Today’s Highlights:
Ben Platt: Live at the Palace concert, directed by Michael Arden, opens at NYC’s Palace Theatre.
The Ballad of Johnny and Jane, world premiere by Robert Cary, directed by Des McAnuff, featuring Christopher Ryan Grant (Johnny Cash), Van Hughes (John Carter Cash), and Patti Murin (June Carter Cast), Maddie Shea Baldwin (Anita), Paula Leggett Chase (Carrie), Drew Wildman Foster (Carl Smith/Jack Cash/Marshall Grant), Gabriella Joy (Vivian), Bart Matthew Shatto (Ray Cash/Sam Phillips/W.S. Holland), and Correy West (Luther Perkins/Rip Nix), with Summer Broyhill, Michael Louis Cusimano, Cody Ingram, and Baily Day Sonner, opens at La Jolla Playhouse.
New York Rep‘s The Opposite of Love, by Ashley Griffin, directed by Rachel Klein, featuring Danny Gardner and Ashley Griffin, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Royal Family Performing Arts Space.
The Subject was Roses, directed by Scott Wittman, featuring Jon Slattery, Talia Balsam, and Harry Slattery, begins previews at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz: Guess the Age! by Jim Bernhard
Fill in the missing word—which is either “Old,” “Young,” or “New”—in these titles.
1. The ____ Actress, play by Dion Boucicault
2. The ____ Boy, play by A. R. Gurney
3. The ____ Idea, play by Noël Coward
4. ___ Girl in Town, musical by Bob Merrill and George Abbott
5. The ____ Man from Atlanta play by Horton Foote
6. Get Away ____ Man, play by William Saroyan
7. The ____ Moon, musical by Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II, et al
8. ____ Friends, play by James M. Barrie
9. The ____Neighborhood, play by David Mamet
10. A ____ Way to Pay____ Debts, play by Philip Massinger
Scroll down for the answers…
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New York Theatre Workshop has announced its 2024-25 season:
We Live in Cairo (Fall 2024), by Daniel & Patrick Lazour, directed by Taibi Magar. 
Inspired by the young Egyptians who took to the streets in 2011 to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak, the new musical follows six student activists as they come of age in contemporary Cairo, using their graffiti, photography and song to protest a regime older than they are. The piece moves from the jubilation of Tahrir Square through the tumultuous years that followed. As escalating division and violence lead to a military crackdown, the young revolutionaries of Tahrir must weigh the cost of holding onto their principles and their dreams.
A Knock on the Roof (Winter 2025), by Khawla Ibraheem, directed by Oliver Butler, and starring Ibraheem. Set the timer. The everyday existence of a mother during a sweltering summer vacation: prepare meals, pack the bag, run the drill, repeat. With a dry wit and the determination of an Olympian, Mariam meticulously practices for the run of her life—the dreaded knock on the roof.
Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (Spring 2025), by Colman Doming0 & Patricia McGregor, directed by Dulé Hill & Daniel J. Watts. Despite being the voice that built Capital records, Nat King Cole’s groundbreaking NBC variety show faced cancellation as they could not find a sponsor. Now, on the night of his final broadcast, Nat must decide whether to quietly step out of the spotlight, or, as his friend Sammy Davis Jr. urges, “go out with a bang.”
…and one more production. TBA.
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The world premiere of Ensemble Theatre Company‘s Alice, Formerly of Wonderland, by Mark Saltzman, will run May 30 – June 16 (opening June 1) at Santa Barbara’s New Vic, directed by Jim Fall.
Matthew Greenwood (Caterpillar/Alfred Rowston), Margie Mays (Alice Liddell), Bree Murphy (Queen Victoria/Mrs. Pettigrew/Victor), Sam O’Byrne (Prince Leopold) Sawyer Patterson (Edward Brockett), and Brent Schindele (Dean Henry Liddell)
The true story of the secret romance between the real-life Alice, (Alice Liddell) and Prince Leopold, son of Queen Victoria and great-grand-uncle of today’s Prince Harry. As a child, Alice was Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for the girl who fell down the rabbit hole, but now Alice is falling in love, despite the furious objections of the Queen.
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Miranda Rose Hall’s The Sandwich Ministry will run June 1 – July 7 at the Skylight Theatre, directed by Katie Lindsay.
Jayne Taini, Jordan Hull, and Maha Chehlaoui
A small town. A once in a century storm. Three women gather to make sandwiches for neighbors who’ve been displaced from their homes by floods. As they contend with the damage of the storm, they learn what brings them together threatens to tear them apart. Is their friendship strong enough to make it through the night?
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RIP: Richard M. Sherman, two-time Oscar winner, who collaborated with brother Robert M. Sherman, died May 25 at the age of 95.
The Sherman brothers worked in a job that no longer exists: in-house songwriters for a studio. In their case, the studio was Disney, and the brothers were hired for that steady gig after their 1958 song “Tall Paul” was a hit for Mouseketeer Annette Funicello.
In the early 1960s, they penned tunes for Hayley Mills in Disney films “The Parent Trap,” “In Search of the Castaways” and “Summer Magic,” as well as songs for “The Absent-Minded Professor” and “Moon Pilot”; Walt Disney, always aware of synergy, made sure his family comedies had a tune with radio-play potential. The Shermans wrote for the animated “Sword in the Stone” (1963), which was a big hit, but their career really skyrocketed the following year. Their “Small World” song debuted at the New York World’s Fair, in a boat ride past audio-animatronic puppet-children singing and spinning to the song continuously. After the World’s Fair, the attraction transferred to Disney theme parks. The song is the ultimate ear-worm: Once heard, it’s never forgotten, meaning the millions of people who have experienced the ride can sing the song at the drop of a hat. Read more here.
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The American Popular Song Society’s Annual Gala Benefit will take place Mon. June 17 at PM at 5:30 PM at NYC’s Cutting Room, hosted & music directed by Michael Lavine.
Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire
Marilyn Maye
Loni Ackerman, Danny Bacher, Barbara Blieier, Stephen Brinberg, Margery Cohen, Gretchen Cryer, Sean Harkness, Daniel Jenkins, Judy Kaye, Charlotte & Emily Maltby, Sally Mayes, Christiane Noll, Benjamin Pajak, Austin Pendleton, Steve Ross, Thom Sesma, Elena Shaddow, Jenny Lee Stern, Mark William, and Walter Willison.
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54 Sings The Rink will take place Mon. July 22 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, with music direction by Michael Lavine.
Quinn Corcoran, Sara Gettelfinger, Ilene Graff, Bruce Landry, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Andrew Leggieri, Stephanie Pope, Karen Ziemba, and more TBA.
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Readings of John Leguizamo’s Our Hood will run May 30-31 at NYC’s Center at West Park (165 W. 86th St.), directed by Aaron Gonzalez. 
here.
Luna Velez, Ani Mesa, Trey Santiago-Hudson, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Jhulenty Delossantos, Gary Perez, Kim Ramirez, and Xavier Padin.
An adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, which transports audiences to the streets of 1990s Queens.
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Purlie Victorious streams through May 31 on PBS.
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The House Whisperer, written & performed by Gabriella DeMarco, will run June 8-22 (opening June 15) at the Skylight Theatre, directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.
A one-woman show about a high school dropout who yearns to be a real estate mogul and Airbnb Superhost in the desert. Will a vision board AND a village be enough to manifest Gabriella’s destiny? See the law of attraction in action on this heroine’s adventure. Come laugh with this aspiring entrepreneur as she stumbles through the chaos and torture of shopping at Home Depot, struggling with finances, combating workaholism, facing some of her worst fears, and battling cinder blocks. Who will survive this swashbuckling magic carpet ride?
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Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre has announced its 2024-25 season:
Fearless Collaborations: Developing Theatrical Collaborations (June 10). How are today’s directors, designers, and playwrights reimagining the use of location, technology, and other theatrical tools to bring the art of storytelling into the future?
The Antiquities (Winter 2025), written and directed by Nazareth Hassan. Curators at the Museum of Late Human Antiquities are fiercely committed to bringing a lost civilization to life again by asking what humans were really like. What did they wear, what did they eat, how did they die out?
Bowl ET (Spring 2025), world premiere written & directed by Nazareth Hassan. Featuring live skating and original music, Kelly K Klarkson and Quentavius da Quitter need to find a name for their rap group. Through flirty interludes, cringy overshares, and practicing their ollies, they grow increasingly closer.
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Rita Obermeyer – A Little Fun and Whimsy will take place Sun. June 9 at 7 PM at LA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
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GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Guess the Age!
1. The Young Actress, play by Dion Boucicault
2. The Old Boy, play by A. R. Gurney
3. The Young Idea, play by Noël Coward
4. New Girl in Town, musical by Bob Merrill and George Abbott
5. The Young Man from Atlanta play by Horton Foote
6. Get Away Old Man, play by William Saroyan
7. The New Moon, musical by Sigmund Romberg, Oscar Hammerstein II, et al
8. Old Friends, play by James M. Barrie
9. The Old Neighborhood, play by David Mamet
10. A New Way to Pay Old Debts, play by Philip Massinger