Theater in New York City Bartlett Sher, who co-founded San Diego’s gloriously extant and exciting theater company known as Sledgehammer, is set to direct Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner’s “My Fair Lady” at Lincoln Center, where the one-time San Diegan is a resident director. His direction of the Tony Award-winning 1957 show is set to begin in previews one year hence, on March 22, 2018. Previously at Lincoln Center, Sher directed “The King and I” in 2015 and “South Pacific” in 2008. Both won Tony Awards for best musical revival.
“Come from Away,” which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse, directed by Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley, opened on Broadway March 12. Written by Canadians Irene Sankoff and David Hein, it tells the tale of nearly 7,000 travelers whose jets were grounded at Gander, Newfoundland, on Sept. 11, 2001. The musical received rave reviews and then, on March 16, hit NBC News big time because Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the U.S. president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and Nikki R. Haley, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, with him to the March 15 performance. Excerpts from the mostly positive “Come from Away” reviews Ben Brantley, The New York Times: “A big bear hug of a musical.” Michael Dale, Broadway World: “The inspiring, funny and kick-ass beautiful new musical… celebrates decency and human kindness.”
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: “A heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining musical.”
Joe Dziemianowicz, The New York Daily News: “It’s a story that sings.”
Peter Marks, Washington Post: “The lump that forms in your throat…is physiological confirmation that this effervescent musical…is an antidote for what ails the American soul.”
A friend who lives in New York City writes, “When it’s all over audiences don’t want to leave the theater, and that happens at every performance. They have to be shooed out by the ushers. I’ve never seen anything like that.” Theater in our area Sledgehammer Theatre has given depth of experience to youthful artists in its time, among them the multitalented actor, playwright, director and UC Santa Cruz lecturer Kristen Brandt (Sledgehammer artistic director for six years) and also actor and educator Ruff Yeager (longtime professor at Southwestern College), whose new San Diego theater company, The Roustabouts (cofounded with actor/comic Phil Johnson and playwright Will Cooper) opens its inaugural season April 22 at San Diego Repertory Theatre. Cooper’s suspenseful world-premiere play is titled “Margin of Error” and stars Yeager in the leading role. The award-winning Rosina Reynolds directs. In June Roustabouts opens “Withering Heights” at Diversionary Theatre, written by Johnson and Omri Schein, who play all 14 roles. For additional news, go to www.theroustabouts.org Next up at the Old Globe Opening March 30 at the Old Globe is “Red Velvet,” a play about London’s first black Othello, Ira Aldridge. Albert Jones plays the leading role. Song and dance Peter G. Kalivas presents the world premiere of “Gay (as in happy) Songs and Dances” (three singers, four PGK dancers and Rayme Sciaroni on piano). Shake your booty at Diversionary Theatre April 6 at 7 p.m., April 7 and 8 at 8 p.m., and April 8 and 9 at 2 p.m. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch Kalivas and his personality-laden troupe. Find Diversionary at 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights. Tickets are $15-$25, www.diversionary.org.