RIPCORDUPROARIOUS COMEDY FROM THE AUTHOR OF GOOD PEOPLE MAY 26-JUNEBY DIRECTED BY 25 SOUTH END DAVID JESSICA CALDERWOOD PAVILION AT THE BCA LINDSAY-ABAIRE STONE Seasonal cocktails, handmade pasta, perfectly cooked steaks & fresh seafood, expertly prepared using the nest ingredients. At Davio’s, it’s all about the guest. CONTENTS MAY–JUNE2017 7 THE PROGRAM 10 INTERVIEW WITH PLAYWRIGHT DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE 12 INTERVIEW WITH COSTUMER DESIGNER GABRIEL BERRY PLUS: 10 by Olivia J. Kiers 4 Backstage 14 About the Company 34 Patron Services 35 Emergency Exits 38 Guide to Local Theatre 44 Boston Dining Guide 46 Dining Out: Top of the Hub 38 Shots Scott Nile Hawver/Nile theatrebill STAFF Publishing services are provided by Theatrebill, a pub- lication of New Venture Media Group LLC, publisher of President/Publisher: Tim Montgomery Panorama: The Official Guide to Boston, 560 Harrison Ave., Suite 412, Boston, MA 02118, 857-366-8131. Art Director: Scott Roberto Assistant Art Director: Laura Jarvis Editorial Assistant: Olivia J. Kiers WARNING: The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device Vice President Publishing: Rita A. Fucillo for such photographing or sound recording inside Vice President Advertising: Jacolyn Ann Firestone this theatre, without the written permission of the Senior Account Executive: Andrea Renaud management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the Chief Operating Officer: Tyler J. Montgomery offender liable for money damages. Business Manager: Melissa J. O’Reilly FIRE NOTICE: The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emer- gencies do not run—WALK TO THAT EXIT. To advertise in Theatrebill, call 857-366-8131 or e-mail [email protected]. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 3 BACKSTAGE BEHIND THE SCENES IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL THEATRE BY OLIVIA J. KIERS Joan Marcus AT LAST: The eagerly anticipated arrival of Hamilton to Boston (September 18–November 18, 2018, at the Boston Opera House) was recently announced as part of Broadway In Boston’s 2017–2018 season. Broadway In Boston’s Blockbuster 2015. On Your Feet! leaps onto stage with Cuban Season Announced rhythms and award-winning choreography in Boston’s musical theatre fans will have to wait until April, and in July, Boston can discover “a whole fall of 2018 to get their first taste of Hamilton in new world” with Disney’s Aladdin. In addition, the Hub, but there are plenty of spectacular shows The Book of Mormon returns by popular demand in Broadway In Boston’s 2017–2018 season in August, and also by popular demand—last, to keep us all entertained until then. The season but certainly not least—Hamilton, the current opens in September with Cameron Mackintosh’s toast of the Broadway musical universe, opens new production of The Phantom of the Opera, in September 2018. For more information, go to which has received rave reviews and is one of the boston.broadway.com. largest and most breathtaking shows currently on tour, with a cast and orchestra of more than Boch Center Adds Shows 50. For those who can’t get enough of Phantom, for 2017–2018 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel, Love Never Dies, Four shows for the Boch Center’s 2017–2018 picks up the story 10 years after it left off and season have been announced, including two relocates the characters to Coney Island. Love holiday productions. A treat for the entire fam- Never Dies arrives in January 2018 and is mak- ily, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical ing its Boston debut. But before then, catch Fun is making its return. Meanwhile, those in search Home—the five-time Tony Award winner based of something new will not be left out in the on American cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s best-sell- cold—The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary ing graphic memoir—when it arrives in October. re-imagining of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, promises Following Love Never Dies, 2018 contin- to deliver with special guest and hip-hop icon ues with more highly acclaimed musicals. An MC Kurtis Blow. all-female team including lyricist Sara Bareilles While the holiday spirit already seems to and director Diane Paulus brings us Waitress, the be burning bright over at the Boch, its other heartwarming tale of baking contests and the two productions—The Color Purple and The pursuit of happiness. Based on the 2007 film, Humans—are both strong contenders for sea- the musical originally debuted at the Paulus-led son highlights. The 2016 Tony Award winner American Repertory Theater in Cambridge in for Best Musical Revival, The Color Purple is 4 RIPCORD BACKSTAGE(continued) adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- dents alongside professional acts. “We believe it winning 1982 novel of the same name that is crucial to nurture future artists,” said the asso- depicts a young woman’s struggles in the ciation’s president, Joyce Kulhawik. Kulhawik, American South. The musical, which arrives who hosted, introduced two-time Tony Award- in November, embellishes the story with a winner Cherry Jones as the Alternative Acts guest jazzy score. In March, look out for the Boston of honor, saying that Jones “has always been an premiere of Stephan Karam’s The Humans. extraordinary voice for freedom of expression. Declared winner of the 2016 Tony Award for This is especially important now in a climate Best Play, The Humans offers a fresh take on where the contributions of artists are being deval- the family-at-Thanksgiving trope, as the Blakes ued and the [National Endowment for the Arts] of Pennsylvania confront illness, religion and is being threatened with extinction.” Jones, who other heavy topics in the eerie atmosphere of was recently nominated for an Olivier Award for their daughter’s run-down, Manhattan apart- Best Actress for her role in the London revival ment. For details, visit bochcenter.org. of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, is a founding member of the American Repertory The Elliot Norton Awards Return Theater (A.R.T.) in Cambridge. Speaking of The 35th annual Eliot Norton Awards was which, the A.R.T.’s current artistic director recently held at the Huntington Theatre Diane Paulus was this year’s recipient of the Elliot Company’s Boston University Theatre on Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence. Her the- Monday, May 15. With the gala’s theme atre was one of the leaders in award nominations, “Alternative Acts,” the Boston Theater Critics with a total of seven. The Huntington Theatre Association took a stance on the importance of Company led all nominees with nine, while the arts. The association is making a donation to SpeakEasy Stage Company is was not far behind the Boston Arts Academy this year, and guests with eight nominations. For a complete list of win- enjoyed performances by the academy’s stu- ners, go to elliotnortonawards.com. WHAT’S ON STAGE in May Our picks for the hottest plays and musicals on local stages this month ARRABAL THE BRIDGES LYRIC STAGE OF MADISON COMPANY COUNTY May 12–June 18 SPEAKEASY STAGE Tony Award-nominee COMPANY John Weidman’s South May 6–June 3 American drama fea- Marsha Norman and tures an Argentinian Jason Robert Brown’s ensemble, live band adaption of the 1992 and even a pre-show novel about an affair tango lesson. Refer to between a photographer listing, page 38. Cylla Von Tiedmann and an Italian-American farmer’s wife is a one of the musi- cal theatre’s most romantic tales. Refer to listing, page 38. CAMELOT LYRIC STAGE COMPANY A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM May 19–June 25 ACTORS’ SHAKESPEARE PROJECT A fresh adaption of Lerner and Loewe’s 1960 musical May 10–June 4 inspired by the King Arthur legend (and itself the source for It’s springtime in Boston—the perfect time for “Camelot” as a reference to the Kennedy Administration) Shakespeare’s impish romp through magical forests filled graces the Lyric’s Back Bay stage. Refer to listing, page 40. with frustrated lovers. Refer to listing, page 42. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY 5 Art New England New Art ART APPRAISALS EUGENE LEE BERKSHIRES, MA MUSEUM DIRECTORS LOOK AHEAD Art New England C ONTEMPORARY May/June 2017 • Vol. 38 issue 3 issue 38 Vol. • 2017 May/June A RT MAY/ AND JUNE 2017 $5.95 US C $7.00 Canada ULTURE Critical. Compelling. Contemporary. Don’t miss a thing! Stay connected to New England’s unrivalled arts scene. Subscribers receive six issues per Special Museums Issue year and are invited to exclusive art HUNTINGTON salons, exhibitions, and openingsTo Subscribe: visit throughout New England. THEATRE ON THE COVER: seven premier North American artists and artisans at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center gallery, curated COMPANY by Tahnee Growingthunder. AVENUE OF THE ARTS Jeff Kahm, Converse #5, 2017, acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90". Created for Without A Theme, a showcase of & SOUTH END artnewengland.com Available by subscription, on newsstands everywhere, and at special art events throughout the region. HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY AVENUE OF THE ARTS & SOUTH END Scenic Design Tobin Ost by RIPCORD PETERDUBOIS Costume DirectedDesign David by Lindsay-Abaire NORMAJEANCALDERWOOD Projection GabrielDesign Barry ARTISTICDIRECTOR ProductionLucy Stage Mackinnon Manager Emily F. McMullen Jessica Stone MICHAELMASO MANAGINGDIRECTOR Lighting Design Huntington’s 2016–2017 Season Sponsors David Weiner We gratefully acknowledge the (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, ExecutiveSherryl Producer) & Gerard with Cohen funds Alaine Alldaffer provided by US Trust and received its world premiere there on October 1, 2015. Casting and the Production Sponsors of Ripcord Stage Manager Sound Design & Originally commissioned by the ManhattanCarol Theatre G.