Regardless of the fact that the Broadway season does not come to a finish until the end of next week, the Outer Critics Circle announced its annual slate of nominations on Tuesday morning. “She Loves Me” and “American Psycho” came out on top, with eight nominations each. The Off-Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” which opens at the end of the month, received six nominations. The Tony Award nominations will not be announced until May 3.
Cooper and Miller take part in ‘Philadelphia Story’ reading
Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller recently took part in a reading of Philip Barry’s 1939 comedy “The Philadelphia Story” produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, as reported by ShowBiz411.com. The Roundabout has been looking to revive the play (which is best known for the 1940 film version with Katharine Hepburn) for years, but it is unclear whether a production will happen anytime soon and whether it will involve Cooper and Miller.
Sheldon Harnick to get Lifetime Achievement Tony
Sheldon Harnick, lyricist of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “She Loves Me” (both of which are currently back on Broadway in acclaimed revivals), will receive a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. He received a Pulitzer Prize more than half a century ago for “Fiorello!,” his first big hit with composer Jerry Bock. One of the tragedies of musical theater history is that Harnick and Bock ended their working relationship in the early 1970s.
Schreiber set for ‘Liaisons Dangereuses’ revival
Christopher Hampton’s “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” based on the racy 1782 novel that inspired the 1999 teen drama “Cruel Intentions,” is set to return to Broadway this fall in a revival starring Liev Schreiber (in his first Broadway performance since “A View from the Bridge” in 2010) and Janet McTeer (“Mary Stuart”). The play was revived on Broadway in 2008 with Laura Linney.
‘Matilda’ to end Broadway run
The family-friendly Broadway musical “Matilda,” which opened to rave reviews three years ago, will close on Jan. 1, 2017 following a total run of 37 previews and 1,555 regular performances. Although “Matilda” somehow lost the Tony Award to “Kinky Boots,” it made back its $16 million investment costs, making it a hit by traditional standards. As of now, 19 young girls have played the role of Matilda. The upcoming Broadway musical of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which is also based on a Roald Dahl story, could end up taking the place of “Matilda” at the Shubert Theatre.
Headley replacing Hudson in ‘Color Purple’
Heather Headley, who has not appeared in a Broadway musical since she won a Tony for “Aida” in 2000, will take over for Jennifer Hudson as Shug Avery in the acclaimed revival of “The Color Purple” beginning May 10. “These last six months have been nothing short of a dream come true,” Hudson said in a statement. “My heart is full as I say to Broadway, ‘until we meet again.’” Still in the cast are Danielle Brooks (“Orange is the New Black”) and Cynthia Erivo.
‘Anastasia’ to come to Broadway next season
A stage version of the 1997 animated film musical “Anastasia” is set to come to Broadway next season after it premieres next month at Hartford Stage in Connecticut, as reported by Playbill.com. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime,” “Once On This Island”), who wrote the songs for the film, will expand the score, alongside a book by the prolific playwright Terrence McNally. Darko Tresnjak (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) will direct.
Spotted…
Bradley Cooper at “American Psycho”…Kevin Kline at “Bright Star”…Idina Menzel, Skylar Astin and Kathie Lee Gifford at “Dear Evan Hansen”…Barbara Walters at “The Father.”
