I have six great options for you this week and you’ll need to act quickly to see one of them. So let’s get right to my Best Bets: November 18th – November 24th.
PACIFIC OVERTURES – East West Players – Los Angeles, CA – Now – December 1st
This remarkable production of Stephen Sondheim’s challenging musical is not-to-be-missed. IF you can get a ticket. I have heard that the run is entirely sold out. However, I have also heard that discussions are underway for a one-week extension. If so, get your tickets immediately and/or check the website to get tickets that may suddenly become available.
Set in 1853, Pacific Overtures looks at the arrival of Commodore Matthew C. Perry and how his being there leads to the opening of very isolationist Japan.
Jon Jon Briones, Gedde Watanabe (who was in the original production in 1976), Scott Keiji Takeda, Brian Kim McCormick, Adam Kaokept lead an outstanding cast. Tim Dang directs,
Having seen the Roundabout revival in 2004, I can tell you this intimate production is vastly superior.
For tickets (fingers crossed) and more information, please go here.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS WITH MATIN CHALIFOUR – Los Angeles Philharmonic – Los Angeles, CA – November 19th
Violinist and Principal Concertmaster of the orchestra will be featured and celebrated in a chamber music concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
On the program are works by Astor Piazzolla, Amanda Harberg and Beethoven. There is also the world premiere of Duo by Celka Ojakangas.
Joining Chalifour for this concert are Kaelan Decman (bass) Mak Grgić (guitar); Taylor Eiffert (clarinet); Dahae Kim (cello); Evan Kuhlmann (bassoon); Joanne Pearce Martin (piano); Amy Jo Rhine (horn); Jenni Seo (viola) and Ben Ullery (viola.)
Chalifour is retiring at the end of the 2024/2025 season. This should be a great send-off for a very talented musician.
For tickets and more information, please go here.
LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K – The Wallis – Bevelry Hills, CA – November 21st – November 24th
If you fell in love with the puppet horses in War Horse or were enraptured with Little Amal, you’ll want to check out Life & Times of Michael K. It is based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by JM Coetzee and features the incredible work from the artists at Handspring Puppet Company and Cape Town’s Baxter Theater.
Lara Foot adapted the novel and directed the show which is centered on one man’s efforts to bring his mother back to her hometown in South African before she dies. Critics have stumbled over themselves trying to find new superlatives to describe the magic of this production.
I haven’t seen it yet, but have seen numerous excerpts from it and it is truly incredible. On Tuesday I will be posting my interview with Foot.
For tickets and more information, please go here.
SCAT!…THE COMPLEX LIVES OF AL & DOT, DOT & ALZOLLAR – Mark Taper Forum – Los Angeles, CA – November 22nd – November 24th
Dance company Urban Bush Women celebrates its 40th anniversary with this show inspired by director/creator/co-choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s experiences growing up in Kansas City’s Black neighborhoods. Vincent Thomas is co-choreographer.
Urban Bush Women’s main focus is on the stories of Black women. The work goes backwards and forwards in time. The story has its roots in the Great Migration and is not fully autobiographical. Scat! had its world premiere in June at Bard SummerScape.
This 90-minute work is having its West Coast premiere and features live music composed by Craig Harris. The website describes it as a “dance-driven jazz club experience,” so music will be key here. Zollar told the New York Times this would be her final work for Urban Bush Women.
For tickets and more information, please go here.
Urban Bush Women will also be at the 92nd Street Y in New York City for two performances showcasing the company’s 40-year history. For tickets and more information for those two events on December 6th and 7th, please go here.
BROADWAY OPENINGS: SWEPT AWAY – Longacre Theatre – New York, NY- November 19th AND DEATH BECOMES HER – Lunt-Fontanne Theatre – November 21st
Two new musicals open this week starting with Swept Away, a musical written by The Avett Brothers and starring John Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening), Stark Sands (Kinky Boots) and more. The show is directed by Michael Mayer and has a book by John Logan (Red).
This is a rarity for Broadway: a musical that is not based on a pre-existing work, but is wholly original.
The show is currently booked to run through May 25, 2025.
For tickets and more information, please go here.
The 1992 movie Death Becomes Her is the inspiration for this musical with Megan Hilty (9 To 5), Jennifer Simard (Company) and Christopher Sieber (Company) in the roles played on screen by Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis.
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey wrote the music and lyrics. The book is by Marco Pennette and the show is directed and choreographed by Christopher Gatteli.
The show is also currently booked to run through May 25, 2025.
For tickets and more information, please go here.
That’s my list of the Best Bets: November 18th – November 24th. Have a great week!
Main Photo: Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in Death Becomes Her (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)