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Saturday, June 30
LAST CHANCE→ It's your last chance to catch Christian Borle in his Tony-winning turn as Black Stache, the precursor to Captain Hook, in the imaginative Peter Pan prequel, Peter and the Starcatcher. Borle departs the inventive play with music to film the second season of NBC's "Smash." Matthew Saldivar, formerly of the current revival of A Streetcar Named Desire, will take over as the mustachioed one. (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., btwn., Broadway and 8th Avenue. Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets.)
LAST CHANCE→ After almost two years of dishing out her patented (and very funny) brand of romance advice, the relationship expert Miss Abigail — as portrayed by the always-hilarious Christine Pedi — will share her final words of womanly wisdom in Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage. (Sofia's Restaurant Downstairs Theater, 221 W 46th St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Ave. Info/tickets.)
LAST CHANCE (FREE)→ The Forest of Arden comes alive against the backdrop of Central Park's Delacorte Theater in the Shakespeare in the Park revival of As You Like It. Tony-winning director Daniel Sullivan's American rural South-set version of the famous song-filled comedy stars Lily Rabe and David Furr as the two lovers Rosalind and Orlando, with Stephen Spinella delivering a triumphant version of Jaques' famous "All the World's a Stage" speech. Also starring Renee Elise Goldsberry, Andre Braugher and Oliver Platt. Original bluegrass music composed by Steve Martin. (Delacorte Theater, Central Park, enter at 81st St. and Central Park West. Info.)
Sunday, July 1
LAST CHANCE→ Jesus Christ Superstar, the dark and gritty rock opera revival from Tony-winning director Des McAnuff, will close on Broadway. Starring Paul Nolan as a gentle Jesus (with the voice of Axl Rose) and Tony nominee Joshua Young as a shaggy-haired, belting Judas. The production got its start at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival last year and transferred to Broadway after much critical acclaim. The classic features the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice songs "What's the Buzz," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "King Herod's Song" and the title tune. (Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Ave. Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets.)
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| Linda Lavin as Rita Lyons |
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| photo by Carol Rosegg |
Monday, July 2
GO→Evita's Max von Essen will put his Magaldi mustache to use when he fills in for Ricky Martin in the role of Che for six performances (Martin is on vacation). Catch von Essen in the spotlight through July 7. Martin returns July 9 (with ensemble member and understudy Daniel Torres going on for both the matinee and evening performance on July 8). (Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway at 46th St. Click here for Playbill Club discount tickets.)
Tuesday, July 3
PREVIEWS (L.A.)→ Director John Doyle's barebones stage adaptation of The Exorcist begins performances with Richard Chamberlain and David Wilson Barnes starring as Father Merrin and his young assistant Father Damien Karras, who are put in charge of exorcising the demons possessing 12-year-old Regan MacNeil (Emily Yetter). Brooke Shields also stars as Regan's frightened mother. Agnes of God scribe John Pielmeier adapted the play from the 1971 William Peter Blatty novel with illusionist Teller (of Penn & Teller fame) signed on to help with the special effects. The production is already receiving Broadway buzz. (Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA. Info/tickets. Officially opens July 11.)
Wednesday, July 4
WATCH→ The 36th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks display returns to the West Side of Manhattan with stars illuminating the ground and fireworks lighting up the night sky! Watching from home? Catch performances by Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney. Going to be in NYC for the big event? Watch the fireworks live from 12th Avenue stretching from 24th Street to 59th Street. (Watch on NBC at 9 PM EST. Info.)
WATCH→ Our nation's capital will celebrate our country's Independence Day with the annual "A Capitol Fourth" celebration, airing on PBS. Performers include Broadway's Kelli O'Hara and Megan Hilty, R&B stars Kool & The Gang and the National Symphony Orchestra. "Dancing With the Stars" host Tom Bergeron will MC the evening full of music and, of course, fireworks. (8 PM ET on PBS. Check local listings.)
WATCH→ Over on CBS, Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" star Jennifer Hudson will headline the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular." Joining Hudson in Boston will be the cast of Mamma Mia! singing "Dancing Queen" and "The Winner Takes It All," as well as local musicians Dropkick Murphys and the Boston Pops. Actor Michael Chiklis hosts. (10 PM. Check local listings.)
Thursday, July 5
OPENING→ Alan Cumming's one-man Macbeth, directed by Once's Tony-winning director John Tiffany and Andrew Goldberg, opens the 2012 Lincoln Center Festival. The multimedia production is set in a psychiatric unit, equipped with creepy closed-circuit cameras, and centers around a patient retelling the story through a hyperactive delusion. The Festival continues with DruidMurphy, a trilogy of plays from Irish playwright Tom Murphy; the critically-acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company production of Uncle Vanya, starring Cate Blanchett; Mikhail Baryshnikov's In Paris; and Hand Stories, a compilation of short stories told through the puppets of Chinese puppeteer Yeung Faï. (Macbeth runs through July 14, Rose Theatre. Info/tickets.)
Friday, July 6
GO→ If you find yourself in NYC during the July 4th holiday week, be sure to check out one of Broadway's best shows! Here is Playbill's July 4th Performance Schedule— so you know what show is playing when!
Blake Ross is the editor of Playbill magazine. Follow her on Twitter @PlaybillBlake.
Watch highlights of Jesus Christ Superstar:
