Today’s Highlights:
Dreaming Zenzile, by Somi Kakoma, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, featuring Somi Kakoma (Makeba), Aaron Marcellus, Naledi Masilo, and Phumzile Sojola, opens at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop.
Come From Away national tour, featuring Marika Aubrey, Kevin Carolan, Harter Clingman, Nick Duckart, Chamblee Ferguson, Christine Toy Johnson, Julie Johnson, James Earl Jones II, Julia Knitel, Sharone Sayegh, Danielle K. Thomas, Jeremy Woodard, Jenny Ashman, Jane Bunting, Amelia Cormack, Aaron Michael Ray, Kilty Reidy, and Brandon Springman, opens at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
Kiss My Aztec!, by John Leguizamo, Benjamin Velez & David Kamp, directed by Tony Taccone, featuring Krystina Alabado, Angelica Maria Beliard, KC Dela Cruz, Chad Carstarphen, Nicholas Caycedo, Eddie Cooper, Richard Ruiz Henry, Z Infante, Jesus E. Martinez, Maria Christina Oliveras, Joel Perez, Geena Quintos, Daniela Rodrigo, Desiree Rodriguez, and Matt Saldivar, opens at Hartford Stage.
The Karate Kid: The Musical, world premiere by Robert Mark Kamen & Drew Gasparini , directed by Amon Miyamoto, featuring Jovanni Sy (Chojun Miyagi), John Cardoza (Daniel LaRusso), Kate Baldwin (Luiclle LaRusso), Alan H. Green (John Kreese), Jake Bentley Young (Johnny Lawrence), Jetta Juriansz (Ali Mills), and Luis Pablo Garcia (Freddie Fernandez, with Manik Anand, Trevor James Berger, Leah Berry, Gabi Campo, Caitlyn Caughell, Kristina Garvida Doucette, Zachary Downer, Francis Florendo, Kayla Jenerson, Sydney Jones, Josh Hoon Lee, Noah Lentini, Garrick Macatangay, Abby Mastusaka, Justice D. Moore, Omar Nieves, Jackson Kanawha Perry, Isidro Rafael, Sangeetha Santhebennur, and Victor Carrillo Tracey, opens at Stages St. Louis.
Murder on the Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig, directed by Annika Boras, featuring Diana Coates (Countess Andrenyi), Emjoy Gavinco (Mary Debanham), Park Krausen (Greta Ohlsson), Gregory Linington (Monsieur Bouc), Will Mobley (Hector MacQueen), Adam Poss (Michel), Gail Rastorfer (Helen Hubbard), Steven Rattazzi (Hercule Poirot), Barbara Robertson (Princess Dragomiroff), and Jonathan Wainwright (Colonel Arbuthnot/Samuel Ratchett), opens at Milwaukee Rep.
Tony [The Tony Blair Rock Opera], world premiere by Harry Hill & Steve Brown, directed by Peter Rowe, featuring Charlie Baker (Tony Blair), Gary Trainor (Gordon Brown), Howard Samuels (Peter Mandelson), Rosie Strobel (John Prescott), Madison Swan (Princess Diana), Holly Sumpton (Cherie Blair), Kaye Brown (Robin Cook), Adam Price (Neil Kinnock), and Marisa Harris (ensemble), begins previews at London’s Park Theatre.
The Still Room, by Sally Rogers, directed by Nigel Douglas, featuring Zoe Brough, Jack Colgrave Hirst, Kate James, Jane Slavin, Chris Simmons, and Larner Taylor, begins previews at London’s Park Theatre.
Sister Act, restaged by Steven Beckler, featuring Nicole Vanessa Ortiz (Deloris Van Cartier), Jennifer Allen (Mother Superior), Akron Watson (Curtis), Belinda Allyn (Mary Robert), Diane J. Findlay (Mary Lazarus), Kara Mikula (Marty Patrick), Jarran Muse (Eddie Souther), John Treacy Egan (Monsignor O’Hara), Anthony Alfaro (Pablo), Ryan Gregory Thurman (TJ), and Jacob Keith Watson (Joey), with Rachelle Rose Clark, Steve Czarnecki, Madeleine Doherty, Denzel Edmondson, Dion Simmons Grier, Kolby Kindle, Ashley Masula, Stephanie Miller, Alaina Mills, Heather Parcells, Chandler Reeves, Michael Schimmele, Alyson Snyder, Anne Fraser Thomas, Ariana Valdes, and Zuri Washington, begins previews at NJ’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
King James, world premiere by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Kenny Leon, featuring Glenn Davis (Shawn) and Chris Perfetti (Matt), begins previews at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
Uncle Vanya, translated by Richard Nelson, Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky directed by Michael Michetti, featuring Hugo Armstrong (Vanya), Anne Gee Byrd (Marya), Brian George (Serebryakov), Khetanya Henderson (Elena), Brandon Mendez Homeras (Astroy), Jane Taini (Marina), and Sabina Zuniga-Varela (Sonya), begins previews at Pasadena Playhouse.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, by Todd Kreidler, directed by Lita Gaithers Owens, featuring Paul Denk (Monsignor Ryan), Lee Garlington (Christina Drayton), Brad Greenquist (Matt Drayton), Dan Martin (John Prentice Sr.), Mary Pumper (Joanna Drayton), Vickilyn Reynolds (Matilda Binks), Mouchette van Heldsingen (Hilary St. George), Vincent Washington (Dr. John Prentice), and Renn Woods (Mary Prentice, begins previews at Santa Monica’s Ruskin Group Theatre.
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending May 30.
Click here for the complete analysis.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: Honesty may be the best policy, but it’s important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy. ~ George Carlin
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Kenita Miller‘s baby girl, Nova Pearl, was born on May 26, only two days after Kenita left Broadway’s for colored girls… on maternity leave.
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“Joe Papp in Five Acts” will premiere June 3 at 9 PM on PBS (check local listings).
Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, Martin Sheen, Christopher Walken, Larry Kramer, Ntozake Shange and George C. Wolfe, and more.
Joe Papp, New York’s indomitable, street-wise champion of the arts. As found of The Public Theater, Free Shakespeare in the Park, and producer of the groundbreaking play like Hair, A Chorus Line, for colored girls, Papp recognized the role art could play in building a more democratic, inclusive society. A tireless fighter for the arts, he believed great art is for everyone. The story of Papp’s great accomplishments and his own often tumultuous personal history is told by the artists he helped create — and, in some cases, tried to destroy — including Merul Street, James Earl Jones, Marthin Sheen, Christopher Walken, Larry Kramer, Ntozake Shange, George C. Wolfe, and more.
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Broadway Showstoppers with Glenn Rosenblum – Musicals of the 60s will take place Thurs. July 7 at 7 PM at CA’s Coachella Valley Rep.
Karen Morrow
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Gingold Theatrical Group continues its Speakers’ Corner New Play Development plays-in-workshops:
There Goes The Neighborhood (Fri. June 3 at 7 PM ET), by Marcus Scott, directed by Dev Bondarin, featuring Phillip Burke, Savanna Calder, Broderick Clavery, Anthony Godd, Ashley Jossell, Olivia Kinter, Monique Robinson, and Cliff Sellers.
Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte (Sun. June 5 at 7 PM ET), by Aeneas Hemphill, directed by Arpita Mukherjee, featuring Rajesh Bose, Shawn Jain, Mahima Saigal, Salma Shaw, and Khyati Sehgal.
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& 
A reading of Jason Odell Williams’ Church & State will take place Tues. June 7 at 8 PM ET at NYC’s Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (30 W. 68th St.). Proceeds will support Sandy Hook Promise, Safer Country, and the Brady Campaign. 
here (required).
Rob Nagle (Senator Charles Whitmore), Judy Jerone (Sara Whitmore), Keira Naughton (Alex Klein), and Andy Talen (in multiple supporting roles).
A Republican Senator sets his re-election campaign into a tailspin after his off-the-cuff remarks signal a possible change of heart about the Second Amendment (and God) following an elementary school shooting in his hometown. As his devoutly Christian wife and liberal Jewish campaign manager try to contain the damage, this look at how religion influences politics and how politics has become a religion is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting.
If you cannot attend, please consider donating to Sandy Hook Promise, Safer Country, and/or the Brady Campaign.
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Cabaret, currently running through Nov. 19 at the Kit Kat Klub, has announced upcoming cast changes:
* Fra Free (Emcee) extends his run through Oct. 1.
* Amy Lennox (Sally Bowles) extends her run through Oct. 1.
* Richard Katz (Herr Schultz) begins his run on June 27.
* Gabriela Benedetti and Adam Taylor, have joined the ensemble.
* Rachel Benson, Laura Braid, Asmara Cammock, Julian Capolei, Celine Fortenbacher, Reuben Greeph, Samantha Ho, Andrew Linnie, Carys McQueen, Hicaro Nicolai, Kate Robson Stuart, and Sally Swanson have joined the Prologue Company.
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Beverly Hills’ The Wallis has announced its 2022-23 season:
An Evening with Motown (Oct. 1), featuring Thelma Houston and more TBA.
Ballet Hispánico (Oct. 7-8)
BodyTraffic (Oct. 21-23) dance presentations.
Lillias White with Seth Rudetsky (Nov. 3) concert.
Invincible – The Musical (Nov. 22 – Dec. 17), world premiere by Bradley Bredeweg & the music of Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. The musical reimagines the timeless story of Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century.
Wuthering Heights (Jan. 11-22, 2023), adapted & directed by Emma Rice.
Dahlak Brathwaite: Try/Step/Trip (Feb. 2-5), written & composed by Dahlak Brathwaite, directed by Roberto Uno, with choreography by Toran X. Moore. A spoken word, multi-character musical performed through the language of step dance.
Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles (Feb. 24-25). A thrilling repertory ballet, aerial, and modern dance presentation.
Shanghai Sonatas: A New Musical in Concert (Mar. 16-18, 2023), world premiere by Xiang “Sean” Gao, Alan Goodson & Joyce Hill Stoner, directed by Chongren Fan.
Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume (Apr. 22-23), by Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess & Randy Preston, directed by Lili-Anne Brown. Recommended for ages five and up.
Stephanie J. Block with Seth Rudetsky concert (May 4).
Blue 13 Dance Company (May 12-13). Rhythmic and exuberant genre-bending artistry that blends hip-hop, ballet, modern and traditional Indian dance.
My Lord, What a Night (May 23 – June 11), by Deborah Brevoort. Based on Brevoort’s real-life friendship between Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein.
Alonzo King Lines Ballet (June 9-11) A new work featuring vocalist Lisa Fischer set to a score by Jason Moran.
….. and more TBA….
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The Theatre World Awards will present a special Outstanding Ensemble Award to 21 cast members making their Broadway debut in The Music Man.
Nick Alvino, Jordan Beall, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr, Audrey Cardwell, JT Church, William Thomas Colin, Gino Cosculluela, Emma Crow, Kammie Crum, Aydin Eyikan, Carlee Flanagan, Ethen Green-Younger, Emily Jewel Hoder, Ethan Lafazan, Kayla LaVine, Drew Minard, Benjamin Pajak, Tanner Quirk, Daniel Patrick Russell, Kayla Teruel, and Mitchell Tobin.
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Gingold Theatrical Group continues its new play development with showcases of this year’s Speaker’s Corner Writers Group, with it’s last two workshops of the season, both at Off-Broadway’s ART-NY Studios (520 8th Ave.).
There Goes The Neighborhood (June 3 at 7 PM ET), by Marcus Scott, directed by Dev Bondarin, featuring Phillip Burke, Savanna Calder, Broderick Clavery, Anthony Godd, Ashley Jossell, Olivia Kinter, Monique Robinson, and Cliff Sellers.
Karma Sutra Chai Tea Latte (June 6 at 5 PM ET), by Aeneas Hemphill, directed by Arpita Mukherjee, featuring Rajesh Bose, Shawn Jain, Mahima Saigal, Salma Shaw, Khyati Sehgal, Imran Sheikh.
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Video: Teaser for Disney’s live action “Pinocchio.” which will be released Sept. 8 on Disney+.
The film stars Tom Hanks, Benjamin Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levett, Cynthia Erivo, Keegan-Michael Key, Lorraine Bracco, and Luke Evans.
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Due to an injury, Lia Williams has departed the repertory productions of Hamlet and Oresteia at NYC’s Park Avenue Armory, directed by Robert Icke. She was scheduled to play Gertrude in Hamlet and Clytemnestra in Oresteia.
Williams will be replace by:
Hamlet (new dates: June 10 – Aug. 13, opening June 28), features Jennifer Ehle (Gertude)
Oresteia (new dates: July 8 – Aug. 13, opening July 26), featuring Anastasia Hille (Clytemnestra).
Alex Lawther (Hamlet), Tia Bannon (Guildenstern/Electra), Luke Treadaway (Laertes/Orestes), Angus Wright (Claudius/Agamemnon/Aegisthus), Michael Abubakar (Marcellus/Calchas), Josh Higgott (Horatio/Talthybius), Peter Wright (Polonius/Menelaus), David Rintoul (Player King/Ghost), Kirsty Ryder (Ophelia/Doctor), Callim Finlay (Rosencrantz), Hara Yannas (Bernardo/Cassandra), Gilbert Keyem Jr.(Reynaldo), Ross Waiton (Francisco/Player 3/Gravedigger), and Marty Cruikshank (Player Queen/Cilissa).