Welcome to 2025 and the first Best Bets of the year. Here are my Best Bets: January 6th – January 12th:
GYPSY – Majestic Theatre – New York, NY – Now – June 29th
Yes this revival of the Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents musical opened in December. Shortly after opening there were illnesses in the company and the production endured multiple cancellations between in its second week.
But that shouldn’t stop you from checking out what critics say is an outstanding revival any more than it stopped me from included in this week’s Best Bets!
Audra McDonald stars as Momma Rose in this production directed by George C. Wolfe. Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson star as her daughters Louise and Dainty June. Tony Award-winner Danny Burstein plays Herbie and Lesli Margherita, Lili Thomas and Mylinda Hull play strippers Tessie Tura, Miss Mazeppa and Miss Electra.
Camille A. Brown created new choreography for this fifth revival of the musical many consider to be the perfect musical. It’s also one of the most challenging for any lead actress who takes on the role of Momma Rose. Special kudos to the late Gavin Creel who told McDonald she had to take on this role. I can’t wait to see it myself!
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
IGOR LEVIT RECITAL – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Los Angeles, CA – January 8th/Carnegie Hall – New York, NY – January 12th
Classical pianist Levit performs a program of music by Johann Sebastian Bach (Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903); Johannes Brahms (Ballades, Op. 10) and Ludwig van Beethoven arranged by Franz Liszt (Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92).
The Liszt transcription alone will account for nearly 45 minutes of this recital and should be the centerpiece of it. I really like his 2019 recording of The Complete Piano Sonatas of Beethoven and the Liszt pieces found on his 2022 album Tristan. So what does he do for an encore after the Beethoven?
For tickets and more information for the Los Angeles concert, please go HERE. For tickets and more information for the New York concert, please go HERE.
RUSSELL MALONE CELEBRATION – Jazz at Lincoln Center The Appel Room– New York, NY – January 8th
When jazz guitarist passed away of an apparent heart attack in August of last year, he left a void that many artists said at the time couldn’t be filled. Many of those artists are coming together to celebrate Malone during the 2025 Jazz Congress in New York. And it’s quite a line-up that is scheduled to perform:
Monty Alexander Trio, Kenny Barron, T.K. Blue, Ron Carter, Ed Cherry, John Clayton, Vincent DuPont, Rick Germanson, Benny Green, Willie Jones III, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Tammy McCann, Yotam Silberstein, Neal Smith, Dave Stryker, Donald Vega and Ben Wolfe.
You quite possibly need to be attending Jazz Congress to attend, but that’s just one more reason to look into attending.
To register for Jazz Congress and make reservations for this one-of-a-kind concert, please go HERE.
LIVE ARTERY 2025 – New York Live Arts Theater and Studios – New York, NY – January 8th – January 18th
Dance is front and center in this annual festival in New York City. The highlight of this year’s festival is the world premiere of Super Nothing by Miguel Gutierrez. Commissioned by the festival, Super Nothing is centered on four dancers. Their movement separately and together serves as a metaphor for “how people support each other to survive.” The artists performing this work are Jay Carlon, Evelyn Lillian, Sanchez Narvaez, Justin Faircloth and Wendell Gray II.
Other companies/artists performing at this year’s Live Artery include Milka Djordjevich, DJ Spooky, Stacy Matthew Spencer, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M. and more.
For the full schedule, tickets and more information, please go HERE.
SARA BAREILLES: NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – Available for streaming at PBS.org and the PBS App
Yes this was a New Year’s Eve concert and it doesn’t strictly fall into the performing arts category, per se. But with Bareilles’ work on stage and her deep passion for musical theater, I think you’ll want to stream this concert.
She’s a fiercely talented singer/songwriter and even if not all her material fits into one genre, her performance style, intelligence, wit and energy are sure to please.
For this concert she was joined by Rufus Wainwright and David Ryan Harris.
Click on the PBS link above to view this concert.
Those are my Best Bets: January 6th – January 13th. Enjoy your week and go see a show or a concert!
Main Photo: Audra McDonald in Gypsy (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)