Today is Sunday, and this week’s Report contains my quick take on the fall season. Plus, a quote of the week; select press announcements from the past week; and the upcoming week’s previews and openings.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

A poem, “Ode, In a Small Way,” written during World War II by Pvt. Arnold Auerbach, sketch writer of Call Me Mister (1946) and Inside U.S.A. (1948).

Some poets extol the Commandos
Or write hymns to the B‑17,
But let Edna Millay go her flowery way
For I sing of the humble latrine.

Where else do you meet all your buddies?
Where else do you hear all the dirt?
What the C.O. told Ted, and which babe stood up Ed –
And who’s going on the alert?

“Hey, Joe! Wanna get up a card game?”
“Say, Mike, got a five‑spot? I’m clean!”
“They tell me,” “I heard,” and “Hey, psst! I got word -“
Brother Winchell, you’d really turn green!

To me it’s the Elks or Kiwanis,
It’s the poolroom, a frat‑house and more.
A hotel lobby, too, for the local Who’s Who –
Plus a dash of the general store.

Oh, when this shebang is all over,
How lonesome and sad will I be,
As I sit there and scrub in my cool, distant tub,
With nobody in there but me.

So Carl Sandburg, keep writing your epics,
Miss Millay, of the sonnet you’re queen.
But you’re too high‑falutin’ – MY horn’s rooty‑tootin’
For the lowly but lovely latrine.

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A QUICK TAKE ON THE FALL SEASON

Apologies, I have decided to forego a formal discussion of the fall season, because I am in the midst of writing a new book, and I am endeavoring to have the book completely drafted before the onslaught of fall openings.

The musicals, opening between September and December of this year, to which I am most looking forward are Galileo, The Heart, Passing Strange, and Wanted. Plus, Ms. Blakk for President, despite being billed as a nonmusical play. And though Soon was among my favorite shows of 2025, I am not currently planning to see it again, because I have already seen this particular production twice, and I have much to cover in the coming months.

I expect to see the New York productions of The Conversation, Copperfield!, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Fantasticks, Imitation of Life, In the Heights, The King’s Critique, Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, Midnight, Penelope, Slam Frank, and Spring Awakening.

I expect to see the touring production of Dirty Dancing.

And I expect to see the out-of-town productions of A Beat of Our Own, Grim, Nikola, 1972, and Small Town. Begin Again, Play On!, and The Snow Goose are, for me, up in the air at present, but I would, in theory, like to see each.

I have no current plans to see Adia & Clora Snatch Joy, After All These Years, Beyond the Stardust, Going Bacharach, I Became We, Kilgallen, Our Sinatra, Parcel from America, Slippin’ Through the Cracks, Spandex, Truly, Howard Hughes, or Wild Child. Or the concerts of Falsettos, Out of This World, Rags, Rent, and Shuffle Along, or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed. But plans can change.

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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.

• Dillon Klena, Morgan Higgins, and More Will Lead Small Town: A John Mellencamp Musical at Ogunquit Playhouse
• Wanted Reveals Full Cast and Creative Team Ahead of Broadway Premiere
• Music City Sets Closing Date Off-Broadway
• Javier Muñoz, Michael Park, and More Join Galileo Broadway Cast
• Natalie Venetia Belcon, Matte Martinez, Linedy Genao, More Complete New York City Center In the Heights Gala Cast
• Jonathan Bailey Departs Sunday in the Park with George, Following Ariana Grande’s Departure
• Sky Lakota-Lynch Joins The King’s Critique Off-Broadway
• Second Year Cast Set for The Outsiders National Tour
• The Last Five Years 2021 Virtual Production Will Have Benefit Screening at the Town Hall
• John Rubinstein and More Will Join The Notebook North American Tour
• Bastille’s Dan Smith to Write New Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller Musical Misfits Together
• Casey Hushion Named Associate Artistic Director of Paper Mill Playhouse

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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, September 7

Tuesday, September 8

Wednesday, September 9
• Regional: Wild Child
• NYC: Truly, Howard Hughes
• NYC: After All These Years
• NYC: Going Bacharach

Thursday, September 10
• NYC: Beyond the Stardust

Friday, September 11
• Regional: Play On!
• NYC: Our Sinatra

Saturday, September 12

Sunday, September 13

Photo of Raúl Esparza in the Berkeley Repertory Theatre production of Galileo by Kevin Berne.