Today’s Highlights:
NY City Center Encores‘ Dear World, by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence & Robert E. Lee, directed & choreographed by Josh Rhodes, featuring Donna Murphy (Countess Aurelia), Brooks Ashmanskas (President), Andréa Burns (Constance), Christopher Fitzgerald (Sewerman), Ann Harada (Gabrielle), Kody Jauron (Artiste), Phillip Johnson Richardson (Julian), Samantha Williams (Nina), Lilli Cooper (Nancy), Raúl Esparza (Fagin), Tam Mutu (Bill Sikes), Brad Oscar (Mr. Bumble), Benjamin Pajak (Oliver Twist), Mary Testa (Widow Corney), with William Thomas Colin, Charity Angel Dawson, Julian Marcus DeGuzman, Zachary Downer, Sam Duncan, William Foon, Ethen Green-Younger, Jeff Kready, Jenny Laroche, Devin Miles Lugo, Morgan Marcell, Lindsay Roberts, Eliseo Roman, Michael Cash Savio, and Jacob Keith Watson, with Darlesia Cearcy, Cicily Daniels, Brian Flores, Blair Goldberg, Aaron Kaburick, Eddie Korbich, Josh Lamon, Will Mann, Manna Nichols, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Phumzile Sojola, Jessica Tyler Wright, Franca Vercelloni, Kathy Voytko, and Patrick Wetzel, opens.
Marjorie Prime, by Jordan Harrison, directed by Dominic Dromgoole, featuring Anne Reid (Marjorie), Richard Fleeshman (Walker), Nancy Carroll (Tess), and Tony Jayawardena (Jon), opens at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory.
The Harder They Come, world premiere by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Tony Taccone & Sergio Trujillo, featuring Natey Jones (Ivan), Jeanette Bayardelle (Daisy), Andrew Clarke (Lyle), Dominique Johnson (Jose), Dudney Joseph Jr (Ray), Meecah (Elsa), Jacob Ming-Trent (Pedro), and Ken Robinson (Hilton), with Shawn Bowers, Christopher Douglas, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Dana Marie Ingraham, Chelsea-Ann Jones, Dwight Xaveir Leslie, Morgan McGhee, Alysha Morgan, Housso Semon, Sir Brock Warren, Natey Jones, Tyla Collier, Tiffany Francès, Garfield Hammonds, Denver Andre Taylor, Sir Brock Warren), Carla Woods, and Christopher Henry Young, opens at Off-Broadway’s Public Theater.
Hang Time, written & directed by Zora Howard, featuring Akron Watson (Slim), Cecil Blutcher (Blood), and Dion Graham (Bird), with Aaron Morton, opens at Off-Broadway’s The Flea.
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, by Anna Deavere Smith, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, featuring Hugo Armstrong, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste, Lisa Reneé Pitts, Jeanne Sakata, and Sabina Zúñiga Varela, opens at LA’s Mark Taper Forum.
Vineyard Theatre‘s White Girl in Danger, world premiere by Michael R. Jackson, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz, featuring Liz Lark Brown (Diane W/Barbara W/Judith W), Kayla Davion (Florence), Latoya Edwards (Keesha Gibbs), Jennifer Fouché (Abilene), Morgan Siobhan Green (Carolline), Molly Hager (Megan White), Vincent Jamal Hooper (Tarik Blackwell), James Jackson, Jr. (Clarence), Tarra Conner Jones (Nell Gibbs), Alyse Alan Louis (Maegan Whithall), Lauren Marcus (Maegan Whitehead), and Eric William Morris (Matthew S/Scott M/ Zack Paul Gosselar), with LaDonna Burns, Melessie Clark, Alexis Cofield, Shane Donovan, Jon-Michael Reese, and Natalie Walker, begins previews at Off-Broadway’s Tony Kiser Theatre.
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending Mar. 12. Click here for the complete analysis.
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Reviews for Guys & Dolls at London’s Bridge Theatre:
The Guardian (Arifa Akbar): Frank Loesser’s 1950 musical comedy about sin and romantic salvation might feel dated in its themes but Nicholas Hytner’s production is a feat of innovative staging… Luminous signs overhead accompany scene switches, from the club at which showgirl Miss Adelaide (Marisha Wallace, sensational as always) performs to the Save-a-Soul church mission of Sarah Brown (Celinde Schoenmaker)… The musical’s story and themes feel entirely unreconstructed against this bold staging… Maybe because of the ever-reconstructing set, the drama itself never quite sweeps us in, although there is a sweet dynamic between Richardson and Schoenmaker, as well as good comic chemistry between Wallace and Mays. The choreography (by Arlene Phillips with James Cousins) never quite flies…
Variety (David Benedict): …His [Nicohlas Hytner] immersive, explosively joyous Guys and Dolls is a solid-gold knockout… he now takes that skill up umpteen notches moving not just the actors in Guys and Dolls but a third of the audience… there’s such a buzz in the auditorium that the audience is even dancing during the overture… Andrew Richardson making his professional stage debut as a deliciously easeful Sky Masterson, singing and dancing as if to the manner born…Celinde Schoenmaker, whose effortless soprano is an ideal match for her character [Sarah]… As Nathan, a man permanently flying by the seat of his pants, Daniel Mayes is simply ideal… [Marsha] Wallace… ignites her every second on stage [Adelaide]… But the surprise is the tender truth that Wallace finds in Adelaide…
Evening Standard (Nick Curtis): … a near-flawless revival in this immersive production by Nicholas Hytner… Marisha Wallace an absolute standout for her powerhouse vocals and perfect comic timing as Miss Adelaide… the perpetual muck-sweat anxiety of Daniel Mays as Adelaide’s eternal betrothed Nathan Detroit… Miss Adelaide’s Hot Box dancers are the most pneumatic I’ve ever seen, and the fiesta-turned-fight that envelops Sky and Sarah on a Havana dance floor is a piece of tightly orchestrated chaos… The lush romantic ballads – “I’ll Know,” “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” – are delivered with impeccable phrasing and feeling by Richardson and Schoenmaker but Marry the Man today, by the two female leads, is arguably the strongest duet with its torque-heavy, klezmer-influenced chorus…
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$20 tickets are now available to see The Secret Garden at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre, by using the the theatre’s Ticket Drop Tuesdays offer.
The production closes on Sun. Mar. 26.
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A NYC invitation-only industry reading of Georgette Reilly Timoney’s Taking Liberty, to take place Mar. 17. The director was not announced.
Bryan Cranston (John Adams) and Geneva Carr (Abigail Adams),
With the co-creator of the U.S. Constitution and future President away in Philadelphia, Abigail Adams struggles to run the family farm and raise her children in the middle of a war zone during a pandemic. Even so, Abigail advocates in her letters for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery as John shares what it takes to found the United States.
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Laguna Playhouse has announced its 2023-24 season (creative teams and casting TBA). Link TBA.
2 Pianos, 4 Hands (July 5-23), by Ted Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt
The Rainmaker (Sept. 20 – Oct. 8), by Richard Nash The Angel Next Door (Oct. 18 – Nov. 5), world premiere by Paul Slade Smith. The characters grapple with romance, misunderstandings, and comical situations which have the potential of major disasters and riotous laughter. Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 24 – Feb. 11, 2024) A Shayna Maidel (Mar. 13-31), by Barbara LeBow. One family’s story of survival and resiliency following the Holocaust. Separated for almost 20 years, two sisters are reunited in American after World War II. Through flashbacks and fantasies, the patchwork tale of life now shattered is painted in haunting detail. Tartuffe (Apr. 17 – May 5), by Jean Baptiste Poquelin (Molière) Holmes and Watson (May 20 – June 16), by Jeffrey Hatcher.
Who sang what songs at last night’s Broadway Backwards benefit concert, directed by Robert Bartley & Lauren Gemelli Bartley, with choreography by Mimi Auillin, Adam Roberts & Luis Salgado, with music supervision by Ted Arthuf & Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Jenn Colella: “Wilkommen” Corbin Bleu: “Mein Herr) Adrianna Hicks: “Ive Got Your Number” A.J. Shively & Kyle Scatliffe: “All ‘Er Nothin” Dormeshia: “The Right Girl Eden Espinosa & Samantha Pauly: “Agony” Len Cariou: “Something Wonderful” Phillippe Arroyo, Bradley Dean, Jeigh Madjus, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Turner Riley, Alexandra Silber, Paul C. Vogt: “One Day More” Robyn Hurder, Samantha Bershman & Brinie Wallace: “Buddy’s Blues” “Wayne Brady: “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” Anthony Rapp: “I Can Do Better That That” George Abud & Barrett Foa: “I Can Do Anything” Bonnie Milligan: “Maria” Robbie Fairchild & ensemble: “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” Beth Leavel: “In Love With You” Paulo Szot: “Where Is the Warmth” Ali Stroker: “What Do I Need With Love” Lea Salonga & ensemble: “Love Who You Love”
Andrés Acosta, Lawrence Alexander, Alex Aponte, Charles Barksdale, Joe Beauregard, Tiffan Borelli, Marissa Bregande, Randy Castillo, Andrew Cheng, Kate Coffey, Emily Croft, Nicholas Cunningham, Christina Galvis, Henry Gendron, Marshall Hagins, Javier Ignacio, Jaquez, Gabriella Joy, Sarah Kleist, David Lamarr, Kevin Loreque, Sean McGee, Miachael Olarbige, Amma Osei, Lukas Poost, Kevin Reed, Daniell Erin Rhodes, Janelle Farias Sando, Robbie Serrano, Molly Stilliens, Esteban Suero, Alec Varcas, and Mark William.**********************
Pacific Overtures continues through Apr. 9 at DC’s Signature Theatre, directed by Ethan Heard.
Eymard Meneses Cabling (Lord Abe), Andrew Cristi (Mother of Shogun), Albert Usueh (Boy), Jonny Lee Jr. (Manjiro), Quynh-My Luu (Tamate), Jason Ma (Reciter), Daniel May (Kayama), Christopher Mueller (Warrior), Chani Wereley (Madam), and Nicholas (Perry), with Alex Koichi Beard, Joey Ledonio, Ashley D. Nguyen, and Ryan Sellers.
Video: Sneak peek
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An industry-only developmental reading of Georgette Reilly Timoney’s Taking Liberty will take place Mar. 17 in NYC, directed by Nathaniel P. Claridad.
Bryan Cranston (John Adams) and Geneva Carr (Abigail Adams).
An adaptation of the letters exchanged by the historic couple. While John is in Philadelphia helping create a new nation, Abigail bears the burdens of running the family farm and raising their children in the midst of war and a pandemic. Even so, Abigail advocates in her letters for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery as John shares what it takes to found the United States.
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Manhattan School of Music will present the world premiere of Jim Wann, David Shenton, Emily Loesser, Don Stephenshon & Vince Vawter’s Paperboy, to run Mar. 24-26 at the schools’ Neidorff-Karpati Hall, directed by Stephenson.
Students from the school.
Adapted from Vawter’s book of the same name, the piece is inspired by Vawter’s own experience growing up in the 1950s. The story follows and 11-year-old boy with a stutter whose life is transformed one summer after taking over his friend’s paper route.
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Cabaret will run June 18 – July 8 at MA’s Barrington Stage Company, directed by Alan Paul, with choreography by Katie Spelman.
Krysta Rodiguez (Sally Bowles), Alysha Umphress (Fraulein Kost), Richard Kline (Herr Schultz), and more TBA.
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Lucas Hnath’s A Simulacrum will run May 25 – June 25 (opening June 14) at Atlantic Theatre Company.
TBA.
A metaplay which explores when illusionist Steve Cuiffo showed Hnath a series of magic tricks while the pair was collaborating on Dana H.