Best Bets: May 18th – May 24th

Here are my Best Bets: May 18th – May 24th:

DARK OF THE MOON – Charing Cross Theatre – London, England – May 18^th – August 8^th

Howard Richardson and William Berney’s play Dark of the moon, debuted on Broadway in 1945. It tells the story of a “witch boy”, John, who falls in love with a human, Barbara Allen.

Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett and Steve Robson have written music and lyrics for this new musical based on the play. The book is by Jonathan Prince. The show is set, as the original was, in a small Appalachian town.

Glenn Adamson plays John and Lauren Jones plays Barbara Allen.

Georgie Rankcom directs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

DUDAMEL CONDUCTS DIE WALKÜRE – LA Philharmonic – Los Angeles, CA =  May 19^th – May 24^th

When the LA Philharmonic announced that Dudamel, architect Frank Gehry and the LA Phil would collaborate on a concert performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold, it was to be expected that it would serve as the launch of a full series of concert of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

The second opera is performed this week with individual concerts of each of the three acts of Die Walküre. Act I is performed May 19^th and May 22^nd. Act II is performed May 20^th and May 23^rd. Act III is performed May 21^st and May 24^th.

Ryan Speedo Green sings Wotan, Christine Goerke sings Brünnhilde, Jessica Faselt sings Sieglinde, Jamez McCorkle sings Siegmund, Soloman Howard sings Hunding and Sarah Saturnino sings Fricka.

Alberto Arvelo directs.

By the way, if you are wondering if this series will continue afer Dudamel leads the LA Phil, he told me at the 2025-2026 season announcement press event that it would continue with the other two operas.

For tickets and more information for Act I, please go HERE. For Act II, please go HERE. For Act III, please go HERE.

AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ – Ebony Repertory Theatre – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center – Los Angeles, CA – May 21^st – June 8^th

This musical celebrates the music of Fats Waller and features a book by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horowitz. The original Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Wren T. Brown directs this production which stars Ledisi. That alone is reason enough to see this production. Also in the cast are Chester Gregory, Connie Jackson, Marty Austin Lamar and Natalie Wachen.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

MǍCELARU CONDUCTS DVOŘÁK’s NEW WORLD – San Francisco Symphony – San Francisco, CA – May 22^nd – May 24^th

Yet another performance of Dvořák’s ubiquitous symphony is not the reason to include these performances. Rather, it is the world premiere of composer Tyler Taylor’s Embers which was commissioned by the SF Symphony.

On his website, composer Taylor says, “Embers focuses on a scenario involving the process of a voice fighting to be heard.” The work runs 16 minutes.

Also on the program is Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Simon Trpčeski as the soloist.

Christian Mǎcelaru conducts.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

That’s all for Best Bets: May 18^th – May 24^th.

Enjoy your week!

Go see a show!

Main Photo: Composer Tyler Taylor reviewing a score (Courtesy TylerTaylorComposer.com)