OTO BY SYLVAIN GRIPOIX

arts & life

N

Heading to New

York City this

spring or summer?

Here are some of

the hottest new

shows, on and off

Broadway, many

with a Jewish

connection.

Alice Burdick Schweiger
Special to the Jewish News

ON BROADWAY
An Act of God, a comedy star-
ring Jim Parsons as God, reveals
the mysteries of the Bible in a
90-minute conversation. The
comedy is written by David
Javerbaum, ex-head writer and
executive producer at The Daily
Show with Jon Stewart. Saturday
Night Live alum Tim Kazurinsky
(Old Jews Telling Jokes) co-stars
as one of the archangels. The
show closes Aug. 2. Studio 54,
254 W. 54th St. (212) 239-6200.

Tyne Daly (second from left) stars in It Shoulda Been You

impA

An American in Paris, with 12
Tony nominations, tells the story
of a World War II vet who moves
to Paris after the war to make a
name for himself as an artist. He
meets a Parisian girl and com-
petes for her love with his friends
— including a Jewish American
composer. Based on the movie
of the same name starring Gene
Kelly and Leslie Caron, the music
is by George Gershwin and
lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Palace
Theatre, 1564 Broadway. (800)
745-3000.

Finding Neverland follows the
story of playwright J.M. Barrie
who finds inspiration in a widow
with four sons. Delighted by the
boys' escapades, he creates the
magical world of Neverland and
Peter Pan — a boy who never
grows up. Harvey Weinstein is
the lead creative producer. Lunt-
Fontanne Theatre, 205 W 46th
St. (800) 745-3000.

Fun Home garnered 12 Tony
nominations. Based on an auto-
biographical graphic novel by
Alison Bechdel, this critically
acclaimed coming-of-age musical
goes back and forth in time when
Alison was growing up, and later
comes to terms with her coming

RobertFairchild and Leanne Cope star in An American in Paris

out as a lesbian. Directed by Sam
Gold, the playwright-lyricist is
Lisa Kron, who was born in Ann
Arbor and raised in Lansing.
Composer is Jeanine Tesori.
Circle in the Square Theatre, 235
W. 50th St. (212) 239-6200.

Gigi, another revival, stars
Vanessa Hudgens (High School
Musical), making her Broadway
debut. A perky young woman
groomed to be a courtesan in
turn-of-the-20th-century Paris
falls in love with a handsome
playboy. With music by Alan Jay
Lerner and Frederick Loewe,
the classic songs include Thank
Heaven for Little Girls. Neil
Simon Theater, 250 W. 52nd St.
(800) 745-3000.

It Shoulda Been You, a delight-
ful musical comedy directed
by David Hyde Pierce and star-
ring Tyne Daly, tells the story
of a Jewish bride and a Catholic
groom and the culture clash of
the two families. The funny dia-
logue and intermarriage theme
surprises with modern, unex-
pected twists. Written by Brian
Hargrove and Barbara Anselmi,
additional lyrics are by Jill
Abramovitz, Carla Rose Fisher,
Michael Cooper, Ernie Lijoi and

Will Randall. Brooks Atkinson
Theatre, 256 W. 47th St. (800)
745-3000.

Of Good Stock, written by
Melissa Ross, stars Alicia
Silverstone. Three sisters with
a novelist father gather in their
family home on Cape Cod for
a summer weekend. Previews
begin June 4, the show opens
June 30 and closes July 26. New
York City Center — Stage 1, 131
W. 55th St. (212) 581-1212.

On the Twentieth Century

stars Peter Gallagher and Tony-
nominated Kristin Chenoweth.
While on a train from Chicago
to New York City, a bankrupt
theater producer tries to get a
Hollywood starlet to play the lead
in his non-existent play. Music
is by Cy Coleman and book
and lyrics by Betty Comden
and Adolph Green. The show
closes July 5. American Airlines
Theatre, 227 W 42nd St. (212)
719-1300.

Skylight, set in London, centers
around a man whose wife has
died and who tries to rekindle a
relationship with a former lover.
Starring Carey Mulligan and Bill
Nighy. Natasha Katz is nominat-

BIG APPLE on page 58

May 14 • 2015

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