Today’s Highlights:
Frozen, directed & choreographed by Dan Knechtge, featuring Jenna Lee Rosen (Elsa), Cailen Fu (Anna), Fergie Philippe (Kristoff), Mark Ivy (Olaf), Manuel Start Santos (Hans), Ben Lurye (Weleston), Tyler Ray Lewis ( Pabbie), and Sarah Sachi (Bulda), with Mike Baerga, Ben Chavez, Evin Johnson, Kelly Lomonte, Courtney Markowitz, Miles Marmolejo, Alex Quirreh, Rebecca Russell, Yasmine Sumiyoshi, Braden Tanner, Cassandra Zepeda, Teresa Zimmerman, Amelia Butterfras, Aria Carr, Mollie Diaz, Haley Griffin, Nicole Hiemstra, Julian Lammey, Asher Phelps, Abby Yadan, Riley Korfhage, Gavin Cabote, Will Merkle, Tessa Garcia, Zoe White, Jake Hurst, Khalid Trent, Matthew Call, and Kaavya Rajarathnam, opens at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars.
Speakeasy Stage‘s Ain’t No Mo, by Jordan E. Cooper, directed by Dawn M. Simmons, featuring Schanaya Barrows, Dru Sky Berrian, MaConnia Chesser, Grant Evan, De’Lon Grant, and Kiera Prusmack, opens at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion.
Once Upon a Mattress (recent Broadway production), directed by Lear deBessonet, featuring Sutton Foster (Winnifred), Michael Urie (Prince Dauntless), Ana Gasteyer (Queen Aggravain), Brooks Ashmanskas (The Wizard), Daniel Breaker (The Jester), Will Chase (Sir Harry), Nikki Renée Daniels (Lady Larken), David Patrick Kelly (King Sextimus) Ana Gasteyer (Queen Aggravain), and Kara Lindsay (Winnifred standby), with Daniel Beeman, Wendi Bergamini, Cicily Daniels, Taylor Marie Daniel, Ben Davis, Sheldon Henry, Oyoyo Joi, Amanda Lamotte, Sarah Michele Lindsey, Michael Olaribigbe, Adam Roberts, Jeffrey Schecter, Darius Wright and Richard Riaz Yoder, begins previews at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
“The Day of the Jackal,” screening & conversation, with star Eddie Redmayne, at 7:30 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
Alisan Porter (And Friends): Home for the Holidays concert, with special guests Scarlett Cherry, Aijia Grammer, Chris Mann, Kylie Rothfield and Kobie Turner, at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club.
Broadway’s 2024 Red Bucket Follies benefit, in support of BC/EFA, concludes at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre.
Amas Musical Theatre‘s Call Me From the Grave readings, by Charlie Romano & Harold Hodge, directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, featuring Melvin Abston, Bradwin L. Amos, April Armstrong, Kris Coleman, John Harmon Cooper, Bradley Gibson, Danielle Lee Greaves, Alan H. Green, Danyele Yvonne James, Caitlyn Joi, Cameron Keitt, Ashley LaLonde, Aaron James McKenzie, Christiani Pitts, and Rick Younger, concludes at NYC’s Ripley-Grier Studios (305 W. 38th St.).
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Nick Navari’s Local Singles: A New Musical will run Jan. 9 Feb. 9 at the Players Theatre, directed by Clint Hromsco.
Rylee Carpenter, Hudson Brown, Paul Tuaty, Alana Knobel, Oscar Izenson, Ella Dolynchuk, Georgia Billington, and Gabe DeRose.
The musical comedy explores the human connection without the use of filters and the masks of social media, making it almost feel like a period piece when people gathered, in person, to find comfort and a sense of community with each other. The piece reminds us that, despite our differences and experiences in life, we all struggle with the navigation of love, loss and connection in a world that is obsessed with finding the next best thing.
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LA’s Fountain Theatre has announced its 2025 season: (exact dates TBA).
Alabaster (Winter), by Audrey Ceflay The poignant tale of a reclusive woman living with her two goats, one who drinks beer and spews wisecracks. Their world is turned upside-down when a photographer arrives to shoot pictures, revealing more than the women bargained for.
White Rabbit Red Rabbit (Spring), by Nassim Soleimanpour. A different person will perform the show each night for the first time. No rehearsal. No director. Happening live with the audience.
Fly Me to the Sun (Summer), by Brian Quijada. In hosting his very own TV variety show, a young man learns about the beauty and flaws of the American dream through the eyes of his Salvadoran grandmother – magically portrayed as a hand puppet.
Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience (Fall), by Raymond O Caldwell & Adrienne Torf. Featuring a performance and music of world renowned composer Adrienne Torf, along with selections by John Adams and Sweet Honey in the Rock, Poetry for the People will bolster your sense of individual responsibility as we all march towards liberation.
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Red Bull Theater‘s Two Gentlemen of Verona, benefit concert presentation, by Galt MacDermot, John Guare, & Mel Shapiro will take place Mon. Dec. 16 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s Symphony Space, directed by Zi Alikhan.
André De Shields and Jay O. Sanders.
Jordan Donica, Jin Ha, Chuck Cooper, Coby Getzug, Taylor Iman Jones, Kelvin Moon Loh, John-Michael Lyles, Alisa Melendez, Sam Simahk, Alysha Umphress, Delphi Borich, Ben Jones, Nasia Thomas, Mikayla Renfrow, and DeMarius Copes.
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The Platters: Very Merry Christmas Show, featuring Lance Bernard Bryant, Omar Ross, Jovian K. Ford, and Brittney Bellamy, returns to Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre for 3 performances only – Dec. 16 & 17.
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Breakin’ NYC: a Dance Experience From Deep In The Heart of the City will run Dec. 14-30 at Theatre 555, directed & choreographed by Angel Kaba.
Jihad Aly, Jonathan Amable, Maati Angaza, AAliyah Berry, Marion Burton, Nadara Coplin, Alex Gossen, Kay Muchotrigo, Cassandra Tousssaint, Kayla Muchotrigo, Cassandra Toussaint, Dalvin vilsaint, and Shannon Yu.
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Chekhov’s The Seagull will run Jan. 16 – Feb. 9 (opening Jan. 18) at the Odyssey Theatre, directed by Bruce Katzman.
Sasha Alexander (Arkadina), James Tupper (Trigorin), Parker Sack (Treplev, and Cece Kelly (Nina), Carlos Carrasco (Shamrayev), Carolyn Crotty (Polina), Joe Hulser (Sorin), Will Dixon (Dr. Dorn), Brianna Bryan (Masha,) Matthew Hartley (Medvedenko), Lukas Jann (Yakov), and Hannah May Howard (Maid).
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Manhattan Theater Club‘s We Had a World, by Joshua Harman, will run Feb. 25 – Apr. 13 at NY City Center Stage II, directed by Trip Cullman.
Andrew Barth Feldman, Joanna Gleason, and Jeanine Serralles.
A dying woman calls her grandson and asks him to write a play about their family. “But I want you to promise me something,” she says. “Make it as bitter and vitriolic as possible.” In this searing, funny and deeply personal play, monstrous behavior, enormous cruelty, and enduring love. In this searing, funny and deeply personal play, the author re-creates thirty years of family fights, monstrous behavior, enormous cruelty, and enduring love.
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Theatre Forty’s Holiday Show will take place Sat. Dec. 21 at 3 PM at the Los Angeles Public Library (1246 Glendon Ave.). RSVP not required.
Kevin Dulude, Daniel Leslie, Melanie MacQueen and LeeAnne Rowe.
The event offers humorous and heartwarming tales of the season. Among the authors represented are Joan Didion, Lemony Snickett, Kenneth Grahame, and Laurie Lee. Admission is FREE and cookies will be served!
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Trophy Boys, by Emmanuelle Mattana, will run June 5 – July 13 (opening June 24) at MCC Theatre, directed by Danya Taymor.
Emmanuelle Mattana, and more TBA.
A provocative comedy about the singular pursuit of victory and the cost of reaching it. “Feminism has failed women.” That is the prompt given to the debate team of an elite all-boys prep school one hour before the final match of their high school careers. As they develop compelling arguments to demolish their sister school, a “rumor” leaks about their team that threatens to blow up everything they have worked for. What begins as a riotously funny satire turns into a sharp exploration of power and privilege, from high school to the highest circles of political influence.