GRACE NOTES: Thursday, March 7, 2024

 

Today’s Highlights:

 Doubt, directed by Scott Ellis, featuring Amy Ryan (Sister Aloysius), Liev Schreiber (Father Flynn), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Mrs. Muller), and Zoe Kazan (Sister James), opens at Broadway’s American Airlines Theatre.

  Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom, directed by Erwin Maas, featuring Len Cariou (Morrie) and Chris Doming (Mitch), opens at Off-Broadway’s St. George’s Episcopal Church.

  54 Loves Cast Albums! concert, directed by Michael Portantiere, featuring Karen Akers, Jay Aubrey Jones, Megan Styrna, Robbie Rozelle, Gerard Alessandrini, Christine Pedi, John Griffin, and George Anthony Papas, at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.

  Jason Kravitz: Off the Top benefit concert, at 7 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.

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  Othell0 will open in Spring 2025 (dates TBA) at a Shubert Theatre to-be-announced, directed by Kenny Leon.

  Denzel Washington (Othello), Jake Gyllenhaal (Iago), and more TBA.

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  Broadway’s Days of Wine and Roses, by Adam Guettel & Craig Lucas, and directed by Michael Greif, originally scheduled to close Apr. 28, will now close Mar. 31 at Broadway’s Studio 54.

  Kelli O’Hara, Brian d’Arcy James, Byron Jennings, Charon Catherine Brown, Bill English, Olivia Hernandez, David Jenning, Steven Booth, Nicole Ferguson, Kelcey Watson, Tabitha Lawing tony Carlin, David Manis, and Addie Manthey

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  Off-Broadway’s J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company has announced creative teams for its 2024 season, at the ART Theatre.  Additional details TBA.

   Do Re Mi (Apr. 19-28), by Garson Kanin, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, directed by Robert W. Schneider, with musical direction by Miles Plant, and choreography by Andrew Winans.

   Make Someone Happy: The Songs of Comden, Green, and Styne (Apr. 23)

  Lucky Stiff (May 3-12), by Ahrens & Flaherty, directed by Miles Plant, with choreography by Gerry McIntyre.

  Back to Before: the songs of Ahrens and Flaherty (May 7)

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

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  A Toast To Steve & Edie, starring David Lawrence and Debbie Gravitte will take place Mon. Mar. 18 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s  Zankel Hall.

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Uncle Vanya!, newly translated by Heidi Schreck, will run Apr. 2 – June 16 (opening Apr. 24) at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, directed byLila  Neugebauer

Alison Pill (Sonya), Steve Carell (Uncle Vanya), Alfred Molina (Alexander Serabryakov), and Anika Noni Rose (Wife), Jonathan Hadary (Waffles), William Jackson Harper (Astrov), Jane Houdyshell (Mama Voinitski), Mia Katigbak (Marina), and Anika Noni Rose (Yelena).

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  Video: Alyse Alan Louis & Jason Gotay perform “Modest Is Hottest” from Michael R. Jackson & Anna K. Jacobs’ Teeth at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.

  The musical is based on the 2007 comedy horror film of the same name. The story follows Dawn O’Keefe, played by Louis, as she battles new feelings of sexual desire and immense shame while trying to uphold her image of purity amongst her evangelical Christian community. As Dawn’s desires are challenged by various men in her life, she discovers that her body is able to bite back in an unusual, and deadly, manner. Unleashing unbridled feminine rage while taking ownership of her body, Dawn discovers that this curse may be a blessing. Still in previews at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons, the musical gives the audience plenty of time to face the gruesome truth about their own sexuality.

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  A conversation about Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along will take place  Thurs. Mar. 28 at 3 PM at NYC’s 92NY, moderated by Josh Horowitz.

  Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez.

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  The Absolute Adele Tribute will take place Sat. Apr. 20 at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater, starring Jennifer Cella.

  This is not just a concert. It is theatre, and Jennifer plays the role of Adele. Jennifer relies on her years of acting and theatre training to accurately portray the singer. She not only sings her songs but talks to the audience, and explains the origins and backstories of the songs, just as Adele interacts with her audiences at her concerts.

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  Abe Koogler’s Staff Meal will run Apr. 12 – May 19 (opening Apr. 28) at Playwrights Horizons, directed by Morgan Green.

Jess Barbagallo (Server), Susannah Flood (Mina), Hampton Fluker (Waiter), Greg Keller (Ben), Erin Markey (Vagrant), and Coral Peña (Server), with Stephanie Berry.

  The play centers on a group of solitary city folk who are searching for connection and comfort as the world falls apart. Set in a mysterious restaurant, a group of servers is trying to keep the friendly service and tasty food coming—at least until the restaurant is no longer a safe haven at closing time.

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Broadway’s Spamalot will close early, now on Apr. 7, after 17 previews and 164 regular performances at the St. James Theatre, directed & choreographed by Josh Rhodes.

  Taran Killam (Lancelot), Alex Brightman (Lancelot as of Jan. 9, 2024) Christopher Fitzgerald (Patsy), James Monroe Iglehart (King Karthur), Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer (The Lady of the Lake), Ethan Slater (The Historian/Prince Herbert), Jimmy Smagula (Sir Bedevere), Michael Urie (Sir Robin, and Nik Walker (Sir Galahad), with David Josefsberg, Graham Stevens, Daniel Beeman, Maria Briggs, Gabriella Enriquez, Michael Fatica, Denis Lambert, Shina Ann Morris, Kaylee Olson, Kristin Piro, Drew Redington,  Tyler Roberts, Anju Cloud, Darrell T. Joe, Lily Kaufmann, and Charlie Sutton,

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  Drew Droege’s The Fabulous Invalid will offer 4 public readings (Apr. 7 at 7 PM … Apr. 8 at 7 & 9 PM… and Apr. 9 at 7 PM), all at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse.

  Drew Droege, Eric Patrick Harper, Max Jenkins, Matthew Wilkas, and Pete Zias.

  Sunday morning. Hell’s Kitchen. Brecken and Caden have just murdered their throuple-mate and stuffed him into a Jonathan Adler credenza. Unfortunately, they’ve invited friends over for brunch. Feel bad for them! They’re MESSY WHITE GAYS!

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  Andrew Rannells & Lena Dunham have announced their new project, “Too Much,” which will be released on Netflix 0n a date TBA.

  Andrew Rannells, Lena Dunham, Meg Stalter and Alex Sharpe, with         Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson,  Stephen Fry, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah,  Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, and Kaori Momoi.

  The 10-episode series centers on Jessica, who moves from New York to London after a messy break-up. Though she plans to lead a solitary life, she meets and forms an instant connection with the rowdy Felix.

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  Johnny Reid, Matt Murray & Bob Foster’s will run Aug. 23 – Oct. 20 at CT’s Goodspeed, directed by Mary Francis Moore, with music direction by Adam Souza, and choreography by Emily Jane Boyle.

Casting TBA.

  A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bonds and changing times. After suffering the unthinkable loss of her husband, Maggie must rely on her strength, sense of humor and fiercely loyal friends to protect her family from a harsh world. Spanning over 20 years, a hardscrabble working class life blossoms with a soul-stirring pop-folk score.

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   Michael R. Jackson’s A Strange Loop will run June 5-30 at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Stephen Brackett, with choreography by Raja Feather Kelly.

  Jordan Barbour (Thought 5), J. Cameron Barnett (Thought 2),  Avionce Hoyles (Thought 3), Tarra Conner Jones (Thought 1), Malachi McCaskill (Usher),  Jamari Johnson Williams (Thought 6), and John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4), with Alvis Green Jr. (Usher Alternate), Dave J. Abrams (Understudy, Thought 2 & 3), Angela Alisa (Understudy, Thought 1), Carlis Shane Clark (Understudy, Thought 5 & 6), Albert Hodge (Understudy, Thought 4).

Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher, a young, gay, Black writer who hates his day job, writes a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who’s writing a musical about a young, gay, Black writer…a strange loop. Usher grapples with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes, all brought to life on stage by a hilarious, straight-talking ensemble.

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  The America Academy of Arts and Letters has announced the recipients of the 2024 Richard Rogers Awards for Musical Theater.

  Far From the Tree, by Justin Warner, Robert Maggio & Kristin Maloney.   The musical weaves together stories of parents raising profoundly different children.

  Lighthouse, by abs wilson and Veronica Mansour    The musical follows Bus, an 18-year-old girl who wants nothing more than to escape her small Minnesota town. The work explores life with anxiety and O.C.D., and the lives of women in rural, conservative communities.

 


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