Today’s Highlights:
The Last Five Years, directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, featuring Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson, opens at London’s Vaudeville Theatre.
I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, written & performed by Ronnie Marmo, directed by Joe Mantegna, opens at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68.
The Mirror and the Light, by Dame Hilary Mante, directed by Jeremy Herrin, featuring Ben Miles (Thomas Cromwell), Nathaniel Parker (Henry VIII), Melissa Allan, Samuel Awoyo, Ian Drysdale, Jo Herbert, Andrew Hodges, Niamh James, Umi Myers, Liam Smith, Nicholas Tizzard, Nicholas Boulton, Matt Pidgeon, Giles Taylor, Rosanna Adams, Paul Adeyefa, Aurora Burghart, Terique Jarrett, Jordan Kouamé, Geoffrey Lumb, Olivia Marcus, Tony Turner, Leo Wan, and Nicholas Woodeson, begins previews at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
The Normal Heart, by Larry Kramer, directed by Dominic Cooke, featuring Ben Daniels (Ned Weeks), Robert Bowman, Richard Cant, Liz Carr, Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Dino Fetscher, Daniel Krikler, Daniel Monks, Elander Moore, Luke Norris, Henry Nott, Lucas Rush, Freddie Stabb, Samuel Thomas, and Danny Lee Wynter, begins previews at London’s Olivier Theatre.
Chicken and Biscuits, by Douglas Lyons, directed by Zhailon Levingston, featuring Norm Lewis (Reginald Mabry), Michael Urie (Logan Leibowitz), Cleo King (Baneatta Mabry), NaTasha Yvette Williams (Brianna Jenkins), Devere Rogers (Kenny Mabry), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Beverly Jenkins), Aigner Mizzelle (La’trice Franklin), and Alana Raquel Bowers (Simone Babry), with Dean Acree, Jennifer Fouché, Michael Genet, Miles G Jackson, and Camille Upshaw, begins previews at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre.
Closer Than Ever, newly filmed production, featuring Dalton Harris, Lee Mead, Kerry Ellis, and Grace Mouat, begins streaming on BroadwayHD.
**********************
Video: Stars in the House, offering Encore: In Honor of Willie Garson & You Gotta Believe. (41:16)
**********************
Sally Wilfert: Just in Time – I Happen to Like New York will take place Fri. Sept. 24 at 7:30 PM ET at NYC’s Merkin Concert Hall, with music direction by Joseph Thalken.
**********************
Keenan Scott II’s Thoughts of a Colored Man will begin previews Oct. 1 and open Oct. 31 at the Golden Theatre, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III.
Esau Pritchett (replacing Keith David, who departed due to a family issue), Dyllón Burnside, Bryan Terrell Clark, Da’Vinchi, Luke James, Forrest McClendon, and Tristan “Mack” Wilds.
As the sun rises on a single day in the pulsing heart of Brooklyn, seven Black men are about to discover the extraordinary – together.
**********************
Off-Broadway’s Keen Company has announced its 2021-22 season, with both live and livestreamed productions:
22nd Annual Benefit Gala (Oct. 25), a virtual event, honoring Pearl Cleage. Ticket packages include meal delivery, party favors, and access to the full evening of performances for up to 3 days.
Hear/Now: LIVE! (Dec. 10-19, 2021, opening Dec. 15) offering 2 newly commissioned in-person audio plays be Mashuq Mushtap Deen and Deb Margolin. Each piece will be performed by a small cast in front of a live audience, with live foley sound effects, and live music.
This Space Between Us (in person Feb. 22 – Apr. 2, 2022), world premiere by Peter Gil Sheridan, directed by Jonathan Silverstein. Casting TBA. Nobody understands why Jamie wants to leave his cushy law office to work for a non-profit. His best friend is confused, his boyfriend is concerned, and his conservative Cuban-American family are sure they know what’s best. As Jamie announces his plans to serve those less fortunate, one shocking afternoon at the racetrack spars unexpected and irreversible consequences for them all. This intergenerational comedy follows a raucous attempt to reach for something more without leaving the people you love behind.
…and more TBA…
**********************
Mischief’s Magic Goes Wrong will run Oct. 21 – Feb. 27, 2022 at the Apollo Theatre.
Louise Beresford (Peg), Scott Hunter (Mel), Shane David-Joseph (Sophisticato), Henry Lewis (Mind Mangler), Jane Milligan (Madame Escapade), Genevieve Nicole (Eugenia), Sydney K Smith (Mickey), Kazeem Tosin0Amore (The Blade), and Nancy Zamit (Martina).
The play follows a hapless gang of moderately skilled and accident-prone magicians presenting a charity fundraiser. As the accidents spiral out of control, so does their fundraising target!
**********************
Ebony Rep presents Sheldon Epps’ Blues in the Night, to run Nov. 12 – Dec. 5 (opening Nov. 13) at the Nate Holden PAC, directed by Wren T. Brown, with choreography by Keith Young and music direction by William Foster McDaniel.
Vivian Reed (The Lady from the Road), Clinton Derricks-Carroll ( The Man in the Saloon), Karole Foreman (The Woman of the World), and Jenna Gillespie Byrd (The Girl with a Date).
**********************
The Gingold Theatrical Group‘s production of Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession will run Oct. 12 – Nov. 20 (opening Oct. 27) at Theatre Row, directed by David Staller.
Karen Ziemba, Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Alvin Keith, Nicole King, and Raphael Nash Thompson, with Katya Collazo and Max Roll.
In a world where women have no legal rights, the play examines a woman who, coming from nothing, has become one of the most wealthy and powerful of executives running an international string of high-class brothels, keeping her life hidden from her daughter. Only when the truth is revealed does the house of cards topple.
**********************
MD’s Olney Theatre Center will present Hedwig and the Angry Inch Nov. 26 – Jan. 2, 2022, directed by Johanna McKeon.
Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig), and more TBA.
**********************
Milwaukee Rep has announced its Fall 2021 season:
Dad’s Season Tickets (Oct. 29 – Jan. 2, 2022), by Matt Zembrowski, directed by Ryan Quinn, with music direction by Dan Kazemi, featuring Jonathan Gillard Daly, Jackson Evans, Kelley Faulkner, Sophie Grimm, Jamie Mercado, and Rick Pendzich. A new musical comedy for football fanatics and the people who love them. Who will inherit Frank’s treasured season tickets at Lambeau Field? The Kosinski sisters employ every trick in the playbook, on the way to relearning that family isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.
Steel Magnolias (Nov. 9 – Dec. 5), directed by Laura Braza, featuring Janet Ulrich Brooks (M’Lynn), Phoebe González (Shelby), Rebecca Hirota (Truvy), Maeve Moynihan (Annelle), Meg Thalken (Ouiser), and Tami Workentin (Clairee).
**********************
& 
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s 2021 Festival of New Musicals will stream Oct. 21-22, with presentations offered in an in both live and digital formats. The digital presentations will stream on Broadway On Demand.
Initial casting for 4 of the 8 musicals has been announced:
AZUL, by Melis Aker, Tatiana Pandiani & Jacinta Clusellas, directed by Elena Araoz, with music direction by Kurt Crowley, features Danny Bolero, Blanca Camacho, Renata Eastlick, Henry Gainza, Robi Hager, Claudia Mulet, Martin Sola, and Claudia Yanez. The bilingual piece explores the immigrant father-daughter relationship, the place of art in capitalism, and more.
Fanny & Stella, by SEVAN & Eamonn O’Dwyer, directed by Stephen Brackett, with music direction by Emily Marshall, features Jake Boyd, Graham, Eddie Korbich, Kuhn, Orville Mendoza, Mason Alexander Park, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, and Heath Saunders. Based on the lives of Frederick Park and Ernest Boutlon.
Missing Peace, by Kalani Queypo & Kyle Puccia, directed by Jesca Prudencio, with music direction by Steven Cuevas, features Phoenix Best, Nick Dalton, Carolyn Dunn, Kyla Garcia, Rouleau, and Glenn Stanton. The musical follows a young man as he recovers from a suicide attempt.
Senior Class, by Melvin Tunstall III & Greg Borowsky, directed by Amy Anders Corcoran, with music direction by Andrew Bourgoin, features Amina Faye, Olivia Hardy, Emma Lord, Jose Luaces, Madison McBride, Zachary Noah Piser, Darius Wright, and Daniel Yearwood. Two high school theatre nerds put on a one-night-only, royalty-free staging of Pygmalion — and meet real-life Eliza Doolittle —after their production of My Fair Lady is canceled.
Click here for the complete list of musicals (click “Musicals” at the menu at the top).
**********************
BC/EFA‘a Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returns Sun. Oct. 3 starting at 10 AM ET in Shubert Alley.
* The silent auction will open at 10 AM ET in the Times Square pedestrian plaza between 45th -46th Streets.
* The live auction will start at 5 PM ET. Click here to view available items.
* Create your own virtual flea market table by joining the new Facebook group “The Heart of Broadway,”
**********************
The Skylight Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Inda Craig-Gálvin’s A Hit Dog Will Holler Oct. 30 – Dec. 12 (opening Nov. 6), directed by John Lawrence Rivera.
Donna Simone Johnson & Kacie Rogers (sharing the role of Dru) and Cheri Vandenheuvel (Gina).
The play explores the effects of a never-ending barrage of trauma on the women who are continually looked at to lead a movement of resistance and change. A social media influencer and a boots-on-the-ground activist form a complex bond of friendship to help each other survive as American racism manifests into physical form.