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.
Here’s who’s going down to “Hadestown.”
Full casting has been announced for the London run of “Hadestown,” the original musical that ran Off-Broadway in 2016. Tony nominee Eva Noblezada will lead the cast, joined by Reeve Carney, Andre de Shields, Amber Gray, and Patrick Page (the latter two reprising their roles from the Off-Broadway run). The tuner, which is expected on Broadway in 2019, will play the National Theatre Nov. 2–Jan. 26, 2019. Tony nominee Rachel Chavkin (“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”) directs the underworld folk opera, with a book and score by Anaïs Mitchell. Exact dates for Broadway nor a theater have been announced at this time; it also remains to be seen whether the U.K. cast will stay in place for the New York run.
Hello, (national touring cast of) Dolly!
Casting is now complete for the upcoming national touring production of “Hello, Dolly!,” starring previously-announced Tony winner Betty Buckley as the titular meddler. Joining the cast are Lewis J. Stadlen, Nic Rouleau, Analisa Leaming, Jess LeProtto, Kristen Hahn, and others. Kicking off in Cleveland, Ohio Sept. 25, the tour will make stops in Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and elsewhere across the country, before concluding in Boston Aug. 13, 2019.
“White Teeth” will arrive onstage.
London’s Kiln Theatre will present the world premiere production of a new stage adaptation of Zadie Smith’s debut novel “White Teeth.” Featuring both music and dance by the playwright Stephen Sharkey, performances will begin Oct. 26 under the direction of Kiln’s artistic director Indhu Rubasingham. Running through Dec. 22, the piece is billed as “a fast-paced journey through history, different cultures, and chance encounters.”
Wasserstein gets a posthumous premiere.
Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey has announced its 2018–19 lineup, featuring musicals and plays old and new. Most notably will be the world premiere of “Pamela’s First Musical,” featuring a book by Christopher Durang and the late Wendy Wasserstein, and score by Cy Coleman and David Zippel. Running Sept. 8–Oct. 7, the production will be led by two-time Tony nominee Howard McGillin, three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello, Andréa Burns, and David Garrison. Also on the season’s slate is August Wilson’s “King Hedley II,” a Sarna Lapine-directed “Noises Off,” and the world premiere of Martin Moran’s “Theo.”
Snoop is set for the stage.
Snoop Dogg (yes, really) has signed on to make his theatrical stage debut in “Redemption of a Dogg,” a new musical by Je’Caryous Johnson. Depicting the rapper’s fortuitous life and career, Snoop will star in the piece himself, opposite singer Tamar Braxton. Kicking off in Houston, Texas Oct. 5, the piece will then go on to play a number of U.S. cities including Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Atlanta, before concluding in Los Angeles Nov. 16.
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