Diane Lane set for Broadway revival of ‘Cherry Orchard’
Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane, whose recent films include “Batman v. Superman” and “Inside Out,” will play the out-of-touch, over-the-top aristocrat Ranevskaya in the Roundabout’s upcoming Broadway revival of Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard.” This is not Lane’s first experience with the play. She made her Broadway debut in a 1977 production alongside Meryl Streep and Raul Julia. Stephen Karam (“The Humans”) will write a new adaptation of the Russian text.
Second BroadwayCon to play the Javits Center in January
The first-ever BroadwayCon, which attracted more than 5,000 theater geeks back in January despite a snowstorm, will return next year running Jan. 27-29. But instead of the Hilton Midtown, it will instead be housed at the Jacob Javits Center. Tickets will become available on Monday. Actors set to take in the event, which includes live performances, panel discussions and workshops, already include Cynthia Nixon, Jonathan Groff, Kelli O’Hara and Christine Ebersole.
Ham4Ham to go live again for Wednesday matinees
Ham4Ham, the extremely popular lottery to win a select number of $10 orchestra tickets to each performance of “Hamilton,” which moved online earlier this winter because it was causing overcrowding on 46th Street, will be held live again outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre before Wednesday matinees. It will still be conducted digitally before all other performances. Many live Ham4Ham lotteries were preceded by performances from Lin-Manuel Miranda and pals, which can be viewed on YouTube.
De Blasio reveals Broadway’s Emergency Alert System
Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed (or joked, rather) via Twitter on Wednesday that Broadway has an Emergency Alert System. They include the following levels: Severe (Lin-Manuel is sick. City, Nation on edge); High (Audra McDonald triple booked through December); Elevated (Jessie Mueller so inspired, considering role at Ellen’s Stardust); Guarded (Simba and Nala entering couples therapy); Low (All is well, performers crushing it 8x/week as usual).
‘Cats’ meets ‘The Kardashians’ in new parody
What happens when you combine Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” with “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”? Bob and Tobly McSmith, who have been churning out off-Broadway parodies of TV shows (Full House! The Musical!,” “The Saved By the Bell Musical!“) in recent years, will now present “Katdashians! Break the Musical,” which is described as “the story of a clan of Internet famous cats torn apart by fame, family and Friskies.” It will apparently include “Memory” sung by “Katlyn Jenner.”
Actor in Cirque’s ‘Paramour’ replaced in rehearsals
Bradley Dean, who was to play a lead role in “Paramour,” the first Cirque du Soleil show to play Broadway, has left the production (which is currently in rehearsals) due to “creative differences.” Jeremy Kushnier (“Footloose”) will take over for Dean. Previews begin at the Lyric Theatre on April 16. “Banana Shpeel,” an earlier attempt by Cirque du Soleil to combine circus art with musical comedy, was an unmitigated disaster.
Spotted
Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Liam Neeson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Winona Ryder and Emma Thompson at “The Crucible” … Christian Slater, Andrew Garfield and Bobby Flay at “American Psycho” … William Daniels at “1776” at City Center.
