Book of Days - 2002 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 6

A live theatrical adaptation of “Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas” is making its Chicago debut this holiday season at the Studebaker Theater at the historic Fine Arts Building.

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog, which won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Drama and, in 2018, was voted by The New York Times drama critics as the best play of the last 25 years, closes out Palm Beach Dramaworks’ 2022-23 season. The play opens on May 26 (8pm) and runs through June 11, with specially priced previews on May 24 and 25. Belinda “Be” Boyd directs. 

From vaudeville to burlesque, Cape Cod Theatre Company’s GYPSY takes audiences on a musical journey through the life of Gypsy Rose Lee. Experience the classic hits of this timeless musical and witness the transformation of a young Louise into the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee. Don't miss this powerful production featuring strong vocal performances and a standout portrayal of Mama Rose.

This follows A Strange Loop, the Pulitzer Prize-winning new musical direct from Broadway with performances until 9 September and includes a world premiere from Belarus Free Theatre, UK premieres by Why Not Theatre, Eun-Me Ahn, Pam Tanowitz and David Lang, a cross-cultural festival curated by Inua Ellams, the return of Dance Umbrella andTold by an Idiot, and a line-up of exciting and experimental theatre makers in The Pit.

Patti LuPone will lead a glittering cast of Broadway luminaries for Everybody Rise! A Sondheim Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl. See how to purchase tickets!

The DOWNTOWN URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL will present 16 plays (nine shorts and seven one-acts.) The festival kicks off on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 when Savion Glover and Reg E. Gaines (Bring in da Noise Bring in da Funk) make a much-anticipated return to The Public Theater with the centerpiece production If Trane Wuz Here. 

Laguna Playhouse announced, in association with Gare St. Lazare, Ireland and the Rubicon Theatre Company, Faline England, Sorcha Fox, Conor Lovett and Joe Spano starring in the rolling Southern California premiere of THE REALISTIC JONESES, written by Will Eno and directed by Judy Hegarty-Lovett.

A stage adaptation of Smash will be helmed by 5-time Tony-winning director Susan Stroman, with a score by the Tony- and Grammy-winning duo Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. We have all the details on the Broadway production!

The Public Theater has announced complete casting for the remount of the theatrical concert PLAYS FOR THE PLAGUE YEAR. See performance dates and learn how to purchase tickets!

The Fisher Center at Bard has announced its 20th Anniversary Season: Breaking Ground, a celebration of the artists, audiences, students, faculty, and communities that have written the Fisher Center’s story for its first two decades and will imagine it into the future.

On Friday, March 24 at 8 PM, Flushing Town Hall will present Octogenarian Women of Jazz during Women’s History Month. 

English singer, actress and TV presenter Kym Marsh and her daughter Emilie Cunliffe will star as Rachel and Young Rachel respectively in The Official Take That Musical GREATEST DAYS, with a book by award-winning playwright Tim Firth.

Broadway Dallas has announced its 2023 Gala featuring a full performance of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL on Saturday, April 1 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, hosted by Gala Co-Chairs Jolie Humphrey and Gail Plummer with Honorary Co-Chairs Ambassador Kathryn Walt Hall and Craig Hall.

The complete cast has been announced for the US premiere of Room on Broadway. As previously announced, the production will star Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren as Ma. See how to purchase tickets!

Due to popular demand, Second Stage Theater has added four simulcast performances of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY. See details about the performances, and learn how to purchase tickets!

Second Stage Theater will partner with Common and his not-for-profit, Imagine Justice, to host “Justice Nights On Broadway” following the matinee performances of Between Riverside and Crazy at The Hayes Theater on Saturday, February 11th and Saturday, February 18th 2023.

Heathers the Musical, will be ushering in a new cast from 21st February at The Other Palace, with the show now booking until 3 September 2023.

Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man, premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London in November of 1977. Pomerance’s play also transferred to the National Theatre in London for an “In Rep” residency. From January to March of 1979 it played off-Broadway, and made a transfer to the Booth Theatre on Broadway later in 1979, but the production closed in 1981 after 916 regular performances. The Elephant Man received revivals in 2002 and 2014.

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this February with a full slate of nightly performances! See Julie Benko, Amanda Green, and many more.

Ruth Stage has announced that two-time Tony Award nominee Alison Fraser (The Secret Garden) will reprise her role as ‘Big Mama’, as well as announcing the complete casting for their provocative and controversial modern staging of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Gary Perez has joined the cast of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton.  Mr. Perez assumed the role of Lieutenant Caro on January 20, 2023.

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present an exclusive six-show engagement from Rickie Lee Jones to preview her upcoming album Pieces of Treasure from Thursday, April 6 to Saturday, April 8 with shows at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM.

BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present the return of Julie Benko – direct from Broadway’s smash hit revival of Funny Girl – with her band “Euphonic Gumbo” on Monday, February 6 at 7:00 PM.

What did our critic think of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at DAS VINDOBONA? The Glam-Rock Musical Sensation with Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask and a Book by John Cameron Mitchell is back in Austria for a limited run at the Vindobona. What a way to start the year. After Hedwig's first appearance in 2006, starring Andreas Bieber in the Leading Role and Anke Fielder as Yitzhak and the highly acclaimed production at the Landestheater Linz with Riccardo Greco in Heels and Ariana Schirasi-Fard as his Backup-Singer it's Drew Sarich together with his wife Ann Mandrella, to tell the story of Hansel Schmidt and his Angry Inch.

Despite some deficiencies in the script, MEAN GIRLS still skyrockets in ways most large-scale musicals don’t these days. The young talent on the stage is astonishing and you’ll leave the show wanting to both download the original cast recording and stream the film.