Today’s Highlights:
Angela Reed begins her run as Ginny Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Broadway’s Lyric Theatre.
True Stories (solo shows in rep), directed by Gretchen Cryer, written & performed by Jon Cryer, Linda Manning, Alex Petrullo, Abby Stokes, and Steve Wruble, opens at Off-Broadway’s Cherry Lane Theatre.
H*tler’s Tasters, by Michelle Kholos Brook, directed by Sarah Norris, featuring Hallie Griffen (Liesel), MaryKathryn Kopp (Hilda), Kaitlin Paige Longoria (Anna), and Hannah Mae Sturges (Margot), opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
Wish You Were Here, by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, featuring Nikki Massoud, Nazanin Nour, Artemis Pebdani, Roxanna Hope Radja, and Marjan Neshat, opens at Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons.
“Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known” documentary debuts on HBO.
Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn, by Mark Saltzman, directed by directed & choreographed by Justin Ross Cohen, featuring Nikita Burshteyn, Anna Kostakis, Carlos Lopez, Michael Marotta, Judy McLane, Michael Notardonato, Ari Raskin, Troy Valjean Rucker, Zach Schanne, and Viet Vo, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre 555.
Grease, directed by Nikolai, featuring Olivia Moore (Sandy), Dan Partridge (Danny), Peter Andre (Vince Fontaine at certain performances), Jason Donovan (Teen Angel at certain performances), Jocasta Almgill (Rizzo), Paul French (Kenickie), Mary Moore (Jan), Jake Reynolds (Doody), Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly (Marty), Damon Gould (Sonny), Eloise Davies (Frenchie), Jessica Croll (Patty Simcox), Katie Lee (Cha Cha), Ronan Burns (Johnny Casino), Corinna Powlesland (Miss Lynch), and Darren Bennett (Officer Mailie and Vince Fontaine at certain performances), with Jack Harrison-Cooper, Pearce Barron, Ben Culleton, Rishard-Kyro Nelson, Ellie Kingdon, Kamilla Fernandes, Remi Ferdinand, Kalisha Johnson, Zack Guest, Imogen Bailey, Kevin O’Dwyer, and Carly Miles, begins previews at London’s Dominion Theatre.
Old Friends Gala Concert, a Stephen Sondheim tribute, directed by Matthew Bourne & Maria Friedman, featuring Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Haydn Gwynne, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Siân Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier, with Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Holly-Anne Hull, Ashley Campbell, Anna-Jane Casey, Desmonda Cathabel, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Ian McLarnon, Jeremy Secomb, Jordan Shaw, and Matthew White, live at 8 PM GMT at London’s Sondheim Theatre, and streamed at the Prince Edward Theatre.
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Reviews for A Case for the Existence of God at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center:
NY Times (Jesse Green): …Samuel D. Hunter’s must-see heartbreaker of a play… But by the time Ryan blurts out to Keith what he sees as their fundamental connection, Hunter’s meticulous plotting has led us to the same conclusion. We are somehow ready to understand that the unlikely statement is both powerfully true and, perhaps, universal. The question is: What is the purpose of a sadness you can share but not escape?… directed exquisitely by David Cromer… And though A Case makes the connection between personal and societal calamity more explicit than ever — can it be just an accident that it’s set in Twin Falls? —, it may also be the purest example yet of Hunter’s approach to playwriting as an experiment in empathy…
Theatermania (David Gordon): If the title doesn’t scare you, then the one-line plot synopsis might. Samuel D. Hunter’s new play at the Pershing Square Signature Center [is] about a man trying to get a loan in rural Idaho. Cast those aspersions aside, though — this 90-minute two-hander, which David Cromer directs, is one of the most moving new plays of the year… Though some of the dramatic contrivances are a little too convenient… It’s an equally uncommon portrait of parenthood from the male perspective that doesn’t paint the guys as abusive deadbeats. Hunter has written a mature, beautiful, and overwhelmingly empathetic play that genuinely gives us perspectives we rarely get to see on stage as he creates two lonely men who just want to do the best for their children.
Theatrely (Juan A. Ramirez): …Samuel D. Hunter’s phenomenal new play… Never has immobility and cautiousness seemed so frighteningly visceral… Hunter’s play isn’t as simple as basic identity politics, deconstructing its characters’ identities and impulses carefully as they cautiously find their bond strengthening as the dullness of their business partnership gives way to a profound closeness… The play is almost careless about setting, placing its entire weight behind its rich dialogue and trusting its actors—and, refreshingly enough, its audience—to carry its hefty, unassuming burden… first-rate scene partners, allowing their characters to catch themselves and each other as the two uneasily forge a powerful bond.
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London’s Young Vic production of Death of a Salesman will open in 2023 (dates TBA) at a theatre TBA, directed by Marianne Elliott & Miranda Cromwell.
Wendell Pierce (Willy Loman), Sharon D Clarke (Linda Loman), André De Shields (Ben), Khris Davis (Biff), and more TBA…
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Lincoln Center’s 2022 Gala: Patti Lupone: Songs from a Hat has announced an online ticket lottery for the event, which will take place Mon. May 9 at 7:30 PM ET at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre. As previously announced, Patti will perform an intimate evening of songs, with the titles randomly chosen from a hat.
A limited number of tickets priced at $30 will be sold to the winners of the lottery. Entries are currently being accepted online here (through Wed. May 4 at 3 PM ET)
* Lottery winners will be notified by email and prompted to purchase their tickets online for pick up at the Vivian Beaumont Theater box office with their credit card.
* Limit one entry per person per day, and two tickets per winner.
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A Very Broadway Mother’s Day will run May 8, 12, 13 & 14 at 1:30 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below, with a livestream option only on May 8.
Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy & Beckett Hendy, Mary Donnelly Haskell & Mary Lane Haskell, Jamie Karen & Kylie Deklin, Lyn Philistine & Dylan Christopher Sutton, Alison Posner & Walter Bolin, Kelli Rabke & Joseph Agresta, Ann Runolfson & Tess Adams, Tracy Sallows, Gay Willis & Chad Marge, and more TBA.
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Jay Presson Allen’s Tru (Act One only) will run June 4, 11, 18, & 19 at Hollywood’s Three Clubs Stage Room (1123 N. Vine Street).
Jamie Galen.
It’s Christmas Eve, 1975 in New York City at Truman Capote’s Penthouse. Currently ostracized from polite society due to his allowing Esquire Magazine to publish a salacious chapter from his upcoming novel, “Answered Prayers.” Truman is “a little agitated!” as he navigates one of the first high profile celebrities to be officially canceled. As he talks on the phone with friends and associates, he is also speaking directly to the audience regarding his life, career, friendships, lovers, and a secret childhood wish to be a girl.
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Complete casting has been announced for Douglas Carter-Beane & Lewis Flinn’s Hood, to run June 3-26 (opening June 11) at FL’s Asolo Rep, directed by Mark Brokaw, with choreography by Ellenore Scott.
Anthony Chatmon II (Robin), Savy Jackson (Marian), Billie Aken-Tyers (Much), Caitlin Humphreys (Lady Ann), Erin Kei (Lady Jane), Aury Krebs (Meg), Daniel Lopez (Troubadour), Jamen Nanthakumar (Friar Tuck), Luke Anthony Neville (Will Scarlet), Nick Rehberger (Sheriff of Nottingham), Zachary Francis Stewart (Little John), and Imani Youngblood (Gamble Gold), with Jordan Sam Rich, Michail Roberts, Darius Vines, Danielle Vivcharenko, and Taylor Erin Wade.
The story of the nobleman forced out of his home and into the wilderness, who seeks revenge not only for himself but against an unjust system. And as he sets out on a mission to rescue the damsel he left behind, he discovers that this particular damsel doesn’t need any rescuing.
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& Ken Page: There’s So Much to Talk About… (and Sing About, too!) take place Wed. May 4 at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, with music direction by Joseph Joubert.
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A reading of Carol Weiss’ The Door to America will take place May 9 & 10 at 7:30 PM PT at Burbank’s Colony Theatre, directed by Richard Hochberg, with music direction by Andy Gladbach. 
required: doortoamerica@gmail.com (select a performance).
Mark Jacobson (Yossel), Dana Meller (Sadie Ferguson), Fay DeWitt (Mama Lenka), Justin Charles Cowden, Travis Joe Dixon, CJ Eldred, Joshua Finkel, Sebastian Gonzales, Xol Gonzales, Susan Edwards Martin, Anna Mintzer, Harry S. Murphy, and Katy Tang.
Did you ever wonder what happened to Motel & Tzeitel when they left Anatevka? They came to America of course!
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For Good – A Celebration of Stephen Schwartz will take place Mon. May 9 at 7:30 PM ET at NYC’s Merkin Concert Hall.
Christine Andreas, John Boswell, John Bucchino, Liz Callway, Scott Coulter, Jason Graae, Debbie Gravitte, Jessica Hendy, Rupert Holmes, Rachel Kaufman Sally Mayes, Kurt Peterson, Kelli Rabke, Teri Ralston, Michael Roberts, and Paul Schaffer.
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Come From Away will run May 31 – June 12 at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Christopher Ashley.
Marika Aubrey, Kevin Carolan, Harter Clingman, Nick Duckart, Chamblee Ferguson, Christine Toy Johnson, Julie Johnson, James Earl Jones II, Julia Knitel, Sharone Sayegh, Danielle K. Thomas, Jeremy Woodard, Jenny Ashman, Jane Bunting, Amelia Cormack, Aaron Michael Ray, Kilty Reidy, and Brandon Springman.
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54/54/54 will take place Wed. May 4 at 9:45 PM ET at NYC’s 54 Below, hosted by Philip Romano, with music direction by Ben Caplan.
54 singers perform 54-second versions of their favorite songs.
Dylan Adler, PJ Adzima, Caroline Aimetti, Grace Aki, Samara Ariel, Max Bartos, Kev Berry, Eli Bolin, Amara Brady, Aaron F. Brateman, Ben Cameron, Jerusha Cavazos, Bill Coyne, Emma Degerstedt, Erin Dugan, Seth Eilser, Mikey Erg, Adam Feldman, Ellie Fishman, Noëlle Francis, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Tavi Gevinson, Abby Govindan, Audrey Hayes, Fernell Hogan, Z Infante, Danté Jeanfelix, Erin Kommor, Janet Kruping, April Lavalle, Cassie Levine, Taylor Lynn Lewis, Nicole Magallón, Isabelle McCalla, Devon Meddock, Madeline Metzger, Jessica Murphy, Susannah Perkins, Alex Prakken, Ben Rappaport, Pearl Rhein, Laura Schein, Ellie Schnitt, Allie Seibold, Alec Silver, Matt Stoke, John Rodney Turner, Eric Ulloa, Zurin Villanueva, Emily Walton, Jason SweetTooth Williams, and Mara Wilson, with more TBA…
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Video: “Final Jeopardy: Theater” — final “Jeopardy” question to the answer “In November 1864 John Wilkes Booth and his brothers were fittingly part of a performance of this Shakespeare play.”
For more theatrical “Jeopardy!” fun, test your Sondheim trivia knowledge with the game show’s recent all-Sondheim category of answers here.
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The world premiere of Christine Rae & Rick Briskin’s Skates will run May 24 – Aug. 28 (opening June 5) at Chicago’s Studebaker Theater, directed by Brenda Didier, with choreography by Christopher Chase Carter, and music direction by Daniel A. Weiss.
Diana DeGarmo, Ace Young, Adam Fane, Kelly Felthous, Cory Goodrich, Emma Lord, Jason Richards, Kelvin Roston Jr., Michelle Lauto, Zach Sorrrow, Trey Deluna, and Adia Bell.
Grease meets Hairspray with a dash of Xandadu.
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Mike Bartlett’s Cock will run (for 8 performances only between June 6-25) at Hollywood’s LGBT Center, directed by Taubert Nadalini.
Annika Chavez, Dennis Delsing, Mathew Dunlop, and Sean Hemeon.
The tales of a gay man torn after meeting and falling in love with a woman. Visceral and funny, the play tackles thorny issues rarely seen onstage. Its honest and straightforward exploration of bisexuality suggests that gay or not, people fall in love with those who can give us happiness.
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Andre McArdle & Friends Celebrate the 45th Annieversary of the musical May 5-7 (all at 7 PM ET) at NYC’s 54 Below, with music direction by Steve Marzullo.
Shelley Bruce, Donna Graham, and more TBA…
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Ann Kittredge: reIMAGINE, in celebration of the album’s release, will take place Thurs. May 26 at 7 PM ET at Off-Broadway’s Laurie Beechman Theatre, directed by Barry Kleinbort, with music direction by Christopher Denny.