Today’s Highlights:
A Complicated Woman, by Ianne Fields Stewart, Jonathan Brielle & Sam Salmond, directed & choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, featuring Nora Brigid Monahan (John/Jean), L Morgan Lee (Nina Mae), Christian Brailsford (L Morgan Lee), Klea Blackhurst (Myrtle), Danny Rutigliano (Lee Shubert), Dashiell Gregory (Carl), Zachary A. Myers (Muhlaysia), and Arewà Basit (Diamond), with Bryan Munar and Siena Rafter, opens at CT’s Goodspeed.
The Boston Pops‘ The Eyes of the World: From D-Day to VE Day concert (a musical journey of the final months of World War II in Europe), conducted by Keith Lockhart, featuring Kate Rockwell, Nicholas Rodriguez, Daniel Yearwood, and Shereen Ahmed, opens at the Boston Symphony Hall.
Jelly’s Last Jam, directed by Kent Gash, featuring John Clarence Stewart (Jelly Roll Morton), Cress Williams (Chimney Man), and Jasmine Amy Rogers (Anita), Karole Foreman (Gran /Mimi), Wilkie Ferguson III (Jack the Bear), Grasan Kingsberry (Buddy Bolden), Summer Nicole Greer (Miss Mamie), Doran Butler (Young Jelly), Cyd Charisse Glover-Hill (Hunnie), Naomi C. Walley (Hunnie), Janaya Jones (Hunnie), Hannah Yosef (Too Tight Nora), Joe Aaron Reid (Foot-In-Yo-Ass Sam), and Eric B. Anthony (Three Finger Jake), with Davon Rashawn, Amber Liekhus, and Chante Carmel, begins previews at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Holmes & Watson, by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by David Ellenstein, featuring Richard Baird (Watson), Matt Koenig (Holmes #2), Matthew Floyd Miller (Holmes #1), Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (Dr. Evans), Mike Peebler, (Orderly/Moriarty/Inspector), Alice Sherman (The Matron/The Woman), and Christopher M. Williams (Holmes #3), begins previews at Laguna Playhouse.
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending May 26.
Click here for the complete analysis.
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Theatre West will present its 3rd annual Proud Out Loud celebration June 22-23, offering a weekend of programing honoring the achievements of Terrence McNally.
An evening of readings (Sat. June 22 at 8 PM), from Master Class, The Lisbon Traviata, Some Men, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Perfect Ganesh, along with songs and a few surprises.
“Every Act of Life,” (Sun. June 23 at 2 PM): documentary screening about McNally, written & directed by Jeff Kaufman, featuring F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, Tyne Daly, Edie Falco, John Glover, Anthony Heald, Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, and Rita Moreno, followed by a discussion and talkback.
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Marin Ireland’s Pre-Existing Condition will run June 7 – Aug. 3 (opening June 18) at the Connelly Theatre, directed by Maria Dizzia.
Tatiana Maslany, Maria Dizzzia & Tavi Gevinson, Deirdre O’Connell & Julia Chan (rotating as “A”), with Sarah Steele, Dael Orlandersmith, Greg Keller, Raquel Chavez, and Gregory Connors.
In the aftermath of a life-altering event, the play explores the challenges, shared community, and everyday indignities of learning to move forward.
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Video: Watch the complete Memorial Day Concert, starring Cynthia Erivo, BD Wong, Patina Miller, Ruthie Ann Miles, and more, hosted by Joe Mantegna & Gary Sinise.
Cynthia Erivo, Ruthie Ann Miles, Patina Miller, Gary LeVox, Mary McCormack, Jamey Johnson, Bryan Cranston, BD Wong, and a segment Honoring a Generation’s Service with Golden Globe nominee Jena Malone.
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The American Popular Song Society’s 3rd Annual Gala Benefit will take place Mon. June 17 at 5:30 PM at NYC’s Cutting Room, directed & music directed by Michael Lavine.
Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.
Marilyn Maye, Loni Ackerman, Danny Bacher, Barbara Blieier, Stephen Brinberg, Margery Cohen, Gretchen Cryer, Sean Harkness, Daniel Jenkins, Judy Kaye, Charlotte & Emily Maltby, Sally Mayes, Christiane Noll, Benjamin Pajak, Austin Pendleton, Steve Ross, Thom Sesma, Elena Shaddow, Jenny Lee Stern, Mark William, Walter Willison, and a few surprises.
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The 2024 Drama Desk Awards will take place Monday June 10 at 6:15 PM at the NYU Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Pl.) Click here to learn more.
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Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre‘s Broadway in your Backyard will run June 6 – Aug. 6 at various Chicago venues, directed by Frankie Leo Bennett, with music direction by Linda Madonia.
(rotating): Lydia Burke, Tafadzwa Diener, Michael Earvin Martin, Luke Nowakowski, Juwon Tyrel Perry, and Bethany Thomas.
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Video: Broadway’s The Who’s Tommy perform “See Me, Feel Me” and “Pinball Wizard” on Good Morning America.
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The Al Hirschfeld Foundation is celebrating Pride Month with a new online exhibition, “Hirschfeld’s Drag Show,” spotlighting the renowned caricaturist’s drawings of Broadway shows featuring the art of drag, curated by Charles Busch. Click the link above to view the exhibition.
Busch has provided commentary for the images chosen for the collection, which include caricatures of such shows as Hairspray, Victor/Victoria, Charlie’s Aunt, and Peter Pan. Actors depicted include Julie Andrews, Mary Martin, Harvey Fierstein, Charles Ludlam, José Ferrer, Katharine Hepburn, Raquel Welch, BD Wong, Robert Morse, and more.
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The Grapes of Wrath will run July 17 – Sept. 14 at the Lyttelton Theatre, adapted by Frank Galati and directed by Carrie Cracknell.
Cherry Jones (Ma Joad), Zoë Aldrich, Afolabi Alli, Rhys Bailey, Rachel Barnes, Brandon Bassir, Lin Blakley, Morgan Burgess, Tom Bulpett, Ryan Ellsworth, Amelia Gabriel, Christopher Godwin, Valentine Hanson, Greg Hicks, Harley Johnston, Natey Jones, William Lawlor, Mirren Mack, Maimuna Memon, Matthew Romain, Anish Roy, Michael Shaeffer, Robyn Sinclair, Tucker St Ivany, Emma Tracey, Harry Treadaway and Cath Whitefield.
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The Fire Island Dance Festival, in support of BCEFA, will run July 19-21 at Fire Island Pines, hosted by Beth Leavel.
Click here for more information and tickets.
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Max Wolf Friedlich’s JOB will run July 15 – Sept. 29 (opening July 30) at the Hayes Theatre, directed by Michael Herwitz.
Peter Friedman (Lloyd) and Sydney Lemmon (Jane).
Jane, an employee at a big tech company (you know the one), has been placed on leave after becoming the subject of a viral video. She arrives in the office of a crisis therapist – Loyd (Friedman) – determined to be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. JOB zooms in on two careerists of different generations, genders, and political paradigms to examine what it means to be a citizen of the internet and our obligation to help the people who need it most.
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CA’s Coachella Valley Rep has announced its upcoming concert series:
Melissa Errico (June 5)
Glen Rosenblum (June 12 & July 17)
Leslie Tinnaro (June 19)
Philip Chaffin (June 26)
Deven Green & Handsome Ned (July 10)
Julie & Jana Cardia (July 24)
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Project Shaw presents a script-in-hand performance of Oscar Wilde’s A Portrait of Mr. W. H. with songs and poems, on Mon. June 24 at 7 PM at NYC’s Symphony Space, directed by Mark Waldrop.
Thom Sesma (Sir George Erskine), Charles Busch (Basil), A.J. Shively (Cyril Graham), and Jay O. Sanders (William Shakespeare).
A notorious short story that offers a theory regarding whom Shakespeare might truly have written his infamous Sonnets. In Wilde’s hands, the inspiration for the world’s most famous poems is a beautiful young actor in Shakespeare’s company. In attempting to prove this theory, three men face their most secret fears and even death.
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Renée Fleming in Recital will take place Sat. June 15 at 7:30 PM at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.