Norm Lewis Hunts Hugh Panaro, CSI's William Petersen Solves a Mystery & More Cross-Country Highlights

Broadway.com is taking a road trip to find the best in regional theater all around the USA! From a California wine tour to familiar faces facing off in St. Louis, there is plenty to get excited about on stages across the country. Read on to learn more about five fantastic productions happening right now in a city near you.


CHICAGO,IL
William Petersen & Rae Gray Take Flight in Slowgirl
Was it murder or a simple misunderstanding? Steppenwolf Theatre Company member and CSI star William Petersen takes the stage opposite Rae Gray in the Chicago premiere of Greg Pierce’s Slowgirl. The two-hander about a troubled teen who visits her uncle in a remote jungle of Central America—and both characters' search for redemption—runs at the Upstairs Theatre from July 18 through August 25. Windy City audiences shouldn’t miss this delectable drama, which won raves at LCT3 last season.


LA JOLLA, CA
Des McAnuff Celebrates Vino and Romance in SoCal
Tony-winning director Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who’s Tommy) teams up with playwright Rex Pickett to bring Pickett’s acclaimed novel Sideways to the stage. The La Jolla Playhouse production about a pair of middle-aged friends’ adventures in wine country stars Patrick Breen as the merlot-hating Miles and Sean Allan Krill as his randy pal Jack. Sideways pours over California audiences through August 25.


WESTON, VT
Heidi Blickenstaff Explores the Highs & Lows of the VT Mountains
[title of show] star Heidi Blickenstaff is teaming up with her former director Michael Berresse for the Weston Playhouse production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama Next to Normal. Blickenstaff plays as bipolar mom Diana in the musical alongside David Ayers, Aaron Ramey, Etai BenShlomo and more. Next to Normal continues to shock and rock the Green Mountain State through July 27.


PITTSFIELD, MA
Love Transcends in a World Premiere Musical  
Annette O’Toole & Jeff McCarthy co-headline the world premiere of Southern Comfort, a new musical by Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis. Barrington Stage Company’s musical theater lab presents this story of a transgendered couple living in the back hills of “Bubba Land” Georgia. This country/bluegrass musical is based on the Sundance Award-winning documentary and runs July 19 through August 10.


ST. LOUIS, MO
Norm Lewis and Hugh Panaro Face Off In Les Miserables
Hugh Panaro and Norm Lewis make their Muny debuts as Jean Valjean and Javert, respectively, in the unique summer staging of Les Miserables. Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, the production introduces a company of up-and-coming college drama students in the show’s supporting roles. Running July 15 through July 21, this Les Miserables gives audiences the opportunity to see Broadway superstars at their best and get a first look at the next generation of musical theater headliners.