Stars Hit the Mattress, Reality TV Looks for Love and Nikki M. James Gets Jersey in This Week's Datebook
Trying to find a way to keep cool this June? Well, look no further. Starry benefits, underground solo shows and a new musical about reality TV dating top this week’s Datebook. Read on below for all the NYC happenings the week of June 17.
MONDAY, JUNE 17
JACKIE HOFFMAN LEADS AN ALL-STAR ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
The Transport Group Theatre Company has assembled an all-star cast of Broadway actors and one special drag performer for its one-night-only concert presentation of Once Upon a Mattress. The Princess and the Pea parody stars Jackie Hoffman as Princess Winnifred and John “Lypsinka” Epperson as Queen Aggravain, plus Danny Burstein, David Rossmer, Jill Paice and more. As a bonus, composer Mary Rodgers is participating in a post-show talkback. The fairytale comes to life at the Signature Center.
ALSO: Laura Osnes and Condola Rashad are honored with Broadway Beacon Awards at Joe’s Pub; LCT3’s A Kid Like Jakes opens at the Claire Tow Theater; stage and screen stars celebrate Actors' Equity's 100th birthday at a black-tie gala; Celebrity Autobiography welcomes Richard Kind and Brooke Shields; Sherie Rene Scott and Morgan James entertain at 54 Below; and 700 Sundays star Billy Crystal chats up Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.
TUESDAY, JUNE 18
MICHAEL URIE RETURNS TO BABS' BASEMENT IN BUYER & CELLAR
Get ready for a shopping spree at Barbra Streisand's house! Michael Urie reprises his Drama Desk Award-winning performance as a "clerk" in the street of shops Babs built in her basement in Jonathan Tolins' Buyer & Cellar. After a successful premiere at Rattlestick Theatre, this hilarious solo show begins previews at Barrow Street Theatre for a 10-week summer engagement.
ALSO: Broadway mainstay Alexander Gemignani taps his way into Chicago as slick lawyer Billy Flynn; Jane Lynch and the cast of Annie signs CDs at the 86th Street Barnes & Noble; The Comedy of Errors opens at Shakespeare in the Park; and MTC’s Choir Boy, starring Kyle Beltran, Austin Pendleton and Chuck Cooper, begins previews off-Broadway.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
TWO CHARACTERS, ONE PLAY LIVE OFF B'WAY
Tony winner Amanda Plummer (Agnes of God) returns to the New York stage opposite Oscar nominee Brad Dourif in Tennessee Williams’ The Two-Character Play, opening at New World Stages. One of Williams’ most personal works, the script blends reality and fantasy as it centers on a pair of siblings abandoned by their acting troupe and left to perform alone.
ALSO: Unbroken Circle, starring Brady Bunch alum Eve Plumb, opens off-Broadway; Mx. Justin Vivian Bond takes the stage at 54 Below; and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels talks season two of HBO’s The Newsroom with David Letterman.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
REALITY DATING MUSICAL NOBODY LOVES YOU BEGINS
A philosophy grad student finds love on reality TV in the contemporary, comical and romantic new musical Nobody Loves You, which begins previews at Second Stage Theatre. Written by Gaby Alter and Itamar Moses this New York premiere stars Heath Calvert, Lauren Molina, Leslie Kritzer, Tony nominee Rory O’Malley and more. Take a chance on love this summer!
ALSO: Manhattan Theatre Club's production of the new comedy The Explorers Club, starring Jennifer Westfeldt and Lorenzo Pisoni, opens off-Broadway.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
NORBERT LEO BUTZ GOES GIRL-CRAZY AT 54 BELOW
Before two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz returns to Broadway in Big Fish, he will wow the crowd at 54 Below with Girls, Girls, Girls. This brand new concert is all about the female—both mythic and contemporary. Fans can look forward to tunes from Frank Sinatra, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash and more.
ALSO: Atlantic Theater Company’s production of Good Television ends its brief off-Broadway run.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
BASILICA CONCLUDES SERVICES OFF-BROADWAY
The Texas-sized drama Basilica ends its off-Broadway run at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Jake Cannavale (son of Bobby) received strong reviews in this Rattlestick Playwrights Theater production about a blue-collar family forced to face their past after the arrival of a new pastor at the local Basilica. Avoid the Catholic guilt, and check out this drama while you still have the chance.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
NIKKI M. JAMES FLAUNTS JERSEY GIRL PRIDE AT 54 BELOW
She may dream of “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” in the Book of Mormon, but Tony winner Nikki M. James’ heart is really rooted in the Garden State. In her cabaret debut at 54 Below, James shares stories of growing up a Jersey girl and making it on the Great White Way. Expect pop songs, Broadway standards and one hilarious story about begrudgingly starring in her high school production of Hello Dolly!
ALSO: Tori Scott is Judy Garland for the Grindr generation in What's Pride Got to Do With It at Joe’s Pub; and The Tutors, Somewhere Fun, Caucasian Chalk Circle and 3 Kinds of Exile end their off-Broadway runs.
To have your NYC-area event considered, send us an e-mail at datebook@broadway.com.