GRACE NOTES: Tuesday, August 15, 2023

 

GRACE NOTES will return Tuesday, August 22.

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Upcoming Highlights:

Tuesday, August 15

   The Bridges of Madison County, directed by Ethan Heard, featuring Erin Davie (Francesca), Mark Evans (Robert), Christopher Bloch (Charlie), Rayanne Gonzales (Marge), Julia Wheeler Lennon (Carolyn), Nolan Montgomery (Michael), Marina Pires (Marian/Chiara/State Fair Singer), and Cullen R. Titmas (Bud) with Carla Crawford, Tori Gomez, Alex Stone, and Douglas Ullman, Jr., opens at VA’s Signature Theatre.

Wednesday, August 16

  ENGLISH, by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Shadi Ghaheri, featuring Auveen Dezgaran (Gol)i,Lilly Heidari (Jennifer – voiceover), Ash Kahn (Omid), Adir Lev Man (Coach – voiceover), Pooya Mohseni (Marian), Sake Namei (Elham), and Xaye Yabandeh (Roya), with Lilly Heidari, Adir Lev Mann, Laurie Shireen Sanii and Golbanoo Setayesh, opens at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.

  Kansas City Actors Theatre‘s Grand Horizons, by Bess Wohl, directed by Dennis D. Hennessy, featuring Amy Attaway, Craig Benton, Peggy Friesen, Matt Leisy, Victor Raider-Wexler, Jan Rogge, and Tanner Rose, opens at the City Stage in Union Station.

  A New Brain, directed by Joe Calarco, featuring Adam Chanler-Berat, Mayr Testa, Tally Sessions, Demond Green, Dorcas Leung, Salome Smith, and Justine Horihata Rappaport, begins previews at MA’s Barrington Stage Company.

  Getting There!, return engagement, written & performed by Rebecca OBrien, directed by Cameron Watson, closes at Hollywood’s Hudson Guild Theatre.

Thursday, August 17

  I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, by Ronnie Marmo & Kitty Bruce, directed by Joe Montegna, starring Ronnie Marmo opens at Laguna Playhouse.

Friday, August 18

  On Cedar Street, world premiere by Emily Mann, Carmel Dean, Lucy Simon & Susan Birkenhead, directed by Susan H. Schulman, featuring Stephen Bogardus (Louis Waters), Lana Gordon (Ruth Clark), C. Wild Handel (Young Girl), Hayden Hoffman (Mamie Moore), Ben Roseberry (Gene Moore), Dan Teixeira (Russell Beckman), lauren Ward (Addie Moore), and Lenny Wolpe (Lloyd Beckman), with Zooey Bayles), opens at MA’s Berkshire Theatre Group.

  Infinite Life, by Annie Baker, directed by James Macdonald, featuring Marylouise Burke, Kristine Nielsen, Mia Katigbak, Christina Kirk, Brenda Pressley, and Pete Simpson, opens at Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theatre.

  A View from the Bridge, by Arthur Miller, directed by Mike Reilly, featuring Ray Abruzzo (Eddie Carbone), Kim Chase (Beatrice), Aurora Leonard (Catherine), Brandon Lill (Rudulpho), Jesse Janzen (Marco), Sal Viscuso (Alfieri), Kevin Alain (Louis), Jamie Daniels (Mike), Aaron Marshall (Tony/Second Immigration Officer, Jeff Prater (First Immigration Officer), and Nicole Millar (Mrs. Lipari), opens at Santa Monica’s Ruskin Group Theater.

  “Drama Queen,” Idina Menzel’s new album, released on most platforms.

Saturday, August 19

  On Cedar Street, world premiere by Emily Mann, Carmel Dean, Lucy Simon & Susan Birkenhead, directed by Susan H. Schulman, featuring Stephen Bogardus (Louis Waters), Lana Gordon (Ruth Clark), C. Wild Handel (Young Girl), Hayden Hoffman (Mamie Moore), Ben Roseberry (Gene Moore), Dan Teixeira (Russell Beckman), lauren Ward (Addie Moore), and Lenny Wolpe (Lloyd Beckman), with Zooey Bayles), opens at MA’s Berkshire Group.

  Lea Salonga (Aurora Aquino) concludes her run in Here Lies Love at Broadway’s BroadwayTheatre.

  Just for Us, written & performed by Alex Edelman, directed by Adam Brace, closes at Broadway’s Haye’s Theatre.

  Patriots, by Peter Morgan, directed by Rupert Goold, featuring Tom Hollander (Boris Berezovsky), Will Keen (Vladimir Putin), Luke Thallon (Roman Abramovich), Matt Concannon (Assistant/Daniel Kahneman/Russian Captain), Ronald Guttman (Professor Perelman), Sean Kingsley (Voloshin/Nurse), Paul Kynman (Korzhakov/Yeltsin/FSB Boss/ Reporter/Bodyguard), and Jessica Temple (Anna Berezovsky/Newscaster/Journalist/ Secretary/Pianist), Josef Davies (Alexander Litvinenko, Ashley G Gerlach (Lawyer/Home Officer), Howard Goddington (Teacher/Compromised Newscaster), Stefani Martini (Marina Litvinenko/Nina Berezovsky), and Evelyn Miller (Taaianna/Katya Judge/Lover), closes at London’s Noel Coward Theatre.

  Groundhog Day, by Danny Rubin & Tim Minchin, directed by Matthew Warchus, featuring Andy Karl (Phil Connors), Rita Hanson (Tanisha Spring), Kamilla Fernandes (Debbie), Aimée Fisher (Joelle), Nick Hayes (Ralph), Jacquiline Hughes (Piano Teacher), Ashlee Irish (Larry), Chris Jenkins (Gus), Andrew Langtree (Ned Ryerson), Bill Nevers (Fred), Eve Norris (Nancy), Mark Pearce (Sheriff), Ben Redfern (Buster), Tanisha Spring (Rita Hanson), Durone Stokes (Deputy), Alex Stoll (Billy), Jez Unwin (Jenson), and Annie Wensak (Mrs. Lancaster), with Jasman Colangelo, Kelly Ewins-Prouse, Zack Guest, and Matthew Whennell-Clark, closes at London’s Old Vic.

  Cuckoo, by Michael Wynne, directed by Vicky Featherstone, featuring Michelle Butterly, Emma Harrison, Sue Jenkins, and Jodie McNee, closes at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

  The Doctor, written & directed by Robert Icke, featuring Juliet Stevenson, Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun, Maria Louca, Daniel Rabin, Naomi Wirthner, Hanna Ledwidge, Doña Croll, Juliet Garricks, Preeya Kalidas, John MacKay, and Jaime Schwarz, closes at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory.

  I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce, by Ronnie Marmo & Kitty Bruce, directed by Joe Montegna, starring Ronnie Marmo closes at Laguna Playhouse.

  Pipeline, by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Bryan Keith, featuring Lou Acosta, Jon Gentry, Fadhia Carmelle Marcelin, Nate Memba, Jennifer Sorenson, Ariana Sucar, and Omari Williams, closes at Hollywood’s Art of Acting Studio.

Sunday August 20

  Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, by Alexis Scheer, directed by Lindsay Allbaugh, featuring Ashley Brooke, Aliyah Camacho, Samantha Wynette Miller, Coral Peña, Lilian Rebelo, and Juan Francisco Villa, opens at LA’s Kirk Douglas Theatre.

  A New Brain, directed by Joe Calarco, featuring Adam Chanler-Berat, Mayr Testa, Tally Sessions, Demond Green, Dorcas Leung, Salome Smith, and Justine Horihata Rappaport, opens at MA’s Barrington Stage Company.

  At This Performance concert, featuring Broadway Standbys & Understudies — Caleb Barnett (Aladdin), Roy Flores (Here Lies Love), Skye Alyssa Friedman (Kimberly Akimbo), Christian Mark Gibbs (Camelot), Holly Gould (Camelot), Traci Elaine Lee (Shucked), Jaygee Macapugay (Here Lies Love), and Valerie Torres0Rosario (Camelot), at 7 PM at NYC’s Green Room 42.

  Melissa Errico in concert, at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.

  Crime and Punishment, A Comedy, world premiere by Gordon Greenberg & Steve Rosen, directed by Greenbert, featuring Vincent Randazzo (Actor 1), Juliet Brett (Actor 2), Stephanie Gibson (Actor 3), Orville Mendoza (Actor 4 – through Aug. 6),  Andrew Polec (Actor 4 as of Aug. 8) and Nik Walker (Actor 5), with Cody Ingram, Jasmine January, and Zakk Mannella, closes at San Diego’s Old Globe.

  The Half-God of Rainfall, by Inua Ellams, directed by Taibi Magar, featuring Mister Fitzgerald (Demi), Jason Bowen ( Sàngó), Patrice Johnson Cheyannes (Osún), Michael Laurence (Zeus), Lizan Mitchell (Elegba), Jennifer Mogbock (Modúpé), and Alexandra Silber (Hera), closes at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.

  Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground, written & directed by Richard Hellesen, starring John Rubinstein, closes at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Clements.

  Prejudice & Pride, newly adapted by Sam Wright & Nicholas Collet, directed by directed by Nicholas Collet, featuring Tim Ahlenius, Chris Arnone, Bridget Casad, PT Mahoney, Christian Thomas Owen, Margaret Shelby, Stefanie Stevens, Frani Talamantez-Witte, and Sam Wright, closes at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theaters.

  No Man’s Land, by Harold Pinter, directed by Les Waters, featuring Austin Pendleton, Jeff Perry, John Hudson Odom, and Samuel Roukin, closes at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre.

  Sister Act, directed & choreographed by Denis Jones, featuring Bryonha Marie Parham (Deloris Van Cartier), Mamie Parris (Mother Superior), James T. Lane (Eddie Souther), Alan H. Green (Curtis Jackson), Thom Sesman (Monsignor O’Hara), Meredith Aleigha Wells (Mary Robert), Madeleine Doherty (Mary Lazarus), Katy Geraghty (Mary Patric), Brandon Espinoza (Pablo), Darron Hayes (TJ), Rob Colletti (Joey), and Melanie Loren (Deloris Van Cartier standby), with Lexi Baldachino, Collin J. Bradley, Michele Burdette Elmore, Brady Foley, Talya Groves, Nigel Jamal Hall, Austin Wong Harper, Anita Jackson, Zakeyia Lacey, Janna Linae, Kaitlyn Mayse, Adelina Mitchell, Lizz Picini, Amber Alexandra Rose, Ronan Ryan, Cordon Semeatu, Cameron Monroe Thomas, and Rebecca Young, closes at the St. Louis Muny.

  Fela, by Fela Kuti, Bill T. Jones & Jim Lewis, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, featuring Duain Richmond (Fela), Nova Y. Payton (Funmilayo), and Shantel Cribbs (Sandra), with Bryan Archibald, Terrence J. Bennett, Simone Brown, Patrick Leonardo Casimir,  Jyreika Guest, Bryan Jeffrey, Raquel Jennings, Emmanuel Kikoni, Raven Lorraine,  Vaughn Ryan Midder, Ywande Odetoyinbo, Jantanies Thomas, Galen J. Williams, Jalisa Williams, Kanysha Williams, and Amadou Kouyate, closes at MD’s Olney Theatre.

  Sammy & Me, solo show, by Eric Jordan Young & Wendy Dann, starring Eric Jordan Young, closes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.

  Honky Tonk Angels, by Ted Swindley, directed & choreographed by Gary John La Rosa, featuring Erin Edelle (Angela), Elizabeth Nestlerode (Darlene), and Kara-Tameika Watkins (Sue Ellen), closes at Albany’s Capital Rep.

Monday, August 21

  Death Note The Musical in Concert, by Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy & Ivan Menchell, directed & choreographed by Nick Winston, featuring Adam Pascal, Aimie Atkinson, Rachel Clare Chan, Christian Ray Marbella, Frances Mayli McCann, Dean John-Wilson, and Joaquin Pedro Valdes, with Felipe Bejarano, Charlotte Coggin, Jade Copas, Eu Jin Hwang, Yojiro Ichikawa, Deena Kapadia, David Kar-Hing Lee, Nick Len, Jasmine Leung, Jojo Meredith, Marcel Li-Ping, and Janine Somcio, opens at the London Palladium.

  Love Never Dies in Concert, directed by Shaun Kerrison, featuring Norm Lewis (Phantom), Celinde Schoenmaker (Christine), Matthew Seadon-Young (Raoul), Courtney Stapleton (Meg), Sally Dexter (Madame Giry), Nic Greenshields ((Squelch), Charles Brunton (Gangle), and Lucie-Mae Summer (Fleck), with Chloe Campbell, Alex Christian, Courtney George, Aoife Kenny, Alex Pinder, and Emily Ann Potter, opens at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

  Pay the Writer, by Tawni O’Dell, directed by Karen Carpenter, featuring Ron Canada (Cyrus Holt), Marcia Cross (Lana Holt), Bryan Batt (Bruston Fischer),  Steven Hauck (Jean Luc), Miles G. Jackson (Young Bruston/Taz), Garrett Turner (Young Cyrus), Danielle J. Summons (Gigi), and Stgephen Payne (Homeless Man), opens at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre.

  At This Performance concert, featuring Broadway Standbys & Understudies — Caleb Barnett (Aladdin), Roy Flores (Here Lies Love), Skye Alyssa Friedman (Kimberly Akimbo), Christian Mark Gibbs (Camelot), Holly Gould (Camelot), Traci Elaine Lee (Shucked), Jaygee Macapugay (Here Lies Love), and Valerie Torres0Rosario (Camelot), at 7 PM at NYC’s Green Room 42.

  Melissa Errico in concert, at 8 PM at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.

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  Complete casting has been announced for Barry Manilow & Bruce Sussman’s Harmony, which will begin previews Oct. 18 and open Nov. 13 at the Barrymore Theatre, directed & choreographed by Warren Carlyle.

  Chip Zien, Sierra Boggess, Julie Benko, Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, Steven Tesley Allison Semmes, and Andrew O’Shanick, with Zak Edwards, Dan Hoy, Bruce Landry, RhonniRose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Matthew Mucha, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Kyla Stone, Bronwyn Tarboton, Kate Wesler, Stuart Zagnit, and Lee Zarrett.

  Video: Behind the scenes…

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  La Cage aux Folles, directed by Tim Sheader, has extended its run through Sept. 23 at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

  Carl Mullaney (Albin), Billy Carter (Georges), Ben Culleton (Jean-Michel), Julie Jupp (Marie Dindon), Shakeel Kimotho (Jacob), Debbie Kurup (Jaqueline), John Owen-Jones (Edward Dindon), Sophie Pourret (Anne),and Jak Allen-Anderson (Hanna), Daniele Coombe (Mme. Renaud),  Jordan Lee Davies (Chantal), and Hemi Yeroham (Francis), with Craig Armstrong, Tom Bales, Taylor Bradshaw, Nicole Deon, Lewis Easter, Harvey Ebbage , Emma Johnson, George Lynham, JP McCue, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, and Alexandra Waite-Roberts.

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  Complete casting has been announced for world premiere of Pearl Cleage’s Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard, to run Sept. 22 – Oct. 15 at DC’s Ford’s Theatre, directed by Seema Sueko.

 Billie Krishawn (Witness), Kim Bey (Citizen 1), Doug Brown (Citizen 3), Derek Garza (Citizen 9), Shubhangi Kuchibhotla (Citizen 8), Alina Collins Maldonado (Citizen 7), Susan Rome (Citizen 5), Shaquille Stewart (Citizen 4), Tom Story (Citizen 6), and Constance Swain (Citizen 2).

  The story of Atlanta’s first Black mayor, Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., and the impact his time in office had. Playwright Cleage served as Maynard’s speechwriter and director of communications.

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  York Theatre will present Oscar Brand & William F. Brown’s How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical Aug. 26 – Sept. 3 (opening Aug. 27) at Theatre at St. Jeans, directed by Joseph Hayward, with music direction by Miles Plant, and choreography by Victoria Casillo.

  Jason Graae (Calvin Coolidge), Emma Degerstedt (April), and Alex Joseph Grayson (Jerry), with Courtney Arango, Kelly Berman, Drew Tanabe, and Neal Mayer

  Brown and Brand had the notion of Jazz Age President Calvin Coolidge materializing in the present day (that is, 1968). There he meets a couple of fervent young protesters, just back from the skull-cracking Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Disillusioned, these two protesters have no taste for the political machine. But what’s wrong with pragmatism, Coolidge asks them? What about learning to work within a corrupt system? Thus, Coolidge begins his history lesson, with vignettes and songs depicting cynical power grabs of yore.

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   Complete casting has been announced for Sunset Boulevard, which will run Sept. 21 – Jan. 6, 2024 at the Savoy Theatre, directed by Jamie Lloyd, with music direction by Alan Williams, and choreography by Fabian Aloise.

  Nicole Scherzinger (Norma Desmond), Tom Francis (Joe Gillis), Grace Hodgett Young (Betty Schaefer), David Thaxton (Max Von Mayerling),  Carl Au (Myron/Jones), Georgia Bradshaw (Lisa.Masseur), Hann Yun Chamberlain (Patsy/Beautician),  Tyler Davis (Sheldrake), Kamilla Fernandes (Dorothy/Astrologer), Ahmed Hamad (Artie), Laura Harrison (Catherine/Doctor), Charlotte Jaconelli (Joanna/Masseur), Olivia-Faith Kamau (Nancy/Beautician), Luke Latchman (John/Guard), Emma Lloyd (Mary/Heather/ Analyst), Mireia Mambo (Jean Beautician/Dance Captain), Gregor Milne (Sammy), Kody Mortimer (Finance Man/Frank), Jon Tsouras (Finance Man/Cecil B. De Mille), Charlie Waddell (Morino/Hog-Eye), and Lara Denning (Standby Norma), with Jordan Cork, Shayna McPherson, Catherine Cornwall, Michael Lin, Jon Reynolds, Kirsty Anne Shaw, Harrison Wilde and Lillie-Pearl Wildman.

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  San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon has announced its 2023-24 season:. Casting, creative teams and additional information TBA.

   Mame (Nov. 2-29), directed by Becky Potter.

  Falsettos (Feb. 29 – Mar. 17, 2024), directed by Dennis Lickteig.

  Forever Plaid (Apr. 18 – May 5), directed by Daniel Thomas

  Bright Star (June 6-23), directed by Cindy Goldfield

 


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