Theater: Death Drop – Orpheus Descending – NY Stage & Film Summer * * * Cabaret: 70th Anniversary Wonderful Town – Julie Benko – Liz Callaway – Melissa Errico – Jamie Lozano
THEATER . . .
Death Drop, the hilarious smash-hit all drag murder mystery, has announced new production dates for its eagerly anticipated US premiere. The production, which has played three runs in London’s West End, toured the UK, and inspired a sequel, will now begin performances on Wednesday, September 20 and open Monday, October 2, 2023 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). www.DeathDropPlay.com
Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending July 9 thru August 6 at Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) and tells the story of the passion of two outcasts—Lady Torrance, a storekeeper’s wife and daughter of a murdered Sicilian bootlegger and Val, a wandering guitar player—and their doomed attempt to escape from a Southern Hell.
Set in a small town dry-goods store in the Deep South around 1940, Orpheus Descending is a toxic brew of racist violence, bigotry, misogyny, sexual passion and longing for liberation. Directed by Erica Schmidt, the cast features Maggie Siff, Pico Alexander, Val Xavier. https://www.tfana.org/events/orpheus-descending-2023-07-09-730-pm
New York Stage and Film announced initial casting today for the 2023 Summer Season July 14-August 6 at Marist College. Jo Bonney has signed on as director for Soft Target and Colette Robert joins the Paradise Ballroom creative team as director. The one-man new play, Like They Do In The Movies, written and performed by Laurence Fishburne has shifted dates to August 5 and 6 due to a scheduling conflict. https://www.newyorkstageandfilm.org
CABARET
Beetlejuice’s Elizabeth Teeter, Bad Cinderella’s Cameron Loyal, and cabaret veteran Steve Ross have been added to 54 Sings Wonderful Town: 70th Anniversary Concert at 54 Below on Wednesday, June 21st at 9:30pm. They are joining the previously announced Ken Barnett, Alison Lea Bender, Todd Buonopane, Hilary Cole, Erin Davie, Eric Michael Gillett , Amanda Green, Timmy Lewis, Lee Roy Reams, J. Savage, Rebecca Spigelman, Sean McDermott, Billy Reece, Seth Sikes, and Karen Ziemba. The concert will be Music Directed by Michael Lavine, scripted by Frederick Miller, directed by Robert W. Schneider with Brinley Degwert as associate producer. www.54Below.org
BIRDLAND JAZZ CLUB will present Broadway’s newest sensation Julie Benko – in “Julie Sings Jule,” a concert celebrating the songs of Jule Styne – on Monday, July 24 at 7:00 PM. Amidst one of Broadway’s most inspiring stories of the past decade, Styne’s music transformed Benko into “the greatest star.” Now, she bids goodbye to the Broadway production of Funny Girl with a celebration of the legendary composer’s remarkable repertoire, Alongside her jazz-pianist husband Jason Yeager. www.BirdlandJazz.com
Liz Callaway returns to 54 Below with Screen Gems in person July 5 thru 8 & 11 and the show LiveStreams Saturday night July 8 at 7:00pm ET. Thanks to everyone who voted. If you can’t come in person to see the show July 5-8 &11, I hope you will join me from your homes! I’ll be singing some of the greatest songs ever written for film: from MGM musicals and Disney films to new classics, and songwriters as varied as Harold Arlen, Burt Bacharach, and André Previn. www.54Below.org
CLICK HERE TO BUY LIVESTREAM TICKETS
Heralded by no less than Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda as “the next big thing on Broadway, Mexican musical multi-hyphenate Jaime Lozano returns to Lincoln Center for the second concert of his residency at the David Rubenstein Atrium to share stories and songs from his multiple projects as he prepares his upcoming album “Songs by an Immigrant Vol. 2.” The show will take place on Friday, August 4th, 7:30pm at the David Rubenstein Atrium. La Familia features Krystina Alabado, Mayelah Barrera, Florencia Cuenca, Matías De La Flor,Robi Jager. Mauricio Martinez, Shereen Pimentel, Marina Pires. https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/jaime-lozano-andamp-the-familia-130
54 BELOW will welcome back Broadway and cabaret star Melissa Errico in her new show Sondheim In the City from November 2 – 4 at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now. https://54below.org/calendar/?month=October+2023
