Weezer cancels Broadway residency
I’ll admit it: I had no idea that the rock band Weezer was supposed to play a short residency on Broadway. (If they sent a press release, I never got it.) But in any event, frontman Rivers Cuomo has announced that the concerts have been canceled due to “low ticket sales and unbelievably high expenses,” as per a Reddit post. During the summer of 2019, a number of music artists played concerts on Broadway as part of the “In Residence” series including Morrissey, Barry Manilow, Yanni, and Regina Spektor.
‘Into the Woods’ announces cast changes
Beginning Sept. 6, the cast of the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods” will include Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Block (taking over for Sara Bareilles as the Baker’s Wife), Sebastian Arcelus (taking over for Brian d’Arcy James as the Baker), Krysta Rodriguez (taking over for Phillipa Soo as Cinderella), Andy Karl (who will play the Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince through Sept. 15 while Gavin Creel is absent), and Montego Glover (who will share the role of the Witch with Patina Miller). Notably, Block and Arcelus are married in real life. Unless it is extended again, the revival is currently scheduled to run only through Oct. 16.
Lynch moves up ‘Funny Girl’ departure date
Just like her former co-star Beanie Feldstein, Jane Lynch moved up the date of her final performance in the Broadway revival of “Funny Girl.” In fact, Sunday marked her final show. In a statement, Lynch said that she was already set to be out of the show for much of August due to a previously-planned vacation and the Creative Arts Emmy Award ceremony. Liz McCartney will take over as Mrs. Brice through Sept. 4, after which Tovah Feldshuh inherits the role.
‘The Kite Runner’ to require face masks on Fridays
One can’t help but wonder whether the decision to stop requiring audience members at Broadway shows to wear face masks has affected overall attendance. Are some people more eager to attend since they don’t need to wear masks? Do others feel safer among a masked crowd? Using the later theory, “The Kite Runner,” the stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini’s 2003 bestselling novel, will make masks mandatory at all Friday night performances beginning Aug. 19.
‘Cinderella’ with Brandy to air on ABC
The 1997 TV film musical “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, which was made available for streaming on Disney+ last year, will air on ABC on Aug. 23 in honor of its 25th anniversary. An hour beforehand, original cast members will reunite on a “20/20” special including Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Bernadette Peters, and Jason Alexander. “Cinderella,” which was previously produced for TV in 1957 with Julie Andrews and 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren, triumphantly incorporated diverse, colorblind casting on a scale not seen before on mainstream television.
