This Week Ahead is filled with a lot more treats than tricks. Start with a rocking concert at MSG…get spooked with a haunted tour through some of Broadway’s notoriously ghost ridden theatres…cheer on Kate Shindle as she runs for equality at the NYC Marathon…and close with a star-studded tribute to one of America’s most prolific playwrights.
Witches and Ozzy and Ghosts, oh my!
Blake
Friday, October 30 GO→Wicked celebrates six years of defying gravity (and a recession) with a series of events that prove this tuner is still on top of its game. The cast will perform today at Barnes & Nobel in Lincoln Square and sign copies of their new pop-up book. For info on other “Wicked Day” events, visit www.WickedDay.com.
GO→ The 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concerts conclude tonight at Madison Square Garden with a star-studded line-up including Aretha Franklin, Annie Lennox, Lou Reed, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, U2, Lenny Kravitz and the Jeff Beck Band (7:30pm, MSG, tickets)
Saturday, October 31 GO→ Want to do Halloween Broadway-style? (As if dressing up in costume wasn’t “Broadway” enough.) Take the “Haunted Broadway” walking tour on Halloween night and search for the ghosts of Marquees past. (8:30pm, meet at Shubert Alley, 44-45th streets between Broadway and Eighth Avenues, info/tickets)
GO→ Toxic Avenger closes out their “Halloweek” with a big (slimy) bang this Saturday. Dress up as your favorite ghoul and party at the New World Stages/Time Out New York lounge before the show. Come in costume (or be Canadian) and get a special prize. In honor of the show’s Toronto launch, all Canucks will get a “toxic treat”. Happy Halloween indeed, aye?! (TA’s “Halloweek” party is from 6-7pm, New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, info)
Sunday, November 1 SUPPORT→ Broadway’s Kate Shindle will be among the 40,000 people running in this year’s New York City Marathon. Shindle is running in support of Broadway Impact and the ongoing fight for marriage equality in this country. Celebrities are often drawn to the NYC Marathon, especially when it involves running for a great cause. Other do-good celebs-in-training include Edward Norton and Alanis Morissette, both supporting the Maasi Wilderness Conservation Trust. (To support Shindle’s charity marathon run, visit runshindlerun)
Monday, November 2 GO (FREE)→ The New York Post’s theatre columnist, Michael Riedel, will host a tribute to the late Clive Barnes, former theatre and dance critic for the New York Times and later the Post, who died last year after a battle with cancer. Edward Albee, John Simon, Anna Kisselgoff, Alastair Macaulay and others will join Riedel to discuss the life and work of a true gentleman of New York theatre. (3pm, Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, near 65th and Amsterdam)
GO→ Meryl Streep will join her friend Kevin Kline in a performance of Shakespearean works (conceived by Kline) for a benefit for The Acting Company. The Acting Company, celebrating its 37th season, boasts an impressive alumni roster that includes Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson and Jesse L. Martin. (7pm, Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, call 212.307.4100 for tickets and for tickets+dinner with the cast, call 212.258.3111)
Tuesday, November 3 LISTEN→ “Gleeks” everywhere will be thrilled to know that now you don’t have to wait until Wednesday to get “Gleed”. Glee: The Music, Volume 1 will be available on amazon.com starting November 3rd. (info)
OPENING→ Tony and Oscar nominee, Lynn Redgrave, stars in Nightingale, a fictionalized memoir of her little-known maternal grandmother. Read all about Redgrave’s amazing career, her role in one of the greatest acting dynasties in theatre and her triumph over breast cancer, in a wonderful interview conducted by Playbill’s Mervyn Rothstein in the November issue. (NY City Center, 131 W. 55th Street, tickets)
Wednesday, November 4 GO→ Have you ever found yourselves flipping through the pages of the latest weekly tabloid (come on, you know you do it), and think to yourself—“Britney’s off the wagon again? Jon is stealing from Kate? Levi Johnson is going to show his you-know-what where?! Boy, this would make a fascinating night of theatre!” Well, Celebrity Autobiography has just read your mind! Enjoy a night of lifestyles of the rich and famous read by some of New York City’s funny and famous, including Scott Adsit, Craig Bierko, Rachel Dratch, Carol Kane, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Steve Schirripa, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Urie and Alan Zweibel. (7:30pm, Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, tickets)
Thursday, November 5 GO (FREE)→ Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, Olympia Dukakis, John Patrick Shanley, Eli Wallach, Ann Jackson and others come together this Thursday to celebrate the life and work of the late Tennessee Williams. Thursday’s tribute will be followed by an unveiling of a commemorative stone at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Nov. 8 which will mark the induction of Williams into the Cathedral’s esteemed Poets’ Corner (7pm, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street, information call 212.316.7540 or click here)
Here we go, sports fans. The Yankees take on the Phillies tonight in Game 1 of the World Series. Many New Yorkers are hoping the Phils fall to the same fate they had the last time they went up against the Yanks in the World Series 59 years ago.
Some of you theatre fans might be wondering if there’s really any connection between the Yankees and Broadway (besides, of course, a Tony Award winning musical with “Yankees” in the title!) As it turns out, we have more in common with the boys in pinstripes than you may think.
Yankees broadcaster, Suzyn Waldman, became the first woman to hold a full-time position as a broadcaster in the Major Leagues, after spending 15 years in theatre in shows like Man of La Mancha. Legendary Yankees color man, John Sterling, is a notorious Broadway fanatic and even joined Neil Berg for a special Thanksgiving concert a few years ago at Irvington Town Hall called Baseball and Broadway. And of course, Marilyn Monroe was married to one of the greatest Yankees of all time, Joe DiMaggio, before marrying Arthur Miller, a Broadway legend.
See? We’re not that different after all. So, in honor of tonight’s game, this week’s Webway is dedicated to the good ol’ game of baseball. Good luck tonight, boys!
Damn Yankees (a phrase most New Yorkers hope Philadelphians will be mumbling tonight) is the most famous sports musical. Here’s a number from the last time Damn Yankees was revived on Broadway in 1994.
You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, based on the beloved Charles Schultz cartoon of the same name, featured the song “T-E-A-M: The Baseball Game”. The show was most recently revived on Broadway in 1999 winning both Roger Bart and Kristin Chenoweth their Tony Awards.
Last year, Tony-Award winner, Billy Crystal, signed a contract with the Yankees for one day and trained with the team during spring training.
Last night’s Actors Fund Gala featured wall-to-wall stars singing the best of Frank Loesser.
The night opened with a welcome from Chita Rivera who told a hilarious story about getting caught with her pants down…literally! During a performance of Guys and Dolls, in which she played Adelaide, she stripped down onstage for a heated rendition of “Take Back Your Mink” to what was supposed to be her skivvies. But much to Miz Rivera’s lament: “I felt this breeze that I had never felt before….I had forgotten to put my panties on!”
The evening continued on with other funny anecdotes and heartfelt tributes from Loesser’s colleagues, friends and family members. Loesser’s wife Jo took to the stage twice to perform, once alongside daughter, Emily and once solo for a moving rendition of “Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year” from the film Christmas Holiday.
Tony winner Phyllis Newman and John McMartin took a trip to Sesame Street to sing with Grover, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster, who bragged about eating (what else?) “cooookieees!” backstage with Paul McCartney, who sang “On a Slow Boat to China” from the film Neptune’s Daughter.
Of course there were plenty of nods to one of Loesser’s most well-known scores, Guys and Dolls. Actors Fund President, Brian Stokes Mitchell, reprised his role of Sky Masterson from this summer’s Hollywood Bowl concert and sang Luck Be a Lady. While funny man Mario Cantone sang “Sing Down You’re Rockin the Boat” (but not before almost rockin’ himself off a chair he jumped onto, to which he exclaimed “I’m good!” after regaining his balance!)
One of my favorite new composers, Tony Award winner, Tom Kitt, channeled a hybrid of Billy Joel and Jerry Lee Lewis to accompany Birdie cutie Brynn Williams on “Rumble, Rumble, Rumble” from the 1947 film, The Perils of Pauline.
The evening concluded with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying alum John Stamos and company singing “Brotherhood of Man”.
Besides a tribute to one of America’s most celebrated songwriters, hosts Annette Bening, Kevin McCollum and Jonathan Tisch reminded us all why we were there in the first place: to raise money for The Actors Fund, a vital organization in the entertainment industry. From healthcare services to affordable housing to financial assistance, the Actors Fund is a staple to not only those working in theatre, but for professionals in TV, film, dance and music. Last night’s event raised $580,000 for The Actors Fund Responding to Essential and Evolving Needs Campaign, which has so far raised $8.2 million towards a $12.5 million goal.
For more information on all the great work being done by the Fund and how you can help, visit actorsfund.org.
LAByrinth’s 7th annual “Celebrity Charades” is back, giving the time honored family game night tradition a very cool, celeb-packed makeover.
I got a sneak peek of the first in a series of Webisodes leading up to the live event on December 7th. It stars Eric Bogosian and Tony nominee, Bobby Cannavale. The series follows what LAByrinth calls the “dirty deeds that celebrities do in order to get a leg-up on the competition.”
An all-star roster of players is set to appear at the live benefit including Ian Astbury, Bob Balaban, Bobby Cannavale, Tom Colicchio, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Ortiz, Julia Roberts, Sam Rockwell, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Julia Stiles and Yul Vázquez. Bogosian will serve as referee to the four teams as they battle in the speed charade competition.
For tickets and info, go to www.labtheater.org or call (212) 513 1080. Ticket sales support the 2009/10 season of LAByrinth Theater Company – Raucous.
Holy musical mayhem, Batman! This WEEK AHEAD features a duel with the Dark Knight and a musical masked villain, M.D.… Simon says…a Next to Normal update courtesy of Twitter… and a tribute to Frank Loesser that’s got heart, soul and stars.
A bushel and a peck,
Blake
Friday, October 23 WATCH→ Neil-o-philes rejoice! Neil Patrick Harris’ evil cartoon alter ego, the Music Meister, will take on the Caped Crusader himself. Batman: The Brave & The Bold premieres tonight on the Cartoon Network. (7:30pm on Cartoon Network, info and a sneak preview)
GO→ Tony and Emmy Winning funny lady Lily Tomlin will return to the “classics” with a one-night-only performance of some of her classic characters like Trudy, Mrs. Beasely and my personal favorite, the ever-so “gracious” Ernestine. (8pm, NYPAC, One Center Street, Newark, NJ, tickets)
Saturday, October 24 WATCH→ New York’s WABC takes a look at all the hottest shows on the Boards this season with one of Broadway’s hottest stars—John Stamos—as host. “Broadway Backstage” features stars a-plenty including Jude Law, Sienna Miller, Johnny Lee Miller, the Birdie kids, Laurie Metcalf, the cast of Ragtime, Ana Gesteyer, Carrie Fisher and Christopher Sieber. (7:30pmET on WABC Channel 7)
Sunday, October 25 OPENING→ The first part of the Neil Simon Plays, Brighton Beach Memoirs, opens this Sunday, with the last part, Broadway Bound, due next month. Brighton boasts one of the best casts on Broadway this season with a stunning performance by a young Noah Robbins as the first Eugene Jerome. (The Nederlander Theatre, 208 West 41st street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, tickets)
GO→ Cast members of Hair join vocal sensation WING at Birdland. The Hong Kong native and the Tony Award winning tribe will sing songs from the tuner as well as covers of classic songs from Michael Jackson and Celine Dion. (7pm, through Monday, Birdland, 315 W. 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, for tickets call 212.581.3080 or click here)
Monday, October 26 GO→ Tony and Oscar Winner Vanessa Redgrave will reprise her critically acclaimed role in Joan Didion’s TheYear of Magical Thinking in a one-night-only performance to benefit UNICEF and UNRWA and their relief efforts to civilians in need in the Gaza Strip. (8pm, St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, at 112th Street, for tickets call 866-811-4111 or click here)
GO→ Stars from Hugh Jackman to Paul McCartney to Annette Benning to Cookie Monster will take to the stage at the Minskoff this Monday in a celebration of the late composer, Frank Loesser. Other stars participating include Audra McDonald, Chita Rivera, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Art Garfunkel, Steven Pasquale and Mario Cantone. Proceeds benefit the Actors Fund. (7:30pm, The Minskoff Theatre, 200 w. 45th street, at Broadway, tickets/info)
Tuesday, October 27 GO→ Lucie Arnaz joins NY Observer’s Rex Reed for a discussion about her famous lineage and upcoming show, Lyrics and Lyricists, which celebrates the music of her father, Desi Arnaz. (8:15pm, Kaufmann Concert Hall at the 92 Street Y, at Lexington Avenue, tickets)
Wednesday, October 28 GO→ Tony Award winning duo Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey will debut the much talked (and tweeted) about new song for Next to Normal this Wednesday. N2N’s Twitter campaign generated a huge web following amassing over 860,000 followers. (7pm, 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street, tickets)
Thursday, October 29 OPENING→ Fresh off a very successful Encores! concert run, Finian’s Rainbow makes the leap over the rainbow to Broadway this Thursday. The 62-year old tuner brings us back to the mythical state of Missitucky and stars Cheyenne Jackson, Kate Baldwin and Jim Norton. (St. James, Theatre, 246 W. 44th Street, tickets)
What will those crazy kids at Rock of Ages do next to ensure that you (as promised) have a good time?
First, it was an air guitar party that subsequently broke the Guinness World Record for Largest Air Ensemble (apparently, yes, this title does exist). Next, it’s the Golden Mullet Awards (business in the front, party in the back, y’all). And now…they’re just giving away money.
Tonight, some lucky ROA ticket holder will walk out of the Brooks Atkinson Theatre a little richer—a thousand bucks richer, to be exact. A random drawing for a cool “G” will be held immediately following tonight’s performance.
Now, that’s what I call a great time!
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, 212-307-4100 or at the box office, 256 West 47th Street.
Life this week truly is a Cabaret with the 5th Annual Cabaret Fest hitting Town Hall plus a one-two punch from Vicki Clark and Ted Sperling at Feinstein’s…The Broadway boards keep lighting up with two new openings—Memphis and After Miss Julie… and Avenue Q makes the jump to an Avenue Off-Broadway.
This is your WEEK AHEAD, ol’ chum!
Blake
Friday, October 16 GO→ The 5th annual Broadway Cabaret Festival at NYC’s Town Hall kicks off with a star-packed tribute to David Merrick featuring Corbin Bleu, Marc Kudisch and Stephanie J. Block. The fest closes on Sunday with a nod to Broadway Originals. (Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway, full schedule and tickets)
Saturday, October 17
GO→ America’s Favorite Jell-O-loving dad, Bill Cosby, will perform at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on Saturday. (7pm and 9:30pm, Avery Fisher Hall, North side of Lincoln Center, at Broadway and West 65th Street, tickets)
Sunday, October 18 BEFORE IT CLOSES→ After 183 weeks of touring in 101 cities, it looks like the Holy Grail has finally been found! The National Tour of the Tony Award Winning musical Spamalot will end this Sunday in Costa Mesa, CA. (info)
Monday, October 19 GO→ David Bryan (of Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro’s (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) tribute to the original city of rock n’ roll, Memphis, opens this Monday at the Schubert. Early buzz is glowing for the show’s two leads Chad Kimball and Montego Glover. (Schubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, tickets)
GO→ Monday marks the return of the 24 Hour Plays. Organizers have enlisted the help of some of the industry’s biggest talents including writers like Ethan Coen and David Mamet (busy much?!), directors like Neil Pepe and actors like Ted Danson, Jessica Alba and Kristen Johnson. Proceeds benefit a scholarship for students of the Atlantic Acting School. (7pm, Atlantic Theatre Company at the Linda Gross Theatre, 336 West 20th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues, for tickets call 646.701.7370 or email schoolgala@atlantictheater.org)
GO→ The Public Theatre will throw a one-night-only benefit concert called Courage in Concert this Monday with appearances by Kevin Klein, Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mike Nichols and the cast of Hair. Proceeds will benefit the American Jewish World Service and Partners In Health. (8pm, Newman Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street, tickets)
Tuesday, October 20 GO→ Tony Award winners Victoria Clark and Ted Sperling bring their show “The Vicki and Ted Show” to Feinstein’s this Tuesday. (Through Saturday, Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, call 212.339.4095 or click here)
Wednesday, October 21 RE-OPENING→ Just when New Yorkers thought they had to venture out-of-state to see their favorite raunchy puppet players, Producer Kevin McCollum pulled a fast one announcing that Avenue Q would be moving to another Avenue just West of its old Golden home. (New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, tickets)
Thursday, October 22 GO→ Two unrelated Millers (Sienna and Johnny Lee) take on a Marber-style makeover of the August Strindberg classic, Miss Julie. After Miss Julie, a tale of passion, politics, and class set in 1940’s England will open on Broadway this Thursday. (American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, tickets)
Those of us fortunate to nab a seat to last night’s final preview of Bye Bye Birdie witnessed one of my favorite occurrences in live theatre…the “oops”.
About “four pages into the show” (as John Stamos later told the audience) a piece of the massive Birdie set began to quiver (which solicited a few “uh ohhs” from the audience). But, as they say in theatre, the show most go on and God bless those kids, they tried to go on! The Conrad groupies, all in matching dresses, were supposed to sing “We love you Conrad” at the train station awaiting the arrival of Birdie to Sweet Apple. Instead, they were stuck in the MacAffe’s living room…still loving Conrad. They rallied on until Stamos ran on stage and said “I’m sorry girls, I’ll cheer you girls up in a minute” and pulled them off stage.
In true show-biz style, the cast wasn’t going to let a minute go by without entertaining us, so Stamos walks on stage, grabs his friend (and former Full House co-star) Bob Saget up with him and does a little stand up. Speaking into the lav-mic atop Stamos’ gelled coif, he rattled off a few zingers “God I hope your crotch isn’t miced.” Also on hand to lend some comic relief was Don Rickles, who shouted “I’m too old for this!” before telling Stamos to go sing with the Beach Boys. A few audience requests for an impromptu rendition of “Forever” (the Jesse and the Rippers song penned for Aunt Becky) were denied, but Bill Irwin did lend his expert clown skills with a few prat falls.
With gentle encouraging from Gina Gershon—“Come on guys, you can do better than that!”—Stamos and Saget kept the audience laughing until finally, the show could continue. But not without a final laugh from Stamos. His first line coming back from the oops? “Sorry I’m late girls.” And the show finally went on.
First, the 40th anniversary of Monty Python’s Flying Circus brings us a new documentary and stage production sure to fill the void left by the departure of Spamalot.
Another anniversary is marked by a theatrical event of global proportions. A new piece by the original Laramie Project team, Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, marks the 11th Anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard.
“At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blake
Friday, October 9 GO→ The New York Pops returns to Carnegie Hall on Friday with special guest Wayne Brady. The show is entitled Sammy and Sam and celebrates the music of Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. (8pm, Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, 881 7th Avenue, between 56th and 57th streets, tickets)
Saturday, October 10 GO→ It was forty years ago that a herd of Brits rode into our lives on imaginary horses. If this year’s departure of Spamalot from the Main Stage has left you hankering for some more Python, head over to Town Hall this Saturday for An Evening Without Monty Python. As the title subtly suggests, the original Pythons do not make an appearance, but Eric Idle is co-director and the sketches are from the original 70’s television show. And if An Evening Without… doesn’t do the trick, head over to the Ziegfeld on October 15th for an evening with. Original troupe members will reunite for a special screening of the new documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut). (An Evening Without Monty Python is at Town Hall through Saturday, 123 West 43rd Street, for tickets call 212- 307-4100).
Sunday, October 11 OPENING→ The first of this season’s Mamet double-header hits Broadway this Sunday. Oleanna stars Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman and is coming to the Main Stage fresh off its successful West Coast run earlier this year. (The Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street,between Broadway & 8th Ave, tickets)
Monday, October 12 GO→ Creators of The Laramie Project revisit the harrowing Matthew Shepard murder with an 80-minute epilogue entitled The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. The show will be given its debut in dozens of theatres around the world simultaneously including Lincoln Center in an evening hosted by Glenn Close. The debut marks the 11th anniversary of the senseless hate-crime against the gay 21-year old Shepard. (Alice Tully Hall, 65th street between Broadway & Amsterdam, tickets)
GO→ Award-winning director Spike Lee (Passing Strange: The Movie) lends his genius to the theatre world yet again as a producer of County of Kings, a one-man show featuring the talented Lemon Anderson. Anderson, an original member of Def Poetry Jam, gives a poignant account of his life growing up on the tough streets of Brooklyn. (6 week engagement, The Public Theatre, 425 Lafayette Street, tickets)
Tuesday, October 13 GO→ New mom Kelly O’Hara returns to South Pacific as Nellie Forbush, the role that garnered O’Hara her third Tony nomination. (Lincoln Center, 150 West 65th Street, tickets)
Wednesday, October 14
GO→ The legendary Chita Rivera will return to Birdland. (Through October 17th, 315 West 44th Street, call 212-581-3080 or click here)
Thursday, October 15 GO→ The long-awaited revival of Bye Bye Birdie will open this Thursday at the new Henry Miller’s theatre. (Henry Miller’s Theatre, 124 West 43rd Street, tickets)
GO→ Wicked celebrates six years of defying gravity (and a recession) with a series of events that prove this tuner is still on top of its game. The cast will perform today at Barnes & Nobel in Lincoln Square and sign copies of their new pop-up book. For info on other “Wicked Day” events, visit www.WickedDay.com.
GO (FREE)→ The New York Post’s theatre columnist, Michael Riedel, will host a tribute to the late Clive Barnes, former theatre and dance critic for the New York Times and later the Post, who died last year after a battle with cancer. Edward Albee, John Simon, Anna Kisselgoff, Alastair Macaulay and others will join Riedel to discuss the life and work of a true gentleman of New York theatre. (3pm, Walter Reade Theatre, Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, near 65th and Amsterdam)
GO→ Have you ever found yourselves flipping through the pages of the latest weekly tabloid (come on, you know you do it), and think to yourself—“Britney’s off the wagon again? Jon is stealing from Kate? Levi Johnson is going to show his you-know-what where?! Boy, this would make a fascinating night of theatre!” Well, Celebrity Autobiography has just read your mind! Enjoy a night of lifestyles of the rich and famous read by some of New York City’s funny and famous, including Scott Adsit, Craig Bierko, Rachel Dratch, Carol Kane, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Steve Schirripa, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Urie and Alan Zweibel. (7:30pm, Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, tickets)
GO (FREE)→ Vanessa Redgrave, Marian Seldes, Olympia Dukakis, John Patrick Shanley, Eli Wallach, Ann Jackson and others come together this Thursday to celebrate the life and work of the late Tennessee Williams. Thursday’s tribute will be followed by an unveiling of a commemorative stone at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Nov. 8 which will mark the induction of Williams into the Cathedral’s esteemed Poets’ Corner (7pm, The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue and 112th Street, information call 212.316.7540 or click here)
OPENING→ The first part of the Neil Simon Plays, Brighton Beach Memoirs, opens this Sunday, with the last part, Broadway Bound, due next month. Brighton boasts one of the best casts on Broadway this season with a stunning performance by a young Noah Robbins as the first Eugene Jerome. (The Nederlander Theatre, 208 West 41st street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, 
GO→ David Bryan (of Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro’s (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) tribute to the original city of rock n’ roll, Memphis, opens this Monday at the Schubert. Early buzz is glowing for the show’s two leads Chad Kimball and Montego Glover. (Schubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, 
RE-OPENING→ Just when New Yorkers thought they had to venture out-of-state to see their favorite raunchy puppet players, Producer Kevin McCollum pulled a fast one announcing that Avenue Q would be moving to another Avenue just West of its old Golden home. (New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, 
GO→ The New York Pops returns to Carnegie Hall on Friday with special guest Wayne Brady. The show is entitled Sammy and Sam and celebrates the music of Sammy Davis Jr. and Sam Cooke. (8pm, Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, 881 7th Avenue, between 56th and 57th streets, 
Pythons do not make an appearance, but Eric Idle is co-director and the sketches are from the original 70’s television show. And if An Evening Without… doesn’t do the trick, head over to the Ziegfeld on October 15th for an evening with. Original troupe members will reunite for a special screening of the new documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut). (An Evening Without Monty Python is at Town Hall through Saturday, 123 West 43rd Street, for tickets call 212- 307-4100).
GO→ Creators of The Laramie Project revisit the harrowing Matthew Shepard murder with an 80-minute epilogue entitled The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later. The show will be given its debut in dozens of theatres around the world simultaneously including Lincoln Center in an evening hosted by Glenn Close. The debut marks the 11th anniversary of the senseless hate-crime against the gay 21-year old Shepard. (Alice Tully Hall, 65th street between Broadway & Amsterdam, 
