Today’s Highlights:
Primary Stage‘s Peerless, by Jiehae Park, directed by Margo Bordelon, featuring Marié Both (Dirty Girl/Preppy Girl), Anthony Cason (BF), Sasha Diamond (M), Benny Wayne Sully (D/Brother), and Shannon Tyo (L), opens at Off-Broadway’s 59E59 Theatres.
Aladdin, new national tour, directed & choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, featuring Adi Roy (Aladdin), Marcus M. Martin (Genie), Senzel Ahmady (Jasmine), Anand Nagraj (Jafar), Aaron Choi (Iago), Sorab Wadia (Sultan), Ben Chavez (Omar, Jake Letts (Babkak), Colt Prattes (Kassim), Dwelvan David (Standby Genie/Jafar/Sultan), and J. Andrew Speas (Standby Genie/Sultan/Babkak), with alyssa Anani, Carina R. Avila, Daniel Brackett, Brandon Burks, Victoria Byrd, Edward Cuellar, Cody Hernández, Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson, Tyler Johnson-Campion, Maya Kazzaz, Brandon J. Large, Lauren Mariasoosay, Melissa Hunter McCann, Angelina Mullins, Omar Nieves, Ryan Rodiño, Cameron Sirian, Taylor Mackenzie Smith, and Asten Stewart, launches at Schenectady’s Proctors.
But I’m a Cheerleader, by Bill Augustin & Andrew Abrams, directed by Tania Azavedo, featuring Megan Hill, Jessica Aubrey, Louis Amir Hook, Kenneth Avery-Clark, Inez Budd, Georgina Hagen, Freddie Love, Michael Mather, Patrick Munday, Julian Quijano, Noel Sullivan, Ash Weir, Josie Kemp, and Ciaran Spencer, opens at London’s Turbine Theatre.
Sister Act, directed & choreographed by Robert Hartwell, featuring Aisha Jackson (Deloris Van Cartier), Lavon Fisher-Wilson (Mother Superior), Nick Rasha Burroughs (Eddie Souther), Ray Dooley (Monsignor O’Hara), Sai Graham (TJ), Joel Ashur (Curtis Jackson), Jordan Clifton (Joey), Michael Schimmele (Pablo), Timothy Malboeuf (Ernie), Chandra Branch (Michelle), LaDonna Burns (Sister Mary Lazarus), Erin Wilson (Sister Mary Patrick), Anne Scramuzzo (Sister Mary Martin-of Tours), Lia Holman (Tina), Casey Wortham (Sister Mary Robert), and Tanesha Gary (Sister Mary Theresa), with Charlie Byrd, Kylie Robinson, Kate McMillan, Alejandra Parrilla, Blaire Thompson, Gerard M Williams, Carlits Victoria, Kate Blain, and Trevor Neal, opens at NC’s Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.
Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, by Jeff Augustin & The Bengsons, directed by Joshua Kahan Brody, featuring Abigail Bengson, Shaun Bengson, Billy Eugene Jones, and Chris Myers, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s NYC Center.
A Man of No Importance, by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens, directed by John Doyle, featuring Shereen Ahmed (Adele Rice), Jim Parsons (Alfie Byrne), Mare Winningham (Lily Byrne), Alma Cuervo (Miss Oona Crowe), Kara Mikula (Mrs. Curtain), Da’Von T. Moody (Breton Beret), Mary Beth Peil (Mrs. Grace), Thom Sesma (Mr. Carney), A.J. Shively (Robbie Fay), Nathaniel Stampley (Father Kenny), Jessica Tyler Wright (Mrs. Patrick), Joel Waggoner (Ernie Lally), and William Youmans (Baldy O’Shea), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Classic Stage Company.
“Geena Davis: Dying of Politeness” discussion, (both in-person & livestreamed), at 7 PM at NYC’s 92Y.
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Complete casting has been announced for David West Read & Max Martin’s &Juliet, to begin previews Oct. 28 and open Nov. 17 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, directed by Luke Sheppard, with choreography by Jennifer Weber.
(which includes 15 Broadway debuts): Lorna Courtney (Juliet), Paul Szot (Lance), Betsy Wolfe (Anne Hathaway), Stark Sands (Shakespeare), Justin David Sullivan (May), Melanie La Barrie (Nurse), Ben Jackson Walker (Romeo), and Philippe Arroyo (Francois), with Brandon Antonio, Iván Carrier, Nico DeJesus, Nicholas Edwards, Virgil Gadson, Joomin Hwang, Megan Kane, Alaina Vi Maderal, Daniel J. Maldonado, Joe Moeller, Brittany Nicholas, Veronica Otim, Jasmine Rafael, Matt Raffy, Tieran Tunnicliffe, and Rachel Webb.
What would happen if the final scene of Romero & Juliet was changed, so that instead of death, there was joy? Spinning the Shakespeare tragedy on its head, audiences meet William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway, who attempt to rub out the past. Instead Juliet gets to live. She travels to Paris for a party of the century, and she’s determined to push Romeo out of her mind. Attending a Renaissance ball, Juliet meets Francois. He’s a spirited individual who is just trying to find his own place in society. Once again, Juliet finds herself head over heels all over again, but she’ll have to be stronger than ever to stop herself from repeating previous mistakes. The musical uses some of the most beloved pop songs from the last three decades.
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Eli Bauman, Monica Saunders Weinberg & Anthony “Brew” Brewster’s 44 – The unOFFICIAL, unSANCTIONED OBAMA MUSICAL will run Nov. 2-15 (opening Nov. 3) at Hollywood’s The Bourbon Room, directed by Bauman, with music direction by Brewster.
TJ Wilkins (Barak Obama), Shanice (Michelle Obama), Kevin Bailey (John Boehner), Ted Barton (Roger Ailes), Larry Cedar (Mitch McConnell), Chad Doreck (Joe Biden), Kelley Dorney (Hillary Clinton), Kitten Kuroi (Voice of the People), Jane Papageorge (Sarah Palin), Dino Shorté (Herman Cain), Jeff Sumner (Lindsay Graham), and Michael Uribes (Ted Cruz).
Barak Obama’s election changed history. And as we can clearly see, it also ended racism forever! But this is the story of Obama you won’t read about in history books… because history books are now banned in most states. But also because 44 is the story of Obama as Joe Biden kinda sorta remembers it… a melting pot of music that delivers everything you’d come to expect from a musical about the Obama Era – Sarah Palin scream-singing “Drill Me Baby” like Ozzy Osbourne, President Obama crooning “How Black Is Too Black?” over a smooth Motown groove, and of course, a 90’s R&B Slow Jam where Mitch McConnell declares his unquenchable passion for his beloved musket.
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Simon Reade’s A Single Man, adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s book, will begin previews Oct. 19 and open Oct. 21 at the Park Theatre, directed by Philip Wilson.
Theo Fraser Steele, Freddie Gaminara, Miles Molan, and Phoebe Pryce.
California, 1962. College professor George is grieving the death of his long-term partner Jim. As a middle-aged gay Englishman living in the Los Angeles suburbs, he is an outside in every way. Haunted by his past and unable to more forward, we follow him on one very ordinary day. But for George, this is going to be a day lie no other.
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The national tour of Frozen will run Feb. 1-19 at Costa Mesa’s Segerstrom Center. Tickets will be available starting Oct. 17 at 10 AM.
Caroline Bowman (Elsa), Lauren Nicole Chapman (Anna), Jeremy Davis (Olaf), Dominic Dorset (Kristoff), Will Savarese (Hans), Collin Baja (Sven at certain performances), Evan Duff (Weselton), Dan Plehal (Sven at certain performances), Aria Kane (Young Anna at certain performances), Saheli Khan (Young Anna at certain performances), Mackenzie Mercer (Young Elsa at certain performances), Sydney Elise Russell (Young Elsa at certain performances), Belinda Allyn (Queen Iduna), Michael Milkanin (Oaken), and Kyle Lamar Mitchell (King Gnarr), with Alicia Albright, Jack Brewer Caelan Creaser, Kristen Smith Davis, Colby Dezelick, C.K. Edwards, Michael Everett, Natalie Goodin, Tyler Jimenez, Hannah Jewel Kohn, Dustin Layton, Tatyana Luboy, Adrianna Rose Lyons, Tony Neidenbach, Jessie Peltier, Brian Steven Shaw, Caleb Summers, Daniel Switzer, Bronwyn Tarboton, Zach Trimmer, Brit West, Natalie Wisdom, and Peli Naomi Woods.
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Coeurage Ensemble (formerly Coeurage Theatre Company) will present a reimagined staging of Rent Oct. 28 – Nov. 19 (opening Oct. 29) at the LA Shakespeare Center, directed by Reena Dutt, with music direction by Rebecca Graul.
Ricky Abilez, Ellie Aviles, Shanna Beauchamp, Sofia Bragar, Nyx Ciel, Sean Cruz, Shanelle Darlene, Mitchell Johnson, Graham Kurtz, Nicole Ledoux, Carrie Madsen, Kevin Matsumoto, Nicole Monet, Danny Moreno, Will Norris, Carlos Padilla Jr., John “Rusty” Proctor, Danni Spring, and Eddie Vona.
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Gloria Williams’ King Hamlin will begin previews Oct. 19 and open Oct. 21 at the Park Theatre, directed byLara Genovese.
Harris Cain, Andrew Evans, Inaam Barwani, and Kiza Deen.
Hamlin, Quinn and Nic are young friends trying to get ahead in inner city London. After his dad dies, Hamlin’s goal is to finish school, get a good job, and build a better life for himself and his mum, Mama H. When live-wire Quinn and troubled Nic offer Hamlin easy money in return for some county line drug trafficking, his dreams, his mother’s hopes and the friendship of the three are put to the test. Will Hamlin stand his ground or end up on the wrong side of the tracks?
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Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice & Andrew Lippa’s The Addams Family will run Oct. 14-23 at CA’s Thousand Oaks Bank of America PAC (formerly the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza), directed by Kirsten Chandler.
Teri Hatcher (Morticia Addams), Ed Staudenmayer (Gomez Addams), Janelle Villas (Wednesday Addams), Leander Lewis (Pugsley Addams), Andrew Metzger (Uncle Fester), Aaron Laplante (Lurch), Samantha Wynn-Greenstone (Grandma Addams), Tristan Turner (Lucas Beineke), Benjamin Perez (Mal Beineke), and Trisha Rapier (Alice Beineke), with Luis Anduaga, Bernadette Bently, Amanda Boutaud, Cole Fletcher, Dahlya Glick, Lauren Han, Marlon Magtibay, David Wesley Mitchell, Mazie Rudolph, Landen Starkman, Dekontee Tucrkile, and Rianny Vasquez
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Danny Robins’ 2:22 – A GHOST STORY will run Oct. 29 – Dec. 4 (opening Nov. 4) at the Ahmanson Theatre, directed by Matthew Dunster.
Constance Wu (Jenny), Anna Camp (Lauren), Adam Rothenberg (Ben), and Finn Wittrock (Sam).
Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and skepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer. So, they’s going to stay up until 2:22… and then they’ll know.
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James Graham, Elton John & Jake Shears’ Tammy Faye will begin previews Oct. 13 and open Oct. 26 at the Almeida Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold.
Katie Brayben, Andrew Rannells, Zubin Varla, Kelly Agbowu, Amy Booth-Steel, Ashley Campbell, Peter Caulfield, Danny Collins, Richard Dempsey, Fred Haig,Georgia Louise, Robyn Rose, Nicholas Rowe, Martin Sarreal, Steve John Shepherd, and Gemma Sutton.
From a studio in South Carolina, Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker revolutionized religion. Preaching to millions 24 hours a day, Tammy just wants to put the fun back into faith. But a new wave of ministers wants you not to just feel God in your heart, but in your homes, in your schools and in the law too. This true story is a testament of faith, resilience and the temptations of success.
Video: In rehearsal