June is busting out all over the country and so are opportunities to see some great shows. Here are my Best Bets: June 15th – June 21st:
HENRY VI: A TRILOGY IN TWO PARTS – The Public Theater – New York, NY – Now – July 19th
OPENING NIGHT: June 21st
The Public Theater and the National Asian American Theatre Company continue their collaborations (2022’s Out of Time and 2015’s Awake and Sing!) with a revival of NAATCO’s 2018 production of Shakespeare’s Henry VI.
The play is told in two parts which are performed in repertory.
Part I will play on Tuesday and Thursday. Part II will be performed on Wednesday and Friday. Both parts are performed on the weekends.
The cast includes Tommy Bo, Rajesh Bose, Kimiye Corwin, Myka Cue, John D. Haggerty, David Lee Huynh, Anna Ishida, Paul Juhn, Mia Katigbak, Teresa Avia Lim, Orville Mendoza, Jon Norman Schneider, David Shih, Julyana Soelistyo, Sue Jin Song and James Yaegashi.
Stephen Brown-Fried, who adapted the play, directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
THE ZIONISTS: A FAMILY STORM – Barrington Stage Company – Pittsfield, MA – June 16th – July 3rd
OPENING NIGHT: June 20th
This world premiere play was written by S. Asher Gelman and focuses on how a well-known Jewish family views the world post the October 7th attack in Israel. They have gathered for a family reunion in the Caribbean, but differing views lead to long festering wounds to be reopened.
Starring in The Zionists are Shira Alon, William De Meritt, Coby Getzug, Joanna Glushak, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Adam Grupper, Dani Stoller and Gregg Weiner.
Chloe Treat directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES – New York City Center Encores! – New York City Center – New York, NY – June 17th – June 28th
Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s musical is presented with an all-Black cast that stars Billy Porter as Albin and Wayne Brady as his partner Georges.
When their son, Jean-Michel, invites his fiancée’s parents over for dinner, Albin and Georges must pretend to be straight as not to offend the parents who are staunch conservatives.
James Jackson Jr. and Tonya Pinkins and others also star in the production.
Robert O’Hara (Slave Play) directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
APPALACHIAN SPRING – Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra – Pittsburg, PA – June 19th – June 21st
As much as I love Aaron Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, that isn’t what prompts me to put this concert on this week’s Best Bets.
The concert opens with the world premiere of Michael Daughterty’s Dancing in the Streets. That’s the main attraction for me. The PSO commissioned the work to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company.
There are three movements: Got to Dance! (Ode to Gene Kelly); Martha’s Maze (Ode to Martha Graham) and Dance a Little Longer (Ode to Woody and Marjorie Guthrie).
Augustin Hadelich joins to perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. Jesse Montgomery’s Strum follows and the concert closes with Appalachian Spring. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will perform Appalachian Spring.
Manfred Honeck conducts.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL – Multiple Venues – Rochester, NY – June 19th – June 27th
One of the things I love about this jazz festival is that in many cases you get multiple opportunities to see and hear the artists perform.
For instance: Trumpeter/composer Brandon Woody’s Upendo has two shows on June 19th. Pianist/composer Paul Cornish Trio has two shows on June 21st and he has two shows on June 22nd. Trumpeter/composer Avishai Cohen has two shows on June 24th; Singer/guitarist/composer Camila Meza has two shows on June 25th; Doreen Ketchens New Orleans Jazz Quartet has two shows on June 26th and two on June 27th; Isaiah J. Thompson Trio has two shows on June 25th and he has two shows on June 26th;
Amongst those who have only one performance are Bill Frisell Trio (June 24th); Cécile McLorin Salvant (June 24th) and Gladys Knight (June 26th).
For the full list of artists, schedules and tickets, please go HERE. Each artist named above has links tot heir event page.
To see my interviews with Paul Cornish, Avishai Cohen and Cécile McLorain Salvant, click on each of their names in this sentence.
BROADWAY BARES: LICENSE TO STRIP – Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY – June 21st
This annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of their most popular. Each year up to 200 NYC-based dancers take it all off in dynamic, Broadway-caliber production numbers.
Kellen Stancil directs and choreographs as do John Alix, Mike Baerga, Jessica Castro, Savannah Joy Cobb (also associate director), Paula DeLuise (also associate director), Armando Farfan Jr., Billy Griffin, Miles Keeney, Nick Kenkel, Tanner Lane, Reed Luplau, Sarah Meahl, Jenny Oehlwein, Julius Anthony Rubio and Shani Talmor.
Director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell created Broadway Bares in 1992 and this event has raised, so far, over $31 million for BC/EFA.
There are two performances. One at 9:30 PM and a second at midnight.
For tickets and more information (and to make a donation if you can’t attend the show), please go HERE.
STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL – Multiple Venues – Palo Alto, CA – June 21st – July 31st
Amongst the artists performing at the Stanford Jazz Festival are George Cables Sextet; Billy Childs Quartet; Anat Cohen; Stefon Harris & Blackout; Branford Marsalis Quartet; Jeb Patton and David Wong (in a celebration of Jimmy Heath’s centennial – one getting overlooked by the Miles Davis and John Coltrane centennial celebrations); Jeremy Pelt (in a celebration of Miles Davis’ Centennial); Marcus Shelby Sextet; Luciana Souza and more.
Four of the festival’s 25 concerts have already sold out.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE. The individual shows I’ve selected also have links to their event page.
That’s all for Best Bets: June 15th – June 21st.
Enjoy your week and go see a show!
Main Photo: Jon Norman Schneider in Henry VI: A Trilogy in Two Parts (Photo by HanJie Chow/Courtesy The Public Theater)