PREVIEWS
“FELA!”: African composer, performer and activist Fela Kuti’s life is the driving force behind Bill T. Jones’ musical. Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 262 W. 38th St.; 212-997- 5399. Opens Monday.
“RACE”: James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington and Richard Thomas star in David Mamet’s new play. Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St.; 212-239-6200. Opens Dec. 6.
“THE STARRY MESSENGER”: Matthew Broderick plays an astronomy teacher in love in Kenneth Lonergan’s new play. Acorn Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; 212-279-4200. Opens Monday.
BROADWAY
“AFTER MISS JULIE”: **½ In Patrick Marber’s remake of Strindberg’s “Miss Julie,” Sienna Miller doesn’t disgrace herself, which is saying something in these days of marquee casting. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St.; 212-719- 1300. Closes Dec. 6.
“BURN THE FLOOR”: **½ A plotless revue, energetically delivered by sexy and athletic (if personality-free) performers. Longacre Theatre, 220 W. 48th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Jan. 3.
“BYE BYE BIRDIE”: *½ Miscast and flaccidly paced, you have to see this production to believe it — except you don’t actually want to see it. Henry Miller’s Theatre, 124 W. 43rd St.; 212-239-6200.
“FINIAN’S RAINBOW”: *** Mixing Irish and Southern lore, this whimsical 1947 musical has one of the best scores you’re likely to hear all year. St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“GOD OF CARNAGE”: Jimmy Smits heads the new cast of Yasmina Reza’s play. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“HAMLET”: *** Jude Law is actually pretty good as the prince of Denmark. The rest of the production represents British-style quality: easy on the eyes and a breeze to follow. Broadhurst Theater, 235 W. 44th St.; 212-239- 6200. Closes Dec. 6.
“MEMPHIS”: ***½ Set in 1950s Memphis, this zippy, exuberant musical relies on classic values: catchy songs, heaping spoonfuls of inspirational moments and tear-jerking schmaltz, and committed performers at the top of their game. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“OLEANNA”: *** Think of it as David Mamet’s version of a horror movie, with Julia Stiles’ sociopathic student as a serial killer. John Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Jan. 3.
“RAGTIME”: **½ This musical tackles big issues with even bigger songs — the score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens is packed with power ballads. But it’s the smaller, intimate moments that register most. Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St.; 212-757-8646.
“A STEADY RAIN”: **½ Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman: two great tastes would taste great together — if they weren’t in a hackneyed cop play. Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Dec. 6.
“SUPERIOR DONUTS”: ***½ For his follow-up to “August: Osage County,” playwright Tracy Letts wisely changed tack. But while on a smaller scale, this drama is a timely reminder of the heady pleasure ace actors and ace storytelling can bring. Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“THE ROYAL FAMILY”: **½ This revival of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s 1927 comedy is funny-ish when it should be funny. Go for the cast, including Rosemary Harris as the matriarch of an acting dynasty. Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 W. 47th St.; 212-239-6200.
“WISHFUL DRINKING”: ** Carrie Fisher is an expert at combining shameless revelations with acidic self-deprecation. But the material is stretched wafer-thin. Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St.; 212-719-1300.
LONG-RUNNING
BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL”: **** Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6262.
“CHICAGO”: **** Ambassador Theatre, 219 W. 49th St.; 212-239-6200.
“HAIR”: **** Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“IN THE HEIGHTS”: **½ Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th St.; 212-221-1211.
“JERSEY BOYS”: ***½ The August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St.; 212-239-6200.
“THE LION KING”: *** Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St.; 212-307-4747.
“MAMMA MIA!”: ***½ Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway; 212-239-6200.
“MARY POPPINS”: **** New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St.; 212-307- 4747.
“NEXT TO NORMAL”: ** Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”: **** Majestic Theatre, 247 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“ROCK OF AGES”: **½ Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St.; 212-307-4100.
“SHREK: THE MUSICAL”: *** Broadway Theatre, Broadway at 53rd Street; 212-239-6200. Closes Jan. 3.
“SOUTH PACIFIC”: **** Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center; 212-239-6200.
“THE 39 STEPS”: *** Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Jan. 10.
“WEST SIDE STORY”: *** Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway; 212-307-4100.
“WICKED”: **½ Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St.; 212-307-4100.
OFF-BROADWAY
“BROKE-OLOGY”: *** Well-acted, affecting drama. Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Sunday.
“THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS”: **½ Tarell Alvin McCraney’s self-indulgent, often precious trilogy (over two evenings) thankfully benefits from a bang-up production and a superb ensemble cast. Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.; 212-967-7555. Closes Dec. 20.
“BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?”: *** Bill Daugherty’s ’40s-era musical about the Great Depression seems all too relevant today. Triad Theater, 158 W. 72nd St.; 212-352-3101.
“THE EMPEROR JONES”: ***½ Superlative revival of Eugene O’Neill’s 1920 expressionistic classic. Irish Repertory Theater, 132 W. 22nd St.; 212-727-2737. Closes Nov. 29.
“GIRL CRAZY”: Ana Gasteyer, Wayne Knight and Marc Kudisch star in this Encores! revival of George and Ira Gershwin’s 1930 musical. City Center, 131 W. 55th St.; 212-581-1212. Closes Sunday.
“IDIOT SAVANT”: *** Willem Dafoe stars in avant-garde theater legend Richard Foreman’s latest surreal and frequently baffling extravaganza. Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St.; 212-967-7555. Closes Dec. 20.
“THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS”: **½ Judith Ivey delivers a charming performance as advice columnist Ann Landers. Cherry Lane Theater, 38 Commerce St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Dec. 20.
“THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN”: **½ When staging a farce, the main rule is KIFS — Keep It Fast, Stupid. This revival of Sidney Howard’s 1932 comedy breaks the rule. Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; 212-279-4200. Closes Dec. 5.
“LET ME DOWN EASY” ***½ Anna Deavere Smith turns documentary theater into art with her virtuosic show looking at the connection between body, mind and health. Second Stage Theater, 307 W. 43rd St.; 212-246-4422. Closes Dec. 6.
“THE LILY’S REVENGE”: ***½ Taylor Mac’s epic show may well be a new downtown landmark. HERE, 145 Sixth Ave.; 212-352-3101. Closes Sunday.
“LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE”: **½ Nora and Delia Ephron’s cuddly show about women’s relationship with clothes. The “awww” moments are balanced by several genuinely funny ones. Westside Theatre, 407 W. 43rd St.; 212-239-6200.
“MADE IN HEAVEN”: *** Wacky and frequently hilarious farce about a pair of conjoined male twins, one straight and one gay, who share a particular part of the male anatomy. SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St.; 212-691-1555. Closes Jan. 3.
“MY WONDERFUL DAY”: **½ The revival of his “Norman Conquest” charmed New York last year, and now Alan Ayckbourn directs his own latest play, about a 9-year-old girl. 59E59 Theatre, 59 E. 59th St.; 212-279-4200. Closes Dec. 13.
“THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM”: *** The Druid Ireland production of Enda Walsh’s play about romantic disappointment. St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St., Brooklyn; 718-254-8879. Closes Sunday.
“ORDINARY DAYS”: **½ Adam Gwon’s sung-through pocket musical is imperfect but shows promise. Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre/Black Box Theater, 111 W. 46th St.; 212-719- 1300. Closes Dec. 13.
“OUR TOWN”: **** Brilliantly staged version of Thornton Wilder’s classic. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.; 212-868-4444.
“OR,”: *** Liz Duffy Adam’s witty comedy about 17th-century female playwright Aphra Behn. Women’s Project, 424 W. 55th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Dec. 13.
“THE TOXIC AVENGER”: *** More fun than it should be, given its vulgar humor and cult-film roots. New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Jan. 3.
“WOLVES AT THE WINDOW”: *** Enjoyable adaptation of 10 macabre and comical short stories by British Edwardian writer Saki. 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.; 212-279-4200. Closes Dec. 6.