Today’s Highlights:
Second Stages‘ Cult of Love, by Leslye Headland, directed by Trip Cullman, featuring David Rashe, Mare Winningham, Molly Bernard, Roberta Colindrez, Barbie Ferreira, Rebecca Henderson, Christopher Lowell, Zachary Quinto, Christopher Sears, Shailene Woodley, Peter Bradbury, Billy Cohen, Vero Maynez, Rachel Prather, and Luisa Sermol, opens at Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater.
Jessica Vosk begins her run as Jersey in Hell’s Kitchen at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre.
A Guide for the Homesick, by Ken Urban, directed by Shira Milikowsky, featuring McKinley Belcher III and Uly Schlesinger, opens at Off-Broadway’s DR2 Theatre.
OY! To the World ~ Christmas With a Twist!, by Gregory Thirloway & Maurice Godin, directed by Godin, with choreography by Jeffrey Polk, featuring Sarah Uriarte Berry, Jay Brian Winnick, Cameron J. Armstrong and Maya Sofia Enciso, and Gerald Sternbach (as Chris), opens at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
The 39 Steps, by John Buchan, directed by Jamie Torcellini, featuring Louis Lotorto (Clown 1), Matthew Floyd Miller (Richard Hannay), Ashley Morton (Annabella Schmidt/Pamela/Margaret), and Christopher Shaw (Clown 2), opens at CA’s Coachella Valley Rep.
Diary of a Tap Dancer, written & choreographed by Ayodele Casel, and directed by Torya Beard, featuring Ayodele Casel, Naomi Funaki, Afra Hines, Quynn L. Johnson, Funmi Sofola, Liberty Styles, Annaliese Wilbur, and Ki’Leigh Williams, begins previews at Cambridges A.R.T.
Christmas Time in the City concert, with music supervision by Joey Chancey, featuring Eden Espinosa, Christopher Fitzgerald, Quentin Earl Darrington, Tiffany Mann, Alysha Umphress, Eleri Ward, Josh Groban Harmony tour), and Jacob Keith Watson, at 8 PM at NYC’s Church of St. Paul the Apostle.
Darius Haas: Let Me Carry You This Christmas concert, closes at PA’s Buck’s County Playhouse.
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Marco Ramirez’s Buena Vista Social Club will begin previews Feb. 21 and open Mar. 19 at the Schoenfeld Theatre, directed by Saheen Ali, with choreography by Patricia Delgado & Justin Peck.
Justin Cunningham (Juan de Marcos), Andrew Montgomery Coleman, Carlos Gonzalez, Anthony Santos, Martín Sola, and Tanairi Sade Vazquez joining the previously announced Natalie Venetia Belcon as Omara, Julio Monge as Compay, Mel Semé as Ibrahim, Jainardo Batista Sterling as Rubén, Isa Antonetti as Young Omara, Da’Von T. Moody as Young Compay, Wesley Wray as Young Ibrahim, Leonardo Reyna as Young Rubén, Renesito Avich as Eliades, Ashley De La Rosa as Young Haydee, Angélica Beliard, Carlos Falú, Héctor Juan Maisonet, Ilda Mason, Marielys Molina, and Sophia Ramos.
The musical dramatizes the recording of the Buena Vista Social Club album in 1996, when Cuban bandleader Juan de Marcos González and two producers brought back together a group of musicians who had been well-known in the 1950s.
Audio: The cast performs “Chan Chan,” featuring David Oquendo and Renesito Avich.
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Nine in concert will run Feb. 1-2 at Manchester’s The Lowry, directed by William Whelton & Joseph Houston.
Ramin Karimloo (Guido Contini), ruthie Henshall (Liliane la Fleur), Zizi Strallen (Carla), Amber Davies (Stephanie), Josefina Gabrielle (Guido’s Mother), Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Luisa), Melissa James (Claudia), and Danielle Steers (Sarraghina).
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LA Theatre Works will present screenings of London productions, all at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre:
Prima Facie (Jan. 25 at 3 PM), by Suzie Miller, directed by Justin Martin, featuring Jodie Comer. 
here.
Vanya (Sat.Feb. 22 at 3 PM), by Simon Stephens, after Anton Chekhov), starring Andrew Scott. here. 
This screening plays exclusively in cinemas before its Broadway beginning in March 2025.
Dr. Strangelove (Sun. Mar. 30 at 3 PM), adapted by Armando Iannucci & Sean Foley, directed by Foley, starring Steve Coogan (playing 4 roles). here.
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“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” the word premiere movie musical adaptation of the Broadway musical, written & directed by Bill Condon, will run Jan. 23 – Feb. 2 at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Jennifer Lopez (Aurora), Tonatiuh (Luis Molina), and Diego Luna (Valentin Arregui), with Josefina Scaglione, Bruno Bichir, and Aline Mayagoitia.
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Lynn Nottage’s Crumbs from the Table of Joy will run Jan. 10 – Feb. 2 at Boston’s Lyric Stage, directed by Tasia A. Jones.
Thomika Marie Bridwell, Dominic Carter, Madison Margaret Clark, Bridgette Hayes, and Catia.
Adrift in Brooklyn during the racially charged 1950s, two teenage sisters Ernestine and Ermina live with their devout, recently widowed father, Godfrey, who follows the teachings of spiritual leader Father Divine. Almost to the point of obsession, Godfrey’s staunch beliefs cause his girls to heal their wounds with Hollywood films, daydreams, and lots of cookies. Their humdrum lives are turned upside down with the arrival of their vivacious Aunt Lily, who brings with her a few bad habits and a taste for rebellion. When Godfrey makes a shocking decision that involves a German woman named Gerte, can the family find new meaning in what makes a home?
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A Streetcar Named Desire will run Feb. 28 – Apr. 6 at Brooklyn’s BAM, directed by Rebecca Frecknall.
Paul Mescal (Stanley Kowalski), Anjana Vasan (Stella Kowalski), Ptsy Ferran (Blanch DuBois), Eduardo Ackerman (Pablo Gonzales), Janet Etuk (Eunice Hubbel), Alexander Eliot (Steve Hubbel), Gabriela Barcia (Flower Seller/Nurse/Singer), Tom Penn (Doctor Drummer), and Jabez Sykes (Young Collector).
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Evita will run June 14 – Sept. 6, 2025 (opening June 27) at the London Palladium, directed by Jamie Lloyd.
TBA.
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Shem Bitterman’s The Civil Twilight has been extended again, now through Jan. 26 at LA’s Broadwater Studio Theatre, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky.
Taylor Gilbert and Andrew Elvis Miller
A twisty thriller that takes place over a single night during a once in a century storm, the play tells the story of what happens when a popular a.m. radio personality winds up trapped in a motel room in the Midwest with his biggest fan.
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Recent readings of Charlie Romano & Harold Hodge, Jr.’s Call Me From the Grave took place in NYC, with more expected this month, directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene.
Melvin Abston, Bradwin L. Amos, April Armstrong, Kris Coleman, John Harmon Cooper, Bradley Gibson, Danielle Lee Greaves, Alan H. Green, Danyele Yvonne James, Caitlyn Joi, Cameron Keitt, Ashley LaLonde, Aaron James McKenzie, Christiani Pitts, and Rick Younger.
Robert Johnson is the seminal blues figure who purportedly sold his soul the devil to be the best blues guitarist on earth.
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Christmas is … Not your average Holiday Show, hosted by Dianne Fraser & Robyn Spangler, with special guests Kevin Fisher, Jane A. Johnston and Shawn Ryan. at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
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Annie, directed by Jenn Thompson, continues through Jan. 5 at Madison Square Garden.
Whoopi Goldberg (Miss Hannigan), Stefanie Londino (Miss Hannigan), Christopher Swan (Oliver Warbucks), Julia Nicole Hunter (Grace), Mark Woodard (FDR), Rhett Guter (Rooster), and Isabella De Souza Moore (Lily St. Regis), with Aria Valentina Aldea, Eva Lizette Carreon, Anna Dillon, Kylie Noelle Patterson, Olive Ross-Kline, Nora West, Stephen Cerf, Anthony DaSilva, Savannah Fisher, Alloria Frayser, Brooke Olivia Gatto, Caroline Glazier, Ryan Mulvaney, Joel Newsome, Melinda Parrett, Lawrence E. Street, Drew Tanabe, Stephanie Wahl, and Avril Kagan, with Kevin (Sandy).
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Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes continues through Feb. 8 at the Young Vic, directed by Lyndsey Turner.
Anne-Marie Duff, Mark Bonnar, Andrea Davy, John Light, Freddie MacBruce, Anna Madeley, Stanley Morgan, Steffan Rhodri, and Eleanor Worthington-Cox.