8 touring theater productions to mark on your calendar this fall
A pop icon, Shakespeare reconsidered and a sublime musical about mortality are all on the boards
This fall is a very good fall for touring theater. Familiar properties like Harry Potter and Mean Girls are rolling across the country. So, too, are original musicals and song-fueled adaptations of legendary films. Grab a ticket and get seated.
'Kimberly Akimbo'
The 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical walks an impossible tightrope. It is a hilarious, heartbreaking tale of a 16-year-old girl in suburban New Jersey who ages rapidly and is currently living in the body of a 60-something-year-old. Her family is a mess, she struggles — understandably — to fit in and time is running out. The faultless Carolee Carmello is playing the protagonist on the road. Expect guffaws; bring tissues.
'& Juliet'
Jukebox musicals, in which familiar popular tunes are crammed into a shoehorned narrative, are controversial. The conceit of "& Juliet," though, is clever, as you might expect from David West Read, a writer on "Schitt's Creek": What would happen if Juliet didn't die at the end of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"? In the show's favor, rather than featuring songs from a lone artist as most jukebox musical's do, "& Juliet" features songs from many artists, but all written or cowritten by hitmaker Max Martin. "Oops!… I Did It Again"; "It's Gonna Be Me"; "That's the Way It Is": You get the pop-smash idea.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Shucked'
Rare it is to encounter a new Broadway musical that is born of an original story and is also knee-slappingly hilarious. "Shucked" tells a tale of a small town that turns on corn as its local moneymaker. Into town comes a con man, a "corn doctor," and hijinks ensue, all to a score by Grammy-winning Nashville songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally.
'Harry Potter & the Cursed Child'
This forward-looking sequel to the original Harry Potter series follows the children of Harry and Ginny, and Hermione and Ron, as they begin their own journey through the halls of Hogwarts. It is a fun, fast-paced romp, and the stage magic and special effects are potent and head-scratching: Wait? Wasn't Hermione on that side of the stage, so how did she appear on the other side seconds later? Know that the Dementors do appear — and it is terrifying.
'Some Like It Hot'
A jazzy, full-bore musical comedy adaptation of the 1959 Billy Wilder film of the same name, starred Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. This being 2024, the musicalized version of "Some Like It Hot" grapples with the gender-bending plot points deftly and sweetly. The score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman sings and swings and is full of earworms.
'A Beautiful Noise'
Did the world need a Neil Diamond musical? If you love a jukebox musical, are a diehard Diamond aficionado or fawn at the sound of "Sweet Caroline" or "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," absolutely. By all accounts, "A Beautiful Noise" is a good time, as it tells Diamond's biography through his varied discography.
'Shrek'
Composer Jeanine Tesori and writer David Lindsay-Abaire (who also wrote "Kimberly Akimbo") had a solid success with the first 2008 Broadway mounting of this spin on the beloved film. The tone is cheeky and tender, just like the movie. In 2024, the pair has revisited the show, making it more intimate. The new version hits the road this fall.
'Mean Girls'
The mobius strip that is this Tina Fey brands keeps on keeping on. A movie that became a musical that became a film of the musical is now back on the stage. Cady Heron, Damian, Janis and the Plastics are primed to battle, giggle and endear themselves to a new audience of theatergoers across the States.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Scott Hocker is an award-winning freelance writer and editor at The Week Digital. He has written food, travel, culture and lifestyle stories for local, national and international publications for more than 20 years. Scott also has more than 15 years of experience creating, implementing and managing content initiatives while working across departments to grow companies. His most recent editorial post was as editor-in-chief of Liquor.com. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief of Tasting Table and a senior editor at San Francisco magazine.
-
These 7 touring theater productions are ready to carry you through the holidays and into the new year
The Week Recommends Your favorite movie-turned-musical might be coming to a city near you
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Kimpton Everly Hotel: the perfect base to explore Hollywood
The Week Recommends Escape the bustle of LA at this laidback bolthole
By Caroline Dolby Published
-
The best TV spy thrillers
The Week Recommends Brilliant espionage series, packed with plot twists to keep you hooked until the end
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Magnificent Tudor castles and stately homes to visit this year
The Week Recommends The return of 'Wolf Hall' has sparked an uptick in visits to Britain's Tudor palaces
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Vegetable cocktails are having a moment
The Week Recommends Wild carrot margarita? Mung bean old-fashioned? 'Allotment-inspired' tipples are appearing on drinks menus
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Renegade comedian Youngmi Mayer's frank new memoir is a blitzkrieg to the genre
The Week Recommends 'I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying' details a biracial life on the margins, with humor as salving grace
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Drawing the Italian Renaissance: a 'relentlessly impressive' exhibition
The Week Recommends Show at the King's Gallery features an 'enormous cache' of works by the likes of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael
By The Week UK Published