karadsheh, and Rotana Tarabzouni.
The new musical follows six student activists using their street art, photography, and song to overthrow a regime older than they are.
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Green Day’s American Idiot, in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre, will present an ASL-infused revival, to run Oct. 2-Nov. 10 (opening Oct. 9) at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Snehal Desai.
(with both deaf and hearing actors): Steven-Adam Agdeppa, L.J. Benet, Will Branner, Jerusha Cavazos, Lark Detweiler, Daniel Durant, Kaia T. Fitzgerald, Landen Gonzales, Tyler Hardwick, Otis Jones IV, Milo Manheim, Josué Martinez; Giovanni Maucere, James Olivas, Mason Alexander Park, Monika Peña, Mars Storm Rucker, Mia Sempertegui, Angel Theory, and Ali Fumiko Whitney.
The story follows a new generation of young Americans struggling to find meaning in a post-9/11 world.