Fall 2005 theater
previews

September

Avenue Q (Wynn Las Vegas, Las Vegas). While continuing on Broadway, the Tony-winner for Best Musical has cloned itself and moved into Sin City with its full puppet nudity, gay subplot, and dirty lyrics intact. (Now playing)

Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams (Primary Stages, New York City, through Sept. 18) Previewed in the print edition.

Dr. Sex (Peter Norton Space, New York City) This new musical comedy explores the three-way relationship between pioneering sexologist Alfred Kinsey; his wife, Clara; and their mutual boyfriend, Wally Matthews. (Through Oct. 30)

I Am My Own Wife (Unicorn Theatre, Kansas City, Mo., through Oct. 2; Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, Sept. 13-Oct. 23) The esteemed Missouri theater kicks off its 31st season with the acclaimed tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, the East German transvestite who weathers World War II, Communism, and more. The Philadelphia show is a "reimagined" production of Doug Wright's Pulitzer-winning solo drama.

Miss Witherspoon (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, N.J., Sept. 9-Oct. 16; Playwrights Horizons, New York City, Nov. 11-Dec. 18) Playwright Christopher Durang's wacky fable about a woman who has committed suicide and resists mandatory reincarnation in protest against the sad state of affairs in the world.

The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue (Hartford Stage, Hartford, Conn.) Out playwright David Grimm freely adapts Moliere's Les Femmes Savantes for Cole Porter's Jazz Age. (Sept. 1-Oct. 2)

Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, Sept. 10-Oct. 23; Schoenfeld Theatre, New York City, Nov. 21) Previewed in the print edition.

A Naked Girl on the Appian Way (Roundabout Theatre, New York City) Jill Clayburgh plays a successful cookbook author opposite stage and TV star Richard Thomas in a new comedy from Richard Greenberg. (Begins Sept. 13)

Wicked (national tour continues, with dates in San Francisco; Denver; Dallas; Houston; St. Louis; Hartford, Conn.; and Washington, D.C.) In the Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical, the heroines of Oz are the emerald green witch Elphaba and golden-haired Glinda, not the annoying girl with the dog. (Through January)

Crucifixion (New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco, Sept. 28-Nov. 6) Previewed in the print edition.

October

Sweeney Todd (Eugene O'Neill Theater, New York City) For this revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical thriller, a versatile company of 10--including Michael Cerveris as the demon barber and Patti LuPone as Mrs. Lovett--doubles as the orchestra. (Begins Oct. 3)

The Odd Couple (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City) Joe Mantello directs Neil Simon's comedy, with Nathan Lane as Oscar Madison and Matthew Broderick as Felix Unger. (Begins Oct. 4)

Finn in the Underworld (Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley, Calif.) Out playwright Jordan Harrison's sophisticated, witty storytelling bends both space and time in this drama about the family secrets within a spooky old house. (Oct. 6-Nov. 6)

Manic Flight Reaction (Playwrights Horizons, New York City) In out writer Sarah Schulman's sharp-edged comedy, a middle-aged professor's past liaison with the wife of a leading presidential candidate comes to light. (Oct. 13-Nov. 6)

Adrift in Macao (Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia) This musical spoof from Christopher Durang (score by Peter Melnick) is an irreverent take on Casablanca and orientalist movie cliches. (Oct. 21-Nov. 20)

See What I Wanna See (Public Theater, New York City) A new musical from out talent Michael John LaChiusa, weaving together stories of faith and redemption set in modern New York. (Begins Oct. 11)

The Tricky Part (San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Jose, Calif.) Martin Moran performs his disarmingly candid and moving memoir about his childhood, the tale of a complex and transgressive sexual relationship. (Oct. 15-Nov. 13)

The Color Purple (Broadway Theatre, New York City) According to director Gary Griffin, the love story between Alice Walker's Celie and blues singer Shug will be more spiritual, more romantic, and more sexual than in the 1985 Steven Spielberg film. (Begins Oct. 25)

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, Conn.) Billie Holiday gives her final concert and offers glimpses into her troubled personal life in Lanie Robertson's skillful blend of cabaret and biography. (Oct. 26-Nov. 20)

Missives (Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco) A new play by Garret Jon Groenveld about the friendship between a white gay man and an African-American woman put to the test by an unexpected act of violence. (Oct. 27-Nov. 26)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, Oct. 13-Nov. 13; The Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, Nov. 5-Dec. 18) Separate West Coast productions mark the 50th anniversary of Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize- winning drama. ACT company member Rene Augesen plays Maggie in the S.F. production, and John Goodman is Big Daddy in the L.A. production.

November

The Long Christmas Ride Home (Next Theatre Company, Chicago, Nov. 10-Dec. 11; Actor's Express and Synchronicity Performance Group, Atlanta, Nov. 10-Dec. 17) Paula Vogel's innovative drama about the far-reaching consequences of the dysfunction of family life.

After Dark (New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco) A couple come together during the most stressful time of the year in this gay romantic comedy for the holidays. (Nov. 18-Dec. 31)

Brundibar (Berkeley Repertory Theatre) "It's a testament to the creative power of human beings, even in dark times, to turn ugliness into music," says Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner about his musical fable set in the years leading up to WWII. Kushner has written a new libretto; artist Maurice Sendak designs sets and costumes. (Nov. 11-Dec. 28)

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (Kirk Douglas Theatre, Los Angeles) Out Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz adapts the magic realist short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez about two children in a small Caribbean town who discover an old man who falls mysteriously from the sky. (Nov. 13-Dec. 18)

December

Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (off-Broadway theater to be announced, New York City) This unauthorized parody by out talent Bert V. Royal imagines the Peanuts gang all grown-up. (December)

Lestat (Curran Theatre, San Francisco) Elton John and Bernie Taupin team up for a new musical based on Anne Rice's celebrated vampire. Heading to Broadway next spring. (December)

Well (Longacre Theatre, New York City) Lisa Kron takes her autobiographical play about her relationship with her mother to Broadway. (Begins in winter)

Bent (Theatre Rhinoceros, San Francisco) Martin Sherman's landmark drama about gay love in a Nazi concentration camp. (Dec. 8-Jan. 7)

Beauty of the Father (Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City) More from Nilo Cruz: A daughter goes to Spain to reunite with her estranged father and discovers she may have to share the love of her young Moroccan suitor with him in this romantic drama. (Begins Dec. 15)