Today’s Highlights:
Happy Meal, by Tabby Lamb, directed by Jamie Fletcher, featuring Tommi Bryson and Sam Crerar, opens at London’s Brixton House.
Selling Kabul, by Sylvia Khoury, directed by Shadi Ghaheri, featuring Mazin Akar (Taroon), Neagheen Homaifar (Leyla), Yousof Sultani (Jawid), and Awesta Zarif (Afiya), with Raghad Almakhlouf and Ramtin Yaziri, opens at DC’s Signature Theatre.
Jennifer Holliday in concert opens at NYC’s 54 Below.
Parade, by Alfred Uhry & Jason Robert Brown, directed by Michael Arden, featuring Ben Platt (Leo Frank), Micaela Diamond (Lucille Frank), Alex Joseph Grayson (Jim Conley), Sean Allan Krill (Governer Slaton), Howard McGillin (Old Soldier/Judge Roan), Paul Alexander Nolan (Hugh Dorsey), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Britt Craig), Kelli Barrett (Mrs. Phagan), Courtnee Carter (Angela), Eddie Cooper (Newt Lee), Erin Rose Doyle (Mary Phagan), Manoel Feliciano (Tom Watson), Danielle Lee Greaves (Minni McKnight), Douglas Lyons (Riley), Jake Pedersen (Frankie Epps), Florie Bagel (Nurse), Stacie Bono (Sally Slaton), Max Chernin (Mr. Turner), Emily Rose DeMartino (Essie), Christopher Gurr (Luther Rosser/Mr. Peavy), Beth Kirkpatrick (Nina Formby), Ashlyn Maddox (Monteen), Sophia Manicone (Iola Stover), William Michals (Detective STarnes), Jackson Teeley (Officer Ivey), Charlie Webb (Young Soldier), and Ryan Vona (Leo Frank standby), with Harry Bouvy, Tanner Callicutt, Bailee Endebrock, Caroline Fairweather, Prentiss E. Mouton, Aurelia Williams, and Ryan Vona, begins previews at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
Keen Company‘s Crumbs from the Table of Joy, by Lynn Nottage, directed by Colette Robert, featuring Shanel Bailey, Jason Bowen, Sharina Martin, Natalia Payne, and Malika Samuel, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Co-Starring Bernadette Peters by Jim Bernhard
Match these characters played by Bernadette Peters on Broadway with her co-stars:
| 1. Sally Durant Plummer in Follies, 2011 | A. Jess Richards |
| 2. Rose in Gypsy, 2003 | B. Christopher d’Amboise |
| 3. Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, 1999 | C. Robert Preston |
| 4. Paula in The Goodbye Girl, 1993 | D. Mandy Patinkin |
| 5. Emma in Song and Dance, 1985 | E. Don Scardino |
| 6. Dot in Sunday in the Park With George, 1984 | F. Danny Burstein |
| 7. Mabel Normand in Mack and Mabel, 1974 | G. Larry Kert |
| 8. Hildy Esterhazy in On the Town, 1971 | H. John Dossett |
| 9. Gelsomina in La Strada, 1969 | I. Martin Short |
| 10. Bettina in Johnny No-Trump, 1967 | J. Tom Wopat |
Scroll down for the answers…
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The Entertainment Community Fund’s And All That Jazz: A Celebration of the Legendary Chita Rivera benefit concert, which was to have taken place last night, has been postponed due to a scheduling conflict. A new date will be announced soon.
Laura Benanti, Jason Danieley, George Dvorsky, Andy Karl, Nathan Lane, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Orfeh, Mary Beth Peil, John Riddle, Leslie Uggams, and Betsy Wolfe, and iconic dance numbers staged by Lloyd Culbreath.
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How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying will run May 12 – June 17 at Southwark Playhouse, directed by Georgie Rankcom, with choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, and music direction by Natalie Pound.
Michelle Visage (Voice of “The Book”), and more TBA.
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Goodspeed‘s 60th Anniversary Gala & Auction will take place Mon. June 12 at the Goodspeed Lawn & Theatre.
Special guests, creative team, and more TBA.
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The world premiere of Sandy Rustin’s The Cottage will run July 7 – Oct. 29 (0pening July 17) at the Helen Hayes Theatre, directed by Jason Alexander.
Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy, Lilli Cooper, and more TBA.
The comedy is inspired by the works of Noël Coward, and brings together a group of people connected by an extra marital affair.
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The world premiere of Martin Yousif Zebari’s Layalina will run Mar. 3 – Apr. 2 (opening Mar. 13) at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Sivan Battat.
Atra Asdou (Karima/Layal), Waseem Alzer (Sahir/Amin), Ali Louis Bourzgui (Young Mazain/Yousif), Mattico David (Yasir/Mazin), and Becca Khalil (Young Layal/Marwa).
A nuanced portrayal of the queer South West Asian and North African (SWANA) experience against the backdrop of two vastly different worlds.
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“The Actors Studio Short Film Festival” will take place Sat. Feb. 25 at 2 & 7 PM. Each program will feature 4 films followed by a talk-back and Q&A with the filmmakers.
Although the festival is free, reservations are required. 
here for the 3 PM screenings and here for the 7 PM screenings.
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Complete casting has been announced for the revised production Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, to run Mar. 8 – Apr. 9 (opening Mar. 15) at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Gregg T. Daniel.
Hugo Armstrong, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste, Lisa Reneé Pitts, Jeanne Sakata, and Sabina Zúñiga Varela.
The play draws on more than 300 interviews with politicians, activists, police, jurors, shopkeepers, and countless other Los Angelenos to explore the uprising sparked by the acquittal of the men charged in the Rodney King police brutality case. Through the words of these real people, the play delves into the long-simmering tensions that set the stage for the L.A. Riots and explores the immediate impact on individual Angelenos and the community as a whole.
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Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run Mar. 16-19 at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre, directed by Allen O’Reilly.
John Leonard (Vanya), Teresa DeBerry (Sonia), Andrea Schiavoni (Mash), Connor Tuohy (Spike), Anna Schiavoni (Nina), and Catherine Bromberg (Cassandra).
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…from Broadway’s Bad Cinderella
Video 1 (scroll down): Glenn Close, Betty Buckley & Elaine Paige send well wishes to Linedy Genao.
Video 2: Linedy Genao sings the title song.
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& 
Roundabout Theatre Company’s The Wanderers: Performance and Conversation with the Cast will take place Thurs. Mar. 9 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s 92Y.
Sarah Cooper, Lucy Fryer, Katie Holmes, Dave Klasko, and Eddie Kaye Thomas.
The play tells the story of two Jewish couples grappling with big questions about the nature of happiness, spirituality, love, and the stories we tell about our lives. Cast members will discuss the play, how they prepared for their roles, tell stories from backstage, and more.
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$45 rush tickets for Parade will be available on the day of each performance in-person at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre box office from 10 AM Tuesdays – Saturdays, and Noon on Sundays. The discount tickets are limited to two per person.
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Red Bull Theater will present a FREE podversation about its production of Arden of Faversham, to stream Thurs. Feb. 23 at 7:30 PM ET, hosted by Nathan Winkelstein. The production will run Mar. 6 – Apr. 1 at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Playwrights Jeffrey Hatcher & Kathryn Walat, director Jesse Berger, and scholars Brandi K. Adams and Tanya Pollard.
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RIP: Barbara Siman Strouse, veteran Broadway actress, director, and choreographer, died Feb. 16.
After a career as a dancer and actress, training under George Balanchine and performing in various Broadway and regional productions, including the original production of My Fair Lady, Barbara married Charles Strouse and subsequently transitioned into directing and choreographing. Her work includes Some Enchanted Evening (choreographer) at the Kennedy Center, and A Lot of Living (director) starring Linda Lavin, as well as international productions of Sara Brightman’s Nightingale at England’s Buxtion Opera, and the musicals Mayor and By Strouse.
Touring productions included 42nd Street, May Fair Lady, Peter Pan, Annie, and The Music Man. Barbara also conceived and directed STOLEN, a series of provacative vignettes linked by the idea of something stolen” with her son William Strouse.
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The world premiere of Diana Nneka Atuona’s Trouble in Butetown continues through Mar. 25 at the Donmar Warehouse, directed by Tinuke Craig.
Samuel Adewunmi (Nate), Rita Bernard-Shaw (Connie), Ifan Huw Dafydd (Patsy), Zaqi Ismail (Dullah), Gareth Kennerley (Detective Hughes), Bethan Mary-James (Peggy), Nathan Nolan (Officer Reid), Sarah Parish (Gwyneth), and Zephryn Taitte (Norman).
The play is set in Gwyneth Mbanefo’s illegal boarding house in Butetown, Cardiff, a town that is home to souls from every corner of the globe. When African American GI Nate escapes his barracks and discovers this new world without segregation, can he find safe harbor?
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Emma Sheanshang’s The Fears will run Apr. 25 – July 9 (opening May 18) at the Signature Theatre, directed by Dan Algrant.
Casting TBA.
Every week at a Buddhist center in New York City, a diverse group of fractured souls share a commitment to eccentric yet restorative teachings providing solace from their person turmoil. When their newest member shows up without knowing the rules, it sets off heated confrontations and deep meditations on how finding peace in a city of millions can by insanely hilarious.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Co-Starring Bernadette Peters
1-F. Follies, 2011 – Danny Burstein – (Buddy Plummer)
2-H. Gypsy, 2003 – John Dossett – (Herbie)
3-J. Annie Get Your Gun, 1999 – Tom Wopat (Frank Butler)
4-I. The Goodbye Girl, 1993 – Martin Short (Elliott)
5-B. Song and Dance, 1985 – Christopher d’Amboise (Joe)
6-D. Sunday in the Park With George, 1984 – Mandy Patinkin (George)
7-C. Mack and Mabel, 1974 – Robert Preston (Mack Sennett)
8-A. On the Town, 1971 – Jess Richards (Chip)
9-G. La Strada, 1969 – Larry Kert (Mario)
10-E. Johnny No-Trump, 1967 – Don Scardino (John Edwards)