GRACE NOTES will return Monday, August 28.
This Week’s highlights:
Wednesday, August 23
Relax, let go, let fly…
Thursday, August 24
Farewell Mister Haffman, by Jean-Philippe Daguerre, directed by Lindsay Posner, featuring Alexander Hanson, Lisa Dillon Ciarán Owens, Josefina Gabrielle, and Nigel Lindsay, begins previews at the UK’s Bath Theatre Royal.
The Da Vinci Code, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan Abel, directed by , featuring Michael Urie (Professor Robert Langdon), Hannah Cruz (Sophie Neyeu), and Charles Shaughnessay (Sir Leigh Teabing), with Katya Collazo, Thursday Rarra, Howard Kaye, Tarik Lowe, Glenn Morizio, David Patterson, Marissa Parness, Jennifer Regan, and more, begins previews at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
A slight Ache, by Harold Pinter, directed by Jack Heller, featuring Susan Priver, Henry Olek, and Shelly Kurtz, begins previews at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
Friday, August 25
Relax, let go, let fly…
Saturday, August 26
The Metropolitan Opera’s FREE 2023 Summer HD Film Festival opens outdoors at the Lincoln Center Plaza. Click here for the complete schedule.
The Da Vinci Code, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff & Duncan Abel, directed by , featuring Michael Urie (Professor Robert Langdon), Hannah Cruz (Sophie Neyeu), and Charles Shaughnessay (Sir Leigh Teabing), with Katya Collazo, Thursday Rarra, Howard Kaye, Tarik Lowe, Glenn Morizio, David Patterson, Marissa Parness, Jennifer Regan, and more, opens at ME’s Ogunquit Playhouse.
A slight Ache, by Harold Pinter, directed by Jack Heller, featuring Susan Priver, Henry Olek, and Shelly Kurtz, opens at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
Hungry Ghost, by Lisa Sanaye Dring, directed by Jessica Hanna, featuring Tasha Ames (Amanda), Ben Messmer (Hermit), and Jenny Soo (Dean), opens at LA’s Skylight Theatre.
York Theatre Company‘s How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical, by Brand & William F. Brown, directed by Joseph Hayward, featuring Jason Graae (Calvin Coolidge) and Emma Degerstedt (April), with Courtney Arango, Kelly Berman, and Drew Tanabe, and more, previews at Off Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jean’s.
Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical, world premiere by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Kamilah Forbes, featuring Angela Birchett (Delores), Quentin Earl Darrington (Don Cornelius), Kayla Davion (Jody Watley), Sidney DuPont (Tony Cornelius), Cameron Hah (Cheryl Song), Amber Iman (Pam Brown), Richard James (Tyrone Proctor), Jaquez (Jeffrey Daniel), Alain “Hurrikane” Lauture (Don Campbellock), Mayte Natalio (Rosie Perez), and Charlene “Chi-Chi” Smith (Damita Jo), with Terence Archie, Jennifer Marie Frazier, McKenzie Frye, Justin Jorrell, Jahi Kearse, Alora Tonielle Martinez, Miki Michelle, Aché Richardson, Roukijah Rooks, SeQuoiia, Maleek Washington, Unissa Cruse, Amanda Le Nguyen, and Aya Travick-Best, begins previews at San Francisco’s A.C.T.
Word Play, by Rabiah’s Hussain, directed by Nimmo Ismail, featuring Issam Al Ghussain, Kosar Ali, Simon Manyonda, Sirine Saba, and Yusra Warsama, closes at London’s Royal Court Theatre.
Pipeline, by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Bryan Keith, featuring Lou Acosta, Jon Gentry, Fadhia Carmelle Marcelin, Nate Memba, Jennifer Sorenson, Ariana Sucar, and Omari Williams, closes at Hollywood’s Art of Acting Studio.
Sunday, August 27
The Public Theater‘s FREE The Tempest, directed by Laurie Woolery, featuring Renée Elise Goldsberry (Prospero), Tristan André (Sebastian), Sabrina Cedeño (Trinculo), Anthony Chatmon II (Antonio), Jo Lampert (Ariel), and Joél Pérez (Stephano), Theo Stockman (Caliban), with Brianna Cabrera, Patrick O’Hare, and Edwin Rivera, along with the Oyu Oro Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble, opens at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre.
York Theatre Company‘s How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical, by Brand & William F. Brown, directed by Joseph Hayward, featuring Jason Graae (Calvin Coolidge) and Emma Degerstedt (April), with Courtney Arango, Kelly Berman, and Drew Tanabe, and more, opens at Off Broadway’s Theatre at St. Jean’s.
Good Night Oscar, by Doug Wright, directed by Lisa Peterson, featuring Sean Hayes (Oscar Levant), Emily Bergl, (June Levant), Peter Grosz (Bob Sarnoff), Ben Rappaport (Jack Paar), and John Zdrojeski (George Gershwin), with Marchant Davis, Alex Wyse, Sam Bell-Gurwitz, Postell Pringle, and Max Roll, closes at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre.
Let’s Call Her Patti, world premiere by Zarina Shea, directed by Margot Bordelon, featuring Arielle Goldman, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, and Rhea Perlman, closes at Lincoln Center’s Claire Tow Theater.
Cambodian Rock Band, by Lauren Yee & Dengue Fever, directed by Chey Yew, featuring Brooke Ishibashi (Neary / Sothea), Francis Jue (Duch), Abraham Kim (Rom / Journalist), Tim Liu (Ted / Cadre / Leng), Jane Lui (Pou / S21 Guard), and Joe Ngo (Chum), with Kelsey Angel Baehrens, Alex Lydon, and Vi Tran, closes at D.C.’s Arena Stage.
Faith Healer, by Brian Friel, directed by Julianne Boyd, featuring Christopher Invar (Frank), Mark H. Dold (Teddy), and Gretchen Egolf (Grace), closes at MA’s Barrington Stage Company.
Summer Stock, adapted by Cheri Steinkellner, directed & choreographed by Dona Feore, featuring Danielle Wade (Jane Falbury), Corbin Bleu (Joe Ross, Arianna Rosario (Gloria Falbury), Gilbert L. Bailey II (Phil Filmore), Stephen Lee Anderson (Lt. Henry Pop Falbury), Veanne Cox (Margaret Wingate), Will Roland (Orville Wingate), and J. Anthony Crane (Montgomery Leach), with Erika, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Emily Kelley, Francesca M. Mancuso, Tommy Martinez, Corinne Munsch, Gretory North, Kaylee Olson, Jack Sippel, Cayel Tregeagle, Nicholas Cunha, and Kennedy Perez, closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
Here You Come Again, by Bruce Vilanch, Gabriel Barre & Tricia Paoluccio, directed & choreographed by Barre, featuring Tricia Paoluccio (Dolly Parton) and Matthew Risch (Kevin), closes at CT’s Goodspeed.
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, directed by Dantee Kiehn, featuring Jacob Gotay (Anatole Kuragin), Natascia Diaz (Marya), Austen Danielle Bohmer (Mary), Billy Cohen (Andrey/Bolkonsky), Kennedy Caugh (Sonya), Sondra Okuboyejo (Natasha Rostova), Nick Rehberger (Pierre Bezukhov), Lili Thomas (Hélène Bezukhov), and Jamari Williams (Balaga), with Lawrence Alexander, Anna Bakun, Siggy Bijou, Matthew Diston, Zephaniah Divine, Kylie Edwards, Logan Farine, Mathew Fedorek, Nathan Fister, Katie Griffith, Kyra Klonoski, Kiara Lee, Alicia Newcom, Alexander Podolinski, Kiana Rodriguez, Austin Schulte, Laura Yen Solito, David Toole, Joseph Torello, Elizabeth Yanick, Genny Lis Padilla, and Sam Marzell, closes at Pittsburgh CLO.
Tales From The Guttenberg Bible, written by & starring Steve Guttenberg, directed by directed by David Saint, closes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Group Therapy, by Peter Lefcourt, directed by Terri Hanauer, featuring Andy Hoff, Ashley Platz, and Marnina Schon, with Sawyer Fuller and Cat Masterson, closes at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68 Arts Complex.
**********************
Broadway Grosses for the week ending Aug. 20. Click here for the complete analysis.
**********************
The Huntington will present James Ijames’ Fat Ham Sept. 22 – Oct. 22 at Boston’s Calderwood Pavilion, directed by Stevie Walker-Webb.
James T. Alfred (Rev), Amar Atkins (Larry), Thomika Marie Bridwell (Rabby), Marshall W. Mabry IV (Juicy), Lau’rie Roach (Tio), and Ebony Marshall-Oliver (Tedra), with David J. Castillo, Vincent Ernest Siders, Kai Tshikosi, Shanelle Chloe Villegas, and Victoria Omoregie (Opal).
Sweet and sensitive Juicy wants to make his own way as a queer Black man growing up in a Southern family, until his father’s ghost turns up at a backyard barbecue and insists that Juicy avenge his murder. Ay, there’s the rub!
**********************
Joshua Henry: Get Up, Stand Up! will take place Thurs. Nov. 2 at 8 PM at Northridge’s Soraya.
**********************
NY City Center Encores has announced its 2024 season, with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. 
All productions this season will run for 2 weeks.
Once Upon a Mattress (Jan. 24 – Feb. 4), directed by Lear deBessonet, with a new concert adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Sutton Foster (Princess Winnifred), and more TBA.
Jelly’s Last Jam (Feb. 21 – Mar. 3), directed by Robert O’Hara.
Titanic (June 12-23), directed by Anne Kauffman.
**********************
NY City Center has announced its 2023 gala musical will be Rodgers & Hart’s Pal Joey, to run Nov. 1-5, directed by Tony Goldwyn & Savion Glover, with choreography by Glover.
Ephraim Sykes (Joey Evans), Loretta Devine (Lucille Wallace), Aisha Jackson (Linda English), Elizabeth Stanley (Vera Simpson), and Brooks Ashmanskas (in an unspecified role), with more TBA.
**********************
A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters will run Sept. 28-30 at DC’s Kennedy Center, directed by Cameron Watson.
Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald.
**********************
Alexis Scheer’s Our Dear Dead Drug Lord continues through Sept. 17 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, directed by Lindsay Allbaugh.
Ashley Brooke, Aliyah Camacho, Samantha Wynette Miller,Coral Peña, Lilian Rebelo, and Juan Francisco Villa.
In this fierce and feverish comedy, a gang of teenage girls gather in an abandoned treehouse to summon the ghost of Pablo Escobar. Are they messing with the actual spirit of the infamous cartel kingpin? Or are they really just messing with each other?
**********************
Complete casting has been announced for Lauren Yee’s King of the Yees, to run Sept. 12 – Oct. 22 at DC’s Signature Theatre, directed by Jennifer Chang.
Grant Chang (Larry), Silvia Kwan (Actor 2), Ashley D. Nguyen (Lauren), Jacob Yeh (Actor 1), and Nicholas Yenson (Actor 3).
A vibrant, semi-autobiographical comedy about community, culture and the connection between fathers and daughters. Playwright Lauren Yee is rehearsing her newest show about her father (which she has not told him about), when he joyfully bursts through the doors and interrupts the actors. After he later goes missing, the younger Yee must embark on a quest through San Francisco’s famous Chinatown, beyond the iconic Dragon’s Gate, through a bustling maze of alleys and magical portals, to find him before it’s too late. Bitingly funny, heartfelt, and imaginative, King of the Yees is an exuberant epic of rediscovering heritage and becoming a part of, instead of apart from, one’s story.
**********************
The Platters: Many Voices One Name will run Aug. 25-27 at Venice, CA’s Rubicon Theatre.
**********************
The Road Theatre Company will present the world premiere of India Kotis’ Bisexual Sadness, to run Sept. 23 – Nov. 5 (0pening Sept. 28) at North Hollywood’s Road on Magnolia, directed by Carlyle King.
Cast 1: Tiffany Wolff (Faye), Alaska Jackson (Genevieve), Brian Graves (Alex),Karrie King (Miranda), Gloria Ines (Naomi), and Andrea Flowers (Lillian).
Cast 2: Liz Fenning (Faye), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Genevieve), Philip Smithey (Alex), Amy Tolsky (Miranda), Naomi Rubin (Naomi), and Samira Beija (Lillian)
Faye used to be with Genevieve. Now she’s getting married to Alex, and though she really truly loves him, she’s starting to have questions about what it means for the rest of her life. How will she be viewed by the queer communities that have always been her home?
**********************
Million Dollar Quartet will run Sept. 8 – Oct. 8 at Stages St. Louis.
Edward La Cardo (Elvis Presley), Scott Moreau (Johnny Cash), Brady Wease (Jerry Lee Lewis), Jeremy Sevelovitz (Carl Perkins), Shelby Ringdahl (Dyanne), Jeff Cummings (Sam Phillips), Chuck Azyas (Jay Perkins), and Dave Sonnenborn (W.S. “Fluke” Holland), with Joe Boover, Garret Forrestal, Peter Gunn, Michael Siktberg, and Lari White.
**********************
Video: Norm Lewis performs “Til I Hear You Sing” from Love Never Dies at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
**********************
An Evening with Justin Paul & Friends with Kelli O’Hara and James Naughton will take place on Sat. Sept. 9 at 8 PM at CT’s Westport Country Playhouse, directed by Caley Beretta, with music direction by Mat Eisenstein.
Greg Naughton, Loren Allred, Andrew Barth Feldman, Mykal Kilgore, Aaron Tveit, Jessica Vosk, Raissa Katona Bennett, John Treacy Egan, Ben Fankhauser, Jacob Heimer, and Stacie Morgain Lewis.
**********************
Wendy Kout’s Survivors will take place Sun. Sept. 10 at 8 PM at the Museum of Tolerance, directed by Evie Abat.
Yahm Steinberg, Almanya Narula, Nyani Totty, Casey Adler, Michael Boose, and Andrew Abaria, with Sheer Aviram and Seth Keller.
The piece features a diverse young cast who enact eyewitness accounts of ten Holocaust survivors against the backdrop of historical images. The stories of these survivors inspire us with their life lessons and encourage hope and tolerance.