What’s Happening Onstage This Fall

By R.J. Donovan

Special to Boston Irish

“Mrs. Doubtfire”

Through Sept. 21, Citizens Opera House

“Helloooo, dears!” Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is back in a musical based on the beloved Robin Williams’ film. When an out-of-work actor loses custody in a messy divorce, he creates the kindly alter ego of Euphegenia Doubtfire in an attempt to stay in his kids’ lives. It’s a heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds.  boston.broadway.com

“The Hills of California”

Through Oct. 12, The Huntington

Olivier and Tony Award–winning playwright Jez Butterworth weaves the tender but savagely funny tale of the four adult Webb sisters’ return to the seaside house where they grew up. Their ambitious mother had trained them for a singing career, but now, as adults, the sisters must consider the choices made and the unbreakable bonds of family. The cast features South Dublin native Karen Killeen.  huntingtontheatre.org

King Richard’s Faire

Weekends through Oct. 19, Edaville Entertainment Venue

Take knights and fairies, jesters, swordplay, acrobats, whip-cracking marksmen, parading pirates, jousters on horseback, giant puppets, witty pipers and sharp-tongued jugglers, then add a King and Queen, Broadway parodies, eight performance stages, an artisan’s marketplace plus epicurean delights and you’ve got the 44 annual King Richard’s Faire – now in its new home on the scenic grounds of the historic Edaville Entertainment Venue in Carver.  Huzzah all around!  Kingrichardsfaire.net

“My First Ex-Husband”

Sept. 12 - 28, Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion

This new comedy is from the pen of “The View” co-host and stand-up comedian Joy Behar. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, it explores the messy, outrageous truths of love, sex, and relationships. Whether you’re happily coupled, cautiously committed, or changing the locks, these stories are your stories, only funnier. The rotating cast of four features Behar, Veanne Cox, Judy Gold, Jackie Hoffman, and Tonya Pinkins.  Everyone’s got issues, so you might as well laugh about ‘em.  huntingtontheatre.org

“Our Town”

Sept. 19 – Oct 19, Lyric Stage

Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Our Town” is an American classic.  Set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corner, NH, this is a touching look at ordinary life in a sleepy town.  With glimmers of joy, flickers of melancholy, and the whisper of secret desires, beauty exists all around, even in the smallest moments. The secret is to stop and take notice. Because every moment is a gift. lyricstage.com

Liz Callaway

Sept. 20, Riverside Theatre Works

Award-winning Broadway star Liz Callaway brings her “Broadway & Beyond” concert to town for one night only.  Expect highlights from her celebrated stage career (“Baby,” “Cats,” “Miss Saigon,” “Sunday in the Park,” “Follies”) as well as her film work (the singing voice of “Anastasia”) and her bestselling series of solo recordings.  (Local fans will remember she hosted her own children’s show, “Ready To Go,” on Channel 7 from 1987 to 1991.)  rtwboston.org
“Hamilton”

Sept. 23 – Nov 2

Witness the revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new day. The epic saga by Lin-Manuel Miranda follows the rise of founding father Alexander Hamilton as he fights for honor, love, and a legacy that would shape the course of a nation.  Boasting 11 Tony Awards, this extraordinary evening blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, all to take you to the room where it happened. Don’t throw away your shot.  boston.broadway.com

“A Taste of Ireland”

Sept. 28, Plymouth Memorial Hall
Direct from Off-Broadway and starring former World Irish Dance Champions, including performers from “Lord of the Dance” and “Riverdance,” “A Taste of Ireland” transports audiences through Ireland’s colorful history, adding a frothy pint of Irish wit for good measure. It’s a fusion of cultural traditions, modern flair, heartwarming storytelling, and craic galore.  eventbrite.com

“Churchill”

Oct. 7 – 12, Calderwood Pavilion

The veteran British actor David Payne brings Winston Churchill to life in this often funny, sometimes touching, and always engaging one-man-show.  From his exploits during the Boer War to his constant battles with Britain’s fellow politicians, his relationship with America’s presidents and the warm details of the two special women in his life – his wife Clementine and Queen ElizabethII – this is more than just a history lesson.  bostontheatrescene.com

Big Apple Circus

Oct. 9 – Nov. 2, Suffolk Downs

The One-Ring-Wonder returns to Boston for the first time since 2019.  Showcasing

modern-day spectacle and astounding feats, The Big Apple Circus offers an amazing blend of artistry, whimsy, and comedy in one intimate setting.  The all-new show is brimming with award-winning international artists from Ukraine, China, Italy, Spain, the USA, Russia, and more.  Grab your popcorn and be a kid again.  bigapplecircus.com

“Macbeth”

Oct. 10 & 12, Emerson Colonial Theatre

                        Verdi’s powerful tragedy, based on the Shakespearean classic, opens Boston Lyric Opera’s 49th season. Verdi's tenth opera premiered in 1847 and marked the first of The Bard’s works that he adapted for the operatic stage. From witches circling their cauldrons to a queen’s persistent guilt and an antagonist’s desire for revenge, the blazing production is directed by Steven Maler. blo.org.

“Tick, Tick…BOOM!”

Oct. 10 – Nov. 23, Umbrella Arts Center

In this electrifying, autobiographical musical by “Rent” creator Jonathan Larson, a struggling composer navigates his quarter-life crisis with warmth and wit, all while racing against time to turn his dreams into reality.  You’ve got to sing your song before the clock runs out.  And sometimes a spark of inspiration is all it takes.  theumbrellaarts.org

“Lizard Boy: A New Musical”

Oct. 24 – Nov. 22, SpeakEasy Stage

Trevor doesn’t get out much, but tonight, everything changes. What starts as a first date turns into an unexpected adventure in this funny, offbeat, and moving new musical. Featuring a genre-blending indie-rock score and three Drama Desk nominations, “Lizard Boy” is a heartfelt and inventive coming-of-age story about self-acceptance, connection, and becoming the hero of your own life. The outsider might just have super powers he wasn’t aware of!  speakeasystage.com