New jukebox musicals are opening in New York to strong initial reviews. “Head Over Heels” showcases the music of The Go-Go’s and Belinda Carlisle, while “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” presents the many hits of Leiber & Stoller. These are just two of the highlights of performing arts in the Big Apple this week.There are plenty of concerts, from the Smashing Pumpkins to Femi Kuti and Tinariwen. In the world of theater, “The Peculiar Patriot” is a must-see.Apart from these there are many classic shows still on the must-see list: “Hamilton,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Carousel,” Disney’s “Frozen,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and “Escape to Margaritaville” among them.The format of these weekly short capsule previews is to list newly opening and one-time shows; those near the end of their run; and others highly recommended. We continue to review the best and most noteworthy in depth and separately.NEW OPENING“Head Over Heels”At Hudson Theatre, through December 31.In terms of jukebox musicals, The Go-Go’s and Belinda Carlisle may not be the most obvious choice. Still, this show is a lot of fun, with a fairly crazy plot about a messed up royal family that time travels between now, the 1980s and 16th-century Greece. “Vacation,” “Our Lips Are Sealed” and “We Got the Beat” are all shoehorned in.“Smokey Joe’s Cafe”At Stage 42, Hell’s Kitchen through December 30, 2108.This is jukebox musical shamelessly strings together material. The subtitle gives it away: “The Songs of Leiber & Stoller.” There is everything from “Stand By Me” (a collaboration with Ben E. King) to “Hound Dog.” Hit follows hit with the thinnest of plots. LAST CHANCE TO SEE“The Peculiar Patriot”At National Black Theatre, through July 29 onlyThis revived play is a gentle exploration of black love and relationships in prison. In a free world still dominated by white power.ONE-OFF CONCERTSSmashing PumpkinsAt Madison Square Garden, August 1 only.This is a big date in the tour by the veteran alternative rock band, which began life in 1998 and is known for albums such as “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness,” “Adore” and “Siamese Dream.” Later in August, MSG plays host to Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper; Jeff Lynne’s ELO; and Drake with Migos. There will be more on these in subsequent weekly columns.Central Park SummerStageCentral Park and elsewhere, through September 27.The concerts this week include Charlie Apointe and Femi Kuti, the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. The main events are at Rumsey Playfield, with other free concerts across the five boroughs.BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! FestivalAt Prospect Park, through August 11.Most gigs in this series are free, with a $5 suggested donation. The next shows include a performance by the Tinariwen, a Grammy Award-winning group of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali.SHORT-RUN FESTIVALIce Factory 2018At New Ohio Theatre, through August 18.This West Village festival has been quietly kicking up a storm for 25 years now. Its curators plan a different show every week during its duration. Cliche though it may be, expect the unexpected.ALSO WORTH SEEING“Fire in Dreamland”At East Village Public Theater, though August 5.This sounds like a perfectly made play for off Broadway: quirky, funny, with odd subject matter and a skewed view of history. In the play, a notorious fire at Dreamland on Coney Island 100 years ago is being investigated for a possible film. Rinne Groff’s play is certainly different.Mary Page MarloweAt Second Stage Theater, through August 26.The latest by Tracy Letts has a small start off Broadway. Letts, known for his Pulitzer-winning “August: Osage County” and more, presents scenes from the life of a character, each short and fragmentary, that gradually fill in backstory on a larger whole.“On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”At Irish Repertory Theatre, through August 12.The plot is as bizarre as they come. It makes The Who’s “Tommy” or Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Poisoned Kiss” look totally normal. A psychiatrist falls in love with a long-dead woman summoned up in a psychic session. The work is something of a neglected gem, with a poetic title and flowing score.“The Boys in the Band”At Booth Theatre, through August 11.Mart Crowley’s play has been around 50 years and is only now making its Broadway debut. While this 1960s play was hilarious and thought-provoking, it was also controversial in its gay subject matter. While some of its initial shock value has now faded, it remains a powerful piece of writing.“The Band’s Visit”At the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, booking through February 2019.This has won 10 Tony Awards, which may be recognition enough. The Israeli story about a police band whose tour goes wrong has many standout songs such as “Something Different.”“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”At Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, booking through November 18 2018 currently.Donna Summer joins those singers getting a theater tribute. As “The Tina Turner Musical” has a world premiere in London, this New York show attempts to do justice to the disco Queen. It is a transfer from La Jolla Playhouse. Fortunately for the drama, quite a lot of tense plot-lines can be added to her already far-from-smooth ride to success. There is plenty of joy too and dancing to “I Feel Love” and more. It suffers from the common musical malaise of clunky dialogue but gets a little forgiven for the finest pieces of disco known to humanity.“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 and 2”At the Lyric Theatre, open dates.Those of us who have seen the London hit will know that a good knowledge of Harry Potter is useful, but it all makes some kind of sense even if you don’t. This is a sequel to the books, with Harry Potter now an adult and out to save the world. Hint: see Part 1, then Part 2 in that order. You’ll be mightily confused to see them the other way around. See Part 1 alone, and you are left at a cliffhanger; see Part 2 alone and it makes no sense at all. One of the reasons for its success is that most playgoers see both, and hopefully in the right order.“Mean Girls”At the August Wilson Theatre, booking through September.No pressure. Tina Fey has got some $15 million of theater money riding on this. It cannot fail for her, and the word is that it will not – she has recruited serious talent. The director-choreographer is Casey Nicholaw and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, of “Legally Blonde” fame.“My Fair Lady”At the Vivian Beaumont, through September.Bartlett Sher is an obvious choice of director after reviving “South Pacific” and “The King and I.” The cast includes TV star Lauren Ambrose – actually not the most obvious Eliza Doolittle. Harry Hadden-Paton moves on from “Downton Abbey” as Henry Higgins, and, best of all, there is Diana Rigg as his mother (she will depart on September 9 however).“Carousel”At Imperial Theatre, booking through September.The cast includes opera singer Renee Fleming as well as Joshua Henry and Jessie Mueller. It is a classic and the buzz has been positive. The return after 24 years has largely been cheered: “half-terrific” and “meticulously curated” indeed.“Springsteen on Broadway”At Walter Kerr Theatre, extended through December 15.Following on from his autobiography “Born to Run,” The Boss conceived a one-man acoustic show including spoken words and songs. It is back in the news after an extension was announced through to near the end of the year. He is joined by his wife Patti Scialfa for backing vocals in places.“Escape to Margaritaville”At the Marquis Theatre, booking through November.Songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s hits such as “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” “Volcano,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” are cunningly worked into a feel-good musical comedy about a romance between a lawyer and a barman. Buffett fans bought every ticket for its off-Broadway tryouts.Disney’s “Frozen”At St James Theatre, booking through December currently.The ubiquitous Michael Grandage directs as the Oscar-winning movie comes to Broadway. In its new form, some of the film magic is replaced by a new magic: there are twice as many songs woven in. This is a surefire sellout just given the level of interest in the film and all things Disney. If “Aladdin” can make it big even after mixed reviews out of town, this Denver transfer certainly can. It is helped by set pieces such as the signature song “Let It Go.”“A Bronx Tale”At Longacre Theatre, open dates, booking though November.This show is recommended any week, not just this one. It is a musical account of the story that has already been a book, a play and of course a Robert De Niro movie.“Hamilton”At Richard Rodgers Theater, open dates.A show about American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton might not sound a rewarding prospect, but this is still one of the highlights of Broadway. Hamilton had a huge character and a most eventful life. The raps are hilarious. It also has contemporary resonance – how will we be remembered – and our Presidents too.“Waitress”At Brooks Atkinson Theatre, extended through December.This wonderfully funny show keeps getting extended. You might remember the 2007 film of the same name. It’s the basis of play which makes it worth heading to Brooks Akinson for. A theater-loving writer friend, who was a waitress in her college days, recently saw it. She went along with low expectations, and came out impressed with its cheery feminist messages and sympathy for waiting staff – “the hardest job in the world.” Click on the slideshow for images of some of the productions and stars http://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder Louise Blouin
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