Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. For more information, click on the title.
BROADWAY:
• Annie (musical, G, reviewed here)
• Matilda (musical, G, all performances sold out last week, reviewed here)
• Once (musical, G/PG-13, nearly all performances sold out last week, reviewed here)
• The Trip to Bountiful (drama, G, closes Oct. 9, reviewed here)
OFF BROADWAY:
• Avenue Q (musical, R, adult subject matter and one show-stopping scene of puppet-on-puppet sex, reviewed here)
• The Fantasticks (musical, G, suitable for children capable of enjoying a love story, reviewed here)
• The Weir (drama, PG-13, extended through Sept. 15, reviewed here)
IN ASHLAND, OREGON:
• My Fair Lady (musical, G, closes Nov. 3, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON ON BROADWAY:
• Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (comedy, PG-13, remounting of off-Broadway production, closes Aug. 25, nearly all performances sold out last week, original production reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON OFF BROADWAY:
• Nobody Loves You (musical, PG-13/R, closes Aug. 18, reviewed here)
CLOSING SOON IN CHICAGO:
• Big Lake Big City (comedy, PG-13/R, completely unsuitable for children, closes Aug. 25, reviewed here)
CLOSING NEXT WEEK ON BROADWAY:
• The Nance (play with music, PG-13, closes Aug. 11, reviewed here)
CLOSING NEXT WEEK IN GLENCOE, ILL.:
• The Liar (comedy, PG-13, closes Aug. 11, reviewed here)
CLOSING SATURDAY IN WESTPORT, CONN.:
• Loot (black comedy, PG-13/R, reviewed here)