Today’s Highlights:
Anne of Green Gables, world premiere by Matte O’Brien, & Matt Vinson, directed by Jenn Thompson, featuring Juliette Redden (Anne Shirley), Michelle Veintimilla (Diana Barry), Sharon Catherine Brown (Marilla Cuthbert), Aurelia Williams (Rachel Lynde), Pierre Marais (Gilbert Blythe), and D.C. Anderson (Matthew Cuthbert), with Emily Agy, Jarred Bedgood, Tristen Buettel, Giovanni Da Silva, Amanda Ferguson, Patrick Oliver Jones, Nick Martinez, Morgan McGhee, Jenna Lea Rosen, Avery Sobczak, Elaine Cotter, and Sam Pickart, opens at CT’s Goodspeed.
The Last Supper, world premiere by Jeremy Desmon & Jeff Thomson, directed by Sheryl Kaller, featuring Charlotte d’Amboise, Mark Evans, Alex Newell, Pomme Koch, Megan Kane, Allan K. Washington, and Wes Zurick, with Josh Canfield, Jennifer Frankel, and Alan Wiggins, opens at NJ’s South Orange PAC.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company‘s Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian, featuring Remo Airaldi (Leonato), Siobhan Juanita Brown (Friar Francis), Sarah Corey (Borachio), Tia James (Benedick), John Kuntz (Antonio), Michael Underhill (Don Pedro), Gunnar Manchester (Don John), Erik Robles (Claudio), Rachael Warren (Beatrice), Rebecca-Anne Whitaker (Hero), and Debra Wise (Dogberry), with Zoe Abuyuan Siobhán Carroll, Nettie Chickering, Sarah Corey, Duncan Gallagher, Jessica Folden, Jaime Jose Hernandez, Jordyn Palmer, Jon Vellante, Xander Viera, and Dylan C. Wack, opens at The Boston Common.
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool, directed by directed by Seth Barrish, begins previews at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: ”Owing to the length of the performance, the plot has been eliminated.” ~ Florenz Ziegfeld’s program note for The Little Duchess (1901)
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending July 24.
Click here for the complete analysis.
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August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, directed by Latanya Richardson Jackson, has changed its theater. The production will now run Sept. 19 – Jan. 8, 2023 (opening date TBA) at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (and not the St. James Theatre, as previously announced).
Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker Charles), Danielle Brooks (Bernice), John David Washington (Boy Willie), Trai Byers (Avery), Ray Fisher (Lymon), April Matthis (Grace), and Michael Potts (Winning Boy).
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Complete casting has been announced for the national tour of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
Naomi Rodgers & Zurin Villanueva (sharing the role of Tina Turner), Garrett Turner (Ike Turner), Roz White (Zelma Bullock), Ann Nesby (Gran Georgeanna, and Lael Van Keuren (Rhonda), with Daelyanna Kelly Benson, Antonio Beverly, Taylor A. Blackman, Aliyah Caldwell, Lillian Charles, Max Falls, Zachary Freier-Harrison, Reyna Guerra, Gordia Hayes, Andre Hinds, Takia Hopson, Ayvah Johnson, Geoffrey Kidwell, Parris Mone’t Lewis, Nia Nelson-Williams, Gracie Phillips, Nicole Powell, Terance Reddick, Shari Washington Rhone, Kris Roberts, Jacob Roberts-Miller, Aniya Simone, Chris Stevens, Jeff Sullivan and Carlton Terrence Taylor.
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Susan V. Booth has been named the next Artistic Director at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, as of Oct. 3, after 21 years at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Company.
She will succeed Robert Falls, who departs after 35 years with the company.
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Complete casting has been announced for Matthew López’s The Inheritance, to run Sept. 13 – Nov. 27 (opening Oct. 1) at the Geffen Playhouse, directed by Mike Donahue.
Nic Ashe (Adam/Leo), Bill Brochtrup (Morgan/Walter Poole), Tantoo Cardinal (Margaret Avery), Juan Castano (Toby Darling), Jay Donnell (Young Man 6/Tristan), Israel Erron Ford (Young Man 2/Jason #1/Doorman #1/Toby’s Other Agent), August Gray Gall (Young Man 3/Young Henry Tucker), Adam Kantor (Eric Glass), Eddie Lopez (Young Man 5/Charles Wilcox/Toby’s Agent/Toby’s Dealer), Kasey Mahaffy (Young Man 7/Jasper/Paul Wilcox/Doorman #2), Miguel Pinzon (Young Man 4/Young Walter), Avi Roque (Young Man 7/Jason #2/Clinic Worker), and Tuc Watkins (Henry Wilcox).
In contemporary Manhattan, Eric and Toby are 30-somethings who seem to be very much in love and thriving. But on the cusp of their engagement, they meet an older man haunted by the past, and a younger man hungry for a future. Chance meetings lead to surprising choices as the lives of three generations interlink and collide — with explosive results.
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Complete casting has been announced for Ellen Fitzhugh & Michael John LaChiusa’s Los Otros, to run Aug. 24 – Oct. 8 (opening Aug. 31) at A.R.T/New York Theatres, directed by Noah Himmelstein, with music direction by J. Oconer Navarro.
Luba Mason and Caesar Samayoa
Through a series of beautiful and intimate moments, two Californians, Lillian and Carlos, explore significant moments in their lives, discovering they are linked in unexpected ways. A universal story of interconnectedness, love, risk, and revelation through the lens of two people’s lives.
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A Tribute to Bob Dylan will take place Fri. Sept. 30 at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Town Hall.
Sara Bareilles, Bill Frisell, Margaret Glaspy, Joy Harjo, Joe Henry, Julian Lage, Punch Brothers, and more TBA.
The show will feature performances by a diverse array of artists, each performing songs written by Dylan spanning the Nobel laureate’s illustrious career. The concert commemorates Dylan’s 1963 debut at the Town Hall.
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Into the Woods has been extended for 8 weeks, now through Oct. 16 at the St. James Theatre, directed by Lear deBessonet.
Sara Bareilles (Baker’s Wife), Brian D’Arcy James (Baker), Patina Miller (Witch), Phillipa Soo (Cinderella), Gavin Creel (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince), Nancy Opel (Cinderella’s Stepmother), Joshuah Henry (Rapunzel’s Prince), Alysia Velez (Rapunzel), Ta’Nika Gibson (Lucinda), Annie Golden (Cinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant’s Wife), Albert Guerzon (Cinderella’s Father), Brooke Ishibashi (Florinda), Kennedy Kanagawa (Milky White), David Patrick Kelly (Narrator/Mysterious Man), Julia Lester (Little Red Riding Hood), Cole Thompson (Jack), Aymee Garcia (Jack’s Mother), and David Turner (Steward), with Jason Forbach, Mary Kate Moore, Cameron Johnson, Delphi Bortich, Felicia Curry, Alexander Joseph Grayson, Paul Kreppel, Diane Phelan, and Lucia Spina.
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Stuart Paterson, George Stiles & Anthony Drew’s Identical will run July 26 – Aug. 14 at the Nottingham Playhouse, directed by Trevor Nunn.
(real-life twins) Kyla & Nicole Fox, Emme & Eden Patric, and Sienne & Savannah Robinson, along with Emily Tierney, James Darch, Gabrielle Lewis-Dodson, Louise Gold, Michael Smith-Stewart, Rico Bakker, David Bardsley, Hannah Cauchi, Paige Fenlon, Rosie Glossop, Dominic Adam Griffin, Jordan Isaac, Rutendo Mushonga, and Ellie Nun.
The twin-sational new musical based on “The Parent Trap” novel, is the classic story of twin girls separated at birth, reunited by chance at a summer camp ten years later. In an attempt to get to know their parents and reconcile the two halves of their family, they decide to swap places and live each other’s lives.
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RIP: David McDonald passed away July 13 at the age of 63, following a heart attack. A memorial tribute will be held Sun. July 31 at 10:30 AM ET at NYC’s Riverside Memorial Chapel. All are welcome.
Broadway credits include Les Miserables, Side Show, Mammay Mia!, Bye Bye Birdie, Memphis, and Doctor Zhivago. David also appeared in the national tour of Kinky Boots, and regionally at The Old Glove, La Jolla Playhouse, the John W. Engeman Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, and many more.
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Richard Eyre’s adaptation of Ibsen’s Ghosts will run Sept. 7 – Oct. 23 (opening Sept. 10) at the Odyssey Theatre, directed by Bart DeLorenzo.
Pamela J. Gray (Helene Alving), Barry Del Sherman (Pastor Manders, Alex Barlas (Helene’s Son), Viva Hassis Gentes (Maid), and J. Stephen Brantley (Jacob Engstrand).
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Patrick Parker will step down as Associate Artistic Director of NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse, after 27 years with the theatre.
He will continue on a consulting basis.
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Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion American Revival will transfer to NYC’s Town Hall (link TBA) for one performance on Nov. 26, directed by Walter Bobbie, and conducted by Rob Fisher.
Tim Russell, Sue Scott, Christine DiGiallonardo and Heather Masse
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Complete casting has been announced for Ellen Fitzhugh & Michael John LaChiusa’s Los Otros, to run Aug. 24 – Oct. 8 (opening Aug. 31) at A.R.T/New York Theatres, directed by Noah Himmelstein, with music direction by J. Oconer Navarr0.
Luba Mason and Caesar Samayoa
Through a series of beautiful and intimate moments, two Californias, Lillian and Carlos, explore significant moments in their lives, discovering they are linked in unexpected ways.
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The world premiere of Jacques Lamarre’s Secondo will run July 29 – Aug. 28 (opening Aug. 5) at TheaterWorks Hartford, directed by Rob Ruggiero.
Antoinette LaVecchia
A decade ago, Giulia invited us into her kitchen for a homemade Italian dinner and to share the hilarious highs and lows of her dating life. On the evening of her 10th wedding anniversary, we’re back together to discover how married life has provided unexpected delights and challenges. While Giulia rushes to prepare her anniversary dinner, we learn that a boyfriend from the past has resurfaced to complicate her recipe for a happy marriage.
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Mike Lew, Rehana Lew Mirza, Sam Willmott & Deep Singh’s Bhangin’ It: A Bhangin’ New Musical, previously scheduled to run Dec. 4 – Jan. 8 at Boston’s Huntington Theatre has been postponed until the theatre’s Summer 2023 season, directed by Stafford Arima.
New dates, casting, and additional information TBA.
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Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons will launch the 2nd season of its scripted fiction podcast on Aug. 2, featuring plays written for audio specifically for episodes 15-40 minutes long. The podcast will be available on all major platforms.
Season:
Aug. 2: “Program B: Rapid Immersion,” by Sheila Callaghan.
Aug. 9: “Last Worlds of Uncle Dirt,” by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Michael Roth.
Aug. 16: “(There’s) No Time for Comedy” and “Loops,” both written by Ken Rus Schmoll.
Aug. 23: “His Chest Is Only Skeleton,” by Julia Izumi, directed by Sarah Hughes.
Aug. 30: “The Marriage of Earth and Sky,” by Agnes Borinsky, directed by Brooke O’Harra…. and… “Freedom Freedom Freedom Et Cetera,” by Dave Harris, directed by Taylor Reynolds.