Today’s Highlights:
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, directed by Matthew Bourne, featuring Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Jacob Dickey, Kyle Selig, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, David Harris, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Maria Wirries, and Daniel Yearwood, with Kevin Earley, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, and Peter Neureuther, opens at Broadway’s Manhattan Theatre Club.
Oh, Mary, by Cole Escola, directed by Sam Pinkleton, featuring Cole Escola (Mary), Conrad Ricamora (Mary’s Husband), James Scully (Mary’s Teacher), Bianca Leigh (Mary’s Chaperone), and Tony Macht (Mary’s Husband’s Assistant), begins its encore run (through June 28) at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.
Casualty of War presentation, written & performed by Sharon Lesser, at 7 PM at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row (also Apr. 15).
A Midsummer Night’s Musical reading, adapted by Johnny Elkins, directed by Lee Martino & Jason Graae, featuring Jason Graae (Puck), Nick Apostolina (Lysander/Snug/Oberon’s Elf/Fairy), Maverick Carpio (Demetrius/Snout/Oberon’s Elf/Fairy), Michelle Estrada (Helena/Cobweb), Jack Laufe Peter Quince/Egeus/Mustardseed/Scribbilous/Snout (in mini-musical), Paul Liberti (Flute/Peaseblossom), Brent Schindele (Oberon/Theseus), Leianna Weaver (Hermia/Fairy/Moth), and Harry White (Bottom/Court Attendant ), at 2 PM at CA’s Coachella Valley Rep.
**********************
Reviews for Boop at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre (Note: Although the musical opened on Apr. 5, reviews were embargoed until Apr. 7)
New York Times (Jesse Green): …the most disappointing subgenre of musical, at least in terms of opportunity cost, is the “why?” show: a well-crafted, charmingly performed, highly professional production that nobody asked for. Its intentions are foggy and sometimes suspicious… Boop! The Musical is a “why?” show par excellence. And excellence it has. As Betty, the flapper of early talkie cartoons, Jasmine Amy Rogers is immensely likable. She sings fabulously, sports a credible perma-smile, nails all the Boop mannerisms and has a fetching way with a tossed-off line. … She is ably supported by other young talent in featured roles, luxury-cast veterans doing their damnedest and a hard-working ensemble selling Mitchell’s insistent, imaginative, precision-drilled dances. … David Foster’s music, in a jazzy brass-and-reeds Cy Coleman vein, pops nicely; the lyrics, by Susan Birkenhead, are far better crafted than you dare hope these days… But none of that explains or justifies the show’s existence. Nor, despite enormous effort, can the book by Bob Martin….
Variety (Frank Rizzo): Following on the high heels of the 2023 hit film “Barbie, Boop! The Musical likewise aims to remake and rebrand another dated pop character for contemporary times and audiences. Unlike Barbie, who has had a ubiquitous cultural presence for decades, Betty Boop is a Depression-era cartoon character of a jazz-age flapper, and in looks, attitude and style, she is of her time — not to say dimension… Like Barbie, Boop! goes on a dual-reality journey of transformation, and along the way boasts an upbeat score, terrific dance numbers, and delightful designs. Sometimes that’s enough, at least for live mainstream entertainment with girl-empowerment themes, aimed at family-centric markets and with great merchandizing potential. Other times it just feels like a knockoff…
Theatermania (Pete Hempstead): …there’s now another diverting show in New York that let me forget about my 401(k) for two-and-a-half hours and had me boop-oop-a-dooping out the door. That musical is Boop!, a bright, colorful extravaganza of nostalgic comedy, charming songs, and high-stepping choreography at the Broadhurst Theatre… With a zippy score, terrific tap numbers choreographed by director Jerry Mitchell, energetic performances from a top-notch cast, and a plot that doesn’t tax your brain, Boop! is one of the feel-good musicals of the year… Martin’s book is like a long cartoon episode itself, and without a realistic plot to get hung up on, director Mitchell hits the comedic high notes extra hard and pairs them with some old-fashioned Broadway razzle-dazzle…
New York Stage Review ( ): …complete with plucky mien, va-va-voom figure and squeaky baby voice – out of the black-and-white silent era into a splashily colorful 2025, the aim to create joy unconfined right up to the follow-the-bouncing-ball singalong finale. Marshaled by director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell, talent is everywhere you look, and decent songs are everywhere you listen… Yet all this effort is in service of one of the most maladroit storylines Broadway has encountered in years, with cardboard characters that serve plot purposes only, a book that doesn’t listen to the lyrics and dialogue that doesn’t listen to itself. To quote the King of Siam, who had a really good libretto backing him up: Is a puzzlement.
**********************
Boston’s Lyric Stage has announced its 2025-26 Season. Casting and additional information TBA.
Our Town (Sept. 19 – Oct. 19), directed by Courtney O’Connor.
A Sherlock Carol (Nov. 1 – Dec. 21), by Mark Shanahan, directed by Ilyse Robbins.
Penelope (Feb. 6 – Mar. 1, 2026), by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean & Eva Steinmetz, directed by Courtney O’Connor
Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous (Mar. 20 – Apr. 12), by Pearl Cleage, directed by Jacqui Parker.
Something Rotten! (May 1 – June 7), directed by Ilana Ransom Toeplitz
**********************
Jonothon Lyons & Ben Bonnema’s The Apple Boys will run May 2-25 at PA’s Bucks County Playhouse, directed by David Alpert, with choreography by Marc Kimelman, and music supervision by Rona Siddiqui.
DeShawn Bowens, Josh Breckenridge, John Mezzina, Rachel Kay, Jelani Remy, Emily Skeggs, and Teddy Yudain.
Step back in time to Gilded Age Coney Island with a fast-paced new musical comedy, “The Apple Boys.” Jack Chapman III, grandson of Johnny Appleseed, rallies a colorful cast of characters—including the founder of Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs and the world’s strongest man—to save his family’s struggling apple orchard. Featuring an inventive score with tight vocal harmonies, The Apple Boys is a boisterous show that will leave you cheering for the underdogs and celebrating the joys of friendship.**********************
The world premiere of Cracked Open, written & directed by Gail Kreigel, will run May 6 – June 28 (opening May 20) at Theatre Row.
Pamela Bob, Joyia D. Bradley, Rubén Caballero, Paul Castree, Blaire DiMisa, Scott Harrison, Madeline Grace Jones, Lisa Pelikan, Katherine Reis, Bart Shatto, and Jeene Vath.
A powerful, timely story about a family whose love is tested when their 17-year-old daughter experiences the sudden onset of mental illness. As they struggle to understand her new reality, they must navigate the complexities of treatment, social stigma, and their fears, ultimately discovering the resilience that binds them together.
**********************
Fred Alley’s & James Valco’s Spitfire Grill will run May 2 – June 8 at the Actors Co-op, directed by Bonnie Hellman.
Hannah Howzdy, Gavin Michael Harris, Lori Berg, Spencer Rowe, Treva Tegtmeier, Caitlin Gallogly and Ben Kientz.
**********************
MD’s Olney Theatre has announced its 2025-26 season:
Red Pitch (Sept. 17 – Oct. 19) by Tyrell Williams, directed by Daniel Bailey.
Hello, Dolly! (Nov. 6 – Jan. 4, 2026), directed by Kevin S. McAllister, starring Nova Y. Payton.
Little Miss Perfect (Feb. 12 – Mar. 15), by Joriah Kwamé, directed by Zhailon Levingston.
Appropriate (Mar. 18 – Apr. 19), by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, directed by Jason Loewith, starring Kimberly Gilbert and Cody Nickell.
I and You – The Musical (Apr. 23 – May 25), world premiere with a new book by Lauren Gunderson and lyrics & music by Ari Afsar.
Carla Hall – Please Underestimate Me (May 27 – June 8), world premiere by Carle Hall, Lori Kaye & Leslie Thomas.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (July 2 – Aug. 23), directed by Eleanor Holdridge and starring Tom Story.
**********************
54 Sings Coco (by Alan Jay Lerner & André Previn) will take place Mon. Apr. 14 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, offering both live and live-streamed options, with music direction by Micael Lavine.
Christine Andreas, Steven Brinberg, Paula Leggett Chase, Britney Coleman, Josie De Buzman, Ali Ewoldt, Sara Gettelfinger, Adam Grupper, Ben Joones, Jay Aubrey Jones, Isabel Keating, Neal Mayer, Brad Oscar, AJ Shively, Jane summerhays, Lenny Wolpe, Penny Worth, and more TBA.
**********************
In major news timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of its historic facility, Pasadena Playhouse announced hat it has successfully purchased its 1925 building, which was lost to bankruptcy in 1970 and held in private ownership for more than five decades. Located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue and anchoring the Pasadena Playhouse Historic District, the 70,000-square-foot campus, which includes the theater, restaurant space, and six-story annex, is one of Southern California’s most iconic cultural venues and among the most influential and storied sites in American theater history.
The purchase of the building was funded by a $15 million fundraising campaign, which has reached 75% of its goal. The lead gift for the effort was provided by the Perenchio Foundation and matched by major arts philanthropists Terri and Jerry Kohl. The campaign’s other major donors are The Ahmanson Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Brad and Pamela King, Harmon and Lea Kong, Leigh and Harry Olivar, Jane Kaczmarek, Bingo and Gino Roncelli, and Erin and Jeremy Baker.
**********************
The 40th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards will take place Sun. May 4 at 7 PM at NYC’s NYU Skirball Center.
Click here for the complete list of nominees.