Today’s Highlights:
Caroline, or Change, by Tony Kushner & Jeanine Tesori, directed by Michael Longhurst, featuring Sharon D. Clark (Caroline Thibodeaux), Cassie Levy (Rose Stopnick Gellman), John Cariani (Stuart Gellman), Samanthan Williams (Emmie Thibodeaux), Joy Hermalyn (Grandma Gellman), Arica Jackson (The Washing Machine), Tamika Lawrence (Dotty Moffett), Kevin S. McAllister (The Dryer/The Bus), Harper Miles (Radio 3), N’Kenge (The Moon), Nya (Radio 2), Nasia Thomas (Radio 1), Stuart Zagnit (Grandpa Gellman), Chip Zien (Mr. Stopnick), Alexander Bello (Jackie Thibodeaux), Jayden Theophile (Joe Thibodeaux), Richard Alexander Phillips (Joe and Jackie Thibodeaux alternate), opens at Broadway’s Studio 54.
Gingold Theatrical Group‘s Mrs. Warren’s Profession, directed by David Staller, featuring Karen Ziema (Mrs. Warren), Robert Cuccioli, David Lee Huynh, Alvin Keith, Nicole King ,and Raphael Nash Thompson, with Katya Collazo and Max Roll, opens at Off-Broadway’s Theatre Row.
The Tragedy of Macbeth, current London production, starring James McArdle and Saoirse Ronan, begins streaming at the Almeida Theatre.
Randy Rainbow in concert opens at CT’s Ridgefield Playhouse.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution.” ~ Dustin Hoffman
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Joe DiPietro & David Bryan’s Diana, The Musical will resume previews Nov. 2 and open Nov. 17 at the Longacre Theatre, directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Kelly Devine, and music supervision by Ian Eisendrath.
Jeanna de Waal (Diana), Roe Hartrampf (Prince Charles), Erin Davie (Camilla Parker Bowles), and Judy Kaye (Queen Elizabeth), with Zach Adkins, Ashley Andrews, Austen Danielle Bohmer, Holly Ann Butler, Richard Gatta, Alex Hairston, Lauren E.J. Hamilton, Shaye B. Hopkins, André Jordan, Gareth Keegan, Libby Lloyd, Nathan Lucrezio, Tomás Matos, Chris Medlin, Anthony Murphy, Kristen Faith Oei, Laura Stracko, Bethany Ann Tesarck, and Michael Williams.
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The very popular Indian film, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (known as DDLJ in India), is now in development as a new musical, with a new title — Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical, which is expected to open on Broadway in 2022-23 season, with a book & lyrics by Nell Benjamin, a score by Vishal Dadlani & Shekhar Raviiani, and directed by Aditya Chopra, with choreograph by Rob Ashford.
The pre-Broadway world premiere will run Sept. 1 – Oct. 16, 2022 at San Diego’s Old Globe.
The story of Simran, a young Indian-American woman whose future is set: an arranged marriage back in India to a family friend. But when she convinces her very strict dad that she should spend a summer of freedom and fun in Europe, she falls for the charming Rog, and her careful, logical plans go out the window. Can she be true to both her heritage and her heart? Can carefree American Rog win over her traditional father?
Information on the Broadway dates, casting and additional creative team members TBA.
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Because of issues around the life rights of Joan Rivers, a limited series, titled “The Comeback Girl,” in which Kathryn Hahn would have played the comedienne, is not moving forward.
The series was set during a precarious time in Joan Rivers’ life: primarily in the aftermath of the cancellation of her late-night talk show on Fox, “The Late Show.” That period coincided with the death by suicide of Rivers’ husband (and “Late Show” producer) Edgar Rosenberg — Melissa Rivers’ father.
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Manhattan Theatre Club‘s Morning Sun, by Simon Stephens, directed by Lila Neugebaur, starring Blair Brown, Edie Falco, and Marin Ireland, has been extended through Dec. 19 at New York City Center.
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Ashley Fox Linton‘s new album, “Christmas Will Keep Us Warm” is now available on all digital platforms, featuring many original songs paired with her favorite obscure holiday gems. 
Download here.
1. “Christmas is Coming”
2. “Happy Christmas, Little Friend”
3. “My Favorite Part of Christmas”
4. “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle”
5. “Winter Was Warm”
6. “Christmas Will Keep Us Warm”
7. “I Think of You at Christmas”
8. “The Star (I Will Light the Way)”
9. “I’d Like You for Christmas”
10. “The Merriest”
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Christina Anderson, Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, Nathan Tysen, Masi Asare & Larry Kirwan’s Paradise Square will begin previews Feb. 22, 2022 and open Mar. 20, at the Barrymore Theatre, directed by Moisés Kaufman, with choreography by Bill T. Jones, and music direction by Jason Howland. Click here for the show’s website.
Joaquina Kalukango (Nelly O’Brien), Matt Bogart (Willy O’Brien), John Dossett (Frederick Tiggens), Sidney Dupont (Washington Henry), A.J. Shiveley (Owen Duignan) Kevin Dennis (Mike Quinlan), Nathaniel Stampley (Reverend Samuel Jacob Lewis), Chilina Kennedy (Annie Lewis), Gabrielle McClinton (Angelina Baker), Jacob Fishel (Milton Moore), Kevin Dennis (‘Lucky’ Mike Quinlan), with Hailee Kaleem Wright, with Kennedy Caughell, Colin Cunliffe, Chloe Davis, Josh Davis, Bernard Dotson, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Sam Edgerly, Jacobi Hall, Sean Jenness, Ben Michael, Jay McKenzie, Kayla Pecchioni, Eilis Quinn, Lee Siegel, Erica Spyres, Lael Van Keuren, Alan Wiggins, Kristen Beth Williams, Rashidra Scott, and Yasmeen Sulieman.
New York City. 1863. The Civil War raged on. An extraordinary thing occurred amid the dangerous streets and crumbling tenement houses of the Five Points, the notorious 19th-century Lower Manhattan slum. For many years, Irish immigrants escaping the devastation of the Great Famine settled alongside free-born Black Americans and those who escaped slavery, arriving by means of the Underground Railroad. The Irish, relegated at that time to the lowest rung of America’s social status, received a sympathetic welcome from their Black neighbors (who enjoyed only slightly better treatment in the burgeoning industrial-era city). The two communities co-existed, intermarried, raised families, and shared their cultures in this unlikeliest of neighborhoods.
The pre-Broadway engagement will run Nov. 2 – Dec. 5 at Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre.
Video: Opening number.
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The Martha Graham Dance Company’s Appalachian Spring, with music by Aaron Copland, will take place Fri. Nov. 19 at 8 PM PT at Northridge’s The Soraya, conducted by Christopher Rountree.
Lloyd Knight, Xin Ying, Natasha N. Diamond-Walker, Lloyd Mayor, Anne O’Donnell, Lorenzo Pagano, Anne Souder, So Young An, Alessio Crognale, Laurel Dalley Smith, Jacob Larsen, Marzia Memoli, Richard Villaverde, Leslie Andrea Williams, Devin Loh, and Kate Reyes.
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A Free Evening of Latin Music will take place Sat. Nov. 6 at 7 PM PT at Hollywood’s LGBT Center. To ensure the safety of audience, performers and crew, attendance will be capped at 100 people. Proof of Covid vaccination and indoor masking will be required.
Jose Richard Aviles, Cello Azul, Irene Diaz, Joey Flamboyant, Magaly La Voz de Oro, Joshua Martin, and Porfin (Dennis & Edwin Peraza).
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The Actors Fund Virtual Gala will take place Mon. Nov. 1 at 7 PM ET.
Debbie Allen, Niko Elmaleh, Stacey Mindich, and Seth Rudetsky & James Wesley.
Robert Fairchild, Michael Greif, Andrea Martin, and Chandra Wilson.
Jason Robert Brown, Megan Fairchild, Santino Fontana, Syncopated Ladies, Jose Llana, Kelli O’Hara, Zachary Noah Piser, Michael Rosen, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
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LA’s IAMA Theatre Company‘s New Works Festival will present staged readings of 6 new play over the course of one weekend, Nov. 11-14, at Santa Monica’s Broadwater Second Stage..
Lifeline (Nov. 11 at 8 PM PT), by Robert Axelrod, directed by Keith Powell. After the death of a love one, a mother begins working through her grief by volunteering at a suicide hotline.
Edward’s Elysium, Parts 1, 2, 3 (Nov. 12 at 8 PM PT), by Larry Powell, directed by Roger Q. Mason. Eddie Seales is on an adventure to find new love, buy may have to leave his life’s work behind at a time when his community needs him most in order to find it.
Gusher (Nov. 13 at 3 PM PT), by Jan Rosenberg. Davie and her girlfriend Jules are trying to enjoy their vacation, but Davie can’t stop bleeding. A storm is brewing, and when some unexpected visitors who up, things get more than a little freaky… and messy.
Radical (Nov. 13 at 8 PM PT), by Isaac Gomez, directed by Jess McLeod. After a failed attempt at a massive act of domestic terrorism, a Mexican American millenial is held hostage by her sister, who hopes to de-radicalize her before it’s too late. But as she’s confronting the relationships and memories that got her here, she’s forced to reconcile the person she’s become with the person she left behind.
The Play My Family Can’t Know Exists (Nov. 14 at 3 PM PT), by Melissa Jane Osborne, directed by Michelle Bossy. Two adult children have to confront their present when they are summoned by their mother to purge their childhood home. This play is about the roles we play, faith and how we can hate/love out family so whole heartedly because we are nothing like them — and because we are them.
Invisible (Nov. 14 at 8 PM PT), by Douglas Lyons. Lifelong best friends Eemani and Jade decompress one afternoon over a good blunt. Unbeknownst to them, the blunt is laced with much more that week, spiraling the duo into a wild hallucination where slavery and superpowers collide.