Curtain Up!,
Blake
Friday, January 15
GO?F. Murray Abraham brings his Oscar winning baritone to Carnegie Hall this Friday for a one-night-only performance featuring the poetry of Ilene Starger and the music of Eric Shimelonis. (8pm, Weill Recital Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue, between 56th and 57th streets, $35-55, tickets/info)
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GO?The Bridge Project is back at BAM with the Shakespearean classic As You Like It, directed by company head, Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes. Cast includes Tony Award-winner Stephen Dillane (The Real Thing), Christian Camargo (All My Sons), and Thomas Sadoski (reasons to be pretty). (Through March 13, Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, $25-$95, info/tickets)
Saturday, January 16
GO? Feeling disgruntled by your devotion to the theatre? The Public’s Under the Radar Festival has you covered. A two-day seminar entitled “Devoted and Disgruntled” sets out to dissect the ups and downs of devoting your professional life to the theatre, and finding ways to prevail in the crazy biz of show! (Through January 17, The Church of St Paul The Apostle, 405 W. 59th Street, Entrance on 60th and Columbus, $30, info)
Sunday, January 17
BEFORE IT CLOSES? Three notable shows are closing up shop this Sunday. They are:
Finian’s Rainbow? This whimsical “oldie but a goodie,” featuring wondrous performances by Kate Baldwin, Cheyenne Jackson and Tony winner Jim Norton, is set in the magical, mystical world of Missitucky. (St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenues, Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets)
Wishful Drinking? This one-woman show features hilarious and sobering stories from the life of Carrie Fisher. From the dish on parents Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, to her own marriage to Paul Simon, to her ugly battle with depression and substance abuse, nothing is off-limits. (Studio 54, 254 W. 54th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets)
The Understudy? Tony winner Julie White, Marc-Paul Gosselaar and Justin Kirk star in this onstage comedy about backstage drama. Written by the always sharp Theresa Rebeck. (The Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street, Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets)
GO?Memphis and The Actors Fund—two of our favorite things! If you haven’t yet seen this new musical featuring the rocking tunes of Joe DiPietro and Bon Jovi’s David Bryan, performed by the amazing Montego Glover and Chad Kimball, then go on Sunday for a special performance to benefit The Actors Fund. (8pm, Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street, between Broadway and Eight Avenues, tickets)
Monday, January 18 
GO? With A Little Night Music killing at the BO and another show, Sondheim on Sondheim, up on the boards this spring, it’s hard to believe that Stephen Sondheim is celebrating his 80th birthday this March. The Manhattan School of Music will pay tribute to the legendary songs of the legendary song-man with Beautiful Girls, a showcase featuring tunes from West Side Story, Gypsy, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Company, Sweeney Todd and more. Performing in the Lonny Price-conceived show is Zoe Caldwell, Jenn Colella, Marin Mazzie and Donna McKechnie; under the baton of Paul Gemignani. Sondheim leading lady Angela Lansbury is expected to make an appearance at the reception. (7:30pm, The John C. Borden Auditorium at the Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Avenue at the corner of Broadway and 122nd Street, $12 seniors, $20 adults, VIP packages available, info/tickets)
Tuesday, January 19 
GO? Celebrated Hair director, Diane Paulus, brings her unique vision to a show of intergalactic proportions. The Gotham Chamber Opera will perform Il mondo della luna (The World on the Moon) “under the stars” at the Hayden Planetarium. (Through January 28, The Hayden Planetarium at The Museum of Natural History, West 81st Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, $30-$125, info)
Wednesday, January 20 
GO? Rock of Ages front man, Constantine Maroulis, takes a solo spin at the Highline Ballroom with A Night At The Rock Show. (8pm, $20, full dinner menu available, info/tickets)
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Thursday, January 21 
OPENING? Noël Coward’s Present Laughter returns to Broadway with Victor Garber as the silk-robed matinee idol, Garry Essendine. (American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets)
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AUDITION? Ever dream of being on Broadway? Well Thursday may be your lucky day. The Tony Award-winning revival of Hair is on the look out for new tribe members. A non-equity open casting call is being held at the Public Theatre from 10am-6pm. Come prepared with 16 bars of an up-tempo rock or pop song (with sheet music) and bring a headshot/resume and some canned food for a tandem food drive for NY's City Harvest. Break a leg! (Doors open at 9am, The Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street)
