The last week of May brings out quite a few major premieres and they popular Best Bets: May 25th – May 31st.
||: Girls :||: Chance :||: Music :|| – Vineyard Theatre – New York, NY – Now – June 21st
OPENING NIGHT: May 28th
Four girls, all musicians, are studying together at a music program in Berkeley, California. What they find out about each other and whether they can navigate those discoveries and still make music together, are at the heart of Eisa Davis’s show.
The four characters are Fax, a singer; Rile, a pianist; Clementine, a flutist and Margot, a drummer.
They are played by Hillary Fisher, Yeena Sung, Gianna DiGregorio Rivera and Naomi Latta.
The press release says this play with music features “a score with elements unique to each performance.”
This is a world premiere.
Pam MacKinnon directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
BLACK SWAN – A.R.T. – Boston, MA – May 26th – July 5th
Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 movie that landed Natalie Portman her first Academy Award has been turned into a musical directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge! The Musical).
The music and lyrics are by Dave Malloy who incorporates some of Tchaikovsky’s melodies into his work. The book is by Jen Silverman.
Melanie Moore plays Nina (Portman’s role) and Jada Simone Clark plays Lily (the part played by Mila Kunis in the film).
The show is advised for audiences aged 16 and above.
This is a hot ticket in Boston with the website currently stating that there is limited availability. The July 5th end date reflects an extension of the show’s run.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
GUSTAVO DUDAMEL & YO-YO MA – Los Angeles Philharmonic – Los Angeles, CA – May 28th and May 30th
Composer Angélica Negrón’s cello concerto, Mundillo (Little World) has its world premiere in these two concerts. It was composed for Yo-Yo Ma and runs 20 minutes. As a fan of Negrón’s music, this is reason enough to see the concert – if you can get a ticket.
This concert marks the last time Ma and Dudamel will appear together in the Walt Disney Concert Hall before Dudamel moves to the New York Philharmonic.
The second half of the concert features Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE. (Though it says No Seats Available, I advise checking back periodically to see if tickets have been released.)
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Chicago Shakespeare Theater – Chicago, IL – May 28th – June 28th
Ashley Robinson’s adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story had its world premiere in London in 2023. This production at Chicago Shakespeare Theater marks the play’s North American debut.
The story is of Ennis and jack, two young men who fall in love while working together in Wyoming in 1963. Harrison Ball and Jack Cameron Kay play the two leads.
Brokeback Mountain includes songs by Dan Gillespie Sells that are played on stage by a country western band.
Jonathan Butterell, who directed the world premiere production, directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA – Opera Theatre of Saint Louis – St. Louis, MO – May 30th – June 28th
In my opinion, The Light in the Piazza is one of the finest musicals in the last 25 years. It features a deliriously romantic score by Adam Guettel and has three roles that challenge even the best of actors/singers. (Just ask Matthew Morrison who once told me it was by far the hardest thing he’d ever done.)
Starring in this production are Kate Baldwin as Margaret Johnson who is on vacation in Italy with her daughter, Clara (Katrina Galka). Clara has developmental issues and Margaret does all she can to protect her from the world – and the advances of a captivating Italian boy named Fabrizio (Roy Hage.)
Between the show itself and Kate Baldwin, that’s reason enough to travel to OTSL to see The Light in the Piazza.
Crystal Manich directs. Rob Berman conducts.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
That’s all for Best Bets: May 25th – May 31st.
Enjoy your week and Go See a Show!
Main Photo: Kate Baldwin (Photo by Matthew Murphy)