Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel-SoHo Playhouse; White Girl in Danger-Vineyard/2d Stage; The Harder They Come-PublicTheater; Sweeney Todd-Lunt Fontanne Theatre; Hermitage Major Theatre Award-Imani Uzuri; Ars Nova Upcoming Season
Ars Nova, “a company known for pop-culture-savvy experimentation, with a hipness that sets it apart” (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Producing Executive Director Renee Blinkwolt, announces complete details for performances taking place in January along with highlights and updates for its Spring 2023 season. January 12 – Showgasm, variety show; January 20 musician and actor Charlene Kaye in Charlene Kaye: Tiger Daughter; January 26 performer Klondyke in Scarecrow; see more at www.arsnovanyc.com
Suzi Lori Parks new musical The Harder They Come with songwriter Jimmy Cliff debuts Natey Jones at The Public Theater on Feb. 16, opening Mar. 15 with Jeannette Bayardelle. The production is based on the 1972 film. www.publictheater.org
Following an Award winning engagement at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotsman Fringe First Award Winner, Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel, written and performed by Tim Crouch, will play SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street) as part of the Fringe Encore Series. Directed by Karl Janes and Andy Smith, Truth’s A Dog Must Be A Kennel will play nine performances Check dates and info at SoHoPlayhouse.com
Vineyard Theatre and Second Stage Theater have announced the complete cast for Michael R. Jackson’s new musical, WHITE GIRL IN DANGER. The full cast features Liz Lark Brown, Kayla Davion, Latoya Edwards, Jennifer Fouché, Morgan Siobhan Green, Molly Hager, Vincent Jamal Hooper, James Jackson Jr., Tarra Conner Jones, Alyse Alan Louis, Lauren Marcus, and Eric William Morris. LaDonna Burns, Melessie Clark, Alexis Cofield, Shane Donovan, Jon-Michael Reese, and Natalie Walker round out the cast as understudies. Direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz, choregraphed by Raja Feather Kelly with Meg Zervoulis as Music Director.This limited engagement begins March 14, 2023, opens April 10, 2023 at Second Stage’s Off-Broadway home, the Tony Kiser Theater (305 West 43rd Street).
Full principal casting announced for the upcoming revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Jordan Fisher, as Anthony, Gaten Matarazzo as Tobias, Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles as Beggar Woman, Maria Bilbao as Johanna, Jamie Jackson as Judge Turpin, John Rapson as Beadle Bamford, Nicholas Christopher as Pirelli and serve as the standby for Sweeney Todd. Jeanna de Waal will stand by for Mrs. Lovett and Beggar Woman. They join Josh Groban in the title role and Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett. Directed by Thomas Kail, “Sweeney Todd” will begin performances on Feb. 26 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and will open on March 26. With music supervision by Alex Lacamoire.
Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, announced that composer and theater artist Imani Uzuri has been selected as the third recipient of the $35.000 Hermitage Major Theater Award (HMTA). Uzuri, raised in rural North Carolina, is an award-winning composer, vocalist, experimental librettist, improviser, and lyricist. Three distinguished finalists for the third Hermitage Major Theater Award include Nissy Aya, a playwright, educator, and cultural worker; AnnMarie Milazzo, a Tony and Grammy Award-nominated vocal designer, orchestrator, and composer; and Daniel J. Watts, a Tony Award-nominated actor and theater artist.
