A worldly WEEK AHEAD awaits you!
Saturday, March 7
OPENING� The -Joseph Stein musical The Baker's Wife, which features the famous ballad "Meadowlark," gets a rare New York staging courtesy of Brooklyn's Gallery Players. (Gallery Players, 199 14th St., Brooklyn. .)
Sunday, March 8
OPENINGâ†� Helen Mirren returns to the throne with another pass at Queen Elizabeth II in . Mirren first played the famous royal in her Oscar-winning performance in the 2006 film "The Queen." 's stage drama imagines private meetings the Queen had with the many prime ministers who have served during her reign. Read °ëµºÌåÓý.com's interview with Mirren, about returning to the royal throne, . (Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45 St., btwn. Broadway & 8th Ave. .)
Monday, March 9
WATCH� Nominations for London's top theatre prize, the Olivier Awards, are live streamed stateside in a partnership with Broadway's highest honor, the Tony Awards. 2014 Olivier winner Lesley Manville and James McAvoy, currently starring in The Ruling Class at Trafalgar Studios, make the announcements. (8 AM EST. .)
Tuesday, March 10
WEIRD NEWS� star Sarah Brightman has some out of this world news (literally) for all of us. Brightman has paid $52 million to ride the Russian Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station. (.) Wednesday, March 11
OPENING (Chicago)� The First Wives Club becomes a musical with Tony Award winner , Carmen Cusack and Christine Sherrill starring as the three divorcees who plot revenge on their no-good exes. The musicalized version of the fun 1996 film features a blend of original songs and classic hits by legends and brothers Brian and , including "Reach Out…I'll Be There," "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)." (Oriental Theatre, 24 Randolph St., Chicago. .)
³Ò°¿â†� , , , Taylor Mac, and more sing the songs of songwriter Ben Toth in an evening of his music for Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. Toth has an impressive resume that includes working with singers and , and fellow storytellers and Todd Almond. (8 PM, Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, 165 W. 65th St., 10th Fl. .)
Thursday, March 12
PREVIEWSâ†� Kelli O'Hara returns to the Beaumont stage for another grand revival from Rodgers & Hammerstein, . O'Hara takes on the role of Welsh schoolteacher Anna who travels from England to Siam to serve as governess to the king's many children. Read about Kelli and director 's years of working together . Kelli's king is Oscar-nominated "The Last Samurai" actor, . Officially opens April 16. (Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 W. 65th St., btwn. Amsterdam and Columbus Aves. Click for °ëµºÌåÓý Club discount tickets.)
Friday, March 13
³Ò°¿â†� Broadway's golden girl, two-time Tony winner , makes her Carnegie Hall solo debut with a one-night-only concert with the New York Pops. The , , Drowsy Chaperone and star will share the stage with former co-stars (Violet) and (). (8 PM, Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave., at 57th St. .)
PREVIEWS� With a stunning Gershwin score that includes classics like "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You" and "S'Wonderful" and a pedigree that includes and , An American in Paris the musical comes to Broadway direct from the Théâtre du Châtelet in its namesake town. New York City Ballet principal dancer takes on the Kelly role of Jerry, a WWII vet who falls for a Parisian shop girl (British ballerina ) in newly liberated France. Officially opens April 12. (Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, at 47th St. .)
