For Best Bets: June 9th – June 15th, we’ve got the opening of one musical, three plays and what is now called the Blue Note Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.
42 BALLOONS – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre – Chicago, IL – Now – June 29th OPENING NIGHT: June 10th
Sometimes the most unusual of real-life events inspire the creation of musicals. Take 42 Balloons as an example.
In Los Angeles, a truck driver named Larry Walters had long dreamed of flying. Not in a plane. Not in a helicopter. But truly being able to fly himself. Well before Pixar’s Up, he used 42 weather balloons, attached them to his lawn chair and went 16,000 feet into the sky. Lawnchair Larry became his nickname.
This musical was well-reviewed in England and is now having its North American Premiere in Chicago (with an eye looking East to New York certainly a possibility with the team of producers attached).
42 Balloons was written by Jack Godfrey and is directed by Ellie Coote. Charlie McCullagh stars as Larry Walters. He played the role in England. The music is described as “80s pop-inspired.”
I know from people who have seen the show that it is more serious at times than the material might lead you to believe. But they loved it!
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
ANGRY ALAN – Studio Seaview – New York, NY – Now – August 3rd OPENING NIGHT June 11th
This play by Penelope Skinner explores one man’s view of the diminishing power of men in today’s society through the lens of a divorced dad who feels the world has turned on men. He explores his feelings online and inevitably finds like-minded people who challenge his belief system and pushes him to extremes he couldn’t have imagined possible.
It’s a one-man play and John Krasinski returns to the stage since appearing in Dry Powder at The Public Theater in 2016.
Sam Gold, who directed this season’s Romeo + Juliet on Broadway, directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
DRIVING MISS DAISY – Theatre Aspen – Aspen, CO – June 12th – June 28th
This play by Alfred Uhry offers up quite a meaty part for the two leads: Miss Daisy Werthan, a Jewish widow and Hoke Colburn, her Black chauffeur. Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman played the characters in the 1989 Oscar-winning movie.
For this production there is one overwhelming reason to want to be in Aspen to see it: Judy Kaye is playing Miss Daisy. She made her Broadway debut in the original production of Grease as a replacement for Rizzo. Kaye originated the role of Carlotta Guidicelli in The Phantom of the Opera in the US which earned Kaye her first Tony Award. She also starred in Ragtime and Nice Work If You Can Get It (winning a second Tony Award in the process). My favorite role of hers was as Florence Foster Jenkins in the play Souvenir.
Bernard Dotson plays Hoke Coleburn and Jim Poulos plays Boolie Werthan. Hunter Foster directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
CALL ME IZZY- Studio 54 – New York, NY – Now – August 17th. Opening Night: June 12th
Two words make this a must-see: Jean Smart. Then add it’s the world premiere of a new one-woman show and you’ve upped my interest considerably. If anyone can sustain a one-person show, it is going to be Smart.
Call Me Izzy was written by Jamie Wax. It tells the story of a woman living in Louisiana who is confronting secrets from her past. When she starts writing about them she learns that finding her voice gives her the opportunity to own those secrets and move forward with her life.
Smart received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in 2001’s The Man Who Came to Dinner. Might another nomination be in her future?
Sarna Lapine directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA – June 14th – June 15th
What was once the Playboy Jazz Festival became the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival and is now the Blue Note Jazz Festival. This is the first festival with the new name, but the line-up is just as impressive as seasons past.
Saturday’s lineup includes: Lakecia Benjamin, Dee Dee Bridgewater with Bill Charlap, De La Soul, Keyon Harrold, The Isley Brothers, Pedrito Martinez, Brandon Woody and more.
Sunday’s lineup includes: Weedie Braimah & The Hands of Time, Stanley Clarke, Grace Jones, Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, The Soul Rebels, Willow and more.
Arsenio Hall returns as host.
Look for my interview with Lakecia Benjamin later this week.
For tickets and more information for Saturday, please go HERE. For Sunday, please go HERE.
That’s Best Bets: June 9th – June 15th.
Enjoy your week! Go see a show!
Main Photo: Lisa Howard, Akron, Watson, Charlie McCullagh and Evelyn Hoskins in 42 Balloons (photo by Kyle Flubacker/Courtesy Chicago Shakespeare Theater)