Today’s Highlights:
Walking with Ghosts, written by & starring Gabriel Byrne, directed by Lonny Price, opens at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre.
The Shot, solo show by Robin Gerber, directed by Michelle Joyner, starring Sharon Lawrence, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
The Actors Studio‘s live benefit screening of “Dog Day Afternoon,” followed by an interview with star Al Pacino, at 7 PM at NYC’s United Palace (4140 Broadway at 175th St.)
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Reviews for Tammy Faye at London’s Almeida Theatre:
New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski): …Tammy Faye doesn’t deserve the fire and brimstone that The Devil WearsPrada got, but you won’t walk out praising Jesus either… the shallow Tammy Faye never comes to understand its endlessly fascinating main character. Nor does it make much of an attempt. It is an unsatisfying surface-level examination of an icon… The musical is an Ikea-style, factory-like, goofy “It’s a Small World After All” of American and church-goer stereotypes (they love that here) delivered by purposefully robotic actors, which is palatable to a point… Tammy is played by Katie Brayben, who gives a sturdy but uninspired performance… Andrew Rannells [as Jim Baker], who exudes showbiz charisma that the production otherwise lacks…
Broadway World (Cindy Marcolina): …Rupert Goold directs a sanitised tale of faith, love, and financial fraud… A general, glitzy pop score that inevitably slips into a gospel revival and mildly exciting lyrics that mostly only do the job are followed by an outstanding book by Graham… the satire in his text reaches deaf ears on the musical side of things… Alongside the book, it’s the performances that save the show from utter doom. Brayben brings the house down and reconfirms herself as a superstar in the musical theatre firmament… Rannells offers a bumbling, quirky reverend…he doesn’t provide anything too remarkable…
WhatsOnStage (Sarah Crompton): …Its success, grounded in a terrific central performance by Katie Brayben, lies in the way Graham shapes a fairly straight-forward retelling of Tammy Faye’s life into something richer by using it to chart the rise of the evangelical right in American politics… There is perhaps too much affection for Tammy Faye in the show as a whole… [Elton] John’s songs, and Shears’ witty lyrics, chart this journey with considerable style… It’s not a show of great depth, but it has enormous panache and verve as it whisks through its strangely significant tale.
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The brand new Kander & Ebb musical, New York, New York, by David Thompson, Sharon Washington & Lin-Manuel Miranda, will begin previews Mar. 24, 2023 and open Apr. 26 at the St. James Theatre, directed by choreographed by Susan Stroman.
Casting TBA.
It is 1946, the war is over, and a resurgent New York is beginning to rebuild. As steel beams swing overhead, a collection of artists has dreams as big and diverse as the city itself. But do these singers, dancers, musicians and makers have what it takes to survive this place, let alone succeed? It they can make it there, they can make it anywhere.
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Rehearsal footage of Encore’s Parade at NY City Center.
Video 1: Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond
Video 2: More rehearsal footage.
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A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Robert O’Hara, has extended again, now through Nov. 20 at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater.
Francois Battiste (Walter Lee Younger), Toussaint Battiste (Travis Younger alternate), John Clay III (Joseph Asaggi), Calvin Dutton (Bobo), Mister Fitzgerald (George Murchison), Perri Gaffney (Mrs. Johnson), Paige Gilbert, Mandi Masden (Ruth Younger), Camden McKinnon Travis Younger alternate), Jesse Pennington (Karl Lindner), Tonya Pinkins (Lena Younger), and N’yomi Stewart, with Skyler Gallun and N’yomi Stewart.
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Eddie Izzard will play 21 characters in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, to run Dec. 9 – Jan. 22, 2023 (opening Dec. 15) at The Greenwich House Theater, adapted by Mark Izzard and directed by Selina Cadell.
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Disney’s Winnie The Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation will run Nov. 23 – Dec. 30 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre.
In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have play iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. The event includes an original score (by Nate Edmondson), as well as some of the songs written for the animated film.
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Rachel Bay Jones will have a recurring role in Season 6 of CBS’s “Young Sheldon” as Audrey McCallister, the domineering mother of Mandy, who is having a baby with Sheldon’s older brother Georgie.
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Off-Broadway’s York Theatre Company will host the 30th Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala on Mon. Nov. 14 at 6 PM at NYC’s the Edison Rooftop, directed by Michael Unger, with music direction by Christie Chiles Twillie.
Leslie Uggams and Ted Chapin
Klea Blackhurst, Gregg Edelman, Tyrick, Wiltez Jones, Michael James Leslie, Gerry McIntyre, Ron Raines, Stephanie Umoh, Jeffrey Wright, Broadway Inspirational Voices, and Dionne Warwick… with video appearances by La Chanze, Andre De Shields, Lee Roy Reams, and more TBA.
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The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway will return Nov. 21 with a live in-person return to NYC’s Town Hall.
Mario Correa, Lily Houghton, Roger Q Mason, Michael Mitnick, Nikkole Salter, and Jonathan Marc Sherman;
Jake Beckhard, Victor Malana Maog, Kathleen Marshall, Leigh Silverman, and more TBA.
Justin Bartha, Julie Benko, Julia Chan, Lilli Cooper, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Gallagher, River Gallo, Joel Marsh Garland, Mamie Gummer, Jin Ha, Amy Hargreaves, Rachel Hilson, Alex Moffat, Talene Monahon, Okieriete Onaodowan, Sarah Steele, and more TBA.
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Nathan Lane will moderate a conversation with Steve Martin and artist Harry Bliss, as they reflect on their new book “Number One Is Walking – My Life In the Movies and Other Diversions” on Tues. Nov. 15 at 8 PM at NYC’s Town Hall. Audience members will receive a signed copy of the book.
The book is Steve Martin’s cinematic legacy – an illustrated memoir of his legendary acting career with stories from his most popular films and artwork by “New Yorker” cartoonist Harry Bliss. Steve Martin has never written about his career in the movies before. In “Number One is Walking,” he shares anecdotes from the sets of his beloved films—from “Father of the Bride” to “Roxanne,” “The Jerk” to “Three Amigos,” and many more, bringing readers directly into his world. In it, he shares charming tales of antics, moments of inspiration, and exploits with the likes of Paul McCartney and Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford and Chevy Chase. Martin details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartooning, all with his unparalleled wit.
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The world premiere of Bleu Bedford-Burrell’s La Race will run Nov. 21 – Dec. 23 at the McGinn/Cazale Theater, directed by Taylor Reynolds.
Auberth Bercy (Uriel), Naomi Lorrain (Maxine), Vince Nappo (Grant), Christopher B. Portley (Trey), Stacey Sargeant (Dejani/Doctor), and Shaunette Renee Wilson (AJ).
Maxine, a Black woman in her 30s dealing with personal and professional setbacks, and her best friend A.J., who wants Maxine to run for office in Far Rockaway’s local government. Their unconventional grassroots campaign soon becomes vitally important as political action becomes necessary in a place navigating race, identity, and gentrification.
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The SpongeBob Musical will begin its UK tour Apr. 5, 2023 at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Casting TBA
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The Lythgoe Family’s The Wonderful Winter of Oz: A Holiday Panto will run Dec. 8-30 at the Laguna Playhouse directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, with choreograph by Mason Trueblood, and music direction by Andy Street.
Olivia Sanabia (Dorothy), Barry Pearl (The Wizard), and more TBA.
The classic American tale gets a holiday makeover as Dorothy is spirited away by a blizzard on Christmas Eve, and finds herself in a strange and wondrous land full of witches, munchkins, and more!
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Matt Doyle will join the Off-Broadway company of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour, on Nov. 15 at the Westside Theatre.
Doyle will replace Rob McClure.
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Hugh Jackman has revealed he is open to playing Peter Allen again in The Boy From Oz.
Says Jackman,”It did cross my mind a couple of times. I’m 54. Peter died at 48. So you could find a way to make it work. It was the most fun I’ve ever had… There was, I don’t know, roughly 10 to 12 minutes of every show that was ad-libbed. Once I was 50 or 60 shows in, I felt completely free to do whatever the hell I wanted. I was an asshole at times. I brought up Barbara Walters and Matt Damon, and made Matt Damon give Barbara Walters a lap dance, which turned into me giving Matt Damon a lap dance. And he didn’t punch me.”
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Read: “The Story of Hugh Jackman in Five Acts”