This Weekend’s Highlights:
Friday, December 5
Resplendent Joy: Christmas Traditions from Spain and Portugal, by Robert Eisenstein & Christopher Kendall, featuring Robert Eisenstein (viol, recorder), Amy Domingues (viol), Elizabeth Hardy (dulcian, recorder), Paula Maust (organ), Daniel Meyers (trombone, recorder, percussion), and Hideki Yamaya (vihuela), and six guest vocalists: sopranos Crossley Hawn and Susan Lewis Kavinski, alto Hannah Baslee, tenors Oliver Mercer and John Logan Wood, and baritone Corbin Phillips opens at DC’s Folger Shakespeare Library.
Noises Off, directed by Shelley Butler, featuring Rhett Guter (Garry LeJeune), Robert Mammana (Lloyd Dallas), David Manis (Selsdon Mowbray), Linda Mugleston (Dotty Otley), Kilty Reidy, (Tim Allgood), Terence Archie (Frederic Fellowes), Sarah Marie Joyce (Belinda Blair), Olivia Kaufmann (Brook Ashton), Olivia Kaufmann (Brooke Ashton), and Avneet Kaur Sandhu Poppy Norton-Taylor, opens at Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Theatre.
Bob’s Holiday Office Party, by Rob Elk, directed by Matt Roth, featuring Joe Keyes, Rob Elk, Mark Fite, Judy Heneghan, Johanna McKay, Peter Breitmayer, Andrea Hutchman, Sirena Irwin, Johanna McKay & Pat Towne, opens at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
Die Heart: The Director’s Cut, by the Troubadour Theater Company, directed & choreographed by Matt Walker, featuring Beth Kennedy, Rick Batalla, Mike Sulprizio, Clinton Roane, Chelle Denton, John Paul Batista, Trey McIntyre, Philip McNiven, Lara Lafferty, Benji Kaufman, Luis Martinez, Sofia JoAnna, and Matt Walker, opens at Burbank’s Colony Theatre.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, by William Finn & Rachel Sheinkin, directed by Danny Mefford, featuring Justin Cooley (Leaf Coneybear), Kevin McHale (William Barfée), Philippe Arroyo (Chip Tolentino), Leana Rae Concepcion and (Marcy Park), Justin Cooley (Leaf Coneybear), Kevin McHale (William Barfée), Philippe Arroyo (Chip Tolentino), and Leana Rae Concepcion (Marcy Park), Jasmine Amy rogers (Olive Ostrovsky), Autumn Best (Logaininne Schwartzgrubenierre, and Matt Manue (Mitch Mahoney), begins previews at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
The Big Fat Christmas Show benefit concert, hosted by Michael-Leon Wooley & Jason Michael Snow, featuring Clint Browers, Carly Hughes, Wendy rosoff, Rena Strober, and Sharon Wilkins, at 8 PM at North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre.
“Merrily We Roll Along” film version, directed by Maria Friedman, featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez alongside alongside Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clark and Reg Rogers, released in theaters nationwide.
Saturday, December 6
Nepo Baby, by Nick Bisa, featuring Theodore Bouloukos opens at Off-Broadway’s New Stage Performance Space (36 West 106 St.)
The Complete works of Jane Austen, Abridged, by Jessica Bedford, Kathyrn MacMillan, Charlotte Northeast, and Meghan Winch, directed by Robert Kelley, featuring Alyssa Anne Austin, Kyle T. Hester, and Kirsten Hojó, opens at CA’s Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara.
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company‘s A Christmas Carol, directed by Steven Maler, featuring Neal Ferreira (Mr. Fezziwig), Laura McHugh (Mrs. Fezziwig), Tamara Rya (Mrs. Cratchit), Damon Singletary (Marley), Kathy St. George Church Warden), Robert St. Laurence (Bob Cratchit), Bobbie Steinbach (Old Joe), and Jared Troilo (Fred), with Stephen Caliskan, Peter DiMaggio, David L. Jiles, Jr,) Kathryn McKellar, John Pagliarulo, Carolyn Saxon, Kayla Shimizu, Lily Segal Steven, Hayley Travers, and Gillian Weatherford, opens at Boston’s Cutler Majestic Theatre.
Bug, by Tracy Letts, directed by David Crome, featuring Carrie Coon and Namir Smallwood, withRandall Arney, Jennifer Engstrom, Steve Key, begins previews at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
Spiral Bound, a free works-in-progress performance, by Miranda Ferriss Jones & Richard Edelman, featuring Laura Benanti and Khaila Wilcoxon, backed by students from Pace University, at 7:30 PM at Lincoln Center. Tickets not required.
Jason Robert Brown Benefit Concert, with special guests Brown, Joy Woods, and Sierra Boggess, at 8 PM at Nyack, NY’s The Angel Nyack.
Write Act Rep‘s Pieces of December, a series of one-act plays, by Susan C. Hunter, David Lvov, Thomas J. Misuraca, Dmitry Parkhomchuk, Abigael Peltonen, Jorge A. Pulido and Darrin Yalacki, Susan C. Hunter, David Lvov, Laura Lineback, Dmitry Parkhomchuk. Abigael Peltonen, Jorge A. Pulido and Darrin Yalack, directed by Susan C. Hunter, David Lvov, Laura Lineback, Dmitry Parkhomchuk. Abigael Peltonen, Jorge A. Pulido and Darrin Yalacki , featuring Alicia Agramonte, Bruce Anderson, Lance Bagley, Allison Delaney, Lisa Eve, Katie Mary Garland, Sonja Hansen, Kimo Keoke, Mike Knox, Adam Kroksh, Michael Kulukundis, Ceci Laiche, Nneka, Jesse O’Freel, Marquice Perrera, Jack Searer, and Ally Jo Williams, closes at North Hollywood’s Brickhouse Theatre.
Sunday, December 7
Once in a Lifetime: A Sammy Davis, Jr. Centennial Celebration concert (both live & livestreamed), with music direction by Michael Lavine, featuring Michael-Demby Cain, Keith David, Jerry Dixon, Ava Nicole Frances, Rupert Holmes, Nicolas King Marc Kudisch, Lee Roy Reams, T. Oliver, Blinky Williams Reid ,Jasmine Amy Rogers, Blinky Williams, Eric Jordan Young, and some surprises, at 7 PM at NYC’s 54 Below.
Interact Theatre Company‘s Life, Death, and Other Opportunities reading, by Jeff Kaufman, directed by Andy Wolk, featuring ohn Glover, John Ross Bowie, Amy Pietz, Rob Nagle, Erin Pineda, Nicole Javier, and Logan Leonardo Arditty, at 2 PM at LA’s Odyssey Theatre.
Not Ready for Prime Time, by Erik J. Rodriguez & Charles A. Sothers, directed by Conor Bagley, featuring Ian Bouillon, Ryan Crout, Jared Grimes, Caitlin Houlahad, Nate Nanis, Krisian Lugo, Woodrow Proctor, Taylor richardson, and Evan Rubin, closes at Off-Broadway’s MCC Theatre.
Paranormal Activity, by Levi Holloway, directed by Felix Barrett, featuring Melissa James and Patrick Heusinger, closes at LA’s Ahmanson Theatre.
Fremont Ave., world premiere by Reggie D. White, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, featuring Doug Brown, Bradley Gibson, Jerrika Hinton, Stanley Andrew Jackson, Kevin Mambo, Wildlin Pierrevil , Jeffrey Rashad, Galen J. Williams, Eli El, and Dominique Gray, closes at DC’s Arena Stage.
Suffs, by Shaina Taub, directed by Leigh Silverman, featuring Maya Keleher (Alice Paul), Danyel Fulton (Ida B. Wells), Marya Grandy (Carrie Chapman Catt), Jenny Ashman (President Woodrow Wilson), Monica Tulia Ramirez (Inez Milholland), Gwynne Wood (Lucy Burns), Joyce Meimei Zheng (Ruza Wenclawska), Livvy Marcus (Doris Stevens), Trisha Jeffrey (Mary Church Terrell), Brandi Porter (Dudley Malone), Laura Stracko (Alva Belmont/Phoebe Burn), Tami Dahbura (Mollie Hay), and Victoria Lauren Pekel (Phyllis Terrell/Robin, closes at LA’s Pantages Theatre.
Table 17, by Douglas Lyons, directed by Zhailon Levingston, featuring Gail Bean (Snowfall,(as Jada), Biko Eisen-Martin (Dallas), and Michael Rishawn (River, Eric & Others ), closes at LA’s Geffen Playhouse.
Pointy Scissors, world premiere written & directed by Carla Rodriguez, featuring Angela Bruning, Anibal Silverya, Richy Storrs, Monika Vidakovic, and Danielle Weeks, closes at LA’s Theatre West.
Cranes, by L.R. Gordon, directed by Ann Bronston, featuring Martha Hackett and Taubert Nadalini, closes at Venice, CA’s Pacific Resident Theatre.
**********************
The world premiere of The Bengsons’ My Joy is Heavy will run Feb. 5 – Apr. 5 (opening Mar. 17) at New York Theatre Workshop, directed by Rachel Chavkin, with choreography by Steph Paul, and music supervision by Or Matias.
TBA.
A deeply personal portrait of a young family yearning for connection amidst the loss of a pregnancy in rural isolation. Surrounded by snow and wrapped in loneliness, they uncover the unexpected joys and humor that can emerge in the wake of loss.
**********************
La Bohème, conducted by Lina González-Granados, continues through Dec. 14 at LA’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Janai Brugger (Mimì), Oreste Cosimo (Rodolfo), Erica Petrocelli (Musetta), Gihoon Kim (Marcello), Emmett O’Hanlon (Scharnard), William Guanbo Su (Colline), Rod Gilfry (Benoit/Alcindoro), and Nathan Bowles.
**********************
New York Theatre Workshop will present Sardines (A Comedy About Death), beginning in May 2026 (dates TBA).
Chris Grace
The play explores—with tremendous grace and humanity—the tragic, hilarious, and important questions of our time: Can we enjoy life if we know how it ends? Does making art actually help? And if Rihanna’s song is called “Don’t Stop the Music,” why does the music… stop?
**********************
A reading of Russ Pastena’s Yesterday’s Bread will take place Mon. Dec. 8 at 7:30- PM at Off-Broadway’s Theater for the New City, irected by Danny Salles. The event is free, with a suggested $5 donation.
Email: contact@visceral-
Mary Testa, Annie Golden, Joe Barbara, Josh Davis, Cara Rose DiPietro, Stephanie Gibson (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and Alec Ludacka.
Set in Newark, New Jersey in the 1980s, the play centers on Lina, a neighborhood matriarch and baker whose secret life and turn-of-the-century house become the target of a sinister local force. Lina, her live-in nephew, and the locals who crash into her daily routine, cook up a preposterous and lethal plan to protect her home, family and the community who rely on her. This sharp, human comedy explores the secrets, regrets, and loyalties that bind us.
**********************
The Los Angelis Master Chorale will present its English Cathedral Christmas on Sat. Dec. 15 at 7:30 PM at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage.
There will also be a pre-show on the Plaza at 6:45 PM.