Today’s Highlights:
“Waitress,” film version, featuring Sara Bareilles (Jenna), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Eric Anderson (Cal), Dakin Matthews (Joe), and Joe Tippett (Earl), with Tyrone Davis, Jr., Matt DeAngelis, Andrew Fitch, Henry Gottfried, Molly Jobe, Emily Koch, Max Kumangai, Anastacia McCleskey, Gerianne Pérez, Stephanie Torns, and Nyla Watson, begins streaming on both Amazon and Apple TV.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Prayer for the French Republic, by Joshua Harmon, directed by David Cromer, featuring Betsy Aidem, Francis Benhamou, Ari Brand, Molly Ranson, Nancy Robinette, Anthony Edwards, Aria Shahghasemi, Ethan Haberfield, Richard Masur, Nael Nacer, and Daniel Oreskes, begins previews at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Mercury, by Steve Yockey, directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, featuring Meghan Holaway (Pamela), Andrea Flowers (Heather), Justin Lawrence Barnes (Nick), Danny Lee Gomez (Brian), Billy Baker (Sam), Gloria Ines (Alicia and Christina Carlisi (Olive), begins previews at North Hollywood’s Road Theatre.
**********************
Suffs (previews Mar.26, opens Apr. 17) at the Music Box Theatre, by Shaina Taub, directed by Leigh Silverman Casting TBA. 
It’s 1913 and the women’s movement is heating up in America, anchored by the suffragists — “Suffs,” as they call themselves — and their relentless pursuit of the right to vote. Reaching across and against generational, racial, and class divides, these brilliant, flawed women entertain and inspire us with the story of their hard-won victory in an ongoing fight. So much has changed since the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment over a century ago, and yet we’re reminded sometimes we need to look back, in order to march fearlessly into the future.
Hell’s Kitchen (begins previews Mar. 28, opens Apr. 20) at the Shubert Theatre), by Alicia Keys & Kristoffer Diaz, directed by Michael Greif, with choreography by Camille A. Brown, and music supervision by Adam Blackstone. Casting TBA. In the mid 90’s, in an apartment high above the energy and grit of Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, 17-year-old Ali squints toward the horizon until she can just see the Hudson River. Despite the warnings of her protective mother, the symphony of the street calls to her—promising freedom, excitement, and the possibility of love. Finding herself. When a wise piano teacher helps her find her voice, Ali learns she can make the city her own.
The Heart of Rock and Roll (begins previews Mar. 29, opens Apr. 22) at the James Earl Jones Theatre), by Jonathan A. Abrams & Tyler Mitchell, directed by Gordon Greenberg. Casting TBA. A new musical comedy inspired by the song catalogue of Huey Lewis and The News.
Cabaret (previews Apr. 1, opens Apr. 21) at the August Wilson Theatre, directed by Rebecca Frecknall. 
Eddie Redmayne, Gayle Rankin, Bebe Neuwirth, Ato Blankson-Wood, Steven Skybell, Natascia Diaz, Henry Gottfried, and more TBA.
Mary Jane (previews Apr. 2, opens Apr. 23) at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman. Rachel McAdams. As Mary Jane navigates both the mundane and the unfathomable realities of caring for Alex, her chronically ill young son, she finds herself building a community of women from many walks of life.
Mother Play (previews Apr. 2, opens Apr. 25), by Paula Vogel, directed by Tina Landau, at the Hayes Theatre. 
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jessica Lange, and Jim Parsons. Set in 1962 on the outskirts of Washington D.C., the play explores the power family holds over us through matriarch Phyllis and her children, Carl and Martha, as they reckon with unpacking the past.
The Who’s Tommy (previews Mar. 8, opens Mar. 28) at the Nederlander Theatre, directed by Des McAnuff, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Alison Luff, Adam Jacobs, John Ambrosino, Bobby Conte, and Christina Sajous.
**********************
From a Yardie to a Yankee, written, directed & performed by Sardia Robinson, will take place Feb. 10 at 8 PM at LA’s Theatre West.
Sardia’s personal story of her journey from Jamaica to America. Born into a poverty-stricken Jamaican neighborhood, Sardia had to overcome numerous hurdles in everyday life. Even as a young girl, Sardia dreamed of becoming a Hollywood actress.
**********************
. Rob Madge’s My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?) will begin previews Feb. 27 and open Mar. 12 at the Lyceum Theatre, directed by Luke Sheppard.
Rob Madge.
Straight — well,not exactly straight. This is RobMadge’s triumphant celebration of identity, creativity, and the profound bond between a parent and their child.
*********************
The next Songbook Sundays at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club will present Baby, It’s Frank Loesser, on Sun. Jan. 21 at 5 & 7:30 PM, with music direction by Joe Davidian, and hosted by Deborah Grace Winer.
Emily Skinner, Matthew Scott, and Ekep Nkwelle.
**********************
Mona Pinot’s I love you so much I could die will run Feb. 1 – Mar. 10 (opening Feb. 14) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Lucas Hnath, and music direction by Will Butler.
Mona Pinot
Part-concert and part-play, the work wrestles with the private and unspeakable in a very public way through monologues performed by a computer and songs performed by the playwright.
**********************
Days of Wine and Roses performance and conversation will take place Thurs. Jan. 18 at 8 PM at NYC’s 92NY.
Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James.
**********************
Kansas City Actors Theatre will present Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight Jan. 17 – Feb. 4 at City Stage in Union Station, directed by Cinnamon Schultz.
Ashlee LaPine, Matthew J. Williamson, and John Rensenhouse.
**********************
Group Rep will present Sherman L. Sergel’s adaptation of Twelve Angry Jurors Jan. 26 – Mar. 3 at North Hollywood’s Lonnie Chapman Theatre, directed by Tom Lazarus.
Linda Alznauer (Juror 4), Jane Bonem (Guard), Paul Cady (Juror 2), Belinda Howell (Juror 10), Stephanie Keefer (Juror 11), Stan Mazin (Juror 9), Bob McCollum (Judge), Richard Reich (Juror 7), Mark Stancato (Juror 3), Melissa Strauss (Juror 1), Neil Thompson (Juror 8), Cathy Diane Tomlin (Juror 6), Mouchette van Helsdingen (Juror 12), Tamir Yardenne (Juror 5) and Tilly Ye (Juror 6 – Feb. 16 – 18).
Following the closing arguments of a murder trial, the twelve members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As these normal citizens try to reach a decision, one juror casts considerable doubt on the elements of the case.
**********************
Marc Castle & Mark Finley’s Deadly Stages will run Feb. 15 – Mar. 16 (opening Feb. 25) at Theatre Row, directed by Finley.
Marc Castle, David Leeper, Dani Marcus, and Ellen Reilly, with Jonas Cohen, Sarah Ellis, and more TBA.
A gender-bending homage to the backstage murder mystery movies of the ’40s and ’50s. The tale of Broadway legend Veronica Traymore as she takes a desperate stab at securing her next smash hit. She thinks she found it in Anthony Arlo’s new show, until murder makes its entrance! Will her new show arrive to the Great White Way for her coveted Opening Night, or will it be curtains for her?
**********************
Open-Door Playhouse will present a podcast presentation of Dana Hall’s (UN)Drinkable on Wed. Feb. 7, directed by Bernadette Armstrong.
Barika Phillips Bell, JayCee Porter, and Sue Gisser.
In 2014, Flint, Michigan changed the source of its water supply. This resulted in the contamination of its drinking and bathing water, causing a dozen fatalities and sickening dozens more. The changes in the water supply were motivated by the greed of a few people in power and by systemic racism: The city was 54% Black.
**********************
Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me A Soprano will run Feb. 7 – Mar. 10 (opening Feb. 10) at MD’s Olney Theatre Center, directed by Eleanor Holdridge.
Carolann M. Sanita, Tina Stafford, Rachel Felstein, Dylan Arredondo, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Tom Patterson, Donna Migliaccio, and Natalya Lynette Rathnam, with Graciela Rey and Benjamin Topa.
It’s 1934, and world-famous Italian soprano Elena Firenzi, the biggest star of her era, is in town for a one-night-only concert with the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. The gala performance is the apex of general manager Lucille Wylie’s career, and she’s given her assistant Jo one job – keep Elena away from men and liquor until the curtain rises. But when events spiral out of Jo’s control, she’s got one chance to set everything right.
**********************
John Grissmer’s The Perfect Game: A Slam Dunk New Musical will run Jan. 19-27 (opening Jan. 21) at Theatre Row, directed by Danny Salles, with choreography by Ashley Marinelli, and music supervision by Russ Dassoff.
Anthony Sagaria (Jim Naismith), David Beach, Tyler Belo, Nick Bernardi, Milena J. Comeau, Jesse Lynn Harte, Akina Kitazawa, Alec Ludacka, Steve McCoy, Lukas Poost, Elena Ricardo, Jamal Shuriah, Danielle J. Summons, Scott Whipple, and EJ Zimmerman.
A new musical comedy that weaves together the historic story of Jim Naismith, a young tech who invests a new indoor game for the YMCA – basketball – with the modern day story of two basketball coaches, Nancy & Frank, who are struggling with personal and professional issues. Jim and his wife, Maud, enter the modern world to help the two coaches get back on track and rediscover their love of the game as they prepare for the big final match of the season.