This Week's Picks! Cast Your Vote For Harvey Milk, Watch Chita's Back & Be Carol Burnett's Pen Pal

We know the weather is prompting you to go apple picking, hayriding, and other activities straight from Oklahoma!, but please don’t. There are so many fun happenings in NYC that don’t involve mud, including a new lead in Love Letters, an old favorite’s return to Chicago, and a performance from a Broadway institution. They’re all part of this week's picks!


Get to Know Harvey Milk
October 6 at Avery Fisher Hall
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to hold public office, had an epic, albeit abbreviated life, one that has been immortalized in books and films. Here’s the stage’s tribute. Andrew Lippa’s part choral work, part theater piece traces Milk’s life from childhood to his 1978 assassination. Lippa, who stars as Milk, has plenty of help, namely the singing assistance of Kristin Chenoweth and the All-Star Broadway Men’s Chorus. Click for tickets!


Welcome Amy Spanger Back to the Block
October 6 at the Ambassador Theatre
You ever get so familiar with a show’s performer that you feel like you’re friends? Amy Spanger—who returns as Roxie Hart in Chicago for the first of three limited engagements—fits into that camp. We can picture it now: We’d stay up late, put together an epic slam book and eat raw cookie dough. Is that weird? Well, check her out and see if you don’t feel the same way. Click for tickets!


Cheer for Chita
Starts October 7 at Birdland
On Broadway, there are certain performers you always make to time to see live. You know them by their first name: Barbra. Audra, Patti. Idina. It’s not a long list, and Chita Rivera has been on it for a long time. So break your plans and head to Birdland for Chita’s Back. The show, running through October 11, includes signature tunes and a tribute to John Kander and Fred Ebb. Click for tickets!


Talk Rock with Hedwig’s Creator
October 10 at the Helen Mills Theater
One of the cool parts about being in New York is that you can walk up a block and find something stimulating. Let’s fix that: culturally stimulating. To wit, Stephen Trask, the musical force behind Hedwig and the Angry Inch, will talk with A.O. Scott, film critic for The New York Times, as part of CBGB’s annual music and film festival. Let’s hope Trask brings his guitar. Click for tickets!


Greet Love Letters’ New Pen Pal
Begins October 11 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
With this current revival of Love Letters, you only get a few chances to see a certain performer before he or she heads back to doing whatever it is the fabulous and talented normally do. The good news is that someone equally terrific comes along as a replacement. So Mia Farrow’s departure means that Carol Burnett, who qualifies as an American treasure, will take over through November 7th. Click for tickets!