Chita Rivera Eats Cake, Janis Joplin Wails & Jessica Lange Gets Witchy in This Week's Datebook
Shhh... do you hear that? It's the sound of your calendar clearing when you finish reading this week's Datebook. How else are you going to make time for all of the theater-related events happening over the next seven days? You can't possibly miss opening night of A Night with Janis Joplin, or Chita Rivera's big birthday party, or the much-anticipated premiere of American Horror Story: Coven...right? Take a peek below at our list of stage-centric goings-on around New York City!
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7
STARS CHEER ON CHITA RIVERA
Rosie O’Donnell, John Kander, Ben Vereen, Bebe Neuwirth and many more are headed to the August Wilson Theatre to honor one of Broadway's greatest stars. Chita: A Legendary Celebration will toast two-time Tony winner Chita Rivera with a gala concert recognizing her 80th birthday as well as the roles she created throughout her career. Proceeds benefit BC/EFA, an extra reason to join the stars in honoring the one and only Chita!
ALSO: Ryan Scott Oliver’s fan-favorite theater album 35MM gets a big concert at 54 Below with Zachary Levi, Derek Klena, Krysta Rodriguez, Lesli Margherita and more, featuring photos by Gotta Dance shutterbug Matthew Murphy.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
MUCH A-BLU ABOUT NOTHING
Joss Whedon’s critically acclaimed directorial take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing made quite a splash in theaters this summer—and you’ll be able to replicate that experience on your home entertainment system! Pick up the Blu-Ray for Whedon’s brilliant version of the Bard’s biting comedy, filmed in and around the director's L.A. home.
ALSO: 700 Sundays’ Billy Crystal and After Midnight pair Babyface and Toni Braxton chat up Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9
GET WITCH-SLAPPED ON FX
Horror fans (and, let’s be real, fans of quality television programming) are dying for the premiere of the third season of Ryan Murphy’s spooky anthology series American Horror Story, which follows a Coven of witchy figures played by the likes of theater vets Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett and Patti LuPone. Everyone will be talking about the show this fall, so don’t miss out on the big premiere on FX at 10 PM.
ALSO: The Trip to Bountiful closes its run on Broadway; Sting plays his last The Last Ship concert at the Public; Joanna Gleason and the duo of Anita Gillette and Penny Fuller play 54 Below; Tony-nominated The Millers star Margo Martindale stops by The Arsenio Hall Show.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
JANIS JOPLIN TAKES THE STAGE
Mary Bridget Davies has taken up the role of a lifetime as iconic rocker Janis Joplin in Broadway’s newest musical event, A Night with Janis Joplin. The show will feature Joplin hits (including “Me and Bobby McGee,” obvi) and a tribute to the musical influences who came before the tragic musician. Make sure to get your tickets for this can’t-miss musical Night, opening at the Lyceum Theatre.
ALSO: Domesticated, starring Jeff Goldblum and Laurie Metcalf, starts at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater; Lois Robbins and Nine star Shelly Burch take on 54 Below.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
TALK ABOUT SEX WITH DR. RUTH
America’s most famous sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer comes to life on stage in the off-Broadway premiere of Becoming Dr. Ruth, a new one-woman show starring That ‘70s Show hoot Debra Jo Rupp as the renowned therapist. Mark St. Germain's play charmed regional audiences, and now New York will get to discover the incredible story of Westheimer’s life. And don’t worry, ye lewd ones—there will be plenty of sex to discuss.
ALSO: Elizabeth Olsen chats Romeo and Juliet on Live with Kelly and Michael; The Skivvies go nude (well, almost) at 54 Below.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12
JOE ICONIS GETS THE CABARET BUMPIN’
One of theater’s hottest rising contemporary composers, Joe Iconis, will premiere his musical The Black Suits in Los Angeles later this year. First, however, Iconis stops by 54 Below to present a cabaret of his unique showtunes. Iconis has enlisted Krysta Rodriguez and Nick Blaemire to help, so if you’re interested in theater songs with a contemporary twist (and who wouldn’t be?), go Below with Joe!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
WOMEN OR NOTHING ENDS THE DRAMA
Oscar winner Ethan Coen’s new off-Broadway play Women or Nothing ends its acclaimed run at the Atlantic Theater Company, after creating tons of buzz with its meaty plot about two lesbians desperate to conceive a child. If you need something to spice up your Sunday, check out the final performance of this dark pregnancy comedy (is that a thing?) before it’s due!