GRACE NOTES: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

 

Today’s Highlights:

  Sunset Boulevard, directed by Paul Warwick Griffen, featuring Sarah Brightman (Norma Desmond), Tim Draxl (Joe Gillis), Robert Grubb (Max Von Mayerling), Ashleigh Rubenach (Betty Schaefer), Jarrod Draper (Artie Green), Paul Hanlon (Cecil B. DeMille), and Silvie Paladino ( Norma at select performances), with  Regan Barber, Amy Berrisford, Billy Bourchier, Campbell Braithwaite, Benjamin Colley, Grace Driscoll, Madison Green, Peter Ho, Leah Lim, Mary McCorry, Charlotte Page, Morgan Palmer, Caity Plummer, Taylor Scanlan, Tom Sharah, Lisa Sontag, Troy Sussman, Riley Sutton, and Dean Vince, opens at Sydney Opera House.

  Isaac Mizrahi: A Brief History concert opens at NYC’s 54 Below.

  Lifeline, by Robin Hiley & Becky Hope-Palmer, directed by Alex Howarth, featuring Matthew Malthouse (Alexander Fleming), Kirsty MacLaren (Jess), Scott McClure ( Aaron and Clowes, Robbie Scott as Julian and Pryce, Nicole Raquel Dennis as Amalia, and Mari McGinlay (Layl), with Richard Lounds, Sarah Haddath, and Graham RIchardson. The show will also feature a chorus of New York-based scientists and healthcare professionals, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Signature Center.

  The Door to America concert reading, by Carol Weiss & Stan Turtletaub, directed by Kay Cole, featuring  Mark Jacobson (Yossel Ferguson), Amanda Gari (Sadie), J Eldred (Michael Dooley), Anna Mintzer (Leah), Fay DeWitt (Mama Lenka), Harry Murphy (Nachman), Joshua Finkel (Joe Stern), Justin Cowden (Benny), and Juliana Zanville (Hankah, Mark Jacobson (Yossel Ferguson), Amanda Gari (Sadie), J Eldred (Michael Dooley), Anna Mintzer (Leah), Fay DeWitt (Mama Lenka), Harry Murphy (Nachman), Joshua Finkel (Joe Stern), Justin Cowden (Benny), and Juliana Zanville (Hanka,at 7 PM at the Temple Israel of Hollywood (7388 Hollywood Blvd).  $5.                                                           

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  Broadway Grosses for the week ending Aug. 25:

Click here for the complete analysis.

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   Gingold Theatrical Group‘s Golden Shamrock Gala will take place Mon. Sept. 23 at 6 PM at NYC’s Robert Restaurant (2 Columbus Circle).

 Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty

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   John Caird and Paul Gordon’s’s Jane Eyre will stream Sat. Aug. 31 at 7:30 PM at NC’s Theatre Raleigh, directed by Megan McGinnis, with choreography by Tracy Bersley, and musical direction by Andy Collopy.

  Julie Benko (Jane Eyre) and Matt Bogart (Mr. Rochester), withn Soraiah Williams, Stacia Fernandez, Anne Scaramuzzo, Ella Frederickson, Chandra Branch, Ada Manie Williams, Tedd Szeto, Rob Adelman Hancock, and Elliot Lane.

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  Complete casting has been announced for Alaska Thunderfuck, Tomas Costanza & Ashley Gordon’s Drag: The Musical, to begin previews Sept. 30 and open Oct. 21 at New World Stages, directed & choreographed bySpencer Liff.

  Alaska Thunderfuck (Kitty Galloway – through Jan. 11, 2025), Nick Adams (Alexis Gilmore), Lagoona Bloo (Tuna Turner), Jan Sport (Savannah St. James), Jujubee (The Tigress), Nick Laughlin (Puss Puss Dubois,), J. Elaine Marcos (Gloria Schmidt/Rita Laritz,) Joey McIntyre ), Tom Hutchinson  (through Nov. 24), Luxx Noir London (Popcorn), Bre Jackson (Dixie Coxworth), and Eddie Korbich (Drunk Jerry), and Remi Tuckman & Yair Keydar (sharing the tole of Brendan Hutchinson), with Cameron Mitchell Bell, Brandon Burks, Nicholas Kraft, Christine Shepard, and Kodiak Thompson.

  The show follows two rival drag bars, each fighting for survival while dealing with financial troubles.

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  Jason Robert Brown in concert will take place Sat. Oct. 5 at 8 PM at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Jason Robert Brown & Georgia Stitt.

   Heather Headley and Ben Platt.

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  The world premiere of Asa Somers’ The Boy Who Loved Batman  will run Oct. 1 – Nov. 10 at Tampa’s Straz Center, directed by Jeff Calhoun.

  Dan Fogler (Michael Uslan), Paul Adam Schaefer (Imaginary Friend), and Katherine Yacko (Nancy Uslan), with Kelly Bashar, Nicholas Perez-Hoop, and Hugh Timoney.

  The play tracks the story of Uslan as he transforms his favorite superhero into a national sensation.

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  LA Opera will present Madame Butterfly Sept. 21 – Oct. 1 at  the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, conducted by James Conlon.

  Karah Son (Cio-Cio-San), Jonathan Tetelman (B.F. Pinkerton), Hyona Kim (Suzuki), and Michael Summel (Sharpless), Michael Sumuel (Sharpless), Hyona Kim (Suzuki), Rodell Aure Rosel (Goro), and Hyungiin Son (Prince Yamadori), Wei Wu (Bonze), and Vinícius Costa (Imperial Commissioner).

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  The new comedy series, “Flash Force! Middle-Aged Women Superheroes Save Democracy” has been released on most podcast platforms.

  Lucie Arnaz, Judy Blazer, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jason Graae, Kevin Isola, Kecia Lewis, Nancy Opel, Linda Purl, Emily Skinner and Karen Ziemba.

  On New York’s Upper West Side, five middle-aged women from the Broadway community in their 12th year of group therapy, and their octogenarian therapist, are suddenly transformed by a mysterious accident in the physics lab next door, and find they possess superpowers. Powers that may…just may…be the only thing to save the world and rescue democracy. Their mission? To battle the evil organization, ORWELL, bent on destroying democracy worldwide. All while pursuing personal growth.

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  The world premiere of Mathilde Dratwa’s Dirty Laundry will run Sept. 21 – Oct. 20 at the WP Theater, directed by Rebecca Martinez.

  Sasha Diamond (Red), Yvette Ganier (Blue,) Amy Jo Jackson (Green), Lakisha May (Me), Richard Masur (My Dad), and Constance Shulman (Another Woman).
  Three people grapple with love, loss, lust, and household chores after the woman who unites them dies. 

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 Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its ICONS Gala, which will take place Sun. Sept. 22 at 11 AM at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago at Water Tower Place, directed by Michael Weber, with music direction by Linda Madonia.

 Adrian Aguilar, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Ava Stovall and Keely Vasquez.

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   The world premiere of Jane Austen in 89 Minutes, written and directed by Syrie James. will run Sept. 20 – Oct. 113 at Theatre Forty (link TBA).

 Katyana Rocker-cook, Holly Sidell, Michael Mullen, Shayna Gabrielle, Steven G. Frankenfield, Alison Blanchard, and Todd Andrew Ball, with Megan Deford.

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  The world premiere of Shit. Meet. Fan., written & directed by Robert O’Hara, will run Oct. 10 – Nov. 17 (opening Oct. 28) at MCC Theater,

  Garret Dillahunt, Genevieve Hannelius, Billy Magnussen, Emmy winner Debra Messing, Tramell Tillman, and Constance Wu, and more TBA

  Here’s the game… Phones Out.  Face Up.  Volume High. Every text, every email, and every call must be shared aloud. That’s what a group of long-time friends gather to play on the night of the eclipse. With the cocktails flowing among grownups who refuse to grow up, outrageous secrets and skeletons begin to emerge… SHIT. MEET. FAN. Are they ready for the ensuing chaos? Are you?

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  Varla Jean Merman: The Error Tour, written by Jeffery Roberson, Ricky Graham, & Jacques LaMarre. will take place Oct. 8 & 9, both at 8:30 PM at Hollywood’s Catalina Jazz Club, directed by Michael Schiralli.

  Everyone’s favorite ditzy diva will take the audience through her catalogue of hilarious hits and egregious errors in a show jam-packed with classic bits, giant wigs, over-taxed costumes, and new songs.

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  Complete casting as been announced for Alaska Thunderfuck, Tomas Costanza & Ashley Gordon’s Drag: The Musical, to begin previews Sept. 30 and open Oct. 21 at New World Stages, directed & choreographed by Spencer Liff.

  Alaska Thunderfuck (Kitty Galloway (through Jan. 11, 2025), Nick Adams (Alexis Gilmore), Lagoona Bloo (Tuna Turner), Jan Sport (Savannah St. James), Jujubee (The Tigress), Nick Laughlin (Puss Puss Dubois), J. Elaine Marcos (Gloria Schmidt), Rita Laritz & Joey McIntyre (Tom Hutchinson (through Nov. 24), Luxx Noir London (Popcorn), Bre Jackson (Dixie Coxworth), Eddie Korbich  (Drunk Jerry), and Remi Tuckman & Yair Keydar (sharing the role of Brendan Hutchinson), with Cameron Mitchell Bell, Brandon Burks, Nicholas Kraft, Christine Shepard, and Kodiak Thompson.

  The show follows two rival drag bars, each fighting for survival while dealing with financial troubles.

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  I, Daniel Blake, adapted by Dave Johns, will run Oct. 13 – Nov. 24 at the Fountain Theatre, directed by Simon Levy.

  JD Cullum, Makara Gamble, Janet Greaves, Wesley Guimarães, Pyilicia Saunders, and Adam Segalle.

  Daniel is a caring, warm-hearted middle-aged man who suddenly finds himself unable to work. Katie hopes for a fresh start for herself and her teenage daughter. Both must navigate the nightmarish unemployment and public housing system while clinging to their dignity and humanity. A powerful, timely, and poignant story of people coming together in the face of a Kafkaesque network that refuses to see them as human beings.

 


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