arts&life
theater
(212) 239-6200.
Network, starring Bryan Cranston and
Tony Goldwyn, is based on the classic
1976 iconic film by Paddy Chayefsky.
Howard Beale is a news anchor who
isn’t pulling in viewers and unravels
during his final broadcast. But then rat-
ings soar and Beale becomes the biggest
thing on TV. Runs through March 17.
At the Belasco Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
The Cher Show tells the musical history
of the pop star’s career. Book by Rick
Elice and music by various composers.
Three different actresses play her — the
kid starting out, the glam star and the
icon. Oak Park native and four-time
Tony Award-winner Jeffrey Seller
(Rent, Hamilton) is one of the produc-
ers. Jarrod Spector plays Sonny Bono.
Opened Dec. 3. At the Neil Simon
Theatre. (877) 250-2929.
The Prom, a joyful original musical,
is about a lesbian who wants to attend
her Indiana high-school prom with a
girlfriend. Meanwhile, after a bad review
on Broadway, a group of actors travel
to Indiana to help her cause. One of the
actors announces to the narrow-minded
small towners, not only is he from New
York, but he’s also Jewish! Starring Beth
Leavel, Josh Lamon and Christopher
Sieber, it’s written by Bob Martin. Music
by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad
Begulelin. Runs through April 21. At the
Longacre Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
The Waverly Gallery, written by
Kenneth Lonergan, is set in Greenwich
Village. Sweet and feisty Jewish grand-
mother Gladys Green is a longtime
owner of an art gallery and now suffers
from dementia. The landlord she rents
the space from owns the adjoining hotel
and tells her family he is turning the
gallery into a restaurant and she needs
to vacate. Gladys has to rely on her
family’s love, compassion and loyalty to
try to keep the gallery. Directed by Lila
Neugebauer, the play stars Elaine May,
Michael Cera, David Cromer and Joan
Allen. (Allen isn’t Jewish but her ex-hus-
band, Peter Friedman, is and their
daughter went to Hebrew school and
had a bat mitzvah. Her current partner
is also Jewish.) The show closes Jan. 27.
At the John Golden Theatre. (212) 239-
6200.
To Kill A Mockingbird, the story of
racial injustice and childhood inno-
cence, stars Michigan native Jeff Daniels
and University of Michigan grad Celia
Keenan-Bolger. Set in Alabama in the
1930s, it’s based on Harper Lee’s 1960
novel of the same title. Aaron Sorkin
adapted the book for the new Broadway
play. Directed by
Elaine May in
Bartlett Sher.
T he Waverly
Opens Dec. 13. At
Gallery
the Shubert Theatre.
(212) 239-6200.
Tootsie, based on
the film of the
same name starring
Dustin Hoffman,
tells the story of
Michael Dorsey, a
talented but difficult
actor who strug-
gles to find work
until a desperate
stunt lands him a
plum role on a soap
opera. Music and
lyrics are by David Yazbek. Directed
by Scott Ellis, the show stars Santino
Fontana, Lilli Cooper and Sarah Stiles.
Previews begin March 29 and the show
opens April 23. At the Marriott Marquis
Theatre. (877) 250-2929.
BRIGITTE LACOMBE
The Ferryman, set
in rural Northern
Ireland in 1981, is
directed by Sam
Mendes. The
Carney farmhouse
is full of activity
with preparation
for the annual har-
vest. But this year’s
festivities will be
interrupted by a
visitor. The 30-plus
Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song
member cast is
mostly from the
young actress and a maverick filmmaker
London production. At the Bernard B.
wander through the bustling streets of
Jacobs Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
1930s New York City while a 2,000-
pound gorilla is brought to life by an
The Lifespan of a Fact, about the
innovative mix of robotics, puppetry
publishing world of fact-checking,
and stagecraft. Starring Christiani Pitts
stars Daniel Radcliffe and Cherry
and Erik Lochtefeld. At the Broadway
Jones. Based on true events, an editor
Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
gives a young
eager intern
King Lear, Shakespeare’s classic about
a big assign-
a king who decides to retire and divide
ment involving
his kingdom among his three daughters,
fact-checking
stars Glenda Jackson, Elizabeth Marvel,
an unorthodox
Jayne Houdyshell, Ruth Wilson and
author. A show-
Pedro Pascal. Previews begin Feb. 28
down between
and the show opens April 4. Directed by
fact and fiction
Sam Gold. At the Golden Theatre. (212)
begins. Runs
239-6200.
through Jan 13.
Written by Jeremy
Kiss Me Kate, a revival, stars Kelli
Kareken, David
O’Hara and Will Chase. Two divorced
performers star opposite each other in a Murrell and
musical version of Shakespeare’s Taming Gordon Farrell
and directed by
of the Shrew. Music and lyrics by Cole
Leigh Silverman.
Porter. Directed by Scott Ellis, previews
begin Feb. 14, the show opens March 14 At Studio 54.
(212) 239-6200.
and runs through June 2. At Studio 54.
feminist Gloria Steinem, a remarkable
woman and social and political activist.
Steinem, whose father was Jewish but
whose mother was not, was found-
ing editor of New York magazine and
co-founder of Ms. magazine. Gloria is
played by Christine Lahti, who is from
Birmingham and a U-M graduate. At
the Daryl Roth Theatre. (800) 745-3000.
Merrily We Roll Along, with music and
lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is based
on the play by George S. Kaufman and
Moss Hart — with some added new
material. A trio of show-business friends
fall apart and then come back together.
Directed by Noah Brody, previews begin
Jan. 12, the show opens Feb. 19 and
closes April 7. At the Laura Pels Theatre
at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg
Center for Theatre. (212) 719-1300.
The Hard Problem, a new play by Tom
Stoppard, refers to the hard problem
of consciousness. The play focuses on
a psychology researcher at an institute
for brain science, where psychology and
biology meet. Runs through Jan. 6. At
the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. (212)
239-6200.
The Other Josh Cohen is a delightful
comedy starring David Rossmer and
Steve Rosen as two versions of Cohen.
The first Josh Cohen, from a year prior,
is a schlumpy good-hearted loser who
has just been robbed of everything
except his Neil Diamond CD. The pres-
ent-day Josh Cohen is slimmer and a
talented musician, who is narrating the
events of his year-younger self. Rossmer
and Rosen wrote the book, music and
lyrics. In one scene they reflect on the
Cohen family tree, which includes
dancing Chasids. Directed by U-M grad
Hunter Foster. Runs through Feb. 24. At
the Westside Theatre. (212) 947-8844. ■
True West, written by
Sam Shepard, stars Ethan
Hawke and Paul Dano.
Two brothers are holed
up in their mother’s
home and wrestle with
big issues and each other.
Previews begin Dec. 27;
the show opens Jan. 29
and closes March 17. At
the American Airlines.
(800) 982-2787.
OFF-BROADWAY
Gloria: A Life traces
the life and career of
The Prom
jn
December 6 • 2018
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