Hey, you, trying to cram in every last hedonistic activity before Labor Day! You have, like, almost a month until summer officially ends and life becomes cloudy, cold and hopeless. Don’t start cramming quite yet. There are new additions to The Flick and Les Miz, Lesli Margherita’s last performance in Matilda and a Saturday Night Fever reunion concert. Get ready for this week’s picks!
See Les Miz’s Nouveau Riches
Begins September 1 at Imperial Theatre
With fall fast approaching—yes, it’s still summer even if the beer commercials tell you otherwise—it’s notable that many established Broadway shows are changing as well. Alfie Boe takes over as Jean Valjean in Les Miz. He’s joined by Tony nominee Montego Glover as Fantine and newcomer Alex Finke as Cosette. Great performers joining a Broadway institution beat bulky sweaters and apple picking any day. Click for tickets!
Screen The Flick’s Renovations
Begins September 1 at Barrow Street Theatre
The cast changes aren’t relegated to Broadway, but also off-Broadway’s most prestigious productions. The Pulitzer Prize-winning The Flick gets a cast overhaul as Kyle Beltran, Brian Miskell and Nicole Rodenburg join Annie Baker’s comedy-drama of the denizens and employees of a dumpy movie theater in Central Massachusetts. Given the setting, it’s ironic that the cast is being upgraded. It really makes you think, doesn’t it? Click for tickets!
Catch a Little Night Fever
August 31 at 54 Below
We’re not going to tell you to bring your platform shoes and wear your leisure suit to The Saturday Night Fever reunion concert. Who has any of that stuff? Plus, the garb won’t enhance the experience of original cast members Paige Price, Paul Castree and Orfeh belting out the glittery, disco songs from the 2000 Broadway musical. You’ll just get odd glares—or look like your parents’ prom photo. Click for tickets!
Sample Vintage Peter Pan
Available September 4
NBC’s live broadcast of Peter Pan last fall did one of two things: it made you obsessed with Kelli O'Hara or it stoked your interest in the classic musical. Well, we have something that will satisfy one of those camps! Today is the DVD/Blu-ray release of 1956’s telecast of Peter Pan, which starred the immortal Mary Martin and was produced by Jerome Robbins. The 1955 telecast is also included. Now that’s something to crow about!
Hail Queen Lesli One Last Time
September 6 at Shubert Theatre
All things must end. It just seems like only good things do, like Lesli Margherita leaving Matilda, It’s never the bad stuff like global warming and breadstick sandwiches. Yup, it’s your last chance to see the talented lady in the long-running show, but don’t fret: She’ll be heading up this fall’s Dames at Sea, and there’s a slate of talented additions starting next week. Life doesn’t suck after all. Yay! Click for tickets!