Take a look at what theatres from coast to coast are gearing up to present in the coming months and in the 2019–2020 season. From an Oscar winner as a drag politician in Chicago to "La Bamba" in San Diego, here are the recently announced updates from a variety of regional companies.
World Premiere of Gold Star Recording Studio Musical Set for San Diego
San Diego Rep (San Diego, CA)
The 2019–2020 season will begin with the world premiere of 33 1/3 - House of Dreams, starting August 1. Written by Jonathan Rosenberg and Brad Ross with direction and choreography by Javier Velasco, the new musical tells of the story of Gold Star Recording Studios, which pumped out classics like "Summertime Blues, "La Bamba," "Unchained Melody," and "Wouldn’t It Be Nice."
Up next is the comedy Bad Hombres/Good Wives in October, while the true story of interment camp defier Gordon Hirabayashi is staged in Hold These Truths in November. Stephen Karam's The Humans (recently announced to be adapted for the screen), House of Joy, and Hershey Felder: A Paris Love Story finish up the season in 2020.
To learn more, visit SDRep.org.
Cast Set for Ms. Blakk for President
Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL)
The full cast and creative team is set for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Ms. Blakk for President, which runs May 23–July 14, 2019. As previously reported, Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Choir Boy) co-wrote the play with director Tina Landau (SpongeBob SquarePants) and stars as Ms. Joan Jett Blakk, an African-American drag queen for ran for president in 1992.
Joining McCraney in the cast are Patrick Andrews, Molly Brennan, Daniel Kyri, Jon Hudson Odom and Sawyer Smith.
For tickets and more, visit Steppenwolf.org.
New Pride and Prejudice Musical at 5th Avenue
5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle, WA)
The Emerald City company's 2019–2020 season opens in October with Austen's Pride, a new musical by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs about Jane Austen's journey of writing Pride and Prejudice. Igor Goldin will direct.
Shrek the Musical will be staged during the holiday season. Up next, Stu for Silverton, Peter Duchan and Breedlove's musical about America's first openly transgender mayor, will kick off the new year in January 2020. Following that, Sister Act, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken, will take audiences to church in early spring.
Rounding out the season are a two-week engagement of Michael Arden's Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island in May and Evita in June.
Visit 5thAvenueTheatre.org.
Edward Watts to Star in Goodspeed The Music Man
Goodspeed Musicals (East Haddam, CT)
Before Hugh Jackman brings 76 trombones to Broadway, Meredith Willson's The Music Man will play Goodspeed Musicals this spring, running April 12 through June 20.
Edward Watts (Scandalous) will star as Harold Hill, with Ellie Fishman (Goodspeed's Rags) as Marian, Juson Williams (The Fortress of Solitude) as Marcellus, Amelia White (Crazy for You) as Mrs. Paroo, D.C. Anderson (The Phantom of the Opera tour) as Mayor Shinn, Fosse legend Stephanie Pope (Sweet Charity) as Eulalie Shinn, and Connecticut native Alexander O'Brien as Winthrop.
Rounding out the ensemble of the Jenn Thompson-directed production are Iman Barnes, Kelly Berman, Shawn Alynda Fisher, Damien Galvez, Jeff Gurner, MaddieKay Harris, Victoria Huston-Elem, Elise Kowalick, Danny Lindgren, C. Mingo Long, Matthew B. Moore, Alexander O’Brien, Raynor Rubel, William Russell, Benjamin Sears, CorBen Williams, and Branch Woodman.
Tickets are available at Goodspeed.org.
Bay Area Announces Slate of 4 Musicals
Bay Area Musicals (San Francisco, CA)
Some recognizable Broadway titles are coming to San Francisco during the 2019–2020 season—starting with the showbiz classic Gypsy at the Alcazar Theatre in the fall. The Full Monty, about unemployed steel workers who decide to turn their lives around perform at a strip act at a local club, will heat up audiences in February.
A Chorus Line will launch the second half of the season at Victoria Theatre, followed by the Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes hit In the Heights.
Learn more about the lineup by visiting BAMSF.org.
