Today is Sunday, and this week’s Report features a review of 3Penny Opera; a preview of next Sunday’s Report; a quote of the week; 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

“The special brand of musical entertainment in which I have been interested from the start is a sort of ‘dramatic musical,’ a simple, strong story told in musical terms, interweaving the spoken word and the sung word so that the singing takes over naturally whenever the emotion of the spoken word reaches a point where music can ‘speak’ with greater effect. This form of theatre has its special attraction for the composer, because it allows him to use a great variety of musical idioms, to write music that is both serious and light, operatic and popular, emotional and sophisticated, orchestral and vocal. Each show of this type has to create its own style, its own texture, its own relationship between words and music, because music becomes a truly integral part of the play – it helps to deepen the emotions and clarify the structure.” -Kurt Weill, composer of Knickerbocker Holiday (1938), Lady in the Dark (1941), One Touch of Venus (1943), and The Threepenny Opera (1928)

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REVIEWS

• 3Penny Opera is currently playing a two-week engagement at Theatre at St. Jean’s under the auspices of Off-Brand Opera. It is a free adaptation of the 1928 musical by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, freely adapted from a 1728 musical by John Gay. The new piece has a book, lyrics, and direction by George Abud, who also plays the central figure, and it might, in future, be an absolutely sensational stage show. Every commercial and institutional producer with vision should immediately make their way to 76th Street. Here is my review.

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NEXT SUNDAY

On January 25, I will be publishing a special spring issue of the Report. It will feature brutal takes, brief comments, and more.

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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.

• John Mellencamp Musical Small Town to Make World Premiere at Ogunquit Playhouse
• New Douglas Carter Beane Gershwin Musical Sets World Premiere at Pennsylvania’s Genesius Theatre
• They Belong Together! Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey to Star in West End Sunday in the Park with George Revival
• J. Harrison Ghee, Joshua Colley, Jordan Tyson, Gary Dourdan, Gaby Moreno to Join Hadestown on Broadway
• Dylan Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow, and More Join Six on Broadway
• Hell’s Kitchen Sets Broadway Closing Date; Brandon Victor Dixon to Return
• Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Set Maybe Happy Ending Final Shows
• AMT Theater Premieres New Musical The Paparazzi
• Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon to Play an Additional Week Off-Broadway
• Singer-Songwriter Jesse Malin to Make Off-Broadway Debut in Silver Manhattan
• MasterVoices’ Seven Song Cycle Will Debut Work from Michael R. Jackson, Jason Robert Brown, Heather Christian, More
• Eva Noblezada Will Return to Broadway’s The Great Gatsby in February; Reeve Carney Joins Cast in March

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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 19

Tuesday, January 20

Wednesday, January 21

Thursday, January 22

Friday, January 23
• Regional: How Shakespeare Saved My Life

Saturday, January 24

Sunday, January 25

Artwork for the Off-Brand Opera production of 3Penny Opera.