GRACE NOTES: Thursday, March 20, 2025

 

Today’s Highlights:

  Operation Mincemeat, by Mr. Cumming, Felix Hagan, Ms. Hodgson & Ms. Roberts, directed by Robert Hastie, featuring David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zoë Roberts, opens at Broadway’s Golden Theatre.

  Glengarry Glen Ross, by David Mamet, directed by Patick Marber, featuring Kieran Culkin (Richard Roma), Bob Odenkirk (Shelley Levene), Bill Burr (Dave Moss), and Michael McKean (George Aaronow). TDonald Webber Jr. (John Williamson), Howard W. Overshown (Baylen), and John Pirruccello (James Lingk), begins previews at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.

  Benjamin Scheuer in concert, with special guest Micaela Diamond, at 7 PM at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre.

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  Reviews for Buena Vista Social Club at Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre:

New York Times (Elizabeth Vincentelli):

New York Daily News (Chris Jones)

Variety (Frank Rizzo)

Theatrely (Kobi Kassal)

New York Post (Johnny Oleksinki)

Theatermania (Zachary Stewart)

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Larissa Fasthorse’s Fake It Until You Make It will run Apr. 3 – May 4 (opening Apr. 10) at DC’s Arena Stage, directed by Michael John Garcés.

  Noah Bean (theo), Eric Stanton Betts, Amy Brenneman (River), Brandon Delsid (Krys), Shyla Lefner (Wynona), and Burgandi Trejo Phoenix (Grace), with Josh Bywater, Aleisha Force, and Kenny Ramos.

  The play follows the escalating rivalry between Wynona, the Native American proprietor of N.O.B.U.H., and River, her white counterpart at Indigenous Nations Soaring, as their collision ensnares colleague and bystanders, secrets highlighting the absuridities of ambition and authenticity become unraveled. It’s about being whoever you want to be, even when it’s not who you are.

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  Stronger Together: The 32nd Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival will run Mar. 27-30 at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68 Arts Complex- The Rosalie (5112 Lankershim Blvd.), hosted by Ted Lange & Margaret Avery. Click here for more information.

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  Ken Davenport & Ann Marie Milazzo’s JOY: A New True Musical  will run June 21 – Aug. 17 (opening July 20) at the Laura Pels Theatre, directed by Lorin Latarro, with music direction by Jillian Zack.

  Betsy wolfe (Joy), Charl Brown (Dan), Adam Grupper (Rudy), and Maruicio Martinez (Tony), with more TBA

 Based on the life of trailblazing businesswoman and inventor Joy Mangano. Her journey—also told in the 2015 film “JOY,” starring Jennifer Lawrence—now comes to life on stage. From single motherhood and financial struggles to building a business empire, Joy’s story epitomizes the power of resilience and determination, an inspiring celebration of a woman who never gave up and redefined the American Dream!

  Video: “The Shape of Things”

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  Sharon Scott Williams’ Crazy Mama, starring Linda Purl, has been extended through Apr. 13 at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre, directed by Anson Williams.

Linda Purl plays 16 characters in this tour-de-force about a young girl’s decades-long dream or saving her mother from the soul-crushing grip of mental illness.

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  The world premiere of David Valdes’ The Great Reveal will run Apr.4-27 (opening Apr. 6) at Boston’s Lyric Stage, directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary & Charlotte Snow.

  Paige Clark, Arthur Gomez, Jupiter Lê, and Antonia Turill.

  The play shines a light on the complexities of family and what it takes to fight for the unconditional love that is always there despite differences and disagreements. Newly married and seven months pregnant, Lexi has planned the perfect backyard gender-reveal party with every detail immaculately in place. But not everyone is as enthusiastic about the celebration. Her immature husband, Christopher, is rattled by what the future holds for him as a father. Her brother Linus, a trans man, is caught between his sister and his partner Dosia, who is tasked with making the cake for an event that goes against everything they stand for. When emotions escalate and revelations are shared, a family and the importance of being true to oneself is tested as they all grapple to find ways to keep on loving each other.

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  Dionne Warwick in Concert will take place Sat. Aug. 9 at 8 PM at CA;s Cerritos Center.

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   Theater Works Hartford & Hartford Stage & will present co-production of Sweeney Todd, to run June 5 – July 5 2026 at Hartford Stage, directed by Rob Ruggiero.

Casting and additional information TBA.

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  Roberto Monticello’s Café Resistance will run Apr. 10-27 at Theater for the New City, directed by Lissa Moira.

  Jon McHatton (Dada), Susan Mitchell (Countess), Tristan Cano (Casimir), Robyn Belt (Flick/Anne), Catlin Zerra Rose (Satin Skin), Marlain Angelides (Louise),  Inma Heredia (Castanet), Jef Canter (General), Francoise Traxler (Mortadella), Ren Ragsdale (Haddock/German Soldier),  Niko & Lulik (Jaques), Michael A, Green (Groulin), Zachary Harris Martin (Preist), Samantha Mileski (Suffed Pidgeon), Jack Farrell (Victor.Nestor/Captain), Matthew James Fitzgerald (Raoul), and Rachel Drummer (Fignasse/Celestine).

 In 1939 Paris, harlots and refugees resist Nazi occupation with ingenuity and bravery. The piece is meant to inspire audiences to stand up to hatred and autocracy. With authoritarianism rising around the world, The play offers a harrowing and heroic story of the WWII French Resistance intended to highlight the power of defiance in the face of oppression. A drama with period music, it is set in a mythical café/bordello in 1939 Paris in which the staff uses creativity to undermine the Nazi occupation. The storyline centers around Louise, a dancer who finds herself the cashier/manager of the place when its colorful, avaricious owner, Marguerite, flees to her château as WWII begins.  The Blue Parrot is commandeered for the sole use of Nazi officers and and the resourceful women who work there find numerous ways to show their French patriotism.  Louise, hiding her Jewish identity, is in constant danger. She has placed her son, Jacques, on a farm  with a kindly couple to try and keep him safe. Her lover, a Resistance fighter code named DADA, shows up on the run from Nazi pursuers and Louise must connect him with other Resistance fighters to enable his escape. Meanwhile her dear little boy and the farmers protecting him are forced to abandon the farm. Finding her child becomes her driving reason to go on.

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 David Valdes’s The Great Reveal will run Apr. 4-27 at Lyric Stage Boston, directed by Bridget Kathleen O’Leary & Charlotte Snow

   Paige Clark (Lexie), Arthur Gomez (Christopher), Jupiter Le (Linus), Antonia Turilli (Dosia), and Jupiter Lê (Linus).

Newly married and seven months pregnant, Lexi has planned the perfect backyard gender-reveal party with every detail immaculately in place. But not everyone is as enthusiastic about the celebration. Her immature husband, Christopher, is rattled by what the future holds for him as a father. Her brother Linus, a trans man, is caught between his sister and his partner Dosia, who is tasked with making the cake for an event that goes against everything they stand for. When emotions escalate and revelations are shared, a family and the importance of being true to oneself is tested as they all grapple to find ways to keep on loving each other.

 


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