The Award-winning Huntington Theatre located at 264 Huntington Ave, in Boston brings to its stage this winner of 6 Tony Awards including the one for Best Original Score by Adam Guettel. The Chicago Tribune stated, “The most soul-satisfying score written for Broadway so far this century.” The Play Book is by Craig Lucas who based the story on the exquisitely poignant novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by the Huntington Norma Jean Calderwood Artistic Director, Loretta Greco, (Prayer for the French Republic).Set in Florence, Italy, in the 1950s, the story surrounds a wealthy American woman, Margaret Johnson, played by Emily Skinner (Broadway:Suffs [Drama Desk nomination], Side Show [Tony nomination, Drama League Award], The Cher Show, Prince Of Broadway [Outer Critics Circle Nomination], Jekyll & Hyde, The Full Monty, James Joyce’s The Dead, Dinner at Eight [Outer Critics Circle Nomination], Billy Elliot [Broadway World Award], New York, New York, A Christmas Carol”. She has come on a holiday in Italy .with her beautiful daughter, Clara, played by  Sarah-Anne Martinez (Regional: POTUS (Arena Stage – Helen Hayes Nomination); Leaving Eden (NYMF –Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role Award); Peter and The Starcatcher, The Addams Family, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Festival 56); Hello Dolly! (Tulane Summer Lyric). Sadly, Clara is permanently developmentally challenged after being kicked in the head by a pony when she was a child. Although she is 26, she literally is a child within the body of a stunning young woman. During their trip, Clara falls in love with a charming and very handsome young Italian man, Fabrizio Naccarelli, performed by Joshua Grosso (Off Broadway: Urinetown,(NYCC Encores), Regional: In The Heights(PCLO), Gatsby (ART), Tours: Les Misérables, The Band’s Visit). As their romance continues to grow, Margaret struggles over the challenges Clara may encounter with Fabrizio. Young men in America were quickly horrified by Clara’s condition, as well as treated her cruelly. She decides to take Clara to Rome to break the couple apart, but Clara becomes devastatingly unhappy so Margaret asks her husband,  to come to Italy to help her decide what to do about the situation. He insists that Clara should be permanently put in a care facility. But Margaret is horrified that Clara should be locked away for the rest of her life, so she figuratively crosses her fingers and continues to support her daughter and Fabrizio’s relationship. Fabrizio’s family are charmed by Clara’s naivety so they encourage them to wed. This is not without complexities. Clara has to convert to study Catholicism and pass approval of the priest, played by Morgan Mastrangelo (Regional: The Smallest Sound, In the Smallest Space (Lincoln Center, the cell theatre); Eurydice (Opera Grand Rapids); The Pirates of Penzance (NYGASP); Sweeney Todd (Opera Saratoga); Pippin (College Light Opera Company).. And, when Signor Naccarelli performed by  discovers Clara’s real age, resulting in a new road block to be hurtled. The story reflects a variety of love. The intensely protective mother, trapped in an emotional vortex, deciding what kind of future will Clara have and while navigating cultural differences encountered in Italy. The child like innocence of love that is evident in Clara but also in Fabrizio. And the concerning love Fabrizio’s family demonstrates for him. An impressive cast of 22 actors, including leads, ensembles, swing ad extras provide a rich theatrical experience.  The music is performed by a dozen professional instrumentalists that support the lovely and lyrical songs as well as choreography by Daniel Pelzig (The Huntington: Leopoldstadt, The Band’s Visit, Sunday in the Park with George, A Little Night Music, Company, Candide, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tartuffe, The Mikado, HMS Pinafore. Broadway: 33 Variations, A Year with Frog and Toad, Sweeney Todd (Kennedy Center Sondheim Festival).Artistic Director Loretta Greco stated, “This mother-daughter love story absolutely wrecked me when  experienced the premiere 20 years ago. Adam and Craig have crafted a stunning ode to the power of love in its many, many complicated guises. I’m thrilled to be directing this exquisitely rich show and to transport all of us to Florence in all its dreamy glory for a chance to be altered in the light of a new world.” Tickets for this stunning exploration of love and the human heart may be obtained at www.huntingtontheatre.org

THROUGH MAY  11: “THE SHARK IS BROKEN”

 Bill Hanney’s award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT,) located at 54 Dunham Rd. in Beverly, kicks off their 2025 expanded 70^th Anniversary Season with this West End and Broadway smash hit comedy.  Co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the original Broadway creative team reunites for this award winning one-act play before it moves for a summer run at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center at Oak Bluffs where the film was originally shot 50 years ago. This is a must-see for fans of the original film as well as fans of behind the scenes movie making stories, along with anyone who just loves a great comedic play. As someone who made his start in the movie theater business, and is an enormous fan of the 1975 film “Jaws”, Bill Hanney, NSMT’s owner and producer stated, ”I jumped at the chance to be one for the producers of the Broadway production in 2023,”…and… “I am very excited to be bringing together most of the original Broadway creative team to stage this one-act play for our audiences at North Shore Music Theatre”. The show dives deep into the tumultuous and often murky waters that are often involved during the making of a major motion picture.

Josh Tyson (Roy Scheider), Timothy W. Hull (Robert Shaw), and Jonathan Randell Silver (Richard Dreyfuss):. Photo©Paul Lyden The story surrounds testy, feuding costars, Robert Shaw (father of co-writer Ian Shaw), Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider as they bond, argue, drink, gamble, and pray for an end to the shoot.

 Timothy W. Hull (Robert Shaw), Josh Tyson (Roy Scheider), and Jonathan Randell Silver (Richard Dreyfuss):. Photo©Paul Lyden  This is coupled with chronic unpredictable weather, tensions rising amongst the cast members, and a shark prop whose constant breakdowns are continually mucking things up, all make it look like a cumulative  omen for the future of the movie. These original stars, did not know it would change their lives forever. The cast includes Timothy W. Hull as Robert Shaw, Jonathan Randell Silver as Richard Dreyfuss, and Josh Tyson as Roy Scheider. The understudy for Robert Shaw and Roy Scheider will be Kevin Loreque. Jacob Louchheim will be the understudy for Richard Dreyfuss. Original Broadway and West End creative team members returning for this new production include Guy Masterson (Director – Broadway/West End), Duncan Henderson (Scenic Design – Broadway/West End), Rebecca Glick (Costume Coordinator & Additional Costume Design), Jeff Greenberg (Lighting Design), Adam Cork (Sound Design And Original Music – Broadway/West End), Alex Berg (Additional Sound Design), Arthur Atkinson (Production Stage Manager), and Dakotah Wiley Horan (Assistant Stage Manager). THE SHARK IS BROKEN is produced for North Shore Music Theatre by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Kevin P. Hill (Producing Artistic Director), David Elliott (Executive Producer), and Matthew Chappell (Associate Producer / Casting Director). The play is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Tickets for this insightful as well as very funny play  may be obtained at www.nsmt.org

THROUGH MAY 11: WHAT YOU ARE NOW

The Merrimack Repertory Theatre, located in the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre at Liberty Hall on 50 E. Merrimack Street in Lowell (Adjacent to Lowell Memorial Auditorium) brings Sam Chanse’s thrillingly insightful new play to their stage. The story is set in Lowell and surrounds Pia, a passionate young researcher investigating new ideas about how to heal the mind from traumatic memories. Her interest is deeply intertwined with her own family’s history. When a figure from the past shows up, urging Pia’s mother to testify about her experiences during the violence of 1970s Cambodia, unresolved histories are brought to the surface. The production challenges us to move through the shifting dance between the past and present, and to consider how with new understanding we might change “who you were then” to “what you are now Tickets for this fun as well as engaging production may be obtained at www.mrt.org

MAY 12 (8pm): PROFESSOR BRIAN COX BRINGS “LIVE HORIZONS – A 21ST CENTURY SPACE ODYSSEY”

 Learning has not quite been this fun or exciting! The Boch Center Shubert Theatre at 265 Tremont St. in Boston brings this awe-inspiring live show to their stage. It takes theatre audiences on a dazzling cinematic journey with this sell-out, world-record breaking tour which has already taken in shows across the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia. This event, that to date has sold over 400,00 tickets, is a celebration of our civilization, of our music, art, philosophy and science. It provides an optimistic vision of our future if we continue to explore Nature with humility and to value ourselves and our fellow human beings. The US leg of this mesmerizing tour brings the curtain down on three years of touring. “Horizons” has taken audiences spanning three continents on a dazzling journey; a story of how we came to be and what we can become. Using state of the art screen technology, venues across the world have been filled with spectacular images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes and the latest theories on the origin of the Universe. What is the nature of space and time? How did life begin, how rare might it be and what is the significance of life in the Cosmos? What does it mean to live a finite fragile life in an infinite eternal Universe? Having travelled the world, it’s now time to bring Horizons to the US for a journey around our magnificent and baffling Universe. Professor Brian Cox said: “I’ve had immense fun touring Horizons around the world over the last 3 years. Part of the joy is that it’s evolved and changed into something almost unrecognizable from the original. I suppose that’s a metaphor for science – it keeps changing as new ideas and data appear! That’s why I wanted to bring this final evolution back to the US before I say goodbye to a show that’s been such a big part of my life for the last 3 years.”

The Professor is widely recognized as the foremost communicator for science, cosmology and astronomy in the world, and is Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, The Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He has has presented a number of highly acclaimed, award-winning science programs for the BBC watched by billions around the world including ‘Adventures in Space and Time’ (2021), ‘Universe’ (2021), ‘The Planets’ (2018), ‘Forces of Nature’ (2016), ‘Human Universe’ (2014), ‘Wonders of Life’ (2012), ‘Wonders of the Universe’ (2011) and ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ (2010). His latest series ‘Solar System’ premiered on BBC Two in October 2024 to huge viewing figures and rave reviews. Previously Brian co-hosted popular astronomy and cosmology series ‘Stargazing Live’ with Dara O’Briain, and he co-hosts award-winning BBC Radio 4 series ‘Infinite Monkey Cage’, which has gone on to become one of the UK’s most popular podcasts. As an author, Brian has sold over a million books worldwide including ‘Black Holes’, ‘Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos’, ‘Quantum Universe’ and ‘Why Does E=mc2?’.Brian has undertaken several sell-out live world tours, setting numerous Guinness World Records, including for the biggest selling science tour – a record he himself broke with his most recent worldwide tour, ‘Horizons’, which took in venues in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and across Europe and was performed to hundreds of thousands of people across the world. The production is accompanied by the Sydney Symphonic Orchestra where he performed a run of sell-out shows at Sydney Opera House last year, followed by up a week of sell-out shows at the Royal Opera House in London this summer. There, he was accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia.Uniquely, Prior to his academic and television career, Brian was in rock bands such as Dare and D:Ream, famously playing the keyboard on the latter’s hit track ‘Things Can Only Get Better’. Brian has also worked as a consultant on a number of film projects including Danny Boyle ‘Sunshine’, whilst his content has attracted hundreds of millions of views across social media platforms. Tickets may be obtained at www.bochcenter.org

MAY 14 – 18: AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN

The Norton Award winning Theater UnCorked closes their 6^th season with Outer Critic’s Circle Award Winner Douglas Carter Beane’s dramatic comedy. Staged at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, located beneath the Cyclorama at 539 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End, where some of Boston’s most prestigious, innovative and award winning productions have, for decades, been performed there. The stellar Theater Uncorked has just received 5 Elliot Norton Nominations for productions in 2024. This delightful satirical comedy is directed by David Miller, former Producing Artistic Director of Zeitgeist Stage Company for 18 productive seasons that totaled well over 50 plays. He and his company captured numerous Elliot Norton Awards for excellence in theater, that included four awards for Outstanding Fringe Theater Production. Zeitgeist Stage Company also received over twenty Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards including five for Outstanding Small Theater Production. All performed in the intimate BCA Plaza Black Box Theatre. It is a thrill to have him leave retirement to direct this show.

 Sehnaz Dirik as Alexa Vere De Vere  The story surrounds Alexa Vere de Vere, a flamboyant and charismatic woman whose scams hopefully to be famous actors or entertainers. She spies her next victim, Evan Wyler, a young writer hoping to create the next great screenplay. He is easily targeted by his photo on the cover of Celebrity Magazine and an article about his rising fame.

Michael Mazzone as Evan Wyler Alexa claims to be a record producer and convinces Evan to capture her fabulous life in what will surely be an award-winning, biographical, screen play. In exchange she will elevate him to becoming rich and famous…as she has done with other hopefuls seeking fame, but never has any such intentions. Evan attaches himself to her as she lavishly flits from place to place spending money…eventually conning Evan to pick up the tab for her purchases on his credit card. She not only does not pay him back, she disappears leaving him with a huge credit card debt. But as it is often said, “Pay backs are…forgive me…a ‘be-yotch’!”

Michael Mazzone as Evan Wyler and Bradley Belanger as Skunk  How Evan gets even is absolutely marvelous! The production features Michael Mazzone as Evan Wyler, Norton and IRNE Award winning actress Sehnaz Dirik as Alexa Vere de Vere, Isabel Ginsberg as Actress #1, Lauren Elias as Actress #2, Ben Dawn Cross as Actor #1 and Bradley Belanger as Actor #2. Theater Uncorked invites audiences to come and….“Taste the fame that seems so close and yet so far. But in our desire to become that shining star, we forget who we are.” This is a marvelous satire that flays the meat of the desire for fame with such a delicate wit and accuracy! Tickets for this uniquely entertaining production may be obtained at https://www.bostontheatrescene.com/shows-and-events/as-bees-in-honey-drown/

MAY 16 – JUNE 22: HELLO DOLLY!

Spring is here and this show will definitely put a spring in your step along with boundless joy in your heart. The Lyric Stage at 140 Clarendon St. in Boston brings their 2024/25 season to a rollicking and wonderful close with this classic American musical comedy. With Music Direction by the popular, award-winning Dan Rodriguez†, and Choreography by the outstanding award-winning Ilyse Robbins°. this favorite classic musical was originally based on a play written by the three time Pulitzer Prize winner, novelist and play wright, Thorton Wilder’s play, The Matchmaker. Jerry Herman created the fabulous music and lyrics while Michael Stewart created the play book. Under the direction of the highly talented Maurice Emmanuel Parent, this story surrounds Dolly Gallagher Levi, a once noted socialite in all of NYC. But after her husband, Ephraim passed, her love of life, people and meddling for the course of love she becomes a matchmaker. Always quick to offer her business card in the service of love, Mandolin playing or even dancing instructions. Her latest client is the cantankerous, modestly wealthy, Horace Vandergelder (Joshua Wolf Coleman*). While she is allegedly helping him to find a wife she may have designs of her own regarding Horace. She is also helping a struggling artist named Ambrose Kemper (Stephen Caliskan). He has become enamored with Horace’s often sniveling niece, Ermengarde (Sophie Shaw). But Horace does not approve of Ambrose since his earning potential is rather limited. Not deterred, Dolly will come up with a plan to help them. Meanwhile, two employees at Vandergelder’s Hay and Feed store, Cornelius Hackl (Michael Jennings Mahoney*) and Barnaby Tucker (Max Connor), decide they should sneak off to New York City to find love and adventure. Dolly travels to Yonkers, NY to take Horace to meet a potential bride, Irene Molloy (Kristian Espiritu*, a New York hat maker, a lady that Dolly knows would not be suited for Horace. Meanwhile, Cornelius and Barnaby spy two lovely ladies through the window of a hat shop and venture in. It is the very same one where Irene Molloy works along with her friend Minnie Fay (Temma Beaudreau ). Chaos ensues when the young men realize their employer, Mr. Vandergelder, has just walked into the very same shop. When the dust clears, Dolly arranges for Horace Vandergelder to have dinner at Harmonia Gardens Restaurant with Ernestina Money (Joy Clark*), another young woman who would never be a good match for Horace. A very high-end and expensive establishment in NYC. Also she has entered Ambrose and Ermengarde into a dance contest there. And, our love struck boys from Yonkers have invited Irene and Minnie to dinner.. Where? Of course the Harmonia Gardens. When Dolly arrives, after being absent for some time, she is greeted by Rudolph Reisenweber (Mark Linehan*) the charming, maitre d’. He and all the waiters and guests herald her return with the famous HELLO DOLLY! As the comedic adventures further ensue, things begin to fall into utter chaos. Horace’s date disappears, Dolly starts eating a fabulous meal on Horace’s tab, the boys have no money to pay for their extravagant dinner with the ladies, until they find Horace’s wallet which saves them, and then Horace spies his niece with Ambrose. Could things get worse? The result, everyone ends up in Night Court. Once they all end up again back in Yonkers, the couples focus on their next life plan. Dolly seeks the now humbled Horace’s influence and he actually decides that he needs Dolly in his life. But she has second thoughts when she has to have a soulful discussion with her deceased husband Ephraim Levi, who always said, “Money is like manure. It’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread about, encouraging young things to grow.” Dolly decides , “she will never go away again.” The production features all the memorable classic songs like “Before the Parade Passes By”, “It Only Takes a Moment”, and “Hello, Dolly!” Leave your worries behind as you immerse yourself in this always delightful musical story. Aimee Doherty*, the two-time recipient of the Elliot Norton Award and a three-time recipient of the IRNE Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical is spectacular in the the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi. The cast is joined by an ensemble of vocalists/dancers that include Miki Grubic, Sean Keim, Tader Shipley, Alex LeBlanc, Hannah Shihdanian and Jackson Jirard (Ensemble, Stanley & Policeman). The Scenic Design is by the award-winning Janie E. Howland** and the fabulous period costumes are by Kelly Baker. The Lighting Design is by Karen Perlow**, along with the Sound Design by Alex Berg. Director Maurice Emmanuel Parent says, “I am overjoyed to be telling this classic story with Lyric Stage, which has a treasured history of presenting classic musicals in a way that both honors the legacy of the show and sees it with a fresh perspective.” Tickets for this beloved musical may be obtained at www.lyricstage.org

Carolee Carmello (Kimberly) and Migel Gil (Seth): photo by Joan Marcus    If the musical’s title leaves you confused, Kimberly Akimbo is actually an anagram of her name, Kimberly Levaco, which cleverly becomes Akimbo. It is a special hobby of Kimberly’s best, and literally only friend, Seth Weesit, played by Migel Gil.  His obsessionwith anagrams rises repeatedly throughout the show.  He and Kimberly are joined by Martin Doaty (Darron Hayes ), Aaron Puckett (Pierce Wheeler), Teresa Benton (Skye Alyssa Friedman), and Delia McDaniels (Grace Capeless). Together, they comprise a cluster of percieved geek like teens, who, like Kimberly, feel they don’t fit in.  

. Kimberly, Seth and Buddyprovid some hylarious moments: photo by Joan Marcus  When Buddy (Jim Hogan) takes Kimberly  to school and sees that Seth has been added in the quotion. He becomes overwhelmed that his daughter is with a boy, erruptong into a diatribe by a paranoid, overprotective parent,  imputing wrong motives on Seth. It results in an insanely funny wild ride.

Kimberly and family (L – R)  Laura Woyasz (Pattie), Emily Koch (Debra),Carolee Carmello (Kimberly) and Jim Hogan Buddy): photo by Joan Marcus. When things seem that they could not get worse for Kimberly, Pattie, Buddy and Debra decide to step it up, apologize and try to be a normal family. Kimberly is surprised by a normal, sit down dinner. Dad is sobre, mom is trying and everyone tries to behave. But, when Buddy mentions the stereo Debra stole from him, things quickly fall apart and Kim is driven out the door.

Cast celebrates Kim’s 16th birthday: Photo by Joan Marcus

THROUGH MAY  18: UTOPIAN HOTLINE

ArtsEmerson and the Museum of Science have collaborated with Theater Mitu to present this production titled “Utopian Hotline” at the Charles Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Science, located on the Museum Of Science Driveway in Boston. Theater Mitu produced this unique event in association with Octopus Theatricals, / Octopus Theatricals which now invites audiences to step into a cosmic conversation. It was Inspired by the 1977 NASA Voyager mission, which launched the Golden Record into interstellar space. It also prompted an uncertainty that resulted from the isolations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, this now experimental performance begs the question: if we were to send another message into the distant future, what message would we send? Utopian Hotline uses voicemails and interviews with NASA astronauts, astrophysicists, astronomers, and middle school students to create a moment of community, by way of It is part telephone hotline, vinyl record, and live performance. They are simultaneously inviting audience members to re-imagine our shared future by leaving their own messages on the public telephone hotline. This collaborative performance, done in partnership with SETI Institute, Arizona State University’s Interplanetary Initiative, and Brooklyn Independent Middle School, is a call for audiences to join together and leave an offering of hope for the future of humanity. Dial 646 694 8050 and follow the prompts to record your interplanetary message as well as obtain you tickets. Also, tickets for this exciting rare event may be obtained at www.artsemerson.org

THROUGH MAY  18: FOUNDING F***ERS

THROUGH MAY 18: THE SQUIRRELS

The Apollinaire Theatre Company presents at the Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet St. in Chelsea another quirky play by Tony-nominee and  Obie Award-winner (Hand to God) Robert Askins. In this dark satire of prejudice and greed. It’s Romeo and Juliet meets King Lear meets Macbeth meets Planet Earth. Mistrust is growing between the Grey Squirrels, who enjoy a rich cache of nuts, and the outcast and hungry Fox Squirrels. When a wily outsider ignites a savage war, the consequences are catastrophic as a once-peaceful tree is divided. It becomes a tragi-comical epic battle for nuts that is filled with a bitter struggle for love, power, and, yes really, for the almighty acorn. Directed by Brooks Reeves, he stated, “I fell in love with this play from the moment I read it. It’s funny, dramatic, and has an operatic scope that mirrors my own love of drama and the absurd. I was already galvanized to take this script on, but over the past few months this play has felt less like an opportunity to put on a fun amusing show and it now feels like a primal cry to speak truth to power.  Come to be entertained, but leave feeling emboldened. It’s truly one of my favorite projects I’ve ever been a part of and I’m so excited to share this beast of a play with the Greater Boston area and beyond.”

Audrey Johnson and Parker Jennings (role sharing as Chordata), Photo: Danielle Fauteux Jacques     The Cast consists of  Dev Luthra as Sciurus, Cara Clough as Mammalia, Thain Bertin as Scientist/Sciuridae, Sophia Koevary as Rodentia, Mateo Bailey as Carolinensis, and Audrey Johnson/Parker Jennings (role shared) as Chordata.  This boundary-pushing, darkly satirical look at wealth inequality features scenic and sound design by Joseph Lark-Riley (Touching the Void, Every Brilliant Thing, Hedda Gabler), costumes by Susan Paino (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes), props by Victoria Verrecchia (The Suppliant Women), and lighting by Danielle Fauteux Jacques (Apollinaire Theatre AD). Movement Choreography is by Audrey Johnson (The Suppliant Women, Dance Nation) and Fights by Matt Dray (Romeo and Juliet, And Your Little Dog Too, Hamlet). Tickets for this absolutely wonderful and entertaining and yet insightfully crazy play may be obtained at www.apollinairetheatre.com

MAY 20  – JUNE 29:TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus and Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., brings to their stage at the the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St. In Cambridge the North American premiere of this West End hit musical comedy. Written and composed by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, the production is directed and choregraphed by Tim Jackson, with the scenic and costume designs by Soutra Gilmour. The additional creative team members are Jack Knowles (lighting design), Tony Gayle and CodySpencer (sound design), Earon Chew Nealey (hair, wig, and makeup design), Lux Pyramid (orchestrations), Nick Finlow (music supervision), Benedict Braxton-Smith (associate music supervision), and Jeffrey Campos (music direction), with Judith Schoenfeld as the production stage manager, and Fatimah Amill as the assistant stage manager. Starring Christiani Pitts (Broadway: King Kong (Ann Darrow), A Bronx Tale (Jane). Developmental Lab: Aida (Aida) Dir. Schele Williams, Clueless the Musical (Dionne) Dir. Kristin Hanggi. Film: Resort to Love. TV: “Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” “Dead Ringers,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Good Fight,” “Evil,” “Elementary.)along with the 2020 Olivier Award winner for Best Actor, Sam Tutty (West End: Two Strangers: Carry A Cake Across New York (Dougal, Original West End Cast), Dear Evan Hansen (Evan, Original West End Cast, Off-West End: Two Strangers: Carry A Cake Across New York (Dougal, Original Cast), The Kiln Theatre. Once On This Island (Daniel), Southwark Playhouse. Workshops: Bliss (Prince Devin), Lillian Bayliss Studio, Sadler’s Wells. Film: Four Minute Warning, Romeo & Juliet). The u[beat and very funny tale surrounds the British native Dougal. He is incredibly naïve and full of a sense of wonder and curiosity as he arrives in New York City for the second wedding of his dad…who he has never known. The sister of the bride, Robin, has been assigned the task of picking Dougal up at the airport. A gross inconvenience since she is already late for work. But Dougal is seething with a sense of excitement and is anxious to explore this massively fabulous city he has only seen in films. He looks to Robin, a native New Yorker, to be his tour guide. She initially is a bit acidic toward him, but Dougal refuses to let her snuff out the magic of the city along with the extravagant trappings of the wedding. It is the great, big wonderful New York where anything can happen…and it does in this delightfully charming rom-com. The Observer gave it a solid 5 stars stating, “Flawless! A pick-me-up of a show, what we need in hard times.” The production support of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) is provided by The Linda Hammett Ory & Andrew Ory Charitable Trust and Katie and Paul Buttenwieser. Tickets for this fabulously fun musical production may be obtained at www.americanrepertorytheatre.org

THROUGH MAY  31: JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

The Roberts Studio Theatre in the Calderwood Pavilion, at the Boston Center For The Arts, 539 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End, brings to its stage SpeakEasy Stage Company’s production of the New England Premiere of Jocelyn Bioh’s 2024 Tony Award-nominated dramady. Directed by the Award-winning Summer L. Williams, the story is set in JAJA’s African Hair Braiding salon in Harlem. It is a hot summer day in 2019. The salon is filled with four, funny, whip-smart, talented and an ever so lively group of West African immigrant women who have discovered that their gift for creating fabulous braided hair styles…think Bo Derrick’s famed beaded braids in the movie “10”…has allowed them to make some serious money and improve their future. 

Dru Sky Berrian, MarHadoo Effeh, Kwezi Shongwe, and Crystin Gilmore : Photo by Nile Scott Studios Jaja (MaConnia Chesser) does not appear until near the end of the show but comments from the braiders incdicate much love and respect for Jaja. There are five braiders working in the shop. They are from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria. Crystin Gilmore is Bea, who has worked longest at the salon. Kwezi Shongwe is Aminata is a music-lover who often is dancing.  Marhadoo Effeh is the newest braider, a single mom who hopes to bring her young daughter to the U.S. To be with her. Finally Catia is Ndidi, whose salon burned down and JaJa allowed her a chair while it was being rebuilt.

Catia and Yasmeen Duncan : Photo by Nile Scott Studios Today, the shop is overseen by JaJa’s mega responsible, young daughter Marie, played by Dru Sky Berrian. Her mother is home, preparing herself to get married at the courthouse in a few hours. Love has nothing to do with JaJa’s union with Stephen. It is strictly a “green card” wedding to a man that Marie particularly dislikes. But JaJa is rejoucing that after 15 years in the US this union will give her immediate legal status. Meanwhile, Marie fights to keep the airconditioner going along with keeping peace between some of the ladies, along with a series of men who drop in seeking the attention of the ladies to buy socks, jewelry, , get money from his wife, and even show some love interest. All are played by Joshua Olumide*.

Joshua Olumide, Yasmeen Duncan, and Catia : Photo by Nile Scott Studios  Despite Marie having just graduated from highschool and was class valedictorian at the private school her mother funded, her fears cloud her hope of not being able to go to college since she too is illegal. Despite all the ear marks of being an American girl, Marie was 4 years old when she came to the US with her mom. As the hair braiders banter in chronic gossip, they are adept at making their clients look and feel “nice-nice” by creating masterpieces on their clients heads. It seems like magic as one customer after another comes in to get their hair braided within this fabulous scenic design salon created by the award-winning Janie E Howland**. A stream of clients come in played by Nadja Vanterpool, Ashley Aldarondo,Hampton Richards and Kwezi Shongwe. Each client comes in with an idea of what they want, how they want it while bringing in stories of their own. The braiders rise to the occasion, often making faces behind the difficult patrons backs.

From left: (foreground) Crystin Gilmore, Dru Sky Berrian, and Catia. (Background) MarHadoo Effeh, Hampton Richards and Kwezi Shongwe : Photo by Nile Scott Studios Despite the fact that in reality, it takes hours and hours to do those intricately braided creations, somehow, distracted by the great dialogue and fascinating action of stage, the customers are magically transformed with stunning hairdos. This wonderful piece of theatrical art has lots of warmth, and is perfectly fringed with comedy as it encapsulates the humanity gathered within the salon. Even when some braiders get angry with each other, the women ultimatley rise together when drama drops into one of their lives. The production ironically reminded me of another tale set in a hair salon that was also filled with women, who were warm, joyous, funny and then rose together when tragedy also raised its ugly head. I could not help but see the parrallel to Robert Harling’s “Steel Magnolias” that also hearald the unifying strength of women. The dramtic edge within this story is not death but could result in the death of anyone who has worked for a better life…and also to their children who also were reaching for that hope.  

Sky Berrian and MaConnia Chesser: Photo by Nile Scott Studios  At the end, someone rushes into the shop with shocking news. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrived at the Courthouse to intervene with Fake Marriages. JaJa has been arrested. Also her husband-to-be, actually had another wife in another state. The reality of the circumstances forces this tight-knit community to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of this place that they have called home. Just like her mother, Maria, who had been hoping to secure her future, finds herself conflicted as she is torn between trying to find her mother in a holding facility or stay hidden. The Hair Braiders rally, take her under their wing and ultimatley support her through the chaos of uncertanity. As Bea ushers her to her home she tells Marie that tomorrow, we will open the shop as usual and go on.. She states, “Hey, Its going to be ok.” But Marie retorts, “But what if it is not”. It is then that Bea enbraces her stating, “Then it’s not….And after that, it will be ok”. Tickets for this intimate production that provides a stunning window onto certain lives around us as well as our own may be obtained at www.speakeasystage.com

JUNE 13 – 22:  BEAUTIFUL…THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL

The Reagle Music Theatre’s season kicks off with this inspiring true story of one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. It showcases King’s rise to stardom and her music that defined a generation. Born in Brooklyn, she began writing songs as a teenager and quickly became a force in the Brill Building scene of the 1960s, penning chart-toppers with her then-husband Gerry Goffin. In 1971, Carole stepped into the spotlight on her own with her landmark solo album Tapestry, which won four Grammy Awards and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Her deeply personal lyrics and unmistakable melodies have touched generations. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. First as a songwriter and then as a solo artist. Carole King’s music continues to inspire and move audiences around the world. The production features numerous unforgettable hits like “You’ve Got a Friend,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and “It’s Too Late,” Beautiful showcases King’s rise to stardom and the music that defined a generation. Tickets for this outstanding production may be obtained at www.reaglemusictheatre.com