Today’s Highlights:
The Bedwetter, by Joshua Harmon, Sarah Silverman & Adam Schlesinger, directed by Anne Kauffman, featuring Ashley Blanchet, Rick Crom, Charlotte Elizabeth Curtis, Zoe Glick, Darren Goldstein, Caissie Levy, Charlotte MacLeod, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Bebe Neuwirth, Margot Weintraub, and Emily Zimmerman, opens at Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater.
Mint Theatre‘s Chains, by Elizabeth Baker, directed by Jenn Thompson, featuring Jeremy Beck, Anthony Cochrane, Christopher Gerson, Olivia Gilliatt, Laakan McHardy, Ned Noyes, Brian Owen, Claire Saunders, Peterson Townsend, Amelia White, and Avery Whitted, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
The Orchard, conceived, adapted & directed by Igor Golyak, featuring Jessica Hecht (Lubov Ranevskaya), Mikhail Baryshnikov (Anton Chekhov / Firs), Anna Baryshnikov, Juliet Brett, Darya Denisova, John McGinty, Nael Nacer, and Mark Nelson, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Baryshnikov Arts Center.
May We All: A New Country Musical, by Troy Britton Johnson, Todd Johnson & Eric Pfeffinger, directed by Shelley Butler, featuring Lauren Pritchard, Heidi Blickenstaff, Brandon Ellis, Elliot Robinson, Zuri Ford, Patty Lohr, Matt Manuel, Bligh Voth, Patsy Detroit, Ryan Link, Miles Aubrey, Peri Barnhill, Chelsea “Solace” Hough, Mary Kate Hughes, Ashlyn Inman, Josh Jordan, Calvin Malone, Noah Pelty, and Macy Watts, begins previews at the Tennessee PAC. 
Video: Preview.
Church & State benefit reading, by Jason Odell Williams, featuring Rob Nagle (Senator Charles Whitmore), Judy Jerone (Sara Whitmore), Keira Naughton (Alex Klein), and Andy Talen (in multiple supporting roles), at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (30 W. 68th St.).
Love Letters, by A.R. Gurney, directed by Roy Marsden, starring Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl, closes at the UK’s Theatre Royal Windsor.
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Reviews for 1776 at Cambridge’s A.R.T.
Variety (Bob Verini): When the Tony-winning musical 1776 debuted on Broadway in 1969, it celebrated America’s ideals on the eve of its Bicentennial. Half a century later, a radical makeover brings critique front and center, while treating those ideals as a chimera rather than a promise fulfilled… A point of view is established right away, in Brechtian strokes… This wide-open casting policy…is no stunt… it instantly alienates us from any illusion that these characters are The Real Thing. Critics of 1776 have always argued that its efforts at realism are silly anyhow, with all the warbling and prancing going on. By setting aside verisimilitude, the production is freed up to contextualize the Continental Congress’s machinations through their consequences over the ensuing 200 years.
Boston Herald (Jed Gottlieb): …In the middle of 1776, as John Adams fantasizes about reuniting with his wife, Abigail urges him to “remember the ladies.” Directors Diane Paulus and Jeffrey L. Page pulled the plea from a letter Abigail wrote to John and added it to the…revival of the Tony winning musical from 1969. The addition gets at the heart of the production… The original production of “1776” chipped away at the demi-gods myth. The Paulus and Page revival goes further in reframing the framers… While “1776” doesn’t shy away from the horror of the age, it is shot through with humor and melody. Not a lecture or lesson, it’s a dynamic, captivating Broadway musical about to win some 2023 Tonys…
The Arts Fuse (David Greenham): This revival of 1776 tries to strike a culture wars balance, celebrating the country’s commitment to independence while also here and there skewering the idealized images and blatant hypocrisies of America’s patriarchal founders… In their concept for the production, directors Page and Paulus attempt to strike a culture wars balance, celebrating the country’s commitment to independence while also here and there skewering the idealized images and blatant hypocrisies of America’s patriarchal founders. This is a tricky juggling act, and at times the production manages to pull it off… The quiet moments in the staging are the most winning… Where the production’s revision stumbles the worst is in dealing with Jefferson…
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Complete casting has been announced for Stuart Patterson, George Stiles & Anthony Drewe’s Identical, to run July 26 – Aug. 14 at Nottingham Playhouse and Aug. 19 – Sept. 3 at Salford’s The Lowry, directed by Trevor Nunn, and choreography by Matt Cole. A West End run is expected to follow. And it is interesting to note that the show has successfully found 3 sets of identical twins to star.
Kyla & Nicole Fox (Lottie & Lisa), Emme & Eden Patrick (Lottie & Lisa), and Sienna & Savannah Robinson (Lottie & Lisa), Emily Tiercey (Lisalotte), James Darch (Johan), Gabielle Lewis-Dodson (Miss Gerlach), Louise gold (Roza/Miss Muthesuis), and Michael Smith-Stewart (Dr. Strobl), with Rico Bakker, David Bardsley, Hanna Cauchi, Paige Fenlon, Rosie Glossop), Dominic Adam Griffin, Jordan Isaac, Rutendo Mushonga, Ellie Nunn, Winter Jarrett Glasspool, Daisy Jeffcoate, Isabelle Larrey, Saffia Layla, Parrine Long, Helena Middleton, Kirsten Muzvuru and Poppy Pawson.
Two sisters, separated at birth, contrive to bring their parents back together.
Video: Sneak peek
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The world premiere of Tim Venable’s The Beautiful People will run June 8 – July 31 at Rogue Machine Theatre, directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos.
Alexander Neher and Justin Preston
It’s the late 90’s and your hanging out in the basement of an average home, somewhere in suburban America, with two teenagers as they stay up on a school night, chugging soda, watching MTV and preparing for the future. As the morning approaches, their seemingly innocent sleepover reveals another purpose…what are they doing down her? Will they only get our attention by acting out during a behavioral crisis?
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Goodspeed Musicals’ 2022 Auction has announced that bidding is now open through Thurs. June 16.
Click here to view all available items.
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& 
To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim will take place June 28 & 29 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Nick Callaway Foster
Click here for the in-person option (June 28 & 29)
Click here for the streaming option (June 29 only)
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NAATCO presents Madhuri Shekar’s Queen Jun 10 – July 1 at A.R.T./New York Mezzanine Theatre, directed by Aneesha Kudtarkar.
Stephanie Janssen, Ben Livingston, Keshav Moodliar, and Avanthika Srinivasan.
PhD candidates Sanam and Ariel have spent the better part of the last decade exhaustively researching vanishing bee populations across the globe. Just as these close friends are about to publish a career-defining paper, Sanam stumbles upon an error in their calculations, which could cause catastrophic damage to their reputations, careers, and friendship. Sanam is confronted with an impossible choice: look the other way or stand by her principles and accept the consequences?
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Irish Rep‘s 2022 Gala: A Celebration of the Music of Harold Prince will take place Mon. June 13 at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Town Hall, directed by Charlotte Moore, and conducted by John Bell.
Michel Bell, Len Cariou, Michael Cerveris, Glenn Close, Mark Evans, Joel Grey, Donna Kane, Chita Rivera, Ciarán Sheehan, Max Von Essen, Kaley Ann Voorhees, Delaney Westfall, and more…
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Bruce Graham’s The Outgoing Tide will run June 8 – July 3 at CA’s North Coast Rep, directed by Nike Doukas.
Andrew Barnicle, Leo Marx, and Linda Gehringer
This touching family drama poses thought-provoking questions about personal choice and what it means to truly love someone.
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Additional casting has been announced for Kinky Boots, to run July 8 – 10 at the Hollywood Bowl, directed & choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
Wayne Brady (Lola), Jake Shears (Charlie), Kelly Marie Tran (Lauren), Mark Ballas (Harry), Marissa Jaret Winokur (Pat), Haley Orrantia (Nicola),Jim J. Bullock (George), Daniel Stewart Sherman (Don), Jennifer Perry (Trish), Patrick Scott McDermott (Young Charlie), Walter Russell III (Young Lola), James Olivas (Richard Bailey), Brian Cali (Mr. Price), Terron Brooks (Simon Sr.), Ernest T. Williams (Angel), Tyler Keller (Angel), Matthew Varvar (Angel), Eric Stanton Betts (Angel), Tommy Martinez (Angel), Juan Torres-Falcón (Angel), and Jake Dupree (Angel), with Jon Robert Hall, Desmond Newson, Kim Steele, Ashley Moniz, Joanne Javien, Morgan Anita Wood, Mia Gerachis, and Drew Seeley.
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Brian Stokes Mitchell: Songs and Stories will run June 20-25 (all at 8:30 PM ET) at NYC’s 54 Below, with music direction by Tedd Firth.
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Complete casting has been announced for Kinky Boots, to begin previews July 26 and open Aug. 25 at Stage 42, directed & choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, with music supervision by Stephen Oremus.
Callum Francis (Lola), Christian Douglas (Charlie Price), Danielle Hope (Lauren), Brianna Stoute (Nicola), Sean Steele (Don), and Marcus Neville (George), with Devin Bowles, Bella Coppola, Nick Drake, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Ryan Halsayer, Matthew Michael Janisse, Lindsay Joan, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Marty Lauter, Tommy Martiniez, Ryah Nixon, Lucas Patrana, Liz Pearce, Rickey Schroeder, David J. Socolar, Ebrin R. Stanley, Tarion Strong, Ernest T. Williams, and Maria Wirries.
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The world premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s King James will run June 8 – July 3 at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Kenny Leon.
Glenn Davis (Shawn) and Chris Perfetti (Matt).
In a town that was searching for someone to look up to, no figure loomed as large as LeBron James. The play chronicles the friendship of two Clevelanders as they bond over the rise of the greatest player in Cavaliers’ history.
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The world premiere of George Grove & James O’Neil’s Lonesome Traveler: Generations will run June 8-26 (opening June 11) at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre, directed by James O’Neil, with music direction by Rick Dougherty & George Grove.
George Grove, Rick Dougherty, Jerry Siggins, Sylvie Davidson, Andrew Huber, Alexcia Thompson, and Trevor Wheetman.
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Jamie deRoy & Friends, in support of The Entertainment Community Fund, will take place Mon. July 11 at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Birdland, directed by Barry Kleinbort, with music direction by Ron Abel.
Harolyn Blackwell, Ben Jones, Daisy Jopling, Robert Klein, and Jason Kravits.