Today is Sunday, and this week’s Report features reviews of Ragtime and Wonder; a quote of the week; for your consideration…; select press announcements from the past week; and a list of the upcoming week’s previews and openings.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

A poem, by Howard Dietz, that served as a placecard, for Cole Porter, at a private dinner party.

Cole Porter on a summer day
Was idly ambling in the city
When as would be his mind gave way
To fashioning a little ditty.

He sang his love on Bowling Green
And all the way to Dyckman Street
Named every highway in between
No Baedeker was more complete.

He set it in chromatic style
And put it in a Broadway show
They hummed it up and down the aisle
They kissed to it when lights were low.

But not content with this, the dog
Went on to cover other ground
A Sears and Roebuck catalogue
Was rhymed and harmonized for sound.

His perfumed jazz massaged the soul,
His graceful couplings told a story
Long live the King whose name is Cole
The artist of the inventory.

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REVIEWS

• Ragtime, a revival of the 1998 musical, is currently playing an extended engagement at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. It has a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, and direction by Lear DeBessonet, and it is an unskilled, unimaginative production of an elegantly written, but flawed, property. Here is my abbreviated review.

• Wonder, a new musical based on the R.J. Palacio novel and the Lionsgate and Mandeville film, is currently playing a world premiere engagement at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has a book by Sarah Ruhl, lyrics and music by Ian Axel and Chad King, of A Great Big World, and direction by Taibi Magar, and it is, at present, a disastrous affair, prematurely staged. Here is my review.

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION…

A new musical burlesque built expressly for Laura Benanti and Andy Karl, with a period setting, a period sound, a high society disposition, and a host of boisterous incidents, and perhaps with a supporting role for Bill Irwin.

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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Here is a list of select press announcements from the past week. Each headline is clickable for more information.

• Chez Joey Finds Full Casting at Arena Stage
• John Cariani, Carson Stewart, More Cast in World Premiere of Ten Brave Seconds Musical
• Jason Tam, Jade Jones, More Complete Cast of Bigfoot! Off-Broadway
• Original Stars of Operation Mincemeat to Depart Broadway Production in February
• The Fantasticks to Be Reimagined for Broadway as Contemporary Gay Love Story
• Titaníque Gets a Starry Broadway Manifest

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PREVIEWS AND OPENINGS

Here is a list of the new musicals and revivals either opening or beginning previews during the upcoming week, specifically on Broadway and Off-Broadway. It contains, as well, select new musicals beginning performances regionally, and select new musicals and revivals beginning performances in New York City. Each title is clickable for more information.

Monday, January 12
• Concert: Oklahoma!

Tuesday, January 13

Wednesday, January 14

Thursday, January 15
• NYC: 3Penny Opera
• London: Beautiful Little Fool
• Regional: Kid Gloves

Friday, January 16

Saturday, January 17

Sunday, January 18

Photo of a scene from Wonder by Hawver and Hall.