Spoon River

classmate’s suicide. Music and lyrics are
by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who both
graduated the University of Michigan
in 2006. Book by Steven Levenson and
direction by Michael Greif. The show
stars Tony-nominated Ben Platt, who
gives one of the best performances on
Broadway. At the Music Box Theatre.
(212) 239-6200.
Groundhog Day, regarded as a con-
temporary classic, is a musical adaption
of the 1993 Bill Murray film. A cynical
Pittsburgh TV weatherman is sent to
cover the annual Groundhog Day event
in Punxsutawney, Pa., and finds himself
caught in a time loop, forced to repeat
the same day over and over again. Music
and lyrics by Tim Minchin and book by
Danny Rubin. It has seven Tony nomi-
nations.
At the August
Wilson Theatre. (877) 250-2929.
Hello, Dolly!, with 10 Tony nomina-
tions, makes a return to Broadway with
Bette Midler in the lead role as Dolly
Gallagher Levi. The show was based on
Thornton Wilder’s farce The Matchmaker,
and was a sensation when it opened
on Broadway in 1964, starring Carol
Channing (and a critical success as a
movie starring Barbra Streisand). Music
and lyrics are by Jerry Herman, book by
Michael Stewart and direction by Jerry
Zaks. At the Shubert Theatre. (212) 239-
6200.
Indecent explores a shameful time
in Jewish theater history. Written by
Pulitzer Prize-playwright Paula Vogel
and directed by Rebecca Taichman,
Indecent tells the story of Sholem Ash’s
controversial 1906 play God of Vengeance,
about a Jewish family that runs a brothel
in their basement and whose daughter
falls in love with one of their prostitutes.
But when the play opened on Broadway,
the cast and producers were arrested and
jailed for obscenity. Seven actors play
multiple characters. Among the cast is
Richard Topol, The show earned three
Tony nominations. At the Cort Theatre.
(212) 239-6200.
Marvin’s Room shows how laughter
can help through life’s darkest times.
Two estranged sisters reunite when one
of them is diagnosed with leukemia.
Directed by Anne Kauffman, it’s about
the importance of unconditional love,
hope, compassion and humor. Starring
Janeane Garofalo, previews begin June 8,
the show opens June 29 and closes Aug.
27. At the American Airlines Theatre.
(212) 719-1300.
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet
of 1812, a rock-pop musical adapted
from a portion of Tolstoy’s War and
Peace, stars Josh Groban and Denee
Benton. Directed by Rachel Chavkin,
The show earned the most Tony nomina-

SOULPEPPER ON 42ND STREET

Toronto’s largest theater company,
Soulpepper, will be traveling to Off-
Broadway for the month of July. They will
be showcasing original plays, musicals
and concert performances. The U.S. pre-
miere coincides with the 150th birthday
of Canada as a nation. Soulpepper, whose
executive director is Leslie Lester, fea-
tures a cast and creative team of more
than 65 artists.
Here’s a rundown of the plays and
concerts. For a complete listing of perfor-
mance times and dates, visit soulpepper.
org.
Kim’s Convenience A comedy-drama
about a Korean-Canadian family making a
new life in a corner store in Toronto,
Of Human Bondage Based on the
novel by W. Somerset Maugham.
Spoon River An original musical based
on Spoon River Anthology by American
poet Edgar Lee Masters.
Cage A theatrical experience inspired

tions, 12. At the Imperial Theatre. (212)
239-6200.
Oslo tells the story of the top-secret
meetings between the State of Israel and
the Palestine Liberation Organization
that culminated in the signing of the
historic 1993 Oslo Accords. Earning
seven Tony nominations, it’s directed by
Barlett Sher and written by J.T. Rogers.
The show is scheduled through June 18.
At the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. (212)
239-6200.
Present Laughter stars Kevin Kline
as a self-obsessed actor in the midst of a
mid-life crisis in this Noel Coward revival.
With a propensity for women, wine and
an active nightlife, this matinee idol finds
himself in awkward situations. (Kline’s
father was Jewish but he was raised
Catholic, his mother’s religion.) The show
closes July 2. At the St. James Theatre.
(877) 250-2929.
Prince of Broadway celebrates the
career of legendary director and producer
Harold Prince. This tribute to Prince
includes highlights from his musicals
West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened
on the Way to the Forum, Fiddler on the
Roof, Cabaret, Evita, Company, Follies,
A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, The
Phantom of the Opera and more. The
show also features original songs. Among
cast members are Tony Yazbeck and

by composer John Cage.
Alligator Pie An adaptation of the
whimsical children’s poems of Canada’s
Father Goose.
Crash After the loss of a loved one, a
woman faces memories of a past trauma.
A Brimful of Asha Artist Ravi Jain
shares the stage with his mother —
they both tell their side of an attempt to
arrange Ravi’s marriage.
True North: A Concert of Canada An
array of beloved Canadian songs.
The Secret Chord: A Leonard Cohen
Experience Cohen, who is Jewish,
is most known for writing the song
Hallelujah. He passed away recently and
his life and artistry are examined.
New York — The Melting Pot A con-
cert that’s a love letter from Toronto’s art-
ists to the city of New York.
All at the Pershing Square Signature
Theatre. (888) 898-1188.

Brandon Uranowitz. Previews begin
Aug. 3; the show opens Aug. 24. At the
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. (212) 239-
6200.
Six Degrees of Separation, starring
Allison Janney, is a revival of John Guare’s
play. Inspired by a true story, Paul, a
young black man, claims to be the son of
actor Sidney Poitier and insinuates him-
self into the lives of a wealthy New York
couple. He tells them he was mugged and
has no money, and the couple invites him
to spend the night. The show closes July
16. At the Barrymore Theatre. (212) 239-
6200.
Sunset Boulevard, starring Glenn
Close, is a revival based on the Billy
Wilder film. Delusional fading film star
Norma Desmond lives in seclusion in
her mansion on Sunset Boulevard with
her servant. She meets an impoverished
Hollywood screenwriter and persuades
him to work on her script that she
hopes will put her back in the limelight.
The show closes June 25. At the Palace
Theatre. (800) 982-2787. the delusional
fading film star Norma Desmond
Sweat, written by Pulitzer Prize win-
ner Lynn Nottage, tells the story of a
group of friends who work together at a
Pennsylvania factory. But when layoffs
and picket lines begin, the friends find
themselves pitted against each other. At

Studio 54. (212) 239-6200.
Terms of My Surrender stars filmmak-
er Michael Moore in his theatrical debut.
In his one-man show, Moore talks about
current events and takes on Trump and
how he got to be president. Directed by
Michael Mayer, the show opens for pre-
views July 28, opens Aug. 10 and is on sale
through Oct. 22. At the Belasco Theatre.
(212) 239-6200.
The Little Foxes, a revival written by
Lillian Hellman, stars Laura Linney
and Cynthia Nixon. This legendary play,
set in 1900 Alabama, follows Regina
Giddens and her ruthless family, includ-
ing her sister-in-law, Birdie, as they clash
in often cruel ways. Show closes July 2.
At the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. (212)
239-6200.
The Play That Goes Wrong introduces
the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society
that’s attempting to put on a 1920s mur-
der mystery. The accident-prone cast
battles against all odds to make it to their
final curtain call. The comedy is writ-
ten by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and
Henry Shields. At the Lyceum Theatre.
(212) 239-6200.
War Paint tells the story of two
innovative cosmetic giants, Helena
Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. These
powerful women were fierce competitors
in the beauty industry the first half of
the 20th century. Rubenstein, played by
Tony nominee Patti LuPone, experienced
anti-Semitism in both her personal life
and business. Christine Ebersole, also
Tony nominated, plays Arden. Music by
Scott Frankel, lyrics by Michael Korie
and directed by Tony Award nominee
Michael Greif. Detroit-area-native
Douglas Sills stars as Harry Fleming. At
the Nederlander Theatre. (877) 250-2929.

OFF BROADWAY

Napoli, Brooklyn, directed by Gordon
Edelstein, is set in 1960s Brooklyn.
The women of the Italian immigrant
Muscolino family struggle to find
happiness while living in fear of their
bad-tempered father/husband. Runs
through Sept. 3. At the Laura Pels
Theatre at the Harold and Miriam
Steinberg Center for Theatre. (212)
719-1300.
Pipeline, penned by Detroiter
Dominique Morisseau, author of The
Detroit Project, tells about an inner-city
public high-school teacher. She’s com-
mitted to her students’ achievement
while she sends her son, Omari, to a
private boarding school. But when
Omari is involved in a controversial
incident at school, she rallies to save
him. Previews begin June 15; opens July
10. At the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre.
(212) 239-6200. •

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May 25 • 2017

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