Taye Diggs likely to be next Hedwig
In recent days, rumors have surfaced that Taye Diggs will take over as Hedwig in the rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” after Darren Criss finishes his run. In a implicit confirmation of the rumors, Diggs posted a photo onto Twitter with the phrase “I love daddy” (a reference to the song “Sugar Daddy” from the musical”) written across his arm and the “Hedwig” script nearby.
Encores! to stage ‘1776’ at City Center
The classic musical “1776,” which explores the drama behind the signing of the Declaration of Independence among the Second Continental Congress, will be done next season at City Center as the centerpiece of the upcoming Encores! series. Although Encores! typically presents rarely-performed musicals (of which “1776” is not one), artistic director Jack Viertel noted in a statement that it has not been performed professionally in New York since the 1997 Broadway revival. The Encores! season will also include “Do I Hear a Waltz?” (which has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim) and “Cabin in the Sky.”
Mills joins cast of NBC’s ‘The Wiz’
Stephanie Mills, the original Dorothy in “The Wiz,” will play Aunt Em in NBC’s live holiday-time telecast of the 1975 Broadway musical, which will incorporate a revised book by Harvey Fierstein and special effects from Cirque du Soleil.
‘The Audience’ revised to reflect U.K. election
The Broadway drama “The Audience,” which depicts Queen Elizabeth II meeting with countless prime ministers throughout the course of her long reign, has been updated by playwright Peter Morgan to reflect the gains of the Conservatives in last week’s U.K. election. The hit play, which stars Helen Mirren, has already earned back its investment costs.
Midtown Men to play the Beacon
The Midtown Men, a vocal group made up of original “Jersey Boys” cast members Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, J. Robert Spencer and Michael Longoria, will play the Beacon Theatre on June 20. Since 2010, the group, which specializes in 1960s pop hits, has performed just under 400 concerts across the country.
‘Hamilton’ dominates Lucille Lortel Awards
“Hamilton,” which recently ended its Off-Broadway run and is set to come to Broadway this summer, won a record-breaking total of 10 Lucille Lortel Awards on Sunday. “Between Riverside and Crazy” was awarded Outstanding Play and the Roundabout’s intimate production of “Into the Woods” received Outstanding Revival.
‘Tuck Everlasting’ musical set for Broadway
The new musical “Tuck Everlasting,” based on Natalie Babbitt’s 1975 children’s novel about a young girl who comes into close contact with magic, is set to come to Broadway next spring. It recently received its regional premiere in Atlanta. Casey Nicholaw (“Something Rotten,” “Aladdin”) will direct. The book was previously adapted into a 2002 film.
Ed Harris and Amy Madigan to headline ‘Buried Child’
Ed Harris and Amy Madigan will co-star in an Off-Broadway revival of Sam Shepard’s gritty 1978 family drama “Buried Child” next winter, to be produced by the New Group and directed by Scott Elliott. Cynthia Nixon, who directed “Rasheeda Speaking” for the New Group this year, will return as director of Mark Gerrard’s “Steve.”
Public Theater season to feature new musicals by Stew and LaChiusa
The Public Theater, having enjoyed a great year capped by the huge success of the musical “Hamilton,” unveiled its upcoming season on Monday, which will include the new musicals “First Daughter Suite” (Michael John LaChiusa’s follow-up to his chamber musical “First Lady Suite”) and “The Total Bent,” a new work by Stew and Heidi Rodewald (“Passing Strange”). The Public Works program, which allows hundreds of New Yorkers to take the stage of the Delacorte at Central Park, will present an adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
Spotted …
Tobey Maguire and Mayim Bialik at “An Act of God” … Andrew Lloyd Webber at “An American in Paris” … Gloria Estefan and John McEnroe at “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” … Alicia Keys at “Finding Neverland.”
