Best Bets: September 21st – September 27th

This last full week in September has something for all culture vultures out there: classical music, jazz, musicals, opera and plays. Here are Best Bets: September 21st – September 27th:

PRE-EXISTING CONDITION – Greenwich House Theater – New York, NY – Now – January 8^th

Any play involving Marin Ireland is worth exploring. Pre-Existing Condition is no exception. Though best known for her performances in the plays of Martyna Majok, Pre-Existing Condition is her first play.

The show had its premiere in 2024 at the Connelly Theater Upstairs in New York’s East Village. The play was a New York Times Critic’s Pick.

Ireland’s play is a powerful depiction of a woman,  identified only  as ‘A,’ who is working her way out of a physically abusive relationship.

As with the original production, a rotating series of actresses will take on the role of “A.” Right now Lupita Nyong’o is in the role through September 26^th. Phillipa Soo takes on the role from September 28^th – October 17^th. Susannah Flood stars from October 18^th – November 7^th; Hari Nef from November 9^th – November 28^th.

Edie Falco, who was part of the original production in 2024, leads the show from November 30^th – December 19^th. Whitney White closes out the production from December 21^st – January 8^th.

The rest of the cast includes Greg Keller, Dael Orlandersmith and Sarah Steele – all playing the same parts they did in the original production. Susannah Perkins will take over for Sarah Steele sometime in October.

As she did in 2024, Maria Dizzia directs.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB – US Tour – Multiple Venues – September 22^nd – August 29, 2027

This musical was the recipient of five Tony Awards including Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations and a Special Tony for the live musicians who each night bring the music of the Buena Vista Social Club to life.

In 1997, a group of Cuban music legends came together to record an album.

Two years later, Wim Wenders released a documentary that introduced their music and stories to an international audience. The world embraced them and their music.

Book writer Marco Ramirez and director Saheem Ali created this musical around that music and those sessions. The show is running on Broadway and now takes to the road.

The first stops are Durham, North Carolina (September 22^nd – 27^th); Miami (September 29^th – October 4^th); Tampa, FL (October 6^th – October 11^th); Fort Lauderdale, FL (October 13^th – October 18^th); Orlando, FL (October 20^th – October 25^th) and Atlanta, GA (October 27th – November 1^st).

The cast includes Karmine Alers, Mauro Castillo, Robert M. Jiménez, Isabel Gonzalez, Aidan Olmo, Jaleel Battles, Jr., Irving Aday O’Connor and San Miguel Pérez. They are joined by an ensemble and ten-piece band who just might have audiences dancing in the aisles – if the ushers let them!

For tour stops and more information including tickets, please go HERE.

MACBETH – Metropolitan Opera – New York, NY – September 22^nd – October 20th

The Met Opera opens its 2026-2027 season with Louisa Proske’s new production of Verdi’s Macbeth.

Starring in the title role is baritone Quinn Kelsey with soprano Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green sings the role of Banquo and tenor Freddie De Tommaso sings the role of Macduff. Rafael Davila will sing the role of Macduff on the October 2^nd performance.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

A new production with Davidsen as Lady Macbeth will likely make this a tough ticket. The October 17^th performance will be broadcast live in cinemas as part of the Met’s Live in HD program.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE. For Live in HD information and to find a theater near you, please go HERE.

WALTER SMITH III CMA PREMIERE – Smoke Jazz Club – New York, NY – September 23^rd – September 27^th

This is a great opportunity to be the first to hear a new work. Tenor saxophonist and composer Walter Smith III was commissioned by Chamber Music America for their New Jazz Works program.

Smith and a great lineup of musicians will be performing the new work all week at Smoke Jazz Club.

Joining Smith are Matt Brewer on bass, Jason Moran on piano, Bill Stewart on drums and Matthew Stevens on guitar.

Smoke Jazz Club will be streaming Friday’s 6:30 PM ET and 8:30 PM ET performances. The ensemble will be recording the work after this week of performances.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE. For livestream tickets and more information, please go HERE.

JAZZFEST WHITE PLAINS – Multiple Venues – White Plains, NY – September 23^rd – September 27^th

This year’s festival offers a great mix of free and ticketed concerts.

My highlights include Micha Thomas (September 23rd); Kat Gang (September 24th); Vanisha Gould Duo and Ben Wendel Group (separate shows on September 25th).

Additional highlights are Sylvie Courvoisier & Mary Halvorson Duo and John Patitucci Trio with Danilo Pérez and Adam Cruz (separate shows on September 26^th) and the Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet (September 27^th).

To register for free events, for tickets and more information, please go HERE.

ANDRIS NELSONS CONDUCTS MAHLER SYMPHONY 7 – Boston Symphony Orchestra – Boston, MA – September 24^th – 26^th

The highlight for me is the world premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina’s Prolog. Commissioned by the BSO, the 20-minute work was left unfinished when Gubaidulina died. Her friend and colleague Elena Firsova completed it.

Conductor Andris Nelsons has an affinity for the works of Gustav Mahler.

For this concert, he conducts Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. This will be the first time he leads the BSO in a performance of this symphony (he’s led all the others there previously).

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

WILLIAM TELL (Guillaume Tell) – Boston Lyric Opera – Boston, MA – September 25^th – October 4^th

You know the overture. But do you know the opera? Rossini’s William Tell is not amongst his most produced operas. That’s usually due to its 4-hour length.

Who knew it would take that much time to tell the story of a man who succeeded in targeting an apple with his bow and successfully knocking it off his son’s head?

In all the years of Cultural Attaché, I’ve never come across a production of this opera. Here is some information about it:

It had its world premiere at Paris Opéra in 1829. The libretto is by Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy & L.F. Bis.

The opera is set in the 14^th century and depicts struggles by the Swiss to be independent after harsh Austrian rule.

Tell wants to incite the people to rebel against the oppressive leadership. Arnold is in love with the Austrian princess, Mathilde, but angered by the Austrian governor, Gessler, who murdered his brother.

When Tell and his son, Jemmy, don’t adhere to what Gessler wants, Tell is forced to shoot an apple off his son’s head. When a second arrow is found, more complications arise for them all.

For this new production from co-directors Vita Tzykun and David Adam Moore, the opera has been trimmed to just under three hours. 

George Gagnidze sings the role of William Tell. Brianna J. Robinson sings the role of Jemmy. Anya Matanovič sings the role of Mathilde. Konu Kim sings the role of Arnold. Nina Yoshida Nelsen sings the role of Hedwige who is Tell’s wife. Hunter Enoch sings the role of Gessler.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

HYDE PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL – Multiple Venues – Chicago, IL – September 26^th – 27^th

There are so many great performances taking place this weekend at the 20^th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival that it seems almost foolish to try to sort out my top picks. But I’ll do my best.

On September 26^th, my first choices would be:  HPJF 20^th Anniversary Band with Marquis Hill, Makaya McCraven, Junius Paul and Joel Ross; Ben LaMar Gay;  Kris Davis Trio (two sets) and Joshua Redman solo.

Also worth seeing: Kyle Swan Trio featuring Joel Ross; Brandon Woody’s Upendo and Tomeka Reid’s In Tribute to Ellington.

On September 27^th: Ari Brown Quintet, Big Chief Donald Harrison Quartet and M.A.D.D. Vibes: Thaddeus Tukes Quintet with M.A.D.D. Rhythms (which will also feature four tap dancers).

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

IN CONCERT: SHUFFLE ALONG OR THE MAKING OF THE MUSICAL SENSATION OF 1921 AND ALL THAT FOLLOWED – Lincoln Center Theatre – New York, NY – September 27^th – September 28^th

I saw this musical when it played on Broadway in 2016. Great music by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle and an even more amazing cast: Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Adrienne Warren, Brooks Ashmanskas, Amber Iman and Joshua Henry.

All but Henry will be participating in these two concert performances. Norm Dixon will take on his role of Sissle.

Daryl Waters and George C. Wolfe created additional music and lyrics. Savion Glover was the choreographer. Wolfe, of course, directed.

This musical only ran for 100 regular performances. This may be your last opportunity to see this cast perform the show together.

For tickets and more information, please go HERE.

That’s all for Best Bets: September 21st – September 27th.

Enjoy your week!

Go see a show!

Main Photo: Quinn Kelsey in Macbeth (Photo by Marty Sohl/Courtesy Met Opera)