Today’s Highlights
Turn The Beat Around concert, a salute to Studio 54, directed by Scott Colter, featuring Susan Agin, Scott Coulter, Natalie Douglas, Tyce Green, Jessica Hendy, Michael Holland, Blaine Alden Krauss, Larry Lelli, Anthony Murphy, Tim Quartier, Kelli Rabke, Devin L. Roberts, Matt Scharfglass, and Mike Schwitter, opens at NYC’s 54 Below.
Water for Elephants, world premiere by Rick Elice & PigPen Theatre Company, directed by Jessica Stone, featuring Stan Brown (Camel), Joe De Paul (Walter), Bryan Fenkart (August), Sara Gettelfinger (Barbara), Harry Groener (Mr. Jankowski), Isabelle McCalla (Marlena), Wade McCollum (Wade), and Ryan Vasquez (Jacob), with Brandon Block, Antoine Boissereau, Paul Castree, Taylor Colleton, Isabella Luisa Diaz, Gabrielle Elisabeth, Keaton Hentoff-Killian, Nicolas Jelmoni, Caroline Kane, Joel Malkoff, Michael Mendez, Jo’Nathan Michael, Gabriel Olivera De Paula Costa, Samuel Renaud, Marissa Rosen, Alexandra Gaelle Royer, Sean Stack, Matthew Varvar, and Michelle West, opens at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.
The Crucible, directed by Lyndsey Turner, featuring Milly Alcock (Abigail Proctor), Caitlin Fitzgerald (Elisabeth Proctor), Brian Gleeson (John Proctor), Ron Cook (Giles Corey), Risayo Akinade (Danforth), with David Ahmad, Zoë Aldrich, Stephanie Beattie, Raphael Bushay, Henry Everett, Nick Fletcher, Colin Haigh, Nadine Higgin, Gracie McGonigal, Alastair Parker, Joy Tan, and Tilly Tremayne. Completing the cast will be Christopher Birch, Lucy Brindle, Grace Farrell, Chyna-Rose Frederick, Miya James, Ebony Jonelle, Tama Phethean, Amy Snudden, Nia Towle, and Samuel Townsend, begins previews at London’s Gielgud Theatre.
Into the Breeches!, by George Brant, directed by directed by Brian Shnipper, featuring Meghan Andrews (Maggie), Nicholas Hormann (Ellsworth Snow), Leslie Stevens (Celeste Fielding), Emillie Doering (Grace), and Brooke Olivia Gatto (June), Sydney A. Mason (Ida Green), Holly Jeanne (Winifred), and Lee James (Stuart Lasker), begins previews at Long Beach’s International City Theatre.
Brush Up Your Porter: A First Musical Event concert, featuring Steve Ross, Jean Brassard, and Zachary Drake, at 6:30 PM at NYC’s The Salmagundi (47 Fifth Ave.).
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending June 4.
Click here for the complete analysis.
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A national tour of Sweeney Todd will launch in 2025.
Schedule, casting, and additional information TBA.
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James Lapine‘s documentary, “In the Company of Rose,” will be released June 30 in theaters and streaming (on Amazon and Apple TV).
After Lapine befriended poet Rose Styron, the widow of the great American novelist William Styron (“Sophie’s Choice,” “The Confessions of Nat Turner”), he began to record their conversations together. During their meetings, Rose shares the fascinating story of her complex life as a writer and human rights activist, life partner to William, friend of the Kennedys and Clintons and her life on Martha’s Vineyard.
Video: Trailer
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Roundabout Theatre Company will present John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt: A Parable, to open in Winter 2024 (dates TBA) at the American Airlines Theatre, directed by Scott Ellis.
Tyne Daly and Liev Schreiber, with more TBA.
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Complete casting has been announced for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, to run Sept. 16 – Jan. 6, 2024 at the Gielgud Theatre, directed by Mathew Bourne & Julia McKenzie, with choreography by Stephen Mear.
Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Haydn Gwynne, Damian Humbley, Bradley Jaden, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Christine Allado, Janie Dee, Bonnie Langford, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Jac Yarrow, Marley Fenton, Beatrice Penny-Touré,Harry Apps, Bella Brown, and Monique Young.
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Video: Julia Lester talks about her Tony nomination for Into the Woods.
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A Tribute to Howard Ashman and Alan Menken will run July 2-3, both at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below. 
The July 2 performance will also be livestreamed.
Mary Beth Peil, John Yi, Jana Djienne Jackson, Cameron Loyal, Nic Mains, Audrey Belle Adams, Juwan Crawley, Chiubeze Ihouma, Katherine D’Souza, Tymothee Harrell, Ali Regan, Cryphyn Karimloo, Tristan David Caldwell, Nadia Duncan, Rachel Lloyd, and Lesoe-Payton Alston.
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RIP: Production Photographer and Broadway actor Michael Lamont died May 21 in Los Angeles, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 76.
Michael was born Apr. 3, 1947 in Hoboken, New Jersey. At the age of 15, he independently moved to New York City. At the age of 13, he was in the Broadway production Bye Bye Birdie, where he would meet his future wife, Broadway actress, writer, and director Kay Cole. By the age of 18, Lamont had performed in 11 Broadway productions including Oliver!, Do I Hear a Waltz?, The Royal Hunt of the Sun, and more.
However, in the early 1970s, photography became Michael’s only passion. Starting with headshots, he expanded into shooting theatre productions. In 1997, he again expanded his talent and vision, shooting his first feature film “THQ” as director of photography, and his career continued as he shot features, shorts, and pilots.
Donations in Michael’s memory may be made to St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana.
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Jeremy Jordan will return to Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors (as Seymor), July 15 – Sept. 17 at Off-Broadway’s Westside Theatre.
Joy Woods (Audrey), Drew Gehling (Dr. Orin Scrivello D.D.S), Brad Oscar (Mushnik), Aaron Arnell Harrington (Voice of Audrey II), Tiffany Renee Thompson (Crystal), Khadija Sankoh (Chiffon), and D’Kaylah Unique Whitley (Ronette), with Camryn Hampton, Najah Hetsberger, Weston Chandler Long, Teddy Yudain, Zakiya Baptiste, Jonothon Lyons, Noel MacNeal, Michael Iannucci, Kevin Pariseau, Jeff Sears, Evan Alexander Smith, and Melissa Victor.
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Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Prayer for the French Republic, by Joshua Harman, will transfer to Broadway, with previews beginning Dec. 19 and an opening set for Jan. 9 2024 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, directed by David Cromer.
Casting TBA.
In 1944, a Jewish couple in Paris desperately awaits news of their missing family. More than 70 years later, the couple’s great-grandchildren find themselves facing the same question as their ancestors: “Are we safe?” The piece is about history, home and the effects of an ancient hatred.
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Schwartz at 75, in celebration of Stephen Schwartz’ 75th birthday, will take place Sun. Sept. 18 at 7 PM at London’s Lyric Theatre.
TBA.
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Mike Birbiglia has added an additional performance to his solo show on Sat. July 29 at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre.
Performances will now take place at 7:30 (sold out) and 9:30 PM.
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Video: “One Day More” at Broadway Backwards 2023, featuring Philippe Arroyo, Bradley Dean, Jeigh Madjus, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Turner Riley, Alexandra Silber and Paul C. Vogt.
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The Wizard of Oz will run July 7-23 (opening July 8) at Long Beach’s Musical Theatre West, directed by Paige Price, with music direction by Ryan O’Connell, and choreography by Jimmy Locust.
Leianna Weaver (Dorothy Gale), Erik Scott Romney (Scarecrow), Michael James (Tinman), Dedrick Bonner (Cowardly Lion), Sarah Uriarte Berry (Glinda, the Good Witch), Erica Hanrahan (Wicked Witch of the West), Jason Graae (Wizard), and Dennis Holland (Uncle Henry), with Dekontee Tucrkile, Brianna Liddi, David Kirk Grant, TJ Punchard, Jacob Matthews, Taleen Shrikian, Eric Dubreuil, Julia Doty, Allen Lucky Weaver, DarRand Hall, Quintan Craig, Rachael Beard, James dela Cruz, Ameliac Fischer, Savannah Fischer, Faith Graham, Chloe Alyssa Hanser, Becca Last, Catherine Last, Elizabeth Last, Maisie Magdalen Oliveros, and Daniela Somers.
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Inua Ellams’ The Half-God of Rainfall will run July 13 – Aug. 20 (opening July 31) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Taibi Magar.
Jason Bowen (Sàngó), Mister Fitgerald (Demi), Patrice Johnson Cheyannes (Osún), Michael Laurence (Zeus), Lizan Mitchell (Elegba), Jennifer Mogbock (Modúpé), and Alexandra Silber (Hera).
This is the story of Demi, a half Nigerian-mortal, half Greek-god whose emotions can be read in the weather. But when he takes a shot on a basketball court for the first time, the deities of the land take notice. The play creates a new myth, interweaving poetry into the story which spans continents and millennia—including voyages to a small village in Nigeria, a NBA arena in the United States, and the mythic halls of Mount Olympus. And it is there that the mothers, daughters, and goddesses stand up.
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Signature Theatre & Wolf Trap Present Broadway in the Park on Fri. June 16 at 8 PM at Vienna, VA’s Filene Center, directed by Matthew Gardiner, with
Megan Hilty and Lea Salonga, along with Phillip Attmore, Austin Colby, Felicia Curry, Katie Mariko Murray, Kevin McAllister, Tracy Lynn Olivera, Nova Y. Payton, and Bobby Smith.