The Beatles Take Broadway, Sutton Foster Blooms and Murder Ballad Kicks It in This Week's Datebook
Do you hear that? It’s the sound of AMAZING things happening on and off Broadway! This week, we’re eagerly anticipating some exciting summer theatrical events, including (but not limited to, obvi) the beginning of Let It Be on Broadway, the return of iLuminate, the arrival of a regal Miss Hannigan and a one-night-only Violet that’s ready to bloom. Read on for this week’s Datebook!
MONDAY, JULY 15
LIZA WITH THREE Z’S
Celebrate the holiday season early this year with the wacky musical comedy We Three Lizas, being performed in a concert version at Joe’s Pub. Featuring Tyler Maynard, Felicia Curry and Andrew Keltz as the titular Lizas (Lizae?), this musical fairy tale could very well give birth to a new tradition: Minnelli Mondays, anyone?
ALSO: I Forgive You, Ronald Reagan, with P.J. Benjamin and Home Improvement's Patricia Richardson, starts performances at the Beckett Theatre; on his night off from playing Stevie Wonder in Motown the Musical, Ryan Shaw headlines Soul Night at the Cutting Room.
TUESDAY, JULY 16
WELCOME (BACK) TO THE ‘60S
Beatlemania lives on! Bust out your bell-bottoms and paisley and head over to the St. James Theatre for the first preview of Let It Be, the musical celebration of the most popular band of all time. Using projections, 3D sound and the magic of the theatah, this Beatles-based concert beats sitting home alone listening to your 45s or MP3s or whatever you kids are listening to these days.
ALSO: First Date’s Zachary Levi stops by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno; Newsies carry the banner for a benefit Actors Fund performance; Bill W. and Dr. Bob opens at SoHo Playhouse; Liev Schreiber talks Ray Donovan on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
WEDNESDAY, JULY 17
SUTTON FOSTER TAKES AN ENCORE
Everyone’s buzzing about the latest offering from Encores!, the 1997 musical Violet starring Sutton Foster, Keala Settle, Christopher Sieber and Joshua Henry. If you’re lucky enough to nab a ticket, you’ll hear Foster sing to the rafters in this deep South-set tale of forbidden love. Sadly, this Violet blooms for one night only!
ALSO: Soul Doctor: Journey of a Rock-Star Rabbi begins to rock out in previews at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre; Me and Jezebel begins previews at the Snapple Theater; Matthew Morrison plays his final show at 54 Below.
THURSDAY, JULY 18
LIGHT UP YOUR NIGHT
Fresh off its engagement at the Duke Theatre last fall, iLuminate: Artist of Light rings in opening night for its new run at off-Broadway’s New World Stages. The special effects spectacular is a thrilling combination of dance, music and—we promise—the coolest light-up costumes you’ll see on stage this year.
ALSO: The reality show musical Nobody Loves You opens at Second Stage Theatre; Patti LuPone’s Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda...(Played That Part) show blows away 54 Below; Matthew Morrison drops by Live with Kelly & Michael.
FRIDAY, JULY 19
HAIL TO THE PRINCE!
First Katie Finneran, then Jane Lynch, now Faith Prince! The Tony-winning dame steps into the role of Miss Hannigan in the hit revival of Annie, wherein she’ll terrorize little girls, lie to the government and dabble in some light fraud and robbery on the side. Sounds like a typical Friday!
ALSO: Darren Criss hits the big screen with Kristen Wiig in Girl Most Likely; Norbert Leo Butz salutes Girls, Girls, Girls for the final time at 54 Below; Handbook for an American Revolutionary starts its run at the Gym at Judson Memorial Church; reruns of the first season of Smash begin on Ovation.
SATURDAY, JULY 20
LET YOUR INNER NYMF RUN FREE
There are way too many shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival to see in one day, but why not spend your Saturday trying to catch some of this year’s highlighted productions? Volleygirls (starring Susan Blackwell), Perfect Mothers (starring Jenn Colella) and Standby (starring Jenna Leigh Green) are all ripe for the viewing at this annual musical theater tradition!
ALSO: Canadian disco sensation France Joli returns to My Big Gay Italian Wedding; Rantoul and Die closes at Cherry Lane Theatre.
SUNDAY, JULY 21
MURDER BALLAD GETS KILLED
The red-hot cast of the rocking new musical Murder Ballad play their final performance at Union Square Theatre. Wave goodbye to Caissie Levy, Will Swenson, John Ellison Conlee and Rebecca Naomi Jones as they bring sex, violence obsessive love and murder to the stage one last time.
ALSO: Lindsay Mendez croons at Birdland; bilingual rock musical Alcestis Ascending closes at the Clurman Theatre; David Hyde Pierce, Andrea Burns and more lend their talents to composer Sam Davis’ concert at 54 Below.
