Saturday, November 16
GO (FREE, DC)→ The Kennedy Center celebrates the 100th birthday of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) with five nights of free music. The centennial fete begins with Broadway Today and Tomorrow, featuring Broadway's Jessica Phillips singing the songs of songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Sam Willmott, and Amanda Yesnowitz and Deborah Abramson. The tribute continues with other free evenings featuring Tony nominee Ron Raines, Newsies stars Corey Cott and Kara Lindsay and more! (Through Nov. 21, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW, Washington DC. Info.)
Sunday, November 17
OPENING→ The masterful Jefferson Mays does overtime in the new musical comedy A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. The Tony winner takes on not one, but eight parts — all members of one family on the run from a suave killer (Bryce Pinkham) looking to inherit big bucks! (Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Ave. Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets.)
LAST CHANCE→ John Grisham's famed novel-turned-film A Time To Kill gets the stage treatment thanks to Rupert Holmes. Sebastian Arcelus plays Jake, the fiery young defense attorney charged with saving a man (John Douglas Thompson) who finds himself on trial for murder following the heinous rape of his daughter. Tom Skerritt, Patrick Page and Fred Thompson also star in the classic tale of race and true justice. (Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Aves. Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets.)
Monday, November 18
GO→ Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Zachary Levi, Rachel Dratch, Jason Biggs, Rosie Perez, Fisher Stevens, Julia Stiles, Tracie Thoms and more take on the frantically fantastic 24 Hour Plays on Broadway. For this annual favorite, writers like David Lindsay-Abaire, Lynn Nottage and Theresa Rebeck crank out a play and it's directors like America Ferrera, Kathy Najimy and Tommy Kail's job to direct the talent to their "opening night" — 24 hours later! Proceeds from this 13th annual event will benefit the Urban Arts Partnership. (American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., btwn. 7th & 8th Ave. Info/tickets.)
Tuesday, November 19
OPENING→ Matilda the Musical's Tony-winning writer Dennis Kelly takes a decidedly darker turn with his play Taking Care of Baby. Reed Birney, Tony nominee Amelia Campbell, Margaret Colin and Kristen Bush star in the story of a woman in jail following the death of her children. (Through Dec. 8, MTC Stage II at City Center, 131 W. 55th St., btwn. 6th & 7th Aves. Info/tickets.)
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| Mario Cantone | ||
| photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN |
GO→ "Curb Your Enthusiasm"'s foul-mouthed funny lady Susie Essman interviews Tony nominee Mario Cantone in what is sure to be a night of many laughs and great tidbits from Cantone's time on the Great White Way — including stints in Assassins and Love! Valour! Compassion! (7 PM, The Triad, 158 W. 72nd St., btwn. Columbus and Amsterdam. $20-$30. Info/tickets.)
Thursday, November 21
OPENING→ Ethan Hawke is the latest A-lister to take on the Bard's Scottish Play (he follows fast on the heels of Alan Cumming and Patrick Stewart). This Lincoln Center Theater production of Macbeth, directed by Jack O'Brien, brings Shakespeare's classic drama to a black and white, blood-drenched almost netherworld. Co-starring Anne-Marie Duff as Lady Macbeth. (Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St., btwn. Broadway & Amsterdam. Info/tickets.)
OPENING→ Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner star in Amanda Peet's first play, The Commons of Pensacola. Parker plays the daughter of a Ruth Madoff-type woman named Judith who finds herself in a small condo following a high-profile Ponzi scheme executed by her husband. (Through Jan. 26, 2014, New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St., btwn. 6th & 7th Aves. Info/tickets.)
Friday, November 22
OPENING→ Richard Nelson's critically acclaimed, multi-play series The Apple Family Plays: Scenes from Life in the Country, officially opens in rep at The Public Theater. Nelson directs the epic four-parter that shows how big political moments that shake a nation affect one family in Rhinebeck, NY. Tony winner Maryann Plunkett, Laila Robins, Stephen Kunken, Jay O. Sanders and Sally Murphy star. (Through Dec. 15, The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. Info/tickets.)
