arts & entertainment
A Bite Of The Big Apple
New Broadway and Off-Broadway shows with
a Jewish connection.
Alice Burdick Schweiger
and boots for cross-dressers, and Charlie
begins making footwear for that unusual
market. The theme throughout is accep-
tance of yourself and others.
Special to the Jewish News
BROADWAY
At the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302
W 45th St. (212) 239-6200.
The Assembled Parties, with three
Tony nominations, was written by Tony
nominee Richard Greenberg and stars
Jessica Hecht and Tony nominee Judith
Light in the story of an affluent Jewish
family on New York's Upper West Side.
In 1980, a house guest joins them for a
holiday dinner; 20 years later, there are
repercussions. Through July 7.
At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre,
261 W. 47th St. (212) 239-6200.
Cinderella, with music and lyr-
ics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar
Hammerstein II, has been performed
many times on stage and on TV but
never before on Broadway, where the
classic fairy tale has some new twists
and nine Tony nods.
At the Broadway Theatre, 1681
Broadway at 53rd St. (212) 239-6200.
First Date, a musical comedy with a
score by Alan Zachary and Michael
Weiner and a book by Austin
Winsberg, tells the story of Aaron and
Casey, who meet on a blind date where
everything from Google checks to fake
emergency phone calls ensue. Will they
be a match? Previews begin July 9; show
opens Aug. 4.
At the Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th
St. (212) 239-6200.
Lucky Guy, with six Tony nods, is the
last play written by Tony-nominated
Nora Ephron before her death last year
and stars Tony-nominated Tom Hanks
as real-life New York tabloid journal-
ist — and Pulitzer Prize winner — Mike
McAlary. Through July 3.
At the Broadhurst Theater, 235 W 44th
St. (212) 239-6200.
Matilda, a glorious musical based on
the children's classic by Roald Dahl,
nabbed 12 Tony nominations, including
one for director Matthew Warchus. A
precocious little girl (played in rotation
by four young actresses) neglected and
misunderstood by her parents, Matilda
has extraordinary powers, loves read-
ing, makes up her own stories and faces
down a sadistic, bullying headmistress
played in drag by British actor Bertie
Carvel.
At the Schubert Theatre, 225 W 44th
St. (212) 239-6200.
I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue
Mengers stars Bette Midler in a one-
woman show about the late legendary
Hollywood agent who represented the
biggest names in the movie industry
in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. From her
Beverly Hills home, she reminisces about
her life — from fleeing the Nazis at age
8 to becoming a super-agent. Through
June 30.
At the Booth Theatre, 222 W 45th St.
(212) 239-6200.
Motown the Musical, with four Tony
nominations, is the new jukebox pro-
duction that tells the story of Detroit-
born record producer Berry Gordy,
who discovered such talents as Smokey
Robinson, Mary Wells, Diana Ross,
Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.
It begins with the 1983 televised 25th-
anniversary tribute to Motown and
quickly flashes back to Detroit, where
it all began. Be prepared to hear many
of your favorite Motown tunes. David
Goldsmith is one of the script consul-
tants, and Kevin McCollum one of the
show's producers; with former Detroiter
Jeffrey Seller, he has received three Tony
Awards for Best Musical (In the Heights,
2008; Avenue Q, 2004; and Rent, 1996).
At the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205
W. 46th St. (800) 745-3000.
Kinky Boots, an energetic musical
inspired by the 2005 movie of the same
name — with a score by Cyndi Lauper,
direction and choreography by Paw Paw,
Mich., native Jerry Mitchell and book
by Harvey Fierstein — garnered a year-
high 13 Tony nominations. When the
owner of a failing British men's footwear
factory dies, his son, Charlie, needs to
reinvent the company. A drag queen tells
him there is a need for well-made shoes
Pippin, a 1972 musical revival with
music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
and book by Roger 0. Hirson, is a
coming-of- age story about a medieval
prince. Earning rave reviews and 10
Tony nominations, it's framed as a
show within a show, with lively pop-
rock songs, stunning circus acts and
acrobatics.
At the Music Box Theatre, 249 W 45th
St. (212) 239-6200.
130 May 23 • 2013
JN
The Big Knife, a revival written by
playwright Clifford Odets in 1948, stars
Bobby Cannavale as a stage actor who
becomes a Hollywood star and compro-
mises his integrity, and Tony-nominated
Richard Kind as a mega-maniacal stu-
dio executive. Through June 2.
At the American Airlines Theater, 227
W 42nd St. (212) 719-1300.
The Nance tells the story of
Chauncey Miles (Nathan Lane), a gay
burlesque performer of the 1930s.
"Nance" was a name for a straight man
playing a homosexual, but Miles is liv-
ing a secret life: He is gay on and off
stage. Andrea Burns plays Carmen, a
burlesque girl. Through Aug. 11.
Valisia Kaye as Diana Ross and Brandon Victor
Dixon as Berry Gordy in Motown: the Musical
At the Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St.
(212) 239-6200.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and
Spike, a comedy starring David Hyde
Pierce and Sigourney Weaver about a
rural Pennsylvania farm family whose
"long-lost" sister returns home with
a young "boy toy:' features music by
Mark Bennett. Through July 28.
At the John Golden Theatre 252
W 45th St. (212) 239-6200.
OFF-BROADWAY
The Accidental Pervert chronicles
the story of a boy, who grows up in a
home with X-rated sex tapes, and his
15-year addiction to hard-core pornog-
raphy. This one-man show is written by
and stars Andrew Goffman. Closing
July 27 and reopening Sept. 20-Dec. 7.
The creative team behind Kinky Boots: Jerry
Mitchell, Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper
At the 13th Street Repertory Company,
50 W. 13th St. (212) 675-6677.
Fried Chicken and Latkes, written by
Richard Pryor's daughter Rain Pryor,
who grew up black and Jewish in Beverly
Hills, is a one-women autobiographical
show she performed around the country
before bringing it to New York.
At the Actors Temple Theatre, 339
W 47th St. (212) 239-6200.
Old Hats, starring veteran stage
clowns Bill Irwin and David Shiner
and directed by Tina Landau, entertains
with comic sketches, slapstick, digital
technology and music of pop singer
Nellie McKay. Through June 9.
At the Signature Center, 480 W 42nd
St. (212) 244-7529.
❑
Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Sophia Gennusa and
Oona Lawrence share the title role in Matilda the
Musical.