Wishing everyone a glorious Thanksgiving holiday.
GRACE NOTES will return Monday, November 29.
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This Week’s Highlights:
Tuesday, November 23
Second Stage Theatre‘s Clyde’s, by Lynn Nottage, directed by Kate Whoriskey, featuring Edmund Donovan, Uzo Aduba, Ron Cephas Jones, Reza Salazar, Kara Young, and Edmund Donovan, opens at Broadway’s Hayes Theatre.
Rumi: The Musical, world premiere by Dana Al Fardan & Nadim Naaman, directed by Bronagh Lagan, featuring Ramin Karimloo (Shams Tabrizi), Naaman (Rumi), Casey Al-Shaqsy (Kimya), and Sophia Foroughi (Kara), with Ahmed Hamad, Yazdan Qafouri, Johan Munir, Benjamin Armstrong, Roshani Abbey, Amira Al Shanti, Eva-Theresa Chokarian, Maëva Feitelson, Sasha Ghoshal, Blythe Jandoo, Ediz Mahmut, Zara Naeem, Mark Samaras, and Aliza Vakil, opens at the London Coliseum.
Manor, by Moira Buffini, directed by Fiona Buffini, featuring Effie Ansah, Michele Austin, Helen Barford, Chris Barritt, Mat Betteridge, Sophie Bradley, Peter Bray, Nancy Carroll, Sophie Cartman, Gillian Dean, Liadán Dunlea, Shaun Evans, Amy Forrest, Lewis Griffin, David Hargreaves, Edward Judge, Owen McDonnell, Shaniqua Okwok, opens at London’s National Theatre.
The Troubadour Theatre Company’s Santa Clause is Comin’ to Motown, directed by Matt Walker, featuring Rick Batalla, Terron Brooks, Tiffany Daniels, Malynda Hale, Luis Martinez, Cloie Wyatt Taylor, Matt Walker, and Winter Warlock, opens at Burbank’s Garry Marshall Theatre.
Slave Play, by Jeremy O. Harris, directed by Robert O’Hara, featuring Ato Blankson-Wood (Gary), Chalia La Tour (Tea), Irene Sofia Lucio (Patricia), Annie McNamara (Alana), Paul Alexander Nolan (Jim), Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Kaneisha), Devin Kawaoka (Dustin), and Jonathan Chad Higginbotham (Philip), with Eboni Flowers, Blake Russell, Luigi Sottile, Elizabeth, Stahlmann, and Galen J. Williams, resumes previews at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre.
Wednesday, November 24
Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody, by Bob & Tobly McSmith, directed by Tim Drucker, featuring Kayla Catan, Isaiah Hein, James Parks, Eric Peters, Joyah Spangler, and Tony Tillman, with Thanos Skouteris and Amber Wright, opens at Off-Broadway’s Jerry Orbach Theatre.
When Harry Met Rehab, by Spike Manton & Harry Teinowitz, directed by Jackson Gay, featuring Dan Butler (Harry), Melissa Gilbert (Barb), Chiké Johnson (Vince), Keith D. Gallagher (Isaiah), Elizabeth Laidlaw (Andrea), and Richard Gomez (George), opens at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theatre Center.
York Theatre Company‘s Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, world premiere of Randy Skinner & Barry Kleinbort, directed & choreographed by Skinner, featuring Phillip Attmore, Jeremy Benton, Victoria Byrd, Kaitlyn Davison, Joseph medeiros, and Melanie Moore, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jean’s (150 East 76th Street).
Jennifer Nettles concludes her run as Jenna in Waitress at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre.
Rumi: The Musical, world premiere by Dana Al Fardan & Nadim Naaman, directed by Bronagh Lagan, featuring Ramin Karimloo (Shams Tabrizi), Naaman (Rumi), Casey Al-Shaqsy (Kimya), and Soophia Foroughi (Kara), with Ahmed Hamad, Yazdan Qafouri, Johan Munir, Benjamin Armstrong, Roshani Abbey, Amira Al Shanti, Eva-Theresa Chokarian, Maëva Feitelson, Sasha Ghoshal, Blythe Jandoo, Ediz Mahmut, Zara Naeem, Mark Samaras, and Aliza Vakil, closes at the London Coliseum.
Thursday, November 25
A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne, directed by Matthew Warchus, featuring Stephen Mangan, Bridgette Amofah, Geraint Downing, Nicola Espallardo, Karen Fishwick, Amanda Hadingue, Nick Hart, Oli Higginson, Rachel John, Andrew Langtree, Jack Shalloo, Rose Shalloo, James Staddon, Samuel Townsend, Casey-Indigo Blackwood-Lashley, Rayhaan Kufuor-Gray, Eleanor Stollery, Suri White, opens at London’s Old Vic.
Ciara Renée begins her run as Jenna in Waitress at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre.
Heathers The Musical UK tour, by Kevin Murphy & Laurence O’Keefe, directed by Andy Fickman, featuring Rebecca Wickes (Veronica Sawyer), Simon Gordon (JD), Maddison Firth (Heather Chandler), Merryl Ansah (Heather Duke) Lizzy Parker (Heather McNamara), Georgina Hagen (Ms. Fleming/Veronica’s Mom), Mhairi Angus (Martha Dunnstock), Liam Doyle (Kurt Kelly), Rory Phelan (Ram Sweeney), Andy Brady (Kurt’s Dad/Veronica’s Dad/Principle Gowan) and Kurt Kansley (Ram’s Dad/Big Bud Dean/Coach Ripper), with Callum Connolly, Rhiane Drummond, Bayley Hart, Benjamin Karren, Sam Stones, May Tether and Daisy Twells, opens at London’s The Other Palace.
The Drifters Girl, by Ed Curtis, directed by Jonathan Church, featuring Beverley Knight, Adam J. Bernard, Tarinn Callender, Matt Henry, and Tosh Wanogho-Maud, opens at London’s Garrick Theatre.
Otello, by Verdi, a world premiere re-imagination, featuring Allison Charney (Desdemona), Errin Brooks (Otello), and Jordan Charney (The Narrator), concludes streaming on demand at NYC’s Town Hall.
Friday, November 26
A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne, directed by Jamie Manton, featuring Francois Battiste (Ebenezer Scrooge), Nancy Opel (Ghost of Christmas Past), Amber Iman (Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig), Ben Beckley (Father/Marley), (Charlie Berghoffer IV and Gabriel Kong (alternating as Tiny Tim), Samuel Faustine (Ferdy/Nicholas), LeRoy S. Graham III (Fred), Monica Ho (Little Fan), Ramzi Khalaf (Bob Cratchit), Stephanie Lambourn (Mrs. Cratchit), Ash Malloy (Belle), Kris Saint-Louis (Young Ebenezer), Annie Sherman (Jess), Wiley Naman Strasser (George), and Colin Thomson (Fezziwig), with Rodney Earl Jackson Jr, and Helen Siveter, opens at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by Johanna McKeon, featuring Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig) and Chani Wereley, opens at MD’s Olney Theatre Center.
Seven Guitars, by August Wilson, directed by Tazewell Thompson, featuring Dane Figueroa Edidi (Ruby), Joy Jones (Vera), David Emerson Toney (Hedley), Michael Anthony Williams (Canewell), Roderick Lawrence (Floyd Barton), Roz White (Louise), and Eden Marryshow (Red Carter), with Renee Elizabeth Wilson, and Kevin E. Thorne II, begins previews at DC’s Arena Stage.
Saturday, November 27
Love Actually Live multi-media concert production, directed by adapted by Anderson Davis, featuring Rex Smith, James Byous, Gabriela Carriollo, Tomasina Abate, Emily Lopez, Aaron Lazar, Briank McKnight Jr., Anthony Fedorov, Michael Thomas Grant, and Nina Nelson Cheyenne Wells, with Sha’Leah Nikole Stubblefield, Darrell Morris Jr., Parissa Koo, Ian Ward, Zola Odessa, and Conor Jack Kowalski, opens at Beverly Hills’ The Wallis.
Candlelight, world premiere by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Lori Kee, featuring John Cencio Burgos, Alfredo Diaz, Ivette Dumeng, Marc Reign, Darlene Tejeiro, and Christina Toth, with Taylor Grace and Randall Rodriguez, begins previews at Off Broadway’s New Ohio Theatre.
Is This a Room, by Tina Statter, with Emily Davis, Becca Blackwell, Will Cobbs, Pete Simpson, Duane Cooper, Joe Lanza, and Katherine Romans, closes at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.
Sunday, November 28
Dana H., by Lucas Hnath, starring Deirdre OConnell, closes at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre.
Chicken and Biscuits, by Douglas Lyons, directed by Zhailon Levingston, featuring Norm Lewis (Reginald Mabry), Michael Urie (Logan Leibowitz), Cleo King (Baneatta Mabry), NaTasha Yvette Williams (Brianna Jenkins), Devere Rogers (Kenny Mabry), Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Beverly Jenkins), Aigner Mizzelle (La’trice Franklin), and Alana Raquel Bowers (Simone Babry), with Dean Acree, Jennifer Fouché, Michael Genet, Miles G Jackson, and Camille Upshaw, closes at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre.
Nollywood Dreams, by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Saheem Ali, featuring Abena, Charlie Hudson III, Nana Mensah, Sandra Okuboyeio, Ade Otukoya, and Emana Rachelle, closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theater.
A Grand Night for Singing: A Celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein concert, directed by Rob Ruggiero, featuring Jasmine Forsberg, Mauricio Martínez, Jesse Nager, Mamie Parris, and Diane Phelan, with Kathryn Boswell and Kevin Schuering, closes at CT’s Goodspeed Opera House.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “Long experience has taught me that in England nobody goes to the theatre unless he or she has bronchitis.” ~ James Agate
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Video: Stars in the House, with special guest Dr. LaPook. (1:20:06)
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Second Stage will live stream the final 16 performances (Jan. 4-16, 2022) of Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s. The theater will offer a limited number of $59 tickets (which is the lowest price point available to in-person audiences). Second Stage will also extend its $30 Under 30 program for the digital presentation.
Edmund Donovan, Uzo Aduba, Ron Cephas Jones, Reza Salazar, Kara Young, and Edmund Donovan.
The play follows several people at a truck stop diner who are trying to restart their lives and stay out of trouble after spending time in prison.
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Cambridge’s A.R.T.‘s next The Lunch Room will livestream Tues. Nov. 30 at 12 PM ET, in support of #Giving Tuesday.
Elizabeth Stanley and Heidi Blickenstaff.
Elizabeth and Heidi will chat about their experience sharing the role of onstage mother in Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill.
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Project Shaw presents a script-in-hand performance of Village Wooing on Mon. Dec. 13 at 7 PM ET at NYC’s Symphony space, directed by David Staller.
Maryann Plunkett and Jay O. Sanders.
Two people determined to remain single meet on an around-the-world cruise. This chance encounter changes their lives in the most unexpected ways. Shaw wrote this play in 1933 when he was, himself, taking his first world cruise.
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The 88th Annual Drama League Awards will take place Fri. May 20, 2022 at 12 PM ET at NYC’s Ziegfeld Ballroom. Nominations will be announced Apr. 22, 2022.
Only non-virtual productions will be considered, and productions need to have been in previews between Mar. 16, 2021 and Apr. 20, 2022 to be eligible for this season’s Drama League Awards.
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LA TheatreWorks has announced it’s newest audio play, Paradise, by Laura Maria Censabella, which is now available to download, directed by Anna Lyse Erikson.
Medalion Rahimi and Jeff Marlow.
A Yemini-American high school student in the Bronx undertakes an ambitious research project with the help of her reluctant science teacher. Their experiment proves a stunning success, but a controversy from the teacher’s past could undermine his brightest students’ future.
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DC’s Folger Theatre presents A Medieval Christmas Dec. 10-18 at St. Mark’s Church. A streaming version of the concert will also be available to view on-demand.
Emily Noël, Dan Meyers, and Mary Springfels.
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Ensemble Theatre Company presents Lauren Gunderson & Margot Melcon’s The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, to run Dec. 2-19 (opening Dec. 4) at Santa Barbara’s New Vic, directed by Michael Butler.
Will Block (Brian), Nike Doukas (Mrs. Reynolds), Kyle T. Hester (Wickham), Kodi Jackman (Cassie), Chelsea Kurtz (Lydia), Rebecca Mozo (Lizzie), and Adam Poss (Mr. Darcy).
This is Part II of the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy. Darcy and Elizabeth must now contend with hijinks amongst the staff, all while preparing for the family to visit. A holiday comic-drama where Jane Austen meets “Downton Abbey.”
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The national tour of Itamar Moses & David Yazbek’ The Band’s Visit, directed by David Cromer, will run Nov. 30 – Dec. 19 at the Dolby Theatre.
Sasson Gabay (Tewfiq), Joe Joseph (Haled), Clay Singer (Itzik), Yoni Avi Battat (Camal), Coby Getzug (Papi), Joshua Grosso (Telephone Guy), Kendal Hartse (Iris), David Studwell (Avrum), Billy Cohen (Zelger), Layan Elwazani (Julia), Marc Ginsburg (Sammy), Ariel Reich (Anna), and James Rana (Simon), with Ali Louis Bourzgui, Loren Lester, Dana Saleh Omar, Nick Sacks, and Hannah Shankman.
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& 
The 21st annual The 24 Hour Play Broadway Gala will take place Sat. Dec. 11 at 8 PM ET at a location TBA.
Aimee Mann, christopher oscar peña, Dave Harris, J. Holtham, Jonathan Coulton, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Kristoffer Diaz, Gracie Gardner, Lily Houghton, Mario Correa, Michael Mitnick, Rachel Axler, Steve Yockey, Talene Monahon, and Warren Leight.
Elizabeth Williamson, Gordon Greenberg, Jaki Bradley, Mia Walker, Michael John Garcés, Neil Pepe, Patricia McGregor, Sarna Lapine, Sean Daniels, and Victor Malana Maog.
Aimee Mann, Anna Chlumsky, Jessica Hecht, Midori Francis, Nia Vardalos, Sherri Saum, Amy Hargreaves, Anna Suzuki, Baron Vaughn, Bill Heck, Eve Lindley, Joel Marsh Garland, Mary McCann, Merle Dandridge, Russell G. Jones, Shaunette Renee Wilson, and Susannah Perkins.
For the first time, the event will feature The 24 Hour Plays… The 24 Hour Musicals… and The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues in a taped-to-live format. Guests can join in-person watch parties in New York and Los Angeles or purchase a ticket to watch the live stream from the comfort of their home.
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Remember the Ribbon: A Tribute to World AIDS Day, directed by Bryan Campione and hosted by Karl Schmid, which took place Nov. 21 in NYC, will stream Dec. 1-3 here.
Javier Muñoz, Lena Hall, Judith Light, Charles Busch, Rema Webb, Corey Mach, Hernando Umana, and producer Tom Kirdahy, with virtual appearances from Alan Menken, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, and Beth Leavel.