Rocky Enters the Ring, Hitchcock Creeps into Theaters and Broadway Takes Over Thanksgiving in This Week’s Datebook
It may finally be turkey (lurkey) time, but just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to do on Broadway! Grab your family and get into the holiday spirit with some of the events we've highlighted for the week ahead.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
ADAM DANNHEISSER CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING
You can take the actor out of the ‘80s, but you can’t take the ‘80s out of the actor! Longtime Rock of Ages star Adam Dannheisser, who originated the role of stoner club owner Dennis Dupree, will step back into the heavy metal tuner on November 19. The search is over—for laughs, that is—with Dannheisser back on Broadway!
ALSO: A Christmas Story, The Musical opens on Broadway; Bare begins previews at New World Stages; Katie Holmes talks Dead Accounts on Live with Kelly & Michael; Mike Daisey performs his second monologue show at Joe’s Pub; Bob Stillman pops in for one night only at 54 Below; What Rhymes With America starts performances at the Atlantic Theater; Santino Fontana, Caissie Levy and Nick Blaemire lead Charlie Rosen’s Broadway Big Band at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
ROCKY’S GOT PUNCH IN GERMANY
The musical adaptation of the Oscar-winning 1976 sports drama Rocky is making a pit stop in Germany before it steps into the Broadway arena. Lestat vet Drew Sarich and Dutch actress Wietske van Tongeren star in the world premiere of Rocky the Musical, which features a score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a book by Thomas Meehan. So…how do you say “jazz hands” in German?
ALSO: Dance tunes abound in Broadway Swings at 54 Below; Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert Special Edition lives on on DVD.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
LEVI KREIS GOES BELOW GROUND
After touring the country in concert, Tony Award winner Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet) returns to New York for a pre-Thanksgiving show at Broadway’s popular nightclub 54 Below. Kreis will perform original songs from his albums The Gospel According to Levi and Where I Belong. Where do you belong on November 21? With a drink in your hand at 54 Below!
ALSO: Scarlett Johansson stops by The Late Show With David Letterman; Lauren Elder makes her solo debut at Joe’s Pub.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
BROADWAY HEATS UP THANKSGIVING
As the turkey cooks and the family drama begins on Thanksgiving morning, a slew of Broadway casts will lend their talent to performances on a pair of Thanksgiving Day Parades. Over on NBC, you can catch Annie, Bring It On, Cinderella, Elf and the folks at Nice Work If You Can Get It strut their stuff in front of Macy's beginning at 9 AM EST. Meanwhile, CBS’ parade will feature show-stopping numbers from the casts of Newsies and Once. You’ll be “Falling Slowly” into a food coma in no time.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
SCARLETT JOHANSSON TAKES A SHOWER
But not just any normal shower! The Tony-winning actress will recreate the infamous Psycho shower scene in the biographical drama Hitchcock, which slashes its way into movie theaters on the day after Thanksgiving. Johansson plays Psycho actress Janet Leigh, joined by Broadway vets Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren as Alfred and Alma Hitchcock in a twisted love story that will surely give a new meaning to the term “Black Friday.”
ALSO: Oy, Vey! The Play begins previews off-Broadway at Theatre Row’s Lion Theatre; Rent original star Anthony Rapp croons at 54 Below.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS GETS A RUDE MAKEOVER
Former Project Runway star Chris March has one hell of a Christmastime parody up his Santa sleeve. Chris March’s Butt-Cracker Suite, which spoofs the seminal holiday classic The Nutcracker, begins performances at off-Broadway’s HERE Mainstage on November 24. Set in a trailer park, the crude parody features dancing flamingoes, ugly Christmas sweaters and enough irreverence to make the Book of Mormon boys blush.
ALSO: Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli play their final performance of This Must Be The Place at Café Carlyle; meth drama Blood Potato closes off-Broadway.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
MEGAN HILTY… ON ICE!
Smash star Megan Hilty will usher in the official start of the holiday season with an NBC TV special PANDORA Unforgettable Holiday Moments on Ice. Hilty will join Mannheim Steamroller in a special concert featuring a huge catalogue of Christmas tunes and intricate ice skating from Brian Boitano, Elvis Stojko and Kimmie Meissner. Let’s hope Hilty doesn’t wear her Marilyn dress, or she’ll burn right through the ice!
ALSO: Tommy Tune plays his second of three shows at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency; Sorry closes at the Public; Hate the Hate: Broadway Edition fights bullying at the Highline Ballroom; 54 Below hosts Roz Ryan, followed by surprise guests at Sondheim Unplugged.