JETSETREPORT

What's on stage from London to Las Vegas

January 19, 2016 09.58 PM

With a new year brings another season of anticipated theater and stage shows worthy of planning a long weekend around. In Paris, look for Wagner in full force at the Paris Opera, as well as Romeo and Juliet in three acts under Benjamin Millipede's direction at the Paris Opera Ballet from mid-March. Verdi dominates the calendar at Milan's La Scala, while Peer Gynt and La Boheme take the historic stage in lavish productions at Moscow's Bolshoi through March.

In London, Eddie Izzard debuts his headline show this week at the Palace Theatre. War of the Worlds introduces Liam Neeson as the journalist in the latest incarnation of the HG Wells classic from early February through April. Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Funny Girl will move to The Savoy in April with Sheridan Smith proving as good as Streisand in the iconic role. Ibsen gets a reprise with The Master Builder starring Ralph Fiennes, while Kenneth Branagh fills two lonesome hotel rooms with murder and misery in The Painkillers. But it's The Maids at Trafalgar Studios that could be the season's runaway hit as two housekeepers plot their employer's death in a retool of the Jean Genet masterpiece.

In Las Vegas you'll find two new headliners on the strip as Jennifer Lopez ignites Planet Hollywood and Mariah Carey gets a starrier marquee at Caesar's Palace. On Broadway you'll find Jeff Daniels opposite Michelle Williams in Blackbird. Now in previews, Blackbird explores the relationship between the middle-aged Ray and a much-younger Una, following a scandalous underage relationship and an eventual incarceration. Michael Grandage directs Forest Whitaker in Hughie, an exploration of loneliness and redemption, in previews from mid-February. Performances to watch this season include Jessica Lange in Long Day's Journey Into Night and Sophie Okonedo who proves an undeniable force in the latest revival of The Cruicible. Larger musical openings include American Psycho, which hopes to seduce its way to a long run from April 20th, and Shuffle Along, which could lead to yet another Tony for leading actress Audra McDonald.

Written by:

Michael Martin
Editorial Review Author
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