Today’s Highlights:
The Fantasticks, directed by David Elliott, featuring William Thomas Evans (Hucklebee), Eric Michael Gillett (Bellomy), Christopher Gurr (Henry), David Hughey (El Gallo), Jonathan Spivey (Mortimer), Levin Valayil (Matt), Charity Van Tassel (Mute), and Rebbekah Vega-Romero (Luisa), opens at MA’s Cape Playhouse.
Deaf West Theatre‘s Oedipus, directed by Jenny Koons, featuring Russell Harvard (King Oedipus), Alexandra Wailes, Amelia Hensley, and Matthew Jaeger, with Ashlea Hayes, Gregor Lopez, Andrew Morrill, On Shiu, Akia Takara, and, and Jon Wolfe-Nelson, opens at LA’s Getty Villa.
Almost Maine, by John Cariani, directed by Stephanie A. Coltrin, featuring Leah Dalrymple, Tara Donovan, Joseph Fuqua, Brendan Kane, Katie Pelensky, and Patrick Vest, begins previews at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre.
Ghosts, adapted by Richard Eyre, directed by Bart DeLorenzo, featuring Pamela J. Gray (Helene Alving), Barry Del Sherman (Pastor Manders, Alex Barlas (Helene’s Son), Viva Hassis Gentes (Maid), and J. Stephen Brantley (Jacob Engstrand), previews at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
The Group Rep‘s New Works Summer Festival, with all new plays, featuring Todd Andrew Ball, Van Boudreaux, Peter Henry Bussian, Paul Cady, Julie Davis, Julie Davis, Bert Emmett, Michael Gabiano, Sheena Georges, Pascale Gigon, Tessa Grace, Lee Grober, Doug Haverty, Linnea Ingesson, Kat Kemmet, Maria Kress, James Lemire, Melissa Lugo, Hisato Masuyama, Beccy Quinn, Hersha Parady, Anica Petrovic, Kirstina Reyes, Michael robb, Michelle Schultz, Mark Stancato, Neil Thompson, Troy Whitaker, and Tamir Yardenne, closes at North Hollywood’s Lonny Chapman Theatre. Admission is FREE – first come, first served.
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Broadway Grosses for the week ending Sept. 4.
Click here for the complete analysis.
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GRACE NOTES Quote of the Week: “A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.” ~ Kenneth Tynan
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Complete casting has been announced for Anthony McCarten’s The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise, which beings previews Nov. 2 and opens Dec. 4 at the Broadhurst Theatre, directed by Michael Mayer, with choreography by Steven Hoggett, and music supervision by Sonny Paladino.
Will Swenson (Neil Diamond), Mark Jacoby (Neil Diamond – Now), Robyn Hurder (Marcia), and Linda Powell (Doctor), Jessie Fisher (Jaye Posner), Michael McCormick (Fred Colby/Tommy ORourke), Tom Alan Robbins (Bert Berns/Kieve Diamond), Bri Sudia (Ellie Greenwich/Rose Diamond), and Nick Fradiani (Neil Diamond on Wed. evenings), with Neal Benari, Ninako Donville, Kalonjee Gallimore, Samantha Gershamn, Alex Hairston, Makai Hernandez, Jess LeProtto, Tatiana Lofton, Aaron James McKenzie, Mary Page Nance, Robert Pendilla, Max Sangerman, and MiMi Scardulla.
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Who’s Afraid of Virgnia Woolf? will run Oct. 6-29 (opening Oct. 13) at Yale Rep, directed by James Bundy.
René Augesen, Dan Donohue, Nate Janis, and Emma Pfitzer Price.
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Peter Nichols’ A Day in the Death of Joe Egg will run Oct. 5 – Nov. 21 (opening Oct. 7) at the Odyssey Theatre, directed by Ethan Maniquis.
Nick Court (Bri), Sasha Higgins (Sheila), and Allison Cameron Gray (Josephine).
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Into the Woods has announced its final extension, which will now close Sun. Jan. 8, 2023 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
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Private industry readings of A Wonderful World will take place Sept. 19 & 20 (both at 2:30 PM ET) in NYC, conceived by Christopher Renshaw & Andrew Delaplaine, written by Aurin Squire, and directed by Renshaw, with choreography by Rickey Tripp.
James Monroe Iglehart (Louis Armstrong), Krystal Joy Brown (Alpha Smith), Patrice Covington (Lucille Wilson), Jennie Harney-Fleming (Lil Harden), Aisha Jackson (Daisy Parker), Matt Bogart (Joe Glaser), Kevin Dennis (Johnny Collins), DeWitt Fleming Jr. (Lincoln Perry), Gavin Gregory (King Joe Oliver), and Xavier mcKnight (Young Louis), with Rachel Schur Chase, Nigel Jamal Hall, Afra Hines, Joshua Keith, Krystal Imani Mackie, Barrett Martin, Aurelia Michael, Micah Jeremiah Mims, Alysha Morgan, Kevin Ricardo Tate, Sir Brock Warren, and Dori Waymer.
Told from the perspective of the women in Armstrong’s life, the musical charts Armstrong’s journey from the birth of jazz in his native New Orleans through his international stardom. The musical also focuses on the complex history of race in America, leading up to the Civil Rights Era.
Click here to learn more about the musical.
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Steven Brinberg: Simply Barbra will run Sept 22 & 23 (both at 7 PM PT) at Palm Springs’ Oscars.
Jonathan Sharp (Sept. 22) and Richard Jay Alexander (Sept. 23).
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Rogue Machine Theatre presents Samuel D. Hunter’s A Great Wilderness Sept. 17 – Oct. 31 at the Matrix Theatre, directed by Elina de Santos.
Jeffrey Delfin (Daniel), John Perrin Flyn (Walt), Tony Pasqualini (Tim), Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield (Eunice), Rachel Sorsa (Abby), and Tania Verafield (Janet).
The play navigates the complex terrain into gay conversion therapy. Walt has devoted his life to “curing” gay teenage boys, but his previously unwavering moral compass no longer points one way. How does one find their true north>
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Kevin McAllister’s revue, The Most Wonderful Time will run Dec. 16-31 at MD’s Olney Theatre, with music direction by Christopher Youstra.
Casting TBA.
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A reading of Boni B. Alvarez’s Marabella will take place Mon. Sept. 12 at 7:30 PM PT at Pasadena’s A Noise Within, directed by Fran de Leon. 
required here.
Camila Ascencio, Danny Breslin, Julia Cho, Christine Corpuz, Crissy Guerrero, Geri-Nikole Love, Daniel Rashid, James Leo Ryan, Valerie Spencer, and Mary Kate Wiles.
How much should a woman be willing to sacrifice for the adoration of a man?
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The Pasadena Pops has announced its Broadway on Film concert, to take place Sat. Sept. 10 at 7:30 PM PT at the L.A. Arboretum, conducted by Michael Feinstein.
LaChanze, Lillias White, and Tony Yazbeck.
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Tectonic Theatre‘s annual benefit, A Tectonic Cabaret, will take place Mon. Oct. 3 at 6:30 PM ET at NYC’s Chelsea Factory, directed by Timothy Koch, and hosted by Billy Porter.
James Catherwood Hormel.
Joaquina Kalukango, Michael Urie, and more TBA.
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I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce, written by & starring Ronnie Marmo, will run Sept. 15 – Oct. 1 (opening Sept. 17) at North Hollywood’s Theatre 68 Arts Complex, directed by Joe Mantegna.
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5 Star Theatrical‘s The Addams Family, by Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice & Andrew Lippa, will run Oct. 14-22 at Thousand Oaks’ Bank of America PAC (formerly the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza), directed by Kirsten Chandler, with choreography by Darby Epperson, and music direction by Ryan O’Connell.
Teri Hatcher (Morticia Addams), Ed Staudenmayer (Gomez Addams), Janelle Villas (Wednesday Addams), Leander Lewis (Pugsley Addams), Andrew Metzger (Uncle Fester), Aaron Laplante (Lurch), Samantha Wynn-Greenstone (Grandma Addams), Tristan Turner (Lucas Beineke), Benjamin Perez (Mal Beineke), and Trisha Rapier (Alice Beineke), with Luis Anduaga, Bernadette Bently, Amanda Boutaud, Cole Fletcher, Dahlya Glick, Lauren Han, Marlon Magtibay, David Wesley Mitchell, Mazie Rudolph, Landen Starkman, Dekontee Tucrkile, and Rianny Vasquez.
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Sandy Rustin, Wilson Phillips & and Berlin’s Mystic Pizza – A New Musical will run Sept. 15 – Oct. 30 at Northport’s Engeman Theater, directed by Igor Goldin, with choreography by Ashley Marinelli.
Emily Rose Lyons (Daisy), Brooke Sterling (Kat), Michelle Beth Herman (Jojo), Kathryn Markey (Leona), Corbin Payne (Tim), Stephen Cerf (Bill), and Jake Bentley (Young Charlie), with Carey Blackburn, Coleman Cummings, brandon Kallen, Kent M. Lewis, Paris Martino, Michael Morley, Andryi Nahirniak, Brandt Norris, Hannah Record, Molly Samson, and Elise Shangold.
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Eileen Barnett: You Must Believe in Spring (In October) will take place Thurs. Oct. 13 at 8 PM PT at Studio City’s Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, with music direction by Michael Collum.
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Complete casting has been announced for Rabiah Hussain’s Word-Play, to run Sept. 29 – Nov. 5 (opening Oct. 4) at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Nimmo Ismail.
Kosar Ali, Mariam Haque, Maimuna Memon, Laurence Ubong Williams, and Ragevan Vasan.
In the Downing Street Press Office and emergency meeting has been called. The Prime Minister has been ad-libbing on live TV (again) and his words are going viral. There are accusations of Islamophobia, and demands for an apology; but as the team debates what to do next, it’s already too late. His words have found their way to dinner parties, bus journeys and newspaper columns across the nation – and not everyone is angry.
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Roundabout Theatre will present a benefit concert reading of The Pirates of Penzance, adapted by Rupert Holmes, which will take place Mon. Oct. 17 at 8 PM ET at Broadway’s American Airlines Theatre, directed by Scott Ellis, with choreography by Warren Carlyle, and music direction by Joseph Joubert.
Ramin Karimloo (Pirate King), Lilli Cooper (Ruth), David Hyde Pierce (Major General), Colton Ryan (Frederic), Samantha Williams (Mabel), Eddie Cooper (Police/Pirate), Cicily Daniels (Stanley Daughter), Jovan Dansberry (Police/Pirate), Alex Dorf (Police/Pirate), Rick Raugno (Police/Pirate), Leslie Flesner (Stanley Daughter), Rick Raugno (Police/Pirate), Curtis Holland (Police/Pirate), Madison McBride (Stanley Daughter), and Ryan Worsing (P0lice/Pirate), with more TBA.
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The world premiere of Bradley Bredeweg, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo’s Invincible – the Musical will run Nov. 22 – Dec. 17 (opening Nov. 30) at Beverly Hills’ The Wallis, directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene, with music direction by Jesse Vargas.
Casting TBA.
A reimagining of Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century through Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo’s songs.
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The world premiere of Ingrid Michaelson & Bekah Brunstetter’s The Notebook will run Sept. 6 – Oct. 16 (opening TBA) at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, directed by Michael Greif & Schele Williams, with choreography by Katie Spelman, and music supervision by Carmel Dean.
Yassmin Alers (Nurse Joanna), John Beasley (Older Noah), Andréa Burns (Nurse Lori/Mother), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Father/Son), John Cardoza (Younger Noah), Corcas Leung (Georgie), Omar Lopez-Cepero (Lon), Sophie Madorsky (Sarah), Liam Oh (Fin/Justin), Maryann Plunkett (Older Allie), Jordan Tyson (Young Allie), Ryan Vasquez (Middle Noah), and Joy Woods (Middle Allie), with Alex Benoit, Mary Ernster, Jerica Exum, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman), RhonniRose Mantilla, and Carson Stewart.
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Kritzerland’s Anything Goes – The 12th Anniversary Show will take place Wed. Sept. 14 at 8 PM PT at Studio City’s Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, directed & hosted by Bruce Kimmel, with music direction by Richard Allen.
Jason Graae, Ilene Graff, Damon Kirsche, Danika Masi, Adrienne Stiefel, and Robert Yacko.