Today’s Highlights:
The 2025 Williamstown Theatre Festival begins. Click here for the complete schedule of events.
Rolling Thunder, by Bryce Hallett, directed by Kenneth Ferrone, featuring Drew Becker (Johnny), Cassadee Pope (Linda), Justin Matthew Sargent (Thomas), Daniel Yearwood (Andy), Courtnee Carter (Lauren & others), and Deon’te Goodman (Mike & others), with Ethan Hardy Benson and Erin Ramirez, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
The 2025 Young Playwrights Festival opens at LA’s Blank Theatre.
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Four presentations of Chris Phillips’ This is Where it Ends (a contemporary riff on “Sex, Lies & Videotape”), will run July 30 – Aug. 3 at Off-Broadway AMT Theatre, directed by Aaron Benham. Start time and additional information TBA.
TBA.
A married couple from Los Angeles, Steven & James, invite Stephen’s brash actor friend, Kody) and James’s former fraternity brother, Ellis – once an entitled entrepreneur, now a spriritually-minded, recoverty sex addict — for a weekend at their Palm Stprings home to celebrate James’s 4forty-fifth. Unknow to Stephen, James engages in extramarital adventures with anonymous hookups and Kody, while Stephen, increasingly frustrated in his role as ornamental house-husband, finds himself first unnerved by Ellis’ blunt honesty, then drawn to his refressing candor. As the weekend progresses, the walls come down and the gloves come off as the 4 men bristle under the weight of the roles all of the have played for far too long. The story of adult gay men suddenly realizing that they have been hiding behind stereotypes imposes on them by hetero-noramtive society. Such fear and loneliness keepus from truly embracing and enriching the Gay Community. This production confronts the gay staus quo and challenges us ot honor one another for the struggles we have overcome and the c creative spirit we contribute to the country and to the world.
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David West Read & Max Martin’s & Juliet will run Aug. 13 – Sept. 7 at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed byLuke Sheppard, with choreography by Jennifer Weber.
Rachel Simone Webb (Juliet) and Joey Fatone (Lance), with Paul-Jordan Jansen (Lance), Teal Wicks (Anne Hathaway), Corey Mach (Shakespeare), Nick Drake (May), Kathryn Allison (Angélique ), Michael Canu (Romeo), and Mateus Leite Cardos (François).
What would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? This hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.
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The national tour of Lindsay Warren Baker & Amanda Jacobs’ Austen’s Pride will run July 25 – Aug. 24 at Stages St. Louis, directed by Igor Goldin, with choreography by Lisa Shriver and music direction by Sheela Ramesh.
Olivia Hernandez (Jane Austen), Delphi Borish (Elisabeth Bennett, Dan Hoe (Fitzwilliam Darcy), Addie Morales (Jane Bennet), cole Thompson (Charles Bingley), Sara Ellis (Caroline Bingley/ Mary Bennet/Mrs. Gardiner), Kate Faher (Lydia Bennet), Cali Noack (Kitty Bennet/Georgiana Darcy), dian Phelan (Cassandra Austen/Charlotte Lucas), paul Castree (Mr. Colllins/Mr. Gardner), Kevin Morrow (Mr. Bennet), Sally Wilfert (Mrs. Bennet/Lady Catherin de Bourgh), and Michael Burrell (George Wickham & Tom Lefory), with Travis Anderson, Matt Gibson, Keith Johnson, and Drew Tanabe as Redcoats, Brett Rawlings and Graham Keen (Dance Captain) as swings, and Abigail Isom, Jazmin Gorsline, and Caroline Santiago Turner.
This is the familiar plot of Elizabeth Bennet & Fizwilliam Darc’s evolving relationship, set agains the backdrop of societal pressures and family expectations in19th century England. Simultaneously, the musical explores Austen’s own journey of self-discovery as she revisits and refines her manuscript, interacting with her characters of self-discovery as she revisits and refine here manuwcript, interacting with her characters and gaining new insights into love, relationships, and her own identity.
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Tennessee Williams’ Suddenly Last Summer will run Aug. 22 – 31 at North Hollywood’s Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center (11006 Magnolia Boulevard), directed by Avalon Stone.
Tanna Frederick, Brody Orofino, Phoebe Balson, Helia Ziba, Stephanie Keefer, Wylie Keele, and Tanna Frederick, Brody Orofino, Phoebe Balson, Helia Ziba, Stephanie Keefer, and Wylie Keele.
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Emmanuelle Mattana’s Trophy Boys will now continue through Aug. 3 at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater, directed by Danya Taymor.
Terry Hu (David), Louisa Jacobson (Jared), Esco Jouléy (Scott), and Mattana (Owen), with Renita Lewis and Imani Russell.
In a culture set on punishing and criticizing men for just existing, the Trophy Boys prepare for the final debate of their undefeated high school careers. Going up against their sister school, they get a debate topic so weighted there’s no way they could possibly win—or could they? What begins as a riotously funny satire turns into a sharp exploration of power and privilege, from high school to the highest circles of political influence.
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The world premiere of Peter Lefcourt’s Menage À Quatre will run July 19 – Aug. 17 at LA’s LBGBT Center, directed by Ryan O’Connor.
Carly J. Casey (Jeannie,) Matthew Downs (Reuben), Daniel Montgomery (Walter/Darren/Ezra Pound), Jeremy S. Walker (Gary), and Sarah Wolter (Meg).
A witty, fast-paced comedy set in Los Angeles, the story involves two married couples—Gary and Jeannie, and Reuben and Meg—whose long-time friendship implodes when Gary, acting on a gnawing suspicion that Jeannie is having an affair, hires an eccentric private detective named Ezra Pound (no relation), who discovers that Jeannie is indeed having an affair, and it happens to be with his best friend, Reuben. In an attempt to deal with the fallout, they come up with a novel solution which they hope will salvage their friendship and their marriages. Major shit hits the fan.
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Alan Janes’ The Buddy Holly Story, directed & choreographed by Keith Andrews, will run July 11 – 27 at Long Beach’s Musical Theater West.
Will Riddle, with Will Riddle (Buddy Holly), Justin Mariel Boyd (trumpet player Tyrone), Will Riddle (Buddy Holly) and Justin Mariel Boyd (Tyrone), with Trent Mills, Elizabeth Curtain, Mia Sempertegui, David Kirk Grant, Janaya Mahealani Jones, Chase Ramsey, Ryan DeNardo, and Lauren Han.
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The world premiere of Peter Lefcourt’s Ménage á Quatre will open Sat. July 9 at 8 PM at Hollywood‘s LGBT Theatre, directed by Ryan O’Connor.
Carly J. Carly J. Casey, Matthew Downs, Daniel Mongomery, Jeremy S. Walker, and Sarah Wolter.
This witty, fast-paced world premiere comedy set in Los Angeles, involves two married
couples – Gary and Jeannie, and Reuben and Meg – whose long-time friendship implodes
when Gary, acting on a gnawing suspicion that Jeannie is having an affair, hires an
eccentric private detective named Ezra Pound (no relation), who discovers that Jeannie is
indeed having an affair, and it happens to be with his best friend, Reuben. In an attempt to
deal with the fallout, they come up with a novel solution which they hope will salvage their
friendship and their marriages…and of course, major shit hits the fan.