Today’s Highlights:
Lessons in Survival: 1971, co-conceived by Marin Ireland, Peter Mark Kendall, Tyler Thomas, Reggie D. White, and created with The Commissary, directed by Tyler Thomas, featuring Carl Clemons-Hopkins (James Baldwin) and Crystal Dickinson (Nikki Giovanni), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theatre.
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, previews at Off-Broadway’s Baryshnikov Arts Center.
Come From Away national tour, featuring 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, previews at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
Windfall, by Scooter Pietsch, directed by Jason Alexander, featuring Spencer Garrett (Glenn Brannon), Ro Boddie (Galvan Kidd), Badia Farha (Kate Rearden), Abigail Isom (Hannah Higley), Talia Thiesfield (Jacqueline Vanderbilt), and Dylan S. Wallach (Chris Hart), begins previews at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
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Funday Monday on Tuesday: Grace Notes Quiz: Homies by Jim Bernhard
These trios of theatre figures were born in the same city. Match them with the correct location:
| 1. Actor-comedian-playwright Steve Martin, director Robert Wilson, singer-actress Ashlee Simpson | A. Brooklyn, New York |
| 2. Dancer-actor Fred Astaire, actors Marlon Brando and Nick Nolte | B. Honolulu, Hawaii |
| 3. Dancer-actor Gene Kelly, actors F. Murray Abraham and Billy Porter | C. Melbourne, Australia |
| 4. Actresses Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Liv Ullmann | D. Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 5. Actresses Bette Midler, Nicole Kidman, Lauren Graham | E. Waco, Texas |
| 6. Actor Tony Randall, actresses Susan Watson and Alfre Woodard | F. Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| 7. Actors Kevin Kline and Jon Hamm, producer David Merrick | G. Omaha, Nebraska |
| 8. Actors Brian Dennehy and Tony Musante, playwright Larry Kramer | H. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| 9. Singer-actresses Lena Horne and Barbra Streisand, actor Zero Mostel | I. St. Louis, Missouri |
| 10. Actresses Zoe Caldwell and Cate Blanchett, actor Barry Humphries | J. Tokyo, Japan |
Scroll down for the answers…
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Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, a tribute to Garland’s 1961 concert, starring Rufus Wainwright, will take place Thurs. June 2 at 7:30 PM ET at NYC’s 92Y, moderated by Jordan Roth
Lea Michele and Molly Ringwald.
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C.P. Taylor’s GOOD will run Oct. 6 – Dec. 24 (opening Oct. 12) at the Harold Pinter Theatre, directed by Dominic Cooke.
David Tennant, Elliot Levey, and more TBA.
A WWII drama about a German professor who must rationalize his decision to join the Nazi party.
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NYC’s Bryant Park Movie Series (Monday nights, all at 8 PM ET):
June 13: “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade”
June 20: “Creed II”
June 27: “Hairspray”
July 4: “Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation”
July 11: “Wayne’s World 2”
July 18: “Scream 2”
July 25: “Bevery Hills Cop 2”
Aug. 1: “Star Trek VIII: First Contact”
Aug. 8: “Grease 2”
Aug. 15: “The Godfather Part II”
A pop-up market will feature a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors from the five boroughs on the Park’s Fountain Terrace each Monday.
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The world premiere of Anthony Davis & Richard Wesley’s The Central Park Five will run June 18-19 at CA’s Long Beach Opera, directed by J. Ed. Araiza, and conducted by Anthony Parnther.
Cedric Berry (Yusef Salaam), William Powell III (Anthony McCray), Bernard Holcomb (Kevin Richardson), Orson Van Gay (Raymond Santana), Ashley Faatoalia (Korey Wise), Justin Ryan (The Masque), Lacey Jo Benter (District Attorney), Todd Strange (Donald Trump), Joelle Lamarre (Antron’s Mother/Kevin’s Mother), Lindsay Patterson (Yusef’s Mother), Jose Luis Maldonado (Raymond’s Father/Matias Reyes), and Corey Estelle (Ensemble).
The harrowing account of five teenagers wrongfully convicted, incarcerated, and eventually exonerated remains a devastatingly relevant indictment on racial injustices in America.
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(read here). Director Alex Timbers talks about his new book, “Broadway Bird.”
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Afterglow, written & directed by S. Asher Gelman, continues through June 19 at Santa Monica’s Hudson Theatre.
Nathan Mohebbi (Darius), Noah Bridgestock (Josh), and James Hayden Rodriguez (Alex).
A raw, one-act play explores the emotional, intellectual, and physical connections between three men and the broader implications within their relationships.
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After a 3-year run, Dear Evan Hansen will close Oct. 22 at London’s Noël Coward Theatre.
Sam Tutty (Evan Hansen), Lucy Anderson (Zoe Murphy), Doug Colling (Connor Murphy), Iona Fraser (Alana Beck), Marcus Harman (Evan Handsen at certain performances), Jack Loxton (Jared Kleinman), Rebecca McKinnis (Heidi Hansen), Lauren Ward (Cynthia Murphy), and Rupert Young (Larry Murphy), with Tricia Adele-Turner, Haydn Cox, Kristen Gaetz, Ellis Kirk, Hannah Lindsey, Samantha Mbolekwa, Mark Peachey, Hannah Oureshi, James Winter, and Mitchell Zhangazha.
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LA’s Skylight Theatre presents “We’re Not Free Until We’re All Free,” which will livestream June 21, June 28 & July 5 (all at 7 PM PT). The discussions will honor and uplift the voices of marginalized communities.
* “On Surviving” (June 21) — Approximately 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported some form of IPV-related impact.
* “Beyond the Binary” (June 28) — An In-depth conversation on what freedom means to those who have liberated themselves from the Gender Binary.
* “Storytelling Is Medicine: Pathways to Healing Indigenous Peoples’ Transgenerational Trauma” (July 5) — What it takes to heal trauma from the history of colonization.
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Houston’s Theater Under the Stars has announced its 2022 Tommy Tune Awards. Click here for the complete list of winners.
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Britta Jonson’s Life After will run June 11 – July 17 (opening June 22) at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, directed by Annie Tippe, with choreography by Anne Yee, and music supervisions by Lynne Shankel.
Samantha Williams (Alice), Ashley Pérez Flanagan (Fury), Lauryn Hobbs (Fury), Paul Alexander Nolan (Frank), Lucy Panush (Hannah), Bryonha Marie Parham (Beth), Jen Sese (Mrs. Hopkins), Skyler Volpe (Kate), and Chelsea Williams, with Ariana Burks, Alanna Chavez, Antoinette Comer, Claire Kwon, and Stef Tovar.
A young woman who, in search of facts, uncovers a more complicated truth as she pieces together events of the fateful night that changed her family forever.
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The LA Philharmonic presents a concert adaptation of the documentary “The Music of Leonard Bernstein,” which will take place July 12 & 14 at 8 PM at the Hollywood Bowl, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), Ariana DeBose (Anita), David Alvarez (Bernardo), Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino), Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke), Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank), and Rita Moreno, with Iris Menas, Paloma Garcia-Lee, David and Jacob Guzman, Ricky Ubeda, Ben Cook, Sara Esty, Garett Hawe, Talia Ryder, Tanairi Vazquez, Eloise Kropp, Kevin Csolak, and Jess LeProtto.
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TheaterWorks Hartford has announced its 2022-23 season:
Fun Home (Oct. 8-30), directed by Rob Ruggiero
Christmas on the Rocks (Nov. 30 – Dec. 23).
Queen of Basel (Feb. 4 – Mar. 5, 2023), by Hilary Bettis. This explosive elixir of power, class, and race within the Latinx community is a bold and contemporary take on Strindberg’s Miss Julie.
The Rembrandt (Apr. 29 – May 28), by Jessica Dickey, directed by Tracy Brigden. when a museum guard decides to touch a famous Rembrandt painting, a remarkable journey across the ages ensues.
Clyde’s (July 8 – Aug. 6), by Lynn Nottage, director TBA.
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A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, directed by Roy Marsden, will run June 6-7 at the UK’s Theatre Royal Windsor and June 9-11 at Theatre Royal Glasgow.
Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl.
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David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabit Hole will run June 10-19 at Hollywood’s Co-op Theatre, directed by Linda Kerns. Tickets are free, although a $10 contribution would be much appreciated.
Elizabeth Mae Alan, John Paul Dunn, Sarah Gardner, Treva Tegtmeier, and Ethan Gilmore.
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Beyond the Stars will take place Mon. June 20 at 7:30 PM GMT at The Other Palace, with music direction by San Coates, and hosted by Chizzy Akudolu. The event will support of Beyond (which supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people in the UK).
Amanda Lindgren, Brady Isaacs Pearce, Cameron Bernard Jones, Emma Hatton, Emma Lindars, Evie Rose Lane, Gracie McGonigal, Hannah Lowther, Kelly Agbowu, Natalie Green, Rob Madge, Ruth Brown, and Shekinah McFarlane.
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Amy Draper, Stewart Melton & Finn Anderson’s Islander, directed by Draper, will close June 13 at Off-Broadway’s Playhouse 46, directed by Draper.
Kirsty Findlay and Bethany Tennick
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Writer/director Alex Timbers has released his first book in hardcover and Kindle here, titled “Broadway Bird.” Proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund and Wild Fund Bird (the only non-profit in New York City that provides medical services for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife).
The children’s picture book is a charming, irreverent, heartfelt story set in an all-animal version of Broadway. Louis is a tiny parakeet with a HUGE dream: to be a Broadway star. But no matter what she does, everyone keeps telling her she’s too small to make it big. When a chance at her big break comes, Louisa learns that no matter how small you are, with a little talent and a lot of hard work, you can do anything – even be on Broadway. With witty, colorful illustrations by UK artist Alisa Coburn filled with visual jokes on every page, this hilarious picture book from renowned Broadway director Alex Timbers is a love letter to New York City and the magic of theatre.
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Pittsburgh CLO has announced its 2022 Gene Kelly Award winners.
Click here for the complete list of winners.
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L.A. Theatre Works has announced The Sun Also Rises as its next radio play available for download, directed by Anna Lyse Erikson.
Seamus Dever, Patrick Heusinger, Derrick Kemp, Herbert Sigüenza, André Sogliuzzo, Devon Sorvari, and Rhian Rees.
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Funday Monday on Tuesday: GRACE NOTES Quiz answers: Homies
1-E. Steve Martin, Robert Wilson, Ashlee Simpson – Waco, Texas
2-G. Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Nick Nolte – Omaha, Nebraska
3-H. Gene Kelly, F. Murray Abraham, Billy Porter – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
4-J. Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Liv Ullmann – Tokyo, Japan
5-B. Bette Midler, Nicole Kidman, Lauren Graham – Honolulu, Hawaii
6-D. Tony Randall, Susan Watson, Alfre Woodard – Tulsa, Oklahoma
7-I. Kevin Kline, Jon Hamm, David Merrick – St. Louis Missouri
8-F. Brian Dennehy, Tony Musante, Larry Kramer – Bridgeport, Connecticut
9-A. Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand, Zero Mostel – Brooklyn, New York
10-C. Zoe Caldwell, Cate Blanchett, Barry Humphries – Melbourne, Australia