City Life: Hot Tickets
City Life Editor Amy Alipio is crazy about a lot of things: desserts, James McAvoy, satellite radio, and her new Honda Civic hybrid. But she admits being the geekiest of fans about theater. Musicals, dramas, pantomimes, obscure one-acts, whatever—if it’s a stage, she’s there, wide-eyed and giddy as a toddler. If she could jet around the world at will, here’s where you would find her this spring:
The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other, National Theatre, London, now playing – through April 12
27 actors, 450 characters, and no dialogue. “Written” by the experimental and controversial Austrian theater artist Peter Handke.
August Wilson’s 20th Century, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, March 4-April 6
The full cycle of August Wilson’s ten plays about the African-American experience in the 20th century. Each play is set in a different decade (though Wilson didn’t write them in chronological order). The Kennedy Center’s staged readings start March 4 with the 1900s-era Gem of the Ocean.
The God of Carnage, Gielgud Theatre, London, opening March 7
Yasmina Reza’s new comedy, starring Ralph Fiennes, about two couples hashing over a playground altercation between their two young children. Reza is the author of the award-winning and much-staged “Art“.
Antony and Cleopatra, Theater for a New Audience, New York, March 22-May 2
An intimate production of Shakespeare’s doomed romance, starring film actor Marton Csokas (Lord of the Rings, The Bourne Supremacy) and stage veteran Laila Robins.
Gone with the Wind, New London Theatre, London, opening April 5
The musical version of Margaret Mitchell’s Civil War epic gets a London world premiere. It’s directed by Trevor Nunn (Cats, Les Miserables), so expect awesome staging.
Blue Dragon, La Comete, Chalons en Champagne, France, April 22-24
The latest world premiere from my absolute favorite director, Canadian Robert Lepage. He brings his high-tech, visually stunning imagery to the story of three lives entwining in dynamic, contemporary Shanghai.
Cry-Baby, Marquis Theatre, New York, opening April 25
Another new musical, this one based on John Waters’s film set in 1950s Baltimore.
- Nat Geo Expeditions
And since I’d rather not pay full price for New York plays if I don’t have to, I scour playbill.com, broadwaybox.com, theatermania.com, and ilovenytheater.com for discount codes and deals to avoid standing in line at the half-price ticket booths. For London, visit whatsonstage.com for ticket discounts.
