You don’t have to be a Broadway baby to scratch your onstage acting itch. In fact, all around the country—and outside of it—there are bustling theater communities producing works so vibrant they’d have Edward Albee rolling over in his grave. Want in on that action? You’d be wise to know the ins and outs of industry happenings, and this is a good place to start: From across the pond and back again, here is the week’s biggest regional theater news.
Idris Elba steps out of the spotlight.
Just how multi-talented is Idris Elba? In addition to his celebrated performances, the actor has penned “Tree,” a new stage show set in post-Nelson Mandela South Africa. Co-written with Young Vic artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, the piece will combine drama with music, dance, and cinematographic elements, and will be part of the 2019 Manchester International Festival in June 2019, before transferring to the Young Vic Theatre in London. Though Elba portrayed the late South African president in the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” he will be in a strictly creative role for the stage project, which has not yet announced casting.
No stopping Marianne Elliott.
Marianne Elliott is not slowing down her innovative hot streak. Fresh on the heels of her gender-swapped revival of “Company,” the Tony-winning director will helm a new production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” with an entirely black cast of actors. Wendell Pierce and Sharon D. Clarke will star as the titular businessman and his wife, respectively. Dates and venue have yet to be specified, though it will play a West End theater.
“Year to Come” comes west.
San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse, a frequent stepping stone to Broadway, will present the world premiere production of Lindsey Ferrentino’s “The Year to Come.” Helmed by Anne Kauffman, the family drama takes place on one New Year’s Eve in a Florida backyard and will begin performances Dec. 4 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre. A slew of New York stage regulars will lead the cast, including Adam Chanler-Berat, Jane Kaczmarek, Marcia DeBonis, Pomme Koch, Peter Van Wagner, and others. The run is slated through Dec. 30.
Everybody’s talking about Layton.
The hit U.K. musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” has announced a new star. Stepping into Jamie’s platform pumps will be Layton Williams, beginning performances at the West End’s Apollo Theatre Jan. 28, 2019. John McCrea, who received an Olivier nomination for originating the role of the teenage drag queen wannabe, takes his final bow Jan. 26. Producers are currently at work on a Broadway transfer for the feel-good tuner, though nothing has been announced.
“Amélie” will spread good across the pond.
“Amélie,” the musical adaptation of the 2001 film, is gearing up to launch a tour across the U.K. Kicking off at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury on April 11, 2019, the tuner will hit a number of cities, including London and Edinburgh. The show premiered in California before transferring to Broadway, where it ran for a brief stint in 2017.