Previews
“CLYBOURNE PARK”: Bruce Norris’ new play revolves around a neighborhood in flux. Playwrights Horizons, 416 W. 42nd St.; 212-279-4200. Opens Feb. 21.
“FANNY”: George Hearn and Rondi Reed head the cast of this limited-run Encores! production, a comedy about remarriage. City Center, 131 W. 55th St.; 212-581-1212.Through Sunday.
“A LIE OF THE MIND”: Ethan Hawke directs Sam Shepard’s classic about an abusive husband who fears he’s murdered his wife. Acorn Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; 212-279- 4200. Opens Feb. 18.
Broadway
“FELA!”: *** There’s enough energy in this bio of the late Nigerian musician-revolutionary to short-circuit Con Edison. Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St.; 212-239-6200.
“GOD OF CARNAGE”: **½ With its new cast (headed by Christine Lahti and Jimmy Smits), this is more like a minor deity of kerfuffles. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St.; 212-239-6200.
“A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC”: **½ Split verdict on this Sondheim revival’s leading ladies: Catherine Zeta-Jones is one-note but Angela Lansbury is triumphant. Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th St.; 212-239-6200.
“MEMPHIS”: ***½ Set in 1950s Memphis, this exuberant musical has catchy songs, heaping spoonfuls of inspirational moments and tear-jerking schmaltz, plus performers at the top of their game. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St.; 212-239-6200.
“PRESENT LAUGHTER”: **½ Victor Garber is smooth in this Noel Coward revival. Too smooth perhaps: The comic wheels never grind to a higher gear. American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St.; 212-719-1300.
“RACE”: *½ David Mamet’s new play isn’t half as provocative as it thinks it is. For James Spader fans only. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St.; 212-239-6200.
“TIME STANDS STILL”: ** A compelling cast — Laura Linney, Eric Bogosian, Alicia Silverstone — rises above Donald Margulies’ middling drama about the perils of love and war. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes March 21.
“A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE”: ***½ The combination of Arthur Miller, Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber makes for tragedy as subtle as it is devastating. And yes, ScarJo is good — really good. Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St.; 212-239-6200.
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.
“SOUTH PACIFIC”: **** Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center; 212-239-6200.
“WEST SIDE STORY”: *** Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway; 212-307-4100.
“WICKED”: **½ Gershwin Theatre, 222 W. 51st St.; 212-307-4100.
Off-Broadway
“AS YOU LIKE IT”: **½ In a memorable turn as the cross-dressing Rosalind, the wondrous Juliet Rylance singlehandedly lifts this middling Sam Mendes production. BAM Harvey Theater, 651 Fulton St., Brooklyn; 718-636-4100.
“CIRCUMCISE ME”: *** A cut above. Entertaining one-man show about converting to Judaism, and its complications. Bleecker Street Theater, 45 Bleecker St.; 212-279-4200. Closes May 16.
“ERNEST IN LOVE”: *** Revival of tuneful if extraneous musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W. 22nd St.; 212-727-2737. Closes Feb. 14.
“LEAR”: *½ Young Jean-Lee’s off-putting experimental theater work uses Shakespeare’s classic as a springboard for an examination of issues such as morality. SoHo Rep, 46 Walker St.; 212-352-3101. Closes Feb. 14.
“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.
“THE MAN IN ROOM 306”: *** Writer/performer Craig Alan Edwards’ compelling solo show depicts the last night in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St.; 212-279-4200. Closes Feb. 14.
“THE MYOPIA”: ** David Greenspan’s multicharacter one-person show is a strained fantasia commenting on theatrical conventions. Atlantic Stage 2, 330 W. 16th St.; 866- 811-4111. Closes Sunday.
“NEWSICAL THE MUSICAL”: *** Christine Pedi leads a terrifically funny ensemble in a musical revue taken from today’s headlines. 47th Street Theater, 304 W. 47th St.; 212-279-4200.
“THE ORPHANS’ HOME CYCLE, PART 1: THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD”: *** In the first part of Horton Foote’s humane trilogy, set in early-20th-century Texas, we meet young Horace and witness his hardscrabble early years. Slow going yet engrossing. Signature Theatre, 555 W. 42nd St.; 212-244-7529.
“THE ORPHANS’ HOME CYCLE, PART 2: THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE”: ***½ Rarely has something so intimate felt so grand. Signature Theatre, 555 W. 42nd St.; 212-244-7529.
“THE ORPHANS’ HOME CYCLE, PART 3: THE STORY OF A FAMILY”: ***½ Horton Foote’s nine-hour cycle draws to a deeply satisfying conclusion with this three-play installment. Signature Theatre, 555 W. 42nd St.; 212-244-7529.
“OUR TOWN”: **** Brilliantly staged version of Thornton Wilder’s classic. Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.; 212-868-4444.
“SMUDGE”: **½ Rachel Axler’s dark comedy about a deformed baby raises more questions than it answers; Cassie Beck’s great as the mom. Women’s Project, 424 W. 55th St.; 212-239-6200. Closes Sunday.
“VENUS IN FUR”: *** David Ives mixes backstage intrigue and S&M role play in his clever new play; too bad the cast isn’t exactly tops. Classic Stage Company, 136 E. 13th St.; 212-352-3101. Closes Feb. 21.
