BEST BETS: NOVEMBER 24th – NOVEMBER 30th

There aren’t a lot of new events this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday in America. So I’m taking advantage of the slow week to highlight a few shows Cultural Attaché didn’t include in recent weeks for Best Bets: November 24^th – November 30^th.  

OEDIPUS – Studio 54 – New York, NY – Now – February 8, 2026

Sophocles gets a modern interpretation in this new adaptation by Robert Icke who also directs. In London Oedipus received Olivier Awards for Best Revival of a Play and Best Actress for Lesley Manville.

The play is set in the world of modern-day politics. Mark Strong stars as Oedipus with Manville playing Jocasta. Also in the cast are Brian Thomas Abraham, Teagle F. Bougere, Samuel Brewer, Denise Cormier, Karl Kenzler, John Carroll Lynch, Bhasker Patel, Ani Mesa-Perez, Anne Reid, Oliver Reis, Oliver Rowland-Jones, Jordan Scowen and James Wilbraham.

Mark Strong was superb in A View From the Bridge and Lesley Manville immensely moving in Long Day’s Journey Into Night opposite Jeremy Irons. And let me put a special mention for Anne Reid who was so real in Last Tango in Halifax.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK) – Longacre Theatre – New York, NY – Now – June 5^th

This little musical from London looks likely to be the sleeper hit of the 2025-2026 season in New York. Critics fell over themselves raving about this charming musical by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan.

Dougal (Sam Tutty) is a first-time visitor to New York. He’s there to attend his father’s wedding. A father he still hasn’t met.  Robin (Christiani Pitts) is the bride’s sister who is given the responsibility for picking up Dougal from the airport and bringing him to the city.

If you’re thinking rom/com you’re on the right track. The score is delightful. I haven’t seen the show yet, but I certainly want to based on the Original London Cast Recording which is available on all streaming services.

Tim Jackson directs and choreographs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

THE MONKEY KING – San Francisco Opera – November 25 – November 30^th

This opera by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang is finishing its world premiere run at San Francisco Opera with three final performances.

The opera is based on the novel Journey to the West. It tells the story of Sun Wukong the Monkey King) who works tirelessly to protect his tribe. He’s not taken seriously but after victories in battle against formidable opponents, he still lacks the respect he craves. Will the gods ever acknowledge all he’s accomplished?

Kang Wang sings The Monkey King. Konu Kim is Jade Emperor. Mei Gui Zhang is Guanyin. Peixin Chen is Supreme Sage Laojun. Joon Won Kang, Hongni Wu and Jusung Gabirel Park each sing two roles.

Diane Paulus directs. Basil Twist is the puppetry director and set & puppetry designer. Ann Yee is the choreographer and Carolyn Kuan conducts.

There is an opportunity to stream The Monkey King which began on November 23^rd at 10:00 AM PT and ends on November 25^th at 10 AM PT. For livestream tickets and more information, please go HERE.

For in-person tickets and more information, please go HERE.

JASON MORAN & THE BANDWAGON – Village Vanguard – New York, NY – November 25^th – November 30^th

Bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits join pianist/composer Moran for their annual Thanksgiving week stint at the Village Vanguard. 

Jazz fans know this is a special week of performances. In fact, all the early shows are already sold out for this week. As of press time there were still tickets available for each night’s late show.

If you’ve never seen Jason Moran & The Bandwagon, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you have, you know how memorable these annual shows are. Don’t hesitate to get tickets or you just might find there won’t be any.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

Note: I have interviewed Jason Moran a couple times. You can see the first interview HERE and the second interview HERE.

HEDDA GABLER – Yale Repertory Theatre – New Haven, CT – November 28^th – December 20^th Opening Night: December 4^th

Outgoing Artistic Director James Bundy directs his final show for Yale Repertory Theatre. This adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler was translated by Paul Walsh.

Hedda (Marianna Gailus) is newly married. She’s moved into their new home. But being a housewife just isn’t the life she imagined for herself. The arrival of a former lover puts her life, her husband’s career and their finances in jeopardy. 

As Parker Posey’s character says in White Lotus, “I just don’t think, at this age, that I’m meant to live and uncomfortable life.” Nor is Hedda willing to live one that isn’t of her choosing.

Gailus was Andrew Scott’s understudy for the one-person Vanya that was a smash success off-Broadway. 

The rest of the cast include Austin Durant, Felicity Jones Latta, Stephanie Machado, Max Gordon Moore, Mary Lou Rosato and James Udom.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

That’s all for Best Bets: November 24^th – November 30^th.

For those celebrating, have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family.

Enjoy your week! Go see a show!

Main Photo: Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts in Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)