Summer theater preview: 'The Producers,' 'Escape to Margaritaville' and 20 more must-see shows
Scott Hofer, left, Tony Butera and Brittany Lacey star in "The Producers" at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. Credit: Scott Uihlein
The spirits of Jimmy Buffett, Alfred Hitchcock, andMaria Callas live on at Long Island theaters this summer. And for big names, television star John Slattery will be performing alongside his wife and son in a powerful family drama.
There's also plenty of lighthearted fare, including a couple of hit musicals based on two of Mel Brooks' best films and another songfest based on one of the campiest movies ever made.
Here are 20 of the hottest tickets for the summer.
Andrew Botsford, left, Tom Ciorciari, Nicholas Auletti and Bob Kaplan in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" is playing in Quogue. Credit: Dane DuPuis
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Hampton Theatre Company, through June 9, 631-653-8955, hamptontheatre.org) There's no place like Rome and this raucous musical about a crafty slave whose shot at freedom rests on being able to win the heart of a courtesan for his young master features several Sondheim tunes including "Comedy Tonight."
THE PRODUCERS (Theatre Three, through June 22, 631-928-9100, theatrethree.com) It's springtime for "Springtime for Hitler" and more musical mania in the Mel Brooks musical based on his 1968 Oscar-winning screen comedy.
John Slattery, left, Talia Balsam and Harry Slattery star in “The Subject Was Roses” at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. Credit: Tricia Baron
THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES (Bay Street Theater, 1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, May 28-June 16, 631-725-9500, baystreet.org) It's a real family affair as John Slattery ("Mad Men"); his wife, Talia Balsam, and their son, Harry Slattery, star in this searing drama about family tensions that erupt when a couple's son returns home at the end of World War II.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (Lighthouse Repertory Theatre Company, Manes Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, May 31-June 2, lighthousetheatrecompany.com) This fledgling theater company is taking flight with this family-friendly musical about how a poor orphan came to be Peter Pan. Proceeds from the show will be used to benefit Amityville-based Kids Need More, which helps seriously ill children and their families. (An additional performance will be June 7 at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center's Calderone Theater.)
Eric Clavell, left, and Kevin Clyne in Playcrafters' production of "The 39 Steps." Credit: Catherine Mazzeo Clyne
THE 39 STEPS (Playcrafters Theatre Company, May 31-June 9, 631-748-7863, bellport-playcrafters.com) The classic 1935 Alfred Hitchcock suspense flick gets played for laughs as four actors take on a multitude of roles. There's also nods to "Vertigo," "Rear Window," "North by Northwest" and more of Hitch's hits.
THE MAN FROM EARTH (Hardscrabble Theater, 298 Conklin St., Farmingdale, June 14-23, hardscrabbletheater.com) Jerome Bixby’s “Twilight Zone”-ish tale is about a professor who believes he is immortal.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE (Debut Theater Company, BACCA Arts Center, 149 Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, June 14-23, debutco.booktix.net) Northport playwright Anthony DiFranco's original play follows a couple who seek help from a rural psychic and a weirdly insightful carpenter to help save their troubled marriage. No info on whether buying a vowel may help them as well.
FIFTH OF JULY (South Shore Theatre Experience, 115 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, June 21-29, 631-669-0506, southshoretheatre.com) Lanford Wilson's thought-provoking drama set at a Missouri farmhouse focuses on the emotional and physical injuries that the Vietnam War has on a group of friends in the 1960s.
ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE (The Gateway, June 21-July 21, 631-286-1133, thegateway.org) The songs of Jimmy Buffett frame this jukebox musical about a carefree bartender for falls for a career-minded tourist. And yes, the search is on for that lost shaker of salt.
ROCK OF AGES (Cultural Arts Playhouse, 170 Michael Dr., Syosset, June 22-July 21, 516-694-3330, culturalartsplayhouse.com) Expect plenty of big hits and big hair in this rock musical featuring '80s chart toppers by the likes of Foreigner, Journey, Def Leppard and more.
MASTER CLASS (Bay Street Theater, 1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, June 25-July 20, 631-725-9500, baystreet.org) Playwright Terence McNally hit a career high note with this trenchant play about opera diva Maria Callas as she attempts to teach a master class in singing.
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME (Manes Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, July 5-21, 631-226-8400, studiotheatrelongisland.com) A 15-year-old boy described as "a mathematician with behavioral difficulties" is determined to unravel the mystery of who killed his neighbor's dog. The 2015 Broadway version won the Tony for best play.
BYE BYE BIRDIE (The Argyle Theatre, July 11--Aug. 1, 844-631-5483, argyletheatre.com) The musical favorite about an Elvis-like performer who's supposed to get "One Last Kiss" from an Ohio female fan on national TV before heading off to the Army is sure to make you put on a happy face.
LEGALLY BLONDE (John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, July 11-Aug. 25, 631-261-2900, engemantheater.com) Elle Woods, the fair-haired female of the title, goes from dumb Dora to legal eagle in this musical set at Harvard Law School.
REEFER MADNESS: THE MUSICAL (South Shore Theatre Experience, 115 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, July 14-20, 631-669-0506, southshoretheatre.com) The 1936 propaganda cult film reaches a new high with this musical version that features ditties like "The Brownie Song," and we're not talking about any mix concocted by Betty Crocker.
NEWSIES (Smithown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St.., July 18-Aug. 18, 631-724-3700, smithtownpac.org) So here's the scoop: This musical adaptation of the 1992 Disney movie is based on the actual newsboys strike of 1899 in New York City. Most likely, the real-life newsboys didn't dance on those picket lines.
A CHORUS LINE (Cultural Arts Playhouse, 170 Michael Dr., Syosset, July 27-Aug. 25, 516-694-3330, culturalartsplayhouse.com) The Broadway triumph about young hopefuls out to ace their audition for a big musical is still one singular sensation.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (Bay Street Theater, 1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, Aug. 1-25, 631-725-9500, baystreet.org) Mel Brooks' sendup of Mary Shelley's horror classic was a monster hit as a movie and as a Broadway musical. Now it's alive again — and kicking to tunes like "Puttin' on the Ritz."
BEAUTIFUL — THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (The Gateway, Aug. 9-Sept. 8, 631-286-1133, thegateway.org) The story of the woman who penned such hits as "It's Too Late," "Jazz Man" and "One Fine Day" comes to life in this Tony-winning jukebox musical.
HARVEY (EastLine Theatre, BACCA Arts Center, 149 N. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Aug. 10-25, 516-749-5047, eastlinetheatre.org) A rare production of Mary Chase's Pultizer Prize-winning comedy about lovable tippler Elwood P. Dowd who imagines he sees a 6-foot-tall invisible rabbit named Harvey and creates a lot of bad hare days for his sister and niece.
WEST SIDE STORY (CM Performing Arts Center, 931 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale, Aug. 17-Sept. 7, 631-218-2810, cmpac.com) Maria, Tony, Anita and every member of the Jets and the Sharks as they all come together in this urban retelling of "Romeo and Juliet" set to the music of Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim.
THE HUMANS (Manes Studio Theatre, 141 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst, Aug. 23-Sept. 8, 631-226-8400, studiotheatrelongisland.com) In Stephen Karam's Tony-winning drama, a dysfunctional family gathers for a Thanksgiving dinner stuffed with family tensions and the revelation of long-hidden secrets.
4 SHOWS COMING TO BROADWAY THIS SUMMER
BEN PLATT: LIVE AT THE PALACE (Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, May 28-June 15, broadwaydirect.com) The "Dear Evan Hansen" star is coming to the Palace for a special residency in support of his third album "Honeymind," which comes out May 31. And he may also break into a show tune or two.
HOME (Todd Haimes Theatre, 227 W. 42nd. St., in previews, runs June 5-July 21, roundaboutheatre.org) A Black Southern farmer lands in jail for opposing the Vietnam draft. When things don't go well for him when he heads up North, he finally realizes he needs return to his roots.
OH MARY! (Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., begins previews June 26, runs July 11-Sept. 15, ohmaryplay.com) Cole Escola stars as Mary Todd Lincoln in this dark comedy about the weeks leading up to hubby Abe's assassination. Let's just say, Mrs. Lincoln likes to drink a little.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Hudson Theatre, begins previews July 31, runs Aug. 12-Nov. 30) Broadway dynamo Sutton Foster stars in this musical based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Princess and the Pea." This version, which was done at New York City Center earlier this year, features a book adaptation by Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of "Gilmore Girls" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."
— DANIEL BUBBEO
